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[brushhoggin]

They say castability and accuracy improve with micro guides but what about when I'm using heavy line like 55 80 lb test? I'd imagine the heavier the line, the bigger the guides. I've been curious about micro guides and will be in the market soon for a frog rod. Any thoughts would be appreciated

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The main thing to consider with micro guides is any knots you will need to pass, such as leaders. I use 50# Power Pro and a 17# mono/flouro leader with an Albright knot and it passes through a size 4 alconite guide no problem. Micro describes a range of guide sizes usually <size6. If you can give me any more detail abaout the application(s) for the rod I might be able to offer a little more in the way of a recommendation.

[brushhoggin]

thanks . i just thought heavy line would require more room to move about on a cast. It'll be for heavy pad fishing if thats what you mean by application.

[Georgia Jeff]

if you are tying the braid straight to the lure without a leader then you should be fine.

[Bassn Blvd]

thanks . i just thought heavy line would require more room to move about on a cast. It'll be for heavy pad fishing if thats what you mean by application.

You actually want the line to move round as little as possible. You will be fine as ong as your lie can freely move through the guides.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

All true. I use the analogy of a fifle barrel. A tighter fit between barrel (guide) and bullet (line) the more effective the shot (cast). straight 65# braid will pass a #3 guide easily.

[brushhoggin]

ok it definitely makes sense. For example here's a quote from a website talking about a Loomis frog rod. "Fast Taper. The ultimate heavy-cover, brute of a frog rod. Oversized guides provide excellent castability with heavy line. Delivers the power to pull big bass out of the thick stuff." am i not interpreting this correctly?

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I honestly can't see any improvement of performance with micro guides

[Bassn Blvd]

ok it definitely makes sense. For example here's a quote from a website talking about a Loomis frog rod. "Fast Taper. The ultimate heavy-cover, brute of a frog rod. Oversized guides provide excellent castability with heavy line. Delivers the power to pull big bass out of the thick stuff." am i not interpreting this correctly?

I'm not sure why they have that statement. Perhaps it's never been updated. I prefer to use the smallest guides that I can get away with.

Spinning rod makers used to use jumbo, oversized guides for decades, but now they are using smaller ones to get longer, more precise casts.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

ok it definitely makes sense. For example here's a quote from a website talking about a Loomis frog rod. "Fast Taper. The ultimate heavy-cover, brute of a frog rod. Oversized guides provide excellent castability with heavy line. Delivers the power to pull big bass out of the thick stuff." am i not interpreting this correctly?

Nothing wrong with your interpretation. The message however is off track. This is just sales talk, puff...

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I honestly can't see any improvement of performance with micro guides

It's really hard to see when comparing different rods even if they're the same model. Each blank behaves slightly differently. If you wrapped the same blank both ways (regular & micro guide) and test cast each, the benefits would be more apparent.

[barroncooper]

i don't know about cast-ability but its a heckuva lot more sensitive. even on the most subtle bites. most rods with micros have more guides than rods that don't, therefore more line is touching the blank= more sensitivity.

[21farms]

i had a kistler micro magnesium...i was amazed at just how tiny the micro guides were when i received the rod and thought my connection know would definitely be a problem. but, i tried 50# power pro with a 14# XPS fluoro leader connected via an alberto knot and, much to my surprise, was not a problem at all. just make sure you cinch the alberto down real tight.

i'd actually be more concerned about the line guide on the reel itself since line feeds into that guide at more extreme angles. have you seen how tiny the line guide is on the quantum smokes?

[NJ_BASS]

I use a W&M micro guide rod and I tend to see some problems with the line passing through with braid with a double uni for the leader. Also if you pick up any slop on your line they can clog quick. Overall I really enjoy the micro guides. The sensitivity has gone way up with this rod using braid.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Micro guides increase sensitivity but not by increasing contact. Its the reduced weight, especially in the tip section that leads to improved sensitivity.