Ice Rod Guide Spacing

I am using a 36 inch BassKhang Gen 3 blank, I am wondering if anyone with experience could give me the proper guide spacings, I have two #2 Fly Guides. one #3 one #4 one #5 and one #10 high foot. total 6 guides plus one hook keeper, id appreciate any tips about spacing or the exact measurments I should use. I have a 6inch BassKhang cork handle as well paired with the blank.

Thanks -Luke

If you fish outside in very cold weather the #2 and #3 guides are maybe a bit small. I usually go with no smaller than #4’s to cut down on guide icing issues.

This spacing is what I use as a starting point for 36″ noodle rods (as measured from the rod tip to the guide ring.)

Tip top, 2 5/8, 5, 7 1/4, 10 3/4, 17

Attach the guides with tape, bands, etc. and the reel with line to do a load test and adjust the spacing as needed.

Keeping a log book of your builds helps a LOT for future builds.

Good luck and enjoy your rod!

I’m certainly not an expert with rod building but have built a few rods. I used a web program that was created by Chris Stanton which contained “factory/production” spacing details for a few different manufacturers. I don’t recall what the website was called but you might want to reach out to chris on Facebook, he also has a wealth of knowledge and builds beautiful rods. Just a thought

I have used both #2 and #3 fly guides and think they work pretty well. I’ve settled on usually using 3s as the smallest guides on noodle rods but the 2s should be ok.

I agree that each blank is a little different and guides need to be adjusted accordingly. I’ve the stretchy string you can get at wal mart for making bracelets or necklaces to temporarily tie guides on. Holds them well enough for static testing and still easy to adjust spacing.

Basically you’re looking for the line going through the guides to follow a smooth path with no sharp angles.

Tucker

Luke, Ge gives the spacing for all his blanks, shoot him a Email

Sheppy- the program is no longer available to the public he sold it to a rod building company I beleive

Here is Bass Khangs Guide spacing guide.

https://basskhang.com/pages/ice-rod-guide-spacing

Here is another setup for a 36″ Power Noodle

MFG Name
V-Line Custom Rods

Build Name
Gnarly Noodle

Blank Length
36″

Grip Length
5″

Blank Material
Fiberglass

Image Url:
Tip Tip
2

2nd Guide
2

3rd Guide
3

4th Guide
4

5th Guide
5

6th Guide
10

7th Guide
8th Guide
Tip Tip – 2nd
2 1/4

2nd – 3rd
2 3/4

3rd – 4th
3 1/2

4th – 5th
4 1/2

5th – 6th
5 3/4

Corey sunderman wrote:

Sheppy- the program is no longer available to the public he sold it to a rod building company I beleive

Wow, I did not know that. Good for Chris!

You can use the spacing onepine shared from bass khangs but I think there are better placements for the guides. Grab some small orthodontist rubber bands and play with the number of guides and locations. I built on one of the BK panfish deadstick blanks and used way more than their 3 guide reference guide suggested.

Rodwork wrote:

You can use the spacing onepine shared from <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>bass khangs but I think there are better placements for the guides. Grab some small orthodontist rubber bands and play with the number of guides and locations. I built on one of the BK panfish deadstick blanks and used way more than their 3 guide reference guide suggested.

I used 5 guides on a BK panfish carbon rod that I cut down to 27″