Over the past couple of years, I've seen many references on this board about using micro guides on fly rods. I would like to give them a try. Do micro guides use ceramic rings, and if so would it make them slightly heavier than single foot guides and more suseptible to the ceramic rings cracking? What are the pros & cons of using micro guides over traditional snake and single foot guides. It seems micros have feet that are easier to secure to a blank than single foot guides. If I use micro guides for the running guides, what looks and functions best for stripping guides? I desire a clean/minimalist look that will optimize blank performance.

What would you recommend (brand & sizes) of micro guides to use on the following fly rods:

2 and 3 weight rods, 6 to 8 feet long

4 and 5 weight rods, 6 to 8 feet long

6 and 7even weight rods, 6.5 to 8 feet long

Thanks for your help in advance!

I would advise using the correct sized guides which will be the smallest and lightest that will easily pass your line and connections while holding up to the task required.

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Snake guides of the appropriate size work really really well for fly rods.

I've used size three rods over 8ft

I've used size three rods over 8ft

I've used size three rods over 8ft

I've used size three rods over 8ft

Sorry, the site wasn't responding so I tried a few times. Did not know a reply was being sent

Micro guides may give you the look that you like but are unlikely to improve the rod's performance. A single foot "snake" guide will probably weigh less than a micro guide and will provide less wind resistance, although the difference in either measurement will be infinitesimal. If a micro guide is small enough to impede the passage of a leader nail knot the performance of the finished fly rod will be greatly reduced. With fly rods at least the use of micro guides is about show, not performance.

I agree with Phil. I put SF guides with inserts on several of my heavier rods and while they may provide a small increase in distance when shooting line, you pay a penalty in weight. I find that the line hangs up on single foot guides more often than double foot snakes. Since I build rods for customers, any rod that I've demo'd with SF guides and inserts really turns off potential customers.

With respect to your specific question, the guide must be large enough to pass the fly line and connection knots. I found that the smallest guide I could use comfortably with mid-weight rods is a #6. With this in mind, micros would not have sufficient size to allow clean passage of line and knots so would not be a good choice in my opinion. I've gone back to using snakes on most of my rods and some single foot snakes for small rods that emphasize weight reduction.

I hope this helps.

Terry

About seven years ago I built a 9wt. rod on a Gatti blank, using small, single foot ceramic guides ("Small" since the "micro" term was not in vogue then). The rod launched a fly line beautifully, but unfortunately I did not consider the diameter of a nail knot or the diameter of a coaxial braided loop, either of which had to be carefully manipulated through the guide train. I wound up cutting the "small" guides off and replacing them with REC NiTi snake guides. I could not observe any difference in casting performance.
I didn't enjoy removing and replacing the guides. I advise builders to actually and carefully check for problems with easy clearance of line connections.

I've put size 4 Minima 4's on a 5 weight and they are too small to easily rig the rod by doubling over the fly line and pulling through. (Nail knot leader connection). They fish well but the knot is a bit of a pain sometimes. Next rod I will not use smaller than size 5 Minima 4's, or go back to single foot snakes. Anything heavier than a 6 wt will be double foot snakes. Make sure to test how well your knots pass before building!!

TJB

Agree with Terry, Phil and Thomas.
Can't see the point. Sometimes you can't improve on REC Recoil s/f or d/f guides for the runners. Use ceramics for the stripper and second.
Herb

I would be careful about putting micro guides on larger rods (8 weight or higher). In particular if you are going to fish big saltwater fish. On my 12 weight rod I use 20, 16, 12, ceramic stripping guides then 6 to the tip with a very large tip top. Any sort of clearance problem in your lines or knots on big fast running fish can result in guides literally being blown off your rod.