Something on GT rod selection-

[stickbom!]

Here's a few tips from me The energy taken up during GT fishing is probably 70% casting 30% landing the fish so try and get a rod that you can cast well with minimum effort. This way when the big one appears, you'll still have energy to battle with it. Imagine using all your energy trying to cast the most powerful GT popping rod in the world because it's too stiff, would you still have what it takes to land a big GT? Would you still consider this to be fun or a tourture? Pretty much up to you to decide buddy. You can call me a wimp but I'll rather enjoy the sport and use an "easy going" rod. Although I only get to go GT fishing like 3-4 times max a year, I always make it a point to go practice my casting and sometimes friends who are new in the sport would join me and we'll trade tips/ideas. During such sessions, some of my friends have discovered that with some fine tuning of lure size, matching line/leader, correct reel size and correcting their casting styles, casting distance can be dramatically increased. Yes, listening to the PROS in forums might be useful but it will not make you a better angler. You've got to put in some sweat to make things work.

[jason]

Well said ....
So when is our next casting session????


Cheers
Jason

[tmlim]

Hi stickbom,

1. Which popping rod would you recommend for beginner to be comfortable on their castings? The other day at Beach Rd, I was shown a Carpenter's Wild Violence 80XH and Wild Violence 83XH. Sound expensive at $950, but they are well received by the pros at www.caranx.net.
2. What is the suitable and reliable spinng reel? Shimano or the Saltiga and speed ratio?
3. Where do you normally have your casting sessions?
4. What sort of popping mass and main-line and leader poundage are appropriate? I had also read that some heavy duty line is attached between the popper and leader. Why is required and what sort of knots do you use?

Thank you in advance for your answers
TMLim

[stickbom!]

Hi stickbom,

1. Which popping rod would you recommend for beginner to be comfortable on their castings? The other day at Beach Rd, I was shown a Carpenter's Wild Violence 80XH and Wild Violence 83XH. Sound expensive at $950, but they are well received by the pros at www.caranx.net.
2. What is the suitable and reliable spinng reel? Shimano or the Saltiga and speed ratio?
3. Where do you normally have your casting sessions?
4. What sort of popping mass and main-line and leader poundage are appropriate? I had also read that some heavy duty line is attached between the popper and leader. Why is required and what sort of knots do you use?

Thank you in advance for your answers
TMLim

Here's a few rods available locally that I would consider easy casting-

Hot's Gipang 83H
Smith WRC-80P/35
Zenaq Fokeeto Tuna series/Jigger Trust P83-3
Daiwa Saltiga Expedition GT 86
Tenryu Grand Marshall GT/TUNA
Shimano Ocea GT 80H/82MH

If I'm not mistaken, all the rods mentioned above are below S$800

The most commonly used spinners for popping would be
Daiwa Saltiga GT/TD-X-HiA/Tournament-S-HA
Shimano Stella 8000HG-10000HG/Twinpower 8000HG
Ryobi Metaroyal 5000 Fishing Safari
Penn SS9500

Size of reel would depend very much on the line class you intend to use. For me 150-200m of line on the reel would be more than enough.

So far no fixed casting session location yet , will post an ad here if there's any future casting sessions.

There's no fixed formula to follow when it comes to GT fishing. The knot that you are most familiar with is probably the best bet because it gives you the most confidence. For me it's pretty simple, just attach the leader to my mainline with a FG knot will do. The more knots/sections/joints the more chance of knot failure

[Sportfisherman]

WV series is not for beginers .

Sportfisherman .

[stickbom!]

Well said ....
So when is our next casting session????


Cheers
Jason

I'll try and see if the guys can make it this weekend.

[Wilson]

WV series is not for beginers .

Sportfisherman .

Brother,

then it's for which level of Popping Anglers? And how you define?

cheers,
Wilson

[Sportfisherman]

IMHO ,

WV is for anglers who have mastered in loading the rod using heavy lures , there are other easier rod to cast than WV , in Carpenter range my choise wud be DJ series .

Sportfisherman .

