Im stumped right now between dobyns Sierra champion. Xp and the avid x I heard good reviews of both the xp, avid and avid x but my question is has anyone used the avid x with a leader? I'm a little worried the micro guides might be tough to run a leader in them 

I've done 50lb power pro w/ 12lb fluro leader on Avid X 7MHF casting rod. 68MXF spinning rod looks like it could easily pass that knot as well.

Perfect what kind of knot if it's the fg knot I'm still working at even getting that knot right toughest knot I've ever tried 

I run a leader with micro guides (including the Avidx) with no issues. I use the Alberto and am usually tying 30-40lb smackdown to various size FC. 

I just posted the stuff below for another member with the same concerns. The pics below are of an Avid X caster, but I own a 7' ML Avid X as well and the guides are identical. 

 

**From a previous post**

 

Here are some details of a couple of my setups regarding how the FG knot fits "micro vs standard" guides.  In the two examples that I show below, we'll look at the guides on my 7' MF Avid X casting rod next to my Dobyn's 733c with standard guides. The Dobyn's is spooled with Power Pro slick 30lb braid to Sunline Sniper 12lb FC while the Avid X is spooled with 30lb Suffix 832 with a Sunline Sniper 7lb leader. 

 

 

The tip guide on the left is the Avid with the right being the Dobyn's. You can see that the FG knot doesn't take up much room in the micro guide of the Avid. The knot travels in and out of the micro guides of this rod just fine and really isn't much larger than the diameter of the mainline or leader. 

 

 

I measured the ID of the standard tip guide on the Dobyn's, and it showed 3.39mm. I'm not sure if this is correct, but it may be close. The calipers wouldn't fit into the micro guide, so no luck there. 

 

 

Micro guides come in different diameters with some getting really tiny from what I have heard, so take all of this with a grain of salt. From my experience, if you want to run a leader on your Avid X, you shouldn't have a problem if you're tying a good FG knot and probably other joining knots. 

 

I had these same concerns, so I'm happy to help. Let me know if there is any other way I can help. 

30 minutes ago, therivermonster said:

I just posted the stuff below for another member with the same concerns. The pics below are of an Avid X caster, but I own a 7' ML Avid X as well and the guides are identical. 

 

**From a previous post**

 

Here are some details of a couple of my setups regarding how the FG knot fits "micro vs standard" guides.  In the two examples that I show below, we'll look at the guides on my 7' MF Avid X casting rod next to my Dobyn's 733c with standard guides. The Dobyn's is spooled with Power Pro slick 30lb braid to Sunline Sniper 12lb FC while the Avid X is spooled with 30lb Suffix 832 with a Sunline Sniper 7lb leader. 

 

 

The tip guide on the left is the Avid with the right being the Dobyn's. You can see that the FG knot doesn't take up much room in the micro guide of the Avid. The knot travels in and out of the micro guides of this rod just fine and really isn't much larger than the diameter of the mainline or leader. 

 

 

I measured the ID of the standard tip guide on the Dobyn's, and it showed 3.39mm. I'm not sure if this is correct, but it may be close. The calipers wouldn't fit into the micro guide, so no luck there. 

 

 

Micro guides come in different diameters with some getting really tiny from what I have heard, so take all of this with a grain of salt. From my experience, if you want to run a leader on your Avid X, you shouldn't have a problem if you're tying a good FG knot and probably other joining knots. 

 

I had these same concerns, so I'm happy to help. Let me know if there is any other way I can help. 

Nicely Done.

A-Jay

@therivermonster I was just about to refer him to your post 

^^^ longest FG knots I have seen!

That's really helpful thank you and while we're on the topic what would you guys recommend the avid x or champion  xp? Both similar lengths powers and actions but mostly my presentations will. Be bottom contact so which would you say is more sensitive and good backbone for hard charging smallies 

11 hours ago, gall said:

That's really helpful thank you and while we're on the topic what would you guys recommend the avid x or champion  xp? Both similar lengths powers and actions but mostly my presentations will. Be bottom contact so which would you say is more sensitive and good backbone for hard charging smallies 

 

The Champion is noticeably more sensitive in my hands than the Avid.

There's something about the champion I just really like I can't put my finger on it i mean for about an extra 30$ might as well go dobyns 

Both rods are very nice. It's nice that St. Croix is made in the US, but the Dobyn's rod is at least as light and as sensitive as the Croix, and the finish on the Dobyn's is nicer. The guides on the Dobyn's are also nicer. I like my Avid a lot, but my next rod will be another Dobyn's. 

 

I also found that medium power Croix is about comparable to the medium heavy Dobyn's rod. 

 

@fisher-o-men, I like em long and strong.  There is no pun intended there. 

I am a sucker for St Croix because their customer service is amoung the best in any industry.  Dobyns gets lots of love in the forums.

See and that's what I was curious the power ratings cause I wanna get a rod for FL I was thinking about getting a mojo 6'8 m/cf just to be able to take down and order the dobyns whwn I come home but now I'm. Debating I'd I should go ml

On 3/4/2017 at 11:37 AM, therivermonster said:

I just posted the stuff below for another member with the same concerns. The pics below are of an Avid X caster, but I own a 7' ML Avid X as well and the guides are identical. 

 

**From a previous post**

 

Here are some details of a couple of my setups regarding how the FG knot fits "micro vs standard" guides.  In the two examples that I show below, we'll look at the guides on my 7' MF Avid X casting rod next to my Dobyn's 733c with standard guides. The Dobyn's is spooled with Power Pro slick 30lb braid to Sunline Sniper 12lb FC while the Avid X is spooled with 30lb Suffix 832 with a Sunline Sniper 7lb leader. 

 

 

The tip guide on the left is the Avid with the right being the Dobyn's. You can see that the FG knot doesn't take up much room in the micro guide of the Avid. The knot travels in and out of the micro guides of this rod just fine and really isn't much larger than the diameter of the mainline or leader. 

 

 

I measured the ID of the standard tip guide on the Dobyn's, and it showed 3.39mm. I'm not sure if this is correct, but it may be close. The calipers wouldn't fit into the micro guide, so no luck there. 

 

 

Micro guides come in different diameters with some getting really tiny from what I have heard, so take all of this with a grain of salt. From my experience, if you want to run a leader on your Avid X, you shouldn't have a problem if you're tying a good FG knot and probably other joining knots. 

 

I had these same concerns, so I'm happy to help. Let me know if there is any other way I can help. 

The easiest way to measure small holes is with a drill index.  I find the drill bit that fits the best and your done.  I do use the back of the bit as to not damage the guide.