NSW - DEPOT BEACH 27/06/09

I couldnt resist the temptation to take the new ski for a session at Depot beach this morning with Luke and Stuart from AKFF. I had to make a quick stop in at the tackle store before i hit the water so i was a bit behind the others, when i arrived they were already out so i unpacked as quick as i could before they caught all the fish. Met up with the fella's and said a quick hello and got started on the fishing, set up drift with SP rods and landed my first Snapper for the day.

It was a little slow at first, landed plenty of crap fish including a barracouta and 1 fish that im not certain of, at first i assumed a wrasse of some description but after looking through a few books its quite possible it was a small Groper, ill keep researching that one as im still not sure. A few solid hits without hookups and a few bust off's from big fish but landing another fish was difficult. Stuart had been trying the edges of the bommie while Luke and i were drifting over broken reef, with none of us having much luck, especially Luke!!!

We all met up again and decided to try a slightly different area and had instant success, on the first drop i scored a Snapper then 2 more decent ones not long after. Finished up landing 4 Snapper, kept 2. All of them a similar size, out on the water i estimated 45-48cm but was suprised to see on the brag mat the biggest was 57cm which would have made the smallest about 50cm at a guess.

I had to leave early to drop the Revo off in Nowra to its new owner so i had to leave Stuart and Luke out there, so im very keen to hear how you guys went in the end. Im very happy with the new ski, decided to land on the beach instead of the usual channel between the rocks so i could see how she goes in the surf, it was only fairly small surf but caught a nice wave all the way into the beach comfortably, im going to take it down to a good surf beach tomorrow.

LURE FISHING FOR AUSTRALIAN BASS

Over the last couple of years i have developed a love for Bass fishing in the many rivers along the South coast of NSW, these rivers are one of the most peacefull places you can find which makes the experience even more enjoyable. Bass will take many different lures so i have put together this report to help anyone who hasnt had the satisfaction of luring a nice big wild river Bass.

The first technique i will talk about is surface lures which are very effective during the early morning and late afternoon period especially when there is a lot of insect activity. A few of the most effective surface lures include crawlers which make a great Cicada imitation, Walk the dog type lures which zig-zag accross the surface, and poppers. Casting these lures very close to the bank or other structure such as overhanging trees, and submerged timber or rock is the most likely spots to hold good Bass and will give you the best chance to tempt the fish to the surface for the lure.

Rather than sitting in the deeper water casting straight at the trees or submerged structure, try to position yourself closer to the bank which will allow you to cast and retreive accross the face of the structure which will give your lure more time in the strikezone. Slow to medium retreives usually work best for me, with plenty of long pauses along the way which is often the time a Bass will strike at the lure, sometimes a Bass will hit a surface lure 3 or 4 times before hooking up so if it misses the lure on the first strike there is a good chance it will come back for another attempt so keep the retreive going as normal until the lure is out of the strike zone.

Next on the list is Soft plastic lures which can be very useful when fishing heavily submerged timber or thick overhanging trees because they are cheap compared to hardbody lures and you have the ability to rig them with weedless/snag proof worm hooks. Jighead weight depends on the depth you intend to fish, but you rarely need a jighead heavier than 1/8oz for rivers, 1/16oz or 1/12oz are my preffered weight for soft plastic lures, a Betts spin blade or similar can be added to the jighead for added flash and noise will will often entice a Bass to strike aggresively which will ultimately increase your hookup ratio.

3-4 inch fat grubs, flickbaits and minnows are my most successful types of plastics in natural or darker colours are the choice of many anglers but it pays to have as many colour options as possible. Bass love diving hardbody lures as well, especially those with a bit of body to them.
The fatter crankbait style lures are the most popular, again, the natural or darker colours usually tempt the Bass most consistently.

Cast and retreive accross the face of structure with a slow retreive with plenty of pauses, the same as i have mentioned with the surface lures. While the lure is being retreived, if you feel the lure hit some submerged timber or rock, you can simply pause the retreive and the lure will slowly rise and the retreive can continue once its over the top of the obstacle which will decrease your chance of snagging and losing your lure.

The last lure type i will mention is the spinnerbaits, which are my favourite Bass lure.
Spinnerbaits were designed for fishing structure of all kinds, with their snagless and weedless design you can throw them right into otherwise unfishable locations and quite often this is where you find big Bass. Spinnerbaits can be used at any depth and come in a large range of colours and weights, along with blade styles, colours and amount of blades. I use tandem twin spins the most, which is a colorado blade, with a willow blade directly behind it and usually in a weight of 1/8oz.
I prefer dark colour skirts on spinnerbaits like black with either purple, red or green tips.

