Ed.

Thanks Hamish, when you have made a few rods you tend to get very fussy and nothing cheezes you off more than finding a commercially made one that isn't built right, as in the guides aren't in the right alignment , not enough of them or in the wrong spots, wrong height and size, especially so when you are spending hundreds of dollars for a rod.

Thanks Hamish, when you have made a few rods you tend to get very fussy and nothing cheezes you off more than finding a commercially made one that isn't built right, as in the guides aren't in the right alignment , not enough of them or in the wrong spots, wrong height and size, especially so when you are spending hundreds of dollars for a rod.

Especially when your fishing! 😁 I am going to Tackle World on Thursday as they have a selection to choose from including 2 of the Okuma ones I asked them to get in for a look. If I still can't find one I like it will probably be time to look at making something. I could modify the one I have but it is 8ft long and I would like a 2 piece rod  for traveling.
Found an interesting rod setup on E-Bay. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/JIG-POP-POPPER-POPPING-ROD-3-Piece-Heavy-Duty-Rod/293159271307?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
However that one will definitely require some quide replacements. The first stripper is about 53cm away from the reel seat and it is only 30mm wide, my current one is about 76cm away and it is 40mm wide and that guide ring is still too close to the blank especially using the size of reel I am using. I might see if I can get some Hi frame guides  as that should do the trick.  I sort of like the one in the link as it is a handle that accepts a jigging top part or a popping part, and it comes with both.

Had a look at the that one at Outback Adventures. The guy there even put a 8500 slammer on it for me, but to my mind the first guide ring on it should have been a larger size and further up towards the tip sort of in between where the existing guides are. Using a 6500 sized reel would have worked OK but not on the 8500 sized reel. I have a similar sort of setup on the other popper rod I made, works OK when using the 6500 but unfortunately the 8500 sits further away from the blank so when casting the line coming off the spools  has too much resistance when slapping the first guide, as the angle is wrong and the guide is too small.
It would work from a boat when bottom bashing and little bit of casting away from the boat, but you loose too much distance when casting a long way away.

Nah, technology marches on, as soon a a company makes something reasonably good, the Chinese companies copy most of it and flog it for a fraction of a price, quality may not be there but the price reflects what you will get and it will still be good enough for most requirements. Also if you loose it one, it's not like it's a major $investment so won't hurt as much.
It is only when you start going into underwater cases that house video or full size cameras that the bucks start to add up big time.

You can get cheapo ones on E-Bay that would probably do the job ranging from $40-100, granted they most likely won't be as good as the bigger name brands (at 5-10X the price) but still should suffice.
eg:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4K-Full-HD-1080P-Waterproof-Underwater-Sport-Camera-WiFi-Action-Camcorder-DVR-AU/313315576527?hash=item48f3104acf:g:0qAAAOSwPitfvbBj
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Campark-WiFi-4K-Action-Camera-Touch-Screen-20MP-1080P-Sports-Underwater-Video-AU/193663529234?hash=item2d173ef112:g:FbcAAOSww2ZfzcYT
You could also mount them in your boat and record the fishing action too. Most have a wrist watch style remote so you can swith them on and off when required, there are some variations in these cameras even though they may all look the same, different sensors and battery life and battery capacity, so you just have to go through the specs.

That Ultimate One boat would be awesome to stay on as a mother boat and that Uluai beach is very nice. Unfortunately wallet says No!

Yes, but those in PNG  are much more likely to harbour Malaria, Dengue Fever etc. etc. and for some reason parasites seem to savour my blood, must be a good vintage!🤣.

Those above three things I mentioned  kill it for me. I will settle for Australian reefs at least you aren't going to be dragged over board by a XXL mozzie who takes a liking to your blood stream and thinks that Rid is an attractant gravy. 🤣

Those above three things I mentioned  kill it for me. I will settle for Australian reefs at least you aren't going to be dragged over board by a XXL mozzie who takes a liking to your blood stream and thinks that Rid is an attractant gravy. 🤣

Parasites, mozzies and leaches would be a major deterrent for me going to PNG.

Those above three things I mentioned  kill it for me. I will settle for Australian reefs at least you aren't going to be dragged over board by a XXL mozzie who takes a liking to your blood stream and thinks that Rid is an attractant gravy. 🤣

Parasites, mozzies and leaches would be a major deterrent for me going to PNG.

Add Windy.com to your list too.
 
 

Add Windy.com to your list too.
 
 

For those who don't know what these recent posts are about,
enjoy one of Monty Python's best -
 
 

Lake? A lake! You were lucky. We used to live in a shoebox. 

Luxury. We used to dream about living in shoebox...

Nah, technology marches on, as soon a a company makes something reasonably good, the Chinese companies copy most of it and flog it for a fraction of a price, quality may not be there but the price reflects what you will get and it will still be good enough for most requirements. Also if you loose it one, it's not like it's a major $investment so won't hurt as much.
It is only when you start going into underwater cases that house video or full size cameras that the bucks start to add up big time.

You can get cheapo ones on E-Bay that would probably do the job ranging from $40-100, granted they most likely won't be as good as the bigger name brands (at 5-10X the price) but still should suffice.
eg:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4K-Full-HD-1080P-Waterproof-Underwater-Sport-Camera-WiFi-Action-Camcorder-DVR-AU/313315576527?hash=item48f3104acf:g:0qAAAOSwPitfvbBj
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Campark-WiFi-4K-Action-Camera-Touch-Screen-20MP-1080P-Sports-Underwater-Video-AU/193663529234?hash=item2d173ef112:g:FbcAAOSww2ZfzcYT
You could also mount them in your boat and record the fishing action too. Most have a wrist watch style remote so you can swith them on and off when required, there are some variations in these cameras even though they may all look the same, different sensors and battery life and battery capacity, so you just have to go through the specs.

Hamish, you are picking up bad habits!🤨

Thanks Drop Bear. Outback Adventures received a shipment of gear and they got the Penn Ocean Assassin 802XXH in, so went in and had a feel, and whilst it was quite affordable it didn't entice me to buy it, considering it was PE8-10 rated, the winch seat seemed very flimsy to me,  so the search continues, I like a more substantial feel to my rods especially heavy rods. Looks like more fishing tackle is starting to filter into the stores.

Hamish, you are picking up bad habits!🤨

Hamish, you are picking up bad habits!🤨

Thanks Drop Bear. Outback Adventures received a shipment of gear and they got the Penn Ocean Assassin 802XXH in, so went in and had a feel, and whilst it was quite affordable it didn't entice me to buy it, considering it was PE8-10 rated, the winch seat seemed very flimsy to me,  so the search continues, I like a more substantial feel to my rods especially heavy rods. Looks like more fishing tackle is starting to filter into the stores.