GTPopping.com - Giant Trevally, GTPopping, Topwater & GT Fly-Fishing Resource
Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: Chris Webster on November 16, 2011, 07:12:10 PM
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Hi Guys,
Just curious about what your favourite rods are and why?
Cheers,
Chris
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Just one? :o
I have enough trouble narrowing it down to three each time I go out. 8)
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Ripple Fisher 78 PF.
Light as, works decent sized poppers all day.
Plenty enough grunt with a nice action.
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Was a Fisherman GT Game TRSH now it's my Carpenter MH80H 8)
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Alright if I have to go for just one....
If I was only able to own one GT rod, it would be a Carpenter Monster Hunter 80H. Very light for a rod of its rating and lifting power, casts like a dream and works medium and large poppers with ease. Not crazy stiff at the tip, so could use it for large stickbaits.
Oh.. and it looks great. Not a hint of bling anywhere. Just classic, under-stated, Carpenterness.
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Whatever rod I am using when the mythical 70kg is hooked and landed :o
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I have only caught a GT on one rod so it will have to be my DJ83MH, easy to work medium stickbaits and poppers and light enough to work all day long.
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what has happened to all our Xzoga fans!?
We had a few of them at one stage
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based in self statistic...norm places give me 15-25kg class and i were asked to bring only 1 rod, i will bring EP82/38 paired with Stella 10k PE6.
Light, cast far for 150g, soft tip for stickbait, fight leverage good for my back. ;D
izhan
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Gotta say I am very partial to my RF 79H cause I love throwing big baits, and find this rod incredibly light and easy to cast/work baits, despite its power...
That being said, the Carpenter DJ83MH is like driving a classic sports car.... and a pleasure to fish all day, casts superbly and really great on bigger stickkbaits and medium poppers...
Really hoping to acquire a CV79/40 at some point though... for some reason I just "know" this rod will probably be my favourite....
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I might add that Carpenter DJ83MH was very nearly my first choice as well, and would have been if this question was asked before I bought an MH80H.
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Currently it's my CV 79/40 cus it got me my PB GT, but if my MH79H get me a bigger fish, then it shall be ;D
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what has happened to all our Xzoga fans!?
We had a few of them at one stage
Xzoga's pair beautifully with an Okuma Salina ;).
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TBL 711 works well for my 60yo bones more for Kingies than GT's these days, but still a soft spot for the KD.
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I haven't try a lot of rods, but I find my fisherman GT Game TR-S is a very good all round GT rods for poppers and sinking stick baits. I find the correct feeling for casting and working poppers up to 150gr. A bit saturation for working CB GT3 170 gr. Really impressive rod for fighting (use it whit varivas PE7 90 lbs)... And for me this is enought for a all round GT rod. My be I will change opinion next future if I'll have chance to try others rods...
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Has to be my Wild Violence. I fell in love with that rod opening the tube it came in ;) It had me at hello. Why? hmmmmmm its forgiving action ...... ;D
Not even used my LR88 yet, but i think that will be a firm 2nd fave.
Like Mark before, I love the lack of bling, "understated Carpenterness" indeed. Like a black Ferrari.
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Wild Violence... legendary :).
Good that we are getting some old school favourites as well as the more obvious newer rods.
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Well, if i mentioned the gear that landed my "first" on a popper, it would be an Ugly stick and a Baitrunner !! :) Not my fave, but come on, you never forget your first time.
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TBL 711 works well for my 60yo bones more for Kingies than GT's these days, but still a soft spot for the KD.
Greg ,
I am in the same category with you , age wise and since I believe no one rod can handle all situations , so here are my favourite GT rods ;
Sold my TBL711/35RF to a friend years ago and now replaced it with BLC80/35R P-Max Super Cobra for exclusive stickbait works while my CV79/40R SHP is used for all purpose chugger / stickbait works and EP82/38 for exclusively chugger works . Can't cast too heavy lures all day long so anything heavier than 125 gr. are not my favourite lures , regardless what shape they are .
Jon .
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Jon,
Have you used the 80/35 super cobra for gts? What's the optimal cast weight for the rod?
Gt explorer Widowmaker for me. There's only one popper I wanna use (cb Gt3) and the rod casts and works them effortlessly. Heaps of power down low but still a fairly forgiving taper for a rod with a firm tip.
Chris
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Jon,
Have you used the 80/35 super cobra for gts? What's the optimal cast weight for the rod?
Gt explorer Widowmaker for me. There's only one popper I wanna use (cb Gt3) and the rod casts and works them effortlessly. Heaps of power down low but still a fairly forgiving taper for a rod with a firm tip.
