keenfisho

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?
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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 bloodworm intended for whiting, while trolling and dragging it along the bottom in sand. And I have caught a few Flathead, bouncing blades and vibe lures, across the sand. Again while targeting whiting. But these have always been incidental catches. Nonetheless, Vibes and movement along the bottom has produced the occasional result.
I have tried fishing the bottom for Flathead with a lot of intent and effort. Using blades as well as an array of soft plastics. Working, bouncing and retrieving my offering across the sand in front of Flathead. Success has been minimal when relying on vibrations and bottom movement. Where as capitalising on their sharp vision by keeping my presentation, above their eyes under a float has been enormously successful.
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I was keen to explore this further.
I was starting to assume that bounces, shakes and vibrations, meant little and it was all about vision. Flathead had a dysfunctional lateral line. Very little feel for vibrations, jiggles or bounces.
I asked the S. A. Flathead Guru and “Doctor of Yellow Fin Whiting” Bill Goh from Adeliade Uni. His reply:
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“ the flathead’s lateral line is very pronounced (even hard to get the scales off), and it is orientated closer to the top (dorsal). So when a flathead digs itself in, the lateral line is more exposed.“  https://www.facebook.com/groups/970345633507487/permalink/1095174604357922/
Maybe I had underestimated the effect of vibrations with Flathead. Now there was no option but to have a head to head comparison for the two senses in the one session, using the two different techniques. Floating a soft Plastic below a float (VISION) versus Bouncing, jigging and vibrating a paddle tail plastic along the bottom (VIBES) .
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THE TEST
Berkley Jerkshad 120mm was in the “VISION” corner, Versus Squidgies Bio Tough Paddle Tail 100mm in the “VIBE” corner.

 
Overcast skies yesterday, I felt would be putting the “Visual” presentation at a disadvantage. From the Flathead’s view looking up, there would not be as strong and contrasting a silhouette against dark clouds.
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The test did not need to be conducted too long. The slender fish like Jerkshad suspended under a float got all the fish! I am sure the most important sense for a Flathead is Vision. Make your offer most visual and obvious for the best results. I chose to use a float to do this.

TERRAIN
Is it all about the Habitat and Terrain?
On the Northern Sand Flats of the upper S.A. Gulfs, the terrain plays a most important role. With the bigger tide movements of the upper Gulfs, I find most Flathead in the faster tidal flow areas. Usually in weed filled channels, broken weed beds with sand patches, and along weed lines. Occasionally slightly reefy patches. But always in a high tidal flow area. The Southern Bluespotted Flathead, (Platycephalus Speculator) seems to love sitting in or around some structure, rather than being buried in an open sandy area, which occasionally happens.
I prefer fishing the run off tide. With the draining run off tide, baitfish get concentrated into these areas of structure. The easiest and most trouble free, snag free, way of covering this terrain, with the best visibility … is under a float.
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This terrain and heavy weed growth restricts the Flathead’s vision to a mainly upward line of sight. Making its hunting heavily reliant on its vision, in this habitat. The terrain and heavy weed growth would also somewhat dampen any of the other stimulating senses.
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Yesterday I managed 2 Flathead at 61cm and another 3 in the mid 40s. Along with half a dozen whiting in the low 30s.

 
It was a great day. It could have been brilliant if I had not lost a further 2 good fish today. Both bust offs. They get very angry in shallow water! I am still using my ultra light and well worn whiting lure gear and line. Time to step up and gear up seriously to target these guys over Autumn.
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Cheers and Tight lines, Des



 
 

I have been using Sunline Siglon PEx8 for a number of years now.
 

The thinness and cast-ability has been great. However a criticism of it would be that it frayed a little easily and subsequently prone to breaking easily if under pressure.
I would adjust the drag accordingly. Sometimes too much for a good set of the lure hooks on a strike. You learnt to adjust the drag after the strike.

