Was wondering if anybody had come up with a good fix to having your rod guides freezing up.
Ive tried Pam works a little not not really you got to consistently reapply the stuff and having to carry a bottle of pam with you is not fun. Used the commercial stuff works for a short time maybe 10 or 15 casts and the enviable, you got to break the ice of your rod guides.
A friend suggested rubbing petroleum jelly on the guides not he tried this he just thought it may work but sounds messy. Dont know if it messes with your line. Wondered if any of you had any good ideas to solve this old problem.
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If there is something out there- I haven't found it in 30 years. I did once tie a rod with all large eyes- but I had come to the conclusion that every winter I would change my rod to an older cheaper model- the same with my reel and load up old line that I didn't care about anymore and plan on dunking the eyes in the river a lot. Then I decided I will cut my problems right in half------- I took up cross country skiing so I only river fish in the winter 1/2 the amount time I used to and I'm in shape come spring to back pack into those brookie lakes.
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I am not sure what a petroleum product would do to the line.
The paste is about the best I have come across, plus like Pack, stick the rod in the water.
A cheaper line is a good idea also.
There is always the Tenkara rods...no guides to worry about.
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[quote sinergy]Was wondering if anybody had come up with a good fix to having your rod guides freezing up.
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Don't fish in freezing temperatures! [
] Really, there isn't any sure fire way. All the ways you talked about I'd be careful with as I wouldn't trust any of them making regular contact with my fly line....unless I wanted to replace it anyway.
The joys of winter fishing! I'd trade picking ice out of my eyelets over crowded rivers any day. I love fishing in the winter!
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[quote TS30]Don't fish in freezing temperatures! ![/quote]
Say ain't it so [
] Love winter fly fishing
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Heading somewhere south as much as possible during colder months seems to help more than anything else I've tried[laugh]. Just booked a second winter trip to south Florida using frequent flyer points last night and heading down to Washington County next week. I really don't mind winter conditions fishing that much most of the time but after getting stuck in a few snow squalls and having your eyes ice up on the Weber I'm always looking to forward to those escapes. Besides the crowds on the Weber even in Winter the last few years make it the new Provo just without the stunted fish.
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Shorter casts and longer leaders helps some too. Really......frozen guides are a small inconvenience when doing something so fun and in such a beautiful state as we live.
Now frozen fingers, toes, or ears.........totally different story!!![sly]
LT
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Amen TS30[cool]
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Ok so Ive spoke a few more people and got a few more ideas
FYI: I haven't tried these tips personally (at least not yet[
]) I'll chime in later with my results. Feel free to give them a try
1. Rain X
If you never used Rain X its used to treat your windshield creates a thin barrier on the windshield causing water to bead up and drip right off. The application is applied left to dry then buffed so should not harm your line.
2. Carnuba Wax
Yes Car wax, everybody should be familiar with this its waterproof and again should not effect your line.
3. Silicone boot spray ...
a Co-work suggested this not real familiar with fishing this stuff Ive used it on my shoes for years but never know willing to give it a try.
I got old TFO rod I rarely use anymore its a back up to my backup [
] has strung with some old cortland 333 line which I dont care for. When I get a chance going to try these ideas again will let you know. Feel free to suggest anything you think may or may not work [cool][cool][cool]
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Over the years I have used all your suggestions- they are not cure alls. It's just one of the factors of fly fishing in the winter.
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What about a combination of 2 or all 3 together ???[
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See you got to think outside of the box allot of people thought the world was flat and anybody who assumed other wise was a crackpot.
I know breaking the ice off you rod isn't a big deal and worse case scenario ill go back to winter fly fish like I normally do but its those little nobody gave much thought idea's that end up being millionaire dreams [cool][cool][cool]
Take those little cocktail umbrella's you know the one's,
or wd40, the shamwow LOL
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Yes you are right- don't give up the dream- and there maybe something out there for this one- but this one has been thought over a million plus times.
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We discussed this on the forum a couple years ago. I thought a rod that eyes where slightly heated should be simple enough to design and the fisherman could wear a small battery pack. Would take less to do than heated socks that are available. I googled it and someone has a patent on a similar design but didn't see any for sale
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5517786.html
just look at the abstract
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Actually tried building that in the early 70's for an ice fishing rod- batteries were in the rod handle. Then I found out that the #1 reason for ice fishing was that your beer never got cold and I already owned a fridge- my ice fishing time was cut way down after I came to that astounding life changing discovery. But for some reason every time I get a cold one in my hand and start to watch a football game I have an undying urge to sit on a bucket.
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This is not a "fix" for icy equipment...however, I like to swing tiny midge soft hackle patterns. I get lots of action activating standard midge nymphs on the swing too.
The benefit: minimum line stripping = less ice on equipment and hands.
You can air mend or mend line on the water to achieve the swing you want and step down each time you want to prospect lower in the run. (keeping about the same amount of line out)
I can heavily work most (if not all) of an entire run with minimal line stripping avoiding a lot of ice on my equipment and hands. With certain runs/holes and the right amount of line out you can actually fish with light gloves on until you hook up or find a hot spot.
Of course, with lots of hook-ups everything gets wet and icy....frozen fingers/equipment matter very little to me when I'm into the fish. (Old school ice chipping with a thumbnail is well worth some nice winter Browns)!
Getting frozen waders and boots off at the end of the day without thawing them first in the front seat is another badge of courage!
Mother Nature...Bring It!!!
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try butter.... the kind that comes in a stick
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a small amount of vegtable oil in the the hole..will keep the hole from frezzing up and your guides..has no harm to fish...just a suggestion
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I wonder if stick butter works for leaking waders and icy rod eyes?
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One word.......PAM!!
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Ya Ive used Pam in the past its works for a few casts but doesn't last you have to keep reapplying.Plus packing a Pam can with is a pain.
So far Rain X has been working the longest
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