I am looking for microguides to wrap on my Sage CT blanks. When I look at the microguides offered by various companies I notice that they only come in sizes 3 and 4. I have built a few rods with a 4.5/4 tip top followed by guides in sizes 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7,8 and 10. These are the TLSG titanium silicon carbide guides made by Fuji. Fuji also has the CLAG concept alconite guides and LSG gunsmoke silicon carbide concept guides. I love the TLSG titnium silicon carbide guides. However, at approx 17 guides per rod this is around $140/set and it's burning a hole in my wallet. I don't like the look of the all-black CLAG guides too much.

My question is, do any of you have any recommendations on a particular guide that comes in sizes 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5 single foot? Thank you in advance.

Hi Lam,
Why do you need so many sizes? 4's or 5's for the majority, whatever will pass your connections should be sufficient. Checkout the Kigan guides from Hydra Fishing/Kigan on the left as they look pretty good and their coming out with a titanium frame shortly.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2012 05:34AM by Col Chaseling.

Lam,

Check out American Tackle's mircos. That is what I use for micro guides. They offer micros in black, stainless, and titanium. For titanium I use the NIRLMG Artus Solid Titanium micros. They come in a size 3 and 4. I use the Titan Solid Titanium single foot guides NIRLF to transition to the micros. They come in sizes 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10. They do not have the half sizes, but they also will not cost $140 a set.

Brad Parker

The AMTAK Titanium Nanolite guides are an awesome value. Lightweight, plenty strong, and priced right.

The original Batson minis are available in all of the intermediate sizes. Check with Swampland or Utmost. Swampland carries all of the micros. Lance and Bill should have what you need. Utmost is just down the road from Batson, and can get anything you need in short order.

Joe

KTAG's. They start at 4 and go up in .5 increments and are great guides.

How long of a rod are we talking about? 17 guides on any rod sounds excessive unless we're talking about a fairly long rod length.

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

We carry all the Batson Micro guides as well as the Pac Bay Minima.
We also have the Special Custom Batson Black frame Gold Ring guides and tops
Here is a link;
[www.schneidersrods.com]

Best wishes,
Ron Schneider
Schneider's Rod Shop
Mountain Home, Arkansas
[www.schneidersrods.com]
mtnron40@yahoo.com
870-424-3381

Col Chaseling Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi Lam,
> Why do you need so many sizes? 4's or 5's for the
> majority, whatever will pass your connections
> should be sufficient. Checkout the Kigan guides
> from Hydra Fishing/Kigan on the left as they look
> pretty good and their coming out with a titanium
> frame shortly.

Thanks for the response Col. I have looked at the Kigan 'C' Casting guides and really like it. However, I run into the same problems in that the Kigan 'C' casting guides don't come in size 4.5. I have tried taping guide sizes 4 followed by 5 on my blank and just can't seem to like the huge jump in size and because this is my custom Sage CT rod (which Sage doesn't make anymore) I want it to be as close to perfection as possible ;-). Perhaps I am just spoiled by the TLSG guides. They sure are expensive though........

brad parker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lam,
>
> Check out American Tackle's mircos. That is what
> I use for micro guides. They offer micros in
> black, stainless, and titanium. For titanium I
> use the NIRLMG Artus Solid Titanium micros. They
> come in a size 3 and 4. I use the Titan Solid
> Titanium single foot guides NIRLF to transition to
> the micros. They come in sizes 5, 6, 7, 8, and
> 10. They do not have the half sizes, but they
> also will not cost $140 a set.
>
> Brad Parker

Thanks Brad. I have looked at American Tackle as well and, again, I face the same issue. I just wish that these guide companies make guides in half increment sizes (i.e., 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5 and 5.5). I know that it's supply and demand and they probably don't sell enough of the half increment sizes to consider making them. I guess I am just one of the minute few builders who love the smooth guide transition.

Bruce Vetre Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The AMTAK Titanium Nanolite guides are an awesome
> value. Lightweight, plenty strong, and priced
> right.

I love these guides, too. But again no half increment sizes as these AMTAK Titan Nanolite guides only come in sizes 3 and 4.

I guess I should come to the reality that if everyone builds them in sizes 3 and 4 then I should, too :-(.

Joe Vanfossen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The original Batson minis are available in all of
> the intermediate sizes. Check with Swampland or
> Utmost. Swampland carries all of the micros.
> Lance and Bill should have what you need. Utmost
> is just down the road from Batson, and can get
> anything you need in short order.
>
> Joe

Thanks Joe. I will check with Swampland and Utmost to see what they have in stock.

Brandon Gay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> KTAG's. They start at 4 and go up in .5 increments
> and are great guides.

That PERFECT! That's the transition I needed and the price is right! Thank you so much Brandon! You guys have all been extremely helpful!

Tom Kirkman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How long of a rod are we talking about? 17 guides
> on any rod sounds excessive unless we're talking
> about a fairly long rod length.
>
> ...............

Hi Tom, my previous builds were the St. Croix SCV NSi 9'6" in the 4-8, 6-10 and 8-12 power that I extended to 10' for steelhead and coho fishing here in the Pacific Northwest. I know that 17 guides may be excessive but it was the only way for the line to not touch the blanks when I flexed them. I would love to go with less guides to decrease weight and increase responsiveness/sensitivity but just can't seem to do it with the microguides. I just love the look of the microguides on the rods.

Very good. By the way, you only need a couple or three sizes total on that rod. A butt guide, perhaps a single intermediate and then all the same size on out to the tip.

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

I agree with Tom. You can jump down pretty quick.. With that said, I always use a 7 DF, 5, 4.5, then 4's because they are available and do make a nice transition and allows the guides to be spaced a little further apart near the butt. I'm using 9 guides on 7ft rods. A little line touch is unavoidable. I don't like to see the line on the side of the blank. You could also try spiral wrapping.

The KTAG's are hard to beat!! Great product at a great price and offered in 4.5. We have plenty in stock, please let us know if we can help.

Tight Lines and Bull's-eyes,

Get Bit Outdoors
407-542-7840
www.GetBitOutdoors.com
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