[Anglers Pro Shop]

Hi Guys,

In view of the growing interest in catching YFT with poppers, I am hunting for a suitable blank to build the ultimate popping rod for this purpose (on a party boat).

Your opinion and advice on the following will be appreciated:

(1) What would be the ideal length of the rod?
(2) How far do you need to cast in order to get to the fish?
(3) What poppers are used (weight)?
(4) What poundage line are used (PE/LB)?
(5) Do you prefer a one piece or a butt joint (joint at the foregrip)?

The rod will be light, strong yet very good casting, probably composite of carbon and kevlar or titanium.

Randy

 

[Ragman]

Hey Randy!

What price point or range are you shooting for?

 

[Anglers Pro Shop]

Hi Tom,

Very much depending on the material, carbon/kevlar and carbon/titanium composite is very expensive but extremely lightweight. Carbon/glass rods may be cheaper.

Actually I do have a blank that might be suitable and I can build it at sub $300 if there is enough demand:

http://www.anglers-proshop.com/product_view.php?product_id=211

Randy

 

[Gunsmoke]

Randy,
Being from the West Coast, you are probably aware of the "All Spinner" long range trip next year. I was invited to go on this trip, but it is sponsored by Okuma. I'd break every gear on every spinner they brought on board with my pressure style of fishing. If they make rods, I'd get tossed off the boat for snapping to many. Here's some info for you. You probably know the guy putting the trip together.

Trip # 76 3.5 days Sept 16 returns Sept 20 2007



FISHING WITH CAPTAIN MIKE JEWETT!!! "Spinning Rods Only"
This trip is on! Irv Grisbeck called and said we have touched his heart with the spining reel only request and he is doing something great for us. This trip will be sponsored by OKUMA...lots of give aways and prizes. This will be a 3.5 day 3 full days fishing. This is designed as a all spinning trip. Irv also said that this will be a 2 for one price so what it boils down to is the cost will be around $625.00 each person for a 2 person reservation...this price includs food and mex permits... I didn't stutter...that price includes food and mex permits if purchased 2 for 1.........get your partners and let's go. This is trip # 76 for the 2007 season....call Larry at the BG90 office at 858-270-7525 and tell them the spinning trip # 76 for 2007...make reservations early....this one will go quickly.



Hoss

 

[Anglers Pro Shop]

H Gunsmoke,

I am not a big fan of Okuma. Furthermore, unless you get into good size yellowtail here in the west, on a 3 day trip catching ling cod and rock cod that hardly pull is not really worth it. Nothing beats the GOM in the States!

Randy

PS - You should try breaking a Stella or a Sevenseas rod, if we have the chance to fish together, I will gladly let you try to break mine - on a fish (stand-up fishing without harness)!

 

[Bazztex]

Randy

I have had the pleasure of cathcing some YFT over 120# on Topwaters. I used a 1 peice Penn Formula 5970 ISTT 30-60# (Discontinued) it fishes well on the heavy side. Fast taper hollow butt and solid tip Grafite- Glass composite. 65# Power Pro and 50# Mono Topshot.

What the majority are using in the Texas Gulf for casting Poppers...

7 Ft Blank (Casting and Spinning) Most rods are one piece blanks with Slick Butt ,machined Aluminum Reel Seat and Gimble

E Glass or Grafite-Glass Hybrid blanks (Calstar 700H or 765L) (GUSA SW7060XH or Monster mag)

60-80 # Spectra braid with 50-60# Mono leader/Topshot

Casting distance is dictated by the reach of the boat lights 60-90 yds

Popper and Ballistic Flyer weights 2 1/2 -4 oz typical

Bazz

 

[Anglers Pro Shop]

Hi Bazz,

A 60-80lb 7ft rod must be a pretty stiff one.

What is a slick butt?

Thanks,
Randy

 

[Minnow]

Randy,

it look like this.

 

[Gunsmoke]

H Gunsmoke,

I am not a big fan of Okuma. Furthermore, unless you get into good size yellowtail here in the west, on a 3 day trip catching ling cod and rock cod that hardly pull is not really worth it. Nothing beats the GOM in the States!

Randy

PS - You should try breaking a Stella or a Sevenseas rod, if we have the chance to fish together, I will gladly let you try to break mine - on a fish (stand-up fishing without harness)!

I agree with you on the stella. Very strong. I haven't had a problem with a stella yet. Have you seen the new super seeker blanks? Word is they are super tough, unbreakable, and the Demo for them is taking a 20-40# blank, and touching the tip to the butt - just like an Ugly Stick. Major difference is is the blank is feather light, similar to a graphite rod.

 

[Anglers Pro Shop]

I agree with you on the stella. Very strong. I haven't had a problem with a stella yet. Have you seen the new super seeker blanks? Word is they are super tough, unbreakable, and the Demo for them is taking a 20-40# blank, and touching the tip to the butt - just like an Ugly Stick. Major difference is is the blank is feather light, similar to a graphite rod.