Chris
Hi Chris ,
The optimal casting weight of BLC80/35 Super Cobra is around 100 ~ 150 gr. lures depending the physical condition of the caster , myself prefer to stick with 100~125 gr. stickbait for this rod but wud not use chugger bigger than 80 gr. as the rod is not designed for use with one . No problem using this rod for GT but in strong current , my preference will go to CV79/40 SHP for the same approximate weights of stickbait and perhaps a slightly heavier chugger weighing 100 ~ 150 gr. .
Jon .
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Hi Jon,
Thanks for your valuable info on BLC80/35. How's that compare to TBL80/30 for stickbait work?
Also what's the max and optimal casting for EP83/38 on stickbait?
Cheers
Sam
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Sam I recently got an EP82/38 and have been casting it to death with various sized stickbaits. It is an absolute beauty of a casting rod.
The stated max size lure for the rod is 190 grams I think. I have used it with sticks from 110 to 180 grams and I would say the absolute optimum is the 140 to 160 range.
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Guys, for those of you who are thinking of getting a BLC 80/35 for GTs, can I please emphasize that this rod is made for YTKs, not GTs. I wouldn't even really contemplate using a 83/40 for GTs so if you want to do so with an even lighter BLC, I can only say you I would not recommend it and you should do so with great caution. Carpenter have a number of rods which are recommended for stickbaits for GTs. The BLC is not one of them.
Jon is using a level of drag that is obviously suitable for the rod and it is a rod that is keeping him in the sport but you young blokes should be looking for a GT rod.
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BLC83/40 is yen6000 cheaper than MH80H ;D ;D ;D
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Hi Mark, thanks for that piece of info. I am very glad that you are back in action.
Hi Izhan, after reading Brandon's advice, guess I will follow you getting the TBL80/30.
Thanks Brandon
Sam
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Hi Mark, thanks for that piece of info. I am very glad that you are back in action.
Hi Izhan, after reading Brandon's advice, guess I will follow you getting the TBL80/30.
Thanks Brandon
Sam
Hi Sam,
I also getting TBL80/30 from a friend (2nd hand - hand me down). :D
maybe fitted with PE5 to cast 120g Gamma or 140g Adhek Penipen. 8)
cheers
izhan
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Izhan, lucky you, what happen to your friend? He didn't like it or too light for monster that he is chasing?
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Izhan, lucky you, what happen to your friend? He didn't like it or too light for monster that he is chasing?
He going to LPB New Cal soon. TBL80/30 too small for him. ;D ;D
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Guys, for those of you who are thinking of getting a BLC 80/35 for GTs, can I please emphasize that this rod is made for YTKs, not GTs. I wouldn't even really contemplate using a 83/40 for GTs so if you want to do so with an even lighter BLC, I can only say you I would not recommend it and you should do so with great caution. Carpenter have a number of rods which are recommended for stickbaits for GTs. The BLC is not one of them.
Jon is using a level of drag that is obviously suitable for the rod and it is a rod that is keeping him in the sport but you young blokes should be looking for a GT rod.
That's one of the best pieces of advice you may ever read here. Buy a GT rod for GTs and not one that
was specifically designed for something else.
Huge kudos to Jon for boating a 30 kg Maluku GT with a BLC 80/35, but I am sure he would be the first to admit that you would be much better off spending all that money on a specialist GT rod.
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" Jon is using a level of drag that is obviously suitable for the rod and it is a rod that is keeping him in the sport but you young blokes should be looking for a GT rod. "
Brandon : Bless Kenji Konishi for designing n coming up with rods for older guy like me to still able to fish GT along side the younger guys .
" Huge kudos to Jon for boating a 30 kg Maluku GT with a BLC 80/35, but I am sure he would be the first to admit that you would be much better off spending all that money on a specialist GT rod. "
Mark : I subdue that 30 kg GT using BLC84/22R P-1 rod , looking at the butt size of BLC80/35R P-Max SC which is larger in diameter than CV79/40 , I am sure the rod has enough grunt to subdue bigger GT but at the same time casting lighter lures .
Jon .
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Sorry if I got the Blue Chaser model wrong :-[ .
Physical considerations excepted as Brandon pointed out, my point remains........ If you are going to spend a 1,000 bucks on a rod for GT fishing, then buy a GT rod and not one designed for other fish!
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Sorry if I got the Blue Chaser model wrong :-[ .
Physical considerations excepted as Brandon pointed out, my point remains........ If you are going to spend a 1,000 bucks on a rod for GT fishing, then buy a GT rod and not one designed for other fish!
Hi Mark ,
You will find the new generation Carpenter rods can be used to target mixed species as well as using mixed lures , in the past there were only chugger n pencil , later chugger , pencil n stickbait and now sinking lure such as Carpenter Pandora . The Super Cobra versions are designed for more aggresive fishing than the other BLC models and in my hand the BLC80/35 is a little stiffer than TBL models ( 711/35R n 80/30R SHP ) .
Jon .
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i think Smith WRC rods are worth a good look