Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) > Tackle & Techniques
Guide to buying a GT rod - updated as at February 2017
Vlad Rusu:
Hello guys,
first of all, I'm a rookie when about GT fishing but everybody started one day;). I plan a trip to Madagaskar ( Mitsio ) for the end of 2013 and I need a rod. I'd like to build the rod on a Black Hole blank and I have this options:
Black Hole Cape Cod Special 80G (Graphite) ( Length 8'/PE 10/Lure Weight 200g )
Black Hole Cape Cod Special 80N (Nano) ( Length 8'/PE 8/Lure Weight 180g )
Black Hole Cape Cod Special 86N (Nano) ( Length 8'6''/PE 8/Lure Weight 180g )
Target fish should be GT till 60lb. Maybe you can recommend me something else in the same price class (200$) I'd be very thankful for any advice.
Cheers from Europe
Vlad
Ross Dalzell:
Can anyone comment on the Berkley Venom GT Pop rods as far as an entry level rod goes?
Wayne Brown:
Took one to Vanuatu recently as my spare rod to my FCL Labo (mainly used by my son in law). It landed a 30+ doggie and handled some brutal drag without ever looking like failing. In terms of casting it worked 120 gram plus poppers well as you would expect from a rod rated at pe10-12. It is light, well balanced and has good running gear (sic guides etc). I would rate it higher than the typical budget gear we see (t Curve, monster mesh etc which I have used before and find a little heavy and tiring to work over a long session). Not as sensitive as the FCL Labo or indeed the Carpenter 80m (which I had the chance to have a few casts with) and would say they felt another step up in overall quality. Once comment from one of the anglers that landed the doggie was that it felt good and the only slight criticism was that he would have liked a slightly longer fore grip. All up a great value mid level rod imo.
I am thinking of selling mine or swapping for a PE 6 type rod for stick baiting Sydney kings using 60-100 gram stick baits as the Berkely is a little heavy for that. As I have only taken it on this one trip and am not the most experienced "popper", suggest you get some other opinions first and PM me if you are interested in mine.
Ross Dalzell:
Thanks Wayne,
I have been wondering about these rods for a while now and it is impossible to find a decent review on the net so good to finaly here some feedback, keen to here from anyone else as well. After reading through this post and what Brandon has said about the Carpenter DJ-83MH, I am seriously considering saving my pennies for a bit longer and treating myself to one of these bad boys. I am new to this style of fishing but have been keen to get into it for years but living on the gold coast, won't be doing it all that much (only on holidays once, maybe twice a year, although plans are in place for a bigger boat to access a certain area I know GT have been taken on poppers to 40kg). With this and cost in mind, I'll probably only be buying one setup, already sold on the stella and if I can afford it, sounds like it may be worth while spending the extra money on the carpenter.
Brandon, earlier on you mentioned the stella 18000 was arguably the best GT reel on the market, I'm just curious as to why the 18000 over the 20000?
Ben Rivers:
--- Quote from: rossdalzell on December 15, 2012, 09:02:31 PM ---
Brandon, earlier on you mentioned the stella 18000 was arguably the best GT reel on the market, I'm just curious as to why the 18000 over the 20000?
--- End quote ---
Gear Ratio. 18000 high speed for popping. 20000 low speed for jigging.
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