Spooled Magazine Spring Issue 2022

INTRODUCING THE NEW

Spring

2022

MAGAZINE

HARD CORE

THRILLS FOOLING

BIG BREAM TRAVELLING

ANGLER

BENEATH THE

MYSTIC MOUNTAIN

Contents EDITORIAL

Our Cover... Lachlan Jones tackling the north-west of Australia (see article page 8)

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8 32 THE TRAVELLING ANGLER

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FOOLING BIG BREAM

48 66 HARD CORE THRILLS

90

BENEATH THE MYSTIC MOUNTAIN

106 THE MACKEREL ISLANDS

THE ROAD TO NORWAY

122

WHAT’S NEW

132

COMPETITION PAGE

143

THE LURE OF IT ALL – MATT FRASER

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From the Editor

From The Editor

SHANE MENSFORTH

THINGS ARE GETTING TOUGHER!

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You don’t have to be a Rhodes Scholar to work out that the life of the serious angler is becoming more difficult by the minute. As extra pressure is applied to fisheries around the country, the scrutiny on recreational angling seems to be increasing accordingly.

Gone are the days when rec’ fishing was largely detached from politics — that glorious period when you could pick up a rod and head off without having to think too much about 04 where you were going, what you were allowed to catch, and who was looking over your shoulder. I’m old enough to remember those times, and I can tell you I miss them dearly.

Of course, only stupid people fail to recognise the need for sensible fish size limits, bag limits and scientifically-sanctioned closed seasons to protect fragile fisheries. Just lately, however, warning signs are beginning to flash in several parts of the country that indicate Big Brother is gearing up to deliver some pretty alarming new rec’ fishing restrictions — restrictions that may have farreaching implications for business and possibly even regional economies.

One that springs immediately to mind is the situation in WA, potentially affecting an 800km stretch of coast between the townships of Kalbarri and Augusta. This was announced in late August and immediately sent shockwaves through the recreational angling fraternity and allied businesses that depend on it. Popular demersal species like snapper and dhufish in WA have shown serious decline for some time — to the point where the overall catch (pro, rec’ and charter) was reduced to a combined 750 tonnes. A two-month closed season between October and December was also introduced, but according to Fisheries biologists, these restrictions haven’t arrested snapper and dhufish stock decline as effectively as hoped.

As a consequence, 40,000 anglers and 50 active charter boat operators from within that 800km area have been offered the choice of a 94-day fishing season from December to January and March to May, or a 123-day season from April to May and between August and October. Commercial fishers would be allowed to continue to operate throughout the year — something that thousands of recreationals are understandably upset about! That first option of a 94-day season effectively closes demersal fishing for nine months of the year, which is pretty damn frightening, as well as daunting for small business owners who rely on the dollars of rec’ anglers to keep their doors open.

As a South Aussie, I’m currently in a position to make some credible comments on the effect drastic closures have on the well being of fishing-related business and on regional economies. We are now more than 90 per cent of the way through our highly publicised www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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snapper closure, due to cease at the end of January next year. Although initially implemented as a three-year closure, there was always a rider clause attached that provided PIRSA (the SA Fisheries Department) with the option of extending the fishing ban if deemed necessary. There has been very little made public about snapper stock surveys that have been undertaken during the course of the closed season; in fact, the silence from PIRSA has been deafening. Scuttlebutt indicates, however, that the results of snapper egg count surveys (the process used to estimate the spawning snapper biomass) haven’t been encouraging — possibly leading to an extension of the closed season. I stress this isn’t the official word, but my information comes from a normally reliable source, and I won’t be surprised at all if it turns out to be right on the money.

I’m in regular close contact with the owners of several tackle stores and marine outlets, all of whom have been impacted heavily by our snapper closure. Had COVID not intervened shortly after the snapper closure began, it’s a good bet several of them would have gone to the wall. To explain, COVID relief hand-outs from the Government helped them pay employees and keep their accounts in order, but there’s little doubt the snapper ban slashed their bottom line to an alarming degree.

The same applied to a heap of coastal towns, where accommodation houses, caravan parks, service stations and other small businesses all felt the pinch as soon as anglers stopped travelling around the state to catch a big snapper.

I was part of a committee set up to advise the (then) Fisheries Minister on the best way to tackle the snapper issue, minimising the impact on all sectors of the fishery, but our advice went totally ignored and the Government pushed ahead with the blanket ban. Without question, there was a far better way to proceed in the quest to protect diminishing snapper stocks than an extremely unpopular three-year closure — a course of action that would have kept us fishing (with a reduced catch) while gradually enabling the snapper stock to recover.

Many West Aussies feel the same way about their current situation, and I hope they get much more say about what happens than we did here in SA. It’s a no-brainer that many fisheries need thoughtful protection that involves cuts to all sectors, but it’s how those cuts are structured that recreational anglers need to be concerned about.

COMP WINNERS Congratulations to our competition winners from last issue, Kim Abbott (VIC), Michael O’Keefe (NSW), and Bronwyn Lamb (VIC) will all receive their lures from Ollie’s Handcrafted Timber Lures. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

LACHLAN JONES

The Travelling SPOOLED MAGAZINE

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Angler –

Road Tripping The North-West

LACHY JONES PROVIDES A HEAP OF USEFUL INFORMATION FOR ANYONE KEEN TO VISIT ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST REMOTE AND PRODUCTIVE FISHING DESTINATIONS.

All in a morning’s work - barra before breaky. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

As I write this opener, I’m currently 30-odd thousand feet in the air, on day one of a six-week trip of a lifetime. Having left a cold and dreary winter’s day in Adelaide, there’s no chance of sleep on this flight as my mind goes into overdrive thinking of warm waters, stunning country and, of course, some of the most exciting fishing Australia has to offer. This moment is the culmination of years of dreaming and 18 months of genuine planning. It will see my wife and I collect our car from the truck depot in Darwin and explore the beloved Top End before hitting the road to Kununurra, across the Gibb River Road, up the Dampier Peninsula and then down the West Coast to Perth. In the interest of peaceful relations, we’ll call it a honeymoon, not a fishing trip, but to say the tackle trays heavily outweigh the button-up shirts would be an understatement!

The Kimberly is a great place to get up close and personal with freshwater crocodiles. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Like most avid fishos, I grew up drooling over articles and video footage of the unbelievable fishing opportunities available across the north-west portion of our country.

Having lived in the Territory for a number of years in my mid 20s, I’m lucky enough to be well acquainted with just how magical the north really is, and my anticipation to return was sky high. Be it chasing barramundi in coastal creeks, tackling sooty grunter in gorge country or hurling poppers and stick baits as queenfish and trevally devour schools of helpless baitfish, it’s hard not to get excited about the northern-Australian fishing scene, and these scenarios are just the tip of the iceberg of what’s on offer.

The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

This trip, however, poses some new challenges. I’ll predominantly be fishing on foot, with only occasional access to a boat, and will be heading west for the first time, exploring country that is foreign to me. The purpose of this article is to share a few pointers for fishing ‘on the road’ with a particular focus on exploring the north and north-west portion of our country from Darwin to Exmouth. However, many of the principles discussed can be applied by anyone planning on hitting the road, and should serve as some inspiration to always find room in the suitcase for a rod when exploring this brilliant country of ours!

A perfect escape from the southern winter doldrums.

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www.spooledmagazine.com.au

3-piece travel rods make hiking into gorge country a whole lot easier!

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//THE PACKING There’s nothing like the sense of anticipation as an adventure looms. As anglers, we’re all guilty of dreaming about what could be and I think that the preparation is often half the fun! The reality is, however, unless your travel is strictly business (that’s fishing business of course), there are clearly some limitations as to the tackle you can squeeze into your bags. There is a fine balancing act between being well prepared for a broad spectrum of fishing situations and actually fitting your belongings in a plane. Fortunately, with some smart packing and modern rod designs it’s not mission impossible, and I managed to fit four rods, three reels and a mountain of tackle into a single backpack and one PVC rod tube. It was enough to keep me out of trouble — just! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

//RODS AND REELS

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Firstly, when thinking about rods, it’s important to consider the variety of scenarios you may be fishing in. Whilst compromises do need to be made, it certainly does pay to have a few rod options on hand, and I was certainly grateful for the flexibility on this trip. For the travelling fisho, multi-piece rods are a no brainer, and all but my smallest stick could be pulled apart and stored in their short form when in transit.

In my case, I opted for a baitcaster outfit, primarily for pinging accurate casts in creeks and billabongs, a 10 foot, 6-12kg set-up for spinning off the rocks, a boat rod for trolling or bottom bouncing and, for the first time, I trialled a 5-8kg three12 piece travel rod that quickly became my go-to option in most instances due to its versatility and ability to punch well above its weight. It really was a game-changer and held up brilliantly on some fairly bullish fish and pretty rough treatment at times from its owner. My scepticism about three-piece rods has well and truly vanished!

Casting small suspending hard bodies is a great way to con sluggish dry-season barramundi. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Once you’ve culled your rod selections to the ‘needs, not wants’ list, it’s obviously vital to ensure that they make it through the journey without disaster. Over the years I’ve travelled quite a bit with fishing tackle and am pleased to say that I’m yet to have a bad experience with rod damage, thanks to some basic care and preparation. Regardless of whether you’re driving or flying, PVC tubing to house your rods is about as foolproof as you can get. Sure, you may have to pay a little extra for over-sized baggage on a flight, but it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind... and functional gear! A simple travel tube is easy to knock up, but it’s worth noting that most airlines require screw-cap endings, presumably for easy inspection, so factor this in when you’re at the hardware store. On the inside of each cap glue some foam to create cushioning at each end and, prior to loading the rods, it’s a good idea to very gently bring all rod pieces together with rubber bands to avoid individual movement and guide damage within the tube. Finally, fill any dead space with bubble wrap and your precious cargo should be ready to move.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Jetties provide great land-based platforms for the travelling angler.

The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

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//TERMINAL TACKLE As stated above, fishing on the road generally means visiting a range of locations, which inevitably means chasing a diverse list of species using a broad repertoire of equipment. While it’s impossible to prepare for the full smorgasbord, with a little bit of thought you can hit the road well prepared. Again, in the interest of peaceful relations I opted to steer clear of bait fishing this trip, given the challenges with storingage when living out of a car, so my planning was all around chasing fish on lures. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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It’s not all about the fishing! Marine life in the North-West is simply mind blowing and must be seen to be believed.

Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Lui, 3 Islands Whale Shark Dive.

Given that an encyclopaedia could be written on lure fishing in northern Australia, I’ll tactfully dodge the rabbit hole of specific recommendations, particularly as your travels may be different to mine. However, my biggest piece of advice would be to diversify the portfolio! It’s important to remember that you could be fishing in a metre of water or 50 metres of water. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

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You could be staring at a feeding frenzy of queenfish that requires some led to reach, or subtly trying to entice a top-water take in a glassed-off Top End billabong.

To have options is to invest in success! As a starting point I’d recommend carrying a range of bibbed minnows of various sizes and swim depths, some surface poppers and walk the dog style top-water presentations, sinking stick baits, soft vibes, some large trolling minnows if planning to have some boat access and, of course, a good range of soft plastics. Due to space restrictions on the road, it’s best to remove all new lures (with the exception of soft plastics) from their bulky packaging and store them in their ready-to-use state in categorised tackle trays. These can be stacked in a back pack with plenty of room, such as the Ridgeline ‘Excape Packs’.

Known for their acrobatic showmanship, it’s hard not to love a queenfish.

With lures sorted, it’s worth considering the other odds and ends you’ll need to get amongst the action. Once again, flexibility is important, so I opted for three separate spools of fluorocarbon leader — 80lb, 50lb and 30lb. While in some scenarios it was overkill, the nature of this part of the country dictates you just don’t know when something big and cranky is going to show up! Further to this, it’s worth stashing a tray of assorted jig heads that will allow you to fish your plastics at different speeds and in different depths of the water column. High quality lure clips allow for regular lure changes as you experiment in finding the winning formula, and the usual staples such as pliers and a measuring device should be readily on hand. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

//FINDING FISH As the wheels hit the tarmac and you are reacquainted with your carefully prepared tackle, it’s time for the fun to begin! One of the great joys, and sometimes frustrations, of fishing new territory is trying to ‘work it out’. This can pose some challenges, but when you crack the code and come tight on a few good fish in new country, the satisfaction is immense. It is important to remember that all places have their own intricacies that take time and persistence to understand.

For example, I wouldn’t mind betting that you produce better results in your local fishing spots now compared to when you first began fishing them.

Don’t be fooled by their size. Sooties pack a punch!

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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So, how can you quickly put yourself amongst the action in unfamiliar waters? As a basic starting point, the fundamental idea of fishing structure needs to be at the forefront of your mind. Rock walls, creek mouths, prominent snags and wharfs, particularly those with a light source, are all likely starting points, and you can pretty well be guaranteed that these sites hold various fish at one time or another.

A quick search on Google Maps using the satellite imaging function will quickly reveal such locations, and will also help you to identify areas that will be protected from any challenging weather. Furthermore, while there is the inevitable trial and error phase for the travelling fisho, this can be significantly diminished by upping your detective work and tapping into as many information sources as possible.

The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

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You can’t beat a local tackle store for the latest intel – go in and have a chat!

Arguably the best and most obvious pool of knowledge are the local tackle stores, and I am constantly impressed by, and grateful for, the advice offered. These stores are usually the first port of call for me in a new town. Not only will they help add to your list of likely locations, they’ll also offer invaluable guidance on the most productive tide times and the specific lures and techniques that have been getting the job done. Another source of intel’ that has emerged with the digital world are the various fishing forums that can be accessed with the click of a button. A quick search on Facebook prior to your arrival will quickly reveal location-specific and species-specific groups that essentially provide live updates on what’s been caught and how. In a similar fashion, fishing podcasts specific to your region of travel are a great resource to tap into and, if you’re heading north, be sure to tap into the brilliant ‘ABC Tales From The Tinny’ for some fishing guidance with a good dose of humour!

Accessing as much local and up to date information as you possibly can allows you to put a finger on the pulse and gets you that little bit closer to fishing success. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Even small blue salmon know how to scrap.

//LIKELY SPECIES The warm waters of the North-West foster the growth of an incredibly diverse range of aquatic flora and fauna, and to experience it first hand is nothing short of a privilege. While the list of potential fish encounters is enormous, it’s worth considering some of the typical target species for lure anglers and a few proven techniques before hitting the road.

Barramundi, mangrove jack and blue and threadfin salmon rule the roost when it comes to intertidal creeks and shallow-water rock bars. Soft plastics, soft vibes, poppers and hard-body minnows will all put you in the game, but in my experience, keeping your offering in the ‘strike zone’ for as long as possible is absolutely key. Don’t be in a hurry www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

Trevally are a great target, from boat, jetty, beach or rock wall!

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to rip your lure away from snags, snake drains and the like, as sometimes these fish need convincing! If fishing plastics, opt for the lightest jig head that is practically possible, to allow your presentation to drop slowly through the water column. The use of suspending hard bodies is also deadly, as the tantalising pause will often be the catalyst for a strike and, if fishing rock walls, focus on casting parallel to the wall rather than perpendicular, as often the fish will be parked up amongst the rubble, waiting for baitfish to swim by.

If you’re looking for some feisty encounters with A-grade sportfish, queenfish and trevally, are fairly reliable targets from both land and boat. When on foot, I focus my efforts around rock walls and wharfs, particularly around dawn and dusk, and love nothing more than the visual spectacle of throwing poppers such as the Halco Roosta or the Rapala Skitter Pop. If, however, the sun is prominent and the surface bite is uneventful, sinking stick baits and the use of natural coloured jerkshads will often bring about some willing takers. Finally, if needing a little more distance in the cast, chrome slugs are a great option and instigate some hard-hitting takes when cranked at high speed! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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The aggressive nature of sooty grunters makes them a terrific top-water target.

While they don’t get much of the limelight, sooty grunter are absolutely worth considering as a target, particularly if heading inland to gorge country. As my travels took me away from the coast, the humble sooty became my focus, and they were very much a welcome companion on the otherwise hot and dusty Gibb River Road.

If targeting sooties, small walk-the-dog style surface presentations are a must, as, despite their size, these fish are aggressive and will happily wallop a top water offering, often coming back for a second or third crack if they haven’t found the hooks.

Again, if surface presentations aren’t the winning formula, a small selection of paddle tail or curl tail plastics will allow you to access the fish that are holding a little deeper in the shadows of the gorge pools. Given that you’ll often need to clamber your way through the gorges to get to suitable holes, a three-piece rod that can be stored in a back pack is a very handy companion, as in some instances you’ll be need both hands free to boulder through some pretty wild terrain.

Finally, it’s hard to pen a piece on the North-West without mentioning tuna and mackerel. These bluewater speedsters pull string off a spool at a rate rivalled by very few, and the North-West boasts healthy populations of both at specific times of year. While these fish are predominantly targeted by the boat brigade, it is very much possible to hook up land based if you’re keen and dedicated to putting in the time. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

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Glassy waters and tuna on the chew.

If on the blue, trolling divers along reef contours or around patches of ‘working’ birds is a good way of getting connected, however the reel enjoyment comes from throwing poppers, sinking stick baits or metal slugs at schools that are visibly feeding. Casting lures from rock walls and wharfs can be effective for the patient landbased crowd and, if willing to fish bait, drifting whole pilchards or garfish under a balloon with a favourable wind can put you amongst the action when the fish are out of reach. There aren’t many fishing scenarios that get the adrenalin pumping like the first run from a big mack’ or tuna, so put them on the bucket list and hold on!

Sunrise and an incoming tide – this popper copped a hiding! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The simple joys of the west coast.

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The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

Assist hooks can result in a greater hook up rate when fishing the surface.

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www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Classic Kimberly country – a true gem.

The variety of aquatic life is simply remarkable in the north-west.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

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//TIME ON THE BLUE Even though the land-based opportunities in the North-West provide some first class fishing, there’s no denying that having access to a boat opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

This is all well and good if you’re towing a boat with you on your travels, but for the majority of us, we can be left on the shoreline dreaming about what lurks just beyond casting reach. Thankfully, most major regions along the northern and western coasts are now extremely well set up for tourism and, as a result, those of us travelling without a boat can access blue water opportunities through the charter industry and the many boat hire businesses dotted along the coastline. This is a genuine luxury for the travelling fisho, as for a pretty reasonable rate you can access the deep blue with very little hassle and step ashore at the end of the day with a swag full of stories without having to worry about towing, cleaning or running repairs while on the road.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Whilst dry season is not renowned for barra fishing, they are still very much an option for those willing to persist.

