Annual Word from Trey Kistler, President of Kistler Custom Fishing Rods.
Dear Fellow Angler,
Nine years ago I told my wife that I was going to start a fishing rod company. She was just as uncertain about this idea as I was, but for the first time in my life, I would be able to work from home. My final decision to start Kistler Custom Rods came after my father decided to leave his position at Castaway Graphite Rods and seek different opportunities.
My wife and I had no experience in running a business, but we did know how to work hard. My prior six years experience working with my father at Castaway and All-Star Rods was just enough to get me going in the right
direction. What followed was a lot of trial and error, along with blood, sweat and tears as I began my education at the College of Hard Knocks. I would not suggest that anyone take the course that I chose. However, I would encourage everyone to have a dream and believe that anything is possible with God.
It is hard to believe that nine years later we have become one of the most trusted names in the fishing rod industry, and the icing on the cake is that my father Billy is now working with me here at Kistler Rods in Magnolia, Texas. All I can say to our current customers, friends and future customers is this: “Watch out, because things are only going to get better!” I have been putting together a dream team for several years now and continue to add great people. Our vision is now becoming a reality for everyone involved to enjoy as we approach our 10th Anniversary.
With our loyal customers, friends and family standing together through the good and the bad, we are again positioned to create a really big difference in our industry. To be honest and perhaps, with a little modesty, one might notice the impact Kistler Rods has already made on the design, looks and performance of so many other rod manufacturers over the last two years. While I am flattered to see so many companies copying our most popular innovations, it still bothers me that they can not create their own demand without imitating and using the
success of others to move ahead in business.
In keeping with our ten year history, making the best rods on the market, 2008 marks some of our greatest innovations ever. In our 2008 line you will notice several changes for the better, such as the brand new innovative FUJI reel seats on many of our rods. We will also be offering the strongest, toughest and lightest graphite blanks ever created in the history of graphite technology. Keep a close eye out for a fresh transformation to take place later this year with all of our rods as we move into our 10th Anniversary.
My father and I will be spending the next six months engineering, testing and perfecting the most revolutionary changes in a rod since our last project was unveiled in 2005. So many anglers have fallen in love with our Helium LTA rods from 2003. Even more have appreciated our Magnesium rods that were introduced shortly thereafter. Once we introduced the Helium 2 LTX in 2005, we knew we had gained a great deal of attention when so many anglers reported catching bigger fish and greater numbers of them. This kind of feedback drives us to continue to strive harder, look deeper, work longer and dream bigger with the ultimate goal of keeping our customer on top of his or her sport.
None of these opportunities would be possible without the loving faithfulness of our God in heaven. The faith that I have in His Son, Jesus Christ, gives me the strength, courage and will to trust Him and His plan for my life. Nothing else really matters in life more than how I try to honor God by pleasing others such as my family, friends, employees, customers and other business associates. Everything else just falls into place. Just like Jesus said in the book of Matthew 6:33: “Seek first His kingdom and everything else will be added.” If we can’t believe His words and the other words in God’s Playbook, I ask you, who and what can we believe? What or who on earth can give us better instruction, truth about life, or plans for eternity?
I encourage you place your faith in Christ and give your life to God. Trust Him to provide the answers to the questions you have in life by asking Him to help. He is like a good father who is ready and eager to help his son or daughter with anything they ask of Him.
We are excited that you have visited our site and used your time to read through our ninth-year update, even more so when you decide to purchase one of our fine rods. If you ever get to try a Kistler rod, let us hear about your experience either by email, letter or phone. We here at Kistler Rods would be very appreciative, as we love to hear success stories from all over the world. In the meantime I wish you good fishing and God’s blessings whether on or off the water.
Your brother in Christ,
Trey Kistler
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