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...
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This website was created to house internal and external drafts containing reports associated with the art of angling and our Kayak Fishing Adventures. Based in and around cities and locations throughout Australia, these tales of experience, knowledge and info are for all to enjoy and all content, text and images contained herein are deemed strictly copyright ( (C) 2006 - 2012, all rights reserved ).
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Fishing World, in conjunction with Hobie Cat Australasia, is giving readers the chance to win a Hobie Pro Angler kayak. Valued at $3350 RRP the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler has a host of exciting features including the revolutionary patented MirageDrive pedal system, ergonomically designed adjustable Cool Ride seat, loads of hatch, tackle and rod storage and plenty more – everything you'd expect in a serious fishing boat apart from an engine. For Fisho's review including video footage of the Hobie Pro Angler click here
For your chance to win this amazing craft simply write in 25 words or less why you deserve to win a Hobie Pro Angler – the most creative and original entry wins. Send your entries to comps@fisho.com.au by June 30. The winning entry will be announced on Fisho's July 1 e-newsletter.
A wise man once said to me (It was in fact, Squidder) “If you keep using big lures like that you will catch a massive fish”, or something like that. I always tended to upsize profile rather than concentrate on colours, think it had a lot to do with feel through tackle more than anything else. When it came to learning to fish the surface I initially found smaller profiles and colour selection drew greater results, rather than monstrous shadowed riffle movement.
Recently a few sessions have shown me that really true blue blighters (Yes, I mean Bream) aren’t scared to attack large lures, very similar to the observations I had previously deduced from Bass. Not only were my efforts rewarded but it was backed up with reports from various tournament anglers, professional anglers through to your regular Joe’s. Be it a larger rattle chamber, silhouette or action some rather large lures have been doing the business, much larger than the traditional stylings of a good old River 2 Sea Buggi Pop 35.
Here is where walking the dog comes in to play, drag a larger lure with a elongated 70mm profile without working the rod tip and the estuary sleeps, a few twitches here and pauses there and the situation awakens. Throwing something so big initially feels very awkward, that is of course until the first result is encountered. It’s not just Bream on the cards, at the last Forster tournament I collected more Whiting than I would care to admit (Given it was a Bream event). From Ecogear 45’s (45mm’s), Jazz Zappa’s (55mm), R2S Baby Rovers (50mm) to Lucky Craft Sammy’s (65mm) there are plenty to choose from, don’t think its too big either.
To give you a run down, cast once, lost PX due to good fish (suspected Whiting), upsize to Zappa, lost lure to another corker (again, probably Whiting), upsized to a large R2S Rover of 113mm and landed successive Bream. This was an omen but not the norm for every situation; still all smaller lures walked were ignored! (And I am talking about south coast staples, Buggi Pop, Hopper Popper and Towadi).
Walking the dog is nothing new but it is gaining stronger recognition amongst Bream circles as a deadly technique. It doesn’t have to be applied on the flats; walking lures quickly over racks can be deadly and walking long poppers from shallow to deep water (The opposite of deep to shallow) in and around submerged rocks is heart in mouth stuff. Sometimes it pays to lock your drag as the big boys will steal it anyway, choose when you do though (Nothing worse than pulled hooks!).
Rather than try and explain the technique of ‘Walking’ in my own words I have provided some videos below from certain anglers and sites online with definitive approaches to learning. Keep in mind though that any lure that floats, lays horizontal, tips the rear vertically, has a cup face or not may all work, it’s all in the amount of action implied to the lure that will bring the end result (Regardless the species). To learn about ‘Walking the dog’ watch the videos below:
The Forster ABT tournament will go down in folklore, it is what it is. After a successful Hobie event associated with the Forster Fishing Carnival, followed by the inaugural series Grand Final, competitors and hosts alike enjoy its Mecca like status. 33 entrants gathered for the 2 day combined bag event. With a pre fish ban in place previous to the tournament, only a few individuals managed to scout the water on the allocated pre fish day (And the tale of the tape was promising).
Another event was being held on the same waterway this weekend, the infamous Forster Mega Bucks, with a showcase of the who’s who of tournament fishing. I was quite surprised I didn’t see any of these rather large boats on the water during day one, a sight unseen but only heard as they thundered beyond. It was only when I had a good look at the shallow environment I was habiting during the competition did it finally made sense, no way these guys were bringing boats in here!
A massive body of water, Wallis Lake extends far beyond its namesake island, Breckenridge channel and the arms disappearing behind Tuncurry. Some spent hours traversing to promise locations without a single flick of an offering, others sauntered just the other side of the twin town bridge. No matter the flip of the coin, with a combined bag limit over the two days all competitors were looking for the one fabled occurrence, big Bream off tap.
