Two Rods That Are A "Must Have"!!

[Damon Witt]

There are a lot of awesome Kistler rods to choose from. Trying to pick a favorite from the Graphite Plus or Helium Series can be daunting to say the least. They all are extremely well made with great action and beautiful finishes.

The true test of a rod comes at the end of a long tournament season in which a rod has been fished on many different lakes in many different, sometimes extreme, fishing conditions. Sometimes you need the same rod to perform different tasks with different baits. But at the end of a long season some rods just stand out and become a rod that is a must have from then on. The following two rods have those qualities.

7Ì 6Ó Flip & Pitch Special
KFRST76

This is my number one fishing/tournament rod. I have caught so many good fish on this rod that my level of confidence in it are as high as it gets. Most of the time I have a jig or a tube tied on this rod for flipping & pitching. I always carry four of these rods on my deck. The third rod I use for Carolina rigging and the fourth I always have a frog tied on with 65 lb braid. For the other three rods I use only 20lb Vanish. Vanish is the perfect line for those applications. I have never broken a fish off on that line. That includes pulling 5-9lb fish out of heavy cover on Clear Lake and the Delta. But the workhorse is the rod. Awesome backbone combined with the perfect action on the tip. It is the best flipping/pitching/frogging rod I have fished. This rod is a Ïmust haveÓ and has proven itself over and over again.

7Ó Med-Hvy All Purpose
KSBS7 Ò Graphite Plus
HE70MHC - Helium


This is my number 1.1 fishing /tournament rod. I use this rod as my all-purpose rod. I can throw worms, senkos, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, or drag plastics with this rod or whatever else I need to do. I carry four of these at all time. Usually rigged with 10-12lb Sensation for dragging plastics, 15lb Green Big Game for spinnerbaits and some shallow cranks or 65lb braid for traps and buzzbaits. I started out with the Graphite Plus and will not give those up but do have two of the HeliumÌs coming in. (Same concept in a rod but lighter and more sensitive. Sounds like a no-brainer to me.) This is another Kistler Ïmust haveÓ rod.

These are two Kistler Ïmust haveÓ rods. (Actually, I Ïmust haveÓ four of each of these rods in my boat at all times, but thatÌs just me.) I also throw the new Kistler 7Ó cranking rod that everyone is talking about. It is the best cranking rod I have used. And I use the Drop-Shot Special and Dart-Head special for all finesse stuff. Plus a few other KistlerÌs for special techniques.

If your thinking about a Kistler or do not have these two rods yet, you will do well for yourself if you add these two Ïmust haveÓ rods to your collection.

Go Catch a Big-un!

Damon Witt
Roseville,CA

[earthworm77]

Damon, for me it isn't that easy. I am very happy with all of the Kistler rods I own. Right now I have 8 Heliums, 2 California series rods, the Darter and Drop Shot you spoke of and a couple I spun myself on Helium Blanks.

He70MHC
He70MLC
He70MC X 2
He66MLC
He70MLS
He66MLS
He66MS


There isn't a dog in the bunch. I'm impressed with the light weight and superior sensitivity of all of these rods.

If I had to choose 2 for the type of bass fishing I do, I'd go with the He70MC and the He66MLS. I just find myself picking them up so often. Like I said though, all of the rods are very good and obviously high quality.