Medium Popping Rod...

[Joey Falconi]

Ok. Heres my deal.

I'm currently using the following gear and want to spend my money 

Diawa Expedition with 60lb Saltiga.
15 - 24kg T-Curve 7'6.

I recently used the outfit in Fiji and cairns. I like the combo but it is a little heavy to use all day. I just grabbed myself a dogfight and am looking for a rod to suit, Locations such as GBR , cairns and surrounds. Not targeting huge Gt's but still looking at 10 - 25kg specimans. I have looked at a few that  are just too heavy for my liking. Smiths Tokara. Smiths 77. Komodo Drangon. Monster Mesh 8'3, Shimano Gt Special. I'm looking for a rod with a softer action and something lighter in the tip to work poppers upto 125grams. I would like to hear to what you guys can come up with. All the rods are to stiff for me.

What are you thoughts on the smiths 80p? or something in the hot's range.
Price $500 - $750 

Thanks in advance
Joe

[Brock Arifovic]

Ring Duncan @ FishHead

[Joey Falconi]

Brock.

I'm based in Melb. Where is fishhead ?

Thanks

[Jordan Hack]

joey ,fishhead is in Brisbane but they have an online store. I am currently in the same boat as you at the moment. I have been using a dogfight with the same 15-24kg t curve that you have. It has handled plenty of GTs up to 20kg ok but i too would like something heavier for shallower reefy terrain and larger fish. I was thinking of getting a GT special but after inspecting the other day I think it might be a bit to heavy for what i want. Interested to see what advice others can give

[Brandon Khoo]

Hi Joey, read your trip report to Cairns and Port Douglas. Reads like you had a ball.

Mate, with any advice, it's up to you to take it or leave it but realistically, I would recommend you upgrade up to 80lb (and preferably 100lb)if you want to pop for GTs. The reason why I recommend this is not just from the perspective of the fisherman but also the fish.

You will land more fish with heavier braid and gear and it will also give you a chance on those bigger fish which realistically, you have almost no chance against on 60lb unless you just get dead lucky. Big fish and shallow reefs are a bad combination. Heavier braid will also see fish landed faster which will see them back in the water in better condition.

Also, I note you still have barbs on your hooks. The philosophy of this forum is to do whatever we can to release the fish in the best condition possible. We strongly encourage the use of barbless hooks as part of this philosophy. On 60lb, you are going to lose a lot of fish and if you're using barbs, the reality is there is a reasonably good chance a number of these fish are simply going to be unable to feed and will die.

Rods like the Komodo, Tokara and Shimano GT are useable with lighter braids but are probably best with PE8-10. A PE6-8 rod is probably what you're looking for. There are a host of rods in this weight category. All manufacturers of GT rods would have an offering in this weight category. The Smith 80P/35 is a nice stick as is a Hots 79XH or 83H. Carpenter has some magic rods in this category like the SP80M or SP79M or Coral Viper CV79. Good luck finding a Carpenter though. Ripple have some nice offerings as well aroudn this weight category with the GT78F and GT79R.

Zenaq also have some good offerings in this category like FC-76 or FC-83 as does a new company on the market, Patriot Design.

[Jon Li]

Carpenter has some magic rods in this category like the SP80M or SP79M or Coral Viper CV79. Good luck finding a Carpenter though.

Any Carpenter won't be in the sub A$.1000.- price range though but some stocks are available .

Jon . 

[Joey Falconi]

Hi Joey, read your trip report to Cairns and Port Douglas. Reads like you had a ball.

Mate, with any advice, it's up to you to take it or leave it but realistically, I would recommend you upgrade up to 80lb (and preferably 100lb)if you want to pop for GTs. The reason why I recommend this is not just from the perspective of the fisherman but also the fish.

You will land more fish with heavier braid and gear and it will also give you a chance on those bigger fish which realistically, you have almost no chance against on 60lb unless you just get dead lucky. Big fish and shallow reefs are a bad combination. Heavier braid will also see fish landed faster which will see them back in the water in better condition.

Also, I note you still have barbs on your hooks. The philosophy of this forum is to do whatever we can to release the fish in the best condition possible. We strongly encourage the use of barbless hooks as part of this philosophy. On 60lb, you are going to lose a lot of fish and if you're using barbs, the reality is there is a reasonably good chance a number of these fish are simply going to be unable to feed and will die.

