VARIVAS AVANI GT PE8 CASTING
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=64200
Printed Date: 08 Jun 2026 at 5:52pm
Topic: VARIVAS AVANI GT PE8 CASTING
Posted By: laidbackdood
Subject: VARIVAS AVANI GT PE8 CASTING
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2011 at 2:12pm
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Had an hour to spare today so went down to my local park to practise my casting and see how the above line would perform .Its not cheap but i have heard good reports about it.I also wanted to trial 3 of my rods to see how well they would cast...I cannot afford a fancy stick bait rod,nor justify it, as i dont get to do this sort of fishing often enough.I used my shimano spheros 14000fb with 150 metres of pe8 and 6 metres of leader(80% flouro/20 % mono)with a short 30 mm PR Knot(wanted to see how this would go too)..Tied to a 5 oz torpedo sinker(simulate stick bait).I cast each rod with the same set up 3 times and the furthest cast was recorded.wind was from behind. CASTING SKILL= reasonable
line rating=10-15kg mono
length= 8 foot 6
material=graphite/glass top
weight of rod= 480 grams
Guides= Fuji Alconites
Rod 2 specs = kilwell jelly tip
Line Rating = 15-24 kg mono
Length= 7 foot 1 inch
Material= Graphite power butt with fibreglass top
Weight of rod= 540 Grams
Guides= Fuji Alconites
Rod 3 = Composite Developments Gamecaster
Line Rating = 10-15 kg mono
Length= 7 foot 3 inch
Material=T glass
Weight of rod= 640 gram
Guides= Fuji Sic guides.
ROD ACTION 1.pink panther bends through most of the rod and has limited grunt down low.
2.The jelly tip folds beautifully but has lots of herb in the butt.Also has bigger guides on it.The top third is a bit stiffer compared to the others.It is thicker than the other too(due to 15-24 blank)
3.The Composite developmenst folds over through most of the rod and would be the most forgiving.
THE RESULTS= I was suprised ,rod 2 and 3 i managed to cast around 100 metres with both rods.
The longer pink panther cast an extra 10 metres than the other two.
I know the longer rod will give you bigger sweeps but then its cumbersome come fight time.
Does anyone stick bait with 7 foot rods and do well?Will the fuji Alconites cope with the braid well?At the moment i am leaning towards the 15-24kg jelly tip because it has awesome lifting power...Certainly the braid casts very nicely..even with an average caster like me...The short PR hardly got noticed either..Any thoughts guys?
------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Replies:
Posted By: Falco
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2011 at 3:06pm
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Thats some nice casting LBD...
My only comment would be for fishing and casting poppers and s/baits use a shorter trace 6m is alot longer than what most I fish with would consider a suitable length...but if it works for you go hard.
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Posted By: sid fishus
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2011 at 6:10pm
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100M is dam good cast, by my standards even in no wind conditions, so you're doing well. The comments I'd have if any are that the high quality jap casting lines like varivas and YGK castman have a coating of some sort on them that I guess is to help the line slide through the guides and the air. Haven't used Varivas, but have used cast man and cant say that I notice a huge difference from more standard type braids. Also am quite interested in some of the other thinner braids casting quality like Power pro and/or Whiplash etc, will get around to it as respools happen. Also the casting braid that Varivas is really famous for is GT SMP, which is hugely expensive and as a result I haven't bought any yet, some others may comment. I know Gman rates it very highly from his beginners post. On another tangent, what I am starting to think about rods is that length is great for casting and generally longer rods get a better cast. However I use reasonably successfully a 6'3" rod for some casting. Easy to whip around the boat and is multi purpose, if the bait weight is matched fairly well to the rod this can be more important for the cast distance than purely rod length. However on the retreive a well balanced rod with a good medium type action and a decent length (like 7'6" plus) can really get a good swim out of a stick bait. The shorter rods shorten your sweep and the run from the bait is shortened. Hence I would choose a longer rod generally not just for cast length but for a better retrieve with stickbaits. Poppers don't reckon it matters as much. ------------- I always tell the truth about things that never happened |
Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2011 at 9:35pm
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My opinion, and please don't take offense, take all those old semi good old school sticks and sell em' and treat your self to a nice stick made for the job.