Fishing the Bass rivers on the South coast usually means thick overhanging trees with steep banks which is ideal for spinnerbaits, just find a gap in the trees, even a small gap and throw the spinnerbait as far up into it as possible, even right up to the bank if you can get it there and let the lure sink to the bottom then give the rod tip a sharp lift to get the blades spinning and commence with a slow retreive then pause and let the lure sink again, and repeat until the lure is back to you. Bass will often hit the spinnerbait on the drop so always keep an eye on the line and get ready to muscle the fish away from the structure, a big Bass will get you back into the structure before you know it so always be ready for the hit or you will lose lures, and fish.

The key to luring Bass is casting accuracy, the lure must be as close as possible to structure at all times, and when its warm and the sun is high fish the shaded areas thoroughly and you will find Bass. Please remember to always handle the fish with care, and take your camera!!

ROCKS - MALONEYS DRUMMER, NSW 21/6/09

With the recent weather conditions, getting out for a session in the kayak has been difficult with strong winds and a big swell which has left me to do some more landbased fishing, this time for Drummer (rock blackfish). Finding a spot that had some shelter from the wind and swell was tricky, but after searching local maps and google earth i decided to try a new rock platform that i have never fished before at Maloneys beach in Batemans Bay.

I searched the area looking for the better spots and came accross a nice deep section in between some thick weeds and reef. I started a burley trail of bread peices and bread crumbs, once i could see some fish moving around chasing the burley i sent out my unweighted #6 hook with a ball of bread firmly pressed onto the hook and watched it slowly sink down into the deep section and within the first 30 seconds i hooked up to a reasonable fish but pulled the hook after only a short fight.

Keeping a good burley trail going kept the fish active and hookups were common, on most casts the bait was getting hit and a few decent Drummer came up to join me on the rocks for a quick photo before release. After a few more smaller fish, a good Drummer of 41cm and approximately 2kg came up after a good solid fight and a few nervous moments trying to get me into the weeds and rocks. After that fish, things went suddenly quiet with hardly a touch for 5 or more minutes until i felt a light tug on the line, i lifted the rod tip slowly to se if there was any weight on it and as soon as the fish felt some tension on the line it was on!!!

Using 15lb braid and 15lb flurocarbon leader i was able to put quite a bit of drag onto the Daiwa Tierra reel which i estimate was about 6kg of drag pressure but that was not nearly enough to stop this beast of a Drummer, i didnt even get a chance to turn the handle once, he had dusted me in no time under a rock ledge and despite everything i tried including opening the bail arm for a few minutes to see if he would swim out himself i could not get this fish out of the rocks and eventually snapped the line.

My time was pretty much up by that stage so it was time to pack up and start the long walk back to the car. A very promising spot that i will be visiting again soon to try and beat that Drum!!

THE KFA KITCHEN - BAKED WHOLE SNAPPER

Winter around the southern coastal areas of NSW provide many fishermen the chance to dine and feast on fat Snapper intent on securing a feed themselves. The pan sized models provide good sport on light gear while the larger beasts can feed upteen amounts of people (From children to adults). A few years ago I came up with a simple recipe to showcase a baked fish, while it works well on fish like Bream, it really proves its worth infusing its flavours with whole Snapper.

Baked Snapper with Lemon and cracked Pepper :

1 Snapper ( 1kg upwards, Fresh is best )
1 lemon ( Thinly sliced, skin on )
1 Onion ( Sliced finely )
3 Garlic cloves ( Sliced finely )
2 Tomatoes ( Diced or sliced )
1 Flat leaf parsley ( 6 tbsp, roughly chopped )
1 Basil ( 6 tbsp, roughly chopped )
1 Sage ( 3 tbsp, roughly chopped )
1 Oregano ( 3 tbsp, roughly chopped )

1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees, and prepare baking tray ( Deep dish ) by placing Snapper into tray and oiling with a good quality virgin olive oil. Score snapper ( Cut 4 slices down the body from head to tail, lightly into the skin of the fish ), rub oil into the cuts and crack generous amounts of pepper into and all over the body, follow this with a few pinches of sea salt and place tray to the side.


2. Place all Stuffing / Filling ingredients into a bowl, mix with a tbsp of oil and again crack some pepper and mix. Stuff fish heavily with filling and use a skewer to stitch the Snapper closed ( Alternatively a tooth pick, or leave open! ), take sliced lemon and place on top of the fish gently inserting each slice into the score, aligning neatly along the body.


3. Bake fish until cooked ( No more than 1/2 hr, checking along the way ) and serve with some baked potatoes with lashings of Chives & Sour cream, plate up and enjoy.

KFA Kitchen tips :

• Dont over bake, check only once and turn if desired.


• Substitutes well with Bream, Black Bream and other white fleshed species.


• Cover with foil if you wish, beware any juices will not evaporate and add to the finished product.


• Could be barbequed or even smoked using webber techniques.

