doobie

The little fish we found were bighting very poorly - even on locally caught calamari baits

we anchored on a few schools and could barely get them to bight - its about as bad as Ive seen them bight in many years.

So the Jury is out on Reddies as bait - they will still hit them - but they arent a miracle bait

Haha - I remember watching those old classics on the ABC with the old man as a kid.

A few days before the water rations were put in place we spent a good 2 hours in the blazing sun, digging the 4wd out of the side of a sand dune.

It was a good reminder that when you're in a spot thats a long way from the nearest mechanic and has a rep for being tough on cars, you may be out there a bit longer than you had planned😉
 

Although I don't like 'musicals', I think you have done a great job (yet again) in putting a great video together
Well done.

This is just a nine minute musical photo slideshow video from a few trips I had to a small "no mans land" tannin stream.. I doubt anyone has ever fished this area apart from me..
Sit back and relax while you watch it & hope you get some enjoyment from it..
cheers
Adrian
 

Not big, but still good size and a couple of feeds there.
Another lure lost 😒 and as far as the wife is concerned 🤐

All very good points Rybak - yeah my fish handling in the vid could have been better. I'll make sure its wet in the future.

The smooth PVC is probably better than rasping away on dry carpet or dry floors but there is definitely room for improvement in technique.

I would never have attempted the aerial stuff but the Camera man was complaining about his sore back, so I was trying to avoid him having to bend over to film.

Once the filming was over it was done on the floor - but the floor was dry aswell - might have to rig up a rectangular landing tub with some water it and just leave the measurer in that


Thanks for the suggestions
 

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









 

Good to try somewhere new and at least you didn't go home empty handed  

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
 
 
 

 
 

😀 Hah!  ...  I would be looking for something a bit stronger !
Hard work, but satisfying I bet. Thanks for the video.

Thanks doobie, it's a tough river to fish at any time of the season, early season is when it's at it's worst, very slippery rocky river bottom and one mistake and you're gone.. I always finish the day with a Cadbury caramelo koala or a Freddo Frog and a can of Pepsi Max..😃😃
cheers
Adrian

That flow did look to be moving at quite a resonable strength - a good footing was essential  
A quick start for the session was hopefully going to be a far better day - but still, better than nothing.
And a caramelo koala to finish off is a nice little bonus 😁

This trip was several weeks ago when one of the larger rivers I like to fish finally dropped to a reasonably safe wading level. It wasn't easy being in the river as the flow was still quite strong and care had to be taken, it wasn't for the inexperienced angler that's for sure, even I struggled at times.
cheers
Adrian
 

I think I’ll be trying thompsons beach soon 

Me too. Cheaper the better. Still get squid. Nothing beats a tommie on a skewer jag if all else fails.

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.

I decided to have a fish from the beach at Parsons YP over the long weekend using seaweed worms just to see what was about. Had 4 keepers in about half an hour. 2 were in the 34cm range much to my surprise and very fat. If this is a precursor to the summer I will be a happy man. Last summer was a total loss. What lures are you using? I am a bait man myself but getting sand worms isn't doing my back any good, so might have to try the lures.

A couple of good keepers to start off Mike.
Godd the floating weed was minimal - that stuff is a pain.
Thanks for the photos and good write up.
 

A couple of good keepers to start off Mike.
Godd the floating weed was minimal - that stuff is a pain.
Thanks for the photos and good write up.
 

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

Well done Mike some great fish to kick the season off! I MUST make more of an effort this year. (I say that every year)  

Unfortunately we have to pass on the cost from the supplier. We can offer a deal for SH members if you come in and see me we can work out a deal.

DODGE TIDES … YOU BEAUTY!
 
Many Yellow Fin Whiting fishers complain about Dodge tides. They find it difficult to catch fish during a dodge.
I feel the dodge tides present an opportunity to easily catch fish.
 
Dodge tides are small and always with a higher water height at low tide. They do not spread the fish out far and wide across the sand flats. The fish are held in a concentrated area for a prolonged spell. Most often the fish will be congregate on the lower food rich sand flats. On nipper and worm rich flats nearer to the weed lines. The experienced YFW fisher who has previously worked the same spots, having previously followed normal tides out and back in, will know the terrain and exactly where to go at their regular spots.
 
At times on a dodge the YFW may seem lethargic and uninterested in your offering. YFW are stimulated to feed by water movement. And normally there is little movement on a dodge tide. However the movement and stimulation can be provided by a variety of other small factors.
 
In the SA Gulfs the tide is amplified the further north you go. So a small tide movement is a bit larger if you chose a location further north in the gulf. The lay of the land, channels, weed beds, etc can accentuate what little movement there is. So fish those spots of slightly greater water flow. Like a sand flat near the opening of a channel that will experience any small water movement from that channel draining or filling.
 
Wind always stimulates feeding in YFW. And even more so on a dodge. Check the forecasts and fish a time when the wind picks up. Late afternoons are good. A strong sea breeze creates a wind tide, with enough movement to stimulate feeding on these otherwise listless “Dodgy days”.  In cooler weather periods, it is the smaller water body of a dodge tide that will warm up quicker. So dodge tides actually present some opportunities.
 
I had a good recent session on a dodge tide. One of frequent good dodge tide sessions. On this day, I started fishing at the bottom of the tide, early in the afternoon. The low tide was at the higher level of 1.00mt. The next high was small and about 12 hours away. There was going to be very little natural tidal movement. However the wind was predicted to turn SW and pick up on this arvo. Given that the opening to our Gulfs face SW,  SW winds in or gulfs always produce a higher tide. And do produce a wind tide. At the bottom of the tide, I was positioned to benefit from any movement. I worked an area of sand flats adjacent the weed line which had a number of channel openings in it.

Any water movement was going to be felt here. Fish were lingering around the area from the start. Lazily cruising around in the extra pools of low tide water that the dodge holds. They took some coaxing at first. But as the wind picked up, they certainly got a lot more aggressive. The water movement was noticeable even if a bit slow, if compared to a regular tide.

There was no need for small lures and timid fishing, with the stiffening breeze. The Sugapen 95 did most of the damage on this day.

Late in the session it got a bit too choppy. A switch to sub surface with the Ecogear ZX caught the last few fish. There were some very solid fish at around 40cm in the catch.
 

It finished up being a very satisfying day going to plan.
 
Cheers, Des

Hey! That's nearly my shark steak marinade I got from an old professional fisho's wife years ago.
Half soy, half orange juice a bit of garlic and honey, cook hot and fast.
I can highly recommend this style of marinade for any big slabs of fish you plan on cooking steak style.