Simple question. For anyone here who uses the 27X spacing and micro guides (size 3.5 Batson or 4.0 Fuji or smaller) do you use the micro guide at the 27X choke point, or do you use a larger guide like a size 5 or 6?

I ask as I have only 2 larger guides between the reel and choke point and it just seem like a rather sudden drop.

Curious if there's any concensus. (Probably not....:)

Thanks,
Mo

Mo-
I may get corrected-but your choke guide is your 1st running guide-so it and the others to the tip should be the same size. 4s or 3.5s should work as long as you don't have knots too large to pass. Test everything as always!

Chris

Mo;
This may or may not answer your question. On the rods I have done were I've used 2.5mm and smaller micro’s I’ve found it necessary to use a 3.5 for casting distance.
So I would say based on that the 3.5mm should work fine.
But it would not hurt to try a size larger to see if it has an effect or not.

Right, the first running guide is the choker guide.

Always use the smallest and lightest guides that will still pass your line and any required connections.

.............

I confess, and I would be curious to hear Tom's thought on this, that I often use a size 5 as the first running guide, even thought the rest of the running guides are 4s. The 4 just seems so small and I fear that any remaining coiling of the line will result in friction. I don't do this on my "teeny braid" rods but I do on those that might use 6lb mono. On a different note, with UL rods that will not use more than a soft 4lb mono or 1lb diameter braid, I often pull the butt guide way back - like under 17 inches - and make my choke guide less than 27x because I figure the line is so supple that I can choke it down very quickly and keep heavy guides way back on the rod with micro guides along most of it's length. If a Zebco cast 6lb mono so well, I figure I can choke it down pretty quickly.

Mo, do you ever do that with really light line?

I doubt the line will notice any difference between a 4 and a 5. If it hasn't lost its coils by then, well...

I'd go ahead and swap the 5 for a 4.

...............

I'll apply TK's recommendation to my next build!

To Mo's question about abrupt step down, I never use more than 2 guides to make the transiton on my freshwater rods, but I build lighter freshwater rods. If I ever step past 1/2 ounce for so on lures then I go to baitcasting.

Marty,

No, I've not run the choker as short as yours - 17 inches. But I'll note this. If you use BRAID which is very soft and supple, even Fireline after it's been used a while, you could probably choke down even less. Braid basically doesn't seem to be much sensitive to guide position per my tests. However with mono that's stiffer, then I think the distances of guides really do matter. But does 2lb mono really matter? I've not actually tested it with different guide configuration but I think it does especially as some of the guys I know use 1/32 oz lures. Even a tiny bit of drag reduces casting distance. I'm a big one for max casting distance area covered is the SQUARED of distance cast.

Thanks to everyone else for commenting. Steve, your comment on 2.5 and 3.5 in the past was one reason why i asked. Tom, the knots are no problem with UL lines even with size 2.5, but Steve's observation made me wonder if a larger choker would be in order.

Keep the comment coming.....:)

Mo

You should be able to look though the butt guide too the choker and the rings should all be centered. Like a Bulls Eye.Adjust as need and test cast.

Bill - willierods.com