Fishing Rods

Greetings -

I've enjoyed reading lots of fine postings on Kistler rods, so its time I step up and make my first Kistler purchase. But I need some help from this extremely thoughtful and communicative forum. I only fish smallies. I'm in the Columbia River or one of its big tributaries most of the time. This means almost no timber, weeds, or LMBs but lots of rocks, and SMBs.

I'd like this new rod to be my workhorse rod. So for me that means jigs tied on 3/8 to 5/8 ounce jig heads. They are definately not flipped into the shallows. I'm usually fishing over at least 15 - 20 feet of water on cobble and gravel. I'll put one of my Scorpion 1001 on the new Kistler rod with 10 lb yozuri hybrid or similar line.

The choice: Been thinking of the HE70MC or the HE69APC. Folks have other suggestions?

My biggest concern, frankly, is I get something too beefy. I don't need to yard fish over the side of the boat as I actually own a landing net . But with a 1/2 ounce jig head, the rod shouldn't be too parabolic or I might as well stay with my Lamiglas rods.

Just seems like so many of you hotshots concentrate on bucketmouths in heavy cover, that if I follow the recomendations without making clear the fishing I'll be doing, that I might buy a rod that's nice and light, but so strong it sucks the fight out of a 1 or 2 pound SMB

Thanks in advance,

John
Portland OR

Welcome to Kistler's 'family' and great post/info/question.

I have four HE70MCs so you know which one I'd recommend . And releative to your situation and concerns, I'd still recommend one. It's not "too beefy" and it won't "suck the fight out of a 1 or 2 lb SMB"--guaranteed. Smaller LMB still feel great on mine but it still has the backbone to work the bigger Bass back to the boat.

Others love their HE69APCs and I'm sure that model would work well too but my 'first love' is the 7', MC.

Dan

I fish smallmouths on St. Clair and Erie and have used 7 different Heliums and a Dock Skipping Special to pull in some really big bronzebacks. My primary style of fishing for smallies is dragging tube baits up to 1/2 ounce and I prefer a spinning rod (He70MHS). For jigs in the 1/2 ounce to 5/8 ounce range (not tube baits), I throw my He69APC and an He70MHC. They aren't stiff or "beefy" by any means. The one quality I love about all of my Heliums (MH is the heaviest action I currently carry) is the lighter action in the tip, but the strong backbone to horse a fish when I need it. Dan's suggestion is a good one with the He70MC, but I use mine primarily for crankbaits. If you are looking for a workhorse rod, I'd recommend the He69APC or even the He70MHC (don't let the MH rating fool you, this rod has A LOT of action). As for sucking the life out of a 1 or 2 pound smallie, is that possible?! Those little guys never give up!

Thanks Jeff and Dan. Good food for thought. Sounds like I have identified two of the better rods for this application but maybe should include the HE70MHC for consideration. WOW for smallies, huh?

And sounds like the sensitive tip of all Kistler rods will make it responsive to the kind of subtle jig bite we get a lot of times. And they don't sound like they'll be too beefy for an SMB. (While I like to believe my SMBs are all 3-5 pounders, the average fish is probably closer to 14 or 15 inches )

Maybe I should ask this question differently since I seem to have identified at least a couple good rod choices to start with: How would you describe the differences in the action of the HE69APC and the HE70MC?. I think I can visualize the increase sitffness between the HE70MC and the HE70MHC......

PS As an aside, I would never dream of ( - - blocked - - ) this kind of money in a rod I had never cast or better yet fished. It is a testimony to the open and frank discussion about these rods at this website. Hope Trey realizes what a marketing tool he has in you folks.

Take care,

John
Porltand OR

John, I fish both the 69APC and 70MC. For me, the 69 has a little more backbone and is a little less "tippy" lol ( note the highly technical term). In other words the 69 doesn't have quite as much parabolic action as the 70. Make no mistake, it is every bit as sensitive it just seems to stand up a little better with heavier baits. Hope that helps.

In other words the 69 doesn't have quite as much parabolic action as the 70. Make no mistake, it is every bit as sensitive it just seems to stand up a little better with heavier baits.

Ezcue is right on...If you throw more of the heavier baits (5/8 oz) then look for the heavier action of the He69APC or the He70MHC. If you throw on the lighter end, maybe the more moderate action of the He70MC is the way to go.

Maybe Trey or Clifford can give you some advice?

Just what I needed, thanks. Sounds like the HE69APC for my big jigs, HE70MC for smaller jigs. Makes me think I could even fish grubs or tubes on the HE70MC since I often use 1/4 ounce heads....

I'm thinking if I bought both of them, the HE69APC (with its slightly stiffer action) would make a fine "light" carolina rig rod. As I said in my first post, these are all SMB, so I'm usually using a small plastic bait on my Carolina rig, don't need to set too hard to get good contact through the bait.

Anyone tried dragging a carolina rig on that rod?

Esler, I use the 69APC for light C-riggin a lot. When I say light, 3/8 or 1/2oz tungsten barrel sinker and about 18-24" leader, 2/0 EWG and an assortment of 6" or shorter soft plastics. Zoom 4" lizards, Centipedes, Sweet Beavers, Super Flukes...oh the list goes on and on.

Short answer, absolutely, it performs very well as a light C-rig rod. My favorite C-rig stick is the HE76HC, that extra length really helps on those big ole sweepin hook sets.