Logic tells me that the smaller the eyes, the more resistance to the line passing through them easily. I have a couple of baitcaster rods with small(probably not micro-guides) on them, and they are light, but very fragile. I would gladly forfeit lightness for durability. I'm never gonna cast a mile anyway. I use mono, so I'll probably get a lecture about switching to braid.

What reasons are there for micro-guides? IslandJim

According to a few builders it is believed to reduce line wobble and waves when cast to direct the line in a straighter path along the rod thus less resistance from line slap and smoother line deployment.
If you watch a closeup slo mo video you can see it, as to how much real world difference it makes ????

I build rods and I think they suck! They were popular for a short while when they first came out but not so much anymore, that should tell you something. Try finding an article that was written in 2020 or 2021 that boast about the benefits of micro guides.

I bought a couple rods with them and got rid of them.

They are too hard to thread line through them and the older I get the harder they are!

They were just another marketing fad. Strangely enough I dug out an old Castaway Surface bait special that's nearly 30 years old. The guides were absolutely huge in comparison. I put a 50 size Chronarch MG on it, spooled with 15# Big Game and it'd throw a Super Spook Jr. so far that I couldn't hear the splash down. I think we have gone the wrong way in guide sizing. Now if the split grip fad would go away, all would be right in the universe.

Nothing wrong with mono, been fishing close to 60 yrs, l I'm e fluorocarbon better except for price. Dont understand why anyone would use braid. Braid is what was use before mono was introduced decades ago. Mono cheap enough to change often.

Nothing wrong with mono, been fishing close to 60 yrs, l I'm e fluorocarbon better except for price. Dont understand why anyone would use braid. Braid is what was use before mono was introduced decades ago. Mono cheap enough to change often.

I think the main purpose of micro guides is to have the guides protrude through the rod sock and make you mad.

I hate them.

I bought one. I used it but when I broke it I wasn’t too sad! Won’t buy another!

I build rods for myself and close friends. I built one for myself and I hate the things, I use braid with a 6 foot mono leader tied to the braid. The knot will hang in the tip guide 90% of the time. This does not happen on my other rods.

Seems like the main purpose of micro-guides is to keep rod repair guys busy. I do a lot of repairs and failure rate is extremely high. Micro-guide sizes run 4mm and smaller. Some builders include 5mm in the micro category, but I considered it to be a transition size between mirco and standard sizes which start at 6mm. In the past year, I have removed micros and replaced with standard size guides on 7 or 8 rods. I keep micros on hand for repairs, but will not build a rod with micros.

Pretty much all I use for the last several years. For me anyway, my casts with the micro guides are longer and more accurate. Added plus of being easier to get in and out of the rod locker with multiple rods in the same tube. I'll keep buying them as long as they are available.

Have 4 abu rods with them hardly use anymore too hard to thread line.