new to GT popping an need a rod

[Byron Ford]

hi guys this is my first post as im new an got a trip in june back to the cook islands, my fathers from there an had back ever year for great fishing, but this year i want to really get in to the GTs caught a few in past trips most on spear but only 2 on poppers an very small 5-10 kg max, i have bought a saragosa 18000 that i use jigging an been told that it will handle GTs popping an stick baiting, now here's as far as i have got, a few mates put me onto this site an said this is the place to ask my questions an get FULLY ready for the trip,

first question, rods? what rod an where best to buy??? im 6'2 an a fit 90 kgs, so any help in that department would be a great help or even a point in a direction would be great....

2nd is poppers an stickbaits. aint to worried bout sorting them out as i have plenty of time still

so any help would be great thanks guiys

[Ben Furness]

This one would do the trick nicely by the sounds of it:

http://www.gtpopping.com/forum/index.php?topic=3531.0;topicseen

[Jaime Chee]

Based on your reel i would either go shimano Gt special or the daiwa monster mesh rod which are both good to start with . R2S dumbell poppers and haclo roosta and haymaker poppers also work well and wont break the bank .

[Jaime Chee]

check this out

http://www.gtpopping.com/forum/index.php?topic=3528.0

[Byron Ford]

thanks guys great start, also with that rod jamie will that do stickbaits or better to just stick with those poppers u mentioned?? i got a few already the halco roosta an haymaker, so i will grab a couple of the r2s that u mentioned,
thanks again

[Mark Harris]

If you want a good budget rod, then the Shimano GT Special mentioned is a good deal. I think it is a fairly stiff rod though and probably will not handle stickbaits especially well.

As ever in our sport, so much depends on your budget. The SP80M that Ben highlighted is a fantastic rod for medium sized chuggers and medium-large stickbaits, but a whole different league price- and quality-wise.

You will be OK with the Saragossa 18000F by the way. Not a flash reel by any means but more than capable and great value for money.

[Angus Hulme]

If you want a good budget rod, then the Shimano GT Special mentioned is a good deal. I think it is a fairly stiff rod though and probably will not handle stickbaits especially well.

My brothers and I own both the GT special and the Daiwa Monster Mesh rods, and we have extensively used both rods for working 80-140 gram stickbaits, I reckon these rods are good for stickbait starters, ie, those on a budget.

I admit I have not had the luxury of using a specialist stickbait rod with a softer tip for working stickbaits, but for someone just kicking off their GT obsessions, then my opinion is that the Monster Mesh and the GT special are fine all-round rods for someone like Byron.

[Travis Heaps]

Easy to get caught up when researching Byron.  I had a GT Special, two actually, for my first 3-4 years of popping and stickbaiting for GT's.  It's only recently i've got a couple of higher end rods and they are definitely nicer to use but if the money doesn't stretch that far straight away don't worry - the GT Special will work poppers excellently and stickbaits sufficiently well to get you amongst some fish.   

[Peter Childs]

I reckon the Smith 80P35 is a great starter and will do a reasonable job to kick off, price is only slightly more than a GT special if you look around a little!  It's the kind of rod you will likely hang onto in the longer term too!

[Byron Ford]

thanks heaps every one, i will pop im to my tackle shop as i know he has the GT special, an not sure on the smith but i will defenatly cheak them both out as thay seem to be the ones you guys say are best for starters an price, but i will look at more, cause dont want to go through the same drama an when i started jigging an bought 2 set ups due to price, then ended up buying my JM set up( that is the bees knees IMO lol) an wasted 1 yr an 1000 plus on gear i ended up selling or catching dust

[Michael Adolfsen]

Sorry but did you say spear I thought this site was about popping and jigging.

[Graham Scott]

Did I see a Live Fibre GT rod the other day...was it "venom" or something, priced similar to a GT Special, felt a bit less weight but with similar action, ferrule above top grip...or was I dreaming?

[Ben Furness]

Ask the site sponsor Gara Pro Shop http://www.gtpopping.com/forum/index.php?board=33.00 about the El Toro 150GT. Seems to be the best value GT mixed use rod on the market. You can get one for only a little bit more than a GT Special and from what I have seen is a much higher spec (not to mention about 200g lighter) rod. My friend judt bought one and he has been casting plugs and stickbaits to 160g for 3-4 hour sessions at a time without excess fatigue.

[kaspar lenigas]

i would advise getting a rod that is easy to travel with, i go to fiji every year and i use a shimano t curve it is stiff but it has some balls. if your on a tite bugget i would go with shimano t curve or the gt special you won't realy pay over $300 for one but i have both and love them but its up to you the other ones metioned are excillent but i'm a shimano rod man myself.

[Mark Harris]

What is it about a T-curve and or GT Special that makes them easy to travel with Kaspar?