I saw Kistler for the first time at ICAST and the rods are super impressive. I've been building rods for many years and they seem to be very well designed.

 

My only wish is they made a spinning rod suitable for use in saltwater with a 4000 series reel, but none of the great bass rod companies seem to do this. I fish lures all day long in the mangroves of the everglades and 75% of the time a 3000 series rod and reel is a recipe for disaster on even a medium sized snook or goliath grouper.

 

Anybody know a comparable company making spinning rods this nice in HVY or even MEDHVY+ that would be this nice and this light?

 

I guess the G Loomis E6X is ok and some of the st croix avids are also decent. But these BASS rods have the artificial user in mind which I love.

 

Thanks

Yay! My Fuego CT arrived today. Nice and smooth. Will be spooling line on it this week. Going to go with 15 lb. Sunline Shooter Defier. 

7 hours ago, oliverG said:

My only wish is they made a spinning rod suitable for use in saltwater with a 4000 series reel

Email Kistler asking if they can build you one.  I've had three custom rods made for different applications.  They're a very friendly and responsive company.

 

Best of luck.

8 hours ago, oliverG said:

Anybody know a comparable company making spinning rods this nice in HVY or even MEDHVY+ that would be this nice and this light?

Might be worth a phone call to find out. You might be able to actually hold one if you're nearby.

• 1310 N. Hercules Ave, Unit B Clearwater, FL 33765
• 800-508-6013
• info@13fishing.com

 

Omen Green 2 Spinning (13fishing.com)

 

OG2S72H

7' 2"

Heavy

Fast

Line Rating: 15-30 lb Lure Rating: 3/4 - 1 3/4 oz

$130.00 Retail price: $130.00

10+

On 2/5/2023 at 11:08 AM, BrianMDTX said:

 

Then I switched to the Helium. At first with a blackberry Mann’s Jelly Worm, but soon downsized to a 4” #956 Senko. Now, I can’t say it was an accurate comparison as the Daiwa Fuego on the Falcon is spooled with 15 lb. Sunline Shooter Defier mono and the H2O Ethos HD on the Helium is spooled with 50 lb. Seguar Smackdown and a 12 lb. YZH leader (it’s off my frogging rig until my new Fuego shows up this week). But regardless of the sensitivity of braid or not, I felt things unfelt before. So much so that I felt the bait hang on a sunken limb and then felt two small taps. The line did not move one iota, but I felt the bite. Not a giant, but nice to catch a non-dink as my first bass on a new rod.

 

This is why I disagree with those who say rods don't matter. Either you can detect bites or you can't. It's not about the rod. Yadda yadda. 

 

Yes, your senses help big time. But a crisp, sensitive rod does as well. 

Funny I actually have that rod and its extremely light, great quality and would have bought more EXCEPT! the running and tip guides are so small, size 6 I think, which can be a bit of an issue when you are using 40lb leader even with a super stealth braid to leader knot.  Sometimes you do need to reel that knot through the guides and its an issue.

 

I also have an Omen Black OB3S71MH and it also has the micro guides and its a tad lighter on power than I would like for a 4000 but I like it a lot so saving for a 3000 Vanford while i search out a replacement. ALSO, the hook keeper is in the split grip which is an odd choice but not a dealbreaker... just odd.

The L/MH and H/MH heliums are special rods. About a half-step in either direction, so will likely fill a spot that other rods don't quite fit. 

 

As an example, the L/MH is perfect for 3/8 underspin with 3.8 Keitech, and at least for me, also perfect for the unweighted senko that I almost never thrown. H/MH is quickly becoming a chatterbait favorite - Heavies are a little too much for a chatterbait, and MH feels overloaded on a 1/2 chatterbait with a zako. 

 

 

On 2/7/2023 at 1:44 PM, oliverG said:

Anybody know a comparable company making spinning rods this nice in HVY or even MEDHVY+ that would be this nice and this light?

 

Have you checked the offerings by St Croix or Bulls Bay?

On 2/7/2023 at 1:44 PM, oliverG said:

 

 

Anybody know a comparable company making spinning rods this nice in HVY or even MEDHVY+ that would be this nice and this light?

 

 

St. Croix makes several lines of inshore rods, including the Avid and Mojo.  I think Midway USA is having a special right now on St Croix rods.  They have an Avid Inshore 7'6" in both Heavy and Medium Heavy available.

I just happened to stop by their shop today. I told myself I wasn't going to buy another one. I walked out with a 6'9" mhf zbone. I just love the rod it is a great all around rod for what I do.

 

 

I wasn’t sure I was in the right area. It’s a bit down that side road. But it is a nice shop. 

4 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

I wasn’t sure I was in the right area. It’s a bit down that side road. But it is a nice shop. 

I thought the exact same thing. Good thing we have GPS. I never would have found it without it, especially being from Kemah area.

On 2/7/2023 at 1:44 PM, oliverG said:

My only wish is they made a spinning rod suitable for use in saltwater with a 4000 series reel, but none of the great bass rod companies seem to do this. I fish lures all day long in the mangroves of the everglades and 75% of the time a 3000 series rod and reel is a recipe for disaster on even a medium sized snook or goliath grouper.

 

Shimano teramar XX or Daiwa Steez AGS 7-6 are great inshore options. Also own a Avid inshore 7-6 that I haven't fished as of yet but a super light well designed rod. 

Rod arsenal is now 100% Kistler and growing. Three ZBones and a KLX. My lord these rods are absolutely flawless and actions spot on. Most sensitive I’ve ever used…for me; there is no comparison to anything else including the NRX+. 

Well, I’ve fished with this Kistler/Fuego rig a few times, and I have to say I’m still very impressed. I caught 4 bass yesterday- one on a Fat IKA and three on an X-Zone Adrenaline Craw. The first and last bass hit the bait so delicately I barely felt it (saw zero line movement). I’m confident those bass would either have been missed, or even worse, gut hooked, as I would not have felt anything significant, had I been using one of my other rods. 
 

I’m pleased as punch with this rod. It’s a joy to fish! 

On 3/26/2023 at 7:59 AM, BrianMDTX said:

Well, I’ve fished with this Kistler/Fuego rig a few times, and I have to say I’m still very impressed. I caught 4 bass yesterday- one on a Fat IKA and three on an X-Zone Adrenaline Craw. The first and last bass hit the bait so delicately I barely felt it (saw zero line movement). I’m confident those bass would either have been missed, or even worse, gut hooked, as I would not have felt anything significant, had I been using one of my other rods. 
 

I’m pleased as punch with this rod. It’s a joy to fish! 

Glad to hear it. I might have to put the long list. 

I picked up a 7'3" L/MH when they were clearing out the NFC blank rods at the end of '21. Does anyone here know how much difference there is between the L/MH & MH?

6 hours ago, optimator said:

I picked up a 7'3" L/MH when they were clearing out the NFC blank rods at the end of '21. Does anyone here know how much difference there is between the L/MH & MH?

It's very noticable to me, it's 1/2 power down from a MH. Perfect for 3.8 keitech on a 3/0 flashy swimmer, or a senko. Light t-rig, perfect. Probably a better rod for a 1.5 squarebill than a MH. Don't try to fish a big jig with a big trailer on it though. Think medium and light hooks, no heavy hooks. 

If you made me pick it's going to be better at stuff you'd usually thrown on a MH but it's a little light for good rod loading.  But a small jerkbait I'd rather throw on a medium.

17 minutes ago, txchaser said:

It's very noticable to me, it's 1/2 power down from a MH. Perfect for 3.8 keitech on a 3/0 flashy swimmer, or a senko. Light t-rig, perfect. Probably a better rod for a 1.5 squarebill than a MH. Don't try to fish a big jig with a big trailer on it though. Think medium and light hooks, no heavy hooks. 

If you made me pick it's going to be better at stuff you'd usually thrown on a MH but it's a little light for good rod loading.  But a small jerkbait I'd rather throw on a medium.

Thanks man. That’s pretty much what I use the LMH for is Senkos and light T rigged worms. It’s a pretty sweet rod. I  just found a couple of reels I forgot I bought a while back so… New rod time. I’ll most likely pick up a MH Helium while the sale is on. 

14 minutes ago, optimator said:

Thanks man. That’s pretty much what I use the LMH for is Senkos and light T rigged worms. It’s a pretty sweet rod. I  just found a couple of reels I forgot I bought a while back so… New rod time. I’ll most likely pick up a MH Helium while the sale is on. 

Consider the HMH helium, it fits a spot that's hard to fill otherwise... basically the opposite of the LMH.

17 hours ago, txchaser said:

Consider the HMH helium, it fits a spot that's hard to fill otherwise... basically the opposite of the LMH.

I could for sure find a use for that one too. I'm also looking at Edge rods & the Megabass Levante Braillist. 

 

Got my first kistler on the way, picked up a 7'med-lite helium casting, the $249 sale got me. Got a shimano slx bfs reel sitting here waiting on it, hope the hype is real!

On 2/3/2023 at 6:59 AM, Jrob78 said:

I've got a 7'6" H Helium arriving probably tomorrow. I have the last version on the NFC blank so I'm curious to see how this new one compares. 

Please tell us how it compares. My only Kistler is also one the NFC blank models.

8 hours ago, optimator said:

Please tell us how it compares. My only Kistler is also one the NFC blank models.

I haven't even put a reel on the new one yet

Well it's been just over a year since my post above about my first kistler rod, I just the other day received my 4th one, a 7'3" hmh helium, my last purchase was a 7'0" hmh helium. Spot-on perfect taper for power fishing 1/2oz+, it's even got enough power for light punching, that mh tip mated to a heavy backbone/butt is just dang versatile #BassRuttenApproved. I liken it to a middleweight fighter with the ko power of a heavyweight, or conversely a heavy weight with the speed and agility of a middleweight, yes I love fighting sports lol