Make No Bones About It, The New Z from Kistler

Total Score: 8.33 + EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD

Introduction: With so many fishing rod manufacturers out there today, in the eyes of the everyday angler, it's almost impossible to distinguish yourself from the competition. Most manufacturers rely on cosmetics to capture our attention, some follow this up with compelling components and blank technology, but really, how many consumers really pay attention to the tech in a fishing rod? Spiral wrapped rods, casting rods with triggerless reel seats, all these things serve a purpose, but not in the eyes of the general buying public.

With so many fishing rod manufacturers out there today, in the eyes of the everyday angler, it's almost impossible to distinguish yourself from the competition.

When we heard about a refreshed rod series being built on a new blank rolled without the traditional scrim material, our interest was peaked. When this series is coming from Kistler Custom Rods, you know we had to get our hands on one of these sticks to check out the benefits - or lack there of - for ourselves. Here's our look at the 2019 ZBone ZB3LMH73.

There is no bigger name in the fishing industry than Loomis, and the blanks coming out of North Fork Composites simply extend his legacy.

Background: As has been the case since their introduction in 2010, Kistler Custom Rod's ZBone series are built on blanks manufactured by Gary Loomis's blank company North Fork Composites. There is no bigger name in the fishing industry than Loomis, and the blanks coming out of North Fork Composites simply extend his legacy. However, while NFC has been recreating Gary Loomis's secret sauce blank recipes since 2009, they haven't really come out with anything new. We're happy to report this has changed. NFC's new HMx-ray blank is rolled with the same high modulus graphite in their HM blanks, but with the x-factor of doing so without a scrim.

What's a scrim and why does it matter? In this photo, it's that white stuff on top of the dark grey (raw graphite).

What's a scrim and why does it matter? Well, as explained to us by Gary Loomis himself back in 2013, the scrim's purpose is to help hold the vertical running graphite fibers together when the blank is bending. Without the scrim, blanks would not stay round under tip load and eventually fail or crush in on themselves. The scrim provides what is referred to as hoop strength so a blank can bend without crushing.

Kistler Custom Rods is leveraging new, scrimless blanks by NFC upon which to build their 2019 Zbone series.

By doing away with the scrim layer of material in the blank, NFC is producing a blank they claim is twenty percent (20%) lighter than their HM blank and ultimately more sensitive. Kistler Custom Rods is leveraging these new blanks upon which to build their 2019 Zbone series.

Here's our look at the 2019 ZBone ZB3LMH73.