Territory Lad

Hi All, 

I picked up two Squidgie gift packs the other day (3 x random packs with a Plano 3600 tray) and as I have no experience with Squidgies, I was hoping those with more SP experience than myself will be able to tell me if I got an assortment of duds, or if there are some little gems amongst them. 

6 x packs

 - 100mm Whip Bait - Bloodworm

 - 100mm Whip Bait - Killer Tomato

 - 100mm Shad - Lemon Chicken?

 - 90mm Wild Prawn - Euphausia

 - 80mm Whip Bait - Drop Bear

 - 65mm Fish - Poddy

For those with experience, any ideas what these would be good for targeting? I assume the size of the larger models would lend them selves to Flatties or Jewies, where as the smaller ones might be an all rounder, but I am simply assuming. 

Thanks in advance all.

Congrats Kidney, well deserved. 

My thoughts are pretty much the same as your Rybak, in that I am not a fan of scents in general. Much prefer a SP/HB with a good action. Im open to trying new things though so we will see how it goes.

Thanks for all the feedback guys, looks like it is more personal preference than a hard and fast rule. I might give them ago and see where I sit with them. Given how much I am changing lures over at the moment (in an effort to speed up my learning about what works best and where) I reckon they will be worth it. 

Appreciate the advice lads. So I assume the oil / liquid they are kept in is generic across all the gulps then? 

Interesting that you can store your other SPs (other than Zman) in the same substance. Must admit im not a fan of the gulps after my initial experience, however admittedly I have only had two cracks so I will keep trying them over time and see how I go.

Thanks again guys.

That actually explains a lot. I use these as well and had noticed about 2 months ago the price dropped from $20 to $10 in all local tackle stores. It might not be the only ones they are discontinuing either, as the same tackle stores had a few of there other smaller ones discounted to the same price. 

Hi Hookers, 

After some advice on the use of snaps vs loop knots when targeting Bream, Flatties and Whiting on lures.

Growing up Barra fishing I always used a variation of the loop knot that allowed a quick tie and release when changing of lures. However a number of the guys I fished with, including tour guides, favoured using small snaps. I guess the difference here is the size of the snap in comparison to the size of the lure meant that any visual deterrent was minimal if at all.

After taking up fishing again here in SA, I quickly got sick of retying knots every time I changed lures and given im basically doing a fishing apprenticeship im constantly changing lures to speed up my learning process. As a result, I lose a lot of time retying loop knots and I go through a bit of leader. I discussed using snaps with one of the local tackle shops and was advised against it due to the negative visual presentation. However I constantly read articles and see photos where guys (and gals) are using snaps on Bream and every other species. So it must not impact it a great deal, if at all.

For those that have targeted the above mentioned species for some time, have you tried using snaps and do you have an opinion on them?

Cheers

TL

Hi Hookers, 

Im after some advice on Berkley Gulp plastics, specifically the Shrimp.

Storage - so with my other SPs, once rigged I just keep them in my tackle tray and pull them out the next outing and away I go. However I did this with one of the Gulp Shrimp and it has dried out and was rock hard. I assume there is a preferred / recommended storage method for these SPs?

Also, iis it possible to "revivie" one of these SPs if you have dried it out?

Method / Retrieve - these seem to have zero in built action (except for the two tiny feelers at the head of the SP. Is there a particular way I am meant to retrieve / work these SPs?

Thanks in advance all.

TL

Hoping to get out Sunday arvo for a flick in the port if domestic duties allow.

Looks great Wilda. Congrats on you current success. I hope it continues with the trout.

Nice!

I used to do all my barra fishing barbless. Loved it. People will argue you lose more fish, but the reality is if you keep tension on the line you dont lose the fish. 

If your into C&R, it makes a world of difference as well. Once there is no tension, the hooks just slide out!

Added benefit is they slide out of you as well.

The safety aspect of smaller trebles is exactly why I have switched to single hooks. I tried to crimp the barb, but basically destroyed the treble in doing so. If it is at all possible you should see if you can buy barbless trebles - this is what we used to do anyways. 

Hope the above helps.

Thanks AR, sounds like I am on the money with the #6 hooks then!

Bit of an update. 

I fitted two of my HBs with single hooks, making sure I had an identical HBs with trebles to use as the "control" in the experiment. 

I fitted out a Daiwa "Girken" with 2 x size 8 hooks and a Daiwa Double Clutch with 2 x size 4 hooks. 