THE KFA KITCHEN - THAI FISH CAKES

The weather for Snapper bashing looked a little ordinary this weekend, big swells and high wind. We took the opportunity to practice a few traditional forms of fishing instead, the art of rock and beach. While the Drummer off the rocks were replaced by Sweep (Unfortunately), the Salmon came out to play as we hit the beach surf at Pedro Point. The larger specimens were returned to the water while most of the smaller 40cm models were kept for mincing and freezing, ultimately ending up on the Kayak Fishing Adventure Kitchen menu.

Thai Fish Cakes (Makes 16) :

500g Australian Salmon (Filleted, skinned and boned)
2 tbsp red curry paste
2 fresh Kaffir lime leaves (Torn)
2 green onions (Chopped coarsely)
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp finely chopped coriander
3 snake beans (30g, chopped finely)
2 fresh small red thai chillies (Chopped finely)
Peanut oil (For deep frying)

1. Cut fish into small pieces. Bleand and process fish with curry paste, lime leaves, onion, sauce and juice until mixture forms a smooth paste. Combine fish mixture in medium bowl with coriander, beans and chilli.


2. Roll heaped teaspoon of the mixture into ball, then flatten into cake shape; repeat with remaining mixture.


3. Just before serving, heat oil in wok or large saucepan; deep fry fish cakes, in batches, until browned lightly and cooked through. Drain on absorbent paper; serve with fresh coriander leaves and lime wedges, if desired.

KFA Kitchen tips :

• Nice with cucumber dipping sauce, shredded carrot on the side.


• Substitute Salmon with any firm white flesh (Flathead, Redfin etc).


• Dip fingers in cold water before shaping cakes, prevents sticking.


• Try turning only once during cooking, dont crowd them in the pan.


• Remaining mixture can be shaped ahead and kept overnight.


• Can be char-grilled or barbequed, use cooking oil spray directly.

TROUT BAITS - BERKLEY POWERBAIT / GULP!

Powerbait, the choice of KFA champions…

Well, err, I wouldn’t go that far but it works well. When I mention Powerbait I should emphasise I am talking about the mouldable range of Trout artificial baits on the market from Berkley. What started out as little more (For most, myself included) than a gimmick in Australia has quickly caught on, becoming probably the number one way to secure a Trout for the table or release from the bank (Fly fishing still reigns supreme though). For a couple of seasons (And longer for other KFA members) I have been shown the ropes on this unique product, everything from product ranges down to rod selection, rigging and landing techniques.

One of the products strongest assets is its ability to float off the ground, team this with light line, a small running ball sinker, and a spilt shot or float stopper and approximately a metre of leader will hold you in good steed to retain a fish. Its principal when used in my favourite lake location, Jindabyne, is to float above the weeds, lightly weighted in staggered distance out from the bank. Getting to know your ledge depths, drop offs and general area features helps as more and more trips in differing locations will bring drastically different results (If you find the fish once, try the same bank again next trip).

To give you a rundown on the scepticism I showed previously towards this product will only take a minute. Being avid Kayak Fishermen the ideal way to target Trout for many of us is to troll the edges or deep water with diving Minnows or Winged styled lures (Tasmanian devils / Loftys). I would often lose sight of my brethren only to find them huddled round a bent stick on the bank, muttering some colour gibberish that only they could understand. After trolling for hours I now pull over for a well earned rest and another technique, two rods out using the waters profundity. The first time I used it I struck out, the corresponding visit I had immediate success!

The range grows bigger by the day and is available in paste form, various nugget forms and insect patterns (Think Night crawlers, Gents, Grubs and Earth worms). A few years ago Berkley introduced the Gulp range of Trout bait, a softer more blended variant of the traditional kind. Its softer texture along with diverse scents make longer inroads on colour selection and it is always worth a look. The thing about Trout baits is there are so many colour variations and names, Chunky Cheese, Lemon Twist, Lime Twist, Orange Pulp just to name a few. Cycle colours every hour or so if the fish just aren’t taking the bait, certain colours may work better than others given the conditions you find yourself fishing in (This is not a hard and fast rule).

What works one day can be left alone the next, factors beyond our understanding of natural Trout movement step into the equation. Trout patrol beats and often cruise the weed beds in foraging mode, these beds can last for metres and can hold decent concentrations of varying species. If you struggle to get a touch think about the external conditions you find yourself fishing in, is it overcast, middle of the day, Hot? All of these factors play a part but won’t dominate your chances; my number one tip for readers is to fish in a group, staggering your two rods each up and down the bank. Pick varying colours and keep random baits close, no need to chuck them all out 30m (Some fish lie a lot closer than you think).

