Casting airwaves?

[Josh_Bovaird]

Curious if anyone is running or built with the AirWave Slim Ring Line Control System casting guides, I see Enigma is running them now.  Gonna be building a 6'6" for spinnerbaits and swim jigs.

[MickD]

I'm sure they will work, but I far prefer the Fuji RV as the first casting guide, then whatever single foot K guide size you want after that first guide.  I like 4.5's or 5's.  Use a couple KB's right after the first guide, bigger foot, more strength in the highly stressed part of the rod.

 

I see no reason to skimp on guides for a custom rod.  Really expensive ones are not necessary, but I at least want a ceramic ring guide.

[Josh_Bovaird]

5 hours ago, MickD said:

I'm sure they will work, but I far prefer the Fuji RV as the first casting guide, then whatever single foot K guide size you want after that first guide.  I like 4.5's or 5's.  Use a couple KB's right after the first guide, bigger foot, more strength in the highly stressed part of the rod.

 

I see no reason to skimp on guides for a custom rod.  Really expensive ones are not necessary, but I at least want a ceramic ring guide.

Im with ya on that but this rod is for a buddy who was gonna buy an 80$ rod and I told him i could build him a lot better rod for a little more.  I was gonna use the MHX MB783 blank because the high modulus would put me over my cap of 130 when complete.  I figure if I can afford to build my self another rod at the moment i can at least hook a buddy up and get some more seat time.

[.ghoti.]

The lack of a ceramic ring keeps me from using those. I have not built a casting rod using Microwave guides, butI have one in the queue. A local guy, who bought all the components, has me building hid first custom. 

 

I like Microwaves for spinning rods. They do what the propaganda says, and they are very easy to set up.

 

We will see how the casting version works shortly. I'm not expecting to see much difference. 

 

I like Fuji Alconites, LAG and BLAG. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'm a believer in the spinnng guides but not sold at all on any advantage on a casting rod. I have no concerns quality wise and sure they'd work but doubt any real performance advantage exists 

[MickD]

There are many builders who think that guide size and setup are unimportant for a casting rod, believing that since the reel line guide is so small, nothing else matters much.  I'm not so sure.  I remember when builders were first starting to use micros one builder recommended a larger first guide, then smaller the rest of the way.  Both Fuji and Amtak have setups which they say do a better job than most setups, and yes, it could be just marketing.  But with some setups, if you cast into the rising or setting sun, it's pretty easy to see that there is a lot of high speed looping going on between the reel and the first couple guides.  I do believe that some setups get the line through there cleaner than others.  While it may not matter much for distance, some of my rods seem more prone to backlashing than others, and it may be due to the setup.  I haven't fully figured it out yet, but I think there is something there that makes some setups better than others.  My rods that I think are the better performing  ones have the high 6mm Fuji KR first guide.  More to come (I  hope).

[.ghoti.]

Mick, I have been experimenting with just what you're looking at. Started with some of my factory rods. There is a wide range of line behavior among these rods. Particularly between the reel and stripper, and between the stripper and the next guide. All of these factory rods have the "standard" large double foot guides in those two positions.

 

The rods I've built for myself, using smaller guides, perform a little better. At least it looks like it. It is difficult to prove that this extra line movement is detrimental, but common sense says, to me at least, that it has to have some negative impact. 

 

A solution would seem to be a taller stripper, then a somewhat shorter transition guide, then the runners. I have ordered some Fuji AT guides, BKNAGs, in the five sizes they have, 4-6, for experimentation. These are single foot guides Fuji says are for spinning rods.

 

Be about a month before I have time to fiddle around with these, but I will let you know what I discover when I do have time.

[Danny_716]

I've built one casting and one spinning with the airwave sets, they're nothing crazy but they work as intended. Aren't as appealing on the eyes as others, but they do their job and are easy on the pocket. Also, the "no ring" is similar to PAC bay minimas. Haven't had any issues with them yet but they don't get heavy use.