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Brandon Khoo

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Re: Which Rod?
July 11, 2007, 07:36:32 PM
if you're going to get just one rod and it is going to be a Smith, I'd recommend a Komodo Dragon. The Kerama will not be up to it if you are fishing a really tough location and need to wind the drag right down. Also, the KD will manage ok even on relatively light lures (80g).
If it swims; I want to catch it!

Andrew Poulos

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Re: Which Rod?
July 11, 2007, 08:05:37 PM
Whats the casting weight range for the komodo?

Luke Wyrsta

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Re: Which Rod?
July 11, 2007, 08:17:17 PM
Whats the casting weight range for the komodo?

Smith says 300g but i think 250g is more realistic feedback that i have heard.

Andrew Poulos

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Re: Which Rod?
July 11, 2007, 08:24:00 PM
Whats the minimum you could get away with....


Luke Wyrsta

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Re: Which Rod?
July 11, 2007, 08:27:26 PM
Whats the minimum you could get away with....

Andrew,

I'm not sure myself as i currently don't own one. To be safe i reckon 120g, however, Brandon has said that you could get away with 80g.

Greg Burt

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Re: Which Rod?
July 11, 2007, 10:10:33 PM
Thanks for all the info Luke, Brandon and Neil, after reading the specks on different rods and then hearing what experienced anglers use and favour has helped me categorise [to a point] the medium/heavy and heavy duty GT rods. My custom Calstar 700H should be here this week so I can practise casting 60-140grm poppers and stickbaits at YF and LT Tuna and maybe even a Sail, and do a bit of jigging with it to get the feel of the rod, and when the weather warms up I'll check out the local boomies and reefs. 15kg tackle would cover most fishing off Mooloolaba local waters, but using the heavier outfit with bigger poppers is like training, and who knows what might latch on [20-30kg Cobia above some local wrecks at the moment]. The heavy rod will come, what brand is another story ;D. ;)
 Cam is going to do the same as Nathan, terrorise the local Kingies [big NZ ones] with his new KD, that's what I call full training, that is once his leg comes right from snowboarding ::).
Greg 'FFF' Burt

Brandon Khoo

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Re: Which Rod?
July 13, 2007, 01:58:01 AM
The lightest lures I use are about 80g on the KD but don't forget that with two big trebles that the lure will be 120g. Can I make the point that casting a 200g lure is a real challenge even with a KD. I know they claim 300g but bloody hell, casting a 300g lure would break anyone!

Whats the minimum you could get away with....


If it swims; I want to catch it!

Neil Griffiths

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Re: Which Rod?
July 13, 2007, 08:34:46 AM
Whats the minimum you could get away with....


One of the most attractive things about quality jap popping rods like KD is their versatility re casting weights. Like Brandon says 80g unrigged lures cast superbly (like Baby Runboh) but they will cast lower weights efficiently as well.
Some anglers use 50lb braid on a another spool and cast tuna and small Gt lures down to 50g quite successfully.

Greg Burt

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Re: Which Rod?
July 13, 2007, 05:08:06 PM
Nathan, a bit of info on that blank you were inquiring about.

 Hastings United Series Blue Water URS80XXH 
 ( Hastings Rod Manufacturing - Graphite-U.S.A. )
 "Dual Helix" ply construction combining glass scrim and multi modulus graphite. All blanks will be in translucent gloss graphite. The translucent color scheme allows you can see through the color coat into the depths of the blank itself. 1 pce. 8'0" long. Line rating  24+Kg. Lure wgt (oz) 1-10. MOD-FAST action. Tip diam 3.6mm. Butt diam 19.8mm. Blank wgt 221gms.
 
Greg 'FFF' Burt

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Re: Which Rod?
July 13, 2007, 11:36:56 PM
HI guys
I own a Smith Kerama and used it shore popping for G's. It sure was hard work casting with PE 8. Its quite a parabolic rod for PE10. Its realistically a PE 5-8 rod. I'm now running PE5 on my stella 8k for it. It cast better now. You can probably even jig with this rod.

I suggest look for a longer rod with maybe a faster action so you can have the lighter tip for casting lighter poppers. Another brand to consider is the HOTs Gipang range. Faster action and pretty good prices as well. I now have the Shimano's new Pencil Instrument and Long Cast popping rods and the LC rod can cast anything from 80gm up to about 170gm.... The Kerama struggles with 150gm.

Nathan

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Re: Which Rod?
July 24, 2007, 07:16:41 PM
 Has anyone heard of the Tenryu Rods are they any good?

Jon Li

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Re: Which Rod?
July 24, 2007, 08:02:28 PM
Hi Nathan ,

I used to have Tenryu GT84 ( PE6 rating ) but since have sold it , quite a good rod but not in the league with the equivalent in Carpenter range . A stronger one is GT80 ( PE8 rating ) which is shorter .

There are rumours that Fisherman rods are based on Tenryu blanks but this is not confirmed , may be Tenryu makes special exclusive blanks for Fisherman .

Jon .
It's not what you don't know that gets you into trouble , it's what you know for sure that ain't so . Mark Twain .

Luke Wyrsta

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Re: Which Rod?
July 24, 2007, 08:37:01 PM
Jon,

I was talking to a Japanese angler the other day that said Carpenter rods are based on Daiko blanks. Any truth to this?

Cheers,
Luke

Brandon Khoo

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Re: Which Rod?
July 24, 2007, 08:49:55 PM
I would think that most, if not all of the specialist companies would have to have another company build their blanks for them or at the very least, manufacture the graphite cloth for them. There are some highly respected Japanese manufacturers of graphite tubing for highly specialised purposes like Mitusbishi and Graphite Design, among others.

Carpenter must source from somewhere as must companies like Fisherman and Smith. Small companies simply would not have the capital for R&D and there is little doubt the stuff that goes into these rods is cutting edge.
If it swims; I want to catch it!

Nathan

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Re: Which Rod?
July 24, 2007, 09:35:58 PM
 Never ceases to amaze me that i can always find the info i need on this site!!! :)