Which Stickbait Rod?
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Popper and Topwater Fishing
Forum Description: If you're into a bit of action on top, this is the forum for you
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=121978
Printed Date: 04 Jun 2026 at 6:40pm
Topic: Which Stickbait Rod?
Posted By: Daniel K
Subject: Which Stickbait Rod?
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 10:41am
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Hi guys, I was wanting to ask for your expertise in selecting a stickbait rod. I see that there are a variety of different brands to choose from, all using their own specialized blanks, and it's all a bit confusing for me. I was wondering if I could ask for your help in selecting one. So far, I've looked at: 1. Carpenter 2. Yamaga 3. Maven 4. Daiwa 5. Shimano I'm looking to spend a good bit of money (up to $1.6k), and am wanting to use it predominantly for shorecasting, with a little use on the boat. Could anyone share their experiences with these rods? Has anyone used the Maven rods? Cheers, Dan
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Replies:
Posted By: The Tamure Kid
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 12:10pm
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Hi mate, Did you just buy that Carpenter and Stella? Might be moot point re this answer, if you did.
i went through the process of buying some top water gear last summer for mostly shore-based, and ended up at the lower end of the price range (one Daiwa Saltist, one Shimano Ocea). My thinking was governed by the fact that off the rocks is a fairly brutal environment for rods. Even the most careful person is going to end up dropping a rod at some point, whether clambering in and out, while putting the rod down to grab something else etc. I've done it when bait and lure fishing off the rocks, despite taking every precaution. Your rods and guides end up scratched and one big knock and it could be good night nurse. It's also hard not to twist rods in odd ways when you're trying to land fish on the rocks. More so than in a boat. I simply couldn't afford to damage a $1000 or more high-modulus graphite rod, whereas a disaster with a Saltist would be less of a kick in the guts to the finances. The Saltist and the Ocea cast fine (given most kingies cruise in close, you don't need to cast for miles) and are fine for working various lure styles. Whereas I'm sure the likes of a Carpenter and Yamaga would come into their own offshore at the famous boating spots. In some ways, I'd say the reel is more important in terms of drag power to stop fish off the rocks. But no doubt you'll hear from experts on the top end rods. |
Posted By: taurangatroutmaster
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 1:48pm
| i own a jigging master shoregame 9.8. its a 9.8 foot stickbait rod. use it soley for landbased stickbaits and poppers. awesome rod. that extra length means its casts really well and makes it easier to control the fish off the rocks and keep the line out of the kelp and snags |
Posted By: Daniel K
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 3:41pm
| Cheers guys, nah I was a bit slow on that one. Yeah, I definitely understand where you're coming from regarding the rocks, but I'll be on the jetty most of the time or the boat, plus i've got a nice Stella 5000 I'm looking to pair it with. |
Posted By: The Tamure Kid
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 4:06pm
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Okay, jetty not so much of an issue - sounds like a choice spot. With a 5000, I take it you're going for the lighter end of the spectrum. Troutzilla was selling a sweet Yamaga rod a little while ago which would be ideal. Maybe PM him and see if it's still for sale? http://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/fs-yamaga-stickbait-rod-price-drop_topic121568.html there was also a Palms rod on the forum and then on TradeMe which was a lighter stick bait rod. For lighter lure stuff off upper harbour shorelines (normally sandstone, not volcanic or granite), I've got a Shimano Jungle Stix 10-15kg rod (I think it's 8'6") which again - was more entry level than you're probably looking at. But it casts lighter poppers and lures really nicely. I'd recommend chatting to the guys at Go Fish in Takapuna if you are looking at a shoreline lure rod to match with a 5000 size reel. They know that market really well.
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Posted By: Daniel K
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 4:18pm
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Far out, cheers for all the info man! I really appreciate it. I was actually looking at one of the Yamaga rods when I saw this message! Fingers crossed |
Posted By: DenimViper
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 4:59pm
| Jeremy aka Troutzilla looks after his gear and its well priced rod of that quality. You could also look at Saltiga Meter - over 83S which might still be at GoFish. Good luck ! |
Posted By: NICKed
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 5:39pm
Sorry for the hijack. TK, what weights are you finding suitable with that jungle stix?
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The Tamure Kid wrote:Posted By: The Tamure Kid
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 9:28pm
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No worries NICKed. It's the 8'4" Jungle Stix 'Rock Rod'. I am running a Penn Spinfisher SSV on it with 30lb braid. I've been using StrikePro Laser 40g skittering poppers, and 50g Williamson Jet poppers, and similar weighted Waxwings. It casts those weights a fair way. I think you could go up to 80g, but the kind of fishing I'm using it for the lures are lighter than that. I'm just walking the upper harbour flats, papa rock ledges and estuaries on an incoming tide, targeting keeper kingies. This summer, I'm going to try stick baits and big soft baits with integrated weights or 1-2oz sinkers/jigheads. I think for the price (I paid $150 on clearance at H&F, but you can get it for $200-odd at Marine Deals etc) it's a pretty good rod - high modulus with decent guides.
