Monthly Archives: September 2009

Fishing’s Lucky Dip.

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Young Jock Mac with a solid Golden perch that unexspectedly grabbed his lure.
Young Jock Mac with a solid Golden perch that unexspectedly grabbed his lure.

One of the many joys associated with fishing comes from the unknown or surprise catches that happen along the way. On the Wakool last season my son Jock struggled some unknown beastie through several snags whilst fishing for golden perch. It was quite the surprise to see a long neck pop out from the murky water connected to a slime covered shell the size of a large dinner plate. Yep, it was a whopping great fresh water tortoise and its bedraggled appearance was only matched by its nauseous smell. 
In the ocean strange fishes and unknown beasties are common captures to those unfamiliar to these waters. Some of these are invited, like a large mulloway landed on light gear whilst fishing for whiting. Or like one lucky angler last season who hooked and landed a two meter long seven gilled shark  from the beach whilst fishing for salmon. These unexpected captures, while not all that common are welcomed with open arms.  However some are not so joyous as the ocean holds all sorts of innocent brightly coloured fishes, many of which are quite dangerous. Even the smallest fish can inflict serious pain to the unknowing angler. I remember fishing at Portland in southern Victoria when an angler fishing in thongs just up from me tried to place his foot on a wriggling fish to remove the hook. This is something you should not do with any fish, let alone a gurnard and before I could warn him he paid the painful price as one of its spikes pricked his toe. An hour later he had a foot the size of a football and a throbbing pain that wasn’t going to kill him but he wished it would.
Thankfully though, we do not have many surprises in our waters and those that turn up are generally quite harmless. On a recent trip chasing a few redfin my young bloke was once again fortunate enough to hook up to something of considerable size that this time was not a tortoise. Whilst casting his spinnerbait in a dam a thumping great golden perch took a liking to the lure and an epic battle followed as the large fish was fought to the bank. While it was not the fish he thought he might catch, it was a pleasant surprise and one his father is quite envious of. I guess sometimes fishing is a little like the lucky dip where you can never be sure what’s coming out next.

PRECISION CASTING.

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landing your lure or bait in the right spot is an essential part of angling success.

landing your lure or bait in the right spot is an essential part of angling success.

Casting is something many anglers take for granted; if it lands in the water then that’s often deemed as close enough. Whether fishing with bait or lures, being able to place a cast on the money can often mean the difference between a creel full of fish, or nothing.

A recent trip to the Bidgee near Balranald was proof in itself to the benefits of casting accuracy. Having just received a rise in water levels, the local fish population were making the most of the newly covered ground. As the waters began to recede, the fish continued to feed against the bank making the most of the available tucker on hand. Fishing from a boat, the method used on this occasion was to cast small spinner-baits and blades along the edge of logs as hard up against the bank as the accuracy factor would allow.

Any cast that fell short of its intended mark by even a foot generally went unscathed, while those that landed only inches from the bank were often belted on the second or third turn of the handle. The distance between success and failure in this case was a matter of inches, but that was all it took.

This sort of scenario presents itself in many facets of fishing, be it casting a bait along the edge of a current line or flicking lures around the timber, the benefits of accurate casting are many. Practice is what makes perfect and this can be as simple as a few targets in the back yard set up at different distances. With a little practice, it doesn’t take long to hone this important skill.

For those that intend on going to the Cod Classic at Mulwala on the first weekend in Dec you have the perfect opportunity to see what a lot of practice can achieve. Dave Hodge the master caster will be doing a few demos over the weekend and his awesome ability is something to behold. Just one of his many freakish feats is to hit a plastic bottle thrown into the air; this is hard enough to do with a shotgun let alone a casting plug. Dave will be the first to admit that his ability to catch fish while others are left wanting, is thanks in a large part to his casting ability. Don’t underestimate the smaller points of angling, when you really need them its amazing how big they suddenly become.

Warm Water Kick Starts Reddies.

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Redfin are the first to run as the waters warm. This one was taken on the new Micro Mumbler from Bassman.

With the temperature on the rise, anglers can expect to see fish activity begin to increase in the shallower bodies of water first. It’s always handy to know where fish are most likely to be found and warm water is a draw card for many and most species. Over the coming weeks the shallow lakes, dams, channels and backwaters will lift in temperature and kick start the spring bite that sees redfin at the head of the pack.