Rods like the Komodo, Tokara and Shimano GT are useable with lighter braids but are probably best with PE8-10. A PE6-8 rod is probably what you're looking for. There are a host of rods in this weight category. All manufacturers of GT rods would have an offering in this weight category. The Smith 80P/35 is a nice stick as is a Hots 79XH or 83H. Carpenter has some magic rods in this category like the SP80M or SP79M or Coral Viper CV79. Good luck finding a Carpenter though. Ripple have some nice offerings as well aroudn this weight category with the GT78F and GT79R.

Zenaq also have some good offerings in this category like FC-76 or FC-83 as does a new company on the market, Patriot Design.

Hi Brandon,

Mate I will take on all the advice thats why I joined this forum. I will definetly upgrade to pe8. I didn't want to compromise my casting that's why I stayed with the 60lb.In regards to the barbs I had the guide squash all the barbs after the first few fish. I will have them all squashed for the next trip.

Thanks for the advice. Is anyone selling a Smiths 80p ? or something similar ?

[Brandon Khoo]

Casting with PE6 is an absolute dream but you just can't hold onto any fish of a decent size and in the kind of waters we tend to fish, that's essential. You'll still cast very well with PE8 and you'll find that at least in our conditions in Australia, it's probably a better all-round compromise.

In the 500 to $750 category, I'd say your best bet for a new rod is probably a Zenaq or a HOTs. Another option is a Saltiga GT86. You'll find that there is a quite wide variation in the length of rods. The trade-off there is that a longer rod will give you more casting distance but a shorter rod will give you more control when you're fighting a fish. It can eb tough fighting a big fish on a long rod. I don't have any idea on your casting ability. If you're a very good caster, then perhaps you may be able to look for a rod that is in the 7'6" ballpark. If you need a bit of help with your casting, then the rods that are 8' and over will probably be advantageous.

The Shimano GT Special is another optin you could consider. It is a fair bit cheaper than the rods above so you could save some money here. The trade-off is it is a heavier rod in weight and at least in my view, it is in a heavier class as well.

If you're prepared to go second hand and you get lucky, you may find something quite nice! Just got to be in the right place at the right time.     
Good luck if you're looking for a Smith 80P/35 though. I haven't seen too many of those up for sale second hand before.

[Colin P]

Hi Joey,

The outfit I have used is -

Smiths 80P/35
Stella 10000FA with 20000FA spool
100 test JB hollow braid spliced into a yard or so of 200 test JBHB, joined loop to loop via a catspaw to a 200 test twisted Varivas leader

I have use this to work GT Mania (130g) & Cubera poppers (125g) and Wahoo and Ulua stickbaits (150g).

My wife has used the same rod to work slightly smaller lures (100g poppers and stickbaits) with slightly downsized line - 80 test JB hollow braid spliced into a yard or so of 100 test JBHB, joined loop to loop via a catspaw to a 130 test twisted Varivas leader.

I think that this rod might struggle with bigger lures (200g and over) but it works really well with anything up to 150g and I am pretty sure it would work lures up to its stated rating of 170g. It's a forgiving rod but it certainly has backbone when required - I did play a 150-200lb shark on it for 30 minutes until it bit thru the leader?

However, I will never sell it!!

[Joey Falconi]

Hi Joey,

The outfit I have used is -

Smiths 80P/35
Stella 10000FA with 20000FA spool
100 test JB hollow braid spliced into a yard or so of 200 test JBHB, joined loop to loop via a catspaw to a 200 test twisted Varivas leader

I have use this to work GT Mania (130g) & Cubera poppers (125g) and Wahoo and Ulua stickbaits (150g).

My wife has used the same rod to work slightly smaller lures (100g poppers and stickbaits) with slightly downsized line - 80 test JB hollow braid spliced into a yard or so of 100 test JBHB, joined loop to loop via a catspaw to a 130 test twisted Varivas leader.

I think that this rod might struggle with bigger lures (200g and over) but it works really well with anything up to 150g and I am pretty sure it would work lures up to its stated rating of 170g. It's a forgiving rod but it certainly has backbone when required - I did play a 150-200lb shark on it for 30 minutes until it bit thru the leader?

However, I will never sell it!!

Well that's what I wanted to hear. I'm definetly looking for an 80p