Many of our Jindabyne trip reports have included the use of Powerbait and more often than not it has saved the day. Nothing like a school of fit Rainbows mooching past your offerings and bagging out swiftly. Andrew McGovern from Pure Fishing TV has a nice little introductory video online on artificial Trout baiting, using the range of Berkley products. If anything, have a quick watch to check out the rigs he used, its not crazy science but effectiveness is the key, especially if your $15 Scrub Worms fail.

http://www.purefishingtv.com.au/?p=157

NSW - DEPOT BEACH SNAPPER 13/06/09

A few of us from AKFF recently organised a Snapper session at Depot beach on the NSW South coast. My apprentice at work Steve, was keen to come along on his 1st kayak trip so we loaded up the night before and met at my house and after a nice strong coffee we made our way down to the beach. I live closest to Depot out of everyone there, but still managed to be the last one to arrive. As we pulled into the carpark Greg, Stuart and Mick were all launching and Paffoh and Luke were not far behind them.

I setup the 2 yaks as quick as i could, gave Steve a quick rundown on how to lift/drop the rudder etc. and launched hoping to get some Snapper. The conditions were not great with a bit of wind and fairly choppy but still good enough to work with so we headed over to the usual area a few of us fished last winter and worked it hard with SP's. Not much was happening for the first 30mins or so until Steve hooked 2 Sanpper in 5mins with the biggest going 40cm.

Both of those fish were released as he already had a few Snapper in the freezer from a previous trip out in a boat but was very happy to have landed his first fish from a yak. Another 20-30mins had gone by with not much action for me until i hooked up to my first for the trip on a 5" Gulp jerkshad in blue pepper neon colour and measured in at about 40cm. We stayed in the general area working over everything we could with no more luck.

I noticed Steve had landed back on the beach and thought he must have gotten uncomfortable being out there so i told Paffoh i was heading in since i didnt want Steve waiting on the beach till i was done but by the time i got halfway back i noticed him paddling back out, he had just gone in for a stretch and a short break but was very keen to continue fishing which made me very happy.

From that point, we headed out to a different area i had fished once before and found Snapper, since the usual spot wasnt firing i figured we can do no worse by trying something different and Steve decided to head in a little closer over the sand and try score a few flathead for the table, no legal flatties came to the yak (plenty of small ones though), but did manage 5-6 good Trevally to 40cm. My First cast in the new spot went out and watching the line closely as it dropped i noticed a twitch in the line, then the line started to tighten so i set the hook in and after a short battle in comes a Snapper at 50cm.

The action was really starting to pick up, hooking up every 3-4 casts and got busted 3 times by some really good fish. Most of them taking the light gear (6lb) with the heavier rod rigged with 15lb was hardly getting touched, each fish was getting slightly bigger than the last and eventually landed a 65cm Snapper which is my new pb. By the end of the session i had landed 8 Snapper, and 2 that would have been just on or just under legal size along with the usual rubbish pike, Sgt bakers, wrasse etc.

I usually struggle a bit with the Snapper in the yak so i was very happy to have had a decent result and plan to get out there a lot more this winter than i have in previous years. When we had all landed back on the beach Greg very kindly let myself and Paffoh have a quick spin on the new Hobie Pro Angler!! This is a beast of a yak, i felt like i was pedalling around on a couch its sooo comfortable to be in and super stable!! (Thanks for the opportunity Greg).

I also met up with Marty and Kim This morning and went back to the same spot and didnt land a single Snapper, i dropped a few and got busted off 3 times on the 6lb line but didnt land any. It was a great weekend for being out on the yak, hopefully we get plenty more of that weather!

HOBIE - 'FISH THE WORLD' DVD ONLINE

The Hobie 'Fish the World' DVD will soon be released to members of the public who purchase Hobie Kayaks or smooth Hobie dealers over. Its a worthwhile DVD and highlights many regions of the world. Two members of the Hobie National Fishing Team, Den Farrier and Mike Allen provide the story board to many continents, kayak fishing in places we only dream of. Along the way they pedal the new Pro Angler and get to fish with Hank Parker of Bass Pro Hall of Fame.

Closer to home, the friendly duo fish for Sooty Grunter and Barramundi, alongside reef species in tropical queensland. Local Hobie identities Rob Paxevanos (Fishing Australia), Steve Fields (MD, Hobie Australia), Mal Gray (Sunstate Hobie) and Josh Holmes (Hobie Factory Fishing Team) all feature either behind the scenes or on the DVD, a cast worthy of helping Den and Mike film the Australian leg.

Here is what Steve Fields, MD of Hobie Australia had to say :

"Over the past year or so Hobie embarked on a “Fishing the World” DVD. This DVD covered fishing from Hobie kayaks at number of points around the globe. To me the best segment was shot right here in Australia and I think you'll feel the same. Some great footage. Many thanks to the Hobie USA Fishing Team of Den Farrier & Mike Allen as well as our Australian crew of Rob Paxevanos (Fishing Australia), Josh Holmes (Maclean Outdoors), Mal Gray (Sunstate Hobie) and yours truly. These DVD’s are being printed now and will be free to dealers and Hobie customers. We are also working on getting some selected Blu-Ray copies…it’s unreal looking in HD and surround sound !!!. Until then you can download and watch them here."

