GTPopping.com - Giant Trevally, GTPopping, Topwater & GT Fly-Fishing Resource
Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: Trevor Williams on June 26, 2008, 06:33:44 PM
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Anyone know where I can get a couple of carpenter Sea Frog poppers?. I tried one courtesy of the charter operator and while it took a little more effort to get it to work - it was lethal on GTs.
I tried my usual Japanese suppliers and none have stock.
????
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Trevor, this one is a bit of a "forget it".
If I had seen an operator with them, I would have tried to buy them off him.
Unless you have contacts in the tackle industry there, you've got almost no hope of getting these.
On the very rare occasion when one turns up, they're priced over well over $100.
Good luck - you'll need it to get Sea Frogs as well as a big wallet.
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can some one show me what sea frog popper
look like as i want to see what it look like ....
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can some one show me what sea frog popper
look like as i want to see what it look like ....
I was just about to ask the same question ???
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Anyone know where I can get a couple of carpenter Sea Frog poppers?. I tried one courtesy of the charter operator and while it took a little more effort to get it to work - it was lethal on GTs.
I tried my usual Japanese suppliers and none have stock.
????
Effort to work - what kind of other poppers were you using on your Fiji trip? Sea Frogs should be pretty easy to get good action/bloop.
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Carpenter Sea Frogs 3rd and 4th from the right I believe, Brandon please confirm, I just searched on the web and found this pic. Craft 'bigmouth' or Heru 'Cubera' to name 2 should make a similar splash I would think. Potential substitutes for a good workout???
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Anyone know where I can get a couple of carpenter Sea Frog poppers?. I tried one courtesy of the charter operator and while it took a little more effort to get it to work - it was lethal on GTs.
I tried my usual Japanese suppliers and none have stock.
????
Effort to work - what kind of other poppers were you using on your Fiji trip? Sea Frogs should be pretty easy to get good action/bloop.
Sea frog - once we learned how to work it - lethal.
Halco haymaker roosta -- very easy to use , esp for beginners and caught most fish (it was the most used )
cubera - had a bit more trouble but once we got used to it ,almost as good as sea frog- just not the same bite reaction for some reason.
the other lures were more pencil type but also caught fish.They were less effort to use but spent less time in the target water.
A stickbait style that was very effective was one of the Operator's: a clear resin skinny stickbait , front weighted and with holographs embedded in the resin. About 150mm long.Hand made by some bloke in Hawaii. We offered to buy from the operator but they were not for sale at any price.
So Many Lures on the market to try......
and I thought Jigging was expensive!!!! :o
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Anyone know where I can get a couple of carpenter Sea Frog poppers?. I tried one courtesy of the charter operator and while it took a little more effort to get it to work - it was lethal on GTs.
I tried my usual Japanese suppliers and none have stock.
????
Effort to work - what kind of other poppers were you using on your Fiji trip? Sea Frogs should be pretty easy to get good action/bloop.
Sea frog - once we learned how to work it - lethal.
Halco haymaker roosta -- very easy to use , esp for beginners and caught most fish (it was the most used )
cubera - had a bit more trouble but once we got used to it ,almost as good as sea frog- just not the same bite reaction for some reason.
the other lures were more pencil type but also caught fish.They were less effort to use but spent less time in the target water.
A stickbait style that was very effective was one of the Operator's: a clear resin skinny stickbait , front weighted and with holographs embedded in the resin. About 150mm long.Hand made by some bloke in Hawaii. We offered to buy from the operator but they were not for sale at any price.
So Many Lures on the market to try......
and I thought Jigging was expensive!!!! :o
If you're after a clear resin popper style lure with holographic inserts check out the kokoda roger lure - comes in a 150mm size. I have one and from memory it has a full through wire construction (don't hold me 100% to that though.
It's sinking (as you'd expect from 100% resin) but it does look pretty good, yet to give mine a run. And even better - it costs about $10 to $15 :) You'll need to upgrade the hardware but the rest of it looks tough enough to handle the job.
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I can't see most photos on the site as a result of some bug
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http://www.kokodafishing.com.au/catalogue/bluewater-lures/roger-topwater-popper.aspx
there's a link if you want to check it out Brandon. The pictures are working ok for me at the moment?
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I can't see most photos on the site as a result of some bug
Hi Mate, you haven't got the bug again have you ;D ;)
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Similar poppers which'll work as well as the Sea Frog would include Fisherman S-pop (complete with spinner-blades) and Craftbait GT-3 - all just as expensive but a lil' easier to procure!
Sea Frogs and S-pops date back, but today i think the GT-3 is the new benchmark!
Good luck!
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I know this is a dumb question but: Is there anything good but CHEAP!
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I know this is a dumb question but: Is there anything good but CHEAP!
In my oppinion, the best value for money quality poppers that are readily available are the nomad/black jack range.
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Pardon the hijack.....how do you guys rate the rooster poppers? Are they worth getting? Do they suit any particular species?
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Rohit, the Roostas are a good popper for the price but they do not cast as well as a good wooden popper. They're great value for the price and they work well too
they're good for anything that wants to eat a big popper
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Thanks for the info Brandon, would you also recomend upgrading the hardware on these or are the factory jobs fine
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To me, the hardware on the Roostas is not that bad and certainly not as bad as has become the reputation. The VMC hooks are okay and their split rings acceptable. It seems to have almost become folklore now that you must change the trebles to Owners. Well, if you go for a ST-66 Owner, I really don't think these are that much stronger than the VMCs.
