Over the weekend I broke a center guide on my MojoBass and wont be able to send it in for repair before our tournament.  My backup rod is an old Ugly Stick that I used for jerkbait fishing, my question would you temporarily tape the guide skipping the broken one and or use the ugly stick?  The MojoBass is used for jerkbats, cranks and pop-rs, I wont have time to practice with the ugly stick so I am not sure how its going to perform compared to a broken rod??  I haven't used the ugly stick in 15 years I know it worked for jerkbaits but not as good as the MojoBass, input please..

Just remove the guide, it will have very little impact on the rod's performance.

 

 

 

I had my custom rod builder fix an eye on my Legend Elite last year. When I got it back I had my rod builder fix my Legend elite last year, he used the same thread same dura coate and guide as the factory used and when I got it back could not tell which one he replaced, on a 2 year old rod, it cost me $17.00 less than I would have spent shipping. If you have a good one around you he can probably do a rush job for you and have it done plenty early enough for your tourny???

 

It don't look the prettiest but you can take some 15# test braid and wrap the eyes like tying a jig sorta and cut  some duct tape strips about a 1/4" wide to secure the line, a couple wraps over the tightly wound line should get you by for a few days if you really want the guide on the rod, and simple to remove when your done to send it in for repair.???? "Hillbilly rigging 101"!!

Thanks for the replies, I was thinking about trying that Capt Bob but if the rod is still structurally sound with one less guide than this is what I will try.  I may still need to wrap duct tape around the guide since its bent bad, to prevent line wearing.

just use the ugly stik, its not near as bad as some people would have you try and think...

Ugly still have caught more fish worldwide then all brands together ..I use um

Where are you located PABass? In PA? I'm in SW PA and would be able to replace that guide for you for way less than shipping it back. Much faster turnaround too.

Where are you located PABass? In PA? I'm in SW PA and would be able to replace that guide for you for way less than shipping it back. Much faster turnaround too.

There you go!! These guy's usually do just as good a job as sending it back, I would take up S Hovanec on his offer,,,,,,,,,,problem solved!

As long as the ceramic insert is undamaged the guide can be teprorarily tied on as suggested if you don't have time to have it repaired correctly. The purpose of guide spacing is to distribute the load evenly along the blank. You can use it as is and probably be ok for a day but don't horse it.

The guide is smashed and ceramic insert was crushed into sand by my large foot.  I simply bent the guide up and wrapped it with some tape, seems ok..  

It would depend on the location of the guide. If the crushed guide is in the upper 30% of the rod, don't use it. A fish pulling, with one guide missing will put an unnatural strain on the rod, and may result in a snapped blank. If it's in the lower 30%, I'd probably fiah it, if that were the only rod I had.

Between those parameters, the decision would be based on other factors. Is it a MH fast rod? use it.

Is it a medium moderate rod? Probably not. See where I'm going with this? If a fish is going to put a bend in the rod where the missing guide is located, don't use it.

Why not just remove the guide and fish with it that way. If you are going to have the guide replaced/fixed, then get by for now without it and then do the repair when time allows.

 

Don't use the ugly stick, a mojo with one less guide will be much better.

There is no substitute better than getting the rod repaired locally. I would not use the rod, for a day or 2 I'd be using the ugly stick.  I recently caught a 50" cuda on a mh rod in a 6- 8 knot current, after the catch I noticed I had missed one of the guides, luckily the fish was landed and no issue with to the rod.  That said I think it's an unwise choice to use equipment that is not in perfect working condition, not worth it to press your luck.