DogBone_384

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS

If you go Kistler (Helium, I assume), consider a 7'3" MH. I own it and a 7' LMH and find them interchangeable in your weight range. I believe it's the extra 3" on the MH. I'll use my LMH for tubes, Senkos, etc. when I have a 3/8 oz jig on my MH. I'll use my HMH when I throw 1/2 oz jigs, freeing up my MH for the plastics. Best of luck.

I have a Dobyns Fury 7’9” MH/F, rated 1-5 oz. It’s my first and only swimbait rod. I don’t throw big baits much, but this one works well enough. I know Douglass Outdoors has a big swimbait clearance on now. I own a few of their ‘regular’ rods and like them quite a bit. Their build quality is very good.

How many choices do we have for American made reels? I know there are still a few hard bait companies manufacturing their stuff here. Are you saying that the only Kistler rod that’s made in US or that the Abrams is the only one made with 100% American components?

If that's the case, Tackle Warehouse is your friend. Based on my experience, as long as you keep all the packaging, they'll take almost anything back.

I have 28 Kistler rods going back to their original Magnesium TS. I don't know where they sourced their blanks from, but I know they were all made here in the US. Kistler's lowest priced rods are now made overseas. Drop Kistler an email with any questions you have. You will get a reply, probably from Reuben. Their customer service is exceptional.

I bought Abu Garcia Veritas rods when I got back into fishing in '14. They were great $99 rods. A few years later I discovered Kistler rods. Kistler's list price is often high, but they have frequent sales that get them in the $200-ish range. I found them much lighter and more sensitive with exceptional build quality. I also own St. Croix, FX Customs, and Douglass rods in the same price points. Kistler and FX Customs rods are hand made here in the USA, which is a big plus for me. They all have the same positives as the Kistlers with different 'feels' to them. You might call them mid-high end. My overall favorites are my Kistlers. They just feel right in my hand and their actions fit my fishing style well. I've never ventured into the $300+ market. I don't see the need. I would say my mid-high end rods are more sensitive, especially for bottom contact baits. The only difference I've found with my crankbait rods is weight and comfort. Lastly, I'd recommend handling as many rods on your list as you can. You'll know quickly which rod is for you. Best of luck.

I’m pedal only. My too speed is roughly 3 1/2 mph.

My kayak has a USB port and no gas tank, does that count?

I've never heard this description ... awesome ... Glenn would delete the descriptives I tend to use... Great report, and welcome back!

Everyone needs backups, right?

$600! @A-Jay could buy SOOOO many Vision 110's with that cash!

The $150 price point offers a gazillion choices. I recommend visiting your local tackle shop and handling the rods you're interested in. I find fishing rods have a 'feel' the same way my wife & daughter approach shoe shopping. Questions to ask yourself: what action do you want? what handle type? what weight? how light do you want it? I own Abu, Diawa, Kistler, Douglass, FX Custom, St. Croix, G. Loomis, BPS and Fenwick rod and prefer a stiffer rod. Kistler is my #1 and FX Custom quickly becoming my #2. I've got 1st & 2nd generation Abu Veritas rods, which for $99 back then were great, but they're $199+ now and you can get American made rods like Kistler & FX Customs for that if you catch them on sale. Most would recommend a medium-fast rod for Senkos, but I found Kistler's light-medium-heavy (LMH) rods perfect for Senkos, tubes, finesse underspins, etc. The LMH has a nice, soft tip with a little extra backbone compared to a medium-fast. Good luck choosing your rod.

No.

Like @Boomstick, the NRS Chinook gets my vote. Mine has to be 8 - 10 years old now, has faded shoulders, but is still intact and comfortable. I last used it in March '24 when I went in 40* water to rescue one of my rigs that went overboard.

Tossed the waders in the car and hit my favorite "I need a smallie" pond. It was WINDY and I got off two casts with the bait-caster I brought and blew up an eagle's nest. I picked it out, walked back to my car and got my spinning rig. That lasted about 45 minutes and coughed up a giant wind knot. Luckily I bagged one 1.8# smallie on a green pumpkin / black & gold flake tube. Better one than none. April's checked off.

Tricks to catch MORE bass? I haven’t discovered any yet!

I prefer fishing from my kayak most of the time. There are only a handful of waters within 2 hours I can use my Ranger.

The lakes I can put my Ranger in are small, 700 acres at max. It doesn't take me long to get across them. I run a Ranger RT178 with a Yammy 70 HP. I use about 1/2 a tank of gas per season.

Hello, and welcome!

6.x for me.

I fished them last week. Their build quality is very good. They're a hair stiffer than my Kistlers. The only thing I didn't like about them is the hook keeper location is on the butt side of the reel seat. The 7'4" spinning rod makes a perfect tube/Senko/blade bait rod. I'll use the 7'1" casting rod for jigs/bottom contact baits. Hopefully I'll hook up with a good bass with it soon. I can't say I'll replace my Kistlers with them, but they're a really good American made rod.

I gave Thursday's lake one more shot yesterday. Winds were light when I showed up but increased to 15+ quickly after I launched. I stayed shallow, working points that lead to steep drop offs and one arm on the windblown shore. I threw the 'normal' late winter baits: bladed jig, jerk bait, shallow crank, wacky Senko, jig, and t-rigged worm and came up empty. After 3+ hours of not so much of a whiff, I packed it up. There were three other boats there. One guy launching at the same time I did said he caught a 8# LMB there recently. Water temps were 48.x and air pressure was 30.1. It was another tough winter/spring transition.... I'll figure it out one of these years.

I have BPS 100MPH. They’re three or four years old and holding up well. I bought them 50% at the end of season clearance.

Me too.