The first guide after reel seat, you can see there is excess clear coat through guide.

How do I take that off? Is there a solvent I can use or what?

I think it affects casts, especially using braided line.

This is an Academy H2O casting rod.

Any help will be greatly appreciated 

It's not a clear coat. It's excess epoxy from the thread wrap. Just apply a little heat, and pick it off. 

Depends on the brand/type of finish, sometimes heat won't soften it.  Take an exacto blade or small drill bit and just spin it in the guide by hand.

15 hours ago, S Hovanec said:

Depends on the brand/type of finish, sometimes heat won't soften it.  Take an exacto blade or small drill bit and just spin it in the guide by hand.

that is what I would suggest, and how I got epoxy out of an eye on an ice rod. Smallest exacto knife I had and carefully "picked" at it until it broke loose, being very careful not to nick the guide. 

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