I'm getting ready to build a few new ice rods for myself and got wondering, "what are other builders go to guides for ice rods?" Personally, I prefer a larger IO guide so I don't have to deal with ice-up as often. I'm in Central NY and it can get cold and nasty out there! I like my rods light and sensitive so it's a trade off at best. I build most of my personal rods at 18 - 22" in length. I still have a few St. Croix Avids laying around so I thought I'd experiment a bit and try some other builder's ideas. Feel free to chime in, or even send me an email if you'd like to expound the virtues of your set up. Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Ray,
I use one of the following:
1. I use fly style conventional guides, with no ceramic rings or

2. Pac Bay Minima 4 guides.

I built several hundred ice rods last winter, but the majority of the rods were with either one or the other styles of guides.

Really no reason at all to have guides with ceramic or other type liner in the rings. The line out and line in is minimal. Generally, very little running with fish in the winter due to the cold water.

3. The third option is to use simple stainless wire guides.

There are a very large % of fishermen in the midwest that primarily fish from shelters. Since this is the case, there is no reason to put oversized guides on these rods that will be used in shelters with temperatures above freezing.
It is only when rods are used in the open that you have to worry about larger guides.

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With respect to the handle, I primarily use either cork - tennessee style with no separate reel seat, or EVA in tennessee style with no separate reel seat.

Just send along a roll of electrical tape and when needed, the reel is taped on.

The one thing that is a good idea with a tape mounted reel, is to take a couple of wraps at the front of the reel seat and the back of the reel seat. As a result, it makes sense to leave a couple of wraps on the reel seat in the areas where the reel will be molunted. That way, when a reel is taken off or put back on, only remove the tape to the layer of tape. If you constantly remove tape down to the handle when changing a reel, it is likely that for either eva, or cork, the handle will tend to get ripped up.

Also, nothing lighter than no reel seat.

Roger

JANNS NETCRAFT----FLEXLITES! Proven here in Alaska!

Berkley SS series

I have used recoil spinning guides on a few of my personal ice rods here in North Dakota. They are anywhere from 29-31". Personally I like the recoils(I suppose the flexlites would work the same way) because once you get a little bit of build up of ice on your guides, all you have to do is give them a flick and the ice flies off. I actually have down to size 6 recoils on my run and gun rod for walleye jigging. I've search fished outside with this rig in 10-15 below zero with minimal problems.

Thanks guys. I'm going to try at least one with the Flexlite or Recoils. The idea of flicking the ice off sounds good to me. Don't know why I never thought of it. Anyone else got a preference? You've got to love this forum, no matter how long you've done this or been here, sooner or later you pick up ideas. Thanks to Tom and all that pass here! If you're ever in or passing through CNY, look me up.
Ray

Berkley SS series. the width of the guide foot is thinner than most guides which makes wrapping them on the thinner width blanks much easier. Guide rings are nice and large and the matching tip tops go down to 3.5 tube size. Never had a problem with them and have built dozems. I only wish I could find them at wholesale cost.
Buzz