Xyndifor Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 I'm looking to buy a micro guide rod in the $100 range (the ones I've been looking at are Abu Garcia Veritas, Duckett Ghost, and Wright & McGill Skeet Reese Micro Honeycomb Rod). I've never owned a micro guide rod before so I don't know what to expect. My intention is to buy a 7' medium heavy with a 1/4-1 oz lure rating for tossing out Texas rig/Carolina rig worms (using Carolina keepers for convenience to switch back and forth between the two as necessary) and maybe get another bass pro pro qualifier reel with 30 lb power pro with a fluorocarbon leader. My concern is with the durability of the guides. I've read a lot of reviews on these rods (some good and some bad). So what I was wondering is there a good micro guide rod in this range that will with stand using braided line tied to a fluorocarbon leader without knocking out the inserts or wearing down the guides itself. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you. Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted February 18, 2014 Super User Posted February 18, 2014 Can't help you with your rod selection, but you have already stated a possible problem with micro guides. Knot passing through the guides. I've got 3 or 4 micro guide rods. Don't use leaders on any of them. In fact I prefer a standard guide rod. Not everyone does. Kind of like some prefers redheads, some blondes, some anything with a skirt and the proper equipment. EDIT: I have a couple Prodigy rods with micro guides. These are pretty good rods for the money. Only other rod I have with micro guides is a custom, so I can't comment on any of the rods you are looking at. Quote
Bass_N_Brewskis Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Last year I got a BPS Johnny Morris carbon lite combo with the micro guides and I absolutely love it! Not one problem from the rod or reel. The rod is right At 100$ also I believe. I loved the micro guides on that rod and went looking for another micro guide rod this year. Recently was looking at the credit as but every rod I picked up had messed up guides. Either too crooked for me to feel comfortable or loose and wiggly feeling. I ended up walking out with a st.croix mojo bass with regular guides because I just could find a Abu in good condition in the store. I have also heard this from others. Although I am still considering this rod when it Goes on sale. I I can find a good one. But I would suggest looking at the bps Johnny Morris carbon lite if you don't mind BPS brand rods. Never had any problems with mine and it is light and comfortable to have in your hand all day on the water. Quote
Preytorien Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 I agree with Bass_n_Brewskis I have a Carbonlite 7ft Heavy/Fast casting rod that is great. But also as mentioned in previous posts, the micro guides don't play well with leaders, and I can get my knots pretty darn small. However I never had any guide issues or anything, it just tended to really gum up the very smallest tip guide if there was just a hint of algae or scum on the knot. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 "Micro" covers a range of guide sizes so you'll have to look at the rod to tell if the line & connections are appropriate for the setup. Grooving is not an issue with any of the modern quality guides. The only way you'll knock out an insert would be cranking a wire leader clip or swivel into the guides. A #4 "micro" guide will pass an Albright knot joining 50# braid a 17# leader with no problem. 1 Quote
Xyndifor Posted February 19, 2014 Author Posted February 19, 2014 Thank you for all the inputs. I guess I'll probably hold off for now and just buy a sellus 7'2 extra fast for Carolina/texas rigging. I'll look into a micro guide rod later down the road for another application where I don't need to join two lines together. Quote
FlipnLimits Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Here in the Midwest, we have many Cottonwood Trees that deposit their seeds and foul regular guides to a degree that having micro guides would literally end your fishing day. Google Cottonwood Trees and you'll see what I mean. With that said, most of my gear is now micro guide equipped but I'll always have rods with regular guides because it's not possible to fish micro guides (for certain applications) in May and June around here. Food for thought FL Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 Here in the Midwest, we have many Cottonwood Trees that deposit their seeds and foul regular guides to a degree that having micro guides would literally end your fishing day. Google Cottonwood Trees and you'll see what I mean. With that said, most of my gear is now micro guide equipped but I'll always have rods with regular guides because it's not possible to fish micro guides (for certain applications) in May and June around here. Food for thought FL Cotton wood trees are the devil! Quote
FlipnLimits Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Cotton wood trees are the devil! Don't we know it! Froggin in it is just brutal, but rewarding Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 Froggin is always rewarding! The worst is when that crap totally packs your guide so tight that your line totally stops Quote
FlipnLimits Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 I get my best professional overruns from Cotton. It's mandatory to stop and pick the stuff off. Micro guide rods have no place in this specialty area. How's the Chip doing, is there water again? I remember some severe droughts a couple years ago. FL Quote
Super User Fishes in trees Posted February 20, 2014 Super User Posted February 20, 2014 I wonder about micro-guides in the early spring when they might ice up. Do you just hose them down with reel magic or what? I have a couple of rods with the micro guides, but I haven't fished with them in cold weather yet. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Ice, cottonwood and filamentous algae present problems requiring larger guides. The Minima 4 or Recoil guides are good solutions. You can get a small light guide with a larger inside dia. Quote
FlipnLimits Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 I wonder about micro-guides in the early spring when they might ice up. Do you just hose them down with reel magic or what? I have a couple of rods with the micro guides, but I haven't fished with them in cold weather yet. My experience hasn't been bad with icing. I don't spray my reels or guides with anything though, so that may help with this occasional issue. I always blow my breath through the guides and it melts the small piece of ice instantly. It's usually for the first hour or two of fishing anyways. Quote
Xyndifor Posted February 21, 2014 Author Posted February 21, 2014 Here in the Midwest, we have many Cottonwood Trees that deposit their seeds and foul regular guides to a degree that having micro guides would literally end your fishing day. Google Cottonwood Trees and you'll see what I mean. With that said, most of my gear is now micro guide equipped but I'll always have rods with regular guides because it's not possible to fish micro guides (for certain applications) in May and June around here. Food for thought FL Plenty of cottonwood trees up here in the northeast too. It can be brutal fishing in it sometimes takes a couple minutes to pick the stuff off your line. I think I'm just going to go with a veritas x-fast 6'9. Still get a little more sensitivity with the extra fast and don't have to worry about guides breaking whether on their own or from a knot going through the eye wrong. Quote
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