Any opinions or micro-guides? I broke my pitch'n rod and need to replace it. I've seen many rods featuring micro-guides but I know very little about them.

As a rule, the smallest, lightest guides suitable for an application will allow the blank to reatin as much of it's design elements as possible. The main consideration as far as a bass rod is concerned is passing any necessary leaders or knots. An Albright knot joining 65# braid and 17# fluoro will pass #4 guides no problem. If icing is a concern, that should be factored as well. All the bass rods I build for personal use have micros and I recommend them regularly to clients.

I have one micro guide rod. I like it but can't say that I think it makes a world of difference. One of the selling/advertising points is that it helps you cast farther. I can't say that I have noticed any increase in distance. One thing that I did notice is that the line does seem to have less play when casting and working your bait. This is hard to explain but the line just feels tighter and you have a little more control, nothing major but it is noticable. One of the main reasons that I bought the micro guide rod was I hate it when my braided line gets wrapped around the guides. The line gets hung up less on the micro guides but still does occassionally get hung up. If I was to buy another rod I would buy one with micro guides but I wouldn't pay any more just for the micro guides.

I have read repeatedly on other forums that micro guides do not give you more distance, but do contribute to better accuracy. Delaware Valley's comment regarding #4 eye size is really important if you are going to be pitching with heavy line joined. If you go down to #3 guides you will not be happy.