I'm building a 10ft Ugly Stick surf spin rod for a customer who wants it to glow in the dark. I'm using a neon green thread that I got several months ago from a friend who has an embordering business which I'll use as the under-wrapmix with black and silver over the guide feet. I have some black surf guides with the glow shock rings. I got these from a border-town rod builder who was going out of business.

My question is this: Can I mix some glow-in-the-dark powder paint (for jig heads) with the finish on the first coat of the underwrap?

Steve,

I've only done this a few times, but so far it's worked.

I have some friends that bass fish at night with 'black lights' on their boats. They use flourescent lines which look like boat rope under the black light.

Another friend wanted to be able to see his rod tip, but hates the glowing lines and feels that the black light shining on the water costs him fish.

So, I wrapped his tip guide and the two immediately below it with four pound Sten 'clear blue flourescent' monofilament (I used white nylon wrapping thread under the mono). I finished the wraps in the 'normal' manner, and they look okay (the finish doesn't 'penetrate' the mono like it does the regular nylon thread).

He's thrilled, because they really glow under his black light (which he angles upwards to just light the rod).

The only thing I don't know is if this 'glow' effect will ever wear out. The rods I did this on for him are just one season old.

Good Luck!

Before you use thread or paint, do a test on a piece of scrap blank and see if it really shows up in the dark. I haven't had much luck with any of the so-called glow in the dark paints.

I have had great luck by just scotch taping the mini-chem lights on the top section.

To go with Mike's idea, there is a lithium battery operated light designed just for this reason. The battery life is @ 55-80 hours of operation & can be replaced for @$1.00. It has an on-off switch, and comes with its own holder. The light slides in and out of this holder. Most guys use tape to put the holder on, but I have been wrapping it on just like a guide!!
This works great, it becomes a permanent part of the rod. The light is a red color, which is easier to see at night! We use them in NJ surf fishing, boat, & ant oyher night fishing, including myself on my rods!

If your interested, we sell them. They are $6.90 call me though for a price, if you want a few ! I can put up a pic on our site if you want me to!!
Last Cast link on the left.

Tom Wolfe
www.customrodbuilders.com
Last Cast (link on the left)

We will be carrying glo thread that after being hit with a light will
glo for up to 8 hours. This may be a good solution for night fishing.
It will come in 5 colors, size A.

You could also try some of the luminescent/glow in the dark Flashabou. It's a very common fly tying material that comes packaged in thin (app 1/16" wide) strips that are approx. 10-12" long. You could "wrap" some on just under the tip top and finish it like a thread wrap. No black lights needed. Personally, I use the Breakaway battery powered tip light, which sounds a lot like what Tom describes.