Kistler Helium 73LMH

[newyorktoiowa57]

Saw a youtube video of trey saying this was his favorite helium model.  Anyone have expereince wit it?  Can it handle keitechs and smaller jigs?

[Zibass]

It feels more like a medium power rod to me.

MBR 872.5 if it exists 

[kschultz76]

I have the 7’0” LMH and throw 3/8oz swim jig plus trailer on it in sparse pads no problem. It’s got more power then my M power St Croix rods.  I’m a fan of this stick. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Ive had the Helium3 7'3" LMH for about a week now. It has more power than other medium powered rods I have like 13 Omen Black 7'1" M/F or Quantum Smoke 7' M/F or Okuma Helios 7' M/F. Its also a tad bit tip heavy not quite as light feeling in the hand as the others and thats with a Tatula SV on it. If had a choice would give up a bit of power for better balance. 3.8" fat paddle tails with 1/8-1/4 jig heads work just fine. Was throwing fat ikas .0834oz easily with it as well. The sensitivity is up there for sure very pleased with that. 

[newyorktoiowa57]

2 minutes ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Ive had the Helium3 7'3" LMH for about a week now. It has more power than other medium powered rods I have like 13 Omen Black 7'1" M/F or Quantum Smoke 7' M/F or Okuma Helios 7' M/F. Its also a tad bit tip heavy not quite as light feeling in the hand as the others and thats with a Tatula SV on it. If had a choice would give up a bit of power for better balance. 3.8" fat paddle tails with 1/8-1/4 jig heads work just fine. Was throwing fat ikas .0834oz easily with it as well. The sensitivity is up there for sure very pleased with that. 

For better balance you may need to go up to the Zbone, lol.

[new2BC4bass]

7 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Ive had the Helium3 7'3" LMH for about a week now. It has more power than other medium powered rods I have like 13 Omen Black 7'1" M/F or Quantum Smoke 7' M/F or Okuma Helios 7' M/F. Its also a tad bit tip heavy not quite as light feeling in the hand as the others and thats with a Tatula SV on it. If had a choice would give up a bit of power for better balance. 3.8" fat paddle tails with 1/8-1/4 jig heads work just fine. Was throwing fat ikas .0834oz easily with it as well. The sensitivity is up there for sure very pleased with that. 

Pretty sure you can't buy a Fat Ika that light.    Just picking on you.

[Zibass]

7 hours ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

For better balance you may need to go up to the Zbone, lol.

Even the zbone is little bit tip heavy.  

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

53 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Pretty sure you can't buy a Fat Ika that light.    Just picking on you.

yeah messed that up should be .3840oz. dont want a person thinking its good for BFS, TT members would be salivating.

 I do have Tiny Ikas that weigh .0493oz

[new2BC4bass]

22 minutes ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

yeah messed that up should be .3840oz. dont want a person thinking its good for BFS, TT members would be salivating.

 I do have Tiny Ikas that weigh .0493oz

Wow.  That is tiny.  I've only seen the big ones.

[fishwizzard]

20 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Wow.  That is tiny.  I've only seen the big ones.

The tiny ones are good little panfish plastics and also work great as trailers for small spinnerbaits.  They add a good bit of weight without adding a lot of bulk. 

[new2BC4bass]

Just now, fishwizzard said:

The tiny ones are good little panfish plastics and also work great as trailers for small spinnerbaits.  They add a good bit of weight without adding a lot of bulk. 

Thanks

[newyorktoiowa57]

10 hours ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Ive had the Helium3 7'3" LMH for about a week now. It has more power than other medium powered rods I have like 13 Omen Black 7'1" M/F or Quantum Smoke 7' M/F or Okuma Helios 7' M/F. Its also a tad bit tip heavy not quite as light feeling in the hand as the others and thats with a Tatula SV on it. If had a choice would give up a bit of power for better balance. 3.8" fat paddle tails with 1/8-1/4 jig heads work just fine. Was throwing fat ikas .0834oz easily with it as well. The sensitivity is up there for sure very pleased with that. 

I will probably pass on this model, in that case. 

[CrankFate]

I’m not sure I understand tip heaviness. It is simple to add a more robust butt section or foregrip to improve balance. Which most major manufacturers do. I get the whole lowest weight possible stat for marketing, but hardly any rods are marketed that way. A balanced rod with a full length butt Grip or longer butt section is usually worth the extra weight IMO. Especially if it’s only another half an ounce or so. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

9 hours ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

I will probably pass on this model, in that case. 

On another forum there is a thread for overrated rods I posted this rod in that thread. I wouldnt recommend this rod to you based on my use out if it. While fishing today with a lull in bites I looked over the rod more carefully. I now see that the first guide is not aligned all that well. There are 2 other guides while not bad they arent perfect or what a $300 rod should come with. One other issue is the reel lockdown is flexible and feels rather cheap not sure it will last.

