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MIKECATTS

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Posts posted by MIKECATTS

  1. 10 hours ago, Des said:

    Thanks Man 😀 I knew you would find some 👍

    Yes I do go wading at night on a few occasions. I always see them skipping along on the surface. However they are the smaller juveniles. 

    Des.. It was a unique way it moved.... It skipped out of the water, about 1/2 a meter landed and skipped again. I mimicked how it did it.. and wow... The little YFW smashed it when it landed.. Explains why the keeper fish I got hit the lure as it hit the water. I could see where they were and was casting right on top of them.. 

  2. On 27/11/2022 at 4:20 PM, Des said:

    Some just rewards for the effort. But every trip teaches you a bit more or offers something new 👍

    What is the new line Mike? Any better than Kastking?

    Would love to see a video of that prawn moving. I have searched for some in the past with no success.

    Should any one find one, please post it up here.

    Cheers, Des

    I have the 9lb.. casts for miles and at a good price to. May be an image of text that says "Product parameters LEYDUN 0.4" 100m 7-984437000237 THINNER PEX4LINE 0.4 THINNER Ex4LINE 100m Line No. Length (m) 100/150 0.2 Diameter (mm) Pull Force (kg) 4.2 0.4 Pull Force (lb) 0.06 100/150 0.6 0.10 9 5 0.8 0.12 11 100/150 100/150 5.5 0.14 12 6.1 13.4 Pull Force Do Not Equal Fish Weight, Pull Force For Fish Water Is Several Times Than ts Own Weight. The Parameter Above Measured By Machine For Several Times And Get Average Value"

  3. Hi all.

    I went for a cast today. Went some where I havnt been so far this season..

    Walked the out going and the incoming.. 8.7ks and 8hours.. Long day..

    Water was clear, winds were good and not much floating weed about.

    Managed to get 3 @ around 35-36cm.. Nice fat and healthy. Lost 2.

    Lots about but they were very scattered and not really in groups... Makes it harder as there is no competition amongst them.. They were not really interested in lures,, Theyd casually follow them and turn away when they got close to me.. Over and over it happened... Kept changing lures and only the 1 type/colour worked today... The ones I got smashed the lure as soon as it hit the water.. Happens often.. Must startle them and they grab it..

    The tide was low enough for me to get right out to a sand bar I know there... There were plenty of them, casually swimming about, not a care in the world, but not feeding and didnt really run from me, just kept their distance... I didnt get any here. I tried and tried.. But had to leave as I was out a ways and didnt want to get caught out.. I left that area in frustration.... Next time..

    Plenty of small YFW about in large numbers and they were hitting the lure... I kept moving when I found them as they are a pain..

    Lots of puffers hitting the lure, Lots of small crabs and a few bigger ones.. Lots of mullet feeding. Lots and lots of small stuff about.

    I learnt something new today. I managed to startle a prawn out of its hole.. I got it... This is what we are trying to mimic guys..... I let it go and watched how it escaped me.. I took note how it moved. I did some casts to see if I could do the same.. Got it in the end and the little YFW went spastic. Pitty this happened when I was nearly done for the day as I didnt see any big guys.. Next time..

    Used 3 spools and no lost lures.. I tried a new line today.. Very thin and casts for miles..

    All in all it was a good day out..

    Mike

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  4. Hi all.

    I went out today. Just went local... Walked the out going and the incomming.. Was a long day....

    Water was warm, clear and a little tape weed about.. Winds were all over the place.. Was 15ks first thing so a noisy lure was the go. As the wind dropped off I went to my searching lure..

    Not many about,, They were not in groups.. Only one here and there.. And they were not really interested in lures. I managed 1 @ 36cm and fat.. Lost 2.. Me stuffing around with drag and weed..

    Heaps of nice mullet about smashing lures. Nice sizes to.. 28cm and fat.. Lots of very small Silvers about.. Agressive little buggers today.. A few puffers about...

    Seen heaps of decent YFW as the tide turned when I was walking in.. But way too much fast moving weed.. I tried and failed.. Same thing.. One here and there and not really in groups.. But they were big.. And a few nice KGW swimming about as well..

    Lost 1 lure and changed spools 3 times.. Wind knots./snap off....

    Was a good day....

    Mike

     

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  5. Hi all..

    Went out for a scout/cast today.. Tried some where new.. Walked the out going and incoming.. About 5 ks.. Not a biggy..

    Water temp was warmish, Getting there.. Water was clear but patches of tape weed about....

