OTI 7'6 Popping Rod Review

rtran · 06-19-2008, 01:17 AM

This is my primary rod I used for casting poppers to YFT and BFT on the June 13-15 Big E trip. The rod casts very well and can sling a popper well over an estimated 200 feet. Poppers were OTI, strike pro and shibukis. A Shimano Saragosa 18000 was the reel matched with the rod at over 25lb of drag.

The action this rods provides is soft enough to fling a popper quite a distance but at the same time allow you to put a big hurting on fish. At over 25lb's of drag the rod handled without a sweat.

The joint never came un-done on me throughout the whole trip as I checked it often fear I would sling the top portion to the deep blue.

During hot bites I often bumped the rod carelessly in rush moments. VERY DURABLE to say the least =) You do not have to worry about it breaking easily if dropped or hitting the tip accidently.

I am glad to have this piece as part of my tackle as I can travel with it easily if need and has nice wrapping/finish. It's good to know this rod will not break as you put maximum strain as rated.

EDIT: I noticed I did not put what I caught with this rod.
Plenty of fatty blackfin and a yft a little over 100#. Took me probably 10-15 minutes but I'm not really sure.
You can really yank on big tuna with this rod.

LEXPRO · 06-19-2008, 02:34 AM

were you using 50 or 80lb rod?

kidflex · 06-19-2008, 03:00 AM

i have used the oti 7'6" 80lb rod. it is amazing how much power that rods has and the ability to launch lures. I am sad to say that i sold it to a friend to match his saltiga dogfight reel (bad A** combo). i will be getting the 50 lber in the near future. and eventually another 80lb when i order a dogfight.

JerseyBrian · 06-19-2008, 11:51 AM

Good review Rich. I'm also interested in knowing whether you used the 50lb or 80lb model.

BretABaker · 06-19-2008, 12:28 PM

it was the 80lb rod.

JerseyBrian · 06-19-2008, 12:43 PM

Would you say the 80lb rod has enough of a soft tip to effectively work lures that are <120g?

BretABaker · 06-19-2008, 12:59 PM

that was my concern as well. I was throwing a 120g lure and it worked fine for that. I also tied on a 70g skagit lip slider for a few casts and it actually threw that well. then again, we had the wind on our backs.

it also depends how you're working the lure. overall i did not have a problem making the lures do what i was wanting.

clearly if you got the 50lb rod itd be more sensitive and you could have a wider range of options with lighter lures. the problem i see is that you really can't break a big fish quickly. the tuna in my avatar was landed in under 5 minutes, and without much struggle. i don't think it would have been quite as easy with a lighter rod. the 80lb is very strong.

JerseyBrian · 06-19-2008, 01:18 PM

damn, 5 minutes is quick! Good job Bret and thanks for your input on the 2 rods!

rtran · 06-19-2008, 01:45 PM

Bret sums it up very well. I was surprised when Bret boated that fish so fast.

BretABaker · 06-19-2008, 02:00 PM

Kil landed his fish just as quick, and the rod was 8'6". with strong enough drags the fish won't strip more than 150yds of line off unless it's huge.

06-19-2008, 01:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
rtran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 981	OTI 7'6 Popping Rod Review This is my primary rod I used for casting poppers to YFT and BFT on the June 13-15 Big E trip. The rod casts very well and can sling a popper well over an estimated 200 feet. Poppers were OTI, strike pro and shibukis. A Shimano Saragosa 18000 was the reel matched with the rod at over 25lb of drag. The action this rods provides is soft enough to fling a popper quite a distance but at the same time allow you to put a big hurting on fish. At over 25lb's of drag the rod handled without a sweat. The joint never came un-done on me throughout the whole trip as I checked it often fear I would sling the top portion to the deep blue. During hot bites I often bumped the rod carelessly in rush moments. VERY DURABLE to say the least =) You do not have to worry about it breaking easily if dropped or hitting the tip accidently. I am glad to have this piece as part of my tackle as I can travel with it easily if need and has nice wrapping/finish. It's good to know this rod will not break as you put maximum strain as rated. EDIT: I noticed I did not put what I caught with this rod. Plenty of fatty blackfin and a yft a little over 100#. Took me probably 10-15 minutes but I'm not really sure. You can really yank on big tuna with this rod. Last edited by rtran : 10-22-2008 at 10:57 PM.

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06-19-2008, 02:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
LEXPRO Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 204	were you using 50 or 80lb rod?

06-19-2008, 03:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
kidflex Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 168	i have used the oti 7'6" 80lb rod. it is amazing how much power that rods has and the ability to launch lures. I am sad to say that i sold it to a friend to match his saltiga dogfight reel (bad A** combo). i will be getting the 50 lber in the near future. and eventually another 80lb when i order a dogfight.

06-19-2008, 12:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
BretABaker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pearland, TX Posts: 1,293	it was the 80lb rod.

06-19-2008, 12:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
BretABaker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pearland, TX Posts: 1,293	that was my concern as well. I was throwing a 120g lure and it worked fine for that. I also tied on a 70g skagit lip slider for a few casts and it actually threw that well. then again, we had the wind on our backs. it also depends how you're working the lure. overall i did not have a problem making the lures do what i was wanting. clearly if you got the 50lb rod itd be more sensitive and you could have a wider range of options with lighter lures. the problem i see is that you really can't break a big fish quickly. the tuna in my avatar was landed in under 5 minutes, and without much struggle. i don't think it would have been quite as easy with a lighter rod. the 80lb is very strong.

06-19-2008, 01:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
rtran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 981	Bret sums it up very well. I was surprised when Bret boated that fish so fast.

06-19-2008, 02:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
BretABaker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pearland, TX Posts: 1,293	Kil landed his fish just as quick, and the rod was 8'6". with strong enough drags the fish won't strip more than 150yds of line off unless it's huge.

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