Original Marlin Poppers - GT Popping Applications?

[Luke Wyrsta]

Pretty cool Marlin poppers handcrafted by Toru San from Japan. I spent a miserable day popping the Tubes not long back and spent some good time talking popping methods and lure design.

See pics below. Will add more later.

[Luke Wyrsta]

more...

[Andrew Poulos]

Why the wire connection ? Was it just to hold the hooks in that position ?

I would have thought that assist hooks and a free swinging hook would offer a better hookup and the potential to snag the bill as well as the mouth if inhaled.

[PeterD]

Interesting method of rigging them up. Any reason behind this? Reason i'm asking is because that's my second home!!! Pitty about the lack of action this year.

I'v dreamed about popping marlin from that ledge!! One day

[jay currie]

You hook Marlin of those rocks! With poppers! How big are the Marlin?

[PeterD]

We hook marlin off the rock's on bait. Havent hooked one on a popper yet but its just a matter of time.

They range anywhere from 40kg to 200kg. Largest i have seen landed went 136kg

[Tri Vi Ton]

looks like the hook breaks free from tail point on hook up

[Tri Vi Ton]

double set up looks like just double the trouble for marlin. again looks like hooks break free, this set up has me wondering why too?

[Luke Wyrsta]

Why the wire connection ? Was it just to hold the hooks in that position ?

I would have thought that assist hooks and a free swinging hook would offer a better hookup and the potential to snag the bill as well as the mouth if inhaled.

If you look closely there is a small plastic tag holding the hook rig in position for strike. Once pressure is applied and hookset is achieved, the plastic tag breaks free from the anchor point so that the lure cannot be used for leverage to shake the hooks (or at least minimize the effect). Cable is used as Toru has found that assist dyneema simply is not durable enough for Marlin bill.

I'm no expert on the Marlin but one would imagine that a free swinging assist may not provide the best hook-up i.e. a mouth corner hook-up is more desirable than trying your luck to penetrate the tough Marlin bill.

[Luke Wyrsta]

double set up looks like just double the trouble for marlin. again looks like hooks break free, this set up has me wondering why too?

In an ideal world, only one hook would be set with the other remaining well behaved still secured by plastic tag. Toru has been popping for Marlin from this ledge for well over 5 years. The single hook rig is his latest weapon - so perhaps he prefers over the twin hook rig.

[PeterD]

Has he landed any there Luke?

[Luke Wyrsta]

Has he landed any there Luke?

He has hooked at least several, but by no means is it a common occurrence. All the moons need to align!

He hasn't had a hook-up for 5 years I recall but has hooked a fish in excess of 300lb which he was connected to for 8 minutes before it wore through the leader.

[Tri Vi Ton]

luke...
i was toying with wire the other day, for smaller lures for spotted mackeral, ideally dyneema would be freeer/hence better, but it lacks bite protection... any assist cord out there built for teeth?

[Tri Vi Ton]

maybe toru san needs to book a charter for frazer island 

[Luke Wyrsta]

luke...
i was toying with wire the other day, for smaller lures for spotted mackeral, ideally dyneema would be freeer/hence better, but it lacks bite protection... any assist cord out there built for teeth?

There is Zylon, but it is more designed for less dramatic toothed critters, for example, fish with teeth that are more conical and spaced apart more. Whereas serrated style teeth will cut it just as quickly as nylon. Best to stick to wire IMO!