Hey guys so I want to build a casting rod that I will use for texas rigging. I do my texas rigging with 20-30lb braid with a 14lb mono leader connected by a J knot. Anyways I have had problems with store bought rods that have microguides because the knot knocked the inserts out. Anyways, I would like to use the smallest guides possible for this without being in danger of damaging my guides. What should I use? Thanks!

Hi Cameron,
Over here in Australia most of our lure fishing is done with braid and mono or commonly fluoro leader, size 6 running guides should be fine with the line sizes you are using, this is fairly general practice for rods over here but microguides are becoming more popular. I dont know the j knot, but you could also look at learning the fg knot, it is a great knot for this problem. Good video demos can be found on the net. I have guys using 30lb braid/60lb leader an fg knot with size 6 running guides, without dramas.
Hope this helps.
Josh
Weapons custom rods
Queensland, Australia

I use 30lb braid with 20lb leader tied with a crazy alberto, I build all my rods with 4.5 micros with out any problems.

Try a size 5 Minima 4 single foot fly guide in TiCH.
If that does not work with how you tie knots try the 6.
You get the benefits of micro like mass reduction and they pass knots.
Plus easy to wrap.
Oh and at around $2.50 retail for the TiCh they are a bargain too.

It depends on whether you use the rod in freezing weather.
For a rod that gets used in freezing weather, I typically never go smaller than a size 8 guide, or possibly a size 10.
That way the guides are large enough to not get plugged with ice very easily.

Never an issue passing knots with guides of this size either.

Be safe

Cameron,
The other thing that a lot of fishermen use, when they have braid and a leader on their rod.
They never have the knot pass through the guides. i.e. they keep the leader shorter than the rod and never reel the knot through their guides. Then you can go down to size 2 guides if you like.

For most fishing applications, it is simple enough to keep the leader length to less than the typical 5 feet or so, that might be the length to keep the knot from passing through the guides.


Be safe

The Alberto knot is the best that I have found.

Sounds good thanks guys!

Devin Romanowski Wrote:
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> I use 30lb braid with 20lb leader tied with a
> crazy alberto, I build all my rods with 4.5 micros
> with out any problems.


I didnt think to ask earlier when I first read your post, but Im assuming you let the knot pass through at least the tip guide when reeling in your bait as well as casting it. Is that right?

I would be a lot more comfortable with keeping my leader longer rather than having a short leader and worrying about if the fish can see the high vis or not.

I'll add my $0.02 as most of my fishing these days is saltwater and I am using braid with fluorocarbon leaders almost exclusively. Two options that seem to work well for most:

Size 6 running guides will routinely pass up to 30# fluorocarbon leader for me in both casting and spinning rod guides. I use the Red Phillips Knot exclusively. It is both the strongest I have found and has a shape / symmetry that flows very well - both in and out. I typically use Ohero 20# or 25# braid and either Berkley Vanish or Seaguar Blue Label or Premier 20# - 30# fluoro. I typically design my leader so that my knot connecting braid to flouro is somewhere between the reel and the first guide. Test casting shows the most consistent and easy flow of line - for me and my set ups at least - with these lengths.

The second option is to use hollow core braid and splice your leader directly into the hollow core with a knotless connection. This is by far the smoothest casting and strongest set up when installed properly, but requires more rigging (either a nail knot or a true serve) and the hollow core braid is no bones about it expensive. You also may find yourself tying a knot no matter what if you get cut off and don't want to thread your leader into your hollow core while fish are biting and the boat is pitching and rolling. But it is a really nice set up if you don't mind doing the work before you head out. The connection in the sizes we are talking about will pass easily through the level wind of a baitcaster without even a whisper, so size 3 micros are no problem. If it were me, I'd set up my spiral wrapped casting rod with this knotless connection for Texas and Carolina rigging using 40# hollow core braid and whatever size fluoro you like. I'd probably use 30# or 40# but suit yourself.

