Ice Build Up on Snake Guides

Heading out to fish this weekend in some cold weather. Wondering if anybody had any tips for keeping the snake guides from icing up. I've heard of people using lip balm to prevent this, but am wondering if that will destroy my flyline......

I was just talking to a fellow about that very problem. He said he sprays a little WD-40 on his and when he is done fishing he wipes his rod down good. He said so far it hasn't hurt his rod and he does it every winter. You might also spray it onto a rag and wipe your guides with it. That way you wouldn't get it on your rod also.

Rocky

I know there's a commercial product on the market for just that thing, but for the life of me, I can't remember the name or who has it. Help Troops?

You can try a vegatable spray like Pam that should work.

I don't know if this will work, but reading the post made me think of it. Dry Fly Spray I belive it's silicone based and keeps flys dry why not guides.

Stanley's Ice Off Paste works for a while. Loon Outdoors makes it.

I've used it and get an hour or so of use from each application. It's he best I've used.

At least it keeps me from swisshing my rod in teh water every five minutes.

Other things to use would be chapstick, or Pam's non-stick spray. The object is to keep drops of water off your guides which eventually form into ice.


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Jude
Late to bed,
Early to Rise,
Guide all day,
Tie more flies!
www.customflys.com

Spray your guides with spray silicon.

Don't strip or shoot line if you can help it. It's usuallly wet line running through the guides that cause icing.
Barring that, any of the above suggestions or use Recoil guides and pop the ice out.

I fish all winter in freezing weather, often in sub-zero temps. I find it's more trouble trying to put stuff on the guides to prevent freezing than it is to periodically just break the ice out with one hand while holding my rod with the other hand. If it's cold enough to be wearing gloves, I don't have to remove them to do this, but just have to be reasonably careful not to put so much pressure on the guides that it might break one of them or the rod tip. Overall, this takes less time than putting stuff on the guides to prevent icing, although I do have Stanley's Ice-Off but rarely use it.

John

John, I had two folks in the other day, both sending their rods back after breaking them while trying to just break the ice off of their guides. Best to be very careful.

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Cary Morlan

Living my dreams one day at a time

Try some rain-x on cloth. You will have to re- apply after a while. The other item is plain ol Armor All.

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Tension on the line relieves tension on the mind.

I'm heading up to the Owens river this weekend. I've had the problem before but it wasn't too bad. I'll ask at the fly shop in Bishop for help on how to deal wth it.
Gary

Best way to avoid ice in the guides and cold hands and feet is to stay home by the fire and read a good book on fly fishing.

I'm not positive about this yet BUT...

...last year I became passionate about cleaning my fly lines after each use and then dressing them with a light coating of Poo Goo which is a pure silicone floatant that has the consistency of honey.

So far this winter I have had a minimal amount of ice on my guides compared to others I was fishing with. Maybe it's my imagination, warmer than assumed air temps or the silicone but it's worth a try and your line will love it too!

I agree with Doublehauler's comment..."Best way to avoid ice in the guides and cold hands and feet is to stay home by the fire and read a good book on fly fishing."

I will add my own..."For every season, there is a reason, with a time and purpose under Heaven!"

Winter in Minnesota is not conductive to fly fishing, neither is hunting season. Early spring can be a blessing or a curse, with late snow storms, or hight water and muddy trails.

Our fishing season is limited by when we can fish for certain species of fish, but that make the time we have to fish, more precious.

Winter is a time to get all the gear straighten out in anticipation of the next fishing season, and drool over all the Fly Fishing Catalogs that arrive in the mail. ~Parnelli

Fly floatant will work as well as anything. I have yet to find anything that works great, just okay including "Stanley's".

Rob