Micro Guide Advantages: Back in July, when Trey Kistler discussed with us his decision to produce rods with Micro-Guides he explained to us some of the inherent advantages, a few of which we validated on our very first trip out with the McMag70MHC, but let’s look at these points in more detail.

The Magnesium TS series has undergone quite the face lift since our first review of these rods in 2006.

1 Weight Reduction: With micro-guides, it’s not just about weight reduction but reduction of weight at the most crucial part of the rod – toward its tip. By reducing weight towards a rod’s tip, you’re allowing the blank to perform as close as possible to its most efficient state – when it is bare. Not only are micro-guides smaller and lighter, but they require less thread and less epoxy over those threads to attach them to the blank. All factors that reduce that tip weight on a rod and result in a much crisper, more precise, and sensitive fishing rod. We experienced this first hand.

Another look a the standard Fuji ECS reel seat onboard our McMag70MHC.

2 Utility: Further, the same blank wrapped with micro-guides can support a greater range of lure weights all going back to the weight reduction in the rod’s tip. This extension in a blank’s utility is not to be overlooked because now the same blank can be used for a wider range of lure weights where as before you’d either have to switch rods or forego stepping up or down in lure weight.

With the usual exposed blank feature.

3 Sensitivity: Another factor effecting the rod’s sensitivity when wrapped with micro guides is the fact the line, again sits closer to the blank but where this is a disadvantage to those who find line rub annoying, it is an advantage with sensitivity because there is less material for vibrations to have to travel through to reach the rod and eventually transmit into your hand.

Testing grounds included the California Delta.

4 Durability: Because the guides are so small, they are less likely to suffer damage should you accidentally step on your rod while it rests on the deck of your boat. Scott Martin demonstrated these guides' durability to us at BassAThon '09 and while the guides to resist bending in one direction, our own tests reveal that if you try to bend the guide back down on itself, it will do so - just not as easily as with a standard guide because the effective lever arm is so small with these guides.

A look at the cork grip on our McMag70MHC.

5 Storage: Another touted advantage of the micro guides is their ease in sliding in and out of a boat's rod locker. Indeed, because the guides are so small, they have less of a tendency to catch in the rod holder tubes that line most bass boat rod lockers. Not only that, but if you use rod sleeves, these micro-guide outfitted rods slide in and out of these sleeves effortlessly.

And the back portion of the split rear grip.

Do these advantages outweigh the previously listed disadvantages? Maybe, maybe not. Depending upon your situation, some of the disadvantages simply cannot be overlooked so it’s obvious micro-guides are not a universal solution. But make no mistake about it, if your situation does allow for the consideration of this type of guide setup, micro-guides are worth serious thought.

A Delta smallmouth courtesy of the McMag70MHC and a Luhr Jensen Speedtrap.

Effectiveness: So what’s our take on the McMag70MHC? Seriously? This blank with the micro-guide setup is far and away our choice over its MGSWSB70 Hardloy outfitted counterpart. It was so apparent after that very first test swapping back and forth that I can no longer fish the MGSWSB70. Ever put on a pair of running shoes after wearing a pair of basketball or tennis shoes? Do you recall how light your feet felt and how much more bounce you felt in your step? Swapping from a standard guide configured rod to the same blank outfitted with micro-guides is that very same contrast. But of course, you wouldn't wear a pair of running shoes to play basketball or tennis.
 

Availability: Aside from the McMag70MHC, Kistler is producing six other rods in their Magnesium Tournament line outfitted with micro-guides. Though a few early production rods do exist (including the one we reviewed here), the rods are set for official release in Spring of 2010 and will retail from $179.95 to $199.95 depending upon the exact model.

Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide):

Pluses and Minuses:

Conclusion: Obviously, the big story behind the McMag70MHC is in its guides. Micro-guided rods are the next big thing to hit the production rod fishing market and from all signs at the time of this writing, there will be several other manufacturers launching their own line of rods outfitted with these guides in 2010. The performance enhancements are just too significant to overlook, but at the same time it must be emphasized this is not a one micro size fits all fishing situations solution. Consider the disadvantages strongly before taking the leap of faith and don’t expect to feel a significant difference unless you do as we did in fishing the same exact blank wrapped with two different sets of guides. Nevertheless, rest assured, the differences are there and they are somewhat significant.

The big story behind the McMag70MHC is in its guides. Micro-guided rods are the next big thing to hit the production rod fishing market. Kistler was first to TT with their version of the micro-craze.

As for the McMag70MHC itself as a whole in the context of our 2010 The Search For One theme, this is a strong contender. I tossed everything from jigs, to soft plastics, to jerkbaits, to a six inch Triton Mike Bull Shad swimbait on this rod and it handled them all with aplomb. But the stick we are most interested in testing, or really, re-testing from Kistler Custom Fishing rods is one of the sticks that formerly helped to define this category and that is the McMag’s big brother, the Helium LTA He69APC. No longer made with this exact designation (it now has the model number of He69MHC) that is the stick that originally brought yours truly to TackleTour upon reading Zander’s March 2003 review of that stick. Does the Helium line still possess the same magic? Stay tuned as we intend to find out.