Xray Taper

[Drakestar]

The Kistler Zbone page for the "3 LMH Lite-Medium-Heavy" lists the blank as "Moderate-Fast", which sounds rather slow/parabolic and crank-baity to me (surprising because I had this rod pegged as a lighter bottom-contact rod). How slow is that taper in practice? I don't mind the Loomis MBR taper, but those are Fasts. Is the Xray actually slower than those Loomis rods?

[Revofisher]

i had the 7'6 mh z bone x ray a while back and it wasn't like a crankbait taper really. In my hands it was more of a fast taper at the end of the day. I used it for bottom contact stuff and probably wouldn't throw a crankbait on the x ray rods. Maybe the medium it was a bit softer as i had the 7'3 med rod as well.

[Cal]

The taper is faster than a crankbait blank and really enables you to fish both bottom contact and horizontal presentations. That stick has the "it" factor. Don't hesitate.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewkistlerzb3lmh73.html

[TravisNY]

I have 3 of of the 2020 “3” models of those in spinning 7’ to 7’3”. Cal saved me typing.

[Drakestar]

“Thanks Cal!” - Me
“Dammit Cal!” - My wife, after checking the bank statement

But hey, 20% off Independence Day coupon, free shipping and no sales tax (yay Texas)

[chrisg_sdcf]

“Thanks Cal!” - Me
“Dammit Cal!” - My wife, after checking the bank statement

But hey, 20% off Independence Day coupon, free shipping and no sales tax (yay Texas)

Did they email you 20% off?

[Cal]

I have 3 of of the 2020 “3” models of those in spinning 7’ to 7’3”. Cal saved me typing.

“Thanks Cal!” - Me
“Dammit Cal!” - My wife, after checking the bank statement

But hey, 20% off Independence Day coupon, free shipping and no sales tax (yay Texas)

Did they email you 20% off?

[Drakestar]

“Thanks Cal!” - Me
“Dammit Cal!” - My wife, after checking the bank statement

But hey, 20% off Independence Day coupon, free shipping and no sales tax (yay Texas)

Did they email you 20% off?

I was on their mailing list.

[chrisg_sdcf]

“Thanks Cal!” - Me
“Dammit Cal!” - My wife, after checking the bank statement

But hey, 20% off Independence Day coupon, free shipping and no sales tax (yay Texas)

Did they email you 20% off?

I was on their mailing list.

Yeah, I'll have to check my spam folder. I signed up for that awhile back but I didn't see the 20% off just the 10% advertised on their website.

Thanks

Edit: I was sent the 20% off . Thanks for mentioning it.

[Drakestar]

Well, that blank is quite something. It transmits vibrations so conclusively that I typically feel bottom contact in the reel, not the rod itself. Dunno if that’s due to the (rather slow) taper of the 7’3” LMH or just the way the x-ray blank is built, but it’s unique and kinda awesome. Took me a while to get used to, I was crawling 3.8” Keitechs across rocky bottom and every time there was a bump, the reel felt like it was broken (wasn’t turning smoothly for a moment). But it’s just the vibration from the rod. Not 100% convinced yet that it improves actual bite detection, the one smallmouth I hooked into was suddenly just kinda there (consequently I messed up the hook set quite badly). But I don’t know how he ate it, more fish will tell.

[_diggy_]

I have a Zbone 7'3" mh and I got a custom built on the same blank that is on the way. I will fish them side by side to see if I notice any differences with the handle I chose and the torzite spiral wrap in comparison to the Zbone. The Zbone is lighter on the scale 3.8oz than my new setup, which is 4.4oz

The funny part is, I haven't caught a ton of fish on the zbone yet so I really can't say how special it is or if it is better than my NRX 894. I got caught up in swimbaiting after getting a Leviathan Omega rod and I will go back to conventional stuff once the rod arrives.

[Drakestar]

I hooked into a decent bass with the rod on the weekend and it absolutely man-handled it. Felt the bump, but I initially thought I had snagged a loose branch so I was reeling it up rather aggressively. It turned out to be a 4+ pounder and he made a rather straight trip through Hydrylla to the bank The rod still felt like I was fishing a Medium+ kinda rod, it just showed some real power in that moment. Getting happier with my decision by the trip.

Image from iOS (1).jpg (133.69 KiB) Viewed 7177 times

[_diggy_]

Glad you are happy with the purchase, nice fish

[Basseditor]

I now have 4 of these. Love them.