Hi Folks, I am getting ready to put micro guides for the first time on a casting rod. I plan to use 4's. Should I use a couple #6 micros starting with the butt guide, then the #4's to the tip?

Second question for a 2nd rod-
Also, I am thinking of building a spiral wirh micros. Has anyone done this, and if so, what did you use for transition guides, or bumper if it was a simple spiral. I am getting brain-dead on how to lay out the butt guide, and the transition with the spiral. I wonder if I need a bigger butt guide, and transition guide, or guides, depending on wether I build it as a simple spiral, or use 2 transition guides, as I also have done. The micros look like the line may stay too clost to the blank making the transition. Maybe an #8 for the transition, or bumper guide, hard for me to tell.

I would sure appreciate some suggestions from you folks!
Thanks again,

Kyle Robinson

You don't want to go too small on the bumper guide ring size. It's important that it be low to the blank, but the ring itself should be large enough that any line path movement between the 1st and 2nd guide should not put any side load on the bumper guide, which can happen if you use a ring that is too small.


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

When building all on top several very competent builders are using all the same size guides
Personally I build spirals.
On your spiral
6mm-5mm-4mm’s (or smaller) to the tip is my suggestion. And I don’t suggest a simple spiral.

I built one with guides on top using all 3's per Bill Stevens advice-you won't believe how great that rod casts.

For me it also depends on the application. For a moving bait rod with all the guides on top, use all 4mm. If it is going to be a rod for worms, jigs or other baits where the user may hold his finger on the line in front of the reel I use a double foot 6 for the first guide to get some extra height.

I have several simple spiral rods with micros for the bumper and they work great, but these are fast action rods that are quite stiff in the area of the transition. I use a double foot 6 for the first guide, 4 bumper, 5 single foot first 180º, and 4’s the rest of the way.

I generally build all my baitcasting rods as spirals. I do what Steve suggests and do 6, 5, 4, for the transition, then 3s to the tip.

Either do a search and find Steve's method for spirals, or just ask him to e-mail it to you. IMO, it's the best option for a spiral with micro guides.

pretty close to what steve mentioned - i use 6mm, 6mm 5mm for the bumper spiral. I use a doublefoot 6 for the butt guide, then singles the rest of the way. Don't see why you couldn't use a single six for the butt guide.

Regards,
-Justin

I just finished a rod built for downrigging kokanee and will be starting another one soon. I used a Rainshadow RDR76L blank set it up with a TiCA Caimen DJ100 levelwind reel. I just goofed with the sizes and positioning and ended up using a double footed size 10 for the butt guide then a 5 for the bumper, 5 for transition and 4's on up to and including the tip top. This set up was suggested by Karry Batson but I had to get some extra micros and mess with it until I ultimately came back to his original set up anyway. Just had to satisfy my inner tinker-er I guess. This rod has exactly the action we wanted for downrigging for kokes, trout and macks but it wont see much if any casting. Seems like the 10 is bigger than most are using for butt guides but it works well the way this one is set up. I guess the only way to know for sure is to put the reel that you will be using on the rod and start playing with different sizes and locations based on reel size and blank action.

Having said that, micro guides can be a challenge to deal with during the set up stage but dont be for giving up until you are satisfied that its right! I spent nearly 3 hours tinkering with it and picking micro guides up off the floor which is a rediculous amount of time but I feel the results are worth the time and frustration.

I'm another that is similar to Steve with my spirals, dbl 6, single 5, single 4 and 3s to the tip. I'll also use this layout all on top or all 4s on top depending on the application and customer.

I’m not sure everyone realizes that guide sizes (I.D.s) vary considerably depending on the make. Giving a size alone is not very definitive.

In my case
reffering to Batsons
But also using the 2.5 and 3mm's most of the time.
Sometimes 2mm



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2010 10:41PM by Steve Gardner.

The MICRO guides and tops present a MACRO problem for those who have not seen them or built and field tested rods. This very bright light is now shining directly in the faces of the production guys who have plans on bringing the micro rods to market in the near future.

The manufacturer should be included with sizing when asking/answering questions pertaining to micro guide choice.

What is at stake - footprint for secure attachment and wrapping considerations, guide height, total weight, ID of ring, thickness of ring, size of frame, ring material, ring attachment to frame, angle of repose ..... etc. All of these affect wind knot tangle, line touch, line choices, knot passage, configuration, total rod weight and yes even that word sensitivity.

If this is your first one be sure you got it right if ordering guides for a rod or get a wide selection and check them out yourself.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

I used Batson BMKLG guides but they dont look like the ones pictured in the links. The butt guide is a XBLXNLG.