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Had the chance to run a couple of these in my last two session and below are some early thoughts. I'll also continue to post back in here as the summer goes on. To start with, im coming from a view where the Sugarpen is the gold standard in my eyes. The Pen casts like a bullet, skips across the water beautifully, is quite a flexible lure in terms or its applications and has a success rate that is widely accepted as high. So every commen / view I have on sBT's stick bait will be relative to the Pen. That being said. 1st impressions: On the RHS are the 4 "Bangas" as I have affectionately named them. On the LHS are the same 4, mixed in with 4 Pens to give you an idea. - the blank is almost exactly the same. Same length, same profile/shape. The only differences I can ascertain are (1) a small "scale" finish as opposed to the Pen's lateral dots, and (2) the casting weight is marginally further back in the Pen. - the blank has a rattle, where as the 70mm Pen doesn't. This appears to be due to the blank having the casting weight in the "chamber" as oppsoed to right at the tail end of the lure like the Pen does. - the assist hooks they come with look good. Size wise they are maybe a #6 equivalent, possibly even a #4. The braid / assist robe used actually glows bright orange under black light/UV On the water: - the blank sits differently in the water at a stand still. Where as the Pen sits almost 45 degrees (head up, tail down), the blank sits realtively flat with no discernable difference in buoyancy between any end of the lure. One of the blanks sat upside down at rest - maybe it was just a dud - but the others seem to be fine. - casts well, much like the Pen does. To be honest cant tell the differece in that regard. - seems to swim fine. Ever so slightly different action to the Pen, but this could also be due to the lack of belly trebel on the blank. Might pull the trebel off one of Pens then compare like for like. Importantly - Results: The plan I have used is - find the fish with my normal toys, then throw the "Bangas" in and see if they bite. Trip 1 was pretty tough, nothing in my kit bag really got the job done. However the blank did seduce a couple of roughly 24 models. Trip 2 was also tough, the wind was up and I wasn't confident the blank would create the water disturbance I needed. Normally in these conditions I would be throwing the larger 95 Pen. However I persisted and nailed an early to mid 30s! RHS is Trip 1 (~24cm), LHS is Trip 2 (30+cm) Note - I have cut the dangly bits off. I found they looked like weed and once I removed them I got more engagement for the fish. @southie THE BANGA overall a good blank and very comparable to the Pen. More feedback / photos to come over the remainder of summer. Cheers TL

This was from a few weeks ago, tough spin session in the Mersey River with the trout surface feeding.. cheers Adrian

Hi all.. Used the "banger" lure today.. Still works. Got my for dinner.. Im happy.. Plenty small ones interested in it..

Some arrived this morning

It's the main reason why i went searching for these blanks to paint.. Paying 20 bucks plus for an top water lure for whiting is ridiculous. If i can provide a cheaper option that still catches fish im happy to continue painting them and sell a few here or there...

This video is from a four hour plus spin session in one of the toughest fast water stretches of the Meander River, it gave up quite a few trout of all sizes from small 260 gram trout up to a 720 gram brown, Several times I was going to call it a day and head to some slower flowing water but then I'd catch another trout or two so I kept pushing on.. Before I left home I had put eight heat patches on my lower back & left hip, three on the right should & one on the left shoulder. They certainly helped to get me through the time spent in the fast waters of the Meander River.. In the end I had 35 hook ups of which 26 were caught & released.. I had to shorten the video because it went well over the 15 minutes allowed.. Anyway you'll get some idea of the time I spent in the river.. I've had young men fish here with me and they've only lasted an hour in this stretch river because the going was too tough for them, plus they fell in a couple of times which was enough for them to toss in the towel.. cheers Adrian

Hi Guys... Not a lot has been happening so I thought I would try something different and that could be amusing to us ALL as I'm sure we ALL have a "One that got away... " tale, so here goes my best one to kick it off. About 20+ years ago I was fishing with an "old" girlfriend of mine at Qualco near lock 2 on the Murray, in my very distinctive Canadian Canoe "GOODOO". We decided under the cover of dusk to paddle to the lock and sneak past the bouys into the NO FISHING ZONE to catch some Callop for supper. I had a short cheap rod loaded with 6lb line and a 14 hook tipped with a single worm, what could go wrong! After a while (and you know what's coming) I got a good bite which resulted in the rod bending double under the canoe.... F#*@K what the hell is this? I was so careful as this thing was BIG (I reckoned over 20lb easily from my carp catching experience) but this wasn't a carp... no way. It didn't run off like a carp just went round in lumbering circles, I got back a metre of line now and again, edging it closer and closer to the surface then it would dive again in the deep water under the spillway (I reckon 20ft deep at least). This went on for over 25 minutes... my girlfriend said "I hope you don't lose it"... shhhhhh don't bloody say that you'll put the mockers on it!!! Any way carefully and slowly I got this THING closer and closer to the surface until I was sure another turn of the handle and I would see it.... the net is ready.... THEN the line broke at the hook.... F#@$**&%@$#!.... Gutted, never caught a Murray Cod before or since, couldn't sleep in the tent that night and I often think of that fateful evening... the longest paddle back to camp, got rid of the girlfriend, still got the canoe and have never really got over it... ALL TRUE! Would love to hear similar tales, as we all have them, probably most of us have more than one... MERRY XMAS TO ALL DRIVE SAFE AND DON'T DRINK TOO MUCH... tight lines F.T.