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Access to a boat opens up a realm of possibilities. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

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The Ningaloo reef – a true Australian gem.

The Mildura wreck at Exmouth. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Not a bad backyard. Many camps along the west coast are just a stone’s throw from the water’s edge.

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Reward for effort! Beer-battered barra is hard to beat. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Travelling Angler – Road Tripping The North-West

Regardless of the sub-species, all trevally know how to pull!

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//CONCLUSION There’s no doubt that one of the greatest gems in fishing is that it can take you to some of the most incredible places the planet has to offer. To travel the NorthWest is one hell of an adventure (and privilege), and to do so with a few rods and lure trays adds to the experience tenfold! While the everyday tourist rushes to the hallmark attractions, those of us keen to find a fish often end up off the beaten track, finding a few hidden treasures and really experiencing a place in its natural state.

So, if you’re dreaming of the warmth and some first class fishing, why not give the North-West a go and ram that suitcase with lures? How lucky we are to live in Australia!

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Fooling Big Bream

SHANE MENSFORTH

Fooling Big SPOOLED MAGAZINE

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Bream BIG BREAM DON’T GE T THAT WAY BY BEING STUPID. AS SHANE MENSFORTH REPORTS, YOU’VE GOT TO BE ON YOUR GAME TO FOOL THOSE 45CM-PLUS FISH, PARTICUL ARLY ON LURES AND FLIES.

When they approach the magic 50cm mark, bream can tough to hook and even tougher to land! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

It was one of those balmy late spring mornings. There was scarcely a breath of wind, the estuary was mirror calm, and unlimited sunshine completed what was essentially a copybook fishing day. We had been on the water since just after daybreak without so much as a sniff, and my resolve was starting to wane. Compounding my disappointment was the company I’d been keeping that morning; good mate and occasional visitor to SA, Kaj ‘Bushy’ Busch, was my fishing guest, and to have drawn a complete blank on one of my favourite bream waters certainly wasn’t the result I’d been hoping for.

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www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Fooling Big Bream

Bushy has been at the caper long enough to understand that chasing big bream isn’t always easy, and especially so in shallow water when it’s warm, calm and sunny.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t resist the temptation to fire off the odd good-natured barb about travelling all the way from Pambula on the NSW south coast to catch nothing.

“Are you sure there really are bream in this river?”

“All this excitement is getting to me. I’m going to have to sit down under a tree until I can regain my composure.”

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Bushy returned a year later, and this time kicked bream butt!

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Bushy’s wit is as dry as they come, and I had been waiting for the ribbing to start. But he sensed my anguish, and consoled me with a couple of stories of similar fishing wipe-outs in his home water while hosting interstate guests. It’s both embarrassing and disappointing to talk up an area and have it shut down completely when it counts the most.

With the sun directly overhead by this stage and the mercury pushing into the mid 20s, retreating to the pub for a cold beer and counter lunch emerged as a sensible alternative to endless empty casts. We were on our way back to the car and thinking about anything but bream, when Bushy stopped dead in his tracks and pointed to the water.

“Look along that bank. There’s big fish everywhere there!” he whispered excitedly.

I already had a Squidgy Pro Lobby tied on, so I fired off a cast into the strike zone, let it sink most of the way to the bottom, then worked it back with subtle, erratic jabs of the rod. The lure danced seductively, exactly as it was intended, and was easily visible for much of its journey back to the rod tip. One bream the size of a small snapper had a half-hearted look at the Squidgy as it trundled past, but other than that, there was little interest from the main group. A dozen casts later, the score was exactly the same.

A victim of the brilliant Squidgies Pro Lobby

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Sure enough, stacked up along a drop-off on the opposite side of the sand flat like a regiment of well-drilled soldiers, were dozens of thumping big bream, clearly visible in the gin-clear water. None looked to be under 40cm and the majority were in the 45-50cm range — trophy-sized fish in anyone’s terms. From not having seen a fish at all, we were suddenly confronted by more big bream than I’d ever seen in a single session. Now all we had to do was catch them.

Fooling Big Bream

The Pro Lobby, rigged weedless and good to go.

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Meanwhile, Bushy had been crouching down 20m to my left and observing the whole scenario. I could tell he was planning some sort of strategy, and when he asked about my leader diameter and lure head weight, it was obvious a plot was about to be hatched. Bushy is just about the most astute angler I’ve ever met, and with hundreds of big bream captures under his belt over several decades, I was keen to see what he’d come up with to counter the shyness of these obviously shut-down fish.

“Mind if I have a go?” he enquired politely, and at that moment it occurred to me that I hadn’t really been as hospitable as I should have been. A courteous host would have allowed his guest first crack at the fish, and I beckoned him toward the water as soon as he was rigged and ready to go.

While I had been allowing these mega-bream to make a monkey out of me, Bushy had been re-tying his leader and poring through my selection of soft plastics. He had discarded the 3kg nylon leader we’d been using for most of the morning and had attached about two metres of 1kg fluorocarbon. The plastic of choice was a 70mm Squidgy Flick Bait in pilly colour, rigged totally unweighted on a size six weedless hook.

In anything but dead calm conditions this would have been impossible to cast the required distance, but like the expert angler he is, Bushy pinged the little Flick Bait with minimal effort, lobbing it just a few centimetres short of where the bream were holding.

He let it touch bottom and sit there for a few seconds, then twitched the lure twice in rapid succession. Almost unbelievably, not one, but a dozen big bream took off after it, and before it had covered a quarter of the return journey, the little plastic was set upon in no uncertain terms. I was flabbergasted! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

With such light terminal gear, all Bushy could do was let the fish have as much line as it wanted, keep the rod tip high and try to steer it away from a couple of menacing snags. This was a serious bream — comfortably in the 46-48cm bracket and probably pushing toward four pounds — and we both knew it wasn’t going to be easy to subdue in difficult territory.

The Squidgies Flick Bait in pilly colour is always worth a cast or two

Bushy managed to keep it out of the timber on several occasions, but just as things started to swing in his favour, the ultra-light fluorocarbon popped unexpectedly and it was all over.

“That’s a bugger,” quipped my guest angler. “Thought I had him coming the right way.”

I would have anticipated a stronger response!

As things turned out, this would be our one and only hook-up. All the commotion from Bushy’s fish scattered the rest of the school immediately, and we simply couldn’t find them again. We hadn’t landed a single bream for the morning, but I probably learnt more about tempting big bream in those few minutes than I had over the previous decade.

We all know that light terminal tackle will invariably lead to better catches, particularly when conditions are tricky, but rarely before had I witnessed such a graphic and compelling demonstration. Bushy went on to tell me he often drops down to one kilogram trace on educated bream, despite the fact that the bust-off rate is inevitably higher. His theory — and one that makes a good deal of sense — is that it’s better to score bites and blow the odd big fish than to score no bites at all.

Bream can be enigmatic creatures. In some situations they are as dumb as dog droppings, eating practically any lure or fly you throw at them. However, when conditions are tough and their average size is right up (as described during my session with Bushy), they can be about as demanding as any fish you’re likely to find. If you can see them, chances are they can see you (or at least your movement), so you’ve really got to adopt a stealthy approach and keep your terminals as light as possible. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Fooling Big Bream

I frequently visit the upper reaches of Adelaide’s Port River, where there are still some thumping big bream if you know where to look. If it’s still and sunny, you’ll often see bream around many of the Port’s old, decaying pilings that will frighten the pants off you. Some are comfortably past the magic 50cm mark — bronze in colour, incredibly deep through the flank, and about as tough to hook as any fish I’ve ever encountered. These big guys have seen it all before, and, as the old cliché goes, they didn’t get to that size by being stupid.

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Despite many ‘assaults’ on these upper Port giants in recent times, I’ve been able to hook just four – and landed none of them. It was only by using Bushy’s one 38 kilo approach that I managed to connect at all, but extended battles proved too much for the spider web trace. I did manage to get one fish clear of the pilings and out into open water, but it had the lure well back in its mouth and eventually the leader came in contact with a gill plate or some other such sharp bit and let go.

OK, so we’ve established that ridiculously light leader will get you more bites, but for most anglers there has to be at least some degree of practicality. In most lure or fly fishing situations I start with six pound leader and drop back to four if I have to. Six is relatively robust, particularly a good quality fluorocarbon, and there aren’t too many bream out there that will bite through it. Bream have menacingly powerful jaws and teeth, but like snapper, those teeth are designed to crush rather than cut.

Six pound fluoro tends to drop down and fit between the front teeth rather than rasp over them, so you have to be unlucky for a decent fish chop through it.

Putting the big girls back makes a lot of sense.

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Fluorocarbon really is a better choice than nylon mono in most situations, as it’s inherently tougher, its light refractive index is far lower (rendering it less visible), and its reduced buoyancy makes soft plastics sink more naturally.

You’ll pay more for good fluorocarbon, but it’s definitely worth it. Depending on where I’m fishing, I’ll usually tie on at least a rod length of leader for two reasons — firstly to provide some abrasion resistance where it’s needed most, and secondly to separate the lure from highly visible braid mainline.

There are several knots that can be used to connect fluorocarbon trace to braid, but by far the easiest to tie is the double (back-to-back) uni. This consists of a uni knot formed one way that wraps the leader around the braid, butted up against a second uni tied in the opposite direction that wraps the braid around the leader. Confused? Don’t be, with a little practice you should be able to tie it neatly and reliably in 30 seconds.

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The double uni knot may sound complicated, but with a little practice you’ll be tying one like a pro.

I mentioned in the rather long-winded opening to this piece that Bushy fooled that big bream on a completely unweighted Squidgy Flick Bait. As is the case with leader diameter, the lighter your soft plastic presentation, the better your hook up rate will be. Only in still conditions is it practical to use no head weight at all, but this is undoubtedly the way to go if possible.

The Squidgy Pro Lobby is among the most effective soft plastics I’ve ever used on big bream. It isn’t easy to find these days, but there are plenty of other top notch yabbie imitations from other manufacturers that are also worth exploring. I like www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Fooling Big Bream

to rig plastics of this style on weedless hooks, and the Mustad Mega Bite in size 1/0 sits in the Lobby very naturally, causing it to sink quite slowly and helping the lure perform as it was originally intended. The Lobby is most ‘yabbie-like’ in this rigging configuration, and is definitely at its best best with no jig head weight.

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The Squidgies Wriggler has long been a favourite for big bream If you do have some wind or tide to contend with, particularly in deeper water, rig your plastic on the lightest jig head you can get away with. The more time the lure takes to get to the bottom, the greater your chance of getting ‘bit on the drop’. I tend to rave on about this a bit, but rigging for maximum sink time is definitely among the golden rules of plastics fishing.

Suspending hard bodies can be very effective big bream catchers, especially if the fish are hanging on structure and well away from the bottom. Most of the big-name lure manufacturers offer a selection of suspenders, which need to be rigged thoughtfully to suit specific fishing locations. Some of these lures are so finely tuned and so weight sensitive, that the choice between nylon and fluorocarbon leader material becomes quite significant. A length of six pound fluoro, for example, will generally sink quicker than nylon monofilament of the same breaking strain. Fluourocarbon can upset some suspending lures, whereas nylon will usually have little or no effect on their buoyancy. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

This doesn’t necessarily mean, of course, that you can’t use fluorocarbon with suspending lures; on the contrary, in fact. That small, but noticeable buoyancy variable can be useful in situations where you want that lure to descend very slowly before being cranked into life. It pays to carry some nylon leader as well as fluoro so you can make the most subtle of lure sink rate changes by simply tying on a new length of trace.

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Shallow-running hard-bodies are very useful in the estuaries www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Fooling Big Bream

A selection of proven lures for mega-bream

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Suspenders like the Rapala Ripstop and the EcoGear MX48 can be dynamite around old wharf pilings, in rivers where there’s submerged timber, and also in waterways where there are bankside ledges and pronounced drop-offs. When the fishing is visual, there are few things more exciting than casting a suspending lure into where you know the bream are holding, getting it to the right depth, twitching it to imitate a wounded baitfish and ultimately seeing a big bream race over and annihilate it.

A superbly conditioned fish from Adelaide’s Port River www.spooledmagazine.com.au

I know that fly fishing for bream isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s something I have really grown to enjoy in recent times. Bream love a well presented fly — sometimes more than the best presented lure — and this is an aspect of the sport I rate as a definite challenge. I’m no world class fly caster by any stretch, but I can wield an eight weight well enough to get by on most bream waters, particularly when the wind is down and mega casts aren’t required. I fish with fly in several waterways around Adelaide, on Kangaroo Island and on Eyre Peninsula, enjoying the challenge and often catching some pretty good bream in the process.

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Bream on fly tackle are a heap of fun Because I’ve had best results on relatively bulky flies, I use an eight weight outfit for optimum casting. I can already hear some expert fly fishers scoffing at this, but I definitely find it easier than with a more traditional six weight. I started off using flies like small Crazy Charlies and similar crustacean patterns, but now opt for bigger, uglier things I’ve had tied by a couple of fishing buddies. Good mate, Bill Farmer, provided the first batch, which were relatively heavy and didn’t resemble much of anything in the natural world, but caught big bream like nothing else.

These were christened ‘Bill’s Bream Bustas’, and they continue to do the job nicely.

Renowned SA-based fly fisher, Lubin Pfeiffer, also tied some flies on a similar theme for me to try recently and they, too, have scored a heap of lovely fish. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Fooling Big Bream

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The Bill’s Bream Busta resembles nothing much at all, but catches plenty in the estuaries

It seems that olive and black with some gold or silver flash is the most effective colour combination, particularly in the Port River, and these days I rarely tie on anything else. One commercially available fly pattern that has proven successful is the Felty’s Baited Breath, again in olive green. I’ve tried blues, whites, browns, pinks and blacks, but nothing seems to work quite like a fly that’s predominantly green. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

I fish with a floating line and relatively long leader, which allows the fly to sink to a predetermined depth before being stripped back. As is the case when using soft plastics and most hard-bodied lures, I always let the fly sink the full length of the leader, then count slowly to ten before commencing the retrieve. I’d estimate that at least 80 per cent of the bream I hook grab the fly as it’s sinking or on the first couple of short strips. To me this indicates that the fish watch the fly as it’s on the way down, then pounce on it before it has a chance to get away.

Felty’s Baited Breath in olive green is a gun bream fly

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Laurie Broomhead hooked up to a thumping bream on 6wt fly tackle

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Fooling Big Bream

One of the great things about bream fishing is that you can make it as basic or as scientific as you like. Bait fishers catch plenty of nice ones, of course, but there’s nothing quite like fooling them on lures or flies. I’m certainly no bream fanatic, but I know plenty who are, and they are invariably clever, persistent and fastidious anglers. The ability to catch big bream on a regular basis is what really sorts out the experts from the rest of the field.

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If you’re keen on becoming a big bream specialist, stick to the golden rules of tying on the thinnest leader you can get away with, using the lightest possible lures or flies, and getting out there amongst them as often as you can. I can 46 guarantee you’ll hook more big bream and have a lot more fun in the process!

Paul Worsteling with his first fly-caught bream from north of Port Lincoln

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Hard Core Thrills!

STEVE ‘STARLO’ STARLING

Hard Core Thrills!

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The Joys of Fishing With Hard-Bodied

Lures

Deep divers and Aussie bass go hand-in-fin.

STARLO WAXES LYRICAL ON THE TOPIC OF FISHING WITH HARD LURES... AND OFFERS SOME ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS FUNDAMENTALS IN THE PROCESS THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO LIF T YOUR CATCH RATES. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

I find it difficult to nominate a more thrilling moment in the wide world of recreational fishing than that urgent, angry, bone-jarring impact of a decent fish crunching down onto a hard-bodied lure. It matters little to me whether the fish in question is a rust-hued mangrove jack, a speckled rainbow trout, a chrome-plated barramundi, a blue-nosed bream, or a hulking great Murray cod. It’s all good!

//THE FIRST LURES

One of Starlo’s hard body lure trays from 20 or 30 years back. Some things change, some remain the same.

How many of these classics can you name?

Hard-bodied lures have been around for a very long time. They most likely evolved from the earliest rudimentary fish hooks, which were typically carved from bone, shell, fire-hardened wood or even stone by prehistoric hunter-gatherers. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Don’t get me wrong — I’m smitten with tweaking soft plastics, and probably do more of that than any other style of fishing. But bites on softies tend to run the gamut of lower intensities: from the most subtle of pick-ups that barely register as a trembling “tick” in the semi-taut line, to somewhat more energetic whacks and insistent tugs.

Rarely, however, do they have that same spine-tingling, hair-raising electricity as the crunch of teeth and bone suddenly clamping down like a bear trap onto wood, plastic or metal. When this impact is transmitted via a taut length of braided gelspun line, it’s magnified even further. I’m constantly reminded of that wonderful line from the early advertising blurb accompanying the original Spiderwire braid, which spoke of strikes when using this stuff being akin to “running over a brick with a lawn mower”… It’s an apt metaphor for fishing hard bodies, especially on braid!

Hard Core Thrills!

Often, these simple hooks — lashed to a length of plaited hair, plant fibre or vine — were baited with a sliver of meat, if such a luxury could be spared. But those early fishers soon discovered that a bare hook would sometimes attract bites, especially if it was jiggled seductively in front of a hungry fish.

Hooks made from shiny materials like polished bone or slivers of seashell were found to be the most likely to draw interest. Being able to tempt and catch fish in this way reduced the need for bait — simplifying the process, and also removing the sacrifice of those valuable little scraps of protein that had previously been skewered onto hooks and fed to the fish, instead of satisfying human hunger pangs. Thus, lure fishing was born.

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Timber lures do eventually get chewed up! Big green jobfish on a “Ralphala”.

