texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,571
TexDawg 119,516
Bigbob_FTW 94,879
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,260
Bob Davis 81,480
Mark Perry 72,282
Derek 🐝 68,311
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,823
Posts13,935,144
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler #13391885 01/03/20 08:35 PM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 150
SmalljawNH Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 150
I fished a squarebill a lot in 2019 and plan to fish them even more this year. I really like the Dobyns 705 CBMF Glass crankbait rod for squarebills and DT6 sized crankbaits, especially in open water. I want to try a shorter rod to roll cast to nearby targets and under docks.

I am 5'6" tall and will be in the back of the boat more often this year to fish team tournaments and as a Co-Angler for the BASS Open on Lewisville. I really like the glass composite rods. The shortest glass rods Dobyns make is the seven footer so I found a couple other brands I am considering to fill this spot.

Kistler's Reel-N-Feel looks like a good rod. TW has a 6'8" in MH and a 6'10" in M. Kistler's website also lists a 6'9" which looks to be a MH but it lists it as APP (All Purpose Power).
Kistler Reel-N-Feel Link

St. Croix makes a 6'10" MH in the Legend Glass that is a little less expensive.
St. Croix Legend Glass Link

Does anyone have any experience with these brands or the specific rods? I wish I could try these rods out before I commit to one but I haven't even seen a local place that carries them. Also if anyone has input on a rod I'm missing, I'm open to hearing it. I used to have a 6'8" Shimano Crucial (black) which was a glass composite but it broke and I miss that rod, dearly.

Thanks!

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13391890 01/03/20 08:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,407
F
Finesse EMPEROR/ Dropshot King Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
F
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,407
Shimano!

Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: Finesse EMPEROR/ Dropshot King] #13392002 01/03/20 11:06 PM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 150
SmalljawNH Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 150
Originally Posted by Finesse Master/ Dropshot king
Shimano!


Is there a specific model for glass composite shorter than 7 foot that I should be looking at?

Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392014 01/03/20 11:21 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 26,650
senko9S Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 26,650
might wanna consider <6'8" for roll castng under docks esp from the back of the boat. just a thought.

Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392063 01/04/20 12:37 AM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 7,082
horseplaydvm Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 7,082
I don’t have any experience with either of those. I would highly recommend the G-Loomis crankbait rod for that!


[Linked Image]
Gone Fishing
B.A.S. 6/5/47-6/6/12
C.W.S. 9/29/72- 10/17/23
Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392073 01/04/20 12:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 158
Shakey-Head Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 158
Kistler.... Hands down.... Call Trey Kistler and explain what you are wanting.

Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: senko9S] #13392081 01/04/20 12:57 AM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 150
SmalljawNH Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 150
Originally Posted by senko9S
might wanna consider <6'8" for roll castng under docks esp from the back of the boat. just a thought.

Thank you and I agree. If I can find a good rod in that length I'd prefer it.

Originally Posted by Shakey-Head
Kistler.... Hands down.... Call Trey Kistler and explain what you are wanting.

That's a great idea.

Originally Posted by horseplaydvm
I don’t have any experience with either of those. I would highly recommend the G-Loomis crankbait rod for that!

I saw some crankbait rods from G Loomis but none that are composite in the length I'm looking for. Is there a graphite rod you prefer for close quarter squarebill fishing? I've heard that G Loomis is a solid brand.

Last edited by SmalljawNH; 01/04/20 12:58 AM.
Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392086 01/04/20 01:00 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 571
A
andy52887 Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
A
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 571
I bought a kistler klx 6’9” for that exact reason..... squarebills. I don’t like glass for squarebill around trees and docks because they are to fast at the tip and makes accuracy difficult. The feel and reel is a very nice rod but I don’t recommend it for the accuracy reasons. The klx is very nice for that purpose.

Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392100 01/04/20 01:15 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 917
C130 Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 917
I use a Kistler Feel-N-Reel for square bills, I’m very happy with it.


Bass Cat Eyra
Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392109 01/04/20 01:29 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,060
Z
ZX-250 Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
Z
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,060
Kistler new website is up. Rods took a little spike in cost.

Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392186 01/04/20 02:25 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,982
B
bassmanrudy Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,982
I haven't bought the Legend glass series yet(but want to try one!!). I do have the Legend Tourney 7' med power moderate action rod and it's a great rod! Not glass but has a nice slow load up and handles squarebills really well. If you do get the St Croix please write a review for us!

[Linked Image]


...
Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392243 01/04/20 03:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,166
S
Shallow Waters Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
S
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,166
I don't know what your budget is, and I have mostly Kistler rods and love them, but I use a G Loomis IMX Pro for squarebills. I tried the Feel N Reel line but didn't love them. Look into this IMX - 6'6" https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/G_Loomis_IMX_Pro_Crankbait_Casting_Rods/descpage-CRXI.html

Last edited by Shallow Waters; 01/04/20 03:06 AM.
Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392253 01/04/20 03:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,166
S
Shallow Waters Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
S
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,166

Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392530 01/04/20 03:29 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 7,082
horseplaydvm Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 7,082
OP, here is the link for the G-Loomis rods. I use the 6’6 and 7’0 for shorter casting distances.
http://www.gloomis.com/content/gloomis/northamerica/usconv/en/homepage/PDP.P-CRANKBAITS.html


[Linked Image]
Gone Fishing
B.A.S. 6/5/47-6/6/12
C.W.S. 9/29/72- 10/17/23
Re: Squarebill Rod - St Croix or Kistler [Re: SmalljawNH] #13392574 01/04/20 04:15 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,033
danceswithbass Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,033
I just got a G Loomis E6X in a 7Ft Medium and it does a nice job on SB and DT6s. I had a St Croix Premier CB rod and didnt like it all, poor accuracy, super whippy and had to crank brakes all the way up on even a 1.5 crank. I had a hard time wanting to spend more than $200 on a square bill rod, but happy with this rod so far.

Page 1 of 2 1 2
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3