Question For You Rod Builders

[Gavin]

That is some good info Hoglaw. I have only assembled rods with conventional guides. My first rods were bamboo fly rods that I made from scratch. Thinking 8-9 of those. Maybe 10-12 cast/spin rods. Do the micros ice up more than conventional? If it does not work in the winter I do not want it.

[drew03cmc]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is the big deal with micros? I understand they are supposed to have less friction, but if that is per guide, more guides equates to about the same friction, if my math is correct. Educate me.

[rps]

Spiral wrapping micro guides results in fewer and smaller guides that weigh less and have smaller epoxy footprints. That means the balance point of the rod moves further back toward the reel. That means greater sensitivity. In addition, it means the rod blank is less distorted by the wraps which means a truer flex while casting. Anecdotal claims exist for greater distance and accuracy, but nothing has "proved" that yet.

[Mitch f]

Spiral wrapping micro guides results in fewer and smaller guides that weigh less and have smaller epoxy footprints. That means the balance point of the rod moves further back toward the reel. That means greater sensitivity. In addition, it means the rod blank is less distorted by the wraps which means a truer flex while casting. Anecdotal claims exist for greater distance and accuracy, but nothing has "proved" that yet.

Great explanation! That all makes sense

[kjackson]

I've fished with Duckett rods quite a bit and like them. They have micro guides, and are very sensitive. However, last week I was fishing in Florabama--just north and west of Pensacola--during the miserably cold ice-and-snow event down there. The guides on the rods we used--Jackall, Shimano and G.Loomis--had significant problems with icing. The smaller guides were the worst, as you can imagine, and if we had been using rods with micro guides, the problem would have been pretty bad.

While you can fish with ice in your guides, we had problems with sensitivity. You also felt the line dragging and breaking free from the ice accumulation. It doesn't make sense that ice should impede line, but it sure seemed that way.

[dtrs5kprs]

Micros will definitely freeze up worse than regular guides.

RPS...did not mean to imply that the Batson's were as good as Alconites, just that they seem a good value for the $. Would not put them on a "show piece" stick, but would not hesitate to put them on a rod intended for hard use. Also have not used any version besides the plain black frame/black rings.

Actually about to wrap a 6'6" ML spinning rod for my son with some Batsons this afternoon. Will keep me from getting sick during the Peyton media love fest.

[drew03cmc]

Spiral wrapping micro guides results in fewer and smaller guides that weigh less and have smaller epoxy footprints. That means the balance point of the rod moves further back toward the reel. That means greater sensitivity. In addition, it means the rod blank is less distorted by the wraps which means a truer flex while casting. Anecdotal claims exist for greater distance and accuracy, but nothing has "proved" that yet.

I wasn't specifically asking about spiral wrapping the rods, just why the love fest for micros. Also, 14 micros vs 7 regular, they can't be lighter as a whole.

[5bites]

I wasn't specifically asking about spiral wrapping the rods, just why the love fest for micros. Also, 14 micros vs 7 regular, they can't be lighter as a whole.

They are actually. It takes several micros to equal the weight of even just one the very best conventional sized guides. And I'm talking cheap micros too. Besides you don't need 14 guides if any kind. As a matter if fact I don't use any more guides than I would using larger guides. This includes the conventional configuration of applying them not spiral wrapping them. Though I have made a handful of spiral wrapped rods. I personally don't see the need on a bass rid but that's my opinion. Anyway the micros weight savings allow the blank to act more like it would without any guides on it both in action and sensitivity. The more you put on a rod the more you hinder it. The only disadvantage to micros is debris or ice clogging them.

[rps]

I wrote of spiral wraps because it requires fewer guides to avoid the line contacting the blank under load. Quite honestly, I often wonder why the top line manufacturers don't produce them. Fewer guides and wrap means less expense and improved performance. I guess they fear no one will buy the "weird" things.

[Feathers and Fins]

Randy I think it has more to do with the "mold" of anglers than the performance. Your novice angler buys what he can afford which is normally just enough to get by the more experienced anglers buy what their "hero" uses if its in their price range. There are very few anglers that will put out the money or research on rods and their components to find a rod for each situation nor do most have the financial resource to do it.

If I had to guess I would bet the average angler spends about 15 to 30 bucks on a rod and the hero followers spend 60 to 120 on a rod. The guys who have the money and want the situational rods on the other hand will spend hundreds of dollars on a rod but that is a very limited market. It isn't just the guides but the blank and the grips everything about it.

When I ocean fished on all my casting rods the Blank was either Sabre, Calstar or St Croixe, the guides were all Aftco roller guides and with Fuji reel seats and true cork for the grips those were on either Calstar or Sabre rod blanks. All my spinning gear was on St Croix rods. I learned young to pay for the highest quality I could afford. Yes a cheaper one would work but as anyone who has ever had custom rods knows they are a much more pleasureful experience.

The rod you showed me I would place in the 150 to 200 range easily if it was on a stores shelf and I suspect only a few would buy it if a 30 dollar rod that would work was next to it. It is all about budget for the average angler.