I see a lot of rods around with Microguides And don't know anything about them . Do the small guides affect the casting distance ?

I understand they are lighter but other than that ...

Microguides, if placed properly, should not negatively affect casting distance. Many report that they actually reduce line slap during casts, improving casting distance. The other benefit as a result of the weight savings is a more balanced and sensitive rod.

Thank you

Weight saving is by far the biggest advantage to micro guides which translates directly to sensitivity. Casting accuracy and to a lesser extent distance, may be improved by shooting the line in a straighter path.

I have the micro guides on one of my baitcastes and at first I was apprhensive about them.

So I set it up and went to my field and made a cast.

Holy Cow!!!! The line flew and flew and flew off the spool with no problems. Fantastic cast.

Was I impressed? Yes I was.

I don't know the physics behind the micro guides but they seem to work.

I've been wanting to pull the trigger on a micro guide rod, but haven't yet. Not sure which one I want. Maybe a Ducket, Kistler LTA, new Okuma helios.... I'd love to get one of the top of the line Z-Bones, but can't afford to drop that much $.

I was told by someone that the micros do well pitching also.

Wouldn't be able to fish a microguide rod in the winter.

Wouldn't be able to fish a microguide rod in the winter.

That depends where you're fishing. Winter in the Atlanta area isn't all that bad.

I have a Cabelas Prodigy Microguide rod setup with a Daiwa Exceler 7.1:1 reel and 30# braid and can attest to it being very sensitive and a bit more casting distance as well.

The only problem with them so far that I have found is that you can not have a long leader on them. The knots connecting the line do not go through the guides very well at all, sometimes fouling up the reel because line just stopped moving through guides. Otherwise I have gotten smoother and longer cast with them and they are light as a feather.

priceless, I wish all rods used them.

I would kill to have them on m steez rods.

The knots connecting the line do not go through the guides very well at all

Then micros aren't the proper guide for your application. Guides need to be sized to pass your connections without impeding the line flow. That is the reason that mass produced rods shouldn't use them. They have no control over what type of line or connecting knots will be used. They just jumped on the micro bandwagon because they were creating such a stir in the custom arena for so long.

I have #4 guides on all of the rods I currently use. They pass a uni-uni just fine with 10# powerpro and 15' of 6# or 8# fluoro leaders.

Then micros aren't the proper guide for your application. Guides need to be sized to pass your connections without impeding the line flow. That is the reason that mass produced rods shouldn't use them. They have no control over what type of line or connecting knots will be used. They just jumped on the micro bandwagon because they were creating such a stir in the custom arena for so long.

I have #4 guides on all of the rods I currently use. They pass a uni-uni just fine with 10# powerpro and 15' of 6# or 8# fluoro leaders.

X2 Micro refers to a range of guide sizes and they need to match the application. They are not a cure all for every rod.

Guy at BPS was telling me that you get longer casts, and that they improve accuracy.. Whatever! Well, needless to say, I'm a believer. Got a carbonlite 7ft MH, and its amazing with those little guides. Innovation of the year IMO. Oh, and that rod just put my GLX in the back-up role. Crazy, maybe, but there it is.

Wouldn't be able to fish a microguide rod in the winter.

The microguides actually do better than other rods in the winter. The small top eye wicks away the rest of the water from the other guides. SO, the only eye that freezes up is the first one. I do a lot of below freezing fishing here in winter, and the Duckett rod really suprised me. The eyes are going to freeze up anyway... with a micro guide at least its only the top eye, and all you have to do is dip it into the water and shake it around!

You know what, didn't think about it like that, makes perfect sense, thanks for the "tip!" bwaaahaaaa!

Below freezing temps are where I use the Recoil guides. I use them regularly on steel-head rods.

I now have 3 rods with micro guides. I believe they are here to stay and not just a fad. The reason is they flat out work great. They have several pros and little if any cons. I plan on all my new rod purchases having micros.

I ended up buying a Kistler.

After 1 day of use it is OK the grip is a bit fatter than I like but it's light and sensitive and has a cork grip.

I also got a new reel (Lew's TP) and I haven't seen an increase in casting distance but I am going to try just setting 1 break instead of 2 and see if I can't get more out of it.

All & all I'm happy with it and may buy another Microguide rod.

Lots of marketing bs with micros. Several of the production micro rods have WAY too many guides. A micro rod can't be more accurate, accuracy has to do with the caster not the components. There are advantages with micros, and disadvantages too (cottonwood seeds and ice are two that affect me).