[Wilson]

IMHO ,

WV is for anglers who have mastered in loading the rod using heavy lures , there are other easier rod to cast than WV , in Carpenter range my choise wud be DJ series .

Sportfisherman .

Hi brother,
Is it for those who own this rod must master the technique in casting? But how to define mastered? How to judge? Is there a minimum casting distance to be achieved to master? And how many gram of Popper used is considered heavy lures?
Sorry bro for having so many questions.
Cheers,
Wilson

[Sportfisherman]

Wilson ,

As Mike Tan said , practice , practice n practice . It's considerably more difficult to cast far and accurately on a boat than on a solid ground while practicing . In Maldives where your area of operation , I believe WV is not suitable but in Komodo , yes WV is suitable .

I wud consider 180 gr. to be a heavy lure , with 2 H.D. trebles on it , the total weight wud exceed 200 gr. , not kind to my shoulder but may be for young Mike Tan that should not be a problem . I am more comfortable with 125 gr. and 150 gr. if casting into the wind .

Let's share your opinion , afterall you are a well experienced GT popper who operate in Maldives , let us have your knowledge too , please ?

Sportfisherman .

[Wilson]

Wilson ,

As Mike Tan said , practice , practice n practice . It's considerably more difficult to cast far and accurately on a boat than on a solid ground while practicing . In Maldives where your area of operation , I believe WV is not suitable but in Komodo , yes WV is suitable .

I wud consider 180 gr. to be a heavy lure , with 2 H.D. trebles on it , the total weight wud exceed 200 gr. , not kind to my shoulder but may be for young Mike Tan that should not be a problem . I am more comfortable with 125 gr. and 150 gr. if casting into the wind .

Let's share your opinion , afterall you are a well experienced GT popper who operate in Maldives , let us have your knowledge too , please ?

Sportfisherman .

Jon,

Agreed with you, practice, practice and re-practice to achieve better distance and accuracy are essential during a GT Popping trip. You must also to keep yourself physically fit to face any situation which may arise, for example, GT whack the popper just 1 metre away from boat, fault hook, etc.

As for WV that is not suitable for Maldives, it’s very subjective. I’ve some friends who fish with me in Maldives and got “bullied” by the fish due to lack of lifting power of rod. Well, some people might say OVERKILL to use WV (for example) in Maldives, but I do not agree.

Fishing is a never ending story… you never stop buying tackles, never stop going fishing trip, never say no money for fishing related matters…. Never step into this circle, it’s too poisonous….

Cheers,
Wilson

[Sportfisherman]

Wilson ,

I have been fishing for over 50 years (n since the age of 5 , I was told ) and never tires of it , I know my days with heavy outfits are numbered now and have started to scale back from using PE10 before now back to PE8 again .

As for WV , that rod has huge potential and I can't fully utilise it as much as my Thai friend who is much much younger than me ( younger than
my son ) and heavier than many ( over 100 kg ) , he recently boated a 50 kg GT in Komodo only to be topped by a local angler around about the same age but lighter with a 53 kg GT .

I have never been to Maldives but heard about the vast reefs there which require a long distant casting rod , WV is not well known for casting 80m distance unless the guy can load 150 gr.+ popper and I don't have the muscle for such .

Fishing is not poisonous , it's honey . The more you taste it the more you want more n more n more . It is a good hobby , definitely better doing it than talking about it because when we talk about it , there is always beer on each participant's hand !

Sportfisherman .

[stickbom!]

Psssst Wilson/Jon, if you want to be a real pro, must use LEMAX Apparently one of our local anglers can put 30kg of drag on the Lemax and still live to tell the story

[Sportfisherman]

A guy bought Lemax rod for tuna popping recently , his own words to me was ; the rod tip is hard to control when lifted , it either goes to the left or to the right but never straight up and the torsional force unbalance the angler , making it very difficult to fight the fish as one has to fight the rod too .

Anyway , that guy since has bought a Carpenter and he is trying to sell that Lemax rod , so far no buyer yet . I guess money don't lie , you pay for peanut you get monkey .

Sportfisherman .

