|
Kistler's
eagerly anticipated Magnesium TS rod is put through a complete slew of tests
Date: |
2/08/06 |
Tackle type: |
Rod |
Manufacturer: |
Kistler Custom
Rods |
Reviewer: |
Cal |
Total
Score: 9.17
Introduction:
At ICAST 2005, we, along with the rest of the fishing industry, were introduced
to Kistler's brand new line of technique specific Magnesium line of rods.
Well, it took some time, but we finally managed to get our hands on one of these
sticks and put it through a new series of checks and balances in an effort to
bring to you, our readers, a more tangible analysis. How did the new Kistler
Magnesium TS stand up to our new methodology? Sit back and visit with us as we
take you through what is the Kistler Mg 6' 6" All Purpose Special.
Kistler
MgAPSMH66
Specifications
|
Material |
Proprietary
Graphite
Composite |
Length |
6' 6" |
Length from
Front of
Reel Seat to
Tip |
66 1/2" |
Length from
Back of Reel
Seat to Base |
9" |
Line Wt.
Rating |
10 - 17 lbs |
Lure Wt.
Rating |
1/4 - 3/4 oz |
Pieces |
One |
Guides |
Stainless
Steel Frames
with
Hardened
Ceramic
Inserts (7 +
tip) |
Power Rating |
Medium Heavy |
Taper/Action |
Fast |
Rod Weight |
3.5 oz |
MSRP |
$180 |
Impressions: In
response to the
continuing demand
for technique
specific bass
fishing rods,
together with
repeated requests
for a value line of
sticks with similar
attributes to that
of their original
Helium series,
Kistler Custom
Fishing rods has
gone overseas and
located a factory in
tune with their own
rod building ideals.
The result is
Kistler's new
Magnesium TS series
built on a
proprietary graphite
blend and featuring
stainless steel
guides with ceramic
inserts, Kistler's
traditional
no-foregrip design,
and a split rear
cork grip, all at
price point that is
roughly $50 less
than their original
Helium line.
Presenting the
rear grip
assembly of our
MgAPSMH66
The number of
rod
manufacturers
heading overseas
seeking an
economical
solution to the
assembly of
their rods is
growing every
year. The
benefit to us,
the consumer, is
an increasing
level of quality
from these
factories, and a
product that is
much more
affordable. The
Kistler
Magnesium TS is
one such
example. The
build quality of
our test rod was
superb and were
it not for the
fact Trey
Kistler himself
informed us this
rod's origins
laid overseas,
we would not
have suspected
otherwise.
The
MgAPSMH66
features an
attractive
compressed
cork butt
cap
Lab Tests:
Always striving to
bring you, our
readers, the best in
objective,
independent
analysis, 2006 marks
the year in which we
debut some new rod
testing metrics. As
the basis for our
comparisons, we look
to G.Loomis, which
has long been the
industry benchmark,
to serve as our
baseline for
comparison. The rod
we chose for our
baseline set of data
in this review? None
other than
G.Loomis's own 6'6"
medium heavy stick,
the MBR783C GLX
(Fuji Reel seat
model).
Lab Results
|
Model
|
RoD
|
Action
|
Line Slap
|
Spine
|
Weight
|
Balance Point
|
Kistler MgAPSMH66 |
1.6
|
Fast
|
1lb 4 oz
|
top
|
3.5 oz
|
+ 8.5"
|
G.Loomis MBR783C GLX |
1.8
|
Fast
|
12 oz
|
bottom
|
4.1 oz
|
+ 6.25"
|
Rate
of
Deflection
(RoD):
At
the
heart of
our new
tests is
a metric
we refer
to as
the Rate
of
Deflection
or RoD.
This
number
is the
ratio of
the
amount a
particular
fishing
pole
bends
divided
by a
pre-determined
load,
and is
not
meant as
a stand
alone
metric,
but
rather,
it is
intended
for use
in
comparison
with
other
rods
sharing
similar
lure
weight
ratings.
We
first,
incline
the test
rod at a
fixed
angle to
mimic
how it
would be
held
while
fishing.
We then
mount a
reel,
line the
rod,
lock
down the
drag,
and
apply
the
pre-determined
amount
of
pressure
to the
end of
the line
and take
our
measurements.
In the
case of
our
MgAPSMH66,
we
measured
twenty-six
(26)
inches
of
deflection
with
sixteen
(16)
ounces
of
pressure
for a
RoD of
1.6. Our
baseline
test
rod, the
MBR783C
GLX
measured
twenty-eight
(28)
inces of
deflection
with
this
same
amount
of
pressure
for a
RoD of
1.8. So,
the
bottom
line
here is
the
lower
the
number,
the more
powerful
the
blank.
As we
can see
in the
table
above,
the
MgAPSMH66
actually
tested
out to
be
slightly
more
powerful
than our
MBR783C
GLX.
The taper of our MgAPSMH66
Action:
One of the
more obscure rod
ratings for many
consumers is the
notion that rods
have an action
of fast,
moderate, slow,
etc.. Many
confuse this
rating with that
of Power. Simply
stated, a rod's
action is used
to describe how
far down the rod
will bend at the
tip before you
reach its
backbone. The
less bend, the
"faster" the
tip. We found it
interesting that
while our
MgAPSMH66 had a
RoD measurement
less than that
of the MBR783C
GLX indicating
the blank is
slightly stiffer
or less
flexible, the
MBR783C GLX
actually had
about half an
inch less tip
than that of the
MgAPSMH66. This
means the
MBR783C GLX has
a slightly
faster taper but
both blanks,
when run through
our actual
calculation,
featured tips
that bent down
in the range of
25% of the rod's
overall length.
This is right on
the fence with
the general
definition
between a
fast and
extra-fast
action rod
so both are
consistently
rated.
|
The tip
action of
our
MgAPSMH66 |
Line Slap:
We hear a lot of
chatter
regarding the
number of guides
on a rod, their
placement,
spacing
standards, etc..
As fisherman,
what's important
to us,
obviously, is
performance.
This is why we
present to you
our field tests
with every
product.
However, an
interesting
metric with
regards to guide
placement on
casting rods
with a
conventional
wrap (guides
up), is at what
amount of
pressure do we
experience the
touching of line
to blank? This
is of concern
because the
friction caused
by this
phenomenon must
undoubtedly
affect the
longevity of the
blank. The
height and
spacing of the
guides on a rod
can help
alleviate this
occurrence, but
given the design
of rods wrapped
in this manner,
it is an
inevitable
event. How then,
did our two rods
perform?
Surprisingly,
given our
MgAPSMH66 has
one less guide
than our MBR783C
GLX, it took
much more
pressure to
induce line slap
on this rod than
it did with the
Loomis. In fact,
it took
surprisingly
little pressure
for the GLX to
experience line
slap.
|
It took 1lb
4oz of
pressure to
induce line
slap on our
MgAPSMH66 |
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