I hope this ok to post admin . My family gave my a $50 BCF card for Xmas . Off I headed in Boxing Day signs saying 20 percent off on all hard body lures . Picked up a laser double clutch and some leader . Off I go to pay they ring it through give me the price . Me is that with the 20 percent off the lure umm no they fixed it . Thinking I should’ve bought two lures doesn’t matter . That night I get an email from BCF $10 off any purchase must be used before Monday . Off I go grabbed another laser double clutch go to pay again using the BCF card . Young lady gives me the price is that with the $10 off yes and the 20 percent off umm no . Yes they finally took it off . This post is just a warning if tackle shops advertise 20 percent off make sure they actually give you that discount . Hope it was ok to post .

Hi guys, check out this video on how to use a scaling bag and easy way to clean your squid: https://youtu.be/uxsWI07GwFo

I will start by saying that i have never caught a metro YFW but......................................... have caught a few at Pt Vincent I generally catch & use the nippers same day but I guess if you keep em well they'll be ok. So, low tide to collect then fish the run in tide almost straight away, running ball sinker, # 4 or # 6 long shank hook. I walk back in with the tide until the bite stops. I've seen folk @ Seacliff catching at both low & high tide, the tides aren't bad tomorrow so I'd try Seacliff around the low. Hope this helps & let us know how you go

Hi all.. Recieved some lures in the post.. Nicely done and with assist hooks as well.. Couldnt ask for more.. Top bloke. I had to go and see how they worked. I went this morning ( see my other write up). They work well.. As good as the sugarpens do, basically the same action etc. I only had the one on me.. Red head, green stripe underneath, some sparkles and stripes.. There were only small ones around today wanting lures.. This lure got the fish of the morning @24cm... They were smashing this, But being a lot of small ones about.. Was hard to get the bigger ones. I used it for a bit and it held up well to the abuse.. Done well my friend. Im happy.. ALL CATCH AND RELEASED Mike

I can help keep this thread going. A number of years ago was there on a Saturday morning and landed a 42 on a daiwa dc. Was so excited went back on the Sunday morning and landed a 43 again on a dc just a different colour. This is still my pb from the Lake. Regards HBt.

Thanks doobie, those heat patches are the best invention yet.. trouble is sometimes I forget I have them on and after eight hours they leave burn marks on the skin.. I have a lot of 70 mm x 50 mm scars on my body from them.. when I go to have a dose of injections my Doctor just rolls his eyes back and shakes his head and says "looks like you be giving the heat pads plenty of use again" cheers Adrian

You gotta support your local bloke cause in the end he will support you

Just come across this on FB.. Nothing new to me but might have some tips in there for others.

Today I collected around 40 nippers from seacliff and tomorrow I want to put them to use off the beach - but when and where? I haven't done much fishing over the last decade so want to make these count. Where and when would be the best bet? I see Tennison has been good, I know that Seacliff is popular for YFW, and I have seen people fishing for YFW off Somerton. Where would you go? I gather best time probably the first 2 hours after low tide?

I used to do pretty well at Somerton, been a few years since i've fished it but can't see why it would be any different now. If you can get away with fishing near people sometimes that works well as the YFW hang about feeding on what ever there feet dig up while walking about in the water.

Had no luck at Kingston park though they were there. Then gave somerton beach a go on the far side of the sand bar. Two nice YFW and a couple of undersized flattys. Not a great day but at leas not empty handed and my daughter enjoyed herself.

where are you getting your paint for these from banga? very interesting idea to make your own (or even adding colours to existing lures)

My biggest in West Lakes 42- 43cm on white bait. No luck with plastics. Around 2017-2018.I have a pic somewhere will need to find it and post. A mate has had 45Cm. Gonna have to start going again.

