I have a request to build a 10'6 noodle rod for a friend who fishes during cold weather (icy guides). He's using a Penn 1000 series spinning reel, plan on using a NGC setup will be along the lines of 25, 12, and either 7's or 8's for runners. This is (yet another) new rodbuilding adventure for me, I just wondered if there would be an advantage of using a single foot guide for the tip top instead of a conventional tubed top? Also, from searching past posts I see that a combo of ceramic (25, 12), then TiCh Flexilite #7 or #8 runners would be well-suited for this type of rod? Appreciated!

Many thanks for your help, and wishing everyone a very Happy New year! Mike



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2011 09:58AM by Mike Canavan.

Mike, I have built many float rods. I always use a guide for the tip . When I started building them, I got advice from a few builders who built them this way. I would think the main reason is because many float rod builders use i high frame guides and the transition of the line to the top is much smoother.

Thank you Frank, appreciated. I wondered if the reasoning was to smooth the line path vs. a std tip top.

I also apologize and should have been more clear when I hurried through my first post - this will be a spinning rod built on a 10'6 3S106UL2 noodle blank, not an actual "float" rod. 2 - 4# mono on a Penn 1000 reel.

Thanks again, Mike

It depends on how the rod will be used. If your friend typically casts up stream and runs the drift down stream until the offering swings out of the line, then a tip top will suffice. If he opens the bail at the end of the drift and continues to run it by hand-feeding line, then he could also benefit from a running guide as a tip for the same reason Frank mentioned. On a float rod with a centerpin, a running guide is the best way to go.

If this rod were going to be used for below freezing temperatures, I would suggest that your friend use a reel with a spool of at least 2000 sized. The reason for this is that the spool is larger, and when you get ice in the reel, it is easier to free the larger loops.

I would also go with the pac bay minima guides, simply because it is easier to flick ice off of this style guides. I would also go no smaller than a size 8 guide. I would also use the matching size 8 tip.

I have built several ice rods - of the pro version that are quite long with this set up. They have been used in temps of -30 degrees F. They work very well under these circumstance.

Since it is a spinning rod, I would make all of the guides singe foot. Really no reason to use anything other than a spinning guide for this setup.

The typical float rod has a fairly moderate action, so I would space the guides as far apart as is reasonable to reduce the number of points that might pick up ice. If the rod has a slow enough action, you might be able to get away with only 7 or 8 guides.

Good luck
Roger

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the help.

Thanks Roger, I'll check out the size of the reel and make a recommendation for a larger one if thinks it may be an issue. This is a slow-action noodle rod (3S106UL2) so I may be able to get away with less guides, will static test just the same.

Mike, the newest issue of Rodmaker Magazine volume 14 issue 6 has a good picture of a float rod with a guide for the tip on page 24. Perfect timing.