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Calstar Grafighter

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=66709
Printed Date: 06 Jun 2026 at 9:14am


Topic: Calstar Grafighter
Posted By: fish i
Subject: Calstar Grafighter
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2011 at 1:51pm
Anyone had a swing on one of these? Been looking at the 8ft 30 - 60lb GF 800 h blank. If anyone could describe anything to the action of these over the length, what lure weight these would be good for or any other info on the Grafighters I would be stoked. Cheers.

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6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division


Replies:
Posted By: JOLLY
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2011 at 7:50am
0.93'' butt Ø . that's 23.6mm, that's going to be a pretty big lever. Could be some pain involved 

Posted By: Bunzo
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2011 at 10:48am
I had a 700H as my 1st popping rod, they are a no nonsense composite [HD Uglystick] blank which gives you a tough rod that can take a lot of punishment. The action is fast but there is flexibility in the fibreglass tip for working SB's. Calstars are fairly common on the Aus West Coast and are big favorites in the US, definitely not as parabolic as top end Jap rods, but under 1/2 the price. In hindsight I would have grabbed the 8' over the 7' model for surface action.
http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd207/bunzo51/?action=view&current=Calstar12kgDragsml.jpg">


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Posted By: Bigfishbob
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2011 at 1:16pm
I have an 800 L and an 800 Xl been using the L for 15kg and the Xl for 10kg both in NZ and the States. These rods are unbreakable, and cast awesome and have the pulling power to boot. I reckon the 700 H is your better bet though for popper fishing.
 
You really don't want an 8 foot lever working against you.


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www.waikatosportfishing.co.nz

Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2011 at 7:39pm
Originally posted by JOLLY JOLLY wrote:

0.93'' butt Ø . that's 23.6mm, that's going to be a pretty big lever. Could be some pain involved 

?? Blank

Thanks for the info guys. Yeah it seems that the seppos love them as a mid priced rod. A lot of guys building on them. That photo is great thanks mate, says a lot. What's the line rating on that one you've got a bend in there Bunzo? Although quite heavy looking in the action with 12 kegs loaded, it looks like it has a nice balanced bend throughout the length of the blank.

How do you reckon the top quarter action would be like for swimming stickbaits?



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6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division

Posted By: JOLLY
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2011 at 8:06pm
Originally posted by fish i fish i wrote:

Originally posted by JOLLY JOLLY wrote:

0.93'' butt Ø . that's 23.6mm, that's going to be a pretty big lever. Could be some pain involved 

?? Blank

From the Calstar site:
http://www.calstarrods.net/grafblanks.htm - http://www.calstarrods.net/grafblanks.htm

Off Shore/Deck Hand Series

Model
Length

Butt*

Tip
Line

Action

Recommendations**

600XL

6'

.760

6

10-25

Ex-Fast

L 15-20 lb.

GX 7

7'

 .725

6

8-20

Moderate

L 10-15 lb.

700XL
7'
 .820
6
10-25

Ex-Fast

L 15-20 lb.

700XLH
7'
.820
7
15-25
Ex-FastL 15-25 lb.
700L
7'
 .850
7
15-30

Ex-Fast

L 20-25 lb.

700ML
7'
 .895
7
20-30

Ex-Fast

L 25 lb.

700M
7'
 .885
8
20-50

Ex-Fast

L 25-30 lb.

700H

7'

.900

8

30-80

Ex-Fast

J/L 40-50 lb.

700XH

7'

 .925

9

40-100

Ex-Fast

J/L 50-60 lb.

GX 8

8'

 .740

6

8-20

Moderate

L 10-15 lb.

800XL
8'
 .865
6
10-25

Ex-Fast

L 15-20 lb.

800XLH
8'
.865
6
15-25
Ex-FastL 15-25 lb.
800L
8'
 .930
7
15-30

Ex-Fast

L 20-25 lb.

800M
8'
 .930
8
20-50

Ex-Fast

L 25-30 lb.

800H

8'

 .930

8

30-80

Ex-Fast

L 40-50

850L
8 1/2'
 .940
7
15-30

Ex-Fast

L 20-25 lb.

850M
8 1/2'
 .940
8
20-50

Ex-Fast

L 25-30 lb.

850H
8 1/2'
 .940
8
30-80

Ex-Fast

J/L 40-50 lb.

900XL
9'
 .880
6
10-25

Ex-Fast

L 20 lb.

900L
9'
 .940
7
15-30

Ex-Fast

L 25 lb.

900M
9'
 .940
8
20-50

Ex-Fast

L 30 lb.

900H
9'
 .940
8

30-80

Ex-Fast

L 40-50 lb.

 

Posted By: Bunzo
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2011 at 8:43pm
That's the 700H / 30-80 line rating.
The rod will handle 80lb no probs but I am happy with 65 at the moment, it castes surprisingly well and works Stickbaits no worries and poppers to 125 Cuberas.
Here is a homemade clip from NQ guy [light hat] using his homemade 700H a few years ago [still uses it], the other rod with the guy in the dark blue hat is a Shimano GT Special when they 1st came out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0nFpz1-5Yc - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0nFpz1-5Yc
 
Calstar Stats
700L7' .850715-30
700ML7' .895720-30
700M7' .885820-50
700H7'.900830-80
700XH7' .925940-100


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Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2011 at 10:35pm
Tick, tick, tick BOOM! Digging that vines tune. That grafighter looks a bit heavier and less parabolic than compared to the GT Special. But like you say strong rods, and some of us beggers can't be all out choosers for the top end JAp magic sticks, hmmmmm pity they didn't come in two piece, cause I'd probably be ordering a blank.
Cheers for the vid man


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6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division

Posted By: Bunzo
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2011 at 11:27pm
FI, My 700H weighs 485gms and I would rate at PE4-8 and lures [Stickbaits & Poppers] 80-150grms, compared to the GT special at 505gms PE8-10 and lures [Poppers] 150-250grms. Horses for coarsesWink

PS: Carpenter BLC 83/40 = 405grms


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Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2011 at 7:58am
Sorry bro, I meant the action, but could be the fish pulling on i. I wonder if there is a NZ agent



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6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division


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