Bardie moths have been described as mice with wings and are a top water treat for Murray cod.
With the recent rains comes a flying barrage of cod candy on wings and it marks the start of some great top water action for Murray cod and the occasional golden perch. On those still balmy nights that often accompany these hatches, anglers fishing surface lures are treated to heart in your mouth, full blown visual strikes. Hook-ups rates with surface lures are not that great but the guns will tell you they can be improved by throwing the rod forward to create slack on the strike. Sounds great in theory and may well be easy during the evening light where strikes are visual and fish are often smaller. Imagine if you will staring into the inky darkness, the only sounds are the relentless plop- plop- plop of the lure as it slowly makes its way towards your feet. Mosquitoes buzz and dance around your ears in search of an easy meal, small in size they are big enough to be annoying. In the distance the lowly call of mo-poke cuts the air; all the while your lure slowly works its way across the surface. You pause one last time as the silhouette of the lure is just meters from the rod tip. For a brief moment all seems calm and then from nowhere, a loud detonation that leaves a hole the size of a bucket implodes beneath the lure. The massive force of the strike displaces enough water to shower you from head to toe in the coolness of the night. I’m not sure about you, but the last thing on my mind is to throw the rod forward. In fact it’s quite the opposite; chances are your rod is hanging precariously from a nearby tree where it was frightened from your grip. It’s about now you begin to wonder whether there is still a spare roll of crap paper under the seat of the ute.
Over the past few weeks surface lures have been working well and they should continue to do so for a while yet. A few good ones to have in the mix might include Bassman Buzzbaits, Muldoon’s big willy popper the Koolubung Codwalker, Mudeyes depth charge and the Halco night walker.
Have to say the Muldoon Lures ‘Big Willy Surface Popper Lure’ has to be my favourite atm. Where the backend hangs I seem to have increased my hookup rate 100% compared to those surface lures without a joint.
Could be just me, but for someone not quite sure how to work the lure they seem to have solved a lot of the fish I have been missing (I’m letting it sit for a sec when it lands, doing a few plop plops, rest for 2 seconds, a few more, 2-3 times, then slowly wind it in ..)
I usually get hit by the buggers right near my feet, kinda heart stopping to say the least! lol
Myself I just do a steady wind, either they hit it on the initial drop, of follow it back in and just before you take it from the water go BANG! so I recommend stopping it before pulling the lure off the water for a sec at least
Gday Rod,
Interesting read and good close up pics of the moth`s, the larger moths when fresh in the water can actually generate enough strength in their wing movements to dive to a depth of 40cm beneath the surface and actually simulate swimming at this depth for up to a metre before resurfacing. Generally the ones I have observed can only repeat this manouver 2 or 3 times before tiring, yet even that is quite an achievement for such a fragile creature.
Steve
Steve, that is very interesting I did not know they could dive under the water. Seems you learn something new every day.
Top read and photo Rod, interesting observation SMH.
For sure, every top water stirke takes you by suprise, even when you expect it. Can’t say I’ve ever had the reflex to through rod tip forward after just having the Bejesus scared out of me.
Cheers.