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Rod Review

 


Taking Another Spin with Kistler's Magnesium 2

 

Date: 9/28/17
Tackle Type: Rod
Manufacturer: Kistler Custom Rods
Reviewer: Cal






Total Score: 8.08 - GREAT

Introduction:
Last year we shared with you our thoughts on Kistler's Search For One candidate within their revamped Magnesium 2 series. Today we take a look at a spinning rod within the very same series to find out how well it performs under finesse applications. Does the revamped line translate to spinning as well Let's find out. Here's our look at Kistler Custom Rod's MG2-SP-LMH-70-MF Magnesium 2 spinning stick.

 

Kistler Mag 2 MG2-SP-LMH-70-MF Specifications

Material North Fork Composites Blank
Length 7'-0"
Line Wt. 10-15lb
Lure Wt. 1/8-3/4oz
Pieces One
Guides 9+tip American Tackle Microwave
Rear Handle Length 9.75"
Power Rating Lite-Medium Heavy
Taper Mod-Fast
Rod Weight 3.9oz
Origin Made in USA
MSRP $199.95

 


Introducing Kister's Mag 2 MG2-SP-LMH-70-MF (MG2-LMH for short).

 

Impressions: Kistler's name for this stick is a bit long winded. For the purposes of this review, we're going to refer to it simply as the MG2-LMH. This stick is a 7'-0" rod built on a North Fork Composites blank with American Tackle Microwave guides and the new to fishing Winn grips. It has a nice, raw blank finish with chartreuse thread wraps on all the guides. The thread wraps match the color of the rod's rear grip. If you have a mix of different rods from different manufacturers in your rod locker, you won't have a difficult time finding any Mg2 stick in that locker.

 


Bright wraps deserves bright line to match.

Real World Tests: I paired my MG2-LMH with an old school Daiwa Certate Finesse Custom spooled with YGK Sinking Braid in yellow. I felt it was only appropriate to match the line to the rod in this instance. The majority of testing took place at Lake Berryessa, California.


Do you believe in American Tackle's Micro-wave guides?

Casting: The MG2-LMH is rated from one eighth ounce up to three quarters of an ounce (1/8oz - 3/4oz) and a bit on the heavy side for drop shot applications so I fished it mostly with a shakey head presentation. The blank features a moderate-fast taper which is more suited for moving baits, and experimented with some, but didn't have any hookups. As one might expect, the MG2-LMH loads fine and was pretty smooth and predictable in casting situations.


Here, you can see how wildly the line comes off the spinning spool, yet, above that first guide, all that wildness is tamed and the line sails through the remaining guides relatively straight and true.

What I really enjoyed about this stick, more than on the casting rod, was the performance of those American Tackle Microwave guides. That stripper guide really stands out on spinning tackle and takes some getting used to visually but it really performs.

From my first experience with these guides on spinning tackle dating back to our review of Enigma's EAM610-DS-ML-S to now, these guides have won me over with their performance.


A look at the MG2-LMH's very utilitarian reel seat.

Sensitivity: This is where I really wanted to see what this stick was about. Already familiar with its casting sibling, the MG2-LMH-70-MF, I kind of knew what to expect (i.e. above average sensitivity) and I was not disappointed. The MG2-LMH has very good sensitivity when fishing bottom contact baits even with that moderate-fast taper. if you're fishing any moving baits with vibration or a wide wobble, you'll be able to feel them in the water too.


Checking out the tip action.

Next Section: Power that confuses?

 

   

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