 
Today I tried the PEx8 - ADV version for the first time ,,,. Brilliant !!!
Smooth, abrasion resistant. I totally agree with their claim;
 "deep resin technology. Increasing abrasion resistance 4 times, slickness and knot strength. It also repels water to improve casting distance cast after cast."
 And available for a very similar price.  Highly recommend it.
Cheers, Des.

I may or may not have gone for a swim many years ago when a carp pulled my rod into the Torrens Lake in town. Saw it sliding down the bank and chased after it, drove in and grabbed the rod and fought the fish in the water until i got the bank. Handed the rod to Jimmy while i climbed out then finished fighting the fish landing it.
Was pretty funny at the time.... Then the next day they closed the lake due to blue green algae outbreak.
 

 
We might have gave a few Coopers Pales a nudge that session also.  
 
 

They started out as a way to launch boats and are still used this way but in the last few years I have seen a increase of them being used to take families and groups of people out and then used as a platform to fish from as well as like a home base for swimming, kayaking etc

When they use/try many of the lines themselves & spool up different reels, they have a pretty good idea IMO. At least they can provide some helpful info.

I keep having to look this up so I thought I'd produce a guide I can refer back to, and maybe it helps others.
Many would know braid labelled strength vs diameter is all over the place in AU, with seemingly no consistency.
The reason for this is the US market decided they would label braid based on the mono equivalent size rather than it's true breaking strength, except they didn't really do that and it's a seemingly meaningless number. In Europe they generally label with the actual breaking strain. Australia seems to have gotten a mishmash.
eg. JBraid x8 0.13mm (from the labels)
EU = 8kg
AU = 3.8kg/8lb
US = 8lb
All of them are made in Japan, same factory, why is the EU one 2x stronger? Because it's not, they are all the same line. Also, 8lb mono would be more like 0.25mm, so it's not even like it's truly a mono equivalent number.
I use Tasline for my Vanford 2000, their 12lb is 0.128mm (yeah right, like they can measure a non round braid to 0.001mm), and they state they expect it to break at 20.6lb or 9.3kg, so at least you get an idea of what it's really intended to hold. I have not had one single wind knot with that 'thin as hell miles casting line', unlike the JBraid that I've had a few with.
Here's the charts I use now, it's Tasline's numbers, they tie up with somewhat similar number to Sufix 832, JBraid and Kairiki - at least a hell of a lot closer than the AU labels.
Test 8 lb 12 lb 15 lb 20 lb 30 lb 40 lb 50 lb 60 lb 80 lb 100 lb Diameter in mm 0.115 0.128 0.163 0.225 0.299 0.317 0.332 0.422 0.48 0.545 PE Rating 0.5 0.6 1 1.7 3 3.5 4 6 8 10 Actual Average Break 14.2 lb 20.6 lb 23.7 lb 34.7 lb 49.0 lb 59.2 lb 78.5 lb 91.6 lb 116.2 lb 138.2 lb  
PE 0.6 ………………………….. 0.128mm PE 0.8 ………………………….. 0.148mm PE 1 …………………………….. 0.165mm PE 1.2 ………………………….. 0.185mm PE 1.5 ………………………….. 0.205mm PE 1.7 ………………………….. 0.218mm PE 2 …………………………….. 0.235mm PE 2.5 ………………………….. 0.260mm PE 3 …………………………….. 0.285mm PE 3.5 ………………………….. 0.310mm PE 4 …………………………….. 0.330mm PE 5 …………………………….. 0.370mm PE 6 …………………………….. 0.405mm PE 7 …………………………….. 0.435mm PE 8 …………………………….. 0.470mm PE 10 …………………………… 0.520mm                                                                                          

I’m interested to know if he is working the lure or dead sticking it like bait

Yeah Ive never used them but I’m told they flutter on the drop and can be worked the same way as a vibe
but if you need more info
 
heres his Insta  - a young bloke from southern WA makes them in his garage
https://instagram.com/outback_breamer_baits?utm_medium=copy_link
 
 
 

