How many guides on rod build?

[bigfoot86]

In the process of building a few 48” power noodles from bass khang.  Was wondering how many guides will be needed.  I currently have 5 guides plus the tip top.  Since you’re not actually casting these rods does it matter as much?

[FishDoktor]

In the process of building a few 48” power noodles from bass khang.  Was wondering how many guides will be needed.  I currently have 5 guides plus the tip top.  Since you’re not actually casting these rods does it matter as much?

https://basskhang.com/pages/ice-rod-guide-spacing Guide spacing straight from khang. Looks like for his noodles he has 7 total guides (including tip) listed. Looks like values are the distance in inches down from the previous guide.

CRB guide spacing on Mudhole for ice rods only lists a 42" as the longest but has 5 guides listed (NOT counting tip). https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0275/1342/1957/files/CRB-Ice-Guide-Spacing.pdf?v=1597679715

V-line has a 48" rod listed (noodle) and they use even more guides https://www.vlinecustomrods.com/_files/ugd/e756b8_d305a1b12b51406fb6b9b8ddf4b21866.pdf

[trophytaker1]

My 42 inch rod not including the handle has 4 plus the tip. My other one is hollow so the line goes thru the center of the rod.

[defish]

Usually about 8 guides counting the tip guide for a 48" noodle. It will vary with the specific blank, and I static test for the number and placement of the guides.

[missoulafish]

Tape the guides on and see how it looks under a load.

[guthook1]

What type of reel??

[bigfoot86]

Tape the guides on and see how it looks under a load.

I did do that and it doesn’t look too bad uniform spacing between line and rod shaft but because I’m using size 4 fly guides the lines just seems to be further away from blank compared to micro guides you would see on a normal open water rod.

[bigfoot86]

What type of reel??

Spinning reel.

[missoulafish]

If it looks good, go for it! Also, does the blank vendor provide recommendations for guide spacing for that specific blank?
NOTE: FishDoktor is thinking the same thing

[jigmaster5]

In the process of building a few 48” power noodles from bass khang.  Was wondering how many guides will be needed.  I currently have 5 guides plus the tip top.  Since you’re not actually casting these rods does it matter as much?

The good news is that you can build whatever you want.

Maybe w/ a few blanks....you could cut down the butt of 1 of them & then use 5 guides plus tip top.  The longer rods are great for fishing outdoors....if you fish out of shelter or flipover on very cold days....a shorter rod is helpful so you don't end up bumping into stuff or being too far away from the hole (4'-5' w/ arm bent).

1 technique that I've used before is to get the spinning reel you plan on using, taping it to the handle w/ masking tape in its final location & then use a yard to stick to line up the 1st stripper guide off the lip of the spool.  Most modern spinning reels have a slight angle upwards towards the blank....but that angle varies depending on manufacturer & size of reel.  Also, position on the handle will impact where that line wants to hit the stripper.  It's not an exact science here - I just try to get an idea where the line coming off the reel "wants" to hit the stripper guide.

From there, I like to space the guides w/ decreasing spacing towards the tip top to account for the bend of the rod under load.  (So, more guides towards the tip top).

The 1st couple guides off the stripper don't matter too much....the ones closer to the tip top help distribute load while under pressure....and therefore are more important (my 2c).

Ice rods are probably the most forgiving in terms of layout b/c (like you said) it's not like you're going to be casting them.  So, it's pretty hard to screw up & make a rod completely un-fishable.  With a couple of blanks, you could try some different ideas & see how they actually fish & then adjust for future builds to customize exactly how you like them.

Good luck!   

[defish]

Ice rod blank tips are fragile, and light line is also easily broken so you want to distribute the stress on both the blank and line as well as possible because that reduces both blank and line breakage. If it's a toss up for how many guides to put on ice rods it's usually better to go with one more than one less. Look up articles or videos on static testing to see how the line should, and should not look during a stress test for guide placement.

[Tuma]

Ice rod blank tips are fragile, and light line is also easily broken so you want to distribute the stress on both the blank and line as well as possible because that reduces both blank and line breakage. If it's a toss up for how many guides to put on ice rods it's usually better to go with one more than one less. Look up articles or videos on static testing to see how the line should, and should not look during a stress test for guide placement.

Well said. Find your apex, tape on some guides, and do a static test.

[matzilla]

you don't even need to static test - get a very large piece of paper, have someone hold the butt section of the rod so it stays stationary against the paper, bend the tip so it is 90 degrees to the butt, trace the blank with a pencil onto the paper. measure the distance from guide foot to inside the ring where the line will lay, draw guides onto the traced blank line on the paper, measure the distance from the reel foot to the line roller on the spinning reel - add the radius of the grip or reel seat, draw the reel on the paper, you want to minimize the angle of the "line" between guides and the reel. Move the guides around, erase, draw the "line" path with a straight edge and repeat.

Works great, saves a ton of time, and you can save it easily for future reference.

[BUCKSKI]

I might have flown by some of the posts, but I did not see anyone mention line. If its on a noodle I would imagine pretty light??? I have shortened up distances near the tip for rods like this. Don't generally fish 48 inch rods unless they are for dead sticking.
Def tape guides on and take a look.

All the advice here is pretty spot on!

[bigfoot86]

Doesn’t look too bad with the six guides I have on it now temporarily but it is a long noodle rod so I wanted to try and keep the weight down on it. 

[jerryfishing]

Someone told me to put the tip on the rod. Tie a piece of line to the tip. Tie some type of weight to the other end of the line to simulate weight of fish you plan to catch with the rod. Then tape guides in position of natural bend of the rod. Never tried it, but seems logical.