2009 SNOWY MOUNTAINS TROUT FESTIVAL

Last years 2008 event was the first time the members of KFA competed in any sort of fishing competition together, while we were fishing as solo entrants and members of the FangACT team it was more or less a KFA affair. Using our kayaks we took out team Brown and team Rainbow a couple of days in a row, using our plastic craft to troll lures or find secluded banks to fish from. This year we will also be entering as members of the FangACT team with hopes of replicating our previous Jindabyne success. Cant say we havent practiced much, check the trip report section for Trout taken using traditional and differing fishing methods.

Still we missed out on the beer glasses last year, im predicting a better outcome!

http://www.troutfestival.com/index.cfm?pageName=Home_Page

"This years 36th annual Yamaha / Freshwater Fishing Snowy Mountains Trout Festival will be run from Saturday the 31st of October to Friday the 6th of November 2009. The last weigh in time will be 10am on Friday morning."

"Remember all you have to do is enter this years event and attend the prize presentation to be in the draw for the Fantastic new Quintrex 385 Explorer boat, with 20hp Yamaha motor and trailer prize valued at over $7000.00 ! This years competition is made possible with the continued support from Yamaha Motor Aust. who have donated the fabulous 20 hp motor in conjunction with Ken's Marine Canberra, who have supplied the new Quintrex 385 Explorer boat and trailer. We thank Yamaha , Quintrex and Ken's Marine for their generosity and hope that you will be able to support them in future."

"This years prize presentation will be held at the Berridale Community Hall from 2pm on Friday the 6th of November 2009.There will be hot food,soft drinks and beer available for sale with catering being supplied the the Adaminaby CWA ."

"You also have the chance of winning $1000 worth of quality tackle for each fishing category. Our ability to make these prizes available is due to the strong support from some of Australia's leading tackle wholesalers, EJ Todd & Son, JM Gillies, Pure Fishing, Rapala VMC, Basser Millyard & Saga Tackle . Combined with the strong support from local business's helps make this a fishing event not to be missed."

"There will be daily "secret weight cash prizes" valued as much as $1000.00 ! We're also maintaining the prize pool on the NEW Clubs/Team Category at $750.00 CASH ! There will also be the prized Festival Beer Glasses for the largest rainbow and largest brown trout recorded at each weigh-in center."

The committee hopes that you will enjoy the fishing and sites which the beautiful Snowy Mountains area has to offer,and look forward to seeing you all again. Details on Lake Eucumbene's levels @ :
http://www.snowyhydro.com.au/LevelThree.asp?pageID=322&grandParentID=3&parentID=52

Entry forms & programs can be downloaded here.

For further information call Fiona on 02-6454-2276

NSW - LAKE JINDABYNE 7/6/2009

I felt the need for a solo mission to recharge the batteries, so headed to Jindy alone this morning. The roos are really starting to get bad with the cooler weather, and I'm having many more near misses than I'd like. Seeing so many roos moving in the roadside scrub (and occasionally having to take evasive action) makes the drive stressful to the point of being unpleasant, and I'd urge anyone considering a trip to the snowies to bear this in mind and maybe drive a few k's slower, or try not to drive during dusk or dawn.

Enough of that, I arrived at about 8.30 to a very still lake. The day's weather was weird: wind up, wind down, easterly, northerly, westerly, whitecaps, millpond calm, rain squalls, bright sunshine, etc. I was on a mission to try and tempt a few more trout on soft plastics, so took advantage of the calmer times with rapid machinegun casting at likely spots. I didn't get a hit for the first hour or so, then figured out where the fish were holding and it all started happening.

I feel a bit embaressed that of the 12 or more rainbows I hooked on SP throughout the day, I only landed TWO! 7 of the fish I lost were on for 10 seconds or more, and most of them threw the hook by getting airborne. I think I may need to go up a hook size. Or start using dynamite. I spoke to some boaties at the ramp who reckoned the trout weren't hitting the lures 'properly' today. I pulled in to a little bay for lunch and caught two nice rainbows on powerbait (Chunky Cheese and Orange Pulp) in quick succession, so ended up with a nice feed.

Despite the hookup frustrations it was great to get away for some 'me' time in one of my favorite spots.

HANDLING TIPS FOR AUSTRALIAN BASS

With the increasing number of anglers adopting the catch and release method of fishing the correct handling techniques are critical for a healthy release of our fish if we want to ensure a healthy population of sportfish for the future for us all to enjoy further, so here are my tips for handling one of our iconic freshwater sportfish, the Australian Bass.

