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Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: Dylan Goldhahn on October 23, 2010, 01:36:03 PM
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Hi,
I've recently purchased a Stella SW 20000 and now i'm looking for a rod to go with it.
After reading the "guide to buying a GT rod", I've decided that a general purpose rod would suit me the best.
The main uses for the rod will be; GT popping around the Whitsundays and Cairns area, and throwing stick baits at Bluefin Tuna down south.
I'm after a rod that is under $700, seeing that i'm young and don't have a lot of money.
From what I've read a rod around or just under 8' and in the 8-10PE range Should suit my applications.
Any help or advice on a suitable rod would be appreciated.
Cheers, Dylan.
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shimano t-curve special
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Thanks mate, I have considered the GT special as one of my cheapest options. However i feel that the setup is just a bit too heavy in weight with the stella 20K.
Does anyone have any opinions about the Jigging Master GT Monster 78? Looks like a nice rod and doesn't seem too expensive.
Thanks, Dylan.
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Try a Ripple Fisher 79R or a Smith 80P/35 - both good 1st GT rod that won't break the bank.
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The JM rod is pretty heavy in terms of weight as well! I'd take a look at the Yamaga Blanks range of rods, or wait a little while till they release the newer models. I'm guessing that they'd be around your budget range, if not a bit more expensive. Or look at the line up from Hots, if you do a search around you can find them pretty cheap! Again, probably a little bit over your budget as well. Apart from those models and the GT special, everything else would be around the $1K mark or more!
Happy hunting! 8)
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Try a Ripple Fisher 79R or a Smith 80P/35 - both good 1st GT rod that won't break the bank.
Thanks mate,
Had a look around on some sites for the RF GT79R, cant seem to find it anywhere for under $1000.
Would you have any idea where i could find one cheaper?
Cheers, Dylan.
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The JM rod is pretty heavy in terms of weight as well! I'd take a look at the Yamaga Blanks range of rods, or wait a little while till they release the newer models. I'm guessing that they'd be around your budget range, if not a bit more expensive. Or look at the line up from Hots, if you do a search around you can find them pretty cheap! Again, probably a little bit over your budget as well. Apart from those models and the GT special, everything else would be around the $1K mark or more!
Happy hunting! 8)
Thanks for the advice.
I've had my eye on the Hots Gipang 79XH, mainly because its easily avalable in tackle shops here in aus. Still haven't come across one cheap though :P
So how does the JM GT monster compare to the GT special in terms of weight and action?
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PM sent!
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Dylan, the recommendation isn't difficult until you complicate it by throwing in the aspect of wanting to cast stickbaits at bluefin tuna. That turns it upside down.
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Ok so the main rods that i'm looking at now are;
Ripple Fisher GT79R
Hots Gipang 79XH
JM GT monster 78?? maybe a weight issue.
And a Yamaga Atlas GT 76/8, would this rod be able to handle PE10, or is it more a PE8 rod?
Thanks, Dylan.
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What is the weight difference between these rods?
If you're capable of hanging onto a rod properly loaded with PE10 then is a 100 grams or so really so crucial?
I would suggest that if you're on a budget go for the Shimano rod.
The only thing a GT special wont do for you is sound impressive when talking on fishing forums.
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Dylan, a great option at the price range you originally imagined is the El Toro 150, designed and produced by one of the sponsors of this forum, Kaiser in Singapore.
See: http://kaiser-pro-shop.blogspot.com/2010/07/kaiser-el-toro-150-gt-casting-rod.html (http://kaiser-pro-shop.blogspot.com/2010/07/kaiser-el-toro-150-gt-casting-rod.html)
This is a PE8-10 rod, 7 ft 10 in. Uses a Korean blank which has a really nice action. I bought one of these out of curiosity as much as anything else, and have fished with it quite a bit catching fish up to 25 kgs. Handles 120-160 gram chuggers very nicely and large stickbaits well. My only gripes have been about the butt and the reel seat in particular.
Contact user Kaiser Pro Shop at this forum for more details. You will be fairly stunned by the price for a rod of this quality.
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Dylan hit Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Caranx-Kaibutsu-Surface-Monster-Popping-Rod-/130424546854?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e5de8a626 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Caranx-Kaibutsu-Surface-Monster-Popping-Rod-/130424546854?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e5de8a626)
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Stephen: have you used one of these?
I would not especially recommend a Kaibutsu Surface Monster as a first popping rod. It is short (especially when you factor in the incredibly long butt) and stiff. It is a powerful fish stopper for sure but I see this rod as a back up unit for heavy, specialist PE10 type rods. And fairly terrible for stickbaits I think which is one of Dylans' criteria.
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Dylan,
I totally agree with Brandon on this, as i most often do.
I too once wanted a rod that will do it all but this is a very tall if not virtually impossible order.
I would ask myself the question 'what will i be fishing for first'? If GT's, get a general purpose GT rod and if Tuna, get the tuna rod and save up for the other one.
Ultimately, if you are not using the rod for the purpose it was built you may lessen the experience as well as damage gear so get the right one.
While i am by no means an expert in this style of fishing, if i was looking for a rod within the budget you have specified, i would lean towards the Hot's Gipang mentioned earlier in the thread.......... you may just need to bargain a little.
Happy fishing, good luck and let us know what you decide.
Cheers,
Chris
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Dylan,
I totally agree with Brandon on this, as i most often do.
I too once wanted a rod that will do it all but this is a very tall if not virtually impossible order.
I would ask myself the question 'what will i be fishing for first'? If GT's, get a general purpose GT rod and if Tuna, get the tuna rod and save up for the other one.
Ultimately, if you are not using the rod for the purpose it was built you may lessen the experience as well as damage gear so get the right one.
While i am by no means an expert in this style of fishing, if i was looking for a rod within the budget you have specified, i would lean towards the Hot's Gipang mentioned earlier in the thread.......... you may just need to bargain a little.
Happy fishing, good luck and let us know what you decide.
Cheers,
Chris
Thanks mate.
you have a good point, Ive heard that you cant get a rod that 'does it all', many times.
However, being on a limited budget, I have to compromise.
So i'll still go with a rod that can cast and work stickbaits, but just won't be able to use heavier chuggers.
Thanks everyone for the suggstions.
At this point I'm leaning towards the Yamaga atlas 76/8, due to its reasonable price and General purpose use.
I'll have a look into the El Toro 150. Looks like a nice rod.
Still open to anyones advice or suggestions.
Thanks Dylan.
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I Ended up getting a Yamaga Atlas GT 76/8 and a Ripple Fisher GT79R.
One is for me, and the other for my dad.
I like the looks of the GT79R, but the Yamaga is very light.
Thanks again for helping me out.
Cheers, Dylan.