I have built both spiral and all on top with micros and both worked well. I use the technique the rod is intended fro to decide to spiral or not, if it is a moving bait rod for cranks, spinnerbaits or similar I will build with the guides on top, if it is a jig or worm rod I will build spiral. The reasoning behind this is how you hold the rod, when you are retrieving a crankbait or fighting a fish on a crankbait you normally hold the tip down so the guides on top are facing the load anyway. A worm or jig rod you hold the tip up so the spiral wrap gets the guides on the bottom towards the load. Personally I am starting to question the need for spiral wraps with micro guides, I have built a bunch for customers with the guides on top and every one of them has raved about the performance. At the recent International Custom Rod Building Exposition I won the casting contest on Friday before the show, my rod had all micro guides all on top.

You don’t need all those guide sizes. If you are building on top use one of the double foot 6 guides then micros the rest of the way. If I was building a spiral I would use a double foot 6 for the first guide and then micros the rest of the way, you may be happier with a larger single foot like a 5 for the bumper and first 180 guide but the micros will work fine. I would definitely not try to use one of the double foot guides for the bumper guide, you want the bumper to be as low and close to the blank as possible.