RIPPLE FISHER 79R

[gus cisneros]

Hi guys,
i am looking to purchase a GT rod, will be using it for stick baits most of the time and some times smaller poppers up to 120g.
after talking with some people and reading BRANDON'S guide to buy a gt rod. come up with the decision of buying the RIPPLE FISHER 79Reversal.
I am not very experienced with this rods,so if you guys can help me with this rod will be great!
will be matched to a Stella 18000SW. PE 8.
will be using it some times off the rocks (not main purpose)
is this rod OK for what i want it?
where is the best place to buy this rods? I preffer an Australian dealer where i can see the rod firs at less is worth buying oversease (price wise).
any other rod recommendations will be much appreciated.
Gus.

[Brandon Khoo]

if you're looking to fish primarily stickbaits and some poppers up to 120g and fish PE8, you may find  a Carpenter Coral Viper CV79 RF40 more suitable. I consider the 79R as a heavy PE8 rod or a light PE10 rod.

Another rod you could consider would be a Carpenter SP80M. if you like Ripples, the Ripple 82LC would be suitable or perhaps a Ultimo 79H. This is a PE10 stickbait rod but will fish PE8 well and handle smaller poppers.

I don't think these rods are really suitable off the rocks. At best, they're a useable compromise.

Where are you based?

[gus cisneros]

Thanks for your advice Brandon!
The coral viper is in mind too!
I live in Redcliffe qld, near Brisbane.
Seen some rods at the nomad shop in banyo, no far from home.
Cheers.

[Vasko Dimoski]

It all depends on the rocks for eg down Jarvis bay where i fish a bit you can use these rods i use 82LC and GT79H RIPPLE FISHER  but JB is one of those places that a rare  you have deep water at your feet and don't need a long rod allot of guys use short strokers down while live baiting so its almost like being of a boat but as i said very rare most rock platforms you prob need a longer rod my friend uses the coral viper that Brandons talking about also down JB for stick baits and loves it if i was going to buy another stick bait rod it prob would be the viper

[Mark Harris]

I think a GT rod for fishing off the rocks is always going to be a fairly severe compromise. I do a bit of land based GT casting from rock ledges and I don't really think there is a GT popping rod long enough to be absolutely ideal.

I just tend to use the longer rods from my regular arsenal - Ripple GT82LC and Carpenter DJ83MH. The former would be better for the type of lures you mention and definitely better than a 79R (for this purpose).

[DarrylMartin]

I have a 79R & find it fairly heavy for a pE8 rod (not in weight). My mates CV79 is much lighter. As mentioned, you'll need to make a fair compromise for rock fishing.

[Mark Harris]

79R is really a PE8-10 rod and CV79 PE6-8 so the latter will always feel a lot lighter.

[Dan Wulf]

Hi guys,
i am looking to purchase a GT rod, will be using it for stick baits most of the time and some times smaller poppers up to 120g......

I have recently tested my GT79R for its ability to work stickbaits in the range 100-140g (unarmed). I found the rod too stiff and felt that I've had to invest too much energy in working the rod before I would obtain appropriate moves from the lures. My experiences may reflect my limited skills, but previously I've had no problems in working (and catch fish on) stickbaits with other rods (PE 6-8). After getting good advices from users here, I am now awaiting the release of Endless 85/36 (PE 6-8) which I  intend to use for stickbaits only, although it may be able to work light poppers (?).

[Brandon Khoo]

to me, the 79R is useable but not ideal for stickbaits. That said, we're talking probably 150g onwards and probably more sinking/sub-surface than pure surface stickbait. Mind you, we're talking a PE10 rod here and at this stage, the only specialised PE10 stickbait rods on the market are the Ripple offerings in the Ultimo H range (79 and 83)

If you want PE8, the Coral Viper is as good a rod as you will find for this purpose.

Dan, if you want a rod specifically for stickbaits only, then I'd be looking at a stickbait rod like a TBL711 or a Ripple 79MH. The EP85 will be fine but I think the stickbait rods import just that little bit more action. The most amazing rod for working stickbaits I have come upon is the Blue Chaser 83/40 but its a kingfish rod. I'm not sure how it will stand up to GTs, but I will test this out sometime!

[Mark Harris]

I have come upon is the Blue Chaser 83/40 but its a kingfish rod. I'm not sure how it will stand up to GTs, but I will test this out sometime!

Adhek has a BLC 83/40 Brandon and has caught a 35-40 kg GT with it. His comments were along the lines of "not ideal by any means but it did the job".

[Brandon Khoo]

thanks Mark
It will definitely do the job but the key issue is whether it has the lifting to break a decent GT out of that side-on turn they like to do.

[Mark Harris]

Looking at the rod, I would say that is unlikely, would you not Brandon?

[Brandon Khoo]

I really don't know, Mark. While the rod flexes amazingly, there is a lot of power way down low.
one way to find out, I suppose!

[Dan Wulf]

Dan, if you want a rod specifically for stickbaits only, then I'd be looking at a stickbait rod like a TBL711 or a Ripple 79MH. The EP85 will be fine but I think the stickbait rods import just that little bit more action. The most amazing rod for working stickbaits I have come upon is the Blue Chaser 83/40 but its a kingfish rod. I'm not sure how it will stand up to GTs, but I will test this out sometime!

TBL711 2450mm (8.04 ft) PE6~PE8 ~170g 11kg (24lb) 415g
EM85/36 2590mm (8.50 ft) PE6~8 ~180g 10kg (22lb) 392g

[Mark Harris]

Dan, you can't always assume that a longer rod equals longer casts (although it often does). It also depends on how the rod loads up under particular weights. Some shorter rods are well known for casting a (relative) mile - Coral Viper 79/40 would be one of those.

I have yet to get my hands permanently on one of specialist Ripple Ultimo MH or H stickbait rods that Brandon mentioned earlier, but I reckon Tokara would be as appropriate a place as any for one of those.