Ripple Fisher GT79R - weight and handle lenght?

[Jon Li]

  I now have both a 79R and a DJMH83 and they are both great specialist medium heavy popping rods

Agreed Mark... the DJ83MH was my first high end popping rod... I managed to pick one up brand new, test casted a few times only, from a mate in the US who put his shoulder out so went back to fly fishing only, for $400 USD shipped to me in South AFrica!!!

Its still probably my favourite rod to cast all day, and casts like a dream, is great on medium poppers and medium large stickbaits...

Unfortunately its the only Carpenter in my quiver, the rest being Ripplefishers, Smith's, Ocean Revolutions and Jigging Masters... hopefully going to add another at some point.... no clue what yet... 

Hi Andree ,

That DJ83MH of yours , did you get it from Mark The Photographer ?

Jon .

[Mark Harris]

Agreed Mark... the DJ83MH was my first high end popping rod... I managed to pick one up brand new, test casted a few times only, from a mate in the US who put his shoulder out so went back to fly fishing only, for $400 USD shipped to me in South AFrica!!!

Its still probably my favourite rod to cast all day, and casts like a dream, is great on medium poppers and medium large stickbaits...

Unfortunately its the only Carpenter in my quiver, the rest being Ripplefishers, Smith's, Ocean Revolutions and Jigging Masters... hopefully going to add another at some point.... no clue what yet... 

Andre, I reckon anyone would be ecstatic about paying only US$ 400 for a rod of that quality!  It is a great one to keep going with all day I agree. I tend to use it most for chuggers in the 130 to 160 gram range and sticks 140-180 gram. It is usually my first choice go to rod these days.

Plenty more Carpenters out there waiting for you . Get your name on a Coral Viper 79/40 and a Monster Hunter 80H (I am waiting for the latter.... ).

Jon, you summarise the positioning of the rod very well I think.

[Eric Tai]

I recently ended up getting carpenters because I didn't want to wait for ripplefishers to be restocked. My only regret so far is that they look so plain & boring! 
Hopefully all will be forgiven once the rods get a workout with LPB in Feb.

[Mark Harris]

Plain and boring!  I am smiling .

Another interpretation would be: subtle, classy and understated with all the money invested where it matters - the performance.

Carpenter are the true anti-bling rods.

Eric, you will not be disappointed. Which models did you buy?  I am guessing a WVXH for New Cal?

[Andre van Wyk]

Hi Andre,

That DJ83MH of yours , did you get it from Mark The Photographer ?

Jon .

Hi Jon,

I did indeed mate... many a lucky angler has been the benficiary of Mark's unfortunate shoulder injury as he is a man with impeccable taste in tackle, and always bought pretty much 99% of his tackle in 2's, kept it in superb condition, and then when he did sell it, he sold it at fantastic prices... I've never seen anything of his on a forum last more than an hour...

I also scored in that deal as Fed Ex took 2 weeks to deliver the rod, instead of 3 days, so I was refunded the $120 USD odd shipping as well, and managed to sneak it through customs with only paying about $20 in duty... absolute score of note...

Just a quick question for you Jon, does the DJ83MH come standard with an aluminium gimbal butt on it? Or normally with just a Cap? Mine has an Aluminium Gimbal butt, which I think Mark might have fitted....

Mark - Yeah mate, I've been thinking about that CV 79/40.... I'm keen on a dedicated Stickbait rod though, I'm not sure if this is the right stick... there have been so many releases, TBL, CV, and now the Endless Passion range, I've not really kept up...
Jon care to chime in here? Looking for a dedicated Stickbait rod for GT's, so lures from 120 up to 200 grams...

As to the bling.... I love Carpenters "no-nonsense" look and feel.... don't get me wrong, I love my bling tackle, and have a fair share of it on alot of other rods, but I like the stealth look of the Carpenters.... like I said, no nonsense.... I'll leave the bling to the lures and reels!! 

[Mark Harris]

Andre - I am sure all Carpenter casting rods do not come with an aluminium gimbal.  That would have been after market. I am sure Pak Jon will correct If I am wrong there.

The Endless Passion range is one which lots of folks are awaiting eagerly I think. Carpenter seem to have been instrumental in the move towards longer rods for GT casting and this is another in that vein I guess.

[Eric Tai]

"Anti-bling" sums it up perfectly! 

Don't get me wrong, I like subtle & classy.  For example I love my Hots jigging rod which also has an un-sanded, unpainted blank with black bindings.  Carpenter's rods however are so devoid of 'bling' the only way they could have any less bling would be to get rid of the few silver bits of thread work between guide windings! after all they come in a plain black rod sock so if you have a couple of them you have trouble telling which rod is which without taking it out! 

However I take solace in knowing that even though my Carpenters are the most expensive rods I own and have less bling than a $19.95 K-mart special, they wouldn't have such a cult following unless they were bloody good rods!

Bringing along a MH80H, and CV79/40 for when I'm feeling weak (probably most of the time).

Plain and boring!  I am smiling .

Another interpretation would be: subtle, classy and understated with all the money invested where it matters - the performance.

Carpenter are the true anti-bling rods.

Eric, you will not be disappointed. Which models did you buy?  I am guessing a WVXH for New Cal?

[Mark Harris]

I think you will find they come as standard with no sock at all . That one was probably provided by the rod seller.

Two great choices of rod Eric which will no doubt get a severe workout in New Cal. I am eagerly awaiting a MH80H myself. Will be an interesting comparison to make with a DJMH83.

I have the odd blingy rod as well (lime green Ripple Fishers and a very busy Synit Venom 550 with purposeless shiny blue aluminium bits for example). But the classic minimal look of a Carpenter is unbeatable I think.