he he he
![Cheesy :D](https://gtpopping.com/forum/Smileys/default/cheesy.gif)
it brings back very sad old memories, Alex
What used to happen was that noone was silly enough to go out there to throw Cotton Cordells at GTs. We threw them at queenies but unfortunately, every now and then, a GT would get in the act and completely obliterate you. I started off using a Shakespeare reel and Mitchell reel which I can't even remember the model numbers of. It was 6-10kg mono. I have no recollection of the first rods but I do remember when Ugly Stiks came out. I was one of the first clowns to start using expensive Japanese carbon fibre blanks. If I remember correctly, they were Dykohs or something like that. I still have a rod built on one of these! These were followed by blanks coming in from Composite Dvelopments and at one stage, I had a hexagonal carbon fibre blank made by McGinns on the Sunshine Coast. The reason why they were expensive was not just the base cost of the blank - it was because blow-ups were not uncommon!
![Cry :'(](https://gtpopping.com/forum/Smileys/default/cry.gif)
Gain Rogers from Northside Tackle in Brisbane was one of the very few people who went with the new technology of carbon blanks and the new SiC guides. SiC has been round a lot longer than people think. Unfortunately, Gain passed away very suddenly.
We didn't have as many reels explode or break as many rods as you may think because it was 6-10kg mono and we didn't target GTs specifically. The blowout that did happen used to be the spools themselves. What happens is that the mono stretches like crazy and is wound back on under tension and then the pressure would pop the odd spool! I'm pleased to say that never happened to me but I saw it a few times on plastic spools. It looked really good.
![Cheesy :D](https://gtpopping.com/forum/Smileys/default/cheesy.gif)
Can I say, the modern equipment today has made it possible to fish for GTs because they simply were not viable targets in the past. They were the most dreaded fish fishos used to encounter on the reef because they were destroyers of equipment. How do you think various varieties ended up with names like bastards?!
![Grin ;D](https://gtpopping.com/forum/Smileys/default/grin.gif)