Micro guides , what good are they ?

[scaleface]

I bought a spinning rod , the first two guides are normal size but the rest are micro guides . I used it yesterday and might not use it again . It wouldnt cast for distance . What good are they .

[Bluebasser86]

Lighter weight, better cast control, less line slap/reduced tangles. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Casting performance of a spinning guide train lies in the reduction guides. The micros have little to do with it. As I'm sure you're aware, rod, line, lure and conditions all play a role in casting as well. 

[RoLo]

To borrow a sailboating term, anything that reduces 'luffing' reduces line 'friction',

the result of which is extended casting distance. Line-billowing is reduced in two ways:

> Decreasing the pitch between line guides         (more guides)

> Reducing the diameter of the guide inserts       (smaller guides)

 

The downside to micro guides is that they limit the size

of freely passing objects, stuff like line-knots   

 

Roger

[LoweStinger]

I was tempted to try one of these poles, thanks for the information !

[d-camarena]

Can you give us your rod specs and lure you were using? Just trying to understand what was the actual cause of this

[Big Bait Fishing]

might take you awhile to get used to them to the point you're realizing what you are gaining by them . i have them on my casting rods , spinning rods , and swimbait rod .

 all the rods i have built and will be built will have them 

[IndianaFinesse]

The one thing I will warn you of is that micro guides are very fragile and prone to breaking off.  I have two rods with micro guides, one has lost three guides and the other one.  I would not recommend them if you are hard on rods. I regret ever buying a rod with them, but then again I am hard on my rods.  

[Bucky205]

My experience has been they cast well but most are on a single foot and fragile.

[Further North]

I have three rods with micro-guides and like them all - I have another one being built as I type this.

 

Initially I didn't think I'd like them, but I managed to break a St. Croix Legend Extreme spinning rod that I had with recoil guides and when I stopped in to make the swap, they had transitioned the Legend Extremes to micro-guides.

 

Since I didn't have a choice, I took the rod and started using it.  I still don't use them on all my rods (not sure they'd work well with tieable steel leaders for pike and muskies) but I really like them on the rods they are on, and all of them have no issue with an FG knot with braid to fluoro leaders.

[fishnkamp]

D-camarena hit on part of your issue most likely.

First tell us what rod you bought, this means brand, which series and what model is it?  Take a notice to the rod specs. There will be both a suggested line rating and a suggested lure weight listed.  If the lure you are trying to throw is too light it will not work well.   

 

Next what brand and model of the reel including size?

What brand, type and pound test line did you spool it with.  Some lines are inherently difficult to cast.  

 

For example I like a lot of different lines that P Line makes. There are some rules to using certain ones due to their habits.  One line I like is P Line Halo, a fluorocarbon line that  is very very strong, very abrasion resistant almost invisible. but exhibits lots of memory.  The trouble with the line is it has too much memory and can get wiry.  

 

The answer is to never ever spool any Halo heavier than 8 pound on a spinning reel ( 35 size or smaller) for typical bass fishing.  Most times we use 6 pound Halo and always use line conditioner.  Taking these steps allows me to fish a tough line with very good abrasion resistance that breaks closer to 15 pounds or more.  It lays on a real well and fishes okay, if I am not trying to fish weightless lures like a unweighted Senco or a Mepps spinner.  

 

This line is a specialty setup, most of my regular setups have Berkley FireLine in 14 pound test ( 6 pound diameter) with 1/2 of a spool of Stren 12 or 14 pound Original Clear Blue as a backing. This line sails through smaller guides and I can add a 4 foot leader of 8 pound test mono or P Line CXX. I believe your line and lure have more to do with your casting issues. 

[scaleface]

 Its a drop Shot rod I picked up on clearance for almost nothing . Its in my rod box,  I cant tell you the make right now .Im thinking Wright McGill IM8. I know , its not a top shelf rod but my general impression was that it felt good in my hand .  I rarely use spinning gear and picked it up just to have .  I mounted  a Pflueger President reel that had  last years string 8 or 10 lb suffix elite   .It  didnt cast as far as I expected  .  Micro-guides were closely spaced and so tiny . It's foreign to me , I didnt know the purpose of those guides . I'll try it again with a slightly heavier lure and re-judge .

 

 

You ever start a thread and wish you hadnt  .This is one of those .