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G"day Yak, How can you tell if a reel is braid suitable or not?Apart from older style reels, which obviously werent designed for it,how do you know?Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

From all reports a mud baked carp generally has these qualities {SMILIES_PATH}/grin.gif {SMILIES_PATH}/grin.gif {SMILIES_PATH}/grin.gif {SMILIES_PATH}/grin.gif {SMILIES_PATH}/rolleyes.gif

G"day Brenton, yes good advice, as said the main problem arises when winding slack line onto the reel.When I use to spend plenty of nights casting for mulloway with lures[before braid] it was even a problem getting tangles with mono, and I just wound it in under tension regulary, which worked.I also found new line would do it , and after a while , and a few tangles later [cutting them off] it would find a level that behaved itself.Even if this level was slightly lower than ideal, I found that sacrificing a bit of casting distance is better than undoing tangles all the time.Also some brands se

G"day lads, to be honest its a sad sad time for SA fishos , just the fact we even have to be having this discussion is horrendus.Cant believe its come down to having to import cockles from China,unbelievable {SMILIES_PATH}/cry.gif {SMILIES_PATH}/cry.gif {SMILIES_PATH}/cry.gifI guess we all have to worry about lining our nests, and if the pros are getting twice or three times the money from OS food markets for Goolwas , they would be mad to knock it back.With the cost of fuel, ect ,living , blah, blah we all know the story.I for one will never take the old cockle for granted again, Cheers {SMI

Yeah fair comment, I was wondering what the new "upgraded " drags they are putting in their new reels are like, "Carbon matrix" they are marketing it as.Along the lines of drags, i bought a Saltiga Surf OH, dont get me wrong a FANTASTIC reel, but after a couple of months the drag on that TOTALLY sht itself to a sticky mess.replaced it with carbontex from Jack erskine and the difference was amazing,made the old system feel pathetic to be honest.Saltists have the same drag as them, also a great reel, but personally i dont trust the drags, what happened to my saltiga put me off.The smoothness

Thats what I was thinking Addict, thanks for confirming my suspicions LOL {SMILIES_PATH}/grin.gifCheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

G"day guys, question regarding ABU 6500 c3.I see some of the new models have the carbon matrix drag system, my question is, is it cheaper to just get carbontex washers fitted , or can I get the newABUs carbon matrix system fitted to my c3.Is this as good as the carbontex washers, and is it cheaper to source.My gut feeling is getting the carbontex washers from a tackleshop may be easier, cheaper and just as effective, if not better as ABUS product.Any thoughts?Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

G"day Des, I use to have my photo in the shop at St Kilda, from many years ago of a 47cm fish I caught at the breakwater there.It was the only fish i caught, and the guy in the shop took a pic and put it on the "brag board".It was pure a#se as at the time I was using whitebait going for salmon trout {SMILIES_PATH}/shocked.gif

I dont do a lot of boat fishing, but when I do go in my brothers boat over to locations on YP, I take my Sabre 196/8,bit long at 8 ft for most boating situations.But he has a big Stabicraft so its great.But from the Tinny I have a 6ft Penn trigger grip matched up to a 6500 ABU that is great.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

Yeah Butters you be the guinea pig, {SMILIES_PATH}/grin.gif {SMILIES_PATH}/grin.gifBe interesting to see how you go with it.I see people trying to yuppie up crabs in all kinds of ways, sweet chillie ect,tried them but for some reason the old way seems to be the best, nothing beats freshly boiled blueys cooked the same arvo.Bad enough shelling the suckers normally without worrying about doing a Jamie oliver on em.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

For lures I"d say HB, but love all types of fishing, whatever puts fish on the bank in a given circumstance I will use.I dont discriminate, if for example unweighted live shrimps are working well on Bream, I will do that instead of flogging away with a lure and visa versa.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

Nice one Yakka, beaut colours on it, handsome looking fish the rainbows.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

can you put up some pics? So obviously they are legals down there. No offence mate but if you come on a forum and your first two posts are that you have been getting heaps of mullys, then your second is the quote above, makes you look like either a bs artist a bragger or both.Take it however you like but thats the way it looks.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

That fish is what is known as a Wels Catfish, commonly caught over europe.By the looks of it that one was caught in Ebro spain, the other famous spot for them is the River Sohne in France.They row out livebaits up to 5lb carp, in a small boat, apparently very tough dogged fighters.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

Mine would be my ABU cardinal pro.My missus bought it for me 10 years or so ago , it was before its time, braid friendly ,smooth, great drag, and has outlasted several higher priced more fancy reels.Cant fault its longevity and performance in either fresh or salt.Surprised the heck out of me really how good it has been ,its just part of me whenever I go light spinning ect.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

G"day guys @Drawn, yes I had another try but no luck, only went to the downstream one, did catch one tiny reddy, but saw those big carp, not too keen on them being in there to be honest, couldnt get them to bite either, they seemed pretty wise .Butters , with the Rainbows and browns, it depends on which water you fish I guess, some are suited better for Rainbows some Browns, and whether the fly assotiation has kindly stocked whichever species in there.2 years ago I did quite well on nice Rainbows, but didnt get out much last year on the trout , the drought and low water seems to definate

Ha Ha Drawn, yes that was a great day that.We"ll have to do it again sometime, was a nice fish that one {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gifHere is another shot of it {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

G"day Butters, yes it was a beautiful looking Trout.I caught it on a fly about 10 years ago now.It was bleeding from the gills when the pic was taken as it swallowed it right down.You can see where I cut the line hanging from its mouth if you look at the pic.He revived in the water and slowly swam off hopefully to grow bigger.Havent kept a Trout for years, something about fishing for them I love, its getting into the beautiful country and spots plus the fresh air,I think thats the best part of it, any fish is a bonus.Plus its something different.I have some old pics of some horses but am re

Here is an old pic of a trout from a few years ago.Have a few more pics around the place of some others.But would be great to see any pics of trout guys have caught.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

Cracking fish, no wonder your stoked, On light gear and lure , top angling mate {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gifAll the best, {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

Here is one from Yorkes, thought I would put it up in this section.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

Just a bit of trivia, as we all know its illegal to use offal ect, but the best bait I have ever seen for crabs bar none is pig fat.Disgusting looking lump of congealed white yuk it is, but I saw a guy at Ardrossan jetty a few years ago, absolutely murder the crabs using it.Everyone else was getting one here and there, it seemed every crab on the jetty was going for his net.4 big blueys a pull.Never seen anything like it, a piece of it accidentally ended up in my net when he left, and my previously empty tub filled quickly after that. {SMILIES_PATH}/lipsrsealed.gifCheers {SMILIES_PATH}/coo

No worries Butters, I shal give them a shot, for my heavier salmon lures and hb mully /flathead lures I personally like vmc hooks, strong and last ages.But it seems to be the smaller bream type lures with chemsharps that cause me probs.Kim down at Salisbury tackle has a good range of owner so I will give him a bell.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

G"day guys, just wondering which brand of trebles people like to use when replacing them on their hb lures.I cant remember which brand i last used but even washing them in freshwater after use they rusted /corroded pretty quickly.Any ideas or even tips , I"ve heard dipping them in vegetable oil after each use keeps the rust away.Cheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif

Yes Mully that is correct, the silver hunter to be honest a cheap type of lure, but the reason I like it was I saw my brother get an 80 cms fish first cast on one, and since have pulled a few on it.Those lures you have look nice, I think the secret is in the banana shape {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gifCheers {SMILIES_PATH}/cool.gif