halco poppers

[Mark Travers]

hey guys, any opinions on how the halco rooster poppers will go up at shoalwater bay. i am on a budget, so i cant afford top shelf poppers. i will be upgrading the hooks and rings though. if not the halcos any other suggestion? cheers.

[Peter Lowe]

Hi Mark,

I would think they will go real well, especially if you are upgrading the split rings and hooks. They do work well and I can say that I have caught GTs up to 35kg on them in their standard set up. You just can't put the hurt (big drag pressures) on the GT as much or terminal failure will result, and this is were you may struggle at a place like Shoalwater or "death in 3 seconds" as it has been called. Lots of the hook ups are in very tight spaces with the GT having one thing in mind once hooked, and that is to head back to his ambush location against some very sharp rock, it will be then that you realise you really do need to stop these GT's almost at hook up - and good luck with that. Not all fish at Shoal water will be big GTs though, you will raise coral trout, mackerel and queenfish just to name a few, as such I think the old rooster will serve you well.


Have fun and good luck.

 

[Stephen Polzin]

Nothing wrong with the Roosta Haymaker.  Cast's a mile, easy to work and catches fish.  Also built tough and cheap too.  You can use these with confidence but yeah, upgrade the hooks and rings.

[Warwick Joyce]

Hi mark, I havent tried the rooster haymakers but the next ones down, i think they are just called roosters i have, they definitely beg to be worked slow in my opinion, they tend to float flat in the water rather than a more upright position with the cup upwards. I could be wrong but i think this tends to let them cartwheel if you try to work them too fast and with the bigger bloops. The haymakers may be better tho being heavier. Thats the experience that i have had anyway hope it helps.
Also the river to sea poppers are great for the price, try the red and white flames! One gt decided that he needed it more than i did on the last trip!

Cheers

[Brandon Khoo]

Mark

as they guys have pointed out, have no hesitation in using the Haymakers. They're an excellent popper for the prifce and if you shop around, you'll find you can get them at great prices.

It is a good idea to strengthen the terminals though.

Ther Haymakers do not cast as well as some of the wooden poppers but cast adequately.