I am building a redfish rod for a friend. Casting distance is one goal as his fishing requires long casts to spooky reds. He wants a medium action (8-12lbs) rod 7'3" in length. I am thinging the airwave guides would be a good choice on a MHX blank for this rod. I see the runners are 5mm. Is this going to work with a double uni knot with 10 lb braid to a 20 lb. mono leader. I have seen this discussed, but could not find the thread. Is the Elite series worth the difference in cost? Thanks for your suggestions-comments.

I really like the guides for the purpose listed and IMO the #5 runners would be the smallest I would go when using braid and a leader. I am using #6 for all my own rods that I build. I have some factory built rods with these guides and smaller runners and have trouble with the knots. I ended up replacing the tip top with a #5. Good Luck
Steve

Hi Danny,

I would highly recommend the MicroWave 25 Duralite Guides for this application. They are designed with stronger frames perfect for inshore applications. They feature a 25mm outer ring with a 6mm insert and come with 6mm running guides.


Here is a link to purchase them: [www.mudhole.com]



Hope this helps!

Thanks for the recommendations. I was thinking the Microwaves 25 were for a heavier rod situation than this build. Thank you. I like the MV25 idea.

The double uni with 20 pound mono will be pretty large. Not a deal breaker with 5mm guides, but close. Learn the Alberto, practice it in front of the TV and soon you will be an expert. BUT, be sure to realize that there are two kinds of knots. Slip knots like the double uni, which if not finished properly will just slip into integrity, and other knots that have to be set hard to keep from unravelling. The FG and the Alberto are in the latter group, so I suggest that you finish the Alberto in two steps: 1. Set it hard by first pulling on the leader tag, then on the leader and line (knot wet with spit), and 2. finish it with two half hitches of the braid onto the knot.

The FG knot is my favorite. Strongest and thinest knot available. No problem passing through 4.5 guides using 15# braid and 20# fluorocarbon. Does take some practice to tie properly. The nice thing about this knot it has no tag end in front of the knot, so there is nothing to hung up when casting. The slim beauty also does not have a tag end in front, but it is a bulker knot.
Norm

Danny,
I have found no reason to tie leader to braid with any knot other than the FG knot; it IS the strongest yet thinnest of any knots; why look further?

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Thanks for all of the knot advise. I typically use the FG knot, but this rod is for a friend. That is the knot he told me he uses so I am building to that. I think he would want the best casting guides for the build. I failed to mention he will be fishing a Stradic 3000 on the rod. I don't think this will change anything. My only question would be why not the MV25s? I am still quite a novice builder and have used the Microwaves yet.

Why not KR guides?
Norm

Danny,
Yet again I agree with Norman; the KR Concept is awesome! KL-H reduction guides followed by KB and KT runners to a LG tip top = it does not get any better than that!!!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Mark, the reason to "look further" than the FG is that it is very sensitive to screwing it up in the tying process and it appears to be sensitive to different lines being used, probably due to the coatings of the lines. I've seen recommendations to scrape the line before tying. I like it too, but have to admit that now and then I get a failure I cannot explain. I think but cannot prove that it is not as good on lighter leaders as it is on heavier ones. The next smallest, reliable, knot, in my opinion, is the Alberto with the added half hitches. It is not quite as small as the FG, much smaller than the double uni, and not that difficult to tie reliably.

As with so many things, there are tradeoffs. In this case size vs. reliability.

Go with the MicroWave 25's. So even if they aren’t so savvy in line to line connections they will not have an issue with their leader knots. With the 25 size you are getting a larger stripper guide and all the benefits that come with the Microwave guides.

The Alberto knot looks very simple to tie and reliable. I will have to give it a try. ery few of my personal rods are micro guided, but eventually I am sure all will be.

I'm with Norm on this one.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/2021 06:10PM by Kent Griffith.

I am passing a uni knot, 30lbs braid to 15lbs mono with a 4 mm micro guide. I do use a 4.5 mm or 5 mm tip top with this set up. 5 mm should be big enough.

Again, we all differ in what we like. For line to leader, I Like the blood knot, and the nail knot. They are both slim, and strong. I have yet to have either of these knots fail me. There are also some great knot tying tools that make it very easy to qujickly tie your knots.

Tight Lines and frisky fish

RJF