From ornate mother-of-pearl jigs trolled behind Polynesian war canoes to the beautifully-crafted curlicues of oyster shell employed as hooks by some Indigenous Australian fishers, early lures took on a myriad of forms. But their underlying intent was always the same: to fool a fish into biting something inedible. Not much has changed. A lure remains no more than a “a lie told by a fisherman to a fish”. The more convincing that lie, the more easily it is swallowed. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

In modern soft plastics and some fur-and-feather flies such as the articulated Game Changers, we have arguably arrived at the most convincing “fish lies” yet devised by the minds of inventive men and women. The best of these offerings not only look and act like living critters, they are also soft and yielding to the touch or bite. They can even be scented and flavoured to complete the illusion. No wonder they work so well, and are often eaten while simply sinking through the water column or lying inert on the bottom!

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This Jackall Squirrel has been fitted with beefed-up hooks. It now just barely suspends in brackish water, making it perfect for the “park the bus” style of exaggerated pause after a rip that can so often be deadly on barramundi and a host of other species. Note the loop knot in the heavier leader to maximise the lure’s action, too. Little things matter! //FAST TALKING CON ARTISTS With hard-bodied lures, the lie or con tends to be uncovered much earlier in the process. When something that should be soft, squishy and tasty turns out to be hard, sharp and unyielding instead, a striking fish will often attempt to abort the mission and reject the item. They wake up to the lie almost immediately upon contact. That’s why most hard lures are fitted with well exposed or trailing hooks — often multiple sets of trebles. These hard lures rely on that first moment of impact to (hopefully) pin their target, as the fish is much less likely to hang on for long, nor come back for a second or third attack, as they might with softies or flies. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Hard Core Thrills!

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Starlo with a billabong barra taken on a Rapala Flat Rap timber hard body. There’s a fine balance when upgrading hardware on lures like this. Too much weight will kill that lovely action.

There are exceptions, of course. Extremely life-like replicas of hard-shelled prey like crabs or mussels are often actively chewed on by fish, rather like soft plastics. The fish expect these tid-bits to be crunchy and even spikey, so they keep right on trying to swallow the lie. This can work in the angler’s favour.

In the majority of cases, however, a hard-bodied “lie” needs to be told faster, with less embellishment of detail, and the con job completed more quickly than is the case with softies and flies.

Think of a carnival sideshow huckster hiding a pea under one of three upturned cups, then quickly shuffling the cups about on his table… Where’s the pea now? Were you watching closely enough to track it? Chances are, if the performer is any good at the trick, you’ll get it wrong. That’s basically how hard-bodied lures work. We’re effectively saying to a predator: “Look, a little fish! Quick, grab it quick before it gets away!” And then we’d better hope those swinging hook points are sharp enough to seal the deal at the first grab. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Metal jigs, slugs and baitfish profiles are a great choice for fast saltwater predators. That wire trace could be a little more subtle, though!

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Understanding these subtle differences between fishing with different styles of lures can have a big impact on success rates. They also help to focus our attention on what’s really important: slower, natural, life-like presentations with soft plastics or flies, and possibly a delayed strike on the take, versus faster, more impressionistic presentations and sleight of hand with hard bodies, along with the need to strike quickly (and have sharp hooks) in order to seal the deal. These differences are important. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Hard Core Thrills!

//HARD BODY FAMILY TREES

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There are so many different styles of hard-bodied lure on our tackle store shelves these days that it would be almost impossible to list them all. There are metal jigs, baitfish profiles, slugs, slices, spoons, spinners, vibes, blades, skirted heads, stick baits, poppers, sliders, crank baits, minnows, plugs, crawlers, buzz baits, chatter baits, spinner baits… and so on, almost ad infinitum. Furthermore, each class or category seems to have at least half a dozen sub-groups, not to mention a bunch of different names, depending on who you talk to! It can all become extremely confusing. However, one way to cut the selection process 54 down to size is to simply look at whether a hard-bodied lure sinks or floats.

Buzz baits don’t see a lot of use in Australia, but they certainly have their places, especially on bass and Murray cod.

Basically, every hard lure on the market today will either float or sink when dropped into water. Sure, there are the so-called “suspenders”, too, although a lure that truly suspends is actually pretty rare. Most either sink or rise very slowly in the water column when paused, and that sink or rise rate will vary depending on the density and even the temperature of the water, not to mention leader material and thickness, whether you use a clip, the gauge of the hooks and rings, and so on. It’s an often-overlooked fact that a lure which rises slowly in saltwater on the pause may actually sink slowly in the fresh. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

With hard-body lure fishing being such a huge subject, covering such a multitude of options, I’m going to narrow it down for the rest of this feature and concentrate only on those hard lures that actually float at rest, and especially on the so-called floating/diving models of “crank bait”. We can come back in a future issue and look at some of the many other options.

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Hard Core Thrills!

//THE LAWS OF PHYSICS We can further divide floating lures into those that are designed to stay on or very near the surface when retrieved (like poppers, sliders and wake baits), and those that dive down to various running depths (plugs and minnows). Let’s focus here on the divers.

In the vast majority of cases, this neat diving trick is achieved thanks to a bib or lip fitted to the front of the lure, or incorporated into its body shape. This lip acts as a paravane when the lure is pulled through the water (or held against current), causing it to dive. You can get a rough idea of how deep the lure will dive by looking

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A handsome sooty grunter taken from a tropical creek on a small popper. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Two entirely different approaches to the same gang of tropical speedsters: go deep with a jig, or stay on top and pop? at the size and orientation of the bib. The larger that lip is, and the more it sticks straight out in front of the lure, the deeper the lure will tend to dive. Smaller bibs angled down under the body will generally make a lure run at a shallower depth.

Of course, the inherent buoyancy of the lure also plays a role. Very buoyant lures don’t tend to dive as deeply, and will also rise much faster in the water column when the retrieve is slowed or stopped.

Interestingly, the “battle” of physics going on between the diving forces exerted by water flowing over the bib and around the lure’s body versus the inherent buoyancy of that body is one of the main things that imparts “action” to a floating/diving lure. That’s why sinking bibbed lures often don’t swim quite as seductively as their floating stablemates, especially at lower speeds.

It’s no accident that lures with a very pronounced and strong side-to-side sway, especially at low speed, tend to have bigger, flatter bibs and highly buoyant bodies, while those with tighter actions and more “body roll” often exhibit smaller bibs and slightly less buoyancy. Those buoyant, big-bibbed, wide-kicking wobblers are also less likely to be able to handle a bit of extra speed without losing their grip on the water and “blowing out” than smaller-lipped, less buoyant models. Of course, there are plenty of exceptions to these rules, but they make a pretty good starting point for assessing the likely action of a lure you’re looking at in a shop or catalogue. In the end, however, there’s simply no substitute for giving them a swim and having a good look — ideally in clear water.

While you’re at it, you’ll hopefully learn how to put on a convincing puppet show… www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Hard Core Thrills!

//PUTTING ON A PUPPET SHOW I can’t claim to have invented the very apt analogy of “putting on a puppet show” when talking about how best to work or present a lure. I first heard it used by my wife Jo during presentations she was making to groups of novice anglers. I liked it. It’s a very clever description, because that’s exactly what we need to be doing every time we cast or troll a lure: putting on a convincing puppet show for our fishy audience.

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To do this, we need to think about exactly what it is we’re trying to represent with our lure. Is it a healthy fish, swimming along and minding its own business? Is it a feeding forage fish, chasing smaller prey, or nosing along the bottom in search of food? Or is it a sick, injured and dying fish, kicking and flashing in its final throes?

If it’s meant to be a yabby, what do yabbies do? Crawl along the bottom?

Flick their tails and dart up through the water before gliding back down to hide? Sit in one spot and wave their claws menacingly?

If we’re mimicking a prawn, how should we move our lure? Steady and straight through mid-water, propelled by its many kicking legs? Suddenly snapping its tail and shooting backwards? Flicking across the surface in a blind panic? www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Successful barra lures need to tick all the boxes: right size and action, right running depth and right hardware. Colour can play a part, too, but is generally less important than those other factors.

The truth is that any and all of these options might be the correct answer on the day. We need to discover exactly what it is that pushes the target predator’s buttons, makes it see red, and induces that killer rush of blood that results in a crunching strike and solid hookup. But we’re unlikely to get it right (or be able to repeat the successful pattern) unless we constantly think about what we’re doing and put some effort into making our puppet show look real. Pull the strings, make the puppet dance, watch how it behaves and learn to control it. That is the single biggest tip I can ever give you when it comes to using any style of lure or fly, including hard-bodies. Get your head around that process and you WILL catch a lot more fish on lures… I promise!

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Hard Core Thrills!

The old, original, floating Rapala F5 minnow in the RT (rainbow trout) pattern is hands down Starlo’s favourite trout lure. Its action is superior to the sinking or countdown (CD) models, although it certainly doesn’t cast as well. Swings and roundabouts.

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Working weed beds can be tricky but highly productive. This original RTB Legend accounted for a lovely golden perch along the edge of the salad.

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Metal blades or vibes like this Ecogear ZX are deadly on a wide range of fish species, including bream.

Skirted jigs catch fish, in this case a lovely wild river bass.

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Hard Core Thrills!

//THREE FINAL “HARD” LESSONS Finally, I’ll give you three more crucial lessons in lure fishing that apply to all styles of lures, but are especially relevant to floating/diving crank baits or hard bodies:

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Firstly, avoid “attacking” the target fish with your lure. Very few big, dangerous predators expect their vulnerable prey to come rushing straight at them! If you can see 62 your target, or even if you can only guess at its precise location and orientation, try to present your lure so it looks as if it is trying to avoid or even actively escape from the predator. That means crossing ahead of it or, better still, angling away from it. This approach is far more likely to induce a chase response and a strike than swimming your lure straight at the predator. It’s amazing how much difference this can make.

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Secondly, don’t get locked into the idea that a floating/diving lure can only work in water as deep or deeper than its maximum running depth. In other words, if you’re using a lure capable of diving to three metres on a long cast and retrieve, don’t be afraid to use it in shallower areas. There are many ways of controlling the depth at which the lure actually runs. Rod angle and retrieve rate are the most important. By keeping your rod

Nice king! Knife jigs are deadly in deeper water, but usually need to be worked fast and hard to perform their magic.

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tip up and not cranking too fast, it’s possible to hold a lure much higher in the water than its optimum running depth. Also, having it make occasional contact with the bottom in order to kick up a puff of sand or mud can be a highly effective strategy, especially on target species such as flathead.

Hard Core Thrills!

This knowledge and the ability to control the depth of your lure can be extremely handy for working across a shallow flat (rod high, slow cranking, regular stops), then crash diving it down a steep drop-off (lower the rod and retrieve faster). In reverse, it’s a great way for shore-based anglers to avoid constantly weeding-up or getting snagged near the end of each retrieve. Slow down, raise your rod tip and even stop winding to let the lure rise in the water column before bringing it in over the weed bed. Floating/diving lures are incredibly versatile in this regard: use that versatility.

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Deeper-bodied lures like this Koolabung are a great imitation of the bony bream that form so much of the forage base in Queensland’s dams… This Callide meterey thought so, anyway.

Which brings us rather neatly to my very last tip, which can be summed up quite simply as “the pause is your friend”.

Watch fish in an aquarium. Very few (apart from some pelagic species) swim constantly. Most move a little, then stop and hover or slowly sink or rise in the water before swimming forward again, often at a different speed, or turning and backtracking. Their pace and direction is constantly changing, from quite quick to dead stop. Mimic this behaviour with your lure “puppet”. Incorporate stops and starts in the retrieve. Use the rod tip to impart additional movement and action. If you’re trolling, hold the outfit in your hand and pump or sweep the rod before dropping slack back to the lure to alter its speed and action. In short: work it, baby! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Many fish will hit a lure on the pause (you better hope those hooks are sharp!) and even more will nail it the moment it begins moving again, straight after a pause. In some cases, and on certain species (southern black bream are a classic example), you can potentially increase your strike rate up to tenfold by simply incorporating pauses into the retrieve… or go from a donut day to a red-letter one. Don’t forget it!

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My main message to you is this: lure fishing should never become a mechanical chuckand-chance routine. On every cast and every troll run, you should be thinking about exactly what your lure is doing out there, how it will look to the fish, and what you can do from your end to make it appear more life-like and vulnerable to a potential predator.

Adopt that mindset, become a hunter, and your success will improve dramatically.

Implosion feeders like barra will often inhale a lure headfirst, especially on the pause. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Beneath The Mystic Mountain

JOHN ‘BEAR’ WILLIS

Beneath The

Mystic Mountain JOHN WILLIS SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON WHAT MANY CONSIDER THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SECTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN COASTLINE.

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Sunrise at camel rock - image by Alison Kuiter www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The rich forests, mountain peaks, lush pastures, sweetwater lakes, white sands, red cliffs and sapphire waters beneath Gulaga, (Mount Dromedary) hold an undeniable spiritual connection to all who visit and take in their beauty. Fishing is a legitimate passport that often becomes secondary to the overall experience of just being there.

In the legends of the local Yuin people Gulaga is a mother figure, a symbolic totem of their spiritual, physical and cultural heritage. But no matter your heritage, this bountiful NSW South Coast region provides a rich experience for all who visit. Fishing is a great way to enjoy its many treasures, but if you are anything like me, you will find yourself often putting down the rod and sitting back to take in the mystical surroundings of this magnificent environment.

That peace is often broken by the sounds of screaming reels from a range of species, including bream, flathead, trevally, whiting, luderick, estuary perch, tailor, garfish or even the occasional mulloway from the estuarine waterways under Mother Mountain. The regional waterways include Lakes Wallaga, Corunna and Nangudga, plus Wagonga Inlet at Narooma and even the Tuross River. To the south we find the Bermagui and Murrah Rivers, plus Cuttagee and Baragoot Lake and the little known oyster estuary at Wapengo.

All these magical tree-lined waterways present their own character and a range of angling opportunities for bank anglers, personal water craft users and small boat fishers alike. You can wade or float the sandy deltas where the cuttings and channels spill to www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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James Cook named Gulaga Mount Dromedary, as its shape reminded him of the hump of a camel. That was well before white eyes identified the aptly shaped Camel Rock, a coastal rock structure under the headland at the entrance to the peaceful sweet water of Wallaga Lake.

Beneath The Mystic Mountain

the sea, or perhaps popper the flats; maybe pump some bait or even float some weed for the local luderick. I’ve had many memorable times casting nippers, poppers and sometimes “walk the dog” style surface lures for the whiting, bream, trevally, flathead and even the occasional estuary perch when the moon is just right. These coastal flats provide some terrific prawning opportunities on the dark sides of the moon, and don’t forget to take along a flounder spear for the bottom dwellers, including the flathead.

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The local dusky flathead just love a well presented soft plastic jigged slowly along the edges of the sand drop-offs, and they often lurk upon surprisingly shallow sand bars lying in wait for passing baitfish, crustaceans or sandworms. I have often found 68 that a little bit of bottom structure, like a rocky outcrop or even the edges of a ribbon

The headland at wallaga looking back to gulaga - a great place to take in the mystic mountain and waterways.

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weed bed, will increase the success rate, but they could honestly be just about anywhere in the system. The big black duskies tend to live in tannin waters of the upper reaches, where you may also find the perch, particularly amongst the snags.

If you are feeling particularly lazy and have some sort of vessel, simply drift the gentle waters of the lakes with a paternoster and almost any fishy bait, and you will often be rewarded with a good feed of moderate sized frogs. If you are more energetic, work some blades or heavier weighted plastics to wake up and tempt the slumbering denizens of the deeper water of around 6-8m maximum.

For the more serious anglers there’s plenty of structure to work for a full range of species, with fallen trees, rocky shelves and oysterclad shorelines all providing great opportunities. In fact, many say that if you are fishing much more than one metre of water in most south

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Those offshore lizards sure taste sweet.

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coast estuaries, you are wasting your time.

That’s not quite true in my opinion, but the shallows certainly hold the habitat, structure and bait, especially when there’s a bit of wind lapping up small waves and dislodging the minor food sources. The wave action also aerates the water, exciting the fish, as well as deflecting the light and providing 70 more shelter from the predators from above, including shags, cormorants, kingfishers and the apex avifauna like resident ospreys, wedge tails, sea eagles and pelicans.

Small boats with electric outboards greatly expand your angling opportunities. So do kayaks and personal water craft, which grant access to the lesser populated coves, creeks and tributaries of the lake systems.

The local Ospreys, Sea Eagles and Wedge Tail Eagles keep a discerning eye on the goings on at Bermagui. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Sea Eagles love fishing too!

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Bermagui provides a safe, deep water harbour for the commercial fleet including fuel and co-op facilities.

One thing is for sure; if you have live bait, your chances of success expand exponentially! Nippers are usually quite easy to pump, and while you are sorting, don’t throw away the local shell or sandworm.

Learning how to collect beach worms is fun, exciting and very rewarding for the whole family, and almost every local species will respond with excitement. For a really tasty treat, don’t forget the crab pots to trap some succulent blue swimmer and mud crabs for a veritable taste sensation.

Collecting your own bait can be half the fun - Image by ALISON KUITER www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Does it get any better than this? Images with thanks to Jack Beattie – New Horizon Media

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//LETS GO SURFIN’ Let’s go surfin’ now — surf fishing, that is! My personal quest for the perfect wave was over many kilograms ago! While there are some terrific surf breaks under Gulaga, nowadays it’s the surf fishing that really attracts me. The long stretches of gleaming white sand, interspersed with rugged rocky headlands and river mouths, provide plenty of opportunity for the long rods.

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Many of the beaches are great hunting grounds for that elusive mulloway, and don’t forget the gummy sharks, Australian salmon, bream and tailor. The gummies love fresh slabs of flesh, particularly trevally, tailor, salmon or squid, while live bait such as a mullet or garfish is almost irresistible to a mulloway on a moonlit night. The rest will take a wider variety, including pilchards, white and blue bait, pippies and mussels, but a beach worm is often the prize catcher.

There is plenty of vehicular access to many of the great beaches, so you don’t need to be hiking big distances over steep sand dunes to get to the good gutters. It is worth noting that the region is home to many species of wiggle sticks, so it’s worth taking some extra precautions when crossing some of those narrow spinifex tracks down to the beaches, especially on a warm day.

