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http://www.fishhead.com.au/store/products/Smith-GTK%252d74PG.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.fishhead.com.au/store/products/Smith-GTK%252d74PG.html

rod says "max load 7kg @ 45°" but I've certainly leant on it alot harder than that.

Boulder uses a 77SJH which has a bit more grunt, but is just over your specified 7'6"

http://www.saltywatertackle.com/product.php?id_product=374" rel="nofollow - http://www.saltywatertackle.com/product.php?id_product=374

I have both the Offshore 7'6 and the 7'2 and are excellent. Made in New Zealand.

This is the 7'2 at south Ahipara Banks, that was an epic dday with 25 odd fish. The 7'6 just gives a slightly better cast distance (in my world) but both feel quite silmilar loaded are very good, the 7'2 might suit poppers slightly better.

 

I love the action of this rod and although this is a Pe10 rod I think this is the best stickbait rod I have ever used, not a broom stick at all. I would love to see something in a PE 5 class.

 

 

 

 

 

Zenaq Twitch FC78-4

I recently purchased the 70-3 long handle for chasing small BFT and shore casting.

Beautiful rods

Zenaq I hadn't looked at but will thanks Titahi.

The rods that seem to tick most of the boxes , today , is the Hots Gipang Fake lezs 70H,I've seen them used  a lot for sailfish , and with small poppers any one tried one or know how it would go with a stickbait also ? Also  as sailfish are so taken with poppers would marlin be as keen on poppers - my idea of a stickbait rod was to chuck a stickbait at a striped marlin but how partial are they to poppers , I konw it would be a whole lot easier to rig and swim a popper than a stickbait .

 

These fish were caught on a 70MH, PE4 with a bit of luck thrown in... Trevor (the angler pictured) was casting my 100g stick bait on this setup no problems...

 

http://s564.photobucket.com/user/SamMary1/media/TrevSailfish.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">

 

http://s564.photobucket.com/user/SamMary1/media/5b66cbb9-7389-4a2e-a632-0728655d3136_zpsa555ed84.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">

 

What weight lure are you thinking of casting bro? I've got a few ideas that would be suitable for Marlin and will help increase the conversion rate with fish lost due to shaking the lure. All untested albeit but ideas have to start somewhere. A lure can be made to track properly without a belly hook too, so you could just run a single rear hook... There is options.

 

 

I think that if its moving, and has attracted their attention, and they are in feeding mode  you could hook one on a cast bananna.

 

Pretty sure I have seen footage of Mr M.Watson catching stripped marlin on a popper, so it can be done.

 

I have been flicking a Shell shaping twister that I scored off Sam, when worked properly it dives pulling air with it, and giving off a bubble trail, as well as the satisfying noise. Something like this could be an option, great action with a bit of noise to garner attention?

Or perhaps a pencil popper that replicates a sauri? reasonably easy to swim and a bit more forgiving with hook selection?

 

 

I havent used the fake lez..... ?

 

 

Hi Rory,

Quite a broad range 75g gammas through to the bigger ones,also subsurface 100g-140 bigfoot's.

 

I think ideal for pin point casting,105's would be ideal.Also pops Fullscale lures in the 130g (?) range I think.

Has a very workable tip and grunty bottom section. 

 

The main problem with any of their rods is getting them - there are some off the shelf.If you want a full custom they take a while.That said they built a jig rod for me my colors bindings,name etc etc without any deposit or down payment.

Really admire how they do bussiness and their product (even if their blanks are considered low tech)

 

These fish were caught on a 70MH, PE4 with a bit of luck thrown in... Trevor (the angler pictured) was casting my 100g stick bait on this setup no problems...

 

http://s564.photobucket.com/user/SamMary1/media/TrevSailfish.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">

 

http://s564.photobucket.com/user/SamMary1/media/5b66cbb9-7389-4a2e-a632-0728655d3136_zpsa555ed84.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">

 

What weight lure are you thinking of casting bro? I've got a few ideas that would be suitable for Marlin and will help increase the conversion rate with fish lost due to shaking the lure. All untested albeit but ideas have to start somewhere. A lure can be made to track properly without a belly hook too, so you could just run a single rear hook... There is options.

 

 

 

Thanks for the pms etc.

 

 both  the 74pg and the 77 sjh  look the biz too. Getting the things is difficult enough though , like all of these nice rods. Would be great to say to Fisherman off you go make me a rod , give me a call in a year or two when its ready ...