Saw the post about 15# mono going through a 3.5 guide. If you used 3.5 on the say last 4 guides, how would you size the first few guides and do the step down to 3.5? Use a 7' casting rod for example.

Can't answer that, but I can tell you that 10# Fireline goes from a 2000 sized spinning reel through a REC 20, 12, 6 and through size 2.5mms without a hitch. I am well aware Mono is a totally different animal, but I cannot answer that.

I 've used nothing smaller than #6 running guides so far but this sounds interesting. For #10 and heavier monofilament I use #7 or #8 running guides and tip ring to get the best casting distance. I can see using these tiny guides for #2 or #4 lb. mono, maybe #6, but isn't there a point of diminishing return on guide size? I know the small hole in the front of a push button (spincast) reel is an extreme bottleneck but they tend to cast pretty well anyway. Help me out here.

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

RAlph, help yourself and buy a set of smaller guides, and see if they work better.

Alex

I've settled on all 3.5's with no step down. Works great and gives a uniform straight line path where each step down guide creates a slight re-direction of the line. Probably doesn't make a lot of difference in casting distance but there is some weight difference.

Ralph

Sure there will be a point of diminishing returnes but you would have to get the ring ID fairly close to the line OD to have much effect. Think of it as a circle in a circle, no matter the sizes there is still only one contact point until the two sizes become close.

Billy

On casting rods my experimentation shows that the small guides will give a greater precentage increase in casting distance with mono than with braid.

And you are right braid casts extremely well. Another big advantage of the small guides is that you don't get nearly as many of those horrible braid "wind knots"

Hope this helps.

Bobby Feazel

[www.shockwaverods.com]

Conventional wisdom will not open the box.

More information first. Thin budget. I,ve heard that (answer[?]) too often. Thanks, Bobby, you posted while I was writing.

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/29/2008 05:31PM by Ralph Jones.

Bobby - I've been setting mine up (lightest line I use is 8# and heaviest is 15# flouro on baitcasters) with 10, 6 transition for spiral, 8, 7, and 6 the rest of the way with a 6 tip top. You saying you go 3.5 all the way?

That is correct.

Bobby Feazel

[www.shockwaverods.com]

Conventional wisdom will not open the box.

The only problem I would have with that is no tip tops will allow smooth line flow from teh last guide to teh top. YOu might wanna share how you're doing that. MY conventional rods are all braid with longer Mono leaders so I need knot clearnace, but I would be interested in knowing if you use a guide as a tip, don't care, or modify a tip. Personally, I like the "docn't care" answer, becasue it probably doesnt' matter much. I ate my irritation with the spinning set up which the line doen angle a bt from teh last guide to teh tip.

Billy

I modify a BFAT 4.5 (3.9) and you are probably right, nothing is perfect.

See six posts below for more information.

Thanks

Bobby Feazel

[www.shockwaverods.com]

Conventional wisdom will not open the box.

How many guides are you using? I would think there would be some resistance where the line drops from the reel to the guides, but I guess that could be overcome with spacing.

I too have found better casting distances with the micro guides. Although I'm not sure it’s from what Bobby suggested in an earlier post
Quote: “One of the big advantages of the small guides is that they prevent the line from "moving around", thus less line slap, thus more distance”

Or from the fact that removing so much weight off the rod with the micro guides, allows the rod to use more of the blanks energy towards casting the lure instead of moving the weight of the guides

Or a combation of both, in either case the results have be positive.

Alex;
If there is some resistance (and I'm not saying there is)
Then it has been less then the benefits I've found so far because in each case the results have been an improvement over what I've done in the past.

Now I have to qualify that my findings have been in building bass type rods. I can’t speak for the results in other rod categories. Some one else will have to tackle those.

I just this minute ordered a dozen #4 Alconite BLAG guides from Custom Tackle Supply on the left. I needed to order a pair of blanks anyway, Rainforest RF2SP600, for a matching flyrod-spinning rod pair for a friend. So I'll find out about these guides for myself. I couldn't bring myself to go smaller.

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

One thing about the smaller guide's is the line grab on the cast that the smaller guides create. From casting Steve's rods last yeat at the show, I ?think? this acts kinda like a fly rod throwing the line, and it gives you more control with it.

DR

Well, I too am now going to be ordering a different set of guides for a rod I was about to build... not sure if I should say thanks for the ideas or thanks for getting me to spend more money. LOL