High end rods

[Johnbt]

"but for jigs and 10 inch worms, I put them on a conquest"

 

Thanks. I've been fishing moving baits on my Conquests - we like throwing spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and frogs a lot - and I sometimes find myself wanting a much larger bait and/or trailer and a little more horsing power.

 

This 22-inch 5# 1oz fish tied me up good for a couple of minutes yesterday on a MH Conquest with braid, but I finally got it unwound from the stems. And there are some parts of this lake that have thicker rafts of pads.

 

 ,

 

Have you met the bait monkey's cousin, the rod ape?

[Alex from GA]

If there's a rod builder in your neighborhood try him or her.  The $ probably will be the same.

[thunderblack]

I would take a Destroyer, GLX, or NRX over any custom or Kistler offering. Custom rods are awesome but hold little value to someone else when selling. My 2 cents

[Yumeya]

I love my Destroyer rods, NRX rods and my Conquest rods all about the same, but I use them all 

with different techniques.

 

Never tried a Z-bone.

[Stephen B]

4 hours ago, thunderblack said:

I would take a Destroyer, GLX, or NRX over any custom or Kistler offering. Custom rods are awesome but hold little value to someone else when selling. My 2 cents

100% agreed plus from my experience with all the rods mentioned above the Z Bone is my least favorite. I found them from my experience to be the least sensitive of the 4 rods mentioned and prefer the tapers from Megabass and G Loomis.

[fishwizzard]

2 hours ago, Stephen B said:

 prefer the tapers from Megabass and G Loomis.

 

My highest end rods are GLXs and USA Destroyers and honestly at this point I don’t think any more sensitivity is something I am really looking for.  But it’s interesting/useful power/taper combos that keep me interested and buying rods.  I am going to get an NRX at some point to see what the fuss is about but the taper is the main draw for me.  

[Maico1]

On 5/22/2019 at 8:36 AM, Johnbt said:

"but for jigs and 10 inch worms, I put them on a conquest"

 

Thanks. I've been fishing moving baits on my Conquests - we like throwing spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and frogs a lot - and I sometimes find myself wanting a much larger bait and/or trailer and a little more horsing power.

 

This 22-inch 5# 1oz fish tied me up good for a couple of minutes yesterday on a MH Conquest with braid, but I finally got it unwound from the stems. And there are some parts of this lake that have thicker rafts of pads.

 

 ,

 

Have you met the bait monkey's cousin, the rod ape?

That is exactly what happens if you do not pay attention to " The Monkey " , have had that Gorilla in my presence more than once.

[Chance_Taker4]

I feel like I need to do a little defending of Kistler here. Yes they had rod breakage issues in years past. However, the rods from a few years ago (Green Heliums, Blue Argons, Zbones) are nothing like the Kistlers of today. Now they outsource all their blanks from Gary at North Fork Composites. All components are Fuji components, grips are from Winn on the Mag2 and Idk about the cork. I to had issues in years past with Kistler like everyone; but two years ago I wanted to try them again after seeing the Feel n Reel KLX. I now own at least one rod from all their lines including the brand new designed 2019 ZBone. I still have rods from other manufactures but most of those rods are sub $200 rods. I cannot compare other high ends to the ZBone as I have never used them and it would be detrimental to you if I proclaimed something that I never experienced.. But it is just as negative to compare a rod that is no longer produced the same way to other rods. (Yes I understand reputation proceeds businesses just look at Carrot Stix for that matter.) Now back to the ZBone. It is light, very sensitive (sensitivity is based on user anyway), and it floats if knocked of the deck (don't ask how I know this ). The only "High End" Rods I have fished besides the ZBone would be the 13 Envy Black (Original), Abu Garcia Fantasia, and Denali N2 and I would take the ZBone over those three any day. 

[Dwight Hottle]

23 minutes ago, Chance_Taker4 said:

I feel like I need to do a little defending of Kistler here. Yes they had rod breakage issues in years past. However, the rods from a few years ago (Green Heliums, Blue Argons, Zbones) are nothing like the Kistlers of today. Now they outsource all their blanks from Gary at North Fork Composites. All components are Fuji components, grips are from Winn on the Mag2 and Idk about the cork. I to had issues in years past with Kistler like everyone; but two years ago I wanted to try them again after seeing the Feel n Reel KLX. I now own at least one rod from all their lines including the brand new designed 2019 ZBone. I still have rods from other manufactures but most of those rods are sub $200 rods. I cannot compare other high ends to the ZBone as I have never used them and it would be detrimental to you if I proclaimed something that I never experienced.. But it is just as negative to compare a rod that is no longer produced the same way to other rods. (Yes I understand reputation proceeds businesses just look at Carrot Stix for that matter.) Now back to the ZBone. It is light, very sensitive (sensitivity is based on user anyway), and it floats if knocked of the deck (don't ask how I know this ). The only "High End" Rods I have fished besides the ZBone would be the 13 Envy Black (Original), Abu Garcia Fantasia, and Denali N2 and I would take the ZBone over those three any day. 

X2

I have 2 Z bones along with several Heliums & a KLX. I think the Z bone compares favorably with my St Croix legend elite & legend extremes. Also my Loomis NRX & GLX & Megabass destroyer. The Z bones are built on the very best blank Gary Loomis produces currently. They are well balanced & built with quality components & workmanship. Much better than NRX's build quality. I have only owned Kistler's within the last 5 or 6 years so previous production on inferior blanks does not cloud my judgement. If your patient you can always get Kistler's on sale at a good price direct from Trey. 

I don't own any Conquest's to make a comparison there but the public consensus about NRX versus Conquest is not very compelling regarding sensitivity only balance issues & build quality being superior.