------------- 6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division |
Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2011 at 9:54pm
bit different casting on dry land too compared to casting from a boat in a pitching sea with kingies though i dont think it imperative to have a long casting rod(tuna=yes,but not many of them here )
-------------  www.kavemantackle.co.nz
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Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2011 at 11:15pm
Good stuff LBD  ,Have you tried an FG knot for your leader connecting knot? I personally rate the knot for casting... As falco mentioned 6m is a long trace, you would pick up some metres if this was shortened to a couple of wraps on the spool... Expect to lose a few metres with an actual lure as they are'nt quite as aerodynamic as a torpedo sinker...After all this your lure will get smashed right at the boat!! Hehe ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2011 at 12:18am
No offence taken mate,Your entitled to your opinion..However,The composite developments rod was owned by mark kitteridge...he used a penn 850 reel on it and used to catch yellowfin tuna on it(have seen the pics) and it has sic guides on it(these are not old school guides and neither are fuji Alconites...the later are whats on the braid concepts i bought off you)
The kilwell Pink panther has caught 18,16(2),12 and 10 pound snaps plus a 48 pound king off the bricks and is very light.I have two of them and they are 17 years old and still going strong.
The kilwell jelly tip 15-24(thats 15 years old) along with the 10-15 kg are one of the most bought rods in NZ.I heard one guy on here,say he wanted to catch a marlin on one soon(15-24)
I was also told by mark off extreme charters that some of the old rods are better than some of the new...new is not always better mate.I have also been fishing here for 21 years bro...maybe,a bit longer than you
 But im still learning.All of the above rods were made in New Zealand...Not china.Thats why they have lasted.Kilwell dont make crap...None of these rods cost more than 250 bucks.The cd was second hand of kitterdige mind but was expensive at the time.I wont be selling any of these rods..thats for sure(unless i leave the country!)  ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
fish i wrote:Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2011 at 12:36am
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Kaveman...True its different casting on land but i just wanted to practise my casting and see how they compared....was pleased how the PR knot went through the guides too.I will stick with the 6 metres...If i could put 10 on i would It passed through the guides with little noise.
Reelappeal...true the lure will travel different....on one cast the sinker had speared into the ground and i had to pull it out LOL....I have thought about the FG knot/mid knot but have trouble getting my head around it and find the PR easier. I used a sinker that was about the weight of stick bait i plan to use but some sticks i have are lighter,some will be heavier....Had a few strange looks off people,while casting on the field
 but i got it done before the rain came in.Falco and Sid...thanks for your comments about my cast and your points....I wasnt sure what most people get..i suppose if you have the room ,the longer rod is ideal but a smaller boat,maybe my 7 footers would be more suited.....How about the Fuji Alconites compared to the sic guides? Are they going to cut the mustard with all the kings im going to fight?
 SID...i have a friend in indonesia and he bought that expensive varivas line(smp) you mentioned...he fishes for GTs and he said he wishes he hadnt and that he prefers this line(he has pe3 ,pe5,pe6,pe8 in this one)....He didnt say why but i will quiz him over it. ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: ginga
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2011 at 10:16am
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Long casts will catch more and bigger fish, trust me i have seen it too many times to not be the case.
Keep going hard and look forward to seeing a bend in some of those rods soon.
------------- www.extremesportfishing.co.nz. Agent for Carpenter, Orion and ASWB products |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2011 at 11:19am
I think fishi is right , I can make my old holden go fast, but a new purpose made one will do it better, way better. The ole killwell rods are minters, the E glass tips over graphite butt sections was a revelation.... 20 years ago. ( might have even been 21 years ago???) I wonder what Mark Kitteridge replaced that rod with..... a new purpose built one? Having stood beside people at the Mongonui wharf casting stickbaits with a Diawa expedition rod all of 8 foot something long and watching their jaws drop when ya let one rip, especially when they are casting with 12 footers is mint  ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2011 at 12:00pm
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Back to the casting side of it... So you are pleased with the way the braid performed, any wind knots casting a lead, I would hope not? Is there any distance casting guys or clubs in your area? A few minutes with one of these guys will have you loading any rod properly and achieving distances you would not think possible...I had to re-learn how to cast after buying a Distance 222 from Kilwell as it was technique I was lacking not shear grunt. Go and catch some fish on the rods you have and when and if you can upgrade don't hesitate. Maybe someone in your area has a "purpose built" stick bait rod to show you the differences? ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2011 at 1:37am
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I have no doubt specialised stick bait rods like carpenters etc are awesome...had a load up at the stick bait seminar at yeeha.Nice kit. but dont have 500 + spare im afraid.
Thanks for everyones input but one question hasnt be answered= will the fuji alconites cope ok,compared to the sic guides...I have used them with mono but not with braid.any comments good or bad?
no wind knots reel appeal.Titahi ref exp rod= Good point.
Mark.I will let you check em out for me...sure you will pick the ideal one(for now anyway) ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |