Fishing Australia

Last October, I was up at Lake Monduran in Southeast Queensland, finalising Vol 1 of my first DVD. It was a great trip, make that the best impoundment barra trip ever, but the only downside was that I lost a rod and reel when it got bumped into the drink. The reel was a widely available 40 sized Okuma Salina, but the rod was a 'one-off' prototype that I had been working on for some time.

I was spewing about losing this outfit, the rod in particular, which was a single-handed spin stick the likes of which I have never found before. It always impressed everyone who tried it on big fish.
 
I tried desperately to get the rod back by trolling and casting over the area for hours on end.  I even went for a big swim feeling around in the weed and mud!  My team and I looked so much that eventually we figured a big cat fish has sniffed out the heavily scented lure (which was still tied onto the outfit) and then and dragged the lot away.
 
Five months later I get a text message to say that my rod and reel had been found; of course I passed this off as a joke. But it was true; the guide Rob Wood, who was fishing with me at the time, happened to stumble across the rod and reel high and dry on the bank thanks to receding water levels. Furthermore the rod was in perfect condition.  The reel was as expected full of mud, but with a quick strip down and grease up it was made workable.
 
Then dig this, Woody decides to have a cast with it and hooks a 110 cm barra!  He wanted some jump shots and the powerful rod enabled him to get the fish up close quickly and it turned on some real fireworks.
 
Have a look at the photo hereabouts, it is a great pic, and yep that is my rod!  This is some sort of sign from above. I have my rod back and can now finalize the model for other anglers. In particular, it will be ideal for hard core snapper barra and jewfish fisho's.
 
What a freak story!  It just goes to show; in fishing, the truth is stranger than fiction.

FREAK FISHING ON THE CLYDE RIVER

The sand bank that runs under the Princess Highway Bridge at Batemans Bay is a popular stop over spot for travelling anglers and people enjoying the nearby Easts Holiday Park. A flatty or two (including some thumpers lately), small tailor, bream, sand whiting, mullet and other estuary species are the norm in this area.

One afternoon recently Luke Evans and friend stopped for some shelter and a cast under the bridge. The guys were casting around small metal lures when half way through the run in tide the place went berserk with fish crashing into a bait ball right in front of them.  In the space of two hours they caught some 30 tailor to 45 cm, salmon to 2 kg, three bonito (yes Bonito) and a frigate mackerel! Then just as quickly as the action started, it stopped, with not a fish to be seen. It happens!

GET RIVER SMART

Dr Bill Phillips, CEO of RiverSmart Australia dropped me a line to remind anglers of the up coming Easter Lake Burrendong Classic. This is a cool, not-for-profit event with all proceeds going to fish stocking and water way improvements.

There are some $20,000 worth of prizes up for grabs with eligible species include Golden Perch, Silver Perch, Murray Cod, Catfish and Carp. For more info, check out www.iwra.com.au.

EUCUMBENE SURFACE TROUT

Trollers and fly fishos are reporting good trout activity closer to the surface as the water temps cool rapidly. Buckenderra, 7 Gates and Frying Pan are just three places that are going well.

On the better days trollers have reported as many as 16 rainbows per day on shallow running Rapala lures.  The new "bleak" colour, which in the water is a dead ringer for a baby rainbow trout, has been the stand out catching most of the fish. Experienced fly anglers are also doing well with mudeye, stick caddis and nymph patterns.

Best times have been from day break until mid-morning and then again from 4 pm until sunset, and then again at night.

Rob Paxevanos