Ill say if I could return it get my money back I would. I looked on their site and shipping would be on me plus 10% for that $$ not worth the hassle.

[newyorktoiowa57]

1 minute ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

On another forum there is a thread for overrated rods I posted this rod in that thread. I wouldnt recommend this rod to you based on my use out if it. While fishing today with a lull in bites I looked over the rod more carefully. I now see that the first guide is not aligned all that well. There are 2 other guides while not bad they arent perfect or what a $300 rod should come with. One other issue is the reel lockdown is flexible and feels rather cheap not sure it will last.

Ill say if I could return it get my money back I would. I looked on their site and shipping would be on me plus 10% for that $$ not worth the hassle.

What sticks do you find underrated?

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

1 hour ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

What sticks do you find underrated?

Not too many Im more apt to find faults with hyped products. Current production rod Okuma Helios has impressed me for the price they are at walmart often $120 or so and can only say this for the 7' M/F and 7' MH/F models. I also feel the basic SC Avid though long in the tooth still hold their own but have fallen out of favor for more current releases.

A rod not made any more(at least not the same build got downgraded) that impressed me the most got no love yet became my favorite rod is the original Quantum Smoke rod 7' M/F. And this is the rod I base my new purchases against. No doubt in my mind at all that I would take another gen 1 Smoke rod over the Helium 3. 

 

[Stephen B]

1 hour ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

On another forum there is a thread for overrated rods I posted this rod in that thread. I wouldnt recommend this rod to you based on my use out if it. While fishing today with a lull in bites I looked over the rod more carefully. I now see that the first guide is not aligned all that well. There are 2 other guides while not bad they arent perfect or what a $300 rod should come with. One other issue is the reel lockdown is flexible and feels rather cheap not sure it will last.

Ill say if I could return it get my money back I would. I looked on their site and shipping would be on me plus 10% for that $$ not worth the hassle.

I was never a big fan of Kistler. Sold all of them and won't look back. I wouldn't accept a subpar rod. I could understand something small but not multiple issues. I'd get that taken care of. 

[GReb]

I have a few Kistlers that I love. None have any imperfections. 

[Basseditor]

I have the LMH in 7’, 7-3, and 7-6 in ZBones and 6-9 (something near it anyway) in the Helium 3.

 

some were ordered custom with the balance kit. Those don’t feel tip heavy; the others do a little, but I don’t mind.

 

I like them all. No blemishes, no problems, etc.

 

I use Steez on the ZBones and Tatula SV on Helium. I’m still moving reels around looking for the perfect weight combo. Just got the new Steez CT SV to try.

[newyorktoiowa57]

52 minutes ago, basseditor said:

I have the LMH in 7’, 7-3, and 7-6 in ZBones and 6-9 (something near it anyway) in the Helium 3.

 

some were ordered custom with the balance kit. Those don’t feel tip heavy; the others do a little, but I don’t mind.

 

I like them all. No blemishes, no problems, etc.

 

I use Steez on the ZBones and Tatula SV on Helium. I’m still moving reels around looking for the perfect weight combo. Just got the new Steez CT SV to try.

How do they fish in terms of power?

[LonnieP]

My MH Helium 3 doesnt feel tip heavy to me. Balances real well with a Chronarch MGL. Guides are perfect. A lot better than some of the Loomis NRX rods I've seen pictures of.

I'd return it for another one. Every manufacturer has a defect every now and then. 

[dave]

I have a 6' 9'' and the 7' 3'',  with a big smile on my face!

 

 

i have a ML caster as well that I can't wait to fish this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

t

[newyorktoiowa57]

7 hours ago, LonnieP said:

My MH Helium 3 doesnt feel tip heavy to me. Balances real well with a Chronarch MGL. Guides are perfect. A lot better than some of the Loomis NRX rods I've seen pictures of.

I'd return it for another one. Every manufacturer has a defect every now and then. 

How long?

[LonnieP]

4 minutes ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

How long?

7’ 1”

[Basseditor]

On 4/25/2019 at 10:57 PM, newyorktoiowa57 said:

How do they fish in terms of power?

Definitely not a medium heavy. I like to think in terms of the number power rating. The Kistlers 2 powers are light. The 4 power, to me, is pretty heavy for a 4.

 

to keep the number of rods to buy, I only have two 4 powers.

 

therefore I use the 3 and 5 powers the most. The new 2019 Zbone 5 power, 7-10” is a great rod for half ounce. I like the 3 power for up to quarter ounce, but preferably less than that. Even weightless the 3 power fishes great. I prefer the 5 over the 4 power.

 

sorry, for delayed response. I was out of cell range for a few days.