Kistler Klx Deals... Get A Free Carbon Steel!

[desmobob]

I'm always checking out the lower mid-priced rods and reading all the reviews.  I've been interested in trying the Kistler KLX rods.  I stopped by the Kistler site this evening and saw a promotion they're running for 24 hours.  I got sucked in.  :-)

 

I picked up the KLXFWTJ69MH  (KLX 6'9" MHF "finesse, tube, worm, jig) and the KLXSRAP70M (KLX 7'MF "specks, reds, all-purpose) and got both the CSADPT76H (Carbon Steel 7' 6" HF "all day power tool") and CSWJC70MH (Carbon Steel 7' MHF "worm, jig, Carolina Rig) for free!  (Free shipping on everything, too.)

 

I live in the boonies and I can't even find the decent product lines of mainstream brands in the local stores, so buying sight-unseen is pretty much a given. I hope I get a chance to fish them all a bit before the water hardens up around here!

 

Tight lines,

Bob 

[desmobob]

Uh oh!   206 views and no responses.   Is there no love for Kistler rods out there?  I could not resist the "Buy a KLX and get a free Carbon Steel" deal.  I ended up with two KLX (avg. price $179) and two Carbon Steel rods (avg. price $139) for what amounts to $90/rod.  It didn't seem too risky....

 

I just started bass fishing this summer and didn't have much, if any, gear to use (I was previously primarily a fly fisherman).  I found a couple of old, pistol-grip bass casting rods in the garage and some older spinning rods.  I do have a decent (Fenwick HMX 7' MXF) spinning rod that I use for inshore striper fishing that I put into service to fish largemouths.  I also picked up another decent TFO Loomis Signature 7' MLF spinning rod.

 

This summer, I bought a St. Croix Premier casting rod.  It's a 7' MHF that was serving as my do-everything stick.  With my Kistler order, I'll have enough rods to get me set up for different techniques.  I think I'll pretty much have the bases covered and if I want to upgrade, I can take my time.

 

Here's my thoughts on what I have:

 

Casting:

 

St.Croix Premier 7' MHF -- general purpose jig-worm

Kistler KLX 6'9" MHF --      general purpose jig-worm

Kistler KLX 7' MF --            topwater-jerkbait-light jigs-light plastics

 

Kistler Carbon Steel 7'6" HF --  frog-flip-pitch

Kistler Carbon Steel 7' MHF --   chatterbait-spinnerbait

 

BPS Tourney Pro 5'6" MMF --  treble hook lures

 

Spinning:

 

TFO 7' MLF  --  small unweighted plastics

TFO 6' UL    -- for when the bass won't cooperate and the panfish will 

 

I finally feel I'll be heading out there with a "full quiver" of decent rods.  As I spend next season using the rods, I'll decide which I want to eventually upgrade.

 

Now I just have to come up with three more reels.  :-)    

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Grantman83]

I went and don't see the promo anywhere

[DFrench97]

Looks like you will have a nice arsenal!

[Bass_Fanatic]

That is a good deal! I havent personally used the KLX but everyone I talk to who have say its the best sub $200 rod there is.  Hope you enjoy them!!

[smalljaw67]

The KLX has a lot of fans because the blank is made by Gary Loomis's company, North Fork Composites and the blank is very good. The Carbon Steel is built on a dense, heavy generic blank and is made overseas, being free you got a good deal, those rods would be ok for spinnerbaits and frogs but if you need to feel light bites the carbon steel won't help much but the KLX will. The problem with Kistler is they have a bad reputation for not standing behind the product and this is the reason the KLX rods aren't $200 or more. Back in the early 2000s Kistler was doing real well, he came out with an awesome rod, the Helium LTA, it didn't have a fore grip and it had a revolutionary hook keeper we now call a Texas rig hook keeper. Anyway, these were expensive rods but guys were buying them and then he expanded the line and had the Argon and Magnesium rods and all was going well until they decided to make some money and change the blank from one developed by Batson I believe, to a cheap imported one that wasn't tested. What happened is rods were breaking all over, and instead of trying to fix the issue they just said it was angler error and refused to deal with customers or answer questions and it was hard to even get anyone on the phone. I know 2 guys who ended up with $400 and $600 worth of broken rods who know how to fish and understand about high sticking and all that can cause a rod to break, these same anglers told me that Kistler could come out with a rod better than an NRX and sell it for $5.00 and they wouldn't buy it, and to this day there is a large number of anglers who will not buy Kistler and a large number of friends of those anglers who witnessed what happened and those anglers will not buy Kistler either. The KLX has got Kistler back in the game but he has to sell it for well below what he could have sold it for based on who made the blanks but a lot of angler have no trust. I would buy a KLX if they would use something other than the Fuji ECS reel seat, I'm sure I can get it custom made but then I'm paying more than if I just bought a rod I liked already made with the reel seat I like. Overall I think you'll like your KLX rods and you'll more than likely appreciate the Carbon steel just because of the fact that you can't get a rod like that for free, and with free shipping you made out, congrats and enjoy your rods.

[desmobob]

<SNIP>  Overall I think you'll like your KLX rods and you'll more than likely appreciate the Carbon steel just because of the fact that you can't get a rod like that for free, and with free shipping you made out, congrats and enjoy your rods.

 

Thanks very much for the information.  I have read/heard the same basic story and it's one of the reasons I decided to take the plunge... if they are trying hard to rebuild their customer base by offering a great deal on the KLX rods, I'll give them a shot.  And considering the free Carbon Steel rod thrown in, I'll DEFINITELY give them a shot...  as a matter of fact, two shots!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[desmobob]

I went and don't see the promo anywhere

 

As I mentioned, it was only good for 24 hours.  I happened onto it by chance last night, so it probably ended late last night or early today; not sure.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[desmobob]

That is a good deal! I havent personally used the KLX but everyone I talk to who have say its the best sub $200 rod there is.  Hope you enjoy them!!

 

 

I'll be sure to post my opinion.  I just hope I get to fish them before the local lakes freeze up!  The weather is holding up nicely here in northern NY, but it could change any time.  I have the week before Thanksgiving week off and hope to get on the water for a day or three then, weather permitting.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Jrob78]

As I mentioned, it was only good for 24 hours.  I happened onto it by chance last night, so it probably ended late last night or early today; not sure.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

I got an email from Kistler announcing the sale on Monday, so it must have ended last night.  You probably got in just before it ended.  If I had any extra money I would have jumped on the deal too.  There is a local Mom and Pop store here that carries the KLX line.  I've played with them some and they seem to be very nice rods.  I intend to buy one in the not too distant future.

[deep]

Helium3 ripping some lips here on bottom contact baits. The only Kistler I've ever fished; but seems to be a nice rod for the price.

[Tywithay]

I don't much care for the Carbon Steel, but you can't beat free. The KLX is the best rod under $200 by a wide margin. It's one of the cleanest builds out there and the NFC blanks are fantastic. I'd say you made out like a bandit.

[CTGalloway21]

I have 4 or 5 Kistlers and seem to be getting more and more of them for a reason.  Love them.

[new2BC4bass]

I live in the boonies and I can't even find the decent product lines of mainstream brands in the local stores, so buying sight-unseen is pretty much a given. I hope I get a chance to fish them all a bit before the water hardens up around here!

 

Tight lines,

Bob 

 

 

Heck, I don't live in the boonies and outside of Avids I have to drive to Cabela's to handle any rods of note.  Good luck with your new rod.  Be sure to leave a review on it after spending a little time on the water with it.