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With regard to popping for YFT in the GOM--what, in your various opinions, would be the heaviest popper (or other lure for that matter) you would ever want to cast a long distance from the boat? On the basis of the good advice on this board, I have decided to make the 5-ounce Tuna Hunter the primary popper I will take with me on the Big E, with the smaller Tuna Hunter Junior for smaller sizes. Also, of course, the flying fish lures. But would that be the biggest you would need?
As for other casting, does anyone ever try casting the lures meant primarily for trolling, such as the 2 1/2 ounce through 8 ounce Bonita type lures (for example, the Wahoo Hunters) on a topwater bite? Are diving plugs or swim baits ever used?
How about some of the heavier surface jigs? Do you cast them or just yo yo them?
My main reason for introducing this topic is to assist myself and various buddies with rod-selection for popping and other casting in the Gulf. I will only be casting with spinning gear, and own the 700H spinner (not certain of the maximum lure weight it can handle) and the Smith WRC 80P/35 (rated for up to 170 gram lures) that Randy sells. Either of these will handle the 5 ounce lures with no problem. However, if faced with a requirement to throw stuff much beyond 6 ounces any distance, I would probably want something rated for 200 - 250 grams--like the Smith Tokara. Even though I will likely never see a GT, and even if such a rod proved too heavy for Gulf casting, I could at least strap the Twinspin onto it and hold the rig lovingly, while sitting on the couch watching bass tournaments on television. In the alternative, it would make a helluva 50-weight flyrod.
Thanks,
Russ
As for other casting, does anyone ever try casting the lures meant primarily for trolling, such as the 2 1/2 ounce through 8 ounce Bonita type lures (for example, the Wahoo Hunters) on a topwater bite? Are diving plugs or swim baits ever used?
How about some of the heavier surface jigs? Do you cast them or just yo yo them?
My main reason for introducing this topic is to assist myself and various buddies with rod-selection for popping and other casting in the Gulf. I will only be casting with spinning gear, and own the 700H spinner (not certain of the maximum lure weight it can handle) and the Smith WRC 80P/35 (rated for up to 170 gram lures) that Randy sells. Either of these will handle the 5 ounce lures with no problem. However, if faced with a requirement to throw stuff much beyond 6 ounces any distance, I would probably want something rated for 200 - 250 grams--like the Smith Tokara. Even though I will likely never see a GT, and even if such a rod proved too heavy for Gulf casting, I could at least strap the Twinspin onto it and hold the rig lovingly, while sitting on the couch watching bass tournaments on television. In the alternative, it would make a helluva 50-weight flyrod.
Thanks,
Russ