[KSONG]

I have a privilege to be a speaker of tuna jigging and popping sessions of Canyon Runner Seminars this winter.
Canyon Runner Seminars are unique and prestigeous, and each location attracts 400 fishermen.
The seminars are held in three different places as follows:
- Atlantic City, NJ on January 30, 2010
- Long Island, NY on February 27, 2010
- Mohigan Sun Casino, CT on April 10, 2010
Cayon Runner Seminars
In addition to tuna jigging stuffs, I am going to add tuna popping discussion this year as tuna popping becomes very popular in the US.
It will cover basic tackles and techniques in different areas based on my experiences and observations in Cape Cod, Gulf of Mexico and Panama. I hope to see many members at the seminars and discuss together.

 

[J FLORES]

Kil,

Good luck @ the seminar

 

[KSONG]

Hi John,
There will be many tackle failures this season as we expect many bluefin over 200 lbs.
I am going to visit Korea to check 'new carbon' rods/blanks and will show them at the sessions along with many different jigging and popping rods.

 

[Toonalingus]

Hi John,
There will be many tackle failures this season as we expect many bluefin over 200 lbs.
I am going to visit Korea to check 'new carbon' rods/blanks and will show them at the sessions along with many different jigging and popping rods.

I have seen alot about these rods on other sites. Two questions:

1. When will they be available in the US?
2. Will blanks be available for custom build or will it be factory production rods only?

Thank you

 

[KSONG]

I have seen alot about these rods on other sites. Two questions:

1. When will they be available in the US?
2. Will blanks be available for custom build or will it be factory production rods only?

Thank you

1.Jigging rods should be available by the end of Feb.
It takes time to get Fuji SIC guides from Japan for the rods.
Popping rod might take a little more time to be introduced as I like to reduce weight a little bit. The 8' prototype poping rod weighs 16 oz. It is not bad at all because the OTI Tuna Sniper rod rated to 80 lbs weighs 18 3/4 oz and Smith 80P/35 weighs 18 oz. However it is still heavier than other high-end popping rods like Ripple fisher/Yamaga, Hots or Carpenter rods which weighs as light as 13 1/2 -14 oz.
If they can reduce the weight by one or two oz, the popping rods are ready to go.

2. Blanks will be available sooner than the rods.

 

[deep defiance]

Kil.

1.Jigging rods should be available by the end of Feb.
It takes time to get Fuji SIC guides from Japan for the rods.
Popping rod might take a little more time to be introduced as I like to reduce weight a little bit. The 8' prototype poping rod weighs 16 oz. It is not bad at all because the OTI Tuna Sniper rod rated to 80 lbs weighs 18 3/4 oz and Smith 80P/35 weighs 18 oz. However it is still heavier than other high-end popping rods like Ripple fisher/Yamaga, Hots or Carpenter rods which weighs as light as 13 1/2 -14 oz.
If they can reduce the weight by one or two oz, the popping rods are ready to go.


Whats the diff between A couple oz's,why lighten them up at all? I mean people dont usually weigh there rods on A scale,The fish you catch are to be weighed on a scale right? All jigging rods today are feather light in my opinion compared to yesteryear.But if you must be able to say you have the lightest rods on the market than thats different because your trying to prove something.Does it really matter what A rod weighs when you have A 50-250lb fish on the end of your line?All that your hoping is that your rod doesn't break.

 

[Toonalingus]

1.Jigging rods should be available by the end of Feb.


2. Blanks will be available sooner than the rods.

sounds like a great blank for custom builds.

deep defiance, even 3-4 oz makes a big difference when you are jigging all day. When a fish is on, no difference, but not many of us get a tuna on every cast

 

[deep defiance]

Toon.

We aren't even talking 3-4 oz we are talking at the most 2-2.5oz.OTI at 18.5oz and Smith at 18oz even they will not wear A grown man's arms out unless if your like me and catch a tuna on every drop or cast! whats next lighter line?

 

[Toonalingus]

We aren't even talking 3-4 oz we are talking at the most 2-2.5oz.OTI at 18.5oz and Smith at 18oz even they will not wear A grown man's arms out unless if your like me and catch a tuna on every drop or cast! whats next lighter line?

that is almost double the weight of some of the rods like Hots--more like 9oz.

 

[KSONG]

I saw one superman jigs for tuna all night nonstop with 50SW reel.
I doesn't understand why other fishermen use lighter reels and I don't understand why he has to use such a heavy reel though lighter reel can do the job done.

When I tested prototype popping rods in Panama last month, we used Yamaga popping rods and Black Hole popping rods. The weight difference was only 2 oz, but all agreed it is a huge difference for popping for long period time.

 

[deep defiance]

Kil.

