A couple of tackle reviews

[slinkymalinky]

As you might know, I got my car broken into and lost a pile of gear recently. It's all now been replaced... much of it with substituted brands or models because what I lost wasn't available from the tackle shop where I did my replacing. IN a couple of cases, I also kicked in a little extra money over the insurance payout and upgraded.

Some of the new gear is fantastic so I just had to have a rave about it in case anyone is looking for similar gear.

Berkley Venom Rods:

I got 2... a Copperhead and a Cobra. I'm in love with these. I fished with the Copperhead last weekend... it casts like a bullet, is light as a feather and has an awesome taper. A really light tip for throwing light plastics but HEEEAAAPS of grunt down low. It almost fishes like a rod with a 2kg tip and a 6kg butt. It's my new Jack super-weapon.

I haven't fished with the Cobra yet but it relaces a T-Curve 10kg spin stick and becomes my new Townsville reef plastic weapon. It's similar in concept to the Copperhead but waaaaay beefier. It will throw relatively light plastics a mile but pull up to 7kg of drag. Look out Nannygai.

Shimano Chronarch E5:

My stolen Curado E5 has been superseded but the new Curado has been downgraded, so I upgraded to the new Chronarch instead. I LOVED my Curado but the Chronarch is a whole level better again. It casts beautifully, has awesome line control and looks great. A great reel that was blooded last weekend and versatile enough to fish anything from bass to Impoundment Barra.

Team Daiwa Tournament MasterZ baitcast rod:

I picked up the heavy 7' baitcast rod to replace my stolen Daiwa Cielo. What can I say... beeeeewdiful. Again light in the tip for casting hollowbellies but with big 'cojones' for fishing heavy line for impoundment Barra. And it's sooooooo pretty.

Egrell Bear baitcast rod:

This is a bit of a stump puller. Much shorter than the Daiwa it's my 'fishing in the timber' heavy baitcaster. Nowhere near as nice as the Daiwa but a great rod for the price. Once again I chose it because of the light tip relative to its overall power.... can you tell how I like my rods? Since moving to QLD nearly all my luring rods have moved to a 'light tip' style... much more versatile and able to deal with fishing heavy but without losing the ability to throw small lures and plastics.

Compare that to an old Daiwa Procaster 8kg baitcaster. It's an old style 5 1/2' baitcaster... Like fishing with a broom handle and it won't load up easliy when casting unless you're habit is throwing knife jigs at snags

Shimano Torsa 16N:

The only reel where I chose not to replace a stolen reel for a like-model. I lost a Shimano Fireblood 4000 but since I have a couple of other good reels in that size, I decided to get a new weapon for chasing Kings, Ambers and Sambos wide of the Tweed. I'm hoping to give it its first run this weekend but its a whole world of toughness above the Daiwa Saltist 40H I'd been using. Bling Bling!

Sebile magic-swimmer soft baits:

I lost (and have now replaced) a huge number of lures but this is one I had to mention. Used them last weekend for the first time and rigged properly, I'd challenge anyone to find a lure that looks more lifelike in the water... and they're weedless. Look out Jacks in the Tweed 'Christmas Tree' (the ugliest, most lure strewn snag you'll ever come across)

And last but not least... Nitro Undertaker baitcaster.

This one isn't an insurance replacement but an all new toy. I picked it up specifically for luring Saratoga in Lake Borumba. I'll let you know how it goes.

I hope if anyone is thinking of buying similar gear some of this info helps.

Cheers, Slinky

[Catchin Jack]

I'll second what Slinky says about the Berkley Venom rods, they are one kick ass rod with a load of grunt, you can bend em like no other rod and they hold up well and make light work of any fish.The way they bend you'd think you're going to break it but that's the way they're designed, loads of grunt down low and a fast taper up top.

[rockfisherman]

Congrats on aquiring your new gear....I hope you get many years of productive use out of every peice.

Cheers