Bassin_Harrison Posted January 8, 2019 Posted January 8, 2019 Looking at the 7’1 MH X-Fast Kistler Helium 3 and the ALX Zolo Deputy for Jigs and T-Rigs. Fishing open water and relatively light cover, 3/16 oz t-rigs and 3/8 oz and 1/2 jigs. I know people like a heavier rod for 1/2 jigs, but I’m looking to be able to throw 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz in the same rod. The He3 is on sale for $221 right now while I would probably get a custom Deputy (change colors and grips) for around 240-250. Quote
Stephen B Posted January 8, 2019 Posted January 8, 2019 Skip both and get a Megabass Orochi XX or Expride. Prefer those both to the Helium 3 and ALX Zolo. Just my preference as I have fished all 4 rods: Zolo, Helium 3, XX, and Expride. Quote
LionHeart Posted January 8, 2019 Posted January 8, 2019 Regarding the Deputy: it would be great for 3/16 and 3/8, and totally capable for 1/2, but that may begin to feel like its upper limit. The Zolo Dragger is great for 3/8 and 1/2, and while I can toss a 1/4 oz trig fine, a 3/16 may feel like you're pushing the low end. For this reason I use the Dragger for 3/8 and up (occasionally 1/4), and a different rod for 3/8 and below (occasionally up to 1/2) No experience with Kistler but not a fan of extra fast rods for anything. I guess the short answer would be that the Deputy would be a solid choice for what you want to do, provided you aren't pitching into timber or nasty cover. I have often thought about getting one to replace my OG Tatula (which I absolutely love) Quote
Bassin_Harrison Posted January 8, 2019 Author Posted January 8, 2019 10 hours ago, Stephen B said: Skip both and get a Megabass Orochi XX or Expride. Prefer those both to the Helium 3 and ALX Zolo. Just my preference as I have fished all 4 rods: Zolo, Helium 3, XX, and Expride. I would get a XX or an Expride, but they are more expensive than both of these rods. Yes I know the helium 3 is $300, but it's on sale right now for $221 and even after the sale ends I could still get a discount as I have talked to Trey at Kistler rods and he assured me of it. Thank you for your 2 cents though, appreciate it 38 minutes ago, LionHeart said: Regarding the Deputy: it would be great for 3/16 and 3/8, and totally capable for 1/2, but that may begin to feel like its upper limit. The Zolo Dragger is great for 3/8 and 1/2, and while I can toss a 1/4 oz trig fine, a 3/16 may feel like you're pushing the low end. For this reason I use the Dragger for 3/8 and up (occasionally 1/4), and a different rod for 3/8 and below (occasionally up to 1/2) No experience with Kistler but not a fan of extra fast rods for anything. I guess the short answer would be that the Deputy would be a solid choice for what you want to do, provided you aren't pitching into timber or nasty cover. I have often thought about getting one to replace my OG Tatula (which I absolutely love) Thanks for your thoughts on the deputy... I do already have a 7'3" H Fast rod that I use for frogging, but I think it plenty sensitive and I could probably use that for my 1/2 oz jigs/swim jigs. Thanks again! Quote
Chance_Taker4 Posted January 8, 2019 Posted January 8, 2019 I have not fished any ALX rods but I have heard great thing about them. When I started fishing rods $200 and up about 2 years ago I tried a KLX and fell in love with it. From then on out I have been a big fan of Kistler. I love my Helium 3 for any type of presentation that requires the most sensitivity. The extra fast action is great to drive a single hook and keep it pinned. Quote
Joshua van Wyk Posted January 8, 2019 Posted January 8, 2019 6 hours ago, BigBass'n_Harrison said: I would get a XX or an Expride, but they are more expensive than both of these rods. Yes I know the helium 3 is $300, but it's on sale right now for $221 and even after the sale ends I could still get a discount as I have talked to Trey at Kistler rods and he assured me of it. Thank you for your 2 cents though, appreciate it Thanks for your thoughts on the deputy... I do already have a 7'3" H Fast rod that I use for frogging, but I think it plenty sensitive and I could probably use that for my 1/2 oz jigs/swim jigs. Thanks again! Sounds like you've already made your decision? Quote
kschultz76 Posted January 8, 2019 Posted January 8, 2019 No experience with the ALX rods, but hear good things about them here so by no means do I want to discourage you from that route. Im very happy with all my Kistler rods, and the Helium 3 really punches above its class when you get them on sale. Ask them and see what they recommend, but my experience with the 7’1” MH XF is that a 1/2 jig plus trailer may start to feel a tad overloaded but I think it can handle it. The taper on that rod to me is on the slow side of XF and I’m very happy with it. Quote