Thanks Minnow, wow do you need that for a popping rod? those guys must have popeye arms.

Gunsmoke,

Quote Gary Loomis "I can build you a rod that won't break but you'd probably won't want to fish with it" Unbreakable usually means too stiff or too soft... anyway, I will check out the blank later today!

Randy

 

[MrBill]

Randy,
I received all the Japanese jigs and poppers today. All I can say is "NICE STUFF". The paint job on those poppers is incredible. Musuem quality. I really like the way the japanese put the metal echushion on the end of the lure. I've also never seen swivels buried at the hook points. Very interesting. If my teeth were tough enough, I'd eat them for dinner tonight.

The Japanese jigs seem to be different from the Shimano Butterfly jigs. Very nice looking and also very well finished. I like them and look forward to getting them wet. We Americans have a lot to learn from the Japanese when it comes to jigging. Is the Tuna Max a Japanese made blank?

One more thing, that tuna max aluminum rod belt is really fine. Very comfortable. Perfect day belt. More comfortable than the Smitty day belt. Much better than I expected. I was planning to give it away as a gift, but not after strapping it on. I barely know its on. Are you going to continue to stock them?

Also, thanks for the hour and a half video on jigging. To bad I don't speak Japanese. But, a picture is worth a thousand words. I'll finish watching it tonight.

 

[Bazztex]

Randy

On a Charter Boat in the GOM with 30+ folks during a wide open bite... it's all about control which I also learned the hard way. You really need 50# Minimum to have some control over a fired up 100# YFT. I've had a few on that 50# tackle was no match for... est over 150#.

Most guys/gals have gone to 60# tackle to have more control which has lead to the large Spinning Tackle evolution with the Stella 20000 and Saltiga "Dog Fight" 6500 reels filled with 80# solid core braid. It's easer for the average and experianced angler alike to chunk a popper past the lights with a spinner.

It's harder to use conventional tackle due to the posibility of a backlash but I managed to put 4 YFT over 90# in the boat with a Torium 30 filled with 65# Power Pro and a 100yd Topshot of 50# Sufix Superior last trip. I did loose 3 YFT's well over 100# due to pulled hooks that all went straight down 400yds+.

I'm going with a GUSA SW7060XH and an Avet LX 6/3 filled with 80 Power Pro and a Speros 14000F (Modified with CabonTex Drags) filled with 65# Power Pro /Mamoi 60# topshot and 50# Custom spinner rod this go-round. Being right at 6ft & 210# myself dont hurt my chunking distance... but I sure dont have Popeye arms...LoL

The Slick Butt is a stout nylon butt section that holds up well to abuse and rod holders better than foam and is much lighter than an aluminum unibutt.

We still try to go with the lightest equipment we can get but you still need control. Snagged, TxSeadog, and many more, along with general observation/ trial and error... taught me well!!

Bazz

 

[Anglers Pro Shop]

Hi Bazz,

Spinning tackle is indeed more suitable for popping, easy no brainer stuff, flick and throw. I haven't gone out much on a party boat fishing but the only time I saw someone cast a popper with a conventional was Kil Song.. he can cast just as far as anyone with a spinner.

Thanks for all the information, hope to be fishing with you guys some day!

Hi MrBill,

Unfortunately this model will be discountinued and Tuna Max blanks are made in Japan. Have fun with your new toys!

Randy

 

[ksong]

Randy,
Being from the West Coast, you are probably aware of the "All Spinner" long range trip next year. I was invited to go on this trip, but it is sponsored by Okuma. I'd break every gear on every spinner they brought on board with my pressure style of fishing. If they make rods, I'd get tossed off the boat for snapping to many. Here's some info for you. You probably know the guy putting the trip together.

Trip # 76 3.5 days Sept 16 returns Sept 20 2007



FISHING WITH CAPTAIN MIKE JEWETT!!! "Spinning Rods Only"
This trip is on! Irv Grisbeck called and said we have touched his heart with the spining reel only request and he is doing something great for us. This trip will be sponsored by OKUMA...lots of give aways and prizes. This will be a 3.5 day 3 full days fishing. This is designed as a all spinning trip. Irv also said that this will be a 2 for one price so what it boils down to is the cost will be around $625.00 each person for a 2 person reservation...this price includs food and mex permits... I didn't stutter...that price includes food and mex permits if purchased 2 for 1.........get your partners and let's go. This is trip # 76 for the 2007 season....call Larry at the BG90 office at 858-270-7525 and tell them the spinning trip # 76 for 2007...make reservations early....this one will go quickly.



Hoss
Gunsmoke, Capt. Mike of the BIG Game 90 is an excellent captain. I really enjoyed fishing with Mike on the four day trip a decade ago. We caught tons of tuna though they were mostly small. I might be the only one who caught all tuna with jigs and never touched live bait on the boat. I found out on that trip tuna are very conscious of jig sizes.

