Swimbait Rod Wars Installment #5 : The Big Swimbait Special From Kistler
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Date: |
3/6/08 |
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Tackle type: |
Rod |
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Manufacturer: |
Kistler Custom Rods |
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Reviewer: |
Cal |
Total Score: 6.83 + Editor's Choice!!!
Introduction: From TT's Best Value Award in the Okuma sticks, to Evergreen International's exotic Balista, to our reunion with Fenwick in the ECSWB79H-F, each representative thus far in our Swimbait Rod Wars has carried a unique theme. Today, we begin our journey into the knitty gritty with an unfamiliar offering from a very familiar to TackleTour manufacturer. Presenting Kistler Custom Rod's entry to our Rod Wars, the KBSBS80 Big SwimBait Special.
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Kistler KBSBS80 Big SwimBait Special Specifications
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| Material |
IM7 Graphite |
| Length |
8'-0" |
| Length from Back of Reel Seat to Base |
14" |
| Line Wt. |
15 - 35lb Test |
| Lure Wt. |
1-5 Ounces |
| Pieces |
one |
| Guides |
11+Tip (SS framed hardloy inserts) |
| Power Rating |
Heavy |
| Taper |
Moderate |
| Rod Weight |
7.2 ounces |
| Manufacturing Country |
China |
| MSRP |
$180 |
Impressions: Why would a stick from Kistler Custom Rods seem to us so unfamiliar you ask? Because, quite frankly, the KBSBS80 Big SwimBait Special has, of all things, a foregrip! This might not seem like a big deal to most, but given Kistler Custom Rods was the first to introduce us to the custom rod feature of removing the foregrip in a production model bass rod, it just seems odd they would go against the trend they helped to start. But such seems to be the preference of most big bait tossers - to have a foregrip, so Kistler has followed suit.
Introducing the Kistler KBSBS80 Big SwimBait Special
Lab Tests: Once we got over how strangely conventional this rod was in appearance, it was off to the RoD WRACK to see how the KBSBS80 would be have with loads ranging from two to forty eight ounces.
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Lab Results for Kistler KBSBS80 Big SwimBait Special
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Model
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Avg RoD (2-48 oz)
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Rated Action
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Spine
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Measured Weight
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Balance Point
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| Kistler KBSBS80 |
1.17
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Fast
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Top
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7.2 Ounces
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11"
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| Dobyns Rods 795ML |
1.27
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Fast
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Top
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8.5 Ounces
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5.5"
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| Okuma 711MH |
1.47
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Mod-Fast
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Top
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7 Ounces
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9.5"
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| Fenwick ECSWB79H-F |
1.24
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Fast
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L&R
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6.4 Ounces
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11"
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Rate of Deflection (RoD): Of course, we've seen this chart before with the Fenwick ECSWB79H-F only this time, the KBSBS80 is highlighted in yellow where you can see, with load ranges up to about twenty eight ounces, the KBSBS80 is just a touch more powerful than the other three rods on the chart. However, above this range, it softens up a little probably demonstrating at which point the rod's moderate action kicks in.
Fig. 1 : This RoD Deflection Chart shows the deflection characteristics of the Kistler KBSBS80 Big SwimBait Special (yellow curve) against several similar sticks.
Spine, Weight, and Balance Point: The spine of our KBSBS80 was found at the top of the rod and its weight came in at a respectable 7.2 ounces. The balance point for this stick was relatively high at eleven inches above the centerline of the reel seat. Overall, the rod feels light in hand though a bit tip heavy as one might expect from those stats.
The KBSBS80 features 11 Hardloy guides - all double footed - plus the tip top
Real world tests