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Rock fishing at Bermagui, note the anglers are all wearing life saving PFDs.

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There is a huge range of species available on the rock ledges, including luderick, drummer, sweep, snapper and mowies, or some coastal pelagics such as bonito and kingfish. Be warned; safety is imperative when fishing the rocks. There have been numerous deaths in the area for those surprised by that irregular large swell or the so-called ‘rogue’ wave.

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There is terrific surf fishing on the beaches beneath Gulaga.

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//ARE YOU GAME? Bermagui Harbour is tucked in behind a rocky headland, and hence somewhat protected from the southerly swells of the Pacific Ocean. To the north, but still under Gulaga, there’s another major ocean access formed by huge rock walls of the Wagonga Inlet entrance at Narooma. Both entrances can be very hazardous to the inexperienced, so please get some local knowledge before attempting any such crossing.

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The famous American fisherman Zane Gray put Bermagui on the map for its offshore fishing; in fact, it was once referred to as the Game Fishing Capital of Australia. Gray first 78 visited over 80 years ago for the fishing and found just so much more – and so will you.

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Gulaga, or colloquially “The Drom”, is a terrific sentinel for navigation for all offshore explorers. It has been the salvation of many navigators, particularly in the days prior to GPS. You always know you are well “over the drop” of the Continental Shelf when The Drom disappears over the horizon!

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Renowned American author Zan Gray fighting Bermagui marlin.

There are often days when even small craft safely go to sea to explore the magnificent deep blue oceans of the Sapphire Cost, where the rich indigo currents bring warm water and abundant food close to the shoreline. Riding those currents are the pelagic tuna (yellowfin and bluefin), albacore, marlin, spearfish, kingfish, snapper and a huge variety of marine life, including sharks, whales, dolphins, seals and even turtles.

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The Continental Shelf is at its closest to mainland Australia, where the rich waters abound with sea life, including the baitfish and ensuing predators. The famous Montague Island is only 13 miles north of Bermagui. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump from Narooma, providing plenty of structure for the kingfish and snapper, plus a huge variety of residents and pelagics, including the plethora of gamefish species. It’s a very popular fishing and diving destination, but the seals can terrorise you, stealing your hard-earned catches, and the currents can run very hard.

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While game fishing the Sapphire Coast is extremely attractive, the bottom bouncing is exceptionally popular. You may wish to just drift for some ripper 80 flathead and gummies inshore, but many of the reefs provide great opportunities

Bermagui’s north facing bar can get nasty. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

for bait and lure fishing, jigging or even drift baiting. There are snapper, morwong, trevally, bonito, kingfish, pike and a wide variety of other species, including baitfish such as yakkas and slimies. We often have some great times hiding behind headlands, berleying for the big sea-gars or jigging for the bountiful calamari, but the fight is on for who gets to eat most of the catch – us or the fish!

Deep dropping is getting really popular for blue eye trevalla, ling and a wide variety of other denizens of the deep, and there have been some swordfish captures, but not that many – yet. There are plenty of reefs from the coast out to 30m, and then deeper areas such as the six and twelve mile reefs out to around 150m of water. The twelve mile reef is also a popular area for jigging live slimey mackerel for marlin bait.

The snapper around the south coast seem to be getting bigger.

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//WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS? The Bermagui River and Wagonga Inlet at Narooma, plus almost all of the other waterways under Gulaga, offer terrific fishing for kids with their breakwaters, sandy beaches, lake fronts, walkways, piers and other structures presenting some great chances to catch good fish, even if you don’t have a boat. There are always plenty of fish moving up and down the rivers and lakes with the tides, and many residents as well… the trick is to catch them. Teach the kids to catch beachworms, or get them to help you pumping bait on the flats. They love it!

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There are way too many fishing charters to list, but there is something for everyone and every budget, including half day and full day charters. There are any number of large flybridge cruisers heading out to the shelf for the large pelagics, or perhaps you would prefer a ‘bottom bouncing’ session on the inshore grounds for succulent table fish like snapper, mowies, flathead and maybe even a yellowtail kingfish.

Bermagui harbour is home to both professional and recreational fishing and charter boats.

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There’s plenty of great fishing around Bermagui harbour and river.

Nearby wallaga lake has wonderful cabin, caravan and camping facilities.

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Bermagui’s blue pool’s a great spot for a swim and a fish.

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The Bruce Steer Pool is encased beside the main harbour and it’s a great spot for kids attempting their first snorkel.

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//WHAT, YOU’RE NOT FISHING? There are plenty of other attractions under Gulaga. In fact, the Sapphire Coast has some of the best beaches in the country, including the patrolled (summer) beach in Horseshoe Bay, Bermagui and many great enclosed sandy bays inside the rivers and lakes.

The Blue Pool at Bermagui is a natural saltwater swimming hole in the rocky seaward platforms where the rock enclosures have been permanently enclosed by concrete barriers, forming both a toddler and seniors’ pool. It simply never seems to get warm, even in the heat of summer, and the steep staircase down the hill is a popular exercise destination for walkers and joggers alike. The Bruce Steer Pool near the Bermi’ boat ramp is encased beside the main harbour, providing easy access to the water. It’s a great spot for kids attempting their first snorkel.

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There’s plenty to see and do at the nearby town of Tilba.

Surfing beneath Gulaga at Dalmany. - Image by ALISON KUITER

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If there wasn’t enough to do already, whale watching has to go on your to do list - Images by ALISON KUITER.

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Beneath The Mystic Mountain

The towns offer a wide variety of shopping, from supermarkets to a range of sports, art, craft and bric-a-brac, clubs, pubs, bowls, markets and festivals. The culinary delights abound, from a range of restaurants, take-away and cafés, craft, fish coops, fresh outlets to oyster tours. The locally-made chocolates, wines, cheeses and ice-cream should all be sampled and shared around; they are truly yummy.

Some will take the challenge to walk to the top of the mystic mountain, others a forest hike, some love bird watching, fossicking, trail bike riding, motor bike excursions, 4-wheel driving or just plain relaxing in paradise with great surrounds.

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Visit historic Tilba Tilba and take a moment in the old Dromedary Hotel, or perhaps enjoy a beer on the balcony of the Horseshoe Bay Hotel at Bermi’. They are both must-do’s on the long list of attractions for fisho’s and their families under Gulgoa. Be assured, the Mother Mountain will always provide!

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The Mackerel Islands

JARROD DAY

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Islands

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JARROD DAY DESCRIBES ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL AND EXCITING FISHING LOCATIONS, SITUATED IN THE RUGGED NORTH-WEST.

There is a place of exquisite beauty, one where nature prevails and turquoise coloured water is so clear, you don’t need a pair of goggles to see what’s below. Thevenard Island is one of ten islands and atolls that make up the Mackerel Islands, located just north of Onslow between Exmouth and Karratha off Western Australia’s Pilbara coast.

Destination Island, on the other hand, is far more remote, with only a single beach shack and no other amenities, meaning you’ll be totally isolated for the duration of the trip. Either way, the Mackerel Islands is certainly a destination to be added to any angler’s bucket list.

Large mouth Nannygai are also highly priced and at this size are a formidable opponent on the jig. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Thevenard Island and Direction Island are two of the islands that provide accommodation in the area for those seeking the ultimate remote offshore adventure. Thevenard Island offers cabin style accommodation, complete with lounge, kitchen, a recreation room, water sports gear/boat hire and BBQ facilities. Also available is fuel if you take your own boat along, with a small shop for limited essentials while you’re on the island.

The Mackerel Islands

//GETTING THERE Getting to the Mackerel Islands can be done in numerous ways. Adventurers can hop on the island ferry service, which leaves from Onslow. Alternatively, you can charter a flight to land on Thevenard, as they have their own air strip, or take your own boat across, also from Onslow, which is around a 45-minute trip.

Keep in mind though, if you are having a think about doing this trip, it is 1400km from Perth to Onslow, so you really to have to plan your adventure and take everything you need with you.

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While you are on the island, your car and boat trailer can be left near the boat ramp at Onslow in secure parking, which can be organised at the time of booking your adventure.

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//WHAT TO EXPECT Pure mayhem is the best way to describe the fishing at the Mackerel Islands. From line-stripping runs from a marlin, lure scoffing Spanish mackerel going aerial, or being pulled into the gunwale by a big GT, the Mackerel Islands have it all — and then some.

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The Thevenard Island Shop and outdoor area is a nice place to sit back and relax after a big days fishing. 93

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Don’t sell yourself short on a trip like this, you’ll need some very tough tackle to land the fish that abound in these waters.

//GEAR AND TACKLE The Mackerel Islands are surrounded by coral atolls that bring life to the area, as well as a vast array of demersal and pelagic fishes. You can catch just about anything here, from marlin to coral trout, GT’s to red emperor, and let me tell you first hand, you’ll need to plan your fishing and have the right gear for the species you intend on targeting.

Despite their natural beauty, the Mackerel Islands are located some 12 nautical miles from Onslow, meaning that they are susceptible to being windblown. Picking the more stable weather months will allow better access to fishing offshore, but even when it is blowing too hard to take the boat out wide, there is still the inshore fishery around the island or fishing from the 12km of beach that you can walk around. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

//FROM THE SHORE Shore fishing from Thevenard Island is about as good as you can get. When the wind is up, a short walk to the opposite side of the island allows casting stickbaits and small poppers in calm waters where coral trout, spangled emperor, long tom, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, GT’s and a host of other species can be caught.

Metal casting slugs are also a great option, as they can be retrieved at a fast pace.

This is particularly good if you see baitfish getting all busted up and need a small lure to get into the mix. Metals ranging 40-80g are more than enough in this situation.

Other lures, such as soft plastics and weighted shrimp/prawn imitations, are equally effective, but you will tend to lose quite a few on the coral-lined bottom. Despite losing them, their effectiveness is worth it. The local jetty has quite a number of hard-hitting beasts around its pylons, and it’s always work flicking a lure around them. Make sure your drag is done up tightly though, as you can be busted up quickly if you’re not ready for the hit.

The jetty is also alive at night with squid, so pack a jig or two. If you don’t want to eat calamari as an entrée with your main meal, you can always use them for bait. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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While these fish do strip line, they are of a smaller size in most cases, so you don’t have to fish too heavy. In fact, a 4000 size reel loaded with 30lb braid and a 7’6” to 9ft rod rated 30lb will pull them up. It does pay to have lures you can get a fair casting distance with, such as Yakamito’s 110mm Skinny Dipper, 120mm H-Core Pop, Zerek’s Thermite Popper and the Zerek Zappelin 115mm. These four lures have a great deal of weight, enabling them to be cast to the reefs, which lay about 30m from the shoreline.

The Mackerel Islands

//INSHORE Surrounding the islands, and in particular Thevenard Island, the inshore coral reefs are alive with fish. It is relatively shallow in these parts, so you do need to take it very slowly and carefully when working the area. The coral maze below is home to a host of species, including coral trout, mackerel, spangled emperor, various trevallies and plenty more. It is not uncommon to be drifting along and see a big dark shadow cruising above the reef; toss out a popper and see what happens!

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Though you can cast small poppers and stick baits, soft plastics running 1/4oz, 4/0 96 jig heads, metal vibes and pre-weighted prawn imitation lures are highly effective.

Beneath the bommies coral trout abound, but getting them out is not an easy task.

30lb braid may do the job, but you’re likely to lose more than you land, so load with 50lb braid and 60lb leader if you want a chance at all. Rods need to be up to the task as well, as you’ll require all the strength you can get to stop the fish dead in their tracks in close combat. Something in the vicinity of a 7’6”, 10-15kg to even a 20kg rated light stickbait style rod is ideal. Keep in mind that you’ll have your reel fully locked up, and if a decent fish gets an inch of line, you’ll be done over.

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When the weather is rough out wide, the inshore reefs are full of line stripping species with no exception to this coral trout.

If it is too rough to get out in the boat, there are plenty of species to tangle with from the beach and jetty.

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Sometimes you just can’t escape gold band snapper when jigging but they do fight hard and aew are delicious to eat so it’s all worth it.

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//OFFSHORE TROLLING The Mackerel Islands have an abundance of pelagic species, including longtail tuna, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, sailfish, mahi mahi, cobia and marlin to name a few. Having that array of species gives you the option of light, medium and heavy tackle, depending on what you wish to target. Most trolling done is just by flicking a few lures out the back, sitting on seven knots and following current lines or tracking around the outskirts of the islands and reefs.

Another side note is to rig all your trolling lures with wire. Hard-body lures should be trolled with a minimum of 60cm of 100lb single strand wire, as there are many toothy critters that like taking lures.

As most of the trolling around the Mackerel Islands is centred around pelagics, you can’t go in under gunned. There is a lot of water out there, and it isn’t uncommon to hook a marlin in 100m.

Spin reels in the 1000-20000 size range or small to medium overheads loaded with 80lb braid are more than enough to tackle the majority of species you’ll want to target on the troll. Rods do need to have some balls about them; a jig rod in the PE 6-8 category is ample. However, if you’re all set up to tackle a big blue and you’re prepared to head out wide, you’ll need to be equipped with heavy game tackle; things can change up dramatically.

//JIGGING Below the surface is a fishing mecca of epic proportions. It’s loaded with a wide variety of demersals that hug the offshore reefs tightly. Attempting to pull them away from it calls for locked drags and screaming ratchets.

Locating these line screamers is not as easy as you’d think, but it is vital that you do have a good fish finder and know how to use it. All you’re really looking for is hard bottom and, of course, clumps of scatter. From there you can pick your drift direction, drop your lures and get jiggy with it.

You’ll find fish on the bottom in various depths ranging between 30-100m, and when you do, depending on the depth, you can choose the appropriate jig weight to send down. It is vital that you use the correctly weighted jig for the depth and www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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While you can randomly hook a sailfish or a wahoo, with each going crazy all over the place, it is advisable you troll a maximum of three lures so you don’t get yourself into major trouble. In an ideal world, two deep diving lures (one 30+ ft and one 15+ ft) and one skirted lure as a shotgun rigged with wire is a good combination. This variety in set-up allows the lures to be staggered at different depths and distances from the boat, so when 99 a hook up occurs, there is no tangle mess or at least it is prevented as much as possible.

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drift speed. Otherwise, if you’re too light, you’ll have too much line out by the time the jig hits the bottom and be jigging almost horizontally rather than vertically.

Jigging in the shallower depths ranging from 30-40m, you’ll get away with jigs of 80-120g. Any deeper and you’ll want to increase the weight from 120g to 200g.

Despite most assist hooks being tied on Kevlar, the toothy brigade still bite them off, so it is advisable that you use assist hooks containing wire in the Kevlar cord.

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When you hook up, it is usually a matter of holding on until you get the upper hand.

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//BAIT SOAKING If you’re not into the energetic style of jigging and just want to sit back and relax, this place is not for you. Even fishing with bait can be mayhem and almost have you pulled out of the boat.

The only down side to fishing with bait is that you’re waiting for the bite, which sounds OK, but limits the distance between the coral reef and your hooks. You’ll need to get the upper hand fast or the fish will run you around the coral and bust you off — or worse, the tax man takes your fish.

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You can drag a bait across the bottom anywhere around the islands and you’re bound to catch something, but for the more highly prized species you do need to put in the work to find suitable ground where they’ll be holding.

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Once you have this figured out, a paternoster rig is more than suitable, but not just your standard paternoster rig; this one needs to be beefed up to the max. Some of these fish, including red emperor, largemouth nannygai and the various groupers, can really test out your gear. Preferred tackle consists of paternoster rigs tied up from 150lb test, with three-way crane swivels, a set of Mustad Gang Hooks or 10/0 circle hooks so the fish hook themselves.

Even in 40m of water you can have a ripping current and your sinker weight many need to be upwards of 20oz, so be prepared and take a fair range. Remember, there are a lot of sharks out there so you will definitely go through a significant amount of tackle. It always pays to have a lot of rigs pre-tied before heading out.

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Boats and other water sports equipment can be hired on the island.

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Whatever you do, don’t underestimate these fish. You might have your drag locked, but they can still rip line off the reel like you’ve never experienced. The ideal set-up is a jig rod, something like a PE 6-8 with 10000 series reel loaded with 50lb braid as a minimum. I know 104 this might sound like it’s heavy tackle, but it is definitely required.

The Mackerel Islands is a truly amazing fishing location, and one that has to be experienced to be believed. If you are on the look-out for that one special spot to put at the top of your bucket list, this place should be number one.

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Once you find a patch of fish on the sounder, the minute your jig hits the bottom, they are quick to eat it.

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The Road to Norway

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MARIAN MILLER

The Road to Norway MARIAN MILLER GIVES AN ANGLERS DIARY VIEW OF THE RECENT INAUGURAL L ADIES WORLD FLY FISHING CHAMPIONSHIPS.

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My journey to Norway for the inaugural Ladies Fly Fishing Championships with the Australian Ladies Fly Fishing team started long before I got on the plane in Melbourne. It goes back many years, to a little girl sitting alongside a canal on the outskirts of Liverpool, in the northwest of England. That’s where my love of fishing started. My older brother took me fishing and after he progressed from coarse fishing to fly fishing, I followed the same path.

My first river competition, whilst not a complete disaster, highlighted the enormous amount of practice required to have any hope of gaining good results. I spent the weeks in between competitions sourcing the necessary equipment and learning the new skills required to Euro nymph. YouTube proved to be a wonderful source of knowledge. Based on an adaptation of Czech nymphing, the new technique had been developed by anglers from various nations, including French and Spanish fishers. The rods are longer and lighter, the lines thinner, the tippet finer and the flies considerably different. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Emigrating to Australia 20 years ago, I took up competition fly fishing soon after.

The learning curve was steep and the lack of other women in the competitions was very evident. Often, I would be the only female angler competing at the national championship each year. I took a break from competitions for several years but returned following discussions with members of Fly Fish Australia, highlighting the need for more female participation. I re-joined the fold and pledged to help in the drive to get more women involved in competition fly fishing.

The Road to Norway

I used the days available to me to fine tune the new technique, unfortunately including breaking a brand-new rod! Luckily, it all paid off. I caught fish in each session of the competition and a sixth-place finish put me in the top third of competitors, landing me the precious ranking points needed to qualify for the Australian Ladies Flyfishing Team.

