Des

You always go that extra yard !

My favourite is the Columbia "Blood & Guts" fishing shirts. For all the reasons you have already mentioned. But also their water resistance and they are very stain resistant. $75 is good value. Considering they last for ages.

A few rods that I am aware of, but have not checked them out as I would probably end up buying them! I keep lists of them just in case My list only has rods below $500. Although some are inexpensive like the below Abu Garcia at $160 Abu Garcia Veritas PLX Tournament, VRTT-S 721UL 1-3kg 7' 2" 2-8gms 1pc Daiwa 20 INFEET EX 752ULFS-ST 7'5" Line 0.5 - 3Kg Lure 0.5-5gms 2-Butt Diawa 22 TD ZERO 762ULFS, 0.5-8g, 1-3kg OCEANS LEGACY QUEST QSR732XUL 2-8LB Weight 58gms Shimano Anarchy 21AN782ULF 7'8" 1-4 Kg, 1-5 gm Have fun looking for your new rod.

My favourite ultra light for lure casting at Yellow Fin Whiting is the: Abu Garcia Eradicator Real Finesse ERFS-76LT-TZ 7' 6" 2pce Line 0.6-3lb Lure 0.1gm-12gm Not sure if they are available now. There were some on ebay. The 7' 6" Rod only 66 weighs grams !!! A couple of slightly heavier models I have (amongst too many others!), which are also good for YFW lure casting, yet easily handle a few big Flathead or Salmon: Shimano T Curve Premium 21TCP782LC … 7' 8" 1-4 Kg line, 1-7gm lure. 2 pc Shimano Zodias ZOD270UL+ 7ft Line 3-5 lbs Lure 2-7gms JDM model All

Funny. I can go wading in the cold water, on the sandflats in Winter. You keep moving and warming up. But I struggle sitting on a jetty, staying put in a burley stream with little exercise to warm you up.

Now to test the salted worm out in the water

Yet to brave the cold

Might try repurposing the spring of a wooden clothes peg

I will have to play around to try and do that. Mine look like @yellow door 1 photo. The trace goes through the eye.

I adapted an old Ikea clothes rack. Using velcro cable ties up top. The attached picture is how I have mine set up. They have them from $25 for a double sided (for rods) and on rollers. So easy to move around and access both sides. https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/rigga-clothes-rack-white-30231631/ You may be able to modify to suit your customised needs.

Thanks guys. @Wert the eye of the hook my well be it. As this is where the trace is breaking on the top hook. I think I have to be more careful around the eye of the hook. Start the winding on the snell going away from the join in the hook eye as pointed out by @yellow door 1 . After checking a couple that I already have made up, I also noticed on a couple that I have inadvertently passed the leader through the top of the eye rather than up through the bottom. That certainly would have put more stress on the leader. Certainly have to pay attention to the small details. Cheers, Des

Yes I apply saliva when tightening. I think my knots could be improved. So looking for any tips, videos, etc that just might improve things. Or a better leader material. Thanks Rybak. Wire might be going too far. I like the variable spacing when snelling my own ganged hooks. Mainly very big Flathead busting me off. Occasionally I tangle with some big Salmon and Rat Kingfish on the Sandflats. I do bring out a wire traced with ganged hooks if I want to tangle with a Bronzie. Cheers, Des

I am using 20 lb Black Magic Tough Trace leader for snelling 3 x 3/0 ganged hooks. I have had a couple of bust offs at the trace recently. Any alternative trace suggestions .. or What is the best way for traces on 3 ganged hooks? Any video links? Thanks for the help , Cheers, Des

Mainly a steady retrieve over structure and Flathead Lies. A little quick variation at times, but I only pause when I see a non comital follower. Then they usually strike. Yes a few fish attack the float. On a few occasions I have recognised them as Flathead. They tend to be the smaller ones. But mostly down here the Salmon Trout attack the float. Give it a crack over structure and snaggy ground. Would love to hear how you go. Good luck. Cheers Des

VISON versus VIBES I was fishing the Northern Sandflats yesterday. The whiting fishing was a bit slow, so I quickly shifted my attention to Flathead. There was something on my mind. I was curious to know. Which sensory stimulus was most likely to attract a Flathead strike? . I lean to vision being the most important sense that a Flathead employs in hunting prey. As all my successful Flathead fishing has relied on placing my offering in a highly visible “Strike Zone” above their eyes … unconventionally under a float. Yes I have taken the occasional Flathead, on a

Would you not bother float fishing Gar in winter? Is there a weed type bait that can be successfully used for Gar. As there is with some other species like Luderick?

I am looking to turn my attention to Garfish this winter. I am a total Newbie with Garfish. I have an underlying assumption (possibly incorrectly) that the better size Garfish are more often caught in winter. Can anyone offer any advise on catching Garfish in winter? Perhaps covering some of these points; 1) Seasonal movements a) in the Gulfs b) change of Habitat/ Terrain c) in the water column 2) Weather conditions: Ideal conditions: Temperatures (Air & Water), Winds, Atmospheric pressure 3) Change in diet/prey. Availability of

@MIKECATTS Is Kast King any good for flicking light lures for YFW. If so, which one do you use for this application? Thanks, Des

BYCATCH to MAIN CATCH … Season’s Change to FLATHEAD . I have picked up a Flathead on each of my last 4 Yellow Fin Whiting lure sessions. There are still plenty of YFW about for the whiting bait angler, however they have slowed up for the whiting lure fisherman. The water is cooling a bit for YFW on lures. But is also the reason for the increasing presence of the Flathead. The cooler Autumn water temperatures now have the ambient conditions to hold a larger number of baitfish in the shallows. And along with the baitfish arrive a lot more Flathead, in these cooler w

I prefer my dominant ... and more dexterous hand holding the rod. Stronger = less fatigue, longer casts Dexterity = better and more subtle lure manipulations. More responsive to situations. Whereas the non dominant (left in my case) merely has to wind and hold the net. Occasionally simultaneously.

I switched to winding with my left hand a while back after some joint issues. I am forced to alternate occasionally due to lure casting RSI

Maybe saving all their poop and coating it over the other baits my well be an answer

Wonderfull information It can't but help your curiosity and wonder: Do all our regular baits like maggots, silverfish, chicken or pilchard slivers etc. work better at night? Is there a seagrass type bait that can be used very effectively in the day time?

Good info @projoe Look forward to your flyfishing Gar post

I Have not tried for Redfin in a long long time. Not at all sure about their behaviour. With YFW on a clear calm day a smaller lure, Clearer colours, and a slower retrieve works a little better. On a windy day a bigger, noisier/splashy lure, with a faster retrieve works better. Never pause your retrieve with YFW. A millisecond pause followed by a burst of speed can work.