Somebody asked about Kistler rods on another forum that he and I are both on, and he said yall might like to hear that story here. So here goes, but I gotta add a few things to it.
Let me start by saying I started bass fishing in the mid 80's thanks to my (then) father-in-law. I understood the importance of a sensitive, light rod and about that time the Berkely Bionix ( - - blocked - - ) out and filled that bill for me. Around 1990 I went on the road full time as a musician and got completely away from fishing, as well as getting divorced. In the last 5-6 years I started getting back into fishing some, my schedule allowing it since I'm no longer on the road as much, and also happily remarried. Then a few years ago my wifes parents were both diagnosed with cancer. They passed away within 5 months of each other, leaving her little brother (who was 10 at the time) for us to raise. I took him fishing with me, fishing out of a ghenooe, and he seemed to develop an interest in boats as well. So we decided to shop and get a new boat. After a long process of comparing boats, we decided on a Blazer 210.
I live about 5 hours drive from the factory and drove there when my boat ( - - blocked - - ) out of the mold for a factory tour and to see mine as it was being built. While I was there, Keith (one of the owners) took me into his office and showed me this rod called a Helium rod. Man! I was blown away! I went home and talked about the rod as much as I did my boat, so my wife told me to get one! I called Keith and when I picked up my boat, there was a Kistler LTA in the rod box.
I knew it was a great rod, but got my validation a couple of months later. while fishing under some docks with a weightless trickworm, the wind kicked up putting a big bow in my line. But I still felt the 'thump' when the fish hit, but by the time I got the slack up the fish was 3 pilings deep under the dock. I set the hook and we couldn't even see the fish when it jumped it was so far back. Luke had gotten the net, but then set it back down saying I wouldn't be needing it. well, the fished turned and swam straight out! A nice 7 1/2 bass that I know I would not have felt hit with any of my other rods!
Sadly, 2 weeks later my boat was broken into and I lost my Helium and the Scorpion reel on it, along with several other combos.
The cheaper rod and reel combos (if there is such a thing) were easy enough to replace, but worm fishing is my bread and butter here in Fla, I had to get another Helium/Scorpion combo. So I saved for a little while and bought one from the local tackle store.
We try to give Luke quality fishing gear as long as he takes care of it, and he wanted a GLoomis, so for Christmas last year we got him one with a Quantum PT on it. It's a nice rig, but everytime I look up he's using my Helium rig! we have 2 ponds on our property and I've stocked some big bass in them as well as catfish and bream. He is always out there with my rod. So it looks like I'll have to get another one, if I ever want to fish with one! I actually plan on a few more as $$ permits, for flipping and carolina rigging.
For Luke's 13th birthday this past June I took him for a 2 day trip to Stickmarsh. When we arrived the first evening, we went out for a couple of hours. The first fish I caught was an 11-1/4 lber! She hit a Senko as I pulled it across a clump of hydrilla. After I turned her from there, she jumped a couple of times and then dove under the boat. She went into the hydrilla on the otherside of the boat, I just kept pressure on her and eventually turned her out of it. She ( - - blocked - - ) back to the side of the boat she was originally on, and jumped again before I worked her to the net. This is the biggest fish I've caught with my Helium so far, caught another one the next day that was 8-1/2 lbs.
I can't tell you enough what a great rod this is. I have the He66MHC, which is short enough I can still fish under docks well but still get a fish out of thick hydrilla. I Also have never seen a rod as sensitive. It is great for fishing in wind or current, situations where there is usually alot of bow in the line. I look forward to more of these in the future.