With my position in the team secured, it was all systems go to fish the first Ladies World Championships in Koppang, Norway scheduled for 2020. COVID saw a few resets to the start date, but when the dates were released for 2022, I set about re-qualifying for the team. Months of practice through lockdown must have paid off, as I once again found myself bound for Norway with the Australian team.

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Having met the rest of the team at Oslo airport, we set off for Koppang for the practice period. Recent rain in the area had waterways swelling, but it did little to dampen the growing sense of excitement within the crew.

The Aussie team all decked out and eager to start the practice sessions.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Day 3 – June 29th

//PRACTICE

Lake Solensjoen - sunny day with very little wind.

Atna River – weather overcast with rain and thunderstorms predicted later in the day Fished softer water near bank, a small brown trout caught on a 4mm Gold beaded orange tag pheasant tail nymph on point.

One Grayling landed in deeper water caught on a 3.5mm Gold beaded Squirrel on top dropper.

Team members all tried different setups and flies. Searching for fish in practise area of lake. Short time in afternoon trying different setups.

Three fish for the day, all grayling.

We travelled up to the competition part of the lake to check out possible target areas, although no fishing was allowed.

Day 4 – June 30th

Day 2 – June 28th Rena River – Overcast, but no rain Access to river was restricted, casting tabanas upstream to rising fish. Two takes by grayling.

Enforced rest day - the weather has been very wet, and all the rivers are high and fast. The competition organisers put out a message that no one is to enter the water, as the levels are life threatening.

Changed to Nymph rod and swung nymph across and downstream.

Five Grayling from same area.

Fly tying, gear sorting and discussions about what had been learnt so far. Good day to get laundry done and hope for levels to drop.

Afternoon spent tying flies and preparing for next day’s practice.

Day 5 – July 1st Atna River - Weather a bit kinder and river levels have fallen.

Two browns came to tabanas in softer water under trees and third fish lost in soft pocket water.

Changed to nymphs and swung through area where fish lost, got a nice brown on 3.5mm gold squirrel on dropper.

Three browns from deep hole and couple more lost, all on nymphs.

Water is very deep and fast wading staff is essential in these conditions.

Another session, another grayling. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Day 1 – June 27th

The Road to Norway

Day 6 – July 2nd

Morning- five small browns caught on nymphs a couple lost, all took nymphs on dropper in softer water.

GLOMMA!!!!!

Water is very high and current so strong; it is also still raining.

Fished nymph under dry along edge. One rise to dry, no fish hooked or landed.

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Afternoon two browns landed and one lost. All took 3.5mm copper beaded march brown perdigon.

Tried other areas but water too high to fish.

Day 7 – July 3rd Atna River - still raining, water levels still very high

Well organised fly boxes are a must when on the water.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

5th July 2022

//COMPETITION

Official practice day. We spent time checking out beats on Glomma and Atna.

4th July 2022 Registration and move to competition accommodation.

Tying leaders, packing gear for river and lake sessions.

Captains’ meeting including draw.

Rena included in competition. We will be given our beats on bus. No photos allowed during competition.

Opening parade in Koppang followed by opening dinner. Such a proud time for all of us representing our country on the world stage.

Opening parade and then straight down to business.

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Captains’ meeting: Atna and Upper and Lower Glomma were OK to fish, but Rena was high and dirty so draw delayed to see if Rena is included.

The Road to Norway

6th July 2022 Day 1, Session 1: Rena River Access to the river is via small area cut through the undergrowth. The banks are very high and my only way in is to slide off the edge and hope the water isn’t above the top of my waders.

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Limited to only one step from bank before water too deep. Not able to cast dries.

Nymph fishing limited as trees overhang beyond wading limits. Move to second access point, same entry style. Use bow and arrow cast to get beyond trees.

The team is all smiles as the competition gets underway. Ready, set, GO! Setting up for the start of competition.

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Gaining entry to access points is a challenge in itself.

Swing nymphs across and down under overhanging trees. I’ve snagged a log… No wait, it’s a fish! Netted safely and passed to controller to measure. Returned safely to water. Same cast, same result. Bigger fish!

Third access point, same access method.

Casting even more limited, not even able to use bow and arrow cast. Very frustrating as I can see angler in next beat is wading in ankle deep water, casting dry flies.

This session is broken up into two 90 minute blocks, so I move down river five beats. I receive a warning from one of the officials that I should not attempt to cross the river, as what appears to be a shallower area disappears into a deep drop off and I will be washed away. I have fish rising on opposite bank but not able to get to

them. Concentrate on nymphing with no result. Disappointed with only two fish but it gets me a 5th place in my group.

Day 1, Session 2: Solensjoen Lake The morning has been bright, but the afternoon is forecast for a windy change.

Armed with information from a previous angler, I head off to my target area. I put out a short cast to straighten line then make my first cast. The dry fly sits on the surface for only a couple of seconds when a grayling erupts from the depths, collecting the fly in its flight path. It re-enters the water and make a strong run. I quickly play the fish back to the boat and net it. My boat partner hasn’t made a cast yet. A good start.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Road to Norway

Several other boats gather in the same area and it’s obvious we will have to find another spot to fish. Directing our boat captain, we proceed further up the lake- fishing each bay where we can see structure with the hope of finding more fish. A slow figure eight retrieve yields another grayling.

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The weather is getting decidedly worse 114 and it’s plain the best of the day is behind us. I manage a take but no hook-up.

The session ends and we return to the jetty. I was hopeful of a 4th or 5th in my group… I get 2nd! Very happy with that.

7th July 2022 Day 2, Session 3: Atna River The weather is dry, but the water is still high and fast. My beat is at the base of a 40ft cliff, so I have to climb up the back of the cliff and then down to the river. That’s a workout before I even start my session.

I’m so disappointed to end the session with no fish, and I’ve got the climb up the cliff to get out of my beat. At least there’s only one session today, so can rest before the final day of competition tomorrow.

8th July 2022 Day 3, Session 4: Upper Glomma The weather is cold, wet and windy. The river is high and current strong and fast. I try every weapon available to me from dry flies to nymphs and streamers. Nothing.

I find out at the end of my session not a single fish has been caught from my beat, or the ones either side so far in the competition. It doesn’t help with the feeling of disappointment, plus I still have the 15-minute walk across a roughly ploughed field to the bus pickup area.

Fishing the softer water on the edges, I hope for small browns but unfortunately, it yields nothing. The loose rocks at the base of the cliff makes moving treacherous. I find a lovely hole behind a big rock and put my nymphs through it. I feel something but no hook-up. Putting an assortment of nymphs through the same are hole I feel something but no hook-ups. I move to a 5-weight rod, with a DI3 line and cast streamers and nymphs across the river to the all the areas I can’t wade to. Nothing!

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Overcast with windy conditions. Another long walk to my beat, but the water looks a bit more promising. The forecast is for strong gusty winds, but there are areas within my reach that I’m sure will hold fish. Nymphing upstream, I swing the nymphs down and I have a fish! A small brown, but it measures and I’m on the board. It has taken one of the patterns we were recommended to tie before the competition. Continuing upstream, I change to a UV Perdigon and have another brown in the net. Good news!

It’s bigger than the first. Continuing upstream again, I try all the hopeful looking pocket water for no result.

I try streamers on a DI3 but the wind has made casting very difficult, and I seem to be getting better distance casting my nymphing rig into those promising areas.

Still no fish. I finish with two fish for the session giving me 6th position in my group.

Then just as quickly as it started, it’s all over! I’m disappointed at having blanked two sessions but the fish I did land aided the Australian team to finish in fifth place overall and myself in 31st in the individual standings.

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Day 3, Session 5: Lower Glomma

The Results The ladies from the Czech Republic provided a master class, taking not only the team gold, but also the gold, silver and bronze in the individual standings. Fourth place was also secured by a Czech Republic angler.

Individual Ladies 1st - Tereza Rutova Czech Republic 2nd - Katerina Svagrova Czech Republic 3rd - Marketa Prochazova Czech Republic

Team Ladies 1st - Czech Republic 2nd - Finland 3rd - Norway

Click here for all the championship information www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Road to Norway

The Czech Republic team proudly wearing their gold medals.

Finland took the silver with the host nation picking up the bronze.

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Equipment Rods: A selection of rods from #2 to #6.

Reels: Lamson and Hanak reels with interchangeable spools Lines: specialist nymphing lines, range of lines from #3 to #7 including floating and full range of intermediate and sinking lines.

Leaders: Specialist dry tapered leaders, nylon (6X 12ft and 15ft), 2X and 3X copolymer tapered leaders. Nylon leader material to make up nymphing rigs in 0.18 and 0.16 diameter.

Tippet: Fluorocarbon tippet from 1X to 6X Mono from 3X to 5X Flies: bespoke patterns recommended by locals familiar with areas to be fished.

A range of pheasant tail nymph and soft hackle nymphs. Dry flies in a range of sizes. Streamers, wets, midges.

Fly boxes: organised to make access and selection easier. I attach lanyards to boxes to secure to my fly vest to help prevent loss on river.

Fly tying: enough materials to tie flies either lost or to develop patterns found to be successful.

Landing net: handle length suitable for either river of boat fishing. Magnet or other suitable retention device for use in river- I attach pool noodle to handle of boat net to aid recovery if dropped overboard.

Wading staff: ensure secured by suitable retention device and if it has metal tip consider fitting something to reduce noise of tip hitting rocks.

Personal Floatation Device (PFD) Waders and boots etc: breathable waders, boots with felt or felt/stud soles. (No studs allowed on boats). Wading belt, fishing vest, waterproof jacket, polaroid glasses, gloves, caps and beanies.

Miscellaneous: various floatants, desiccants, and sinking treatments for flies, tippets and lines. Tippet rings, nail knot tool, amadou, line straightener, nippers, forceps, wader repair solution, sunscreen, mosquito repellent patches.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

//CLOSING CEREMONY As the 1st FIPS-Mouche Ladies World Flyfishing Championships had been run alongside the 26th FIPS-Mouche European Flyfishing Championships, the closing banquet was a joint celebration. We enjoyed a great evening, celebrating with anglers of various nationalities, all united by their love of flyfishing. There were some special prizes awarded throughout the night, including recognition for a member of the English men’s team, who saved the life of his controller after finding him collapsed on the bank of the river.

Time to enjoy the festivities.

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The Road to Norway

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The Championship The municipalities of Stor-Elvdal and Rendalen in Norway played host to the first ever FIPS Mouche World Ladies Fly Fishing Championship. Hosted by the Norwegian Fly Fishing Federation, competitors from ten countries gathered to test their skills between the 4th and 10th of July this year.

Each fishing area, being both rivers and lakes, is broken down into sectors. Each river sector is further divided down into ‘beats’. Each angler is then allocated a beat, which they fish for a session that typically lasts for three hours in this style of championship.

The competitors are randomly allocated into groups, and then each group fishes one sector for a session. A minimum fish size is set, and all fish must be at least this size to count. All fish are measured by a controller, who completes a score sheet which the competitor signs. Points are allocated based on the size and the number of fish caught per angler. These scores, known as placing points, then dictate the standings within each group. First place earns a single point, second place two points and so on. The goal is to finish with the lowest possible number of placing points. Not catching any measurable fish results in a blank and maximum points. Your placing points from each session are then added together to decide your overall position in the competition. A team’s placing points are then added together to give a team’s result in the competition.

Easy! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

// CONCLUSION I tied over 700 flies prior to arriving in Norway and ensured I had spare equipment such as nets, reels and rods to replace anything lost or broken during competition. Spare boxes of flies were an essential item in my bag for both river and lake sessions.

It’s also extremely important to carry a complete change of clothes including a towel in a waterproof bag, just in case you fall in the river and end up going for a swim. You can get very cold very quickly in wet clothes.

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The Lure of it all - Matt Fraser

the lure of it all

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STEVE ‘STARLO’ STARLING STARLO CHATCHES UP WITH ANOTHER OF AUSTRALIA’S ICONIC LURE MAKERS, THE CREATOR OF BARAMBAH LURES...

Matt Fraser Barambah Lures creator, Matt Fraser, with a 116cm Glenlyon Dam cod taken on one of his Bony Shads.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Australian-made lures — whether they be anglers, collectors or both — who aren’t extremely well aware of Brisbanebased Matt Fraser and his superb ranges of Barambah Lures.

These amazing creations really are in a league of their own.

I guess that’s less surprising when you realise that they’re crafted by a bloke who has been deeply passionate about fish and fishing almost since his earliest childhood memories.

Matt clearly recalls his first-ever fishing trip, when his dad took him to Lake Broadwater, out near Dalby, in Queensland’s Western Downs. Young Fraser was just four years old at the time, but still vividly remembers the eel-tailed catfish they caught while bobbing worms from a little jetty, using Ned Kelly-style fixed lines attached to bamboo poles. Matt reckons he was as firmly hooked as those slippery catties!

“I remember pretty much every detail of that trip,” he told me. “I’ve been fascinated with fishing ever since!”

However, like every other serious lure maker I’ve spoken to for this column, Matt laments the fact that he no longer gets to fish quite as often as he’d like to.

“I still love fishing as much as ever,” he explained, “but my fishing time these days is sporadic, at best. I can go a few months between trips due to work, but then I’ll sometimes do a heap of trips back to back. I target lots of different species: from Murray cod, bass and barra to flathead, jacks and bream. I also love offshore fishing for snapper. It’s pretty hard for me to nail down a favourite, but impoundment barra are certainly the most addictive species for me.” www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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I doubt there are many serious fans of high-quality,

The Lure of it all - Matt Fraser

Barambah’s aptly-named Crazy Blue Tongue!

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Matt tells me that he first began making lures while still at high school, back in the mid-to late-1980s. He was inspired to do so after reading magazine articles featuring early Aussie lure-crafting luminaries such as Eric Moller, Norm Edwards, Peter Newell and Carl Grist. But while Matt was busily making his creations, he hardly ever got to fish with them, as he didn’t live close to any waterways holding lure-munching species at the time. Then, in the 1990s, he finally began lure fishing south-east Queensland’s stocked freshwater impoundments, chasing bass and yellowbelly, along with some flathead trolling in the salt. Some of his early hand-made lures worked, but none were outstandingly successful.

“Then, at the start of the ABT Tournament era — which coincided with the soft plastics’ boom in the early 2000s — I got right into fishing softies for bream, bass and flathead,” Matt told me. “Plus, I also got into making jig heads. I started the Nitro brand and made jig heads full time for three years, before selling the business to Pure Fishing and working with them for over a decade,” he explained.

“Finally, in 2015 I started dabbling with making timber lures and very quickly found my passion!” Matt enthused. “I discovered the LureLovers website and studied all the ‘OG’ makers, which tied right back into those magazine articles I’d read in the 1980s, and www.spooledmagazine.com.au

the fishing I’d done in the ’90s. I also met some of the great modern lure makers.

Everything just seemed to click into place and, within a year, I’d left Pure Fishing to go full time with Barambah Lures.”

“Nude” (unpainted) Barambah Crays crafted from camphor laurel.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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I asked Matt where the name for his lure brand had come from: “They’re named after Barambah Creek, in the South Burnett area of Queensland, where I grew up,” he replied. “It’s a tributary of the Burnett that flows through Bundaberg. As a kid, I rode my bike to various sections of the creek to target eels, eel-tailed catfish and spangled perch on bait. However, I did manage to catch my first fish there on a lure — a spangled perch that hit a lure I’d made. Nowadays, the Barambah is a great bass and golden perch fishery, as a result of fish coming over the spillway of Bjelke Petersen Dam (Lake Barambah).”

The Lure of it all - Matt Fraser

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www.spooledmagazine.com.au

While his first love today is making timber lures, he’s not a total purist. Matt also produces a full range of ABS plastic Barambah Lures, as well as jig heads. But it’s working with wood that really floats his boat.

“I really enjoy bringing a piece of timber to life,” Matt admitted. “I especially enjoy ‘Dremeling’ the more creative pieces. I also have a bit of a love/ hate relationship with air-brushing. It’s definitely the most challenging part of the process, but the results can sometimes be pretty special.”

Clearly, there’s a great deal of work involved in getting the lure-making process exactly right, and Matt explained to me that even just the initial prototyping of a new model can sometimes take a week or more. After testing, it’s then several more days work to make a master and set it up for copy-lathing the bodies.

“I’ll usually do a run of 100 timber lures at a time,” Matt explained, “so there’s also bib manufacturing to consider, plus the wires, components and hardware to acquire. Painting, assembly and carding can’t be forgotten, either, as time adds up in every step of lure manufacturing!”

I pressed Matt a bit further and asked him to nominate the hardest part of this whole timeconsuming process: “Sanding, for sure!” he laughed. “It’s a crap job, but it needs to be done well to get a good finish. It sounds like an easy job, but you still need skill to sand well.”

Original Barambah Collector’s Blue Tongues in metallics and pearls… Just stunning! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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‘Special’ is perhaps something of an understatement when describing Matt’s most artistic creations, and it’s hardly surprising that he’s won several coveted awards at the annual Australian Lure & Fly Expo — achievements and industry acknowledgements of which he’s justifiably proud.

The Lure of it all - Matt Fraser

I was also interested to find out who Matt relies on for initial feedback regarding his new lures: “I don’t sponsor any high profile anglers or anything like that,” Matt told me, “but I work closely with a bunch of guys who I consider to be mates. Ty Edmonds from Inverell probably has the highest profile in that group. If I need a lure tested, I know I can get it to a few guys like Ty and they’ll get honest feedback to me within a week or two. They can usually back it up with some great photos or video footage, too. Through social media, I’m also blessed to have a heap of guys sending me great feedback and pics of their captures quite regularly.”

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A full range of production Barambah Lures.

Barambah Timber Dragons in natural patterns. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Next I asked Matt who he looked up to most in the lure crafting world: “I really admire many of the original timber lure makers, including Edwards, Grist, Moller and Newell — plus Shane Murphy from Viper Lures, as a personal favourite,” he responded. “Then there are five modern day creative lure makers who’ve inspired me hugely with their incredible talent and skills. They’re Aaron Young from Kuttafurra, Chris Neilsen from Goodoo Guru, Chris Sinclair from Fugly Lures, Ollie Hardt from Ollie’s Handcrafted Lures and Bryan Power from Power Lures. In my opinion, these five guys are the best in Australia today, and all are unique in their styles.”