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Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 1:28am
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The post about using it off the rocks is spot on.......I have a friend who has a carpenter blue chaser 83/40 and a stella 18,000.......he decided from day one he would use off the boat and the rocks and knew it wouldnt get beaten up.......so he knew what was coming from the off.....using nacsan rod holders to support your stick bait rod while in limbo really helps look after them........but in the heat of landing......its easy to be careless with your rod. I have used a nice stickbait rod/stella off the rocks but you are paranoid all the time......a sw5000 is a bit small too.......i guess you are targeting kings with it.......... Id be having a budget approach for a jetty/boat.rocks rod and reel...... Rods to consider are Shimano T curve revolution 802 Shimano Backbone elite stickbait rod Shimano Ocea stickbait rod Jigging master stickbait rods These could all handle PE6 and above ........ You cant dick around with kings and 50 pound braid wont cut it with what you want to do....... a Good reel would be an 8000/10000 ........shimano sarragossa sw10,000 would be a good match with any of the above.... A Carpenter or stella would soon get chewed up and when they look like ****......their resale value will go right down.........PLUS you dont even know if you are going to enjoy this type of fishing......A BBE elite with a 10,000 saragosa would be a mean combo.
------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: Daniel K
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 8:48am
| Yeah the 5000 is a bit small but it's the only one i've got at the moment. I've seen guys using bigger reels and I was wondering why that was? I've caught kings up to 20kgs on my tiny little Abu Baitcaster attached to my fly rod (i know its stupid), and up to 25kgs on my poo 100 year old Penn spin reel. I was hoping that a 5000sw would be enough? |
Posted By: home bouy
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 9:43am
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get a synit |
Posted By: Daniel K
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 12:01pm
| Is it the drag? I've noticed that on a lot of stickbait rods, the drag ratings are set quite low. Is that the reason why everyone using 8000 plus? |
Posted By: The Tamure Kid
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 12:26pm
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I think it's because of: *Drag to cope with pound-for-pound one of the most powerful fish in the sea * line capacity of 50lb plus braid, often more in some situations where big kingies are likely or the surroundings require stopping fish before they go into foul territory * retrieval rate - bigger spool usually = more line per turn of the handle I am mostly going to fish in sandy open harbour estuaries etc where stopping the fish isn't as critical and 15kg+ kingies aren't likely, so my set up described above is adequate. But I have an 8000 set up for fishing further out from a boat, and I wouldn't want to have that if I was fishing in some of the renowned kingie spots around the country.
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Posted By: Structfab
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 12:26pm
it's a combination of things really...drag, capacity and retrieve rate. The smaller reels have shorter retrieve rates, where as the bigger spooled / high ratio reels have alot larger retrieve rates, which makes it alot easier working a lure, and less fatigue for prolonged periods of casting / retreiving. Capacity isn't such a major concern off the bricks, as you'll get dusted pretty quick if you can't stop it, but that's where the extra drag comes in. Alot of rod drag ratings are very conservative, and remember reel max drag ratings are when spool is close to empty, so you won't get that sort of drag out of them with a full spool. I was using a 6000 Biomaster the other day on kings around the 650 - 800 mm size, which was perfect really. If they were bigger, or closer to structure I would have opted for my heavier reels. 5000 is fine off a boat, but pretty small for off the bricks IMO, that's purely based on drag, as you're less likely to be casting all day off the bricks, as you have to wait for the fish to come to you.
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Posted By: Structfab
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 12:28pm
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a Smith GTK would be a nice match for a 5000 Stella |
Posted By: Structfab
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 12:32pm
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this too would be a good match for a 5000: http://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/synit-bay-caster-pe3_topic121907.html
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Posted By: DenimViper
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 1:21pm
x2
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Posted By: Daniel K
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 6:46pm
Oh right I see. Retrieve rates plus greater capacity = more capability to tackle bigger fish and swim baits better. Thanks a lot for that info. It didn't occur to me to think about retrieve rates in terms of stickbaits for some reason. I run a trinidad and one of the reasons why i got that was because of the retrieve rate and the amount of line I could store on it, so I completely understand where you're coming from. I'm going to be fishing primarily from sandy beaches and the like so I'm hoping that I might be able to squeeze through.
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Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2016 at 2:24am
Awesome.....I own this set.  ....Perfect for the boat.------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |