Fishing Australia

Two of my daughters are in Girl Guides and I was asked to help their group catch a few trout on an upcoming trip to Lake Jindabyne.

This inspired me to summarize the ‘how to’ of catching trout on bait in Impoundments.

This technique works exceptionally well on any impoundment where bait fishing is allowed, examples include Eucumbene, Blowering, Talbingo, Dartmouth, Sugarloaf and any lake that contains trout around in Australia for that matter.

If you have a guide, scout or school group, feel free to copy this and use it as a guide.

TARGET: Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout. Atlantic Salmon.

SAFTEY GEAR AND ADVICE: Sunglasses to protect the eyes from stray casts (hooks can be dangerous).

Pliers to squash barbs on hooks: in the advent of someone getting hooked, a squashed barb comes out easily rather than ripping the skin.

Importantly please do not look along the line when trying to pull in a fish or when trying to free a snag: the sinker and hook might spring free and come straight back at you at high speed!

Always pull the line carefully and well to one side of yourself and other people so that it goes in a safe direction if it springs off rapidly.

Fishing is very safe provided common sense is used.

FISHING GEAR: Lake Jindabyne is a declared trout water so hand lines are not permitted. You will need a rod and reel spooled with line. Tackle shops can advise which waters near you are declared trout waters.

A 2 to 4 kilo rod, reel and line out fit is ideal, but you can go as heavy as 4 kilo if that’s what you have at home. A Fishing Australia 602 SPL or 662 SPL is ideal if you need new rod.  You will also need half a dozen sinkers of about three eighths of an ounce (10 grams).

Half a dozen craft beads, some fishing bells and most importantly of all some tiny little size 10 or 12 hooks are required.

Finally you will need to around 70 cm of PVC tube to act as a rod holder while you are waiting for a bite.

RUNNING SINKER RIG:  Thread the line through the sinker, and pull through about 60 cm of line. Then put the line through the bead twice, this acts as a stopper so the sinker doesn’t end up sliding down to the hook.

The hook is then tied on the end of the line with a uni knot, which you must learn. You should get someone to show you this knot and learn it well. If you can’t find help I illustrate this knot on the first chapter of my dvd “Fishing with Rob Paxevnos, VOL 1”

Floating rigs can also be used, but are affected by the wind and are harder to cast, the running sinker rig is easiest at first.

You will also need to know how to make a basic cast, again get someone to show you or check out my dvd.

BAITING UP: From there we will mould on a grape sized piece of floating artificial bait.

Importantly the small hook is light enough that bait floats 60 cm off the bottom away from the weed yabbies and other things that may obstruct it.

The keener kids can use garden worms, bardi grubs, or grasshoppers for bait.

READY TO GO: We then cast out around 20 meters, place the rod in the holder and put the bells on the end of the rod.

From here it is a waiting game, but I have set up the above so the trout will hook themselves.

Of course the more experienced kids can look for clues like deeper water, feeding trout, etc.

If you have a large group I place them about 25 meters apart, which helps cover lots of ground.

The artificial baits like power bait work best on rainbow trout, while browns typically prefer natural baits like worms, crickets, grasshoppers, shrimp, small yabbies, etc.

At least a few fish will come in and kids are typically competitive so it will be on for young and old from there.

In NSW Kids under the age of 18 do not need a fishing licence.

A freshwater fishing guide is available for free from most tackle shops, this details other rules and size and bag limits in your state.

Have fun and see you on the water.

Rob Paxevanos