On a totally different note: getting your guide rings knocked out may be a product of poorly designed / low quality guides as much as it is the size of the guides you are using or the knot you are trying to pass. All guides have limits and you should the right size for the job, but I have knocked a distrurbing number of size 4, 5 and even size 6 guide rings out of a few brands and never knocked a single Fuji 4.5 or 5 ring out with the same knot / line combos throwing the same rigs / lures with the same reels. So, you might play around with both the size and brand / quality of guides you are using. To me, some are pressed the 'wrong' way and pop out towards the tip far too easily regardless of the knot style or size. I hope this helps...tight lines!

Bill Falconer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'll add my $0.02 as most of my fishing these days
> is saltwater and I am using braid with
> fluorocarbon leaders almost exclusively. Two
> options that seem to work well for most:
>
> Size 6 running guides will routinely pass up to
> 30# fluorocarbon leader for me in both casting and
> spinning rod guides. I use the Red Phillips Knot
> exclusively. It is both the strongest I have
> found and has a shape / symmetry that flows very
> well - both in and out. I typically use Ohero 20#
> or 25# braid and either Berkley Vanish or Seaguar
> Blue Label or Premier 20# - 30# fluoro. I
> typically design my leader so that my knot
> connecting braid to flouro is somewhere between
> the reel and the first guide. Test casting shows
> the most consistent and easy flow of line - for me
> and my set ups at least - with these lengths.
>
> The second option is to use hollow core braid and
> splice your leader directly into the hollow core
> with a knotless connection. This is by far the
> smoothest casting and strongest set up when
> installed properly, but requires more rigging
> (either a nail knot or a true serve) and the
> hollow core braid is no bones about it expensive.
> You also may find yourself tying a knot no matter
> what if you get cut off and don't want to thread
> your leader into your hollow core while fish are
> biting and the boat is pitching and rolling. But
> it is a really nice set up if you don't mind doing
> the work before you head out. The connection in
> the sizes we are talking about will pass easily
> through the level wind of a baitcaster without
> even a whisper, so size 3 micros are no problem.
> If it were me, I'd set up my spiral wrapped
> casting rod with this knotless connection for
> Texas and Carolina rigging using 40# hollow core
> braid and whatever size fluoro you like. I'd
> probably use 30# or 40# but suit yourself.
>
> On a totally different note: getting your guide
> rings knocked out may be a product of poorly
> designed / low quality guides as much as it is the
> size of the guides you are using or the knot you
> are trying to pass. All guides have limits and
> you should the right size for the job, but I have
> knocked a distrurbing number of size 4, 5 and even
> size 6 guide rings out of a few brands and never
> knocked a single Fuji 4.5 or 5 ring out with the
> same knot / line combos throwing the same rigs /
> lures with the same reels. So, you might play
> around with both the size and brand / quality of
> guides you are using. To me, some are pressed the
> 'wrong' way and pop out towards the tip far too
> easily regardless of the knot style or size. I
> hope this helps...tight lines!


This really helps a lot. Thank you!

Cameron Johnson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Devin Romanowski Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I use 30lb braid with 20lb leader tied with a
> > crazy alberto, I build all my rods with 4.5
> micros
> > with out any problems.
>
>
> I didnt think to ask earlier when I first read
> your post, but Im assuming you let the knot pass
> through at least the tip guide when reeling in
> your bait as well as casting it. Is that right?
>
> I would be a lot more comfortable with keeping my
> leader longer rather than having a short leader
> and worrying about if the fish can see the high
> vis or not.


I normally use a 6ft leader when it gets down to 2-3 ft I cut it off and start over.

Devin Romanowski Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cameron Johnson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Devin Romanowski Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I use 30lb braid with 20lb leader tied with a
> > > crazy alberto, I build all my rods with 4.5
> > micros
> > > with out any problems.
> >
> >
> > I didnt think to ask earlier when I first read
> > your post, but Im assuming you let the knot
> pass
> > through at least the tip guide when reeling in
> > your bait as well as casting it. Is that right?
> >
> > I would be a lot more comfortable with keeping
> my
> > leader longer rather than having a short leader
> > and worrying about if the fish can see the high
> > vis or not.
>
>
> I normally use a 6ft leader when it gets down to
> 2-3 ft I cut it off and start over.


Awesome thank you!