PATRIOT DESIGN World combat GTZ Black Mafia 76

[Brad.Bell]

after some advice, probably from Brandon or anyone else who may have used this rod

Basically i am looking for a PE 12 rod, almost but not quite have my heart set on the ripplefisher rp78XH

I have the RP78PF and really like the action.  For an "off the rack rod" everything including foregrip position is near perfect for me.The XH is supposed to be very similar to the PF so hence my decision

rod is for new cal in jan, need a genuine PE12 rod for those I cups and the like

seems like the more i look the more overwealmed i get

rod is going to be for big chuggers only


or do i just go ith a FISHERMAN GT monster???

advice please

[Jay Burgess]

Hey man, I used Duncans Black Mafia at Bugatti for a while after I snapped my Komodo Dragon. Apart from being a heavy actioned rod it is quite heavy physically and is quite taxing to use for long periods. It is pretty hard work to cast, that said, it pops large bloopers with ease.

[Brandon Khoo]

I cannot offer an opinion on Patriots, Brad. I haven't used them to any degree myself.

[Duncan O'Connell]

Hi Brad,
The Black Mafia is a great rod for working big cup faced poppers. The tip stiffness makes short work of anything which moves a lot of water such as I Cups and 205 Masterd Bombs. As Jay pointed out, it's not a featherweight stick at 505g, but it is not intended for small fish or small lures. It can confidently be fished with 130-170lb braid and about as much drag as you can hold on to.
Personally, it doesn't suit me for an 'all day' rod as I am pretty unfit these days, but I have several customers who happily do so.
If you are after a big popper/ big fish rod then the Black Mafia is well worth considering.

Duncan

[Chris Young]

I had a few cast's with the Ripple 78XH when last at Bugatti...its a cannon of a rod, light in hand and looks to be up to the BIG chuggers.

George Pang used this rod (couldn't pry it from his grip ) for a few days, maybe he can add something.

[Nathan Cefai]

I have a Ripple Fisher 79H which is a PE12 stick and it is brutal stiff i must say,i will surely test it next month in new cal once again!!

Cant wait!!

[Brad.Bell]

thanks for the feedback guys

I am going to get the RP XH i think

I think the lighter rod will be easier to use for the whole day

I guess to summarise there are so many good "off the rack rods" on the market at the moment, all of the reputable brands are good and probably all deserve their place in the market

I'll let you know how it goes

[Nathan Cefai]

where will you purchase it from ?

[Brandon Khoo]

There are a few options around for a really heavy chugging rod. You could look at:

Ripple Fisher 78XH (quite a bit stronger than the 79H)
Patriot Black Mafia
Carpenter SP78UHL
Sevenseas Bigpop 78 Powerful
Fisherman 77 R10L

Before you go down this path though, I think you should think about whether you really want a PE12 rod. PE12 is brutal and realistically for 95% of us, I think we'd be better of stopping at PE10 (130lb). In addition, PE12 will not cast as well as PE10, a rather significant issue. Considering that you're really leaving yourself the option of using Varivas GT PE12 or rope, it is a very expensive limited use outfit.

This time of outfit is really for limited use where you're in the type of location where you need this type of super heavyweight gear. It really is not that comfortable to fish with. As Duncan sets out below, it's not an "all day" rod.

Brad, if you're expecting a GT78XH to be very similar to a PF, I can tell you it isn't. The XH is brutally strong and while it will be a dream to pop big chuggers, it will not be a dream 10 minutes into a big GT.

[Brad.Bell]

Brandon, by similar to the PF i meant in dimension

i agree with you on the pe 10 rod which is what i use ordinarily here in the pilbara

The pe 12 rod is for my new cal trip in jan,

Luke actually reccomended a few options in the past on suitabe rods for the trip the XH being one of them

[Brandon Khoo]

I actually think in NC that you can scale down rather than up due to the terrain.
As I wrote, if you want PE12, there are a number of options.

[Brad.Bell]

well i guess the only way to develop my own opinion will be experience both sides of the coin first hand.  I do like the idea of fishing soley with my PF, easy rod to use, love it.

Luke has reccomended using a pe12 rod in new cal also, i guess at worst i will have a rod to sell if i decide i dont need it after the trip

thanks for all of the valuable comments brandon, much appreciated, i think i am successfully more confused than ever?

[Brandon Khoo]

yeah Brad - sorry about that. Unfortunately, as I have emphasised many times in the forum, it's fine to get advice but ultimately, you can only work out what suits you from experience (and pain). What I will say is that if youa re keen on going down the route of using PE12, you will need to get at least a 20000 spool, if not a Yumeya Max (assuming you have an 18000). If you are using a Dogfight at the moment, I just don't think you will have the capacity.

[Brad.Bell]

yeah i have an 18000 on the way

thanks again

[Jay Burgess]

Before you go down this path though, I think you should think about whether you really want a PE12 rod. PE12 is brutal and realistically for 95% of us, I think we'd be better of stopping at PE10 (130lb). In addition, PE12 will not cast as well as PE10, a rather significant issue. Considering that you're really leaving yourself the option of using Varivas GT PE12 or rope, it is a very expensive limited use outfit.

G'day Brandon, I think the main motivator for most GT fisherman to go down the path of a PE12 rod is for it's ability to work big cup faced poppers like G cups, I cups, GT3 ultra bigmouths etc etc... Realistically I don't think many people actually plan to use PE12 line. I wouldn't pick up my 'go to' PE10 outfit to pop an I Cup at for any considerable amount of time but my Big Pop 78 Powerful (also with PE10 line) makes the job much easier.