I saw one superman jigs for tuna all night nonstop with 50SW reel.
I doesn't understand why other fishermen use lighter reels and I don't understand why he has to use such a heavy reel though lighter reel can do the job done.

When I tested prototype popping rods in Panama last month, we used Yamaga popping rods and Black Hole popping rods. The weight difference was only 2 oz, but all agreed it is a huge difference for popping for long period time.

I'm not talking about using chunking gear all night long.But I appreciate your comparing A jigging rod to A chunking rod that doesnt offer the right presentation of the jigs to begin with,but thats not what I was getting at.I cant see compromising quality and looks to gain a 2-3oz advantage.If thats the case then use other components on the reel to remove the weight from the rod.For instance go buy A 8000swpg and put an ocean mark high capacity spool on it? as was offered on another site.I cant see you noticing a 2oz differance with A rod/reel/line/jig, It's all in the head!JM2C

 

[J FLORES]

Hi John,
There will be many tackle failures this season as we expect many bluefin over 200 lbs.
I am going to visit Korea to check 'new carbon' rods/blanks and will show them at the sessions along with many different jigging and popping rods.

Kil,

My 70" 200lb fish really kicked my a$$ last year, and i lost one over 300lb
at the boat with Capt Rich.....i'll be ready I cant wait!!

I cant wait to see the new rods

 

[J FLORES]

I'm not talking about using chunking gear all night long.But I appreciate your comparing A jigging rod to A chunking rod that doesnt offer the right presentation of the jigs to begin with,but thats not what I was getting at.I cant see compromising quality and looks to gain a 2-3oz advantage.If thats the case then use other components on the reel to remove the weight from the rod.For instance go buy A 8000swpg and put an ocean mark high capacity spool on it? as was offered on another site.I cant see you noticing a 2oz differance with A rod/reel/line/jig, It's all in the head!JM2C

I started popping with a Smith 80p/35 over 4 years ago and landed numerous big tunas with it, it weighs 180z...i since have been using several different makes and modle's but my favorite is the Carpenter Super
Popping it weighs 13 1/2oz and i landed tunas up to 200lb last season with it.

At the end of the day you can feel the difference i know its only 2-4oz
but IMO it makes a big difference.

Im not talking about picking up the rod and make a few cast then put it
down again...im talking about hard core casting for hours and hours with
out a break...at the end of the day you really can feel the difference.

 

[HipMOtized]

tuna jigging

look forward to hearing your info, will be at the AC seminar, I hear it has great info

 

[KSONG]

I ordered Super Seeke 2X4 blank to cehck as the rod becomes one of the most popular rods for big yellowfin on long range boats out of San Diego.
The 7' blank arrrived today and I was shocked the weight of the blank is 18 oz !! Guys who used to use heavy reels don't care about rod weights.

 

[KSONG]

Finally 5 tuna jigging sessions at Atlantic City, NJ is over.
I had some new ideas how to present this years sessions, but I just couldn't prepare for it.

i tried to introduce tuna popping, but I ended up spending most of time to discuss about tuna jigging as it seems most are still interested in tuna jigging. Audience was great. They were very sincere to know the new development of tuna jigging whether they are beginners or experienced jig fishermen.
I brought 39 different jigging and popping rods for the seminars, but I didn't have enough time to show them the differences.

But I can show the rods at Somerset Saltwater show again.

 

[FisherDan]

Great job Saturday

Hi Kil - Good seeing you at Atlantic City and thanks for bringing all those rods I have been reading so much about! Always good to hear your thoughts as well.

-Dan

 

[paul708]

Finally 5 tuna jigging sessions at Atlantic City, NJ is over.
I had some new ideas how to present this years sessions, but I just couldn't prepare for it.

i tried to introduce tuna popping, but I ended up spending most of time to discuss about tuna jigging as it seems most are still interested in tuna jigging. Audience was great. They were very sincere to know the new development of tuna jigging whether they are beginners or experienced jig fishermen.
I brought 39 different jigging and popping rods for the seminars, but I didn't have enough time to show them the differences.

But I can show the rods at Somerset Saltwater show again.

Kil.
sounds like you had a a good session.

i will be showing the new blanks/ rods at the OAKS PA show in feb.
should be good

 

[KSONG]

tuna jigging session room

The interesting thing was knot testing machine which can test any know immediately.
They used 40 lbs Trilene mono line and they best knot was double clinch knot which broke at 52 lbs. Most knots couldn't reach 40 lbs mark. Palomar knot showed its strenght by breaking at 48 lbs. My No-name knot was so and so by breaking at 40.4 lbs.

Big crowd during breakout sessions.

 

[KSONG]

Basil Papas always draw crowd.