From conversation between some people, ive decided on buying a batson solid glass rod blank for my laker rod and first try at rod building, and I think im going to cut it down to 36" (tentatively).

The next step here now is deciding on guides; size, spacing, style, etc. Im sure there are 100's of combinations one could do, and I hope to experiment with that down the road. But for now, id like to hear what combinations people prefer for a rod on this blank cut to this length, that I know I can do and have a chance of turning out something thatll work well for me.

Additional info: will be a spinning rod for sure, maybe running 12 lb braid (maybe, still not decided there yet but might be relevent info?).

Thanks again for any and all advice!
-Riley

I have not been building rods very long and have not built a laker rod but I have had some modified before starting to build. Something to consider is putting on larger than normal guides. It keeps them from icing up as quick and also makes it much easier to push the ice out with your finger. I'm not sure of the sizes but the top top is probably 3/8" inside diameter, whatever size that figures out to be. Also they are only a thin wire frame without an insert to knock out. Just thoughts to consider as they have worked well for me over the years vs the small guides that came on the rod.

Riley,
For this rod, I have used size 16,12, 10, and 10 to the tip with a size 10 tip.

The folks that I build for fish out of doors with no shelter in temps as low as -30F degrees.

They want a very very tough guide that won't bend or break when they wack the rod against the ice to knock the ice out of the guides.

They also want the larger than normal guides so that as the guides ice up, they can continue to fish before having to stop again to knock off the ice.

I use the V3 braced guides for this rough and tough action.

Be safe

Roger- where do you buy these guides from?

Riley,
You can get these guides from any of the suppliers that sell Batson guides.

[alpsforecast.com]

These are the VS3 guides. Overkill for most fishing rods, but essential for the way that these rough and tough ice fishing folks use their rods.

Be safe



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/15/2016 10:21PM by roger wilson.

These are the guides I had put on my lake trout rod [www.mudhole.com] I believe the sizes are similar to what Roger as listed above. The ice is easy to clean out by just flicking it with your finger. Whichever you use you will definitely be happier with them oversized.

roger wilson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
.....
> They want a very very tough guide that won't bend
> or break when they wack the rod against the ice to
> knock the ice out of the guides.
...........


Well....there's my million dollar invention......a rod with a wire/heating element going down the center to keep the rod guides "defrosted" :-)

....now watch someone actually do it!

Spray the rod with Pam and go fishin - LOL

Bill - willierods.com