    Found a spot where they were.. Only were about where I found noodling holes... There wasnt too many of those either. They were concentrated in a few patches/areas only.. They were active, but fussy. Lure changers was the key. New lure = 1 fish, repeat.. Managed to get 6,, Not big ones but ok.. From 30-34cm.. Fat and healthy though.. Lost 3.. Weed tangles... At one spot they were hanging in the deeper gutter edge/run off area. I had to cast over some weed mounds to get them.. They were moving around that area.. I just stayed put and when they swan by Ide cast.. I was sight casting them.. Great fun.. They would hit the lure just as it hit the water and I started to retrieve.. Had to be quick as it was very close to the weed edge when they hit the lure..

    After a bit they wernt taking the lures, just follow and turn away.. I moved on and found some more in roughly same type of area.. Got 2, lost 1 there.

    It died down as the tide went low.. So I moved on and explored the area.. Mapped where I was and did some marks..

    Plenty of salmon trout about, again? There every where.. Mullet, and some baby King George whiting.. Little buggers were smashing the lure in one spot.. Plaques of them.. I moved on.. 

    I didnt see too many crabs.. Only in the one area.. Roughly the same area where the YFW were lingering about..

    Lost another lure to a salmon trout.. First fish of the day and drag was too tight and it went under some heavy floating weed... Im loosing a few this season.. I didnt loose any last season.. Lucky I buy 2 or 3 each time.. Dont tell the wife..

    Used 1 spool.. Snapp off.

    All in all it was a good day, very promising area which Ill go back to later..

    Mike

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  6. On 11/10/2022 at 2:20 PM, Des said:

    Good work Mike. I love exploring new spots.

    Sometimes it gets me into trouble and deep water 😂 But the rewards are worth it.

    They are still a little shy in my spots. Only a couple on lures last couple of trips. I have tested the waters with bait and there are plenty around.

    This season has had a slow start. And looking ahead at the weather it will be that way for a while.

    Just have to keep searching for those warm pockets of water and the right conditions.

    Cheers, Des 

    Sunday might be ok...

  7. Hi all...

    I went out today..

    Tried some where new.. Really a scout as winds and tides were good for me. Walked the out going and the incoming.. It was a long day.. Walked about 9ks today.

    Anyways.. Water was coldish.. No warm bits really. Was clear but a lot of tape weed about...

    Plenty of salmon trout about.. Says a lot!... Only found 1 patch where they were... There was a small group of them, all nice sizes.. Got one 36cm. Lost 1 about the same. Very timid/scitish.. They would only hit the lure once and go.. Change lure and again, hit it once. Then they would follow but wouldnt grab it, just turn away at the last minute. Frustrating... I recon I was lucky to get the one I did. Where they were was where I found some fresh noodling holes.. Muddy grew stinky mud..

    I Moved on, walked about and as the tide started to turn I went there again on the way back.. and yep, they were there.. But same again.. Didnt get 1.. I couldnt hang around as the tide was coming..

    As I was walking back to the car.. I was casting in the fast moving very weedy water, staying about shin deep.. I seen plenty zooming about, but I didnt have a chance to much fast flowing weed....

    I didnt see one crab? Plenty of puffers.. Plenty of mullet and gar.. Too many salmon..

    All in all it was a good day, found some new areas. Got a fish!.. and didnt loose any lures... Got 2 wind knots, 2 spools.. Ide rather change the spool when I get a knot I cant get out.. Way better than chancing a lure!.

    Mike

     

     

     

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  8. 14 hours ago, Meppstas said:

    Looks like there was enough to keep you busy, a couple of nice solid fish caught too, well done.. " Wind knots " don't you just hate them. I know I do and it always seems to happen during a long cast...😡

    cheers

    Adrian

    Yes mate.. Always seems to happen when you want that little extra distance.. But I have found that after a few wind knots on new braid.. It does settle down.. I have to remember not to use my best lures with new spooled line..

  9. 9 hours ago, Des said:

    A nice couple of beauties to start the season with Mike.  👏 👍 👏   Great to see you seize the small window of opportunity that there was. 

    It really has been poor weather and late start to the season, this year.  And it has since turned to crap again.  I have managed to get quite a few with bait in August this year but have not yet had a surface lure session. 

    Hopefully this Thursday.

    Yep.. been crappy weather... Maybee later..

    I just found out that the my favourite lure that works that I lost isnt available.. Looked every where.. Bummer.. Not happy... Oh well, will have to find another type..

  10. Hi all...

    I went out for a cast.. First for the season.

    Walked the outgoing and incoming left as the wind came in.. Got cold.

    Went to a spot I know.. Found where they were.. Only fired up when the sun came out.. as the clouds builded they stopped.. I kept moving/exploring.. about 7ks

    They were there in small numbers but very sluggish, wouldnt really commit, all nice sizes which is usual first start of the season. Managed to get 2, 39/36.. nice and golden, fat and heavy.. Beautiful fish.

