Hi guys - I spoke with Enigma re this rod and he g
- Thread starter Cuban Cigar
- Start date
Fishbait wrote:
http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=85235&forum_id=1
Here's my report on the laaitjies rod, this is the 1-4oz 12ft6:
http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=85235&forum_id=1
Cuban Cigar
Sealiner
Cuban Cigar
Sealiner
Expat wrote:
Hi Emile, baie dankie vir die kans om na jou 12'6" DC Oval"spinning version" te kyk - ek het na werk vanaand gou by Dirk 'n draai gemaak en bietjie met hierdie F1/GP stok wat jy gestuur het, gespeel. Dit laat beslis die ouer stokke na donkiekarre lyk, maar gelukkig lees die visse nie al die artikels nie en vang ons hulle darem ook nog met effe meer konserwatiewe gerei. Persoonlik hou ek baie meer van hierdie tipe aksie vir oopwater, langafstand, strandhengel en sal ek iets effe "sagter" in die midseksie verkies vir rotshengel. Weereens baie dankiee vir die hulp en moeite en sal ek miskien net eers een van my 350/3/2-piece stokke se grips, dunner laat oorbou en die Fuji std reelseat met 'n dunner diam trigger ene vervang - die 1530 Shimi wat ek spesifiek vir die krakers verkies, lyk ook vir my aan die groot kant op hierdie super low diameter stok! Cheers !
Cuban - got this one on the weekend fishing with the Oval 13ft (Craig Correct me if i`m wrong).
You can use the 12ft but i wouldn't recommend it depending on where you`re fishing for cracker - at best of times you`re casting into rocks with an 8 Oz weight for distance and the biggest crab flesh bait you can throw - i wouldn't use the Oval 12ft for that - any other edible fishing hell yes - we going to put the 12ft through its paces in Moz in 2 weeks time. Between brother and i we have 5 of Craigs rods - we`re more than happy - (another 4 on order)
You can use the 12ft but i wouldn't recommend it depending on where you`re fishing for cracker - at best of times you`re casting into rocks with an 8 Oz weight for distance and the biggest crab flesh bait you can throw - i wouldn't use the Oval 12ft for that - any other edible fishing hell yes - we going to put the 12ft through its paces in Moz in 2 weeks time. Between brother and i we have 5 of Craigs rods - we`re more than happy - (another 4 on order)
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Cuban Cigar
Sealiner
Hi GeeTee, now you'r talking the language I understand - the power that these fish use when hooked, combined with the underwater terrain they mostly frequent, is completely out of proportion with let's say the same weight Kob's performance on a sandy beach ! Looking at your photo - the first joint of the rod is next to your head, meaning this is a 3-piece 13ft rod ? In that case it is probably similar to the 14 footer that Craig modified(shortened) for Trophy - Craig ? Is that a Torium 20 on your rod ? You mention 8oz
- how does it load with 5oz, I somehow get picked up much more frequently by the cracker if the sinker is not too heavy to allow the water to move it around a bit ? Nice fish and thanks for your input - it makes perfect sense to me !
GeeTee wrote:
- how does it load with 5oz, I somehow get picked up much more frequently by the cracker if the sinker is not too heavy to allow the water to move it around a bit ? Nice fish and thanks for your input - it makes perfect sense to me !
GeeTee wrote:
Cuban Cigar
Sealiner
Cuban Cigar wrote:
Hmmmm.....not so sure you want to go to a gunfight with knife!..15/30 and light rod....not so sure. As a fisherman who has caught many BIG mussel cracker I can only say...light line will not work too well...In my opinion and experience, 18kg minimum breaking strain and if you load that reel with that type of line , once you cast you will have hardly any line left on the reel. I agree, pound for pound the the first initial run from 15-20kg mussel cracker is going to give you a hard time....its not about the strength of the rod but how comfortably you are going to be able to handle those big fish off the rocks. My 2c..:fishn
I had the same discussion with Spinnekop (GeeTee from an earlier post's brother) when going to a gunfight take a bigger gun.
Different thing if you are Fishing prawn near reef and a cracker picks you up, then hell yes the 12' is plenty sstrong to handle it. The rod was originally designed to throw up to 80lbs braid to GT so if you position the rod right you will stop any cracker with it but it's not ,built to throw the Baits one will be putting oit for cracker.
My rod of choice will be my 13' Ultra Thin 6-10oz Loaded with 1.2mm leader and 0.60mm on. A Legend or a 30A and you vas pappa, but then again if the bottom is foul you may still lose more than you land and my biggest landed is still only 16kg
Different thing if you are Fishing prawn near reef and a cracker picks you up, then hell yes the 12' is plenty sstrong to handle it. The rod was originally designed to throw up to 80lbs braid to GT so if you position the rod right you will stop any cracker with it but it's not ,built to throw the Baits one will be putting oit for cracker.
My rod of choice will be my 13' Ultra Thin 6-10oz Loaded with 1.2mm leader and 0.60mm on. A Legend or a 30A and you vas pappa, but then again if the bottom is foul you may still lose more than you land and my biggest landed is still only 16kg
Cuban Cigar...............Big mussel cracker have broken many a fishing rod when they pick you up and Im sure most cracker fisherman can tell you that. Ill probably be slammed for saying this, but, graphite being graphite, might have a tendency more so than other materials to crack or snap. If you going to use a shorter rod, just remember, that also most of the time means less flex in the rod. As strange as it might sound, sometimes a softer and more flexible rod has its advantages. have you heard stories of fisherman being pulled up from a sitting position? I have, I have been pulled into the water, locked drag and 60kg braid. These fish in the right conditions can pull and it wont be very fun on a shorter stiffer rod. There are always exceptions but if you plan on targeting them then have the gear best suited for them. You have to use the flex in the rod to fight the cracker, he must pull against the rod if you know what i mean.