Bassin_Harrison Posted January 8, 2019 Author Posted January 8, 2019 5 hours ago, Chance_Taker4 said: I have not fished any ALX rods but I have heard great thing about them. When I started fishing rods $200 and up about 2 years ago I tried a KLX and fell in love with it. From then on out I have been a big fan of Kistler. I love my Helium 3 for any type of presentation that requires the most sensitivity. The extra fast action is great to drive a single hook and keep it pinned. 1 hour ago, Joshua van Wyk said: Sounds like you've already made your decision? Sort of at the time, but I could never decide until now 7 minutes ago, kschultz76 said: No experience with the ALX rods, but hear good things about them here so by no means do I want to discourage you from that route. Im very happy with all my Kistler rods, and the Helium 3 really punches above its class when you get them on sale. Ask them and see what they recommend, but my experience with the 7’1” MH XF is that a 1/2 jig plus trailer may start to feel a tad overloaded but I think it can handle it. The taper on that rod to me is on the slow side of XF and I’m very happy with it. Thank you guys for your opinions, but the customizable option of the ALX and the versatility of it has made me decide on it as I do a lot of pond hopping. I think I will give Kistler a shot next time around... cause we can never stop buying gear ? It's an addiction lol I swear Tight Lines guys ? Quote
kschultz76 Posted January 9, 2019 Posted January 9, 2019 Congrats and best of luck with it. Make sure to come back and let us know what you think of after you give it a good work out. ALX is on my list to try. Quote
Bassin_Harrison Posted January 9, 2019 Author Posted January 9, 2019 3 hours ago, kschultz76 said: Congrats and best of luck with it. Make sure to come back and let us know what you think of after you give it a good work out. ALX is on my list to try. I will definitely, I’ve pretty much heard only good things about them. Some people say that their sensitivity isn’t the greatest, but I’m guessing they are using more expensive rods too and this will be my first rod over $200. I think the sensitivity will be just fine. Oh also I’m not ordering it for a couple weeks so I won’t have it very soon, when I get some good use out of it I will pm you. Quote
RyneB Posted January 9, 2019 Posted January 9, 2019 you will be happy with the Zolo. I have not fished the Kistler, so I cant speak on it. But I do own several Kistlers and they are great rods. I do love my Zolos as well. Actually, my favorite jig rod is a ALX Ikos hammer 7-3, followed by a Zolo Dragger. There isnt a jig or scenario I have put the Ikos Hammer through where it hasnt succeeded. The Zolo deputy can feel under powered in some situations I've put it in. But it is a great light texas rig and jig rod. I dont know how people say the Zolos are not sensitive. I fished a Zolo Dragger and a Loomis IMX on and off dragging jigs and Carolina rigs on points for 3 days and it was very very clear to me the Zolo was more sensitive. Both rods had the same MGX and same braid. Quote
GReb Posted January 9, 2019 Posted January 9, 2019 To me kistler is Barry Sanders and ALX is Jerome Bettis. Both are great rods from even better companies. Quote
Chance_Taker4 Posted January 9, 2019 Posted January 9, 2019 13 hours ago, BigBass'n_Harrison said: Sort of at the time, but I could never decide until now Thank you guys for your opinions, but the customizable option of the ALX and the versatility of it has made me decide on it as I do a lot of pond hopping. I think I will give Kistler a shot next time around... cause we can never stop buying gear ? It's an addiction lol I swear Tight Lines guys ? You know you can custom make a H3 through Kistler's website. I have a custom Z-Bone. Quote
TBAG Posted January 9, 2019 Posted January 9, 2019 Man, I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing a Helium 3 when they could be had less than $200 over the Holidays. I haven't fished one but it will more than likely be my next jig/T-rig rod. 1 Quote
Fishingmickey Posted January 9, 2019 Posted January 9, 2019 44 minutes ago, TBAG said: Man, I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing a Helium 3 when they could be had less than $200 over the Holidays. I haven't fished one but it will more than likely be my next jig/T-rig rod. Kistler is currently (as of yesterday) running a 21% off sale on all rods for their 21st anniversary. So maybe unkick yourself? FM Quote