Lake Charm between Swan Hill and Kerang is a prime location, as is Lake Cullulleraine on the Sturt Highway between Mildura and Renmark. Both these lakes are reasonably shallow and generally fish well during the spring months. Early morning and evening are the prime times to target redfin but when they are in the mood they will feed all day long. On the flip side though, like all fish when the redfin decide to shut down they can be quite frustrating.

Redfin will eat a variety of baits, these include small fish, shrimp, yabbies and worms. At times they are a veracious predator that will go as far as to wilfully cannibalize their own kind. There is not much these fish won’t eat. My favourite way to target redfin would have to be using lures. In the old days the ondex spinner was king of the pond and while they still work, new lures are more in vogue with today’s anglers. Soft plastics have held the mantel in recent years and redfin seem to love them. Of recent times though, a  range of finesse styled lures have began to filter through and find favour amongst fishos and redfin alike. The new Koolabung blades are proving deadly as are a range of Micro mumblers and compact spinnerbaits from Bassman. Small in size, they need to be fished on light spin tackle. The blades work best on a lift, drop styled retrieve trying to keep the lure just above the structure and weed. They can also be worked on a slow straight retrieve. The micro mumblers can be worked in similar fashion while the compact spinnerbaits do best on a slow straight retrieve. Redfin will respond differently at different times, so it pays to mix it up and try a range of lures and retrieves to see what works best at the time. These new lure styles and techniques will work equally well on golden perch when the river begins to fire in the coming month or so.  Until then though, anglers will do better to hunt the warm shallows and cash in on a feed of redfin as these feisty fish come on the chew.

NEW RANGE OF TACKLE.

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Bassman takes out one of the AFTA Trade Show awards.
Bassman takes out one of the AFTA Trade Show awards.

Having recently been to the 2009 AFTA Trade Show at the Gold Coast, all I can say from an angling point of view is “wow.” A huge number of exhibitors showed off the latest trend in tackle and other fishing related products set to hit the stores in the coming months. In a three day exhibition that would leave your avid tackle rat drooling at the mouth, retailers were privy to inspect and get the full run down on everything from offshore game reels to small soft plastics and everything in between. The quality of our Australian made tackle speaks volumes with overseas interest from tackle giants like Japan suitably impressed with several new products. It’s amazing how well some of these smaller cottage industries have pushed Aussie ingenuity out into the angling world. Bassman, a commonly used spinnerbait in our local waters for Murray cod and Golden perch was just one to hit the big time and take out one of the prestigious AFTA trade show awards.

You really did need the full three days to inspect just a fraction of that available at any depth.  Around every corner lay new treasures, some with a different slant on last season’s hot products while others were totally new. A full array of rods from several leading companies were backed by the latest in spin and low profile baitcasters with Dave Hodge, Australia’s premier trick caster putting the new range of Quatam reels through their paces. In a freakish display he was able to hit cans and plastic bottles thrown mid flight with a casting plug. Soft plastics continue to have a huge influence on anglers and this was evident by the thousands of different makes and models hanging finely packed from the walls looking more like a confectionary shop than that of a tackle display. There seemed to be soft plastic treats for everything from Marlin to mullet with a vast array of different scents that included garlic and aniseed.    

 A few new angling essentials that we might see a bit more of in our general area were a range of upsized landing nets that would be suitable to deal with the largest of Murray cod. In testing we were able to lift a 75kg adult male in one of these nets with the only damage incurred being that of the lifters. There were also some very impressive large jointed shad styled lures that are sure to tempt the taste buds of our local cod and golden perch. And for those of us whose arms are no longer able to hold the newspaper far enough away to have a read, a great range of affordable bifocal sunglasses that cut the glare and make knot tying and reading just that little bit easier. The list of goodies goes on, but instead of me spoiling the surprise why not walk into your local  tackle shop and see what they have on order for the coming season? I can’t wait for next year’s show, it’s like being let loose in a giant tackle box full of fishing’s finest ideas. 

Kingston Gateway To The Surf.

