Kistler Rods

[Basseditor]

There are often questions about Kistler Rods here. There's a sale on their Argon rods but stock is running out. Check their website. I have several of these models. I use them a lot. If you need some, this is a good deal. #KistlerRods  #getdanet 

[Sam]

Thanks.

I love my Kistler.

Caught a bass on the first cast with it on Lake Gaston a number of years ago.

Appreciate the input and I will add that Kistler rods are excellent.

[j bab]

Kistler rods are underrated in my opinion. I've used the old Magnesium & Heliums and a Z Bone. All great rods.

They're built on North Fork blanks

[RB 77]

I have one and like it quite well. C-rig rod I believe.

[J Francho]

I liked my half dozen Kistlers.  Unfortunately, all of them eventually broke.  I guess they just aren't durable enough for me.

[Choporoz]

is that the opposite of a backhanded compliment?

like...a forehanded criticism?

[J Francho]

It's just the truth.  I'm tough on gear.  I liked the rods - graphite series and magnesium - but they seemed delicate.  I have plenty of rods that I have owned longer, and are in the same ballpark, price-wise when they were new.

[j bab]

9 hours ago, J Francho said:

It's just the truth.  I'm tough on gear.  I liked the rods - graphite series and magnesium - but they seemed delicate.  I have plenty of rods that I have owned longer, and are in the same ballpark, price-wise when they were new.

So you broke them yourself or they broke on fish? I'm kinda surprised by your comment, since they are NFC blanks and Kistler claims less than 1% breakage...

[J Francho]

 

7 hours ago, j bab said:

So you broke them yourself or they broke on fish? I'm kinda surprised by your comment, since they are NFC blanks and Kistler claims less than 1% breakage...

Not a chance they were NFC blanks.  That company didn't exist, yet.  I'm not sure the source of the blanks.  They broke on fish. 

[j bab]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

 

Not a chance they were NFC blanks.  That company didn't exist, yet.  I'm not sure the source of the blanks.  They broke on fish. 

I see, this must have been several years ago then. In that case Kistler might as well be a whole different company nowadays.

[J Francho]

Same company, same people.  Different source for high end blanks.  Do a little search for them.  They make great rods, but there's always some controversy following them.

BTW, I have several rods from other companies that are even older yet.  Saint Croix, All Star, Shimano, G. Loomis, Fenwick, etc.  Most of these are from before the inexpensive imported blank era, though.

[Fishes in trees]

I have 4 Kistler rods.   I got them over a period of months when Cabelas in KCK was closing them out - a number of years ago.   I don't remember which line they were in but 2 of them are olive green and 2 of them are blue.   The olive green ones - a 7' MH jig rod and a similar sized one labeled a "small swim bait special" see limited use these days because I like my AETOS jig rods and spinner bait rods better.

Of the blue ones, 1 is a telescopic 7'5" Pitchin/flipping stick.  This is in the boat with me every day and gets used every time out as my primary bubba drop shot rod.    The other one is a 6'10" MH spinning rod and I occasionally use it  for different applications - depending on which reel I want to use.    When I put an old Diawa 2600 spinning reel on it it makes a great cranking rod.   

I haven't had any breakage issues with Kistler rods.   Since Cabelas closed out their supply, they aren't readily available in the KC Metro area.  These days I seem to buy my rods & reels from Rogers Lures in Liberty, MO.

I just can't buy a rod over the internet without touching it first and having an idea of what I'm buying.

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, Fishes in trees said:

telescopic 7'5" Pitchin/flipping stick

I had a similar one, but in the Graphite series, and I loved it.