Matt Fraser’s quirky FJ Holden Ute timber diver.

To that wise observation of Matt’s, I’d add the comment that potential customers or collectors also don’t appreciate or respect someone who simply copies others ideas. Find your own expression, do your own thing and, as Matt urges, go for it!

Matt has his own clearly-defined plans for his own future, too. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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As for Matt Fraser’s advice to any budding lure makers reading this column, it was pretty simple: Give it a go! “There’s plenty of info on YouTube and social media these days,” Matt continued. “Almost anyone can get started with a few tools.

However, if you want to step up into production, I will warn you: it isn’t easy, and don’t give up your day job, because the hours versus dollars don’t add up. You really have to have a passion for it and put the time in. Also, once you’ve nailed down the basics, find your own style and ideas — no one likes to be copied.”

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A Barambah Crazy Timber Budgie.

“I’m expanding my range of production ABS lures for the retail market,” he told me, “and for the collectors, I aim to step up the quality and creativity of my timber lure work and make limited runs of more exclusive and creative ‘creature lures’.

“I really enjoy being able to fill two distinctly different areas of the market,” he continued.

“Firstly, I have a genuine passion for making the creative timber lures, and feel blessed that so many people appreciate my work. Secondly, I also really enjoy tournament fishing, so it’s great to be able to design a range of fish catching lures that anglers can readily buy in tackle stores and go out and catch fish on.”

Matt Fraser’s Timber Barambah Crays.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

A more recent Bramabah Angry Bluey in timber…

… and some from 2017: A JD Cod, a Blue Tongue and a Timber Cray.

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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At the moment, Matt has nine styles of production hard lures and two ranges of jig heads in his Barambah line-up, along with roughly 18 timber models. At the very top end of his highly collectible range are the Angry Blueys, Barambah Crays, JD Cod and Crazy Budgies, which are all limited-edition products. His mainstream production lures are available at many good tackle stores, or direct from www.barambahlures.com However, Matt’s timber lures are only available from time to time, as he finishes batches, or at events such as the Lure Expo. He doesn’t take orders on his timber lures, and more often sells or auctions them on his Barambah Lures page on Facebook… All of which keeps this motivated bloke very busy indeed. In fact, you could say that he’s flat out like a lizard drinking!

What’s NEW? SPOOLED LOOKS AT WHAT’S NEW IN THE MARKE T. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS, SIMPLY TAP THE BUT TON SHOWN.

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ARROWZ BREAM FLATS RODS The bream crank and bream surface 7-foot rods have been some of our biggest sellers. To sit alongside those rods, Arrowz have introduced a bream crank flats rod and a bream surface flats rod.

The new longer 7’6-inch rods are designed for long casts and incredible feel. Each rod blank has been specifically created to provide the best action and feel for the specific task. The slower tapered flats crank rod is designed to deliver a great action for the lure and a more absorbing construction to reduce pulled hooks. The surface rod has a faster taper with a not too soft tip imparting a realistic action to the lure.

Info www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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22 FREE SWIMMER BR Daiwa returns to the Bite ’n’ Run reel scene with the release of the 22 Free Swimmer BR. Designed in collaboration between Daiwa USA, Daiwa Australia, Daiwa New Zealand and alongside Japanese engineers, Free Swimmer BR is a reel five years in the making and a testament to Daiwa’s commitment to providing the best products to suit local conditions and meet the needs of local anglers.

The Free Swimmer BR features a strong and sturdy carbon composite frame, while the internals have been sealed through careful design and the implementation of rubber seals. This makes the Free Swimmer BR a true saltwater Bite ’n’ Run reel. Meticulous attention to detail was paid throughout the R ‘n’ D design phase with the Free Swimmer BR built and constructed to handle the toughest fish going including New Zealand’s XOS kingfish and snapper.

Free Swimmer BR is loaded with a host of Daiwa’s best technologies including Air Rotor, ATD Drag, and Tough Digigear and combine with Daiwa’s extensive development and design approach to make the 22 Free Swimmer BR Daiwa’s best performing Bite ’n’ Run reel ever.

Info

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

What’s New?

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BG BLUEWATER RODS Designed to withstand the rigors of offshore angling, BG Bluewater combines the pedigree and performance of the famous BG name with stunning value, to deliver anglers a rod series that ticks plenty of boxes yet won’t break the bank.

Featuring unidirectional wrapped, graphite/fibreglass construction, BG Bluewater blanks are incredibly resilient, have an unwavering backbone and the power to lift and lead hard pulling fish.

The BG Bluewater’s components are equally designed and selected to handle the punishment of offshore angling with titanium oxide guides, EVA grips, and rubber gimbals combining to deliver strength and control, yet selected with value and the budget conscious angler in mind.

The BG Bluewater range features 15 models, including spin and overhead, and will having your bluewater angling needs covered whether you’re chasing spring snapper in Port Phillip Bay, SBT in SA, or queenies and trevally in Queensland.

Whatever your taste or need there’s a BG Bluewater instore waiting for you now.

Info www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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BANTAM ARMAJOINT It’s no secret that swimbaits attract bites from big predators when other lures won’t, but getting big baits into the strike zone without spooking the target can be a challenge. Shimano’s new ArmaBoost lure technology changes the game by increasing casting distance by up to 35 per cent.

The innovative Arma Boost hinge design allows the Bantam ArmaJoint to effectively fold in half on the cast, enabling unparalleled flight time, stability, and casting accuracy for a swimbait of this size. Forget about those annoying, tumbling casts that often see your lure drop short of the strike zone and rob you of the chance of a positive hook-up.

The Bantam ArmaJoint also features Shimano’s ground-breaking Flash Boost system, engineered to constantly emit a fish-attracting flash during the retrieve, even on the pause. On the outside of this lure Scale Boost technology provides the platform for some of the most realistic lure finishes in the world.

The Bantam ArmaJoint comes in one size (190mm, 53g) and five colour combinations. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Info

What’s New?

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JABBERS BEAST FLOGGER TRAVEL ROD Multi-section travel rods add convenience and versatility to any angler’s tackle kit.

The ability to carry a 2.5m rod that breaks down into 50cm sections makes life a lot easier for those who fly regularly to go fishing. Travel rods have been around for many years, but few can offer the same type of ‘action’ as those produced

by Asian manufacturer Jabbers — and it’s what sets this new brand apart.

The Jabbers Beast Flogger is a five-piece rod available in both overhead and spin configurations. It’s seven feet two inches long and best suited to lines in the 20-40 pound class. Like all Jabbers rods, this one is fitted with top notch Fuji Alconite guides and trigger-style reel seat. The Jabbers ferruling system is second to none, with all five sections fitting together firmly and securely — providing a ‘one piece’ feel in a multi-section rod.

The Beast Flogger is the ideal stick for casting heavy lures like big swimbaits at Murray cod.

Jabbers products are not available from tackle stores. Check the website for further information on the complete range. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Info

SQUIDGIES REEF WRIGGLER The all-new Squidgies Reef Wriggler provides anglers with the ultimate soft plastic for aggressive and predatory fish species.

The Squidgies Reef Wriggler has been developed in Australia for Australian fishing conditions. These meticulously designed soft plastics feature a ribbed body composition to create a sonic trail of micro vibrations in the water, with a counter balanced Wriggler tail to create an unparalleled action. The “classic” Squidgies nose has been upgraded to a squared-off design and incorporates a centre line along the back of the bait for rigging ease and perfect in-water presentation. A hollow belly design accommodates weedless G-style hooks for fishing snags and heavy cover or can be loaded with S-Factor to make this lure hard to resist for the wariest of reefies.

At 175mm in length, the large, slender profile is perfect for snapper, coral trout, mulloway and even flathead. The Reef Wriggler uses Squidgies market leading UV integrated technology and is available in 10 exciting colours; three of which are new to the range; Ice Glow, Exotic and Live Slimy will no doubt become Aussie favourites.

Info

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

SPOOLED MAGAZINE

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What’s New?

SPOOLED MAGAZINE

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G.LOOMIS NRX+ The G. Loomis NRX+ rods feature American made blanks rolled with Shimano’s proprietary Spiral X technology, for ultra-fast recovery, increased casting distance, heightened sensitivity, and drastic weight reduction. The multitapered design also reinforces potential stress points within the blank while reducing unnecessary graphite material. They are outfitted with custom lightweight CI4+ reel seats, a hybrid guide train to allow anglers to make long, accurate casts. They also feature premium split grip cork handles that increase vibration transmission to your hand and improve the balance of the rods.

Info www.spooledmagazine.com.au

SPOOLED MAGAZINE

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TANACOM 1200 A total overhaul from the ground up, Tanacom 1200 is a project half-a-decade in the making between Daiwa Japan engineers and teams within Australia and America. Sporting a totally new design incorporating the motor housed inside the spool has given Daiwa engineers the ability to increase the efficiency of the powerful motor and elevate the famous Tanacom name to another level.

Located within the reel frame the motor generates even more power thanks to an improved drivetrain which has been totally reengineered with beefier gears and internal components to improve durability and minimise power loss.

More power is also accompanied by more speed, a feat often difficult to achieve since a faster retrieve inevitably means lower torque. The faster retrieve speed is a great feature when deep dropping, as your ability to reposition or check baits is sped up dramatically.

Setting up the Tanacom 1200 is also now easier than ever, with a redesigned menu system that has been simplified and carefully designed to offer easy user experience for first time users and familiarity for long-time Daiwa dendoh fans. The Dot Monitor LCD screen has also been improved, with a brighter display and better viewing angles when wearing polarised sunglasses.

An increased line capacity (PE8/1000m) and an aluminium ball knob combine with other significant reel improvements and combine to see the new Tanacom 1200 set the bar on what is achievable in electric reel design and performance. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Info

What’s New?

SPOOLED MAGAZINE

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22 PRESSO RODS The Presso family welcomes a new member with the release of the 22 Presso rod series. An iconic range over many years and a leader in trout rod design and performance the 22 range delivers anglers a technique specific rod series suited to targeting trout in small creeks and lakes throughout Australia.

22 Presso couples Daiwa’s X45 and HVF Nanoplus blank technology to increase sensitivity and minimise weight whilst maintaining durability for long treks through the bush. Fitted with anti-tangle Fuji Fazlite guides, the result is pinpoint trouble-free casting performance all day long.

A lightweight full carbon butt is coupled with a neo-traditional ‘Heartland’ style reel seat which utilizes carbon infused resin to produce a reel seat that is hollow in construction yet incredibly durable, resulting in one of the lightest rods on the market.

Whether you are trekking for trout in the southern highlands or walking rainforest creeks targeting jungle perch up north the 22 Presso has you covered.

Info www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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OCEA HIRAMASA The Ocea Hiramasa 190F is a 190mm 86g floating stickbait designed specifically for targeting kingfish, tuna, giant trevally and other pelagics and reef dwelling species on topwater.

Bettyu Hiramasa lures feature Shimano’s innovative Flash Boost technology. A mirrored insert is housed within the lure’s body structure, vibrating to provide a continuous internal reflection of light and UV. This is amplified by a counter weighted spring mechanism that ensures the vibration is maintained even when the lure is paused, continuing to invite fish between movements. Shimano’s signature Scale Boost finish is integrated providing a life-like holographic pattern to emulate the brilliance of scales on the side of a bait fish.

The Bettyu Hiramasa features a “mid-tune” and is designed with a specific centre of gravity, sitting in the water in an upright posture when paused to reduce the chance of entanglement and diving mistakes. The improved stability creates an attractive sliding action where the lure finishes resting side-on between jerks, making it perfect for anglers of all skill levels.

Bettyu Hiramasa lures feature a durable body construction and strong throughwire construction. Lures come pre-rigged with 4/0 size treble hooks and HD Split Rings. Available in 7 colours across baitfish and high contrast patterns.

Info

www.spooledmagazine.com.au

What’s New?

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BANTAM REEL Shimano released its first baitcaster reel – Bantam – 40 years ago, kickstarting Shimano’s legacy of durable and high-performance casting reels. The new Bantam builds on that legacy, combining cutting-edge Shimano JDM design and technology to reaffirm the benchmark for strength and performance in a low-profile baitcaster reel.

By utilising a new Core Solid Body design that integrates the B-side, frame and level wind guard into a single aluminium piece, Bantam provides unmatched strength. This full aluminium construction gives anglers the rigid feeling of a round casting reel with the ergonomics and comfort of a low-profile reel. A new MGL III spool reduces spool inertia, drastically improving casting distance. Additionally, by making the spool larger and narrower, the efficiency of the SVS Infinity casting control has also been improved.

Internally, Bantam is the first low-profile baitcaster equipped with Shimano’s Infinity Drive reel technology for unparalleled durability. Micro Module gearing has been utilised for precise gear alignment and smoother winding. Bantam is backed-up by Shimano’s legendary Cross Carbon Drag, providing superior drag pressure and performance without compromising on drag inertia.

Info

Built for strength and suited strongly to Australian conditions, Bantam makes full use of Shimano’s innovative and market-leading reel technology. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Welcome to the 1 st edition of

DEAD RISE

Issue No.1

Spring 2022

Every thing in, on and Under the Water

BOAT FEATURE:

THOSE WERE THE DAYS?

VICTORIUS SEAFARER

F E A T U R E When The Going Gets Rough

The Tough Go Fishing!

IN DEEP

THE OCTOPUSES GARDEN Plus much, much more!

Restorations • Renovations • Repowers • Remodelling • Refits

CONTENTS CONTENTS

Cover - WA’s Tidal Flare 24 busting loose off Hillarys – “Old school style meets American Carolina Sports Fisherman”

From the Editor... 4 WHEN THE GOING GETS ROUGH THE TOUGH GO FISHING!

8 12

Old School Boat Of The Year Awards

20

Those were the days – or were they?

DEAD RISE VICTORIOUS SEAFARER

34 In Deep - THE

44 OCTOPUSES GARDEN

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT – EXPLODING FISH ROTATING ROD HOLDERS

The Need For Speed

48

52 bear’s boating bits... 54 DEAD

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From the editor John ‘Bear’ Willis

Welcome To Deadrise In our definition “Deadrise” is a nautical term for the angle or “Vee” of a vessels hull

measured from a flat horizon at the keel, usually to the chine at the transom. In general terms the deeper, or more angle of the Vee the better the ride due to its sharper angles slicing through waves like a knife through butter.

In opposition a vessel with flat Deadrise with its surface area directly in line with the water like a punt offers virtually no impact deflection and will obviously ride harder. It will however allow maximised stability which may be the users primary consideration.

Hence boat design appeals with different things to different people which leads the statement from so many years ago that “the perfect boat will never be made!”

We at Deadrise consider it to be our job to test and explain the varying boat offerings with particular concern to Ride, Application, Design, Construction Quality, Layout and Ergonomics, Visual Appeal, Price, Performance, Packaging (power, trailer, electronics), the all-important X-Factor plus often forgotten elements such as running costs and resale.

Definition can confine the word like Deadrise. In our minds the term conjures images of restorations, renovations, repowers, remodelling and refits. Let’s call them the “five R’s.”

These “five R’s” are a huge part of our marine market with thousands of keen boaters understanding the value of some of the great designs of the past. In so many ways much of our industry still reflects the historic innovations that coincided with the implementation of fibreglass and aluminium in boat building during the 1950’s and 60’s, followed with the development of purpose and performance friendly layouts onwards of the 1970’s.

Deadrise commits to celebrating these often ugly ducklings as they phoenix into maritime masterpieces including the methods, materials and components used in the transformations, as well as featuring input from thousands of amateurs and professionals that are committed to building their own “perfect boat.”

No matter your boating and marine interest we will provide editorial and videos produced by highly qualified marine experts, instead of the “cash for comments” drivel of those imitators, “cut and paste” brochure writers and “shock jock” glory hunters as demanded by most outlets in search of the God almighty dollar and social media “Likes”.

In other words, we offer a commitment to the truth!

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From The Editor

The team at Deadrise is headed up by John “Bear” Willis whose professional marine career began as a boat builder way back in 1977 and has continually published fishing, boating and RV articles, video’s, TV and photography since 1991. Bear is undoubtedly the most experienced and officially qualified marine photo/journalist in the country who has often felt the wrath from calling a spade a spade!

The Deadrise team is proud to have Gold Coast based boating, fishing and diving tragic Casey Harrison on board to take the helm in delivering much of the opportunity, construction detail, news and events.

John “Bear” Willis Deadrise offers Casey an opportunity to extend his knowledge and dedication to all marine brands at the same time expanding on his own innovative ideas provided by his business “InSalt Marine,” and ownership of the huge social media network “Old School Haines Boats.”

No matter your interest in the wonderful world in, on or under the water, we at Deadrise commit to providing an interesting, entertaining, informative and visually appealing platform kicked off in conjunction with our great friends at “Spooled Magazine” who already offer premium fishing media from some of our ANZAC’s greatest anglers.

Get into Deadrise and enjoy the ride!

Casey Harrison

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john ‘bear’ willis

Old School Boat Of The Year Awards “Old School” boats, re-fits, re-powers and restorations have been the marine industries largest growth sector over the last decade or so with so many people recognising the great old designs and constructions of the past. But there’s also the satisfaction of going to sea in a vessel where you know and trust every inch of its construction, plus the pride in achieving a dedicated aquatic weapon that suits your individual tastes and style.

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So we at Deadrise thought we would recognise the works and dedication so many readers have committed to such projects whether it is simply restoring a great old boat or significant design right through to complete redesigns and construction.

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Old School Boat Of The Year Awards

We need to know and publish the good, the bad and the ugly – the wins and losses, and the methods, products and constructions that work, and importantly the ones that didn’t.

In response to this exciting phenomena, we have introduced the Deadrise Old School Boat Of The Year Award where YOU get the opportunity to supply YOUR STORY in text, images and even video for us to feature on Deadrise.

On top of seeing your beloved project published we are offering PRIZES for the project of the issue, as well as a major prize and professional video for the yearly winner. We will have DEADRISE SELECTED, as well as READER’S FAVOURITES to reward your pride and joy and help others by sharing your successes and failures.

