Baitcasting Rods Micro Eyes Or Standard Eyes?

[bigbill]

Ok what's the low down on my new quantum kvd tour bait casting rod I just purchased with the micro eyes on the rod? Between the standard eyelets and the micro eyelets is one better or perform better? Or is this the new wave of the future were starting to see. This is the first one I seen so far. Bigbill

[WRB]

Micro guides, both Fuji and Kigan are top of the line, can improve casting distance by preventing line slap against the rod blank. Rods usually have a standard stripper guide (1st guide close to the reel) than 1or 2 medium size guides, followed by micro guides.

The only problem I have is trying to run line through micro guides in windy weather low light conditions because they have very small guide rings or tiny holes for my tired old eyes.

Tom

[rippin-lips]

It's been discussed a million times now. You'll hear pros and cons about both.

[CWB]

I prefer standard and will not negotiate.

[Dave P]

Have both. Don't care one way or the other.

[KDW96]

Agreed with post 3----100%  

[new2BC4bass]

Some is personal preference....especially with baitcasters.  I have both, but prefer standard.  Don't have a problem using the micro guide rods, just prefer the look of standard guides.  When it comes to spinning rods, you can't give me a micro guide rod.  I hated the one I tried.  Casting sucked big time with it,  Please don't say it is me because I was using a spinning reel before 95% of you were born.  I also tried 3 different reels on it with braid and mono.   Took it back and got a standard.  Well...what Cabela's now calls a standard.  Once above the first eye, they were near micro.  First eye still smaller than I am use to seeing.  Casting sucks with this rod as well.  Probably keep it, but no doubt it will sit in the closet without getting used much.

 

EDIT:  Doubt it is the fact that it is a Cabela's Prodigy spinning rod.  I have 3 of their Prodigy baitcasting rods, 2 with micros and one standard.  All 3 cast fine.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Micro guides save weight in the crucial tip section of the rod improving sensitivity and recovery speed. Whether or not you'll see a discernible difference depends on some variables and personal preferences. Some folks don't see any difference between a low end or upper end rod.

 

"Micro" guides are not a cure-all, in general the smallest lightest guides that will do the job will retain the max of the blanks inherent qualities. Passing knots and connections is one concern. A well tied Albright connection between 65# braid and 17# mono will pass #4 guides easily.

[Boogey Man]

The T-wing on Daiwa baitcasters got me thinking. I know it has more to do with the angle of the line coming off the spool, but it's also supposed to reduce friction from the line against the line guide.  So, why couldn't the same argument be made of micro guides creating more friction? In the future, after micro guides have become pretty much standard, will it shift back to "larger  guides to reduce friction"? As far as line slap against the rod, as long as I've been fishing, I've never seen or heard my line slap against my rod. I think micros are kind of like lures, they've caught as many fisherman as they have fish

 

I meant some of that as tongue-in-cheek, but honestly it depends on the rod. If I like it, it doesn't matter what kind of guides it has. I've had rod's with both, and couldn't really tell a difference, other than a very slight weight reduction.

[new2BC4bass]

To be honest, I can't tell a difference in weight savings between the same rods with different size guides.  What is the weight savings? .1 ounce?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The weight savings are not large numbers but on rods that are already light by historical standards they are significantly lighter as a %.  The T wing line guide from Daiwa IMO falls closer to the "gimmic" category than does the practice of lightening a guide train. Unless you're building the rod there is no way to compare the affect of different guide choices be it in size or placement due to other variables. I agree that some mass producers over sell innovations such as "micro guides" and they do not always apply the technology in the most productive manner and may over charge for them, but that shouldn't lead to blanket interpretations dismissing the system completely. Spinning rods are especially sensitive to guide choice and placement but it is the stripper and choke guides that affect casting and not the few guides running out to the tip.  

[Ennis Gartman]

What I would like to know is why braid line sings on some rods and some rods it don't when we retrieve the fish

[dodgeguy]

Any good 8 strand braids should be quiet. I've heard more noise from the level wind than the guides.

[waymont]

I greatly dislike micro guides, but that’s because I always use braid to a leader.