    Lost 3 due to floating weed/stuffing around setting drag, lost a very nice and heavy one. Got it close though.. It was big... Drag was too tight and got all tangled up in the only bit of floating cork weed about, pulled the hooks and was the first fish too! Wasnt happy..

    Took everything I new to get them.. They would follow but not commit.. Was frustrating but I know they are starting to fire up.. need some HOT days...Were very active before lunch as the sun was shinning and it was warm.. died off when it cooled down.

    Lots of salmon trout, Mullet were every were, bloody pain.. Seen heaps of gar in the shallows as well... Only seen 1 keeper crab but lots of small ones.. Water wasnt too warm.. but getting there.. not much floating weed.. Was a nice way to start the season..

    Oh! lost 2 lures.. Bloody wind knots.. It was and old trusty and the other was a new funny one, it worked very well got 2 fish! Always happens with new lures and when I spool new line.. Oh well.. excuse to buy more.. Took 3 spare spools and used 2.. Happy with the new line.. Casted well after it settled down.

    Mike

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  11. 2 hours ago, Soobz said:

    If you want more speed then a higher gear plus getting a compact body shallow reel could be the answer as they have higher retrieve rate due to the larger spool but not much extra weight and sometime none.

    eg. JDM Luvias retrieve gear weight drag capacity bearings handle

    LT2500-XH       87     6.2     175     10.0     0.8-200    9 / 1     55    
    LT3000S-CXH   93     6.2     180     10.0     0.8-200    9 / 1     55

    Des, I'm with you, I like high gearing. A higher gear is always slightly harder to to turn though, so often the manufacturer puts a longer handle on them, eg. the 5.2 standard gear Luvias has a 50mm handle. I have come to the conclusion that to get high gear yet smooth and light means going higher end, and my hands/wrists are worth it :).

    Ta for that.. Looks nice but a spare spool is around the $180 mark.. Bit too expensive for me.. Im liking the Abu... The spare spool is selling it to me.. 

  12. On 09/09/2022 at 5:28 PM, Des said:

    A very good supplier. Freight Free > $125. Express post. Usually get their orders the very next day if Oz Post do the right thing. A good price at $349.50. It is the next larger size MGXTREME 30. A bit heavier at 168 grams.

    https://anglerswarehouse.com.au/product_detail.asp?productnospaces=abu_revo_mgxtreme_30_spin_reel_18521

     

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    Des.. How do you find the 6.2:1 ratio as to the 5.2:1?

    When retrieving some of my lures.. Im pumping the winder and it does give me a sore wrist after hours and hours of casting.... I put a longer handle on it.. Makes a little difference but I still get a sore wrist... Hence why I was thinking of the 6.2:1 ratio.. I can always slow the lure down but getting it to go fast is whats bothering me.. Or am I dreaming? Most of my fishing is having the lure pop about on the surface and always moving... 

  13. Went from a 1000 to a 2000 and noticed I got better distance.. Same line, same rod.. Had a long cast spool and standard with the 1000 reel not much difference.. Might change with heavier lures, but Im like Des and cast 2-7 gram lures.. I have a long cast surf reel, which has a smaller diameter spool and I have a similar reel with a wider spool.. They wider spool seems to cast further with 30gram weights.. Same line. same rod.. Maybe its just me????

  14. Hi all... 

    Im looking at a different reel for top water YFW fishing.... 

    Question

    has anyone used or know of the DAIWA FUEGO CS LT 2000SH high speed reel 6.2 ratio?

    Its mag sealed which is what Im after as the Pro caster I use isnt water resistant.. I do drop in the water some times... 

    It comes with a spare spool as well.... I know its not a "high" end reel.... But the spare spool is what making me look at it..

    I looked at the shimano Vanford but the spare reel is as much as the whole reel.... Which is the case with most spare spools today..

    Whats people opinins of this reel?

    Mike

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  15. On 03/08/2022 at 11:53 PM, yellow door 1 said:

    Yeah if I break up a 300m spool - a 100m top shot of 8lb braid currently costs me $3.16.

    But when I think of all the extra effort I go to save $6 by not just using the whole 300m of braid per reel - Its bordering on my limits for effort vs money saved😉

    But it all stems back to my bream on plastic days, when I used to buy 120 yard top shots of braid, for up to 10 times the price I pay now.

    Using top shots is how Ive always done it - so Ive just continued doing it.

    Back in the day - top shotting would save me $60 a reel - so there was really no questions to be asked - but these days there is room for self reflection because the drawn out process only saves me $6 a reel.



     

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    Im very happy using Kastking braid.. cheap and works well.. I have landed some mighty fish with it..

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