Day one started with light showers, low light but bright enthusiasm. Kayakers sped out of sight with game plans in hand, splitting the field until the end. Racks, flats, drop offs and shallows offered options aplenty, bamboozling those that failed to do their area research. Accompanying morning weather turned to torrential periodic downpours, switching off surface action until the barometer rise returned.
The world around us adapts and transforms to meet our needs on a day to day basis, igonoring technology can and could be at your own peril. There has been some talk for years about the decline of news print and magazines due to the content of web based releases, its a fact waiting to happen (One day anyway). Kayak Angler Magazine takes releases to a whole new level, offering digital subscriptions with current content and a knack for including bells and whistles.Recently I realised I havent spread the gospel on its free digital back issues (Click on the links to access). KAYAK ANGLER - FALL 2008 2008 Gear Guide. Muskie Hunting. Fish Beyond the Surf. Rig the Ultimate Anchor. Land 180lb Halibut. Best Kayak Fishing Books. Meet Bluewater Jon. Read this issue now
KAYAK ANGLER - SPRING 2009 Huge Fishing Kayak Buyer's Guide. Pro Tactics for Stripers, Smallies, Pike and Tarpon. Downrigger Rigging. Our Complete Guide. Read this issue now
KAYAK ANGLER - FALL 2009 Annual Kayak Fishing Gear Guide. 12 Pros Reveal Secret Tactics for Bass Walleye, Redfish, Stripers and 8 More. Baja Billfish Extreme. Read this issue now
KAYAK ANGLER - SPRING 2010 Annual Fishing Kayaks Buyer's Guide, The Kayak Edge, 153 Best Kayaks, Panama Yellowtail Smackdown, Why Motors in Tournaments are Wrong, How to Beast the Wind, Soft Plastics, Catch River Walleyes Now, Early Season Crappie. Read this issue
Recently I was lucky enough to win a Stealth Serpent 34lb thrust electric motor, an adaption of a Jarvis Walker Watersnake. I am seriously impressed with the unit but to this date haven’t had a chance to put it through its paces. Full credit to its designer, Tas Aifantis, is due as its an epic build of solidity and rigedness with a well thought foresight into what the unit can handle. Its at this stage, a couple of weeks after receiving it, I thought it was necessary to inform readers on the product, the build, Tas himself and how to align oneself with the unit. What is the Stealth Serpent:
‘The Stealth Serpent is an electric motor designed to fit into the Hobie Mirage Drive well using a Jarvis Marine 12 volt Watersnake ETW 34lb. The Stealth Serpent utilises the Hobie cassette using marine grade stainless steel components, which ensures a durable snug fit.’ ‘The Stealth Serpent Is a Jarvis Marine – Watersnake 34lb, with a 12volt electric motor modified utilising a hobie mirage drive cassette and marine grade stainless steel components.
Essentially it is an electric motor that fits a hobie mirage drive kayak. It just slides in. The Stealth serpent has 5 forward and 2 reverse speeds and will travel at speeds up to 7-kmph using a hobie outback. It will draw approx 25 amps per hour at full speed and weighs 7kgs (15lb). The Stealth Serpent has been made in Australia using quality parts by Tastech Industries. Each motor is personally modified and tested. The Stealth Serpent is rated for saltwater use and has a replaceable zinc anode.’ ‘Also available are heavy duty wheel trolleys to suit Hobie kayaks capable of carrying 0ver 200kgs. They are made from 25mm (1′ ) stainless steel frame with nylon rims and bushes and inflatable heavy duty wheels. Rough terrain and beach sand is made easy to manoeuvre over.’
Following videos provide a closer look at the Stealth Serpent:
About Stealth Serpent, Tastech Industries and the product:
‘The Stealth Serpent is made by Tastech Industries. We are a Canberra Australia based business that specializes in stainless steel fabrications and elevator interiors. We are keen fishermen both kayak and land based in both salt and fresh water .Like most fishermen we spend a lot of time daydreaming about our ideal fishing scenario. This is how the concept of stealth serpent came about . There is usually a hobie outback in the work shop or on the roof racks of my vehicle and its hard not to come up with possibilities for it. What started as a one off experiment has grown into part time production of stealth serpent motors and wheel sets.’
‘We build things to a standard and are constantly looking at ways to improve our products or streamline production. We welcome new ideas from the public and we will judge the merits of any idea and have ago at them if it’s within our expertise. We realise that this” can do philosophy” has earned us an excellent reputation with all our commercial clients and we wish to bring this to the general public. Please contact me for any information you may need or any Questions want answered and we will do our best to help you out.’
Issue #48 summer edition of Sport Fishing Australia (Incorporating YAK Fisher) is out in stores now, just in time for the onset of seasonal change. The Sport Fishing Australia section features many top articles from seasoned