Bass are relatively easy to handle compared to the mighty Murray Cod mainly due to the size difference between the two. A large Bass is a lot more managable, especially from a kayak than a large Murray Cod but handling of any species of fish should be done with care if the fish is intended to be released.

The first thing i do when i have a Bass beside the yak is dip both hands in the water so if i need to bring the fish into the yak i dont have to touch it at all with dry hands. I prefer not to use a net, but if i am required to its always a knotless net (Environet for example) which is a must for catch and release fishing and quite handy for newcomers that arent confident to hold a fish by the jaw with the hooks still attached.

Bass dont have teeth or any other nasties inside their mouth so it is quite easy to have the fish in the water and gently 'thumb grab' the fish on the lower jaw and remove the hook while its still in the water and then release the fish. If a quick photo is required support the belly of the fish while still holding the lower jaw and gently lift the fish out of the water for a quick photo and pop him back in the water, be prepared to get wet from the tail splash once the fish takes off!! The least amount of time out of the water as possible greatly increases the chance of a successful release.

As a general rule, a few things that should never be done with a Bass (or any other fish destined for release) is the fish should never be layed down on hard and often very hot surfaces of a kayak or boat, or held against dry clothing or carpeted areas of a boat which will remove the protective slime coating that most freshwater fish have and need. The same technique can be used for Golden perch and Estuary perch which are also increasing in numbers due to the popularity of catch and release fishing.

Bass are a great Australian sportfish which have fantastic fighting abilities and are usually found in some beautiful and remote freshwater reaches of coastal rivers and reguarly stocked into various impoundments along the East coast, so if you havent done it already, get out there and catch some Bass!!

NSW SOUTH COAST FISHING REPORT - 8/6/09

Estuaries :

With the cool winter nights starting to set in, the lakes and rivers are starting to slow down a little but there are still plenty of fish to be caught especially in the larger systems like the Clyde river, Tuross, and Wagonga inlet.
Some very nice Yellowfin Bream can be found around the mouth of these estuaries at this time of year and will still take lures and well presented baits. Small hardbody diving minnows such as the Ecogear SX40's, and small 2-3inch minnow or prawn imitation soft plastics are a good start for anyone wanting to score some nice Bream and Flathead on lures.

Black Bream and Estuary perch can be found in the upper reaches of most systems in the brackish water and are providing some excellent fishing for those willing to put in the extra effort to find some nice quiet and relatively un-fished waters, a kayak is the ideal weapon of choice for this type of fishing, with the advantage of a silent approach you can get yourself closer and into a much better position to fish the hard to get to snags and corners where the good fish more often than not, like to hide. When fishing upper reaches of rivers and lakes, please be aware that there is a closed season for Estuary perch and Bass starting from the 1st of June and ending on the 1st of September each year.

Beaches :

Most of the surf beaches along the south coast are fishing very well for big Australian Salmon and Tailor at the moment. The best time to fish the beach is 2 hours before and 2 hours after high tide, and when a high tide is at sunrise or sunset the fishing can be sensational. Find a deep gutter by looking for the darker water, this can be made easier by finding an elevated position to view the beach from. Whole pilchards on 3/0 gang hooks are probably the best baits for Salmon and Tailor, metal slice lures are also worth a go for those that prefer to throw some lures rather than baitfish.

Rock Fishing :

Winter is a great time to fish the many rock platforms on offer along the south coast and there is a good variety of fish on the bite right now. Salmon, Tailor, Bream, Trevally, Drummer, and Snapper are now starting to come in close as well. A good burley trail will improve your chances of getting some good fish. Live yellowtail yakka's make a great bait for big Snapper and also gives you a chance of a big Mulloway. Yellowtail Yakka's make great cut bait as well for most species that are hanging around the rocks at the moment, fresh squid, Stripey Tuna and any other oily fish flesh will work well.

For Drummer, a size 4 hook with a small pea sinker running straight down to the hook with a quality 15lb flurocarbon line will be sufficient. Cabbage weed and cunjevoi are the preffered baits by most Drummer enthusiast's, and can be gathered on any rock platform where you are likely to find Drummer.
Look for area's with plenty of whitewash, this is where you are most likely to find good Drummer that hang around waiting for anything that gets washed in off the rocks. If you cant collect any cabbage weed or cunjevoi, bread will work quite well too. Again, a good burley trail preferably bread crumbs, will increase your chances of going in to battle with a hard fighting Drummer.

Rock fishing can be dangerous so always be cautious, on arrival sit back for 5-10 minutes and watch the waves and swell in the area you plan on fishing from. If you are not sure about the conditions, a beach is a much safer option and the fishing can often be just as good.