This is what i use and has worked very well for me and I have not lost many fish, its only a guide obviously but can become versatile for other species too,
Rod: 13'6 - 14ft purglas 400/4 or 5-7oz rated rod.
Reel: Shimano 20/40 or similiar size for line 18kg and upwards.(18kg line = versatility)
Enigma will give you the best advice regarding rods, Im no fundi, just as long as its comfortable for you to fish with and make sure the line to rod is balanced.
This is what i use and has worked very well for me and I have not lost many fish, its only a guide obviously but can become versatile for other species too,
Rod: 13'6 - 14ft purglas 400/4 or 5-7oz rated rod.
Reel: Shimano 20/40 or similiar size for line 18kg and upwards.(18kg line = versatility)
Enigma will give you the best advice regarding rods, Im no fundi, just as long as its comfortable for you to fish with and make sure the line to rod is balanced.
Cuban Cigar
Sealiner
grootvis wrote:
. Hi Grootvis and Enigma - I I'm running the risk here to hijack the thread that I started myself, by turning it into "An ode to the musselcracker" but I'm so glad to see you guys giving the "due respect" to these very special fish ! It's uncanny that normally the more of these fish you hook and either land or lose, the more respect they will earn in your books. I've since the start of this thread, realised that my old faithfull 13ft custom PG 350/3 2-piece with the bit of extra backbone in the middle due to the xtra wraps/ferrule, is absolutely as light as I should dare go for these fish. It is short enough for giving me the max leverage and pulling power I can generate and handle,but with enough flex to make it comfortable and forgiving on the rocks. I'm having a smaller diameter trigger reelseat fitted with a thinner butt below the reel, to give a lighter/finer feel in hand and to allow my lower hand a more secure and powerfull grip (don't have large hands)during casting. I'm also getting slightly bigger guides and a tip-top fitted to the tip section to optimise the rod for use with a leader.For the places I fish, the TLD 1530 S with Carbontex, bearing upgrade and longer power-handle,holds enough 0.55 to make me feel comfortable as most casts are only 50-80 meters and at those spots,I can't really let them run long distance without being cut off anyway - the sideways running you can't prevent no matter how heavy your tackle and that part is mostly a spectator sport with the fish holding all the cards. Do you guys also prefer nylon (and what brand/model) with its bit of stretch, for this very specific closerange battle, or have you also tried braid for its anti abrasive properties ?
As I mentioned earlier, I have used braid, it was in the beginning of my missions, NOT anymore. Reasons, no stretch, huge hitting impact of fish, thought it would break my rod a few times! Honestly , i dont recommend braid. I personally use 20kg nylon, but only because I specifically target them. Maybe some braid backing to make up for capacity and nylon mainline on the 15/30...could be ok. Stainless gears should be ok I guess. I hope you get that big one. Things might change after that, like me, All tackle and gear changed after my first big one. I just dont know enough really to comment on the newer rods of today, thats why enigma has that one covered for sure.
Go catch a big one...then come back and let us know what you think.
Go catch a big one...then come back and let us know what you think.
Cuban Cigar
Sealiner
Hi Grootvis - thanks for your expert input - I fully agree that experience is the best teacher and in my case, the biggest % of my crackers were accidentally caught while fishing for gallies with fresh redbait om my various gallie rigs. It mostly turned into a wild dash from the fish and me hanging on for dear life in some rather serious adrenalin induced damage control mode ! In total only 9 fish landed over the years and only up to 9.8 kg with almost three fish lost for every one landed! So because of me being a self confessed light tackle enthusiast and not a 125kg brute, you can understand that I decided to choose a 416 Rem Mag for Cape buffalo instead of the ultimate artillery for this job, the 500 Jeffery! Time will tell, but in the end the fish will probably make the choice for me - happy cracker hunting and keep us posted ...
I have a 12ft blank Trophy organized for me and had it built up to my liking with low ridee guides and paired it up with a Okuma Salina 2 5000. Currently using it for throwing plugs, spoons, lead heads in the surf and can easily reach the back breakers without having to wade in, my guess +/- 150m with a 3oz clone. haven't load it heavier yet but got a 4.5oz spoon I'm gonna try next time.
I'm yet to land a fish on it though but would be more than comfortable to take on some cracker with it.
One thing in particular I noticed is the amount of power the rod generates. I've cast 2oz weights with a adrenalin 10" drop shot rod and casting the same lure,same line on the oval actually hurts my finger, not to mention the extra ~40m of distance, have to use a thicker leader with the oval.
Super rod!! Will be using ir for ALL my R&S fishing this Dec.
I'm yet to land a fish on it though but would be more than comfortable to take on some cracker with it.
One thing in particular I noticed is the amount of power the rod generates. I've cast 2oz weights with a adrenalin 10" drop shot rod and casting the same lure,same line on the oval actually hurts my finger, not to mention the extra ~40m of distance, have to use a thicker leader with the oval.
Super rod!! Will be using ir for ALL my R&S fishing this Dec.