After testing both of these, the action seemed ok, however I had issues with the hooks on both set ups. The size 8's were too big and tangled with each other more often than not when twitching the lure. The size 4's were also too big, but for a different reason. When twitching the lure, the middle / belly hook would foul itself on the head of Double Clutch. 

To rectify the "Girken" I removed the middle / belly hook and simply run a tail hook only.

Works GREAT! Action is better and the Bream seem happy to have a crack at it. Whilst I dropped a few fish this morning with the above set up, those that stayed on were quickly released without harm. I also found that even though I had plenty of hits, it was only the bigger Bream that could fit the larger single hook in their mouth - a great side bonus as I get sick of releasing rat sized fish that get snagged on the smaller trebles.

With the Double Clutch, I have simply downsized the hooks from size 4 to size 6, keeping both the tail and belly hooks. I havent had a chance to test them though so I will see how this works out.

Will see how this experiment continues to work out over the coming months. 

Congrats Meppstas! Well deserved. Enjoy the new goggles 😀

Stopped in at my local store today and picked up the below. Smallest size they come in is 8, so I grabbed 4, 6 and 8. I will try them out and see how I go.

Will keep you all updated.

All good information lads and I really do appreciate your insights / help. 

I will let you know how I go over the coming months with the above changes.

Appreciate the info guys!

Now that I know they are available and are a genuine possibility, the follow up question is do you simply get the same size hook as the treble or do you convert it up/down?

After some advice / thoughts.

Given my fishing is currently purely C&R, I put high priority on releasing the fish with as little impact as possible. Using SPs its not an issue as 9 times out of 10 the hook comes out with minimal fuss. However almost every fish I have landed on a HB I have had issues with. Issues ranging from the trebles being difficult to remove to the 2nd treble latching into the fish's eye, gills, face and causing more damage. 

Over the weekend, over two separate sessions I landed a handful of small bream, each of HBs. In each instant the the rear treble lodged in the mouth and the 2nd / front treble lodged in the face of the fish. More often than not in the eye. Thinking back, this also occurred with other species. 

If I was keeping the fish of a feed I wouldnt be so concerned. What makes it a little more concerning for me is that added to the fact im doing this purely for C&R, is the fact these are undersized fish more often than not!

I spent the weekend thinking about ways to reduce the damage / make it easier and quicker to release the fish. I was originally looking at simply making all the trebles "barbless" by crushing the barbs. I used to do this Barra fishing in Darwin and found it had the desired result. However I then started to think about swapping out the trebles to single in-line hooks, The idea being the hook up should more often be in the mouth. Once hooked the drop / loss rate should be less. The single hook is stronger than the treble and as a bonus there should also be less snagging potential. My only concern is im not sure the in-line hooks are made for Bream sized lures.

My questions to those more experienced in this area than myself are:

1. Do these hooks come in a size suitable for Bream sized lures?

2. Does anyone else do this?

3. If you do it, is it worth it?

Thanks in advance Hookers.

I landed a small bream on Motor Oil today, but it was also my first in quite some time. Havent tried Water Melon yet but I am keen to pick some up next time I grab some new plastics.

Thanks for the advice on the car park options lads. I went out this morning and parked at the surf life saving club. 

Glad I travelled lite! The rock hoping is a bit full on in some sections. 

Whilst it wasn't a productive day (absolute donuts) it was still enjoyable to try somewhere new. 

I think I will add the OH and NH breakwalls to my local rotation and hope to produce some better outings with more experience. 

Much appteciated guys!

Booma - Thanks for that, I only managed to identify 1 of those as a car park on my original pass through google maps. You cant be local knowledge!

PP - I assume your referring the the Sailmaster and its cold froffies? Hahaha

Hi Lads & Ladettes,

Possibly a bit of an odd question, but im thinking of having a flick off the one of the breakwalls over the weekend and was wondering where is the best place to park / access them from?

I have had a squiz over google maps, but there doesnt appear to be any designated parking and in fact they appear to be a small distance via foot falcon from residential housing. The only car park I could find appears to be the North Haven Surf life Saving Club. 

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Personally I put more consideration into to the tide than the moon phase. A certain tide would never prevent me from going fishing, it might just alter how /where I fish.

In saying that if a "new" moon coincided with a preferable tide, I always had more confidence / expectation leading into the fishing trip.

Big fan of fishing when you can and learning to understand how differing tides / scenarios impact your fishing methods.

Thats a seriously good post!