@bjorn2fish definately makes things easier. Dont get me wrong there are some small inconveniences at times with the tub - in comparison to just wading, rod in hand, bag on you back. However the benefits far outway the cons!
An updated version 2 of the tub came to life last weekend!
After a bit of research I found the a pretty suitable esky. A 20L IceKool esky. It was small enough to fit in the tub, but big enough to fot a 35+ model YFW. Worst case scenario if the reality was not quite as I had envisaged, I had a good BBQ beer esky 🍻
The esky didnt fit exactly as I imagined, especially with the rod holders on the inside, but it was workable. It also took up more room than I anticipated, odd given I knew the measurements before I made the purchase. 
I used some lengths of hardwood dowel to strengthen up the axels so they would cope with the extra weight of an esky with ice, drinks and hopefully a few fish!

Then it was time to hit the water to test it out!

Overall it worked really well and I was very happy with it.
Next upgrade will be some additional flotation - possibly by adding a 3rd axel - as whilst an esky with ice and a few drinks is fine - I soon found out, the weight of any fish in the esky quickly adds up!!

Interesting, some quality breambos right there

Interesting, some quality breambos right there

Those lures should be tested in a pool for accuracy before making a purchase Softy.
 

I was hoping for a little bit more considering the title
 

A couple pics of Pt Douglas taken at a water side cafe called "the tin shed" and next to the ramp.Sat there having lunch watching a school of Kingfish doing loops out in front,surface Kingfish diving one foot you would lose site of them being murky water.Here's a few links of the area live surf cams.
https://www.newsport.com.au/beachcam/
https://www.newsport.com.au/beachcam/palm-cove-beachcam/
 

We're currently waiting for the 2021 Caldia LT's to show up, they've been on order for a while, think it's this month they should get here.
I've been toying with the idea of the 1000 Caldia as an upgrade to my Yellowfin luring outfit but then that would mean I'd have to get a new rod as well 
🤔 new rod & reel, angry wife 🤬, peace & quiet after initial explosion👍,  could be a done deal 😂
Yorky

With weather like today, how can you not go fishing. Was able to head for the hills this morning. Wasn't really fussed if I caught anything or not, happy to be outside in some sun.

 

Caught these two guys on a black and orange nymph. Tied half a dozen last night. Come home with two. Only using 2lb tippet. 

When I came across this guy, I knew for certain the hills where waking up.. 

Some ruff stuff. That gets the job done. Carry bunch of woolys and drys too 
 
 
 

I normally wait until spring for the first trout fish. After reading @styla report, thought I'd give it a crack myself. 
Expecting alot of water. Forecast only 11 degrees and the odd shower. 

Spotted and spooked a few fish before my first. All juveniles. This guy fell to a simple grub pattern. 

Another sitting in the fast wash 

Glad I got out and had a look. will wait until it warms up a little and flow slows before I try again.

The Fonz got nothing on me. On fly. One of many, but probably the biggest. Amazing fun.

Got some vibes ready for the salmon if the flys don't get out far enough. 28g. painted with colourshift. Regret the black splatters, done to break it up and look a tad more real, but should have done in sepia so not so contrasty.

 
A bit lighter and smaller

 
These lures kinda hard to photograph in the dark arvo, this is quite chartreuse with subtle green scales

 
And some gold for variety

Lazy bait sesh tomorrow up the Warren and with water levels high will be up in the timber. But with clear water deep diving lures will work well.

Hoping to get another Cod and next time I get one it will be going on the brag mat coz it sucks having to take photos of them in the water when fishing solo.

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Years gone by yes definitely but these days with the kids and sport etc, not a chance. I’d be 20 days if I’m lucky and possible only single digits of full proper sessions with out the kids

I too have been struggling to find a shoulder bag in local tackle shops
seems like no one is really stocking them atm
the only place that had one was tackleworld on port road but because it was a ‘trout’ bag in the fly section it had a price tag of nearly $250
i think I will end up ordering this one from online

Vibe in redfin pattern, lost to a nasty snag before it caught anything lol


Colourshift paint on the spine, hard to show in a still