GT rods

[Greg Burt]

Thanks Luke, would it be a good rod for a Stella 20000 / 80lb Marion reef type combo or would I still need a heavier one.

[Brandon Khoo]

can I say that there is a real trade off in the length of the rod. When I'm casting, i wish the rod was 9 feet long but when I am fighting a fish, i wish it was 5 feet long. My preference is more towards a shorter rod because I can cast competently and I ike the shorter length when fighting the fish. I find it really hard fighting a big fish on a long rod as I don't feel I have much control over it. My favourite popping rod is my Komodo Dragon and that is 7.5 feet long.

One of the nice things about a Calstar is that to me, they can fish a wider spectrum of breaking strains compared to the rods I fish with

[Luke Wyrsta]

Thanks Luke, would it be a good rod for a Stella 20000 / 80lb Marion reef type combo or would I still need a heavier one.

Which blank is this specifically Greg?

By the sounds of it, and knowing Calstars, i am sure it should be okay.

Cheers,
Luke

[Greg Burt]

 The Custom Calstar Grafighter 7' 24-37kg is a Calstar 700XH blank.
 GH will do a upgrade with full Sic guides no problem.

[Greg Burt]

[Luke Wyrsta]

Luke, I found a 2005 chat from WA where they recomended the calstar 700H blank for making 80lb popping rods, whats your thoughts on this. I thought the 700H was more for a 50lb Stick, and the 700XH for the 80lb,  I'm looking at getting one [80lb].
  Any help would be appreciated
  Greg

Hi Greg,

I don't have any experience with that blank, however, i would say that the H would be better for a 50lb/80lb stick - it doesn't seem to be as brutal- rated 30-80lb, alternatively for a 50lb stick you could go a 800M and run 50lb over that. It is an 8 foot blank and fishes great. The XH is stated as being rated for 40-100lb, definately a brutal stick and i would only really want it as a heavy rod for 100lb+ for my fishing style.

[Greg Burt]

 Thanks Luke,
 I'm looking at getting my 1st GT popping rod to go with my Stella 20000 loaded with 80lb braid [which brand/type is another story], being a newbe at this over 15kg casting I have no knowledge of the blanks.
 If I stayed with a 7' rod 80lb combo, would the 700H handle 80-120gm poppers and mainly stickbaits [love them] at Marion Reef. Do you think it would be a much better option then the T-Curve 15/24kg supplied
 Greg

[Brandon Khoo]

in a nutshell - YES!!