AUSTRALIAN FLY CASTING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009

The 6th and the 7th of June brought the Australian Fly Casting Championships back to Old Parliment House for another year. Having been held here previously visiting anglers knew the weather could be wild and woolly so dressed warm for the event. Some of Australia's best fly casters were in action as they competed in a range of competition events (Accuracy, distance casting etc). From 9:30am each day the casting events took place, Fly Distance events on Saturday and Fly Accuracy events on Sunday.

Admission was free and with a G Loomis tent and hot food available for purchase it took many visitors minds off the cold climate. I looked for the free casting clinics but must have missed them, summing up I missed testing some rather tasty Loomis rods too. Fly casting has a modest upbringing, eventuating due to the need to practice during the off Trout season. Contestants came from far and wide, the sound of fly line whipped ears a prick.

Event orginaser Danny Spelic of the ACT Flyfishers Club said, ''It's to sharpen up your skills so when the trout season reopens you can land a fly on a dinner plate a cricket pitch length away and hopefully catch a fish or two.'' ''Anybody can do it, kids to retirees and disabled people. That's the beauty of it.''

Unfortunately I could only visit for a limited amount of time on Saturday, I took some video and still shots for you to enjoy. Its a majestical sport in which I am dabbling in but as a short tempered angler I find it frustrating but invigorating at the same time (Figure that out!). Hoping I can one day cast with the accuracy shown by some of the competitors, with some tuition from both Danny and Lindsey Irvine I have an acceptable technique that lacks as each month passes.

Time to go to the local oval...

SUBAXTREME - PIMPING MY 'OTHER' RIDE

Pimping my ‘other’ ride,

Being located in the bush capital of Australia we often encounter some remote environments when prospecting for a new area to fish. Some are arid desert like landscapes (Alpine lakes) whilst some are gum lined steep trenches (Monaro rivers), this can take its toll on both vehicles and patrons alike. Earlier in my days kayak fishing a group of us pioneered an area known to hold large native fish and introduced species, this particular waterway was known as Captains Flat Dam. Arriving in an unmodified Subaru Forester and a conventional 2wd we quickly realised our path to glory was maimed by 4wd hoon holes and urban obstacles fir for no chassis.

By ferrying yaks and gear from one car to the other, the Forester made it within 100m of the bottom. The rest of the hike was a blur, nothing worse than elephant lining 4 kayaks down and back up a rut city after fishing in water temps of 4 degrees. While the sounder showed life these particular fish did not want to participate in anything except for snuggling together on the Dams bed. We all emerged unscathed from the experience, perhaps a little wiser. I have been back once since (Yak less) but suffered a similar fate of no fish, but the driving experience changed quite a bit.

http://paffoh.blogspot.com/2007/07/interesting-day-for-bush-bashing.html

A couple of years ago I purchased my own Subaru Forester with the goal of pimping it beyond belief. Two dozen months and a couple of thousand dollars later (And then some) my ultimate kayak fishing carrier is almost complete. Additional features include a 1” spring lift (Raised King Springs), offroad bar front end (Subaxtreme), HD sump guard (Subaxtreme), Pin/pencil spots (Narva), Roof rack basket (Thule expedition), UHF, Rear off-road bar with jerry/tyre carrier (Subaxtreme), K&N fuel filter and some Geolander ATS off-road tyres on all points.

Sure it still needs a 2” strut lift/body lift but that’s a little down the track. This set up has held me firm on some horrifying roads and also taken me into places like Bendethera and beyond the Brindabella’s. While not used exclusively for Kayak Fishing it performs regular fishing/camping trips every weekend and fits into my smallish garage, unlike some of the more popular, larger 4wd’s (Think Toyota). Most of you know when I take something seriously I really get involved in the project (Whatever that may be) and while not a car man so to speak, I am truly impressed with what I can now achieve (Especially with both my Outfitter/Quest on the roof).

Most modified work was undertaken by a company called ‘Subaxtreme’. While Subaru Australia refuses to acknowledge them, they manufacture a range of Subaru accessories for Foresters, Otbacks, Brumbys and various other models. Stephen and Campbell will sort you out with quality knowledge and service that really is second to none in this niche market.

"SubaXtreme is a specialist Australian 'craft manufacturer' of Subaru Vehicle Accessories. Our business is to design, test and manufacture quality and innovative products that meet the needs of Subaru vehicle owners. Our personal aim is to provide the best customer service possible. The purpose of all our products is to enhance what we believe are exceptional vehicles. Our products offer improvements in areas such as, off-road ability, outback travel ability, vehicle protection, appearance, personality, practicality and safety, while still maintaining the benefits of owning a Subaru vehicle. These benefits are reliability, economy; comfort, longevity, performance, safety, practicality, road handling and resale value just to name a few."

"We believe that to obtain the best out of each accessory, it needs to be tailor made for each model. To that end, we are committed to designing and manufacturing products, using this philosophy.Demands on vehicles and accessories, particularly off-road, are high, and failures can be costly and potentially dangerous. For these reasons we are serious about manufacturing high quality products."

