Bent Butt vs. Straight Butt

[jwalker]

The Kona Boys have been fishing a Melton Tuna Lifter (5' 1") short bent butt rod with an 80 bolted to it for big fish the last couple years with great results.
With the correct belt and harneess set-up and solid technique they can put some max pressure on big fish.

[paul708]

great pics..very nice

[hotrodmarlin]

Hmm, thanks for the response. As far as stashing bents, I do agree they are a pain if your trying to clear em. We generally slap em in the t-top rod tip towards the bow. I definately can see that frustration. Here, when a fish hits we do go for multiples, but thats generally for a short time, then everything is cleared to get the fish (or two) in so we can reset. A WWB may stay out, and boat will stay in gear (I am thinking about wahoo fishing at this point) though slowed some. Generally how we do it on the boats I fish. With Mahi, I leave any rod not in the way out. (I dont like fishing more than 5 rods)
Once again thanks for the response. I was afraid I may have come accross wrong.

I didn't take your response wrong at all. I think the main difference is the number of lines I normally troll- 8 to 10 is not uncommon.

[TROPHY SPORTFISHING]

Bents lure fishing with 80's straights bait fishing period except for bluefins.

[Little Bro]

Sounds like there's many different opinion's here. All i do is stand-up from a flat deck center console these days. Straight butts are the only way for me, including large Blue Marlin, and Bluefins. A bent butt requires that you cut the rod blank to suit the butt ( or any aluminum butt ). Guess what? You just destroyed the the stand up blank. The amount of lift you can get without cutting the stand up blank ( except the tip end ) is incredible. It starts from the bottom of the rod instead of the front of the butt. Just load the blank bottom end into a slick butt right down into the gimbal and cut the tip to finish to total length at 5'5", ( to the very tip of the eye or roller ). Any shorter and you can't get around the bow or stern of a center console. Also, having the reel very close to your body is key. That means loading the reel seat upside down to allow the bottom of the reel to be 12 1/2" from the gimbal. ( so you can still turn the handle from a rod holder ). Now fighting big fish is exactly like wind surfing. If you do it correctly your pelvis is always in front of you shoulders and you never bend your back. Bend your knee's ( the rod bends ), keep your back straight and you can apply 50+ lbs of drag with ease. Never lift beyond the 11:00 position. I use Calstar Graphite blanks for all my smaller rods and Fiberglass xxl Calstars for my heavy tackle ( Wind-on rollers for the heavy stuff ). I use the Shimano 50 WLRS reels for the heavy tackle. This set-up also makes a great planner rod set up. My reels are loaded with 130lb Jerry Brown ( 600yds ) and top shotted with 100yds 100lb momoi diamond ( remove the top shot and you have your planner rod or kite trolling outfit ). As far as lure fishing ( even blue marlin lures ), just pin the flats to the transom with adjustable height FL clips.
My two cents.....

[WAHOONBOX]

EXTREME MEASURES CAPT BRIAN AND PITCHBAIT DO BATTLE STANDUP WITH 300 LB GIANTS


BRIAN ON THE 50 AND BOBBY ON THE 30,....BOBBY'S ROD BRIOKE COMPLETELY IN HALF MOMENTS AFTER THIS PIC WAS TAKEN

[hotrodmarlin]

Straight butt 7' boat rod w/80 wide in a stand up harness= 350lb BFT. When it's all you got, that's what you use. The angles are all wrong and it sucked really bad. I use all bents and fight them out of the holder now.

[Jared D]

Guess what? You just destroyed the the stand up blank. The amount of lift you can get without cutting the stand up blank ( except the tip end ) is incredible. It starts from the bottom of the rod instead of the front of the butt. Just load the blank bottom end into a slick butt right down into the gimbal and cut the tip to finish to total length at 5'5", ( to the very tip of the eye or roller ).
Bend your knee's ( the rod bends ), keep your back straight and you can apply 50+ lbs of drag with ease. Never lift beyond the 11:00 position.

Sorry, need some clarification.... Your cutting the top off your stand up rods? So lets say you have a fast action rod, you cut the top 8" off, and then your left with what, a medium action rod, right! Why are you doing this? With uni-butts, you get the same "stiffness" or more that you would from the blanks bottom being cutt off, and your getting your rods designed action.

Next, I am not the biggest guy out there, but I am not small either. 6'3" 200 pounds even, and the most I can comfortably go (and stay in sustained battles) on stand up is 43 pounds full. (also on a 50WLRS, 100 pound suffix topshot, with a custom built, by me, 5'6" CalStar rod w bent butt, or a Gator blank 5'9" w straight butt) I can actually handle 47 pounds (before being pulled on my toes), but with manevering around a rocking boat, and not having "knees in the boards" I stay at 43 pounds. Most people I have seen rarely go over 35 pounds. I believe Dennis Braid said he had never managed to top 36 pounds. Sorry to question you, I just am having a hard time following your logic. I never intend to be argumentative, I just want to be sure I am understanding you correctly.