Kistler Rod Pricing?

[Choporoz]

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

No issue with the guides on mine other than a couple a bit crooked. Then again don't really use it.

[super_hunter]

3 Heliums (1 Helium 2 and 2 H3s) and 2 KLXs.   I don't disagree that the sensitivity is solid for the price when they are on sale, but my beef is guide issues, one two of them the hook keeper had to be redone after about 15 months, as well as dodginess on standing behind their product.  Dobyns rods are iffy on their smaller guides too.  Top of mind, my higher end Falcons, 3 Megabass rods and three Loomis rods have never lost an insert, and they all get fished the same amount and same way.      

[Fishingmickey]

On 5/5/2024 at 7:23 AM, super_hunter said:

I have had owned five Kistler rods since 2019/2020 timeframe.  I still have a Helium 7'3" that hasn't broken, but I don't use it much.  They are notorious for changing their blanks frequently.   They are also notorious for guide inserts that fall out under normal usage at about 3 times the rate of other $250 rods.  I replaced all but 2 of the guides on a Helium over the course of 2 years.  My main beef with them is they don't honor their warranties.   I had a 3 month old rod that broke when casting a wacky senko, and they said they can't do anything on a $139 rod even though it was listed as having a warranty.   I had a Helium break on a hookset in '24, and the replacement cost was $200 + a $20 processing fee, which was only $20 less than the current sale price.  I would email them and get their warranty replacement cost in writing before you buy a Helium or Zbone...notice their website doesn't list the replacement cost and that's because they wouldnt sale many if they put a $200 replacement cost on a $235 rod out there.   Better options out there from better actors than Kistler in my opinion.   

      I gotta say for a second post that's a doozie.  My experience with Kistler has been the exact opposite of yours.  There are quite a few serious anglers on this site that have given kudos to Trey and his shop in Magnolia TX. 

     I have several Kistler rods Like 10 or better. I have had one Helium break on me on the hook set and I thought it was my fault.  I called them and sent a pic of the broken rod. They shipped me a new Helium 3 rod and I didn't have to even ship them the busted one back. I had the rod the next day.

  Fishingmickey

[FishTank]

I know few guys that have Kistler rods and most tend to like them. I have only heard of one guy braking one and he is notorious for breaking rods. If a jig, for example, gets stuck he tries to horse it out with the rod and then the reel. From across the lake, I usually can hear his reels making that gear slip/click sound when he tightens the drag all the way down and tries to pull a lure out with the braid he is using.  It makes what hair I have left stand on edge. 

 

The Kistler Hunt BFS rod I have, has been great. It's has been the perfect BFS rod for my style of fishing from a boat, kayak or on the bank. I put it to good use last weekend. I caught about 30+ crappie, at least a dozen bass, and about six or more bluegill. All on the same lure as well.  

[super_hunter]

2 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

      I gotta say for a second post that's a doozie.  My experience with Kistler has been the exact opposite of yours.  There are quite a few serious anglers on this site that have given kudos to Trey and his shop in Magnolia TX. 

     I have several Kistler rods Like 10 or better. I have had one Helium break on me on the hook set and I thought it was my fault.  I called them and sent a pic of the broken rod. They shipped me a new Helium 3 rod and I didn't have to even ship them the busted one back. I had the rod the next day.

  Fishingmickey

I was searching around to see if something has changed in the past couple of years when they did the blank change on the H3s and found this forum, thus the post.   I took a video with my phone the rod right after breaking on a hookset, e.g. the drag that pulled easily, etc. and didn't have near the same result.  If you search the Texas Fishing Forum, you will probably get a different overall vibe btw, stories of paying full price for a 2 year old replacement and it being a different blank and not as good, how things have changed, other warranty issues, etc.  Anyway, my next post here will be something glowingly positive or helpful.

[Bluebasser86]

I've got several Kistler Rods. I fish a little bit and have never popped an insert out. I've broke 2, 1 completely my fault and 1 was a factory defect. They replaced it no issues and I definitely didn't pay full price for the replacement.