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Chad's Pro Tips!!

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"Choosing the right Rod"
By: Chad Morgenthaler

www.chadmorgenthaler.com

With so many different rods on the market it’s difficult to choose the right one.  I prefer Kistler rods because I believe the engineering, quality, and sensitivity of their rods are second to none. 

Kistler’s continual strive to be on top of the market has produced two new rod lines, the Magnesium series and the Helium 2 series. The Magnesium rods cost less than the Helium series, but without sacrificing the quality. The Helium 2 series is a new blank that is super lightweight and very sensitive, but it has a higher price tag than the regular Helium series. I use this rod and its well worth the price.

 In order to help anglers choose the right rod, I’ve put together a few general rules:

1.       Rule – Use the longest rod possible.

2.       Rule – When using braided or fluorocarbon line use a softer action rod.

3.       Rule – When using monofilament line use a heavier action rod.

When flipping and pitching I prefer to use a 7'6" Kistler Helium LTA Heavy, or a Helium LTA Extra Heavy rod. In light vegetation or wooded cover situations I’ll pair up 15-20 lb. Maxima fluorocarbon line with a Helium LTA Heavy rod. When fishing in heavy vegetation I also like to use 50-65 lb. braided line on the same rod.  

When fishing clear water situations with docks and lighter baits, I choose the Kistler Helium LTA 7’ Medium Action Spinning Rod.  The rod works well with 6-10 lb. Maxima fluorocarbon line allowing for accurate casts and skipping. 

I also particularly like the 7’11” Kistler Helium LTA Heavy rod for flipping and pitching into heavy cover, lay downs, and bushes. The parabolic bend in the rod is absolutely perfect for heavy cover these situations. When paired with braided or fluorocarbon line, the combination is a lethal weapon.

Remember choosing the right rod for the job is important to any successful fishing trip.

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