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To enter simply CLICK the button below. We will then send you out an application form and take you through the process of submitting your material.

So get to it and send us some details of YOUR pride and joy for all to celebrate - you just might win some great prizes!

Enter here

john@beachmarine.com.au or for more information phone Bear on 0407 053 484

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John ‘BEAR’ Willis

When The Going Gets Rough

The Tough Go Fishing!

We all love fishing in ideal conditions but more often than not fine conditions don’t translate to hungry fish. Big blustery weather patterns can excite the fish into feeding frenzies. But at what cost?

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I am certainly the last to promote fishing in big seas and dangerous conditions – no fish is worth endangering your life.

Yet recognising a few basic food chain characteristics associated with weather, oxygen and nutrient flow can greatly improve your success rate.

Fish are just like humans; the more oxygen we breathe the more active we feel, and the hungrier we get. Wind whips up waves that in turn allows for greater absorption of suspended oxygen. Rainfall can do the same thing and both elements can bring increased nutrients and expose food sources to awaiting creatures.

Oxygenation doesn’t only happen in large waterways. Trout can often be spotted lying in the gravel beds of backwaters and tributaries where the food often floats right past their noses. They become more active from the rough and tumble of the water flow increasing the oxygen levels and using up precious energy – hence they eat more.

Alternatively they may lie in a deeper hole under a waterfall, overhanging bank or rapid where the fast flowing stream meets the deep dark water conserving energy until there’s opportunity for attack.

Salmon, tailor, bream, whiting, mullet, and mulloway all love the crashing waves of an active surf beach and they often join with other species such as drummer, snapper and luderick close to the rocky headlands where the white water spurs them to life. Our large natives such as barramundi and Murray cod will often hide out in or near a rock bar, outcrop, fallen tree or mangroves as a productive ambush shelter especially where there is some surge in the stream flow. The broken surfaces of moving and windswept water also increase light refraction and fish may become more active in shallower water under its cover.

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When The Going Gets Rough The Tough Go Fishing!

It’s not only the oxygen that brings things to life; it’s the dislodging and stirring action along the shallow shorelines. Waves break in shallow water and when they do they dislodge many of the shorelines inhabitants. There’s a multitude of crustaceans, worms, shells, sand fleas, mudeye, yabbies, crabs and insects that live in the flotsam, jetsam and decomposing matter on a beach with many being washed out from their safe strongholds and into the mouth of awaiting predators in rougher weather. These obviously attract the small bait species including mullet, whiting, smelt and gudgeon into the shallow water with the larger predators in hot pursuit.

Crashing rocky headlands where the white water spurs fish into life.

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Many of us hide from the wind on the calm side of a lake, or stay at home because it’s cold and windy on a beach or pier. Yet it’s often those times when we should be targeting our species in the rougher water for greater success. Every region has differing conditions yet a common factor for success is heading to a wind and wave battered pier or rock wall as soon as safety allows after a heavy blow. If I’m in a boat the same rules apply reminiscing on an old fisherman’s saying, “dirty water, fish in close.”

Dave Boswell with the result of a rough water snapper sojourn.

Even as I write this it’s the start of spring in Victoria and a big windy blow from a low pressure system has just passed with the onset of an approaching high creating some blustery yet fishable conditions for shore and pier based anglers. There were plenty of salmon at Frankston and snapper to over 7 kg caught at Mornington on the windward side of Port Phillip Bay. Fish often strike very hard in these conditions as vision is often highly reduced from suspended matter and hence other senses such as smell and vibration can be worthy of consideration for your presentation. The same is true in the larger expanses of lakes and estuaries where the altered water flow around sandbars can present new opportunities.

I’m reminded of lessons learnt while pumping nippers and sandworms on east coast estuaries. I have found regular success with throwing a bait back into the sediment plume as bream, whiting, trevally and many other species come out to scavenge in the soiled water that suspends many unearthed critters and nutrients.

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When The Going Gets Rough The Tough Go Fishing!

Just after a good blow is a great time to hit the beaches.

The surf beaches react in the same way. Large swells created by harsh weather can bring an amazing variety of species inshore particularly as the swell is retreating and visibility increasing. Even in calmer conditions its worth looking for the runoff at the end of a gutter where the deeper channel meets a sandbar or rocky outcrop. Any such change in direction, upwelling or disturbance in the waters flow will attract fish to the motion and oxygenation.

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The conditions sure can turn quickly with a tide change in the notorious Port Phillip Heads.

Even when fishing well offshore we see the larger game species gathering on the bait balls that are attracted to upwelling’s. These may even be in the deep abyss over the Continental shelf, or on it. Some east coast “sea mounts” or undersea mountains can rise from depths of over 3000 metres and peak around 1600 metres. When you consider that Victoria’s highest mountain Mt Bogong is 1986 metres it gives you some idea of the scale of the rise. The East Australian Current often runs at speeds up to 4 knots over these sea-mounts and the ensuing upwelling causes massive oxygenation attracting offshore species.

In a similar scenario in our west coast of Victoria we find the Big Reef off Cape Otway that only rises some thirty metres from the generally shallow Southern Ocean and Bass Strait at around 70 metres. This has been the scene for some amazing southern bluefin tuna action as the prevailing currents form an upwelling DEAD

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When The Going Gets Rough The Tough Go Fishing!

from the east-west currents flowing across the bottom of the continent. So it all comes back to finding the structure and ensuing oxygen and you’ve got a good chance of finding the fish.

In my local area I keep a good eye on the weather maps watching an approaching high pressure zone that usually brings with it the fishing abundance from abating west to south westerly winds. Take some time to study the weather patterns in your local area and you will find that peak period prediction allows greater success for limited time, and then study the waterways to find the oxygenating structure that will hold the fish.

Sometimes it works in opposite ways, but with similar theory. For instance trout will often feed in a frenzy caused by a hatch of insects from a virtually stagnant pool on a warm, windless afternoon. Fly flickers just love these hatches and will imitate the insects with a fly to catch the wily fish. Redfin, yellowbelly, goodoo or even estuary perch and bass will often lazily gather around a structure such as a fallen tree lethargically conserving energy in low oxygenated water and only dart out to feed with tempting bait or lure.

Many species love the crashing waves of an active surf beach.

Flexibility, observation and planning are key elements for success. Another old saying is “no flow – no go” or even “no wiggles, no giggles” where fish often lie doggo without feeding on slack tidal water but will trigger into a feeding frenzy either on the last of the ebb or start of the flood. Knowing these factors can certainly help you plan a successful trip.

Yet the most amazing thing about fishing is to always expect the unexpected. The pesky little buggers have a habit of changing habits and making liars of even the best and most experienced anglers. That’s what I love about fishing – it’s not just catching!

Wow, there’s lots of old fisho’s sayings in this one – I must be an old fisho!! (We never die – we just smell that way!) See ya in the wet bit!

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john ‘bear’ willis

Those Were The Days

– Or Were They?

John Willis provides a snapshot of the way things have changed in many of the country’s most popular fisheries.

If I told you today that not that long ago over 70 scallop

boats ploughed the bottom of an enclosed estuary daily, right under the noses of one of our country’s largest CBDs, most would think I was delusional. I’m not; it happened for many years in my local Port Phillip Bay. If I went on to say that around the same time a good many countries spread immense floating drop nets, some up to 50km in length, across our world’s oceans, decimating almost every living organism that came in contact including whales, dolphins, sharks,

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pelagic fish, turtles and even seabirds, you might think there are a few too many toadies swimming in my skull. But there’s not. These “drift nets” were nicknamed “Walls of Death” and there were thousands of them. You may also find that hard to believe, but it’s true.

The SBT have made a miraculous recovery with massive schools of fish across the bottom of the country and up the south east coast for a much elongated season.

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Those Were The Days – Or Were They?

A huge “wall of death” drift net dwarfs the scuba diver swimming below it.

During the same period, sonar and GPS technology improved to the point where prawn and scale nets could be trawled amongst formally treacherous reef environments, and fish traps could be accurately positioned in prime target areas. It coincided with a dramatic fall in the natural populations of prawns, reef species and pelagics, such as the popular yellowtail kingfish, particularly on Australia’s East Coast.

Deep in the Antarctic Ocean many nations converged on newly-discovered spawning aggregations of orange roughy (marketed as deep sea perch), a species that is very slow growing and doesn’t reach spawning maturity until around 23–40 years of age, limiting their reproduction rate. They have been known to live for up to approximately 230 years, but stocks were all but decimated by overfishing.

Our tuna populations were also decimated throughout local and international waters.

Yellowfin, southern bluefin and striped tuna, as well as albacore, copped a hammering on the East Coast, while the SBT drew international fishing pressure, particularly in the Southern Ocean and Tasman Sea. Many of our Aussie commercial fisho’s blamed their own overfishing methods and changed their habits, while others continued to rape and pillage.

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Its hard to imagine yellowtail kingfish of this size we once caught in a the Melbourne bayside suburb of Seaford.

50 years ago, crocodiles had been shot to near extinction in the Northern Territory, but now these apex predators again dominate the waterways, raising questions about their coexistence with humans in a new environmental order. Nowadays, saltwater crocodile numbers in the NT have grown from 3,000 to 100,000. That’s one croc’ for every 2.5 people!

Then there were catastrophes such as the massive oil spill from the Greek oil tanker, the Kirki, that dumped many thousands of tonnes of crude oil into the sea, creating an initial oil slick 60 kilometres long and more than 400 metres wide, right in the course of the SBT’s Western Australian DEAD

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Those Were The Days – Or Were They?

Tagging programs from the recreational fisho’s backed up with commercial reporting proved there was very little effect on mako shark stocks in our local waters.

This 100kg plus Mako Shark had lost his dorsal fin somewhat earlier, probably to a shark finning operation - plus it also had 2 longline hooks in its mouth when finally captured.

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Snapper seem to suffer from regional fluctuations in boom and bust preportions - Image Wildside Sportsfishing. migration route. These tuna travel from the Timor Sea spawning grounds, around the bottom of the country and up the East Coast. The initial oil slick was 200 kilometres north of Perth and only 20 kilometres from the village of Cervantes, which provides one of the world’s most valuable fishing zones. There were other major spills around the country, but particularly on the WA coast, including the Montana Oil Platform and the Princess Anne Marie — all within the last 40 years.

Every locality has suffered from some sort of marine devastation from both recreational and commercial overfishing, as well as floods, fires, streamside degradation, siltation, pollution, and climate change. (Hmm, remember the term global warming?) There’s a load of other human influences, such as damming and diversion of natural water flows, effluent and chemical run-off, sewerage and localised management/mismanagement, such as dredging practices plus urban sprawl and subdivision.

However, in this whole environmental equation we must also consider natural species fluctuations. There are natural peaks, troughs and evolution that must be considered in a constantly changing world, as well as man-made influences. Evaluating the level of human influence is the difficult part.

I have often challenged experts and, indeed, scientists on their reports. In many cases we simply don’t have the necessary background history or base data to properly evaluate long term changes. So called “investigative science” has mostly evacuated the DEAD

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Those Were The Days – Or Were They?

Some of the larger yellowfin tuna and yellowtail kingfish have returned - Image Wildside Sportsfishing.

“independent” domain, resulting in proponent-funded projects with carefully defined scope and restricted funding. For example, within my own lifetime “scientists” once declared smoking tobacco to be safe!

In fact, an eminent scientist specialising in marine environments once privately wrote to me with quote, “On the possible bias of scientists, you’re right to be concerned about this and it depresses me because it’s a growing problem. One force is confirming the value of a long academic career; senior scientists hate research that shows they’ve been wasting their time for the last few decades. Another is the kudos scientists get from high profile publications/media, which incentivises them to sensationalise research. The last is that it’s easier to get kudos and publications if you don’t rock the boat with your peers.”

Let’s take a look at nuclear contamination. Scientists once advised the military that only limited precautions need be taken as they exploded nuclear bombs at Maralinga. Just imagine if that were happening today; “Yep fella’s, just do an about face for the explosion and it will all be OK!” You’ve heard of “cash for comments” in the media; similarly, “cash for science” is rife! You only get what you look for. In my own experience, from a local project we had documented proof of nuclear contamination running into the lower sections of Melbourne’s Yarra River from an abandoned Australian Radiation Laboratory at Lorimer DEAD

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Tuna farming has reduced the pressure on wild fish stocks.

St, Fisherman’s Bend. Yet to our disgust, the so-called scientific evaluation of the sediments for the controversial project did not include radioactive isotopes in the suite of tests, so none were found and the Channel Deepening project progressed. Only 15 years later the same Government has commissioned works to seal up the source of the remaining residue.

As we get older, we hand over management to younger generations who, through no fault of their own, have been elevated to positions without the long-term background experience. Only this week I was chatting with senior marine managers in my own area, and they had never heard of those who actually fought to eliminate localised scallop dredging — other than Rex Hunt, of course! They had no idea that local angling clubs and the GFAA (Game Fishing Association of Australia) had joined with international environmental organisations such as Greenpeace to force the United Nations to ban drift nets longer than 2.5 km long in international waters. Often it’s the big names that get the long term credit, while the real movers and workers fade into historic obscurity.

Whether you love them or hate them, there is absolutely no denying the success that the Sea Shepherd organisation has achieved in restoring whale populations in our own waters. Once upon a time (1979-81) I lived at Wategos Beach under the Cape Byron lighthouse on the easternmost point of Australia. While our balcony overlooked many miles of ocean and I surfed and fished nearly every day, I honestly cannot remember ever seeing a whale in the region. Nowadays it seems that never a day goes by when there aren’t migrating whales somewhere on our coast, much to the delight of our locals and tourism industry alike. In fact, whales are now becoming quite a hazard to boating!

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Those Were The Days – Or Were They?

However, what we did see on an almost daily basis were a good many sharks that were once berleyed to the area by the run-off pipe from the regional abattoir that dumped offal and blood into the bay up-current. Just imagine the furore if that practice continued nowadays on one of our country’s most popular seaside resorts at Byron Bay!

Whether you love them or hate them there is absolutely no denying the success that the Sea Shepherd organisation has achieved in restoring whale populations.

Locally we have angling clubs working with some who were once treated as foe in the environmental sector. In Port Phillip Bay there is a large program replacing precious shellfish reefs that were destroyed by former derogatory practices such as the scallop dredging.

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damaging fertiliser run-off. We see recreationally-funded habitat restoration projects in both salt and fresh water; there are FAD’s (Fish Attracting Devices), rubbish containment, stocking programs, size, bag and boat limits all adding to benefit our marine habitat and experience. In my opinion, aquaculture has many good and bad sides, but at least it is generally taking some pressure off of our natural fish stocks.

Migrating whales like this humpback are a regular sight thanks to the efforts of the Sea Shepherd organisation.

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Those Were The Days – Or Were They?

And what of “global warming?” Sure, it’s a concern and we all need to ensure our environmental footprint be reduced. However, we don’t often hear about natural change in the overall equation; in fact, evolution often seems to be ignored to propel proponent policies and funding. Yes, we now regularly see unusual species such as mahi mahi in southern waters. Is this really so new, or is our targeted effort and technology increasing to a point of new discovery?

While on the point of new discoveries, professional fishermen always knew of the mysterious broadbill swordfish that mainly inhabit the abyss on the edge of the Continental Shelf, but while often hooked as by-catch, they were never commercially targeted in our waters. However, current technologies and seafaring efficiencies have developed to the point that the species has become a major target for recreational anglers before science has had the opportunity to properly report on the biomass. In fact, it DEAD

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is pleasing to see scientists currently working with both recreational and commercial fisho’s for research, and our professionals have much more stringent reportability than ever before.

Some 30 years ago I was a member of a game fishing team, but after many years of competition I threw away my tag pole, believing that the data was only providing information to commercial fishermen, allowing them to target species more efficiently. But more recently I had to eat my words when the reported depletion of mako sharks in the Mediterranean prompted international regulation for greater management of the species. The problem was that our own Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) that creates local law does not reflect the multi-tiered international management structure, and this prompted a complete ban on capture of makos in Australia.

We now regularly see unusual species such as Mahi Mahi in southern waters. Is this really so new?

Thankfully, a lifetime of tagging programs from the recreational fisho’s, backed up by commercial reporting, proved clearly that there was very little effect on mako shark stocks in our local waters, and hence the legislation was negated — for now at least.

There’s “Good News Week” in so many sectors, but the opposite applies to many others.

South Australia has reported a decline in their amazing snapper stocks, prompting massive closures to the fishery for all fishers, both pro’ and rec’. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Victoria the snapper have returned to Port Phillip Bay in numbers after the DEAD

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Those Were The Days – Or Were They?

Ice boxes full of valuable Southern Bluefin Tuna have returned to Co-Ops like Bermagui. dismal decline from the scallop dredging, but their habits and physical structure have greatly changed. Where once the fish mostly had big knobs on their heads and blunt teeth from chewing and crushing the hard bodied shellfish and crustaceans, nowadays we need to gear up with heavier traces, as the mainstream have very sharp teeth and streamlined bodies.

These physical changes make it quite obvious that their food source had changed considerably. The length of time the main mass spends in the bay for their spawning run seems to have altered to a much shorter season, and many professionals claim it’s due to shortages in the available food. Conversely, the snapper fishery in neighbouring Western Port seems to have declined with the big schools that were once such a target in the eastern channel, making an almost no-show over the last decade. However, the offshore snapper fishery appears to kick goals from South Australia through to Queensland.

Southern bluefin tuna have made a miraculous recovery, with massive schools of fish across the bottom of the country and up the south-east coast for a much elongated season. In the last decade the Godfather of the commercial SBT fishery from Port Lincoln, Joe Puglisi, told me, “In those days (1980s) I had three aircraft looking to find one school of fish per day. Then it changed and the fish came back unbelievably. Now one aircraft can find 500 schools because we implemented quotas and farming methods.”

Some of the larger yellowfin tuna have returned, as have the yellowtail kingfish. Even native freshwater species such as Murray cod, yellowbelly and Macquarie perch have made a return as a direct result of our stocking programs and better environmental management. However, the invasion of European carp and other introduced species continues to expand in so many regions.

It’s a boom and bust world in all so many ways, and a fishery in constant change. A lifetime of marine wisdom can only tell you one thing about fishing. Always be prepared to be surprised! Today’s expert may be tomorrow’s fool. But there’s one thing for sure; you certainly won’t catch them by sitting at home thinking “now those were the days!”

