Rod for pinkie/snapper HBs

[Reeling]

I just wanted to check with the pro's whether my Shimano Aqua Tip 702 4-8kg rod would be ok for me to run my deep diving HB's? My reel for this rod is Penn Slammer 590L

I appreciate that it may not be perfect, but i'm guessing that it's better than my other rods, which are Shimano Catana 702 2-4kg reel is Shimano Sedona 2500FE

[vicyak]

Perfect I would think. I use 4-6kg but your rod will be fine.
Also not many of use HB's for snapper. I know a few of us have given it a go but SP or bait will be more productive.

When I head to one of my marks I usually put a HB diving to about 12ft. Never know what you might pick up. I've picked up tailer, salmon, pike, flatties, couta. Never a snapper. I remember Shane landing a snapper at Altona I think it was on a HB.

[Reeling]

Thats good to know. Ye my original thinking was that I could troll it while going from one spot to the other - especially if its a way out. may as well have something out the back rather than nothing

[shane]

Also not many of use HB's for snapper. I know a few of us have given it a go but SP or bait will be more productive.

Actually a lot of us do target snapper with HB's. In some cases I do it more than bait and a lot more than SP. The weight of rod depends on the size of lure, which partly depends on the depth you're targeting. In <6m of water (eg Altona) I run smaller HB's (7-10cm) and like to use these on a 2-4 or 3-5kg rod and 2500 reel. In deeper water say 8-12m (eg Rickets/Willy) I go to larger deeper diving HB's and the weight rod you're suggesting is ideal for those.

[laneends]

Problem with a too stiff rod is tbat you can see lure vibrating very well, hence you cant tell if its weeded or hung on its line. If you have two rods troll both of them both. Typically i find 2-4kg rod for general trolling best.

[Reeling]

The weight of rod depends on the size of lure, which partly depends on the depth you're targeting. In <6m of water (eg Altona) I run smaller HB's (7-10cm) and like to use these on a 2-4 or 3-5kg rod and 2500 reel. In deeper water say 8-12m (eg Rickets/Willy) I go to larger deeper diving HB's and the weight rod you're suggesting is ideal for those.

I did have a quick try of a HB I bought on the weekend. I used the Koolie Minnow LL on my light 2-4kg carbon rod and it didnt half bend it. I suppose this is the 5+m deep diver that would suit my heavier rod - as well as the rapala deep taildance

Where as my frenzy 3m diving would suit the lighter 2-4kg rod.

[Redmullet]

[quote]I did have a quick try of a HB I bought on the weekend. I used the Koolie Minnow LL on my light 2-4kg carbon rod and it didnt half bend it. I suppose this is the 5+m deep diver that would suit my heavier rod - as well as the rapala deep taildance

Where as my frenzy 3m diving would suit the lighter 2-4kg rod.[quote]

The rapala taileance is a great lure and will definitely get you snapper if you persist with it, and flatties also love them

[maverick]

If you want to troll in deeper water, (8m - 15m) you need to add a large ball sinker threaded onto the leader around 2m in front of the lure, then attach the lure. Unfortunately it reduces most of the visible tip action in the rod, but doesn't affect the action. Means you can use lures down deep that don't normally dive that deep. Plenty of big Snapper caught trolling lures, including a couple of accidental Thresher hook ups at Sunnyside a few years ago by others. (One landed and one lost after it jumped).

The weight of rod depends on the size of lure, which partly depends on the depth you're targeting. In <6m of water (eg Altona) I run smaller HB's (7-10cm) and like to use these on a 2-4 or 3-5kg rod and 2500 reel. In deeper water say 8-12m (eg Rickets/Willy) I go to larger deeper diving HB's and the weight rod you're suggesting is ideal for those.

x 2. 4000 reel and 4 -8 kg rood for the bigger deeper lures or those rigged with a ball sinker.

[westy]

Nathan, l spend most of my time trolling HBs, just love pedaling along at about 3kms, but speed is governed by rod tip [lure action], always catch plenty of reds in season. squid like them too
Rod size is picked to the lure size,just a nice tip action is plenty.