Thread: Which rod can cast extremely light lures the farthest?

Originally Posted by UpstateSC_Bill

OK. I understand the notion of reducing line slap in order to improve casting distance. Whether it works or not is open to question I guess. But it is the micro guide mounted inside of a seemingly normal sized stripper guide. I don't see how that way of designing the guide accomplishes anything. Why not just mount the micro guide directly to the guide foot? It would seem to accomplish the same thing without the added weight of the outside ring. I hope I am explaining myself clearly. Old guy here who is admittedly not up to date on the latest designs.

Not a designer of rods and I cannot answer that question. But it is not new...this system has been around for about 20 years, if not more.


Regards

Originally Posted by SuperDave336

The outer ring helps control the line. Watch the video on this page and see how it helps sort of funnel the line into the smaller guide.

MicroWave Guide System

OK. It makes a little more sense in that video. In the picture of the rod above it appears that the outer ring is more towards the tip side of the rod. The rod looks slightly larger in diameter on the microguide side so I assumed that was the butt side. I guess I was misinterpreting the picture. If they've been around for twenty years I honestly haven't encountered one. But then I haven't bought a new rod in about fifteen of those years. Never had trouble casting as far as I needed to with my three ultra light rods, two St. Croix and a Fenwick.

Don't get confused between the microwave guide system and the micro guides found on JDM rods.

Most if not all of my JDM rods have very small guides towards the tip to minimize line slap. Even the JDM rod's tip is very small in diameter compared to a standard rod's tip. My Yamaga Blanks TZ 71/Nano is rated for very light jigs down to 0.3g and has Torzite guides. Although Torzite guides are slightly larger in diameter than comparable SIC guides they are still very small diameter. Torzite guides have less friction and are about 40% lighter than SIC guides. Sensitivity and casting is improved using Torzite guides. My YB TZ 71 will outcast my Okuma Pro Guide 8ft rod with light tungsten jig streamers and is much more sensitive. I can feel a trout inhale a jigged tungsten nymph 20-30yds away, it's that good.

And again, line diameter greatly affects casting distance.

The only con using microwave and micro guides I can think of is cold icey conditions. Smaller guides freeze up easier and much quicker.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Thanks for the info. My confusion was mainly caused by my misinterpretation of the relative position of the larger outer ring relative to the inner micro ring. It was more of a how does that work question. I see what is going on now. I know that guide design and materials and construction have evolved somewhat since I last bought a rod.

Micro guides on the upper third of a rod are good IMO as long as the lower guides are of ample diameter to allows coils of line to gradually straighten out .

Originally Posted by gillchaser999

Micro guides on the upper third of a rod are good IMO as long as the lower guides are of ample diameter to allows coils of line to gradually straighten out .

I tend to agree with you. It is that stripper guide with double rings that I am skeptical about. I also tend to agree with previous statements that the line is a big factor in casting distance, maybe the biggest.

Originally Posted by UpstateSC_Bill

I tend to agree with you. It is that stripper guide with double rings that I am skeptical about. I also tend to agree with previous statements that the line is a big factor in casting distance, maybe the biggest.

If the Micro guides ( the double guides with the small diameter center) worked , why wouldn’t a tall small diameter guide work and cut out the extra weight of the outer ring ?
I’ve seen UL rods with small diameter tall stripper guides , even own a few .
With everything else being equal, they don’t cast as far as the ones with a larger ring stripper.

Originally Posted by gillchaser999

If the Micro guides ( the double guides with the small diameter center) worked , why wouldn’t a tall small diameter guide work and cut out the extra weight of the outer ring ?
I’ve seen UL rods with small diameter tall stripper guides , even own a few .
With everything else being equal, they don’t cast as far as the ones with a larger ring stripper.

According to the video that larger outer ring is supposed to funnel the line down into the smaller ring. But to my way of thinking funneling the line down in such a short distance should cause more friction/drag. It would seem that keeping a larger, standard stripper and letting that feed into micro guides more towards the tip would work better. But that is just speculation on my part since I don't have a rod with such a dual ring guide.