Dont know about the guy that won the Kistler rod but Kistler has not made a rod with a foregrip in it in over three years kind of makes you wonder what he got. They are the finest rods I have ever used and the quality control is un matched. Trey Kistker will reject a rod that is 1/32 of an inch from being straight! They are so sensitive that the first day I used mine ( I now own 9 of them) I found myself setting the hook every time the weight hit bottom!!

I just bought a couple rods from FigRig, take a look at figrigrods.com

handmade, very light, very senstitive, have yet to see how strong

manufactures exchange is gauranteed 10 days or less

pricing is very competitive

what's wrong with loomis, falcon etc? geez

I have had a bad experience with loomis in the past, and since Shimano bought them a few years ago they have gotten cheaper. Check out the handle on an older pre shimano loomis and the new ones.

I don't like longer falcon rods, I fish with mostly 7'+ rods and I haven't picked one up that really fit well with me.

Kistler it is.

Bah...Loomis has not changed. I have owned older im-6 loomis's, and the quality of my current loomis imx's and glx's are congruent with quality of older models. When you say check out the handle of the old loomis's vs. the new ones, are you referring to the change in reel seat? Loomis went from the wieble reel seat to the fuji due to the weight of the old wieble hard plastic reel seat and large metal locking ring. Rumors fly when someone buys the rights to a preexhisting company. Shimano is smart, and only helped with more money for r&d (hence the pinnacle of rods with the new glx jig and worm series). Shimano didn't get to be as big as they are by making bad decisions like purchasing a quality operation and changing things. Loomis rods are still made in Washington, and Gary Loomis even still works there and oversees operations. I haven't fished with a helium, but I'm sure their loyal following is well deserved. It's hard to beat the loomis lifetime warranty though; $50 bucks and a no questions asked new rod, regardless of how you break it. Kistler and Loomis rods are both great, I just have to defend the rod company that has treated me right for many years...G.Loomis

This is just a ditto for GLoomis. I'm sure the Kistlers are great rods (they sure have a bunch of loyal customers), but GLoomis set the bar and richly deserve their props...

That being said, I don't like the new decals, the moss green color instead of black, the application specific trends (what if I want to use a Bronseback for LMB) and the blurring of traditional IMX and GLX standards (try to find out what graphite is used in the DSR820C for example).

I *do* like the warranty...they didn't even ask how my rod was broken (my Granddaughter rolled her car window up on it ;-) and when I voluntered the story, it made no difference to them at all. What a wonderful, refreshing Customer Service experience.

I feel it is hard to beat BPS for their rods. Excellent quality, price and customer service. What more could you want.

http://www.bassmedics.com/

the link is on the left.

Have you looked at Quarrow? The make a quality rod at a very reasonable price. I just recently switched to Quarrow and love them. Great product backed by great company support.

CastAway makes a great rod. I own two 7'6" Med action rods I use for casting large topwaters and sassy shad for Striper

http://www.castawayrods.com/

CastAway Fishing Rods
118 Cape Conroe
Montgomery, Texas

I have a 2 Kistler's and I love them both.
I can tell you, as I have to replace other rods they will be replaced with Kistler rods.
Whatever rod company you decide I hope you chose a local family owned business. They need our support now more than ever.

Set the hook!
Gene

anthony i was told that they are in fact shakari blanks on the g blanks, I have to sasy I use glx and helium lta, but these g blank rods ar esweet looking!

I have been using Waterloo Rods for about 5 years now and have been very pleased with the product and the service. Not to mention they have the best big jig/grass rod I have seen or used. (The Scrape Rod) Their web site is www.waterloorods.com Good Luck with your decision! JR

I bought and ungly stik last week and it feels good to me.

http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/products/rods/ugly-lite.shtml


Jerome

I have a hand full of American RodSmiths that I really like. Best part about that is if you buy them at Academy they will replace them for FREE no questions asked. I speak from experience on a few All Star rods that I'm slowly weeding out with American RodSmiths!!!

I have several BPS rods in 6.6ft MH and 7ft MH. It's hard to compare other brands in their price range. It's pretty cool to break one and think "Oh dang! Now I have to go up to BPS for a replacement. Oh, while I'm there I need this and this and this and.............." Heh, that could be part of their game plan!

They never ask what happened to the rod they just replace it. In my opinion that is superb customer service.

Last one I bought I broke it two weeks after I bought it then I had it replaced and turned around and broke it again the same dang day. They replaced it as well with no questions asked. Both breaks were from the rod being crimped by stuff shutting on them.

The G-Loomis are nice rods and feel great but I can have two or three nice BPS rods for the price of one of theirs with the same kinda warranty.

Just depends on your pocket book and your needs. You can get very good rods at a great price with a lifetime warranty or you can get high dollar high end rods with a lifetime warranty. Let your needs speak for you. And it was stated precisely above - confidence will in the end be more important than your rod manufacturer choice. Heck, an ugly stick will catch a lot of fish and they don't cost that much.

My .02 cents

FishKiller

by a sidewinder rod you wont be sorry....Love'em