Anyone have any experience with these rods? Looking for a dropshot/splitshot/very light cranks rod.

He70MLC 7' ML 6-12 1/16-1/2

or

He70MC 7' M 8-14 1/8-5/8

or would I be better off checking out either loomis or daiwa dropshot rods?

check out the www.tackletour.com forums, those guys over there are serious kistler whores =) The kistler website also has a forum, I'm sure that they will be able to answer your questions.

While I did not own a Helium rod the Kistler that I diid own I loved. They have great coustomer support and the forum on there website is pretty cool. It is not common these days to find a company where your questions are answered by the owner of the company. I am saving for a Helium right now.

I own all Kistler rods with the exception of 2 rods. I love all of them.

They are very light and ultra sensitive! When I first started using my Helium rods, I caught myself setting the hook every few seconds, to nothing :P I can feel every piece of grass and every rock my bait touches.

The only downside, if that's what you want to call it, is the rod rating. Heliums are definitely over rated. If you normally buy a Loomis MH, buy a Helium H. They just seem to run on the light side.

Thanks for all that great info!

If the Heliums are "over rated", would a 7' ML trigger rod be too "light"?

Also, price being similar to the loomis dropshot rod, how do helium rods stack against loomis?

I'm using a Helium 'medium' for my dropshot. I'm actually using the HE76MS. I know it seems long for a dropshot, but I fish the shore a lot and it's great to get out over the tops of branches and tullies that are on the shore. I mainly dropshot 1/4 oz with 10 lb fluoro. Sometimes 1/8 oz with 8 lb fluoro. It works great for both. It also feels real good for small, shallow cranks.

It did take some getting used to though. Because it's so long I had to learn to shake the rod without moving the weight. It only took a few trips to get the feel for it.

Okay, to add to the twist of equipment.

Which combo do you think is better:

Kistler 7' Medium + Curado 100B

or

Compre 7' Medium Light + Daiwa TD-Sol

I have three Kistler 7', Helium MCs. I love their leight-weight and their sensitivity. I believe they are the best 'treble-hook bait' rods out there. I also use them for buzzbaits, soft-plastic jerkbaits, and lighter jig pitchin'.

I have a 7', 6" HC and EHC too. I use them for swimbaits and pitchin' heavier jigs.

I also take three Fenwick Techna AV rods with me for a total of eight rigs in my little Basshunter pond boat.

The Heliums are all I want to use and I will get three more eventually. Yes, I'm a "Helium whore" and proud of it:-)

I use TDZs and an Itoo Daiwa reel on the MCs and they weight togeather, a little under 11 ounces. I use a Shimano Antares AR or a Calais 200 reel on the heavier Heliums. I do put an Antares on one of the MCs too.

Dan