tip guide better than rest of guides?

[OkobojiEagle]

any merit to the idea of changing a rods tip guide (without changing the rest of the guides) to the best available to increase sensitivity?

 

oe

[spoonplugger1]

No, the weight difference would be little, sensitivity difference unnoticable. Six 3 mm guides weight the same as one 6 mm guide, change them all the something lighter and your getting somewhere.

[MickD]

I agree with the above statement.  But will add that I always use premium ring materials for tiptops on rods I build to get the best chance of avoiding grooving.  I've never had a guide groove, but old cheapie tiptops have grooved.  I would not bother changing on an existing rod because it may never groove, and there is no problem waiting until it does.  Grooving does not damage line, unlike a cracked ring.

[Ratherbfishing]

Not for sensitivity but for better treatment of the line and because a cheap guide will often groove from abrasion.  The tip guide is the one which ALWAYS and vigorously makes contact with the line.

[OkobojiEagle]

Thought maybe better material might transmit vibration better.  I have changed stainless steel tip tops for ceramic rings.  Leader knots were getting caught on the stainless steel tip during retrieve.  Thanks for you opinions.

 

oe

[Alex from GA]

As spoonplugger said change all the guides for a more sensitive rod.  I've done this to a couple of store bought rods.  I used minima guides in place of the stock heavy ones and it really works.