Hot new products ‘Rob tested’ on local waters

Amongst the influx of new products headed our way, there has been some there’s been some particularly cool ones that got my attention; here’s a sneak peak at how I am finding them.

Williamson Popper Pro
The Williamson Popper Pro takes the traditional popping action to the next level and produces extraordinary results. At a length of 130mm, the streamlined profile of the lure casts a mile and the versatile action opens up a range of surface fishing options; you can pop, bloop, slash and stall the lure to mimic an injured baitfish fleeing across the surface. Williamson precisely weighted the Popper Pro at 35g to ensure the lure has natural buoyancy when in the water making it look lifelike, and maximizing hook exposure.

In addition to this, the rear casting mechanism ensures the angler is able to maximise their casting distance without the lure spinning or fouling. By incorporating heavy-duty oval split rings and VMC 7266 single hooks, Williamson ensures you remain connected to the very biggest fish that attacks this lure.  Additionally, the laser cut plate hook hangers and In-line hook design further enhances the Popper Pro’s swimming action, point exposure and hook set.  Personally I’ve used with great results on various tuna and some quality kingfish (great fun to see them track and smash these lures, especially on the pause) of course it’s toughness is appreciated up north on the reef and tropical speedsters.

Storm Gomoku
If you haven’t seen the Gomoku range of rods by Storm you’ve been living under a rock.  These new age sticks have set the fishing rod world on fire, and as a result the range of rods and associated jigs is expanding.

Stemming from a Japanese technique of fishing for survival, Gomoku provides ‘anytime, anywhere’. The Japanese development team at Storm have nurtured and refined the Gomoku way into a specific concept. Gomoku jigging allows anglers to adopt traditional vertical jigging methods on a much smaller scale – a proven Japanese method of targeting a large variety of species in various scenarios.

Ideal for inshore and light offshore use, Storm Gomoku Elite Jigging Game rods have been designed with the tournament angler in mind; featuring a Fuji VSS reel seat, Fuji Alconite Guides, a highly distinguishable graphite blank, and a set of aggressive EVA grips available in various colour schemes; with models rated to fish PE 0.4 - 1.0, PE 0.8 – 1.5, and PE 1 – 3 in both spin or overhead configuration.

Storm Super Gomoku and Micro Jigs have been developed specifically for Gomoku-style jigging and make a perfect match to Storm Gomoku rods, available in weights from 8g to 60g with either treble or assist hooks.

Also look out for the Gomoku minnows, stick baits and poppers, which are my go too hard bodies on the local brean, flathead and whiting.  Then there is the all new ‘Stiletto.’ One look at this lure and you’ll see it’s yet another all new item from the Gomoku craze…remarkable out of the square thinking, and as I suspected they work brilliantly.

RAPALA XXX Rap
And finally, here’s one that I’ve been waiting on for years.  A 10cm long lure that has a very slow to almost neural float yet has super strong construction and fittings. It arrived in the form of the new Rapala XXX Rap 10 Rap.  The XXXR-10 lure comes RTG for big fish with 6x strong hooks and rings, wire through construction, and new ultraviolet and metallic colours. It is in some ways it’s the hard core brother of the now famous XR10.

The XXXR-10 dives to approximately 5 feet, and has a wonderfully wide wobble at slow speeds and a nice shimmy at the suprizingly high speeds it can handle.  And while it already starting to make waves in the barra and tropical fish areas, it has also been great to me on southern species like salmon, tailor, kings and various tuna.  I’m not scared to throw this relatively small lure at big fish; it’s amazingly tough. 

That’s it for now, I’m back out to use the above products on our local waters, you can see them in action on the Fishing Australia Program which starts screening in July.

See you on the water.
Rob Paxevanos