I bought a 10'6" Century surf blank at the Expo rated for 3/4 - 3 oz.
The plan is to build it as a spinning rod for plugging.
Having never used micros or K style I'm at a loss for choosing guides for this build.

The blank is quite light so I'd like to keep the weight down on the guides.
Titanium is certainly an option no matter what style i choose.

Micros? K series? Low Riders?
A combination of them?

While it's great having so many options it has me a bit stymied at the moment.

I will greatly appreciate the suggestions of the knowledgable surf guys of the Forum.

My Century Sling Shot 1327 is built NGC with all Fuji K guides. I built it around an Emblem Pro 6000A. The stripper is 30 mm and the runners are 10 mm. The 10 mms allow the 125 # Tactical Anglers clip to pass through, so, it's not necessary to cut it off the leader when packing the reel. The 30 mm stripper is fine for braid. In test casting the 25 mm worked well too, but I wanted to leave some leeway in case the rod gets a larger spooled reel in the future. It casts well. Now I just have to find some fish.

Thanks James.
Ryan White of Hatteras Jack suggested using a reversed low rider for the first guide and then K guides.
I'm just wondering if Micros offer any distinct advantage.

Ryan White knows his stuff, especially when it comes to distance casting. In my estimation, you did not get the 3/4 - 3 oz. Sling Shot for distance casting, but for light plugging. It is not written in stone, but my understanding from reading about what some respectable builders who do build lowrider say, is that a lowrider setup performs optimally with fast action rods 11' and longer. Based on their opinions, I'm not thinking about building lowrider just yet because I'm into 9' and 11' plugging rods.

The editor of this site developed a simplified NGC method commonly known as the "27X method". I have been following this method with good results. It works fine for micros, as well.

By the way the 125# clips fit through 10mm alconites. Don't know about the other ring materials.

When you say "micros" what is the actual size you're talking about? It is possible to go too small. The guides must be able to pass your line and any required connections, including shock leader knots, if you use one.

The best bet is to use the proper sized guides. Those will be the smallest and lightest guides that will easily pass your line and any connections, and hold up to the task at hand.

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

Tom,
I saw Billy V's reference to the use of # 6 TLBDSG guides on a surf rod in an earlier post.
I plan to use nothing larger than 30# braid or lighter with no knots passing through the guides.
Steve Gardner told me long ago that even the tiny micros can pass #30 braid.
This will be just for plugs up to 3 ounces.

My basic question is if micros offer any advantage on such a rod.

I guess I still don't know what sizes are considered "micros."

As long as you line passes easily, the smaller and lighter the better. Provided the guides will also hold up to the intended use.

..........

I too have been charmed by the LDBs on surf rods. Right now there are some BLDBAG-6s taped as runners on my 9' back bay rod. BKWAGs are the reduction guides with a 25 mm stripper. After test casting, I know it is going to be a sweet rod. As the lure pulls line through the guides, it has a nice hum to it. I'll wait and see before putting these 6 mms on an ocean surf stick since threading a new leader after a break off can be difficult in harsh conditions.

While attending a NERBs meeting last weekend I saw a conventional boat rod wrapped spiral with the LDBs. Looks cool.

Tom,
I call them micro guides because that's how they're listed in catalogs.

I think I'll invest in a set and test it out. The TLDBSG's seem sturdy and I don't see a problem with the K's for reduction guides.
I don't see why it won't work out great.
I'll post results when it's done.

Thanks James for your input.