What's Your Favourite GT Rod & Why?

[Al Morrison]

Has to be my Wild Violence. I fell in love with that rod opening the tube it came in   It had me at hello. Why?          hmmmmmm its forgiving action ...... 

Not even used my LR88 yet, but i think that will be a firm 2nd fave.

Like Mark before, I love the lack of bling, "understated Carpenterness" indeed. Like a black Ferrari.

[Mark Harris]

Wild Violence... legendary . 

Good that we are getting some old school favourites as well as the more obvious newer rods.

[Al Morrison]

Well, if i mentioned the gear that landed my "first" on a popper, it would be an Ugly stick and a Baitrunner !!  Not my fave, but come on, you never forget your first time.

[Jon Li]

TBL 711 works well for my 60yo bones more for Kingies than GT's these days, but still a soft spot for the KD.

Greg ,

I am in the same category with you , age wise and since I believe no one rod can handle all situations , so here are my favourite GT rods ;

Sold my TBL711/35RF to a friend years ago and now replaced it with BLC80/35R P-Max Super Cobra for exclusive stickbait works while my CV79/40R SHP is used for all purpose chugger / stickbait works and EP82/38 for exclusively chugger works . Can't cast too heavy lures all day long so anything heavier than 125 gr. are not my favourite lures , regardless what shape they are .

Jon .

[Christoffer Hansen]

Jon,
       Have you used the 80/35 super cobra for gts? What's the optimal cast weight for the rod?

Gt explorer Widowmaker for me. There's only one popper I wanna use (cb Gt3) and the rod casts and works them effortlessly. Heaps of power down low but still a fairly forgiving taper for a rod with a firm tip.
       Chris

[Jon Li]

Jon,
       Have you used the 80/35 super cobra for gts? What's the optimal cast weight for the rod?

Gt explorer Widowmaker for me. There's only one popper I wanna use (cb Gt3) and the rod casts and works them effortlessly. Heaps of power down low but still a fairly forgiving taper for a rod with a firm tip.
       Chris

Hi Chris ,

The optimal casting weight of BLC80/35 Super Cobra is around 100 ~ 150 gr. lures depending the physical condition of the caster , myself prefer to stick with 100~125 gr. stickbait for this rod but wud not use chugger bigger than 80 gr. as the rod is not designed for use with one . No problem using this rod for GT but in strong current , my preference will go to CV79/40 SHP for the same approximate weights of stickbait and perhaps a slightly heavier chugger weighing 100 ~ 150 gr. .

Jon .

[Sam Loh]

Hi Jon,

Thanks for your valuable info on BLC80/35. How's that compare to TBL80/30 for stickbait work?

Also what's the max and optimal casting for EP83/38 on stickbait?

Cheers
Sam

[Mark Harris]

Sam I recently got an EP82/38 and have been casting it to death with various sized stickbaits.  It is an absolute beauty of a casting rod.

The stated max size lure for the rod is 190 grams I think.  I have used it with sticks from 110 to 180 grams and I would say the absolute optimum is the 140 to 160 range.

[Brandon Khoo]

Guys, for those of you who are thinking of getting a BLC 80/35 for GTs, can I please emphasize that this rod is made for YTKs, not GTs. I wouldn't even really contemplate using a 83/40 for GTs so if you want to do so with an even lighter BLC, I can only say you I would not recommend it and you should do so with great caution. Carpenter have a number of rods which are recommended for stickbaits for GTs. The BLC is not one of them.

Jon is using a level of drag that is obviously suitable for the rod and it is a rod that is keeping him in the sport but you young blokes should be looking for a GT rod.

[Wan Izhan]

BLC83/40 is yen6000 cheaper than MH80H

[Sam Loh]

Hi Mark, thanks for that piece of info. I am very glad that you are back in action.

Hi Izhan, after reading Brandon's advice, guess I will follow you getting the TBL80/30.

Thanks Brandon

Sam

[Wan Izhan]

Hi Mark, thanks for that piece of info. I am very glad that you are back in action.

Hi Izhan, after reading Brandon's advice, guess I will follow you getting the TBL80/30.

Thanks Brandon

Sam

Hi Sam,
I also getting TBL80/30 from a friend (2nd hand - hand me down).
maybe fitted with PE5 to cast 120g Gamma or 140g Adhek Penipen.

cheers
izhan

[Sam Loh]

Izhan, lucky you, what happen to your friend? He didn't like it or too light for monster that he is chasing?

[Wan Izhan]

Izhan, lucky you, what happen to your friend? He didn't like it or too light for monster that he is chasing?

He going to LPB New Cal soon. TBL80/30 too small for him.

[Mark Harris]

Guys, for those of you who are thinking of getting a BLC 80/35 for GTs, can I please emphasize that this rod is made for YTKs, not GTs. I wouldn't even really contemplate using a 83/40 for GTs so if you want to do so with an even lighter BLC, I can only say you I would not recommend it and you should do so with great caution. Carpenter have a number of rods which are recommended for stickbaits for GTs. The BLC is not one of them.

Jon is using a level of drag that is obviously suitable for the rod and it is a rod that is keeping him in the sport but you young blokes should be looking for a GT rod.

That's one of the best pieces of advice you may ever read here. Buy a GT rod for GTs and not one that
was specifically designed for something else.

Huge kudos to Jon for boating a 30 kg Maluku GT with a BLC 80/35, but I am sure he would be the first to admit that you would be much better off spending all that money on a specialist GT rod.