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A couple of nice snapper from the 42ml mark near Salt Creek.
Situated between Kingston and the mouth of the Murray River is the Younghasband Peninsula. Part of the Coorong national park and wetlands system, as a tourist destination, this stretch of coastline has plenty to offer. Kingston itself is the home of the Big Lobster and has a thriving crayfish industry that is a major draw card for those of us that enjoy the culinary delights of a Cray or two. Kingston is a very popular destination for holidaymakers over the summer months and with all that’s on offer, it’s little wonder. With safe beaches, excellent fishing and plenty of history and culture, there is always something to see and do for the family. For the serious fisho however, other delights nearby include pristine white sandy beaches that provide vehicle access to some truly first class beach fishing. Yes, you heard right: Vehicle access. Once you leave the cotton wool state of Victoria you are actually allowed to commute with nature and driving on the beach opens up endless miles of opportunity to the avid surf fisho. Kingston is the gateway to some of the best surf fishing around and the opportunity to purvey the deep holes and gutters from the seat of a 4wd is indeed a luxury. This is especially true for those of us that are getting a little long in the tooth to be trudging through heavy sand, laden with all the gear required for a good session on the beach. As you leave Kingston towards Salt Creek, well-marked tracks along the Princes Highway provide access to the beach. The 28, 32 and 42-mile crossings are popular entry points as is the Tea Tree Crossing at Salt creek. Overnight camping is available along the beach, these areas are clearly marked with a post and number. You will require a permit to camp at these locations at a cost of four dollars a night. Permits are available at Kingston and a number of places including the Roadhouse at Salt Creek.  Bait and some fishing tackle is also available including hooks, sinkers and swivels. Available target species along this section of coastline are numerous, when you talk South Australia however; Mulloway and snapper are on the mind of most anglers. There’s something about these two quality fish that keep drawing you back repeatedly for that one moment of glory. With good captures of both taken throughout the season it’s little wonder it’s a popular destination, very few places can boast both species in good size and numbers. Sharks are also a common capture with plenty of bronze whalers turning up as the weather warms. 
Kingston is the gateway to the surf and the ideal spot from which to base that family holiday. With something for everyone it is a seaside retreat with plenty to see and do.
   
 

More Than Catching Fish.

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I dont know about yours, but my kids love cooking by an open campfire along the river.
While there’s no doubt my kids love their fishing they also love time spent round the glow of a riverside campfire with their dad. There is much to talk about and just as importantly much to do. The chance to cook and eat a variety of food is a treat in itself. Be it toasting a few marshmallows over the naked flames or cooking a full blown camp oven, it’s a great learning experience and something that will be remembered latter in life. Enjoy these times and think ourselves lucky we have the opportunity to experience these kinds of things with our children first hand. And remember theres a lot more to fishing than simply catching fish.

Spring It On.

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Spring on a couple of nice redfin landed on the Koolabung blades.
 Away go the big lures and heavy artillery as the cod season is now officially closed until the 1st of December. For the next three months, the angling bug will have to be appeased targeting the rivers lesser giants like golden perch redfin and even the odd carp or two. Light spin tackle and smaller lures are best suited to this style of angling where sensitivity is most often the key to success.  As the weather warms, we can expect to see the river explode back to life. Shrimp will quickly multiply and smaller fish of all species will feed ravenously in the warming waters. Spring is a time of plenty for both angler and fish alike. Small cod will be amongst those on the chew and short of not fishing the river, it is near on impossible to avoid their attention at some stage. Bait anglers will have the most problems as these smaller scavengers inhale almost anything that fits in their gobs. All cod that swallow your baits, hooks included should have the line snipped close to the mouth before being released. Murray cod stand a far better chance of survival than those that are deep probed by all manner of hook removing devices. If these tools were tested on the manufacturers before being released onto the market you would be hard pressed to find one.    
We all understand that the next few months are the prime breeding season for Murray cod and I’m sure most anglers will do their best to avoid them. Small lures, soft plastics and blades will most often be overlooked by large brooding fish. And while they are certainly territorial, if they were to chase and hit every small creature that invaded their space they would most certainly have a nervous breakdown. With six billion shrimp and small bait fish on the move, a large protective cod would be more inclined to hunt away more substantial threats like carp and other larger fishes that might predate upon their eggs. Most of these smaller lures are fitted with light gauged trebles that will straighten with minimal fuss if you load up on a cod and drop your thumb on the spool. I would think in most cases a larger fish would hardly take note of the whole incident. If you are hard lined about the whole affair, then spring is also a great time of the year to fish the beaches and estuaries as these waters too spring to life with the coming warm season.