Micro eyes

[fishinwrench]

My old school round reels would look totally out of place on a micro-guide split-grip rod.  

[abkeenan]

10 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

My old school round reels would look totally out of place on a micro-guide split-grip rod.  

I know you're a round reel guy, so if you're in the market might want to give the brand new Lew's round reels a try. If they are anything like the rest of their reels they will be a solid performer. Hard to beat the old Abu's but for $100 worth a shot to see what they are about:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_Speed_Round_Baitcasting_Reel/descpage-LOS.html

 

 

 

 

 

[fishinwrench]

Too big.  I use the 4600 series ABU's.   I can overhaul one with my eyes closed and they do everything I want a reel to do. No desire to change, or even try anything else.  Besides, every glitterboat on the lake is floating a Lew's representative. I enjoy being different.  ?

The guys that work there have bills to pay too !   

[Champ188]

I used to have several of the old silver 4600-CB's and for some of the junk I've owned since then, I'd be better off to still be throwing them. Built like a tank. Mine went everywhere from the biggest lake to the smallest farm pond and worked as advertised every step of the way. All they ever needed was an occasional level wind paw and a good cleaning/lube a couple times a year.

[176champion]

The micro eyes on the rod i was looking at are all the same size, they seem as small as what would be on the tip of the rod all the way down to the reel...did not know if the smaller eyes by the reel would effect casting and performance...guess im still old school.

[vernon]

On Mr. Babler's recommendation, I purchased two of the Mike McClelland "micro" Falcon casting rods and absolutely love em' (Swim Jig I think?).  Never really looked to see if the guide size is uniform the entire length of the rod or not but can't imagine anything casting a wider range of baits and weights much better.  They are definitely way smaller than anything else I've ever used though.

[Champ188]

1 hour ago, 176champion said:

The micro eyes on the rod i was looking at are all the same size, they seem as small as what would be on the tip of the rod all the way down to the reel...did not know if the smaller eyes by the reel would effect casting and performance...guess im still old school.

176champion, there were a couple of theories at work when the micro guides came out a few years back.

First, they lightened up rods considerably and allowed blanks to operate more freely with less wrapping required.

Second, with little room for the line to "wallow around" inside the tiny guides during a cast, it was believed that the reduced friction would result in longer casts. I'm not sure that actually happened. It certainly didn't for me.

I bought quite a few of the Duckett Micro Magic rods. Loved them and still do. They're light and I've never had one break unless I shut the rod box lid on it or committed some equally careless/ignorant act. HOWEVER, nearly every one of them is now missing at least one guide, and some are missing two or three. The dang guides are super fragile and become moreso with age. I would love to have them rewrapped but I'm not going to spend more than $50 a rod to refurbish used rods. Just not prudent. So I don't know what I'm gonna do with them.

Bottom line is I really can't recommend micro guides, at least not the little tiny ones like Duckett uses (or did on the original rods). I think there's a newer semi-mini size that probably is sturdier and would hold up longer.

[Alex Heitman]

If you fish in cold temperatures like below freezing the micro guides are useless. Ice builds up in those tiny things and you can't cast without dunking your rod every two secs. I have some micro guide rods and I like them but hate them in the wintertime. 

[Champ188]

6 minutes ago, Alex Heitman said:

If you fish in cold temperatures like below freezing the micro guides are useless. Ice builds up in those tiny things and you can't cast without dunking your rod every two secs. I have some micro guide rods and I like them but hate them in the wintertime. 

You're dead right about that Alex and we do a LOT of winter fishing.

[176champion]

I think maybe this might some it up somewhat..when to use and not use micro eyes...of coarse this is someone else's opinion.... My lews rod has the micro eyes but they are progressive in size...IM8 rod..

 

...