top rod guide replacement? when?

D

DB731

Joined
Feb 10, 2013
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I have some wear signs (pitting) on my top rod guide (or whatever the official name is) where the mono makes contact. Is this significant? Should I replace it, given that I replace the entire spool with fresh mono every 3-4 trips (due to twisting/coiling). Speaking of replacement, will ordinary super glue work? In the past, I have used the quick and dirty method of "replacement", clipping the top 3-4 inches of rod off and promoting the next guide into the top guide. :D

Speaking of glue, I saw some supposedly special "fishing glue" the other day, for like 6 bucks for a tiny little container. Then I saw cyanoacrylate in the ingredients. What a bunch of marketing BS.
 
For tip tops, either the hot melt glue or a thin epoxy. If they're basic stainless guides you can just use some steel wool or a red scotchbrite pad to buff it out. Try some heat and pliers to twist it off. Tip tops are measured in 64ths of an inch, so a #4 size is 4/64".


-Xander
 
Shakespeare Ugly Stik rods use stainless guides. Take some fine steel wool to the guide to smooth out.


-Xander
 
I would smooth them out with steel wool personally. Worn guides are hard on line. If I notice such and a quick sanding does not help much, I will generally retire the rod to some sort of distant back up position and probably never use it again as I tend to buy new rods yearly when I visit such places as Bass Pro or Cabelas. Most are under $100. Like 22 shells, they pile up.
 
fast14riot said:
Shakespeare Ugly Stik rods use stainless guides. Take some fine steel wool to the guide to smooth out.


-Xander
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The tip tops on my ultra lite Ugly Sticks have a stainless guide with a plastic/nylon ring insert that is bad about popping out/wearing out. I had to snip the end off to replace it. Must have been epoxied on.--KV
 
Replacing the front tip has always been hit or miss for me. They never seem to say on when I do it. I have a G Loomis that needs a new tip (broke about 1" off rod). Cheaper stuff, I generally retire the rod and not worry about it.
 
Most all tip tops are held on with a hot melt cement. Apply a heat source and it will soften the adhesive enough to remove it and install a replacement. Do not use super glue or epoxy!!!
The tip top takes 98% of the abuse applied to the guide system. Invest in a good quality guide that is sized correctly and that has a ceramic or synthetic insert and you'll be set. The new braided lines are particularly tough on the guides so if you're using braid they may need replacement more often.
 
Bailey Boat said:
Most all tip tops are held on with a hot melt cement. Apply a heat source and it will soften the adhesive enough to remove it and install a replacement. Do not use super glue or epoxy!!!
Click to expand...
I agree:thumbup: If you have to change line every 3 or 4 trips it sounds to me like you have an problem. Are you sure the line isn't twisting when you put it on the reel? When putting line on a spinning reel I prefer to lay the spool flat and let the line wind off the spool as it winds onto the reel. I make several cranks of the handle keeping moderate tension on the line then pause to check if the line wants to "coil up" on it's own. If it does I flip the spool over and repeat the procedure. A quality mono should last for several months of fishing if there are no serious issues. If you have a local sporting goods store they should be able to swap the tip quickly for a few dollars.
 
Quality mono will last several months. But, if fishing spinners, you get a lot of line twist and the spinners wear the last bit of line. So, in my case, I am cutting off a rod length just about every fishing session and eventually there isn't enough line for efficient casting. So, you replace the line.
 
would #1 work?

grinding-stones-3.jpg
 
That'll remove more than you need, very quickly. We're talking using very mild steel wool by hand here.

-X
 
Those options are much better. You basically want to smooth them out so there is no harsh edges. Also, keep the tip top clean and dry when you're done fishing.


-X
 
I have Ugly Sticks from a couple years old to 20yrs old.They all have some type of insert in the guides.What do the other guides look like?Maybe you lost the insert out of the tip.The time you spend polishing you could replace the tip with a good guide.
 
The guide is probably too small to put your finger in, so you have to just guess. I do the feel test on my line a couple times per fishing outing (you know, during slow times) to decide it there are enough nicks in the line to justify me to cut some off.
 
Bailey Boat said:
Most all tip tops are held on with a hot melt cement. Apply a heat source and it will soften the adhesive enough to remove it and install a replacement. Do not use super glue or epoxy!!!
The tip top takes 98% of the abuse applied to the guide system. Invest in a good quality guide that is sized correctly and that has a ceramic or synthetic insert and you'll be set. The new braided lines are particularly tough on the guides so if you're using braid they may need replacement more often.
Click to expand...
This.
fishiker said:
I agree:thumbup: If you have to change line every 3 or 4 trips it sounds to me like you have an problem. Are you sure the line isn't twisting when you put it on the reel? When putting line on a spinning reel I prefer to lay the spool flat and let the line wind off the spool as it winds onto the reel. I make several cranks of the handle keeping moderate tension on the line then pause to check if the line wants to "coil up" on it's own. If it does I flip the spool over and repeat the procedure. A quality mono should last for several months of fishing if there are no serious issues. If you have a local sporting goods store they should be able to swap the tip quickly for a few dollars.
Click to expand...
And this.
22-rimfire said:
Quality mono will last several months. But, if fishing spinners, you get a lot of line twist and the spinners wear the last bit of line. So, in my case, I am cutting off a rod length just about every fishing session and eventually there isn't enough line for efficient casting. So, you replace the line.
Click to expand...
Are you reeling while the drag is slipping? One crank of the handle can put as many as 8 twists in your line when the drag slips.
DB731 said:
would #1 work?

grinding-stones-3.jpg
Click to expand...
Oh goodness NO!

To check if you guides are bad, run thru them with a cue tip. Inspect the guide closely and look for any bits of cotton. The cotton will stick to imperfections in the guides.

Heat the tip top to remove it. A match or lighter will do.
Use the same hot melt glue that you'd use to set knocks in arrows. Heat the glue with a match, rub it on the rod and slip the guide on. Make sure it is straight cuz it'll stick right away. Do a practice run first ;)

Mono get's knicked up so easily... with lighter mono I'll retie after every fish or snag. Always checking for abrasions is good medicine.
 
Ebbtide said:
Are you reeling while the drag is slipping? One crank of the handle can put as many as 8 twists in your line when the drag slips.
Click to expand...

You know, I don't know, but probably. The drag really doesn't slip that often as I keep it set pretty high and close to my guess of knot strength (or about 1 lb less than line weight).

Ebbtide said:
To check if you guides are bad, run thru them with a cue tip. Inspect the guide closely and look for any bits of cotton. The cotton will stick to imperfections in the guides.
Click to expand...

Good point with the cotton swab.

Ebbtide said:
Heat the tip top to remove it. A match or lighter will do.
Use the same hot melt glue that you'd use to set knocks in arrows. Heat the glue with a match, rub it on the rod and slip the guide on. Make sure it is straight cuz it'll stick right away. Do a practice run first ;)
Click to expand...

I just never seem to have much success in this area. I do it correctly and then the tip pops off while I'm fishing and usually when I am reeling in a fish.

Ebbtide said:
Mono get's knicked up so easily... with lighter mono I'll retie after every fish or snag. Always checking for abrasions is good medicine.
Click to expand...

You have to watch those nicks. The line moving across a rock or anything in the water will abraid it. I tend to cut off about two rod lengths or until I feel no nicks just about every time I go fishing with lures.
 
I fish for LMB in the place everyone walks past cuz they don't want to lose their lures :)
30# braid, uni/uni knot to 25lb Ande Mono... Big difference from when I used to fish 10# mono :)
 
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