Bassin_Harrison Posted January 9, 2019 Author Posted January 9, 2019 4 hours ago, Chance_Taker4 said: You know you can custom make a H3 through Kistler's website. I have a custom Z-Bone. Yeah but it’s way too expensive for me.... I talked to ALX about getting a custom Deputy a while back and it was only going to be about $30 more for what I wanted. Making it around $250. The He3 would be well over $300 13 hours ago, RyneB said: you will be happy with the Zolo. I have not fished the Kistler, so I cant speak on it. But I do own several Kistlers and they are great rods. I do love my Zolos as well. Actually, my favorite jig rod is a ALX Ikos hammer 7-3, followed by a Zolo Dragger. There isnt a jig or scenario I have put the Ikos Hammer through where it hasnt succeeded. The Zolo deputy can feel under powered in some situations I've put it in. But it is a great light texas rig and jig rod. I dont know how people say the Zolos are not sensitive. I fished a Zolo Dragger and a Loomis IMX on and off dragging jigs and Carolina rigs on points for 3 days and it was very very clear to me the Zolo was more sensitive. Both rods had the same MGX and same braid. Awesome! Looking forward to using mine.... when you say light jigs, 3/8 oz fall into that catergory correct? And 3/16 oz t rigs would fall into light t rigs? Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 9, 2019 Super User Posted January 9, 2019 Trying to define a T rig anymore is impossible, however I will go out on a limb and say it includes a 3/16 oz bullet weight when stating 3/16 T-rig and the total rig weight includes a hook and soft plastic of some type. 3/16 oz + hook and trailer = 3/8 oz approx. I can cast a 3/16 T-rig with my heavy 5 & 6 power fast action ALX 6'10" rod over 40 yards with ease and detect strikes. 1/2 oz jig usually includes a trailer of 1/8 to 1/4 oz or the total jig weight is over 5/8 oz. If the rods is rated for 1/4-1 oz, most MH or 4 power rods, so what is the problem casting 3/16 oz T-rig or 1/2 oz jig? There isn't a problem is the answer, don't over think this, all the rods mentioned will perform the task, go with what you want! Tom Quote
Bassin_Harrison Posted January 9, 2019 Author Posted January 9, 2019 1 minute ago, WRB said: Trying to define a T rig anymore is impossible, however I will go out on a limb it includes a 3/16 oz bullet weight when stating 3/16 T-rig and the total rig weight includes a hook and soft plastic of some type. 3/16 oz + hook and trailer = 3/8 oz approx. I can cast a 3/16 T-rig with my heavy 5 & 6 power fast action ALX 6'10" rod over 40 yards with ease and detect strikes. 1/2 oz jig usually includes a trail wright of 1/8 to 1/4 oz or the total jig weight is over 5/8 oz. the rods is rated for 1/4-1 oz for most MH or 4 power rods, so what is the problem casting 3/16 oz T-rig or 1/2 oz jig? There isn't a problem is the answer, don't over think this, all the rods mentioned will perform the task, go with what you want! Tom Thank you for that detailed response Tom! Always appreciate your advice, your all over the forums and always answer questions well. Quote
Matt_3479 Posted January 10, 2019 Posted January 10, 2019 On 1/8/2019 at 12:00 AM, Stephen B said: Skip both and get a Megabass Orochi XX or Expride. Prefer those both to the Helium 3 and ALX Zolo. Just my preference as I have fished all 4 rods: Zolo, Helium 3, XX, and Expride. Out of curiosity, between the expride and the Megabass which do you prefer. I hear unbelievable things regarding the expride. Fishing’s like a much more expensive rod then it is. Quote
Stephen B Posted January 10, 2019 Posted January 10, 2019 44 minutes ago, Matt_3479 said: Out of curiosity, between the expride and the Megabass which do you prefer. I hear unbelievable things regarding the expride. Fishing’s like a much more expensive rod then it is. That's tough. I think both the Expride and Megabass are the best rods in there price range. It just depends on which application you plan to utilize the rod for as each rod series has rods that I like in certain situations. What do you plan to use the rod for? 1 Quote
Matt_3479 Posted January 13, 2019 Posted January 13, 2019 On 1/9/2019 at 8:21 PM, Stephen B said: That's tough. I think both the Expride and Megabass are the best rods in there price range. It just depends on which application you plan to utilize the rod for as each rod series has rods that I like in certain situations. What do you plan to use the rod for? I’m kind of looking for a more all purpose spinning set up at the moment. I’m pretty covered in the casting rods for now. Mostly I just want to try an expride lol I have a glx 822s dsr for dropshot and Ned rig, but looking for something for tubes, weightless senko’s, flukes and such. Quote
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