Marnie, I think it would be unfortunate if you're starting in this sport and you've been given the impression that the best approach is to head to the extreme end in terms of the gear. Working huge poppers is not something 99% of people can or want to do all day. It's physically exhausting and unless you can actually utilise that big cup properly, you're better off with a smaller popper you can work properly and a rod that suits accordingly.
There are no new entrants in the market at the most extreme end. The UHL isn't available new, the Fisherman 77 R10 isn't even on the Fisherman list of rods any more so you're really looking at the Fire Vortex or Ripple 78XH if you're masochistic. In this group, there is no better rod per se. Its very much a matter of personal taste.
PE12 is pointless unless you can fish it effectively. It casts like a dog.
We had a member a couple of years back who was obsessed with PE12, a broomstick and the biggest poppers anyone here wanted to suggest. Notwithstanding the advice of a number of members, he ended up buying a Ripple 78XH. We never really heard back from him after he bought his outfit so I don't know if the last anyone saw of him was him water skiing of into the sunset.