 

[Gunsmoke]

Ksong,
How many years have you been jigging? I just started the new Japanese style of jigging this year. I've jigged diamonds off the rocks for years but this new style is a lot more fun and exhausting. I started taking it serious after the torsa came out.

I've learned one lesson. Drop the jigs the depth where the recorder is marking fish. You can waste a lot of time and arm strength by dropping it to the bottom and jigging to the surface.

 

[ksong]

Ksong,
How many years have you been jigging? I just started the new Japanese style of jigging this year. I've jigged diamonds off the rocks for years but this new style is a lot more fun and exhausting. I started taking it serious after the torsa came out.

I've learned one lesson. Drop the jigs the depth where the recorder is marking fish. You can waste a lot of time and arm strength by dropping it to the bottom and jigging to the surface.
I jigged tuna way before Japanese guys invented Japanese style jigging.
Japanese style jigging was born in 1993 when Mr. Mogi Youichi landed a 7 kg amberjack in 70 meter using PE4 line and 80 gram jig. The assist hook system came out first in 1998 or1999.

 

[berniek]

I've been popping in this part of the world (down under) for quite a few years. We generally target GTs but from time to time, have had the odd yellowfin take the popper.

Some of these yellowfins are a serious size but we tend to see them as a chance capture. I don't know of any guys here who target them specifically with popping gear.

We fish heavy for GTs but that's because they run for cover which yellowfin don't tend to do. Technically, that should allow you to fish a bit lighter but I still wouldn't go below about 50 pound. On a Stella 20000, that'd give you a fair bit of line to play with.

The longer the rod, the further you cast. The longer the popper stays in the water, the more chance you give it to be taken. On the other hand, the compromise is too much length makes it difficult to fight a fish as effectively. About 7.5 feet sounds about ideal but I don't think you'd want to go past 8. On the other hand, I've noticed some of the Japanese brands like Carpenter etc have rods well over 8 feet for this purpose. I'm not sure I'd want to be fighting a big yellowin on a 9 feet rod!

Poppers - BIG! It will need to cast big poppers around the 200 gram mark.

Butt joint is vry convenient for transport.

Look forward to what you come up with with great interest, Randy!

 

[Anglers Pro Shop]

I've been popping in this part of the world (down under) for quite a few years. We generally target GTs but from time to time, have had the odd yellowfin take the popper.

Some of these yellowfins are a serious size but we tend to see them as a chance capture. I don't know of any guys here who target them specifically with popping gear.

We fish heavy for GTs but that's because they run for cover which yellowfin don't tend to do. Technically, that should allow you to fish a bit lighter but I still wouldn't go below about 50 pound. On a Stella 20000, that'd give you a fair bit of line to play with.

The longer the rod, the further you cast. The longer the popper stays in the water, the more chance you give it to be taken. On the other hand, the compromise is too much length makes it difficult to fight a fish as effectively. About 7.5 feet sounds about ideal but I don't think you'd want to go past 8. On the other hand, I've noticed some of the Japanese brands like Carpenter etc have rods well over 8 feet for this purpose. I'm not sure I'd want to be fighting a big yellowin on a 9 feet rod!

Poppers - BIG! It will need to cast big poppers around the 200 gram mark.

Butt joint is vry convenient for transport.

Look forward to what you come up with with great interest, Randy!

Hi Berniek,

I found myself a spot on the Big E trip this weekend, I will bringing a 8' Smith WRC80P/35 to cast poppers and swimbaits up to 150g and a 7'3" Smith WRC Kerama for huge poppers.

Hopefully I get a feel of the yft with both rods in party boat condition; casting, fighting and landing a fish with 30 over fellow anglers. On a private boat, I have no qualms with those rods with better manuevarbility and more deck space to move around.

Another thing I hope to achieve is to find out how big chuggers work out on those YFT, I got my hands on some XXL Hammerhead E Cups (170g) intended for my Tanzania GT trip in Feb, will have to strip some paint and add some character to the poppers before Feb

With 40 fellow anglers on the Big E predominantly using smaller poppers like Yozuri surface bull types, I think it will be very clear how big poppers work against smaller ones on YFT!

 

[Guest]

hot damn. great to have you onboard the big e with us this weekend randy. looking forward to finally meeting you and watching you and kil song jig your butts offs. i spent my whole time on last week ends trip making sure 2 ladies caught some tuna's. this trip is about me....lol...see you guys onboard the boat.....rick

 

[Anglers Pro Shop]

hot damn. great to have you onboard the big e with us this weekend randy. looking forward to finally meeting you and watching you and kil song jig your butts offs. i spent my whole time on last week ends trip making sure 2 ladies caught some tuna's. this trip is about me....lol...see you guys onboard the boat.....rick

Hi Rick,

Yes it will be great to fish together with all of you guys; who's who of the Texas fishing scene.

Randy