He’s saying ‘definitely fix the guide’ because it’s about a $10-12 repair. A more expensive rod will not save you from damaging a guide. Treating the rod better and/or recognizing when something happens will. Do the q-tip test start from your tip guide back and then fix the fuzzy one. My guess is you reeled a snap into the guide and scratched or cracked it.

27 minutes ago, VolFan said:

He’s saying ‘definitely fix the guide’ because it’s about a $10-12 repair. A more expensive rod will not save you from damaging a guide. Treating the rod better and/or recognizing when something happens will. Do the q-tip test start from your tip guide back and then fix the fuzzy one. My guess is you reeled a snap into the guide and scratched or cracked it.

Did you not see my last response w the pics?

41 minutes ago, WRB said:

Replace the top glide 

Tom

Yeah, can any repair shop do this or do I have to order OEM from IRod?

4 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Yeah, can any repair shop do this or do I have to order OEM from IRod?

Repair shops would be a good amount of cash, you can buy a diy kit for about $10. Can be done quick and easy with the help of youtube.

2 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok think we’ve found the culprit. Does this look to you like the guide has been dislodged somehow, and is likely the source of my problem? Is it worth repairing, or would a higher quality rod help me avoid this in the future? Wondering if I did it by jamming/scraping  the rod tip or reeling a bait up to the top guide too hard/hooking it.

 

Full resolution

 

What exactly does this mean 

definitely the problem. There is no ceramic insert left and you’re on the bare metal. It looks like the tip was crushed at some point also, either before or after losing the ceramic ring.  You need a replacement tip top and thats a 5 minute job. The new tip top will cost $3 or so. I’d suggest an Alconite.  Take it to a shop if you have one nearby. Or do it yourself with some YouTube help. 

5 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

definitely the problem. There is no ceramic insert left and you’re on the bare metal. It looks like the tip was crushed at some point also, either before or after losing the ceramic ring.  You need a replacement tip top and thats a 5 minute job. The new tip top will cost $3 or so. I’d suggest an Alconite.  Take it to a shop if you have one nearby. Or do it yourself with some YouTube help. 

Won’t a new tip throw the action?

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Replace the top glide 

Tom

 

5 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Repair shops would be a good amount of cash, you can buy a diy kit for about $10. Can be done quick and easy with the help of youtube.

Won’t a new tip effect the action?

No, a new tip shouldn’t affect the action in any appreciable way.

Walmart sells tip repair kits with three different sizes of tips and a stick of hot glue. If you can heat the original and slide it off instead of cutting the rod it should be good as new. 

The iRod Genesis III Swim Jr is a good quality rod with Fuji alconite guides. I suppose it’s possible you got a bad egg. I remember a post you made a while back saying that this rod is lifeless. I bought one months ago and it’s one of my favorite rods. 🤷🏻‍♂️

If you have a IROD contact owner Matt Neuman he will send you a replacement  guide that fits your rod.

Tom

 

The powers of observation. LOL

40 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

The powers of observation. LOL

 

10 hours ago, VolFan said:

No, a new tip shouldn’t affect the action in any appreciable way.

 

5 hours ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Walmart sells tip repair kits with three different sizes of tips and a stick of hot glue. If you can heat the original and slide it off instead of cutting the rod it should be good as new. 

 

5 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

The iRod Genesis III Swim Jr is a good quality rod with Fuji alconite guides. I suppose it’s possible you got a bad egg. I remember a post you made a while back saying that this rod is lifeless. I bought one months ago and it’s one of my favorite rods. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

5 hours ago, WRB said:

If you have a IROD contact owner Matt Neuman he will send you a replacement  guide that fits your rod.

Tom

 

Cool, done. Thanks! In the meantime I had my local tackle shop put a new micro guide on, it is bigger than the original and the two guides below it, will this make any appreciable difference?

See how easy that was to find? 

Fuji makes the finest guides money can buy but they are not infallible..

2 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

The powers of observation. LOL

I mean the tip is like the easiest first check!! 

16 hours ago, F14A-B said:

I mean the tip is like the easiest first check!! 

Some guys have to ask 20 questions first.