I have a couple of old Ugly Sticks spinning rods that I use at the ocean for pompano (off the pier). They are 6' one piece rods and have the backbone I need to hoist the pomps from the water to the top of the pier. The problem is they don't' cast well and I can't get much distance with them. I have stripped off the guides and would like to put some Minimas on the rods. I am using a Penn Fierce SRC 3000, spool diameter 47mm. Unfortunately this puts my choker guide right about 8" from the rod tip. What do I do? Is this common? If this is acceptable it's going to look really weird.

Guide size and position has nothing to do with the rod's length, same position to the choker guide for a 6, 9, or 12 ft. rod.

Are you concerned with how it looks or how it works? I would build the rod so that it works well. When using the NGC, the distance from the choker guide to the tiptop is of no consequence. It is the distance from the reel to the choker guide that is important. If you had that same reel and two rods, one 10 feet long and one 8 feet long, the choker would be the same distance from the reel on both rods. The 10 footer would require more running guides than the 8 footer, but again, the choker guide would be located the same on both. The choker guide isn't placed based on rod length.

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All rod are rated to cast a Certain Lure Weight !! What is the weight of the lures you are trying to cast If the rod is not rated for that weight it will not cast it well Sounds like they are not strong enough to cast the lure you are trying to cast

Bill - willierods.com

I did not know if there was an exception or not to the rule. I don't mind if it looks strange I just want it to cast better than it did.

Kerry,
I expect that you are running pretty heavy line, so make the butt guide a size 30 match guide by minima. Then, go down to a size 20 conventional guide and then down to a 16 conventional guide and run size 10 F guides to the tip. to the tip.Likely have 6 o5 7 guides total. You will have a nice heavy duty rod that will cast very well.
Put the butt guide at 19 inches from the face of the reel and you will be good to go.

Be safe

Whether or not it looks strange is subjective. Whether or not it works well is a matter of fact. Set it up according to any of the NGC systems and go cast it and see what you think. If it works well you may decide it looks good, too.

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Kerry,
You will achieve much better performance through a reduction in line diameter rather than guide train.
If you require the heavy line for winching them up tie your heavy line as a leader to a lighter running line.
Leader length can be twice your pier height so the leader is on the spool for winching.
Remember to loosen your drag and tighten only after the leader is on the spool.

Gene