[adriano]

Hi wilson,It is not the angler who is casting , it is the ROD <The angler make the rod cast. <To cast far it is ever the same technique,the begin cast is slow,become faster and stop : THE ROD CAST. <Adriano.

[Wilson]

Hi wilson,It is not the angler who is casting , it is the ROD <The angler make the rod cast. <To cast far it is ever the same technique,the begin cast is slow,become faster and stop : THE ROD CAST. <Adriano.

hi Adriano,
i don't agree with you. I think it's the angler not the rod. Of course, you can't give the angler a 4' rod to cast...

i still believe "it's the singer, not the song"....

Cheers,
Wilson

[Wilson]

Psssst Wilson/Jon, if you want to be a real pro, must use LEMAX Apparently one of our local anglers can put 30kg of drag on the Lemax and still live to tell the story

hey mike,
i've not tried fishing with Lemax rod before. however, i tried casting it before and achieve good distance with it. think is lemax ferrari.....

maybe it's a more budgetted option for Anglers with slightly tight budget.

cheers,
Wilson

[Sportfisherman]

IMHO ,

Human can adapt , one will become proficient with anything they have on hand to achieve the result but when one wants to achieve the ultimate , the tool must be of good design and construction , with such tool the human adaptibility and ability can be the dynamic behind every efforts .

In rod , yes it is important to have a good rod and the angler must do his utmost to fully utilise the potential of the rod .

My opinion , it takes 2 good dancers to tango !

Sportfisherman .

[stickbom!]

Psssst Wilson/Jon, if you want to be a real pro, must use LEMAX Apparently one of our local anglers can put 30kg of drag on the Lemax and still live to tell the story

hey mike,
i've not tried fishing with Lemax rod before. however, i tried casting it before and achieve good distance with it. think is lemax ferrari.....

maybe it's a more budgetted option for Anglers with slightly tight budget.

cheers,
Wilson

Never use one before and probably never will But I've heard pretty good things about the Lemax popping sticks... just not keen in trying it out myself that's all

[adriano]

Hi Wilson, try casting with a broomstick! Adriano.

[stickbom!]

Hi Wilson, try casting with a broomstick! Adriano.

Yo Adriano, Wilson is capable of casting with an iron bar :P FYI he works out 3 times a week @ the gym and bench presses 300lbs Jokes aside, he's probably the only dude I know who can load and cast a heavy popping rod BUT despite that, he still prefers to use a more comfortable rod so that his GT fishing trip remains 100% enjoyment and not become a U.S Marines Boot Camp Hell Week

[Wilson]

Hi Wilson, try casting with a broomstick! Adriano.

brother,
if u think broomstick can be used for casting & fishing, i'll bring my chopstick and join you in your next casting session

cheers

[ghaniyusoff]

Hi Wilson, try casting with a broomstick! Adriano.

brother,
if u think broomstick can be used for casting & fishing, i'll bring my chopstick and join you in your next casting session

cheers

Eh Wilson,

You mean you have binded and epoxied guides (all number 40) to that chopsticks.

Cheers
Ghani

[Wilson]

Hi Wilson, try casting with a broomstick! Adriano.

brother,
if u think broomstick can be used for casting & fishing, i'll bring my chopstick and join you in your next casting session

cheers

Eh Wilson,

You mean you have binded and epoxied guides (all number 40) to that chopsticks.

Cheers
Ghani

Bro,
ya... with butt wrap too.....
just fix up the gimble this morning...

Cheers,
Wilson

[ghaniyusoff]

Hi Wilson, try casting with a broomstick! Adriano.

brother,
if u think broomstick can be used for casting & fishing, i'll bring my chopstick and join you in your next casting session

cheers

Eh Wilson,

You mean you have binded and epoxied guides (all number 40) to that chopsticks.

Cheers

Wow Cool man

Lets bring it down for the next casting session. If it fails to breach the 100m mark, use it for Wanton noodle and Bak Ku Teh session thereafter.

Cheers
Ghani
Ghani

Bro,
ya... with butt wrap too.....
just fix up the gimble this morning...

Cheers,
Wilson