With the Sugar Pens on some sites now getting up to $33 and demand is there for that brand as being a successful lure,but the copies are on there way.I was shown 4 copies (pictures) last week and gee they are very close to the originals.He said he would send me a few to look at,thinking if people can buy them cheaper then they will sell quickly,who ever gets them out there first will be making some money from it.

Where's Adrian .. (the wife said) ...under all these heat pads dear .. (says Adrian) That would have definitely helped catch up on your strike rate. I can see you now ...... at them A good variety of catches that would have kept you entertained for the whole session. Great video also Adrian - keep it up and keep using those heat pads

Honestly I only go there when I get like $10 off or my family gives me a gift card

While BCF and Anaconda have got the range they still aren't cheap when the sales are on. I wanted a Shimano Sedona this week and seen them for $99 normally $124.99. Ordered direct from overseas and is delivered to my door for $70.Not a huge saving but the gear i go through every year every bit helps to save me something,as for warranty that's virtually non existent these days.

After recommendations for a charter Middleton / Victor area for my son and myself. We will be there towards the end of January.

Thanks!

Just did a quick search on here and came across these threads - might help you.

I only buy from BCF or Anaconda when I get a deal or my family give me a gift card I prefer tackleworld for DC they are cheaper

I almost always buy online but only buy from anaconda or bcf when they have specials as i find they are almost alway more exspencive than my locally own and operated fishing store. I don't like to support any chain stores as they don't offer good advice and seem to be answering questions without reel (pun) knowledge, i was at bcf looking at jigheads with the idea of attaching a 4" sp to a 5/0 or 4/0 3/4oz for casting at bustups while chasing tuna, one of the sales guys comes over and asks "can i help" i said no thanks im just checking out jigheads after some time he asked what i was looking for? So i explained what i was thinking about and he said for a 4" sp i needed a 1/0 to 4/0 form 1/20 to 1/8oz i asked do you thing that this is suitable for catching and landing a 30kg tuna offshore? He looked at me puzzled and said for tuna you need bigger! You need 7 to 9" sp's for tuna! With that i said but what if they are only eating bait fish that are 4"? You have to match the hatch if you want to catch? Lol it was then that he could see he did not have the required experience to help me in what i was there for but hung around and learnt new from a novice I even get similar responces from the guys in the local tackle store but they in most cases start to understand within minutes of what im getting at and then offer ideas on how to do whats required

Yeah both anaconda and bcf change their prices so often their point of sale staff and ticketing can’t keep up:( always pays to check

Happens regularly unfortunately. Always pays to double check.

Same, i called in to grab some hard bodys and take advantage of the 20% off h.b. once i got home and checked receipt there was no discount given. Not that it really bothers me. But i should have checked whilst there.

Thanks doobie, fishing for trout with lures is always tough when trout are surface feeding but I always seem to catch a few.. I use my normal small fishing SX620HS Canon camera for the videoing/photos and windows movie maker for the editing etc.. cheers Adrian

Once i get my Airbrush delivered I'll be out in the shed painting some more so will paint a couple up for you !

Reports sound promising sTB. Would like to purchase one with the pink head/orange tail and a green one please. Would like to try these colours on the bream . Regards HBt

Thanks for the update/review mate. Much appreciated. Still waiting for my Airbrush gun to get delivered so painting has been put back a bit. Bit glad to see some fish are getting caught on them.

Reckon the bit of chop that was there at somerton helped. Bites were reasonably consistent at around 230pm. Yeah we should have had more hookups!

Yep, sadly I haven't caught any YF, mainly because I haven't targeted them lol - but hopefully early 2020 that will change. Any of those beaches would be ok and even Kingston Park area - just south of seacliff. Northern beaches more so for success. The incoming for sure and hopefully the yippers are ok - they tend to go soft (well softer) before too long - but they are an ideal bait. I'd go a size 6 hook with running sinker. Bottom hook > running sinker > hook > swivel. 6lb fluro carbon leader if you have it. Good luck.

Great fishermans tale. I would recount a few, but they still hurt too much!

Just a quick update. Been trying my best to pump a few out over the last week... Works been a pain in the arse. Will pump a few more out before i start to give a couple out.... but heres some I've done so far..

Well the new floats did their job today.

a bit before your time but was quite common to catch 45cm+ Bream under the Jervois bridge previous to the port development when there was more warf structure and a yacht mooring adjacent, i myself pulled a 56cm on half a pilchard, unfortunately no digital camera at that time.. was even more common to pull 60+cm models around the back of torrens island back in the day..

There's heaps of massive bream that size in the lakes... They usually school just under the kingfish, and feed off the scraps left by the 10 foot plus bronze whalers that follow them. Or so I've heard.