I have a NFC 1264 blank that I am building as a centerpin rod. I often fish in below freezing temps so I plan on using size 8 guides on the top half. I would also like to keep weight down. I have looked at the Seaguide HLG with RS rings and they seem pretty awesome. Unfortunately I wasn't planning on using that high of a frame guide on the top half of the rod and I cannot find a similar black guide with an RS ring that would be a medium height. I could use the Pac Bay SV titanium black size 8 guides to the tip but I am not sure if line will flow through a stainless ring as easily as through ceramic rings. I am also concerned that the stainless ring will ice up faster than ceramic.

Are my concerns valid?
I am open to other guide suggestions. This is my first pin build but i will be building more. I know there are many guys out there that have fished these guides and I'm hoping to learn from their experiences.

Any advice is appreciated!

Aaron,

I often use a pin rod in the winter here for winter steel...and although it does not get as cold in Washington as it does in some places...the guides do freeze over from time to time.

I would go with REC on the running guides, and a Seaguide on the Stripping Guide...most guides that you use will freeze over, with recoils, you can "flick" them and get the ice off at least temporarily...and although you can use a RECoil as the first stripping guide, it takes a longer time for the larger guide to freeze up than the running guides.

Best Regards,
Aleks




AARON SCHILLER Wrote:
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> I have a NFC 1264 blank that I am building as a
> centerpin rod. I often fish in below freezing
> temps so I plan on using size 8 guides on the top
> half. I would also like to keep weight down. I
> have looked at the Seaguide HLG with RS rings and
> they seem pretty awesome. Unfortunately I wasn't
> planning on using that high of a frame guide on
> the top half of the rod and I cannot find a
> similar black guide with an RS ring that would be
> a medium height. I could use the Pac Bay SV
> titanium black size 8 guides to the tip but I am
> not sure if line will flow through a stainless
> ring as easily as through ceramic rings. I am also
> concerned that the stainless ring will ice up
> faster than ceramic.
>
> Are my concerns valid?
> I am open to other guide suggestions. This is my
> first pin build but i will be building more. I
> know there are many guys out there that have
> fished these guides and I'm hoping to learn from
> their experiences.
>
> Any advice is appreciated!

I have heard complaints about the size 8 recoils freezing up very quickly here in Wisconsin. Im thinking about running size 10s. They don't come in a lower frame option but I don't mind their height. I have seen the running guides being used instead of a tip top. I might have to do that in this case as I don't know of a tip that stands today far off the blank and has a large ring. What are the disadvantages of running those guides to the tip?