Rod Sensitivity is characterized by the ability of the rod to transfer the motion of the tip to your hands. Less weight on the tip means it takes less force to put the rod tip in motion. By using micro guides the weight on the rod is reduced by half of that of a factory rod. Translation - the rod will transfer vibration in the tip more efficiently making the slightest change in line tension felt by the user.
Field use has shown an increase in casting distance of up to 10% using micro guides when built using the NEW new concept layout of the guides. Less weight on the rod tip makes the rod a more efficient caster by taking less movement to put the tip in motion. This layout also tames the line very quickly with a short transition to the running guides. The rapid transition to the micro guides results in less lateral line movement as it travels down the blank.
All of this adds up to more accurate casting. The same effort will produce the same cast time after time.
There is one problem inherent to the micro guides, freeze up. This is only an issue when the rods will be used in freezing temperatures AND the user will be fishing with either monofilament or fluorocarbon line. Notice that when you use mono, and to a greater extent fluoro, in any temperature that there is water dripping off of the rod tip on retrieve. The problem can be eliminated using braided line with a fluoro/mono leader. While fishing side by side with my fishing partner last fall on the Brule River he had to de-ice his guides about every 10th cast when using a factory rod with standard guides and mono. I was using micro guides and fishing with Fireline and had zero freezing problems.
Conclusion - I strongly recommend using mirco guides for all applications. The benefits are far to numerous to use anything else. If you must use mono or fluoro in freezing conditions I recommend using them as a leader tied to braided line.