For more info, please visit http://www.subaxtreme.com.au

HANDLING MURRAY COD FROM A YAK

Something worth discussing forever,

Its a feature of the internet and one worth paying attention too, the ability to comment on someone else’s idea of safe handling techniques of Native fish in and out of the water. We are all guilty of it at some point in time, whether it be when we comment on someone’s photo online somewhere or reflect on a trip were rights turned wrong. I myself have had some dreaded experiences which thankfully not only taught me to respect what I release but to take each situation as being different and be prepared for that fish of a lifetime.

As recent as last year I fished in a competition that required Murray Cod to be photographed on a brag mat to be eligible for placing. Now fishing from my kayak has taught me a few things, one of which is Murray Cod have no place on your kayak and should be photographed in the water. The old school mentality I was taught to ignore was declared intact and profitable in certain situations, unfortunately for me the fact I was in a kayak held no bearing what so ever.

Luckily for me I won with a nice 66cm Cod, but handling that fish became an issue due to weather constraints and deck clutter. No I didn’t lay out the brag mat; I soaked my legs and brought it onboard with an Environet to remove a firm hook set, then supported belly and jaw using spare hand and a pair of Boga Grips. Fish was not out of the water for more than two minutes and swam away briskly after a series of photos that did me or the fish no justice. Was I happy with the fish, better believe it... Was I happy with my handling under pressure, nope?

How could I have improved on that, I was using a knotless net (Environet), I wet my legs, I used Boga Grips and released as soon as possible in a comp scenario. The answer is a million ways (Feels that way anyway) but due to being the only kayak in a field of boats I felt the need to prove myself rather quickly, rather than take my time and do it the correct way. An angler known around these parts as 'Funda' let me observe his handling characteristics on many occasions, unfortunately for me I couldn’t return the favour before he moved interstate.

The fish was very healthy after release, imagine if I had not panicked, used the Boga Grips and omitted the net and left the Cod in the water to get a photograph. I may as well have considering the effort I had to go to get its size credited against my kayaks hull width. Still sounds all acceptable (Initial or rethink) so why am I using this fish as an example, surely there are worse ones? A few hairy situations arose as I was fighting the fish that also put me on notice, one was the wind and close proximity to a sharp cave ledge in 30m of water and the other was inexperience in the area I was fishing and the fact I was attempting proof solo.

Simon Kaminskas B.App.Sci (Hons) (Env.Sci) put together this strategic plan on AKFF for handling Murray Cod. Simon is a native fish ecologist who is passionate about catch-and-release fishing for Murray Cod and Murray Cod conservation. While this plan and writing is not tailored to Kayak Fishing it should be noted and your attitude amended. One can not (Or should not) target this species without adequate tools of the trade for catch and release purposes.

"Murray Cod have very soft skin susceptible to damage from poor handling and subsequent infection. Because of this, Murray cod in the wild suffer seriously from skin diseases and parasites including constant, chronic Lernaea (aka "anchor worm") infections and occasional severe Chilodenella outbreaks. Chronic Lernaea infection create great discomfort and distress for cod and probably kills many more Murray Cod, and is a greater threat to wild stocks, than commonly realised. Chilodenella (a microscopic, single-celled parasite) is usually fatal and has caused several catastrophic cod kills over past decades."

"From a fishing perspective, the mortal enemy of Murray Cod, that have been handled roughly, is Saprolegnia fungus. Like almost all diseases affecting our native fish (including the ones mentioned above), Saprolegnia fungus appears to be introduced, courtesy of reckless imports of alien fish species (i.e. trout, carp, redfin) in the 1800s. Saprolegnia fungus is such a problem for Murray Cod hatcheries that, back in the days when Murray Cod were stripped for eggs, broodfish were usually held in a salt bath for several days afterwards to prevent Saprolegnia infection. (Nowadays natural breeding using "Cod Boxes" placed in brood ponds is more common.)"

"Saprolegnia infection is reasonably easy to prevent, but is extremely difficult to stop once it is well-established. Therefore it is a very serious threat. In summary, roughly handled Murray Cod (i.e. slime or skin damaged) are virtually guaranteed to get Saprolegnia infections which at the very least will be seriously detrimental to the cod, and can be fatal. Good techniques must be used to avoid this."

"Murray Cod are less hardy and more easily stressed than most native fish, and again, good techniques, including strong tackle and short fighting, handling and photo times, are recommended. Murray Cod are also larger and heavier than most native fish, and fishermen must be careful not to strain throat and gill ligaments with bad practices such as hanging cod vertically from the mouth or gills."

Continue reading Simon's article on the AKFF WIKI:

http://www.akff.net/wiki/index.php?title=Catch_and_Release_-_Murray_Cod