Soobz

Thought I'd review a few things I've been buying that might help people out. I pay for everything, nothing is sponsored and I have no affiliation with any stores I mention.

Rod is USG-SP 461UL 1-3kg 7-18g, a 1 piece but at 4.6 feet that's not an issue. I bought this rod for flats fishing would you believe, mainly bait where I'm towing a tub behind me and casting sinkers. The length means I can turn around and drop the fish straight into the tub, no dicking with a net. This has worked out well.

However, the rod continues to surprise me just how versatile it is. I can cast a 7g lure almost as far as I can with my 7' rod, though not as easily. It's not as sensitive either but it's not bad, and is quite usable as a hardbody/SP rod even if not optimal - but where it's great is it fit's easily already rigged in my car, I can carry it ready to flick everywhere.

It is also a good squidding rod, again I can cast a 3.5 a good distance and the forgiving flexi glass construction is very suitable for squid.

And finally, it's got some guts, I landed a 56cm fat flatty with it no trouble at all, and had some decent salmon too.

At around $80 on special it's been a great rod, especially in the boat. I'm yet to try it on the yak, but no doubt it will be great there too. Best of all, these things are rated as close to unbreakable, unlike the several carbon rods I've killed, however if I did break it I'd buy another, it's been that useful.

Some great scenery, can't wait to get down there.

I'll check when we last stocked the hills and what the current feeling on natural replenishment is. Certainly they will not breed in the plains rivers.

None of the hills rivers are stocked these days, we're not allowed to. Luckily the Adelaide Hills is cool enough, salinity low enough, and the right gravel beds form for the trout to be able to spawn. Please be extra careful walking in the rivers during spawning season to not walk on gravel beds as that's where the eggs are. These are likely to be the wider/shallower parts which are where you'd like to cross but should avoid.

Awesome fish! Interesting fly that, so rewarding to catch on your own tied fly. Cheers on the release.

Those rivers are great at times, but the amount of fertilizer washing into them is a bit of a problem regards weeds, reeds and algae. I'll be up there on the weekend to do some remedial work on one of them.

Historical Adelaide Hills river data says Browns will spawn from the end of May until June or July, Rainbows are later up until Sept. For that reason we don't fish the cooler months as we are no longer allowed to stock those rivers, so if the trout don't replace themselves on their own they will be gone forever.

I've only got a couple of sinking minnows, neither are bum first, I assume they weighted yours for better casting at the cost of sinking weird. What bent the hook? Surely not that fish...

Hmm, they wouldn't allow a drive upgrade for my wife's PP10 when I got it, not that she really needs it.

Tip, get a spare sheer pin for the rudder and keep it with the yak.

On my tray the Hobie has to sit top down as the hull bottom is too rounded, which is a PITA as loading is easier with bottom down. Actually I think Hobie says you're supposed to carry them topside down for some reason...I think maybe to do with stresses when tying down.

Sports fishing scene are about to have a sale, same with Tackleworld, and Reelndeal are in the middle of one so I'd be  heading  to  those. Have a look at Venom rods at SFS, can't remember what I got but does whiting to tuna they reckon.

A mate did some testing on seaweed worms trying to breed them up himself. Turns out they are very slow breeders so don't take more than you need and turn the weed back over as you found it, ie. don't just scatter it around, this is to protect any eggs that were there.

That Tierra would probably suit you best, LXS=

L = Light

X = eXtra Fast action

S = Spin

ie a whippy light tip but more guts near the handle. I've landed 50cm salmon on it but it's light enough in the tip to feel tiny bites.

Mate went out yesty, on bait, 1 undersized and saw nothing else but puffers. Saw the netting pros out recently so likely the reason for no fish on such a good day for them. One day we will wake up and ban netting and long lines in the gulfs. Maybe.

Interesting stuff:

I watched a video recently, they used the old style and the new style with a camera watching the squid. The squid were far more aggressive on the newer style jigs and hooked themselves easily. The old style clearly works but maybe takes more skill.