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26 RUTHERFORD RD, SEAFORD VICTORIA

sales.savagetrailers@gmail.com (03) 9708 2970

john ‘bear’ willis

Victorious

Seafarer John Willis takes a look at one of Australia’s truly iconic trailer boats.

The latest Seafarer Victory Hard Top built by the Haines Group DEAD

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The introduction of the Seafarer 5.9m Victory in 1992 was not only the birth of a legend, but the embodiment of one of the greatest Aussie trailer boats of all time.

Yet all legends can be challenged, and in this case it came from within, when later in the decade Lindsay Fry and the team at Seafarer broke their own mould with the new, improved Victory MK11.

The Victory hull evolved from the 5.8m hull that was initially released in 1981 at the Brisbane Boat Show. This was also a very good boat, as per the premium standard set by company founder Doug Fry in 1957, and expanding to the full potential of their Gold Coast manufacturing base under the guidance of Doug’s son Lindsay.

These were the glory days, where hulls evolved from family runabouts into dedicated marine machines. Seafaring capabilities were finally teamed with useable design and layouts.

Cuddy cabins were king. Suddenly we were offered solid protection from the elements, combined with maximised deck space. The transom layouts were redesigned, with efficient half-pod designs replacing the older, less space efficient engine wells. This also allowed full width folding rear lounges that were, and still are, popular for family cruising, fishing and diving alike.

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Victorious Seafarer

Doug laid claim to be “the first person to produce an Australian designed Deep-V fibreglass hull, the Vixen 13 footer in 1960,” and uniquely designated every new model with a name starting with “V” (Venus, Vixen, Vedette, Vega etc). In 1992 Lindsay’s first real offering, the 5m V-Sea, resulted in immediate success. They sold over 2000 hulls, becoming the highest selling fibreglass boat in Australian history.

The staff had grown from 15 to 50 by the end of 1992, with their range winning many awards, including the 1993 ABIA Boat of the Year (Fibreglass Trailerable). Quality not quantity was the name of the game, and Seafarer stood high on the pedestal of premium presentation and quality workmanship combined with an easily identifiable DNA. In my eyes they are nautical eye candy!

Bills Seafarer Victory 6.0 with 225HP Mercury.

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SEAFARER VICTORY 6.0 The MK11 Victory 6.0 had a very distinguished and ultra-modern look with the updated deck and cabin shape.

The deck was fully remodelled with a more voluptuous, yet extremely sporty look enhanced by superb trim and decals.

The cabin was taller, allowing far more headroom than the original.

The freeboard was raised, the engine pod was further refined, the strakes were modified, and a new dashboard was created.

Recessed grab bars, both across the dash and right down the coamings each side, and a curved windscreen created a more attractive, even better riding and more ergonomically appealing package. Most boats were carpeted and featured very nicely trimmed side pockets with liners and footholds for safe and comfortable offshore fishing.

The hull retained its 21-degree V that produced a very dry, soft riding and well balanced hull, with its 2.4m beam adding to the impressive stability. The hull jumps onto the plane quickly, tracks beautifully, is quite dry on the nose and certainly has no bad habits. There was a later MK3, but this was basically a change of options and packaging.

The latest hard top provides protection in all climates and the dash updated for large electronics

The Victory hull was quoted at various times as weighing between 850-1050kg, making its wet towing weight just under 2 tonnes and well within the grasp of the average family tow vehicle. They ran very well with as little as 150HP and were rated to a maximum of 225HP, however range was initially a drawback from the thirsty twostrokes of the era.

While Lindsay Fry and the Seafarer team devoted the mainstay of their design to fishing, the Victory appeals to a full range of trailerable boating enthusiasts.

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Twin live bait tanks, enclosed battery compartments, plenty of storage, “Jesus bars, cutting board and a comfortable drop down lounge make a great work station

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Victorious Seafarer

Roll on many successful years to 2007 and it was time for Lindsay to retire. The site had been operating at capacity for many years and Lindsay had no hunger to expand. The Haines Group acquired the Seafarer brand, ensuring the company remains in the hands of an Australian family-owned manufacturer to continue the Seafarer legacy. In 2019 the Haines Group refined the Victory package once more, including mainly synthetic construction, increased fuel capacity to 200 litres and the option of a full hardtop version.

When you’re on a good thing stick to it – but update it regularly – this one a Victory 5.9 from the roaring 80’s

While many nowadays consider 150HP to be too small for a 6m package, back in the mid 1990s it was most acceptable, especially considering the fuel consumption of the 200-225s.

Hence, when my friend Bill Milonas from Navico (Lowrance/Simrad/B&G/C-Map) found a 1997 model for sale at South Australia’s Sports Marine, he bought it, sight unseen, through a customer’s recommendation. Good second-hand Victories are as scarce as rocking horse poo!

It was a very original package with a 2003 Dunbier Supa Roller trailer and a 1999 Johnson 150HP oil injected (VRO) V6 2-stroke outboard. Bill knew right away that he would be repowering as soon as he had the opportunity.

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The refit commenced by throwing out the old Navman multi-function unit and adding a Simrad Nss 16 Evo 3s in a custom fitted mount recessed into the dashboard, as well as a Nss 12 Evo 3s on top of the dashboard. He topped it off with RS20 VHF radio and a Lonestar anchor winch with LSM bow fitting on a custom sprit.

Bill’s Victory 6.0 had to be modified to fit his array of Simrad electronics – and the food of course!

He further customised with a new stainless steel rocket launcher with radar mount, full set of bimini and travel covers, bait board and a custom set of rod holders that can be quickly converted from bait to game fishing layout via removeable corner rod racks. He added a custom side door entry, providing easy access both on and off the water. It’s great for divers, swimmers and hauling in large fish.

Bill and I are both members of the Victorian Game Fishing Club and set off for the weekend competition at Apollo Bay. There had been reports of some large barrels (SBT) near Big Reef some 21-29 nautical miles from the harbour to the south-west. We knew that the trip, plus the inevitable trolling and fish fighting time, would empty our 150 litre fuel tank and we took an extra 23 litre jerry can along for margin. Also we stayed in close contact with a fellow boat for safety.

In usual form, it became pretty sloppy once we rounded the bottom of Cape Otway, but we pressed on regardless in a most impressive display of seaworthiness from a true 6m boat. Unfortunately, some fruitless hours later we ended up with donuts and it was time we headed home. We waited until we once more entered the shelter of the steep hills of DEAD

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Victorious Seafarer

Bill at the helm with his suite of Simrad electronics

the Cape before safely transferring the fuel from the jerry can to the main tank. However, the consumption was horrendous, and we ended up running out of fuel around 5km from port. Our safety boat was side by side with us for a tow in now ideal conditions, so it was no problems.

I tell this story to give you comparisons on fuel consumption with today’s technology.

We travelled 71.3 nm (132km) that day, using 173 litres of fuel (and oil). In today’s terms at $2.20 per litre that equates to $246.00 plus oil, and we never actually made it home under our own steam.

Bill was already in negotiation to purchase a new Mercury 225HP V6 4-stroke outboard and has since had it fitted, including hydraulic steering and an 18P Enertia S/S propeller.

He originally thought he would have to upgrade the fuel tank size, allowing up to $30004,000 in the budget, yet thankfully the miserly consumption of the new engine saved that added expense.

The refit included a Simrad G07 XSR multi-function screen, which has GPS/Sounder/ plotter capability and is linked via NMEA to the new Mercury outboard, displaying all the engine functions including fuel computer/log etc. These combine well with a pair of IS35 gauges, completing a complex display of all boat functions including trim/speed and DEAD

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fuel readings. He even splashed out with a Simrad Halo 20+ radar, which is invaluable for navigating busy metropolitan waterways of Port Phillip and Western Port Bays at night, as well as using the “bird watch” capability for finding crashing bait schools at distance offshore. The addition of autopilot is invaluable for fishing with small crews of one or two-up, especially when trolling and fighting large fish.

Bills mates Arthur Mihailidis and Anton Vog with SBT on the Victory

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Victorious Seafarer

A quick look at the new figures reveals the absolute value of the new engine. On a typical outing he travelled 45.7 nautical miles at an average speed of 19 knots and top speed of 44 knots, using only 57.2 litres for the trip. (Note, we never went anywhere near 44 knots WOT in the previous trip).

This translates to an average fuel consumption of 0.7419 nm/litre, providing a realistic range of over 100 nautical miles on the original 150 litre fuel tank with 10 per cent reserve. In simple terms, he achieved over twice the range from less than half the fuel consumption and 75 more horsepower. By comparison, the same trip of 71.3 nautical miles as per our Apollo Bay outing would have used approximately 53 litres or $116.60 and no oil!

Bill has now clocked up over 400 hours on the rig and is absolutely thrilled by the performance. In real terms the new engine weighs approximately 30kg more than the old Johnson (168kg plus oil bottle VS 216kg), however the hull just loves the new engine that, if anything, adds to its stability and vastly increasing performance.

Overall, the Seafarer Victory would be one of the most desirable “old school” packages on the market for a trailerable, offshore capable, dive, fishing or family fun boat. They have retained their price exceptionally well — as a legend should!

Bill’s transom layout in trolling mode.

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We Deadriser’s are keeping snug and warm in our ripper HOODIES, cool and comfortable in our awesome T-shirts, and they look great!

ORDER LIMITED STOCK

NOW!

HOODIES $70.00 each + ($12.75 ph) T-SHIRTS $35.00 each + ($12.75 ph) OR 1 X HOODIE & 1 X T-SHIRT COMBO $100.00 + ($12.75 ph) AVAILABLE SIZES (until sold out) S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL

Get in quick and join the Deadrise team!

DEAD RISE Please email all your details to john@beachmarine.com.au or message Deadrise on Facebook Messenger by tapping below. Include quantity, size, postal address and we will reply with an invoice and online banking details.

If you don’t like emailing personal information just give me a call, or text – it’s always good to talk! John Willis (Bear) 0407 053 484

NOTE - Genuinely limited stock - DO IT NOW! (Ya know ya want one!)

in deep with SHEREE MARRIS

The Octopuses Garden – A Deadly Drink Marine biologist Sheree Marris has a cautionary tale when picking up rubbish and empty cans on the beach.

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Walking along the beach most mornings we pick up rubbish as we go; it’s the

very least we can do. As a diver I know octopuses love bottles and cans to live in. Their gel-like physiques allow them to squeeze into the tiny openings and it’s a safe place to protect their soft bodies from predators. It’s why I always check empty cans and bottles, feeling the weight and checking inside with a torch.

On this particular day I checked inside and could see some eggs which I assumed had been abandoned by their mother when the can washed up in the storm. Apparently not. Next minute, one of the world’s most venomous animals emerged... the Blue-ringed Octopus. These beautiful yet dangerous little critters are renowned for their trademark iridescent blue rings which they flash as a warning when threatened saying clearly, ‘Mess with me at your peril’.

I quickly retrieved a bucket from my car and filled it with seawater whilst I waited for the little sea creature to move back inside the can, then carefully placed her into the bucket and walked her safely further out to sea beyond the sand bars so she wouldn’t get washed up again.

Surprisingly Blue-ringed octopuses are common in our popular bays and estuaries throughout shallow (generally less than 3m) coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. There are at least 10 different species of blue-ringed octopus and they all love the shallow reef areas where they thrive in and amongst the crevice’s, shells and sponges, often taking a poorly discarded piece of human trash as their home. They’re masters of camouflage, changing the colour and texture of their skin at an instant to blend into their surroundings. It’s only when these little jet powered jewels are threatened do they flash their trademark bright blue rings.

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The Octopuses Garden – A Deadly Drink

These attractive little cephalopods give it all in the mating process, the male grabbing the female essentially in a ‘headlock’ and shoving sperm packets up her breathing nostril. He then dies… and so he should after that sort of behaviour if you ask me.

The more dedicated females carries on laying her eggs and incubating them under her suckered arms for about a month. All her energy and effort go into protecting, cleaning and aerating the eggs and she doesn’t eat the entire time. When the eggs hatch its time for mum to go to octopus heaven.

Given the fact that more people are spending time in, on and around the ocean encounters with these fascinating animals are rare. They’re also shy nocturnal creatures who will retreat at any opportunity. However, we still need to be careful when collecting shellfish such as abalone and mussels as they’re a perfect place for these tiny octopus to seek shelter.

When encounters do happen, the bite may be painless, so it’s possible to be unaware of danger until respiratory distress and paralysis occur. Other symptoms include nausea, blindness, and heart failure, but death (if it occurs) usually results from paralysis of the diaphragm. They sure know how to pack a punch and there is no antivenom.

If bitten call for emergency first aid support and monitor the breathing. If breathing stops commence CPR until help arrives.

It’s a cautionary tale to be very careful when picking up rubbish and empty cans on the beach – you just never know who might be living in them.

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Footnote: Australians use over 17 BILLION bottles and cans every year – and less than half are recycled. Fifteen thousand bottles and cans are thrown away every single minute and unfortunately many of them end up in our marine environment!

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Dave “Bisho” Bishop

The Need For Speed!

Dave Bishop is excited to be a part of the Deadrise team and will be bringing regular articles from the high-performance boating world.

“Bisho” as he is known in the industry is a passionate racer and commentator

with a career that spans almost thirty years. He has competed in almost all forms of waterborne racing primarily water ski racing where he has achieved 5 Australian titles, a silver medal at the world championships and won many river classics. He has also competed in Circuit, Offshore and Drag boat racing. This leaves him perfectly placed to have the contacts, knowledge and experience required to get all the big names in the sport on to his podcast “The Hose Down” DEAD

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The Rap - Events with “Bisho”

The past three years have been very topsy turvy in relation to all recreational activities and especially organised events such as boat & ski racing due to the dreaded “C” word COVID! Some event just couldn’t happen whilst others had to shuffle dates, however some were able to run relatively unhindered, particularly in the last six months.

I have had the privilege of being able to attend and commentate at most of these events.

A couple of stand outs for me were the three big Victorian ski race classics. The Robinvale/Euston 80, Mildura 100 and the Southern 80 at Echuca. The former two running on their traditional dates being the labour day long weekend for Robinvale/Euston and Easter for Mildura.

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The Need For Speed!

The Southern 80 was unable to be run on its traditional second weekend in February time slot and was rescheduled to 14/15 of May 2022.

All of these events went well and most importantly safely. Ski Racing Australia has done a power of work in the background improving safety in this most extreme of extreme sports.

The Offshore super boat championship (OSC) completed a reduced program of four rounds but still saw close and exciting racing complete with the refreshing sight of large fields of the smaller open cockpit style boats competing in the 65mph and 85mph speed limited classes.

DR

fact box

Keep an eye out for my future race reports as the 22/23 season unfolds. For all the results you can head to the respective club’s web pages as listed below. www.waterskiracing.com www.gdbc.com.au www.mrsbc.com.au www.superboat.com.au www.vsbc.org.au www.egpbc.org.au www.facebook.com/victorianoutboardclub

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The Melbourne Runabout and Speedboat club ran their highly sought after Melton Gold Cup and the Glenmaggie & district boat club ran the prestigious Glenmaggie Cup along with the Victorian Speed boat clubs historic Eppalock Gold cup and E.C Griffith cup (The oldest motor sport trophy in Australia).

Another fantastic event was the East Gippsland’s Paynesville Gold Cup. Ski Racing Victoria conducted their traditional point score series at Lake Glenmaggie and the Kerang lakes Charm and Kangaroo with strong entries.

It was wonderful to see the Victorian Outboard Clubs Archer Eade event go ahead at Lake Charm near Kerang. This terrific event has been running for many years and raises money for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and the red nose appeal. To date the VOC has raised over one hundred and five thousand dollars for these amazing charities.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT John ‘Bear’ Willis

EXPLODING FISH

360 DEGREE ROTATING ROD HOLDERS Our good mates from Exploding Fish flush

mount rotating rod holders say, “They’re not an option, they’re a necessity – you need to fish smarter!”

We agree, fishing isn’t a matter of life and death – it’s more important than that, and every little thing that helps your success rate is priceless.

Exploding fish rod holders will certainly help all boat fishers.

These proudly Australian designed, owned and operated rod holders are the ducks nuts for a multitude of fishing situations including trolling, drifting and at anchor. The unique locking mechanism allows you to adjust the rod angle simply and quickly at the touch of a button through 360 degree operation and locking in 5 degree increments.

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It makes fishing wind against tide at anchor, the varying angles of a drift or directing a roller rod tip whilst trolling a breeze which will certainly allow the rod action to carry out its design function without fouling on rod tips causing wear and eventual break offs.

This factor alone will improve your fishing success, let alone the ease and convenience of setting the perfect rod angle.

Speaking of angles, Exploding Fish rod holders are available in three sleeve angles from 0, 15 and 30 degree to allow upright and tilt rod holders to suit both straight and bent butt requirements. Aptly named the Bluewater 360, Exploding Fish rod holders are beautifully forged (in Thailand) from premium 316L grade stainless steel and treated with a special rust preventative process. They provide the added confidence of a massive 5 year warranty even in the harshest marine environments and are rated to 60kg (135lb) heavy tackle, so they really are Built Aussie Tough!

Installation is as easy as most other rod holders and retrofitting is easy. Claimed to be the worlds toughest rod holders Exploding Fish also supply fixed mount units without the 360 degree rotation as an option.

They say, “Screaming reels, bent rods, line peeling out, adrenaline pumping – these are them moments we live for. We love fishing!” and “at Exploding Fish we have developed some innovative, quality products that will give you an edge and maximise your chances of fishing success.”

Deadrise’s own Casey Harrison said, “I have put the rotating features to heavy use on a number of different fishing levels and it has not missed a beat!”

Captain Ben Brown commented, “The Bluewater 360 will be a Game Changer for my charters and my tournament teams. Been a long time since an innovation like this has hit the market”.

For more information and all enquiries visit: www.explodingfish.com

A full 360 degree rotation with locking points every 5 degrees.

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Bear’s Boating Bits Hints, tips and info from the guru

Each issue Bear will lay down some knowledge related to everything in, on and under the water.

A simple locking system

solo launching tips