커뮤니티 > 자유게시판 > Robert's recent mail

Howdy Jingu,

Well, I am back in A'dam again for the summer and autumn. Had a wild trip to India, lots of remote travel but no fishing. Went to Java earlier this year in early May. The water was still too hot, and the fishing was not. 8 kg GT was my best, which makes it the worst trip of my three. That said, we had a great time, plenty of fish to eat, and I will return next July.

On another front, this trip marked a personal first for me as the biggest fish of the trip I caught on a popper I made AND landed on a rod I made. (The leader to line whip tied with a tool you made!) I was also the guide that morning and my buddy got his biggest GT of the trip. I really like to catch fish on gear I make. I have never been able to buy proper poppers or popper rods so I must make my own. Poppers are just not weighted for throwing far and the rods are all wrong. The T-curves are too short and stiff for distance casting and most surf rods are too long and soft and tiring. So, I have built two CD blanks (original NZ, not PRC, super light and strong) 9.75 feet for 3+ oz lures and 11 feet for 4+ oz lures. They are fished with 30 and 50 lb PE and will throw over 80 meters (my goal is 100 meters). I also rebuilt my old 4-piece. All are fitted with the new Fuji low profile surf guides so wind knots are reduced, as well as a gimbal and harness lug
for the long fight. All good!

My Buddy Matt moved back to the States last week and at his fairwell we were reminiscing about the Kingi filets and kimchee you brought us last summer. Delicious! The whip tool you brought is really amazing! I used it over and over to splice a shock leader (50 or 80 or 120 lb test) onto 30, 50 or 80 lb PE. Smooth through the guides. Never failed. I will always use it!! Thanks!!!

However, one needs to be careful to tie the finishing half-hitches around both leader and standing line. If tied around only the standing line they will pull loose more quickly as the whip tightens during use. I retie after every fishing session (50-100+ casts) as the finish knots will eventually come untied from passing through the guides. Is there an instant glue that could be used to coat the finishing hitches?

What have you caught lately? What are Jenny and the kids up to these days? Anyway, please stay in touch!

Best regards,

Rob