I will be buying mostly the good lures now, mainly because I've decided the pointy bits are the most important thing when fishing.

I was always a user of cheaper jigs. But over time I've bought a few better ones just to see if I was missing something. Apart from build quality, the expensive ones do swim a bit better and don't get snagged as much as they are better balanced.

Then I thought I'd look closer at the barbs. I'll let you decide from the pics below. All are the same magnification 132x, some focussed a bit better than others, and some measuring lines just for a bit of reference.

First up, Duel Dartmaster EZ-Q Search #3.0

Next is Shimano Flash Boost (poor focus sorry)

Then for a bit of difference, a Ebay cheapie

Daiwa - the one with a bit of opal in the back

Neptune Tackle cheapie - well used I think

Aliexpress real fish type

Aliexpress bibbed minnow swim type, pointy but soft steel (next 2 pics)

We get screwed in Australia with jig prices, very tempting to go cheap, but if you do they will likely need a touch up with a diamond file.

Nice! We went out, mate got 1 good size, plenty there but they were fussy and then vanished. I topped up dinner with a good batch of STs in that mid 20's size. To be truthful I wasn't sure which was the YF and which was the STs, but perhaps that's cos the chef was good.

I have to make myself a tub, the shoulder bag is limiting.

I'd be inclined to go thin and double up the carbontex as required, ie, 2 x 0.5mm = 1mm. This is all theory though.

@JosephY Can I suggest you look at some easier places to get your experience up;

Snowdens beach - it's in the Port River, head south from the boat ramp, lots of salmon trout at times, a few bream, fish the edges and around the structure. Don't go NE towards Torrens Island in a big tide change, it really moves a lot of water past the marina over that way.

Garden Island - launch at the boat ramp area. On big tide swings the current screams through the Angas Channel, but if you hug the mangroves you'll be ok.

Seacliff - launch in front of the Surf Lifesaving Club, head towards the black pole to the SE. Good squidding there if it's clear water, no need to go past the pole. Keep an eye out for lazy/stupid boaties that sometimes come too close at speed and throw up big wakes.

Don't forget the reservoirs, some great freshwater fishing (get a license first though!), and pretty easy fishing in most conditions. Happy Valley, Myponga, Warren, South Para, all good fun.

Do yourself a favour and practice a capsize recovery in shallow/calm water before taking on any waves, particularly if you are not a strong swimmer.

The Coorong near the mouth and barrages is likely still poor fishing due to the high flows and too fresh. You could try Pelican Point Rd or Kartoo Rd but that's really an overnighter.

Victor in the area protected by the Bluff can be ok in the right conditions.

Hell of a good reel lube there.

@Wert Yeah it wouldn't be a day on the flats usage, though I do wonder if the ease of casting, when skilled, makes up for the lack of distance. BC reels are on par weight wise, and the spools are lower friction than ever, but certainly not as well sealed as a spin reel. The upside to that is they are quite easy to self service if you're mechanically inclined.

My planned use is for the Murray flicking at snags, and I think it should be good for flathead from the boat too. I'll be travelling a fair bit next year and it will get used for Barra/Jacks etc. I'm tempted to get a quite lightweight rod too, 1.8-11g for YFW but wondering how the BC reels would go for that use.

Vector maths says larger and longer spools will have less friction, but I think it's very small in percentage terms between each reel size jump. I think the rod makes way more difference. Most importantly the distance, height, and size of the first eye to the reel. But overall I expect the rod length and loading ability is likely going to be the most important thing.

I've bought a lightweight baitcaster for the same reason @SurfcaztR but yet to use it. I look forward to birds nests as I didn't go with a DC cos I thought the sound they make would give me the irrits .

But I'm with TL, I think weight vs retrieve speed is my most important consideration due to lure fishing needing way more casts.

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 .

BTW, the Luvias and the Revelry FC are the same reel, except the Revelry FC has a heavier/thicker rotor and a 2 piece bail, and you can't get it in the higher gear version like Luvias, and of course is red and $80 less in $AU. Does it show I have been researching reels lately?