It depends on what you are fishing for. If you're primarily fishing for GTs from 10 -15kgs, I think that by and large, you will probably get by on the VMCs. If you get a fish that will completely open a VMC, then i think that fish will probably compromise a ST-66 as well, albeit not to the same extent.
On the other hand, if you're looking at chasing BIG fish, then I personally believe you're better off going to a strong single hook for a Roosta or a Baker rig. The problem with the Roosta is that if you whack on a pair of ST-76 5/0a, it just gets a little unbalanced as the hooks are too heavy.
I personally do not believe the Roostas are suitable for big GTs. For these, go for a strongly constructed wooden popper.
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Thanks mate
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brandon, Halco only use Mustads. The new plating on Mustads looks like what VMC use, but they're still Mustads and are typically blunt and have too big a barb.
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Geoff - thanks for that. They sure look like VMCs!
That said, I've still seen their hardware stand up reasonably.
I suppose the point I am making is don't go running out to make a $20 lure into a $30 lure unless you need to.
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If Eddie "I got emphsema" Kazzama can work a popper with his peak physical fitness, you know they got to be easy to work AND catch fish.
Once he's done 10 casts, he needs to sit down to have a smoke and 'catch his breath' :)
I think he's the sole reason why they are hard to get! He bought them all...he's got as he says 'enough for a while'. ;D
He gave me 2 120 VP-Z's...one that caught my first 30+ kg GT in 2003. It's the model with the alloy 'reverse cup' on the arse end to improve stability and make a smoke trail better than Eddie!
I won't fish them...too scared to lose something that I can't replace >:(
Just the paintwork Kenji Konishi has done on them makes my Pajero 4WD look really sick!!!!!!
They are great..they are dear..they are hard to find.
Cubera's and the 'original' Jai's are hard to beat for tracking down a cheaper, more availble option.
Cheap & good...99% of the time it just doesn't go in the same sentence!
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Aaron, got any pics of these 120 VP-Z lures you mention? :-\ Would be a great help to me, as I sort out which shapes are proven performers.
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Angus,
I should have...I'll need to dig through the 'archive'...I know I took images of "the Kazzama's" 3 Fisherman bags full of them, in 120mm, 160 and I think there were some 180's...they were definete Sea Frogs and larger than the 160's.
If not, I have to do some photos of other stuff today so I can add the 2 120's I have to the list & upload them for you.
Eddie loved the 120's when casting on his "blue rod", it is a Fisherman that's similar to a LR89 Carpenter. It pinged the 120's outta sight for a 50 a day smoker like Eddie!!!
The lure size worked great with a single treble on the belly and a 'blade' fluttering off the bum. He got some nice G's over 50 to eat these things and landed G's to 35...I'm still spilt if his name should be 'Eddie Karma' or the 'Eddie Lama'....good things happen to this man when fishing!
Aaron.
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Aaron....surely you could find something better to compare the finish than your Pajero ??? bwahaha-HAHAHA ;D
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Chris,
If I had a Ferrari, then my 'pay bracket' would be high enough not to give a toss about paying $100+ for poppers & stickbaits!!!!!!!!!!
I wouldn't be thinking of hitting poppers with automotive 2 pac just to keep them afloat a little longer....sigh....
Yeah, ya got me...the 'Paj' has more rust marks than ever after the last Fraser Island trip!
How are your creations going??
I'm on a mission to go to Cooktown to fish the Ribbons for Black Marlin in November. The beauty of 'up there' is the popper & stick bait fishing you can do until the arvo billie bite....got a metre long stick bait I can cast at a black??
Or maybe a 400mm Sea Frog...?? Need some 'field testing' done ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Hi Angus & Chris,
Here are some pics of the Carpenter Sea Frog 120 I tried to get to you last week, showing the profiles & the cup shape.
Note the alloy 'C' cup on the arse end of the popper. Seems to hold it better in the drink & with the little v cut into the very top of it, produces a nice smoke trail too!
Hope this helps
Aaron.
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Thanks for those pics Aaron, can you tell me what is the purpose of the tow point not being in the centre of the lure? Does this create a slightly different action to most poppers that have an exactly central tow point?
Also, does the metal blade on the rear act as a flashing substitute for a rear hook, or do you fit a rear hook in addition to the metal blade?
Cheers
Angus
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Angus,
Theoretically, the lower the tow point the harder the lure should pop.
On these lures, with the balance that Kenji Konishi wanted, that's exactly what they do, without the need for a mega-scoop for a 'mouth'.
The metal blade is used as an attractor.
The size of a 120mm popper means a single decent treble or 'Baker Rig' on the belly is enough hook. They get swallowed pretty easily!
The blade also helps in keeping the bum of the lure in the water since it resists the water as it spins....GT's and spaniards love it like this.
The one belly hook also means less stuffing around when de-hooking a nice G.
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I'd love to know what is it that makes these lures so lethal. The Carp made live baits look deadly as well but seem to be equally unavailable. Seems that its the combination of shape, size and the attractor. Definately look bite size, would be nasty for a spainaryd or a hoo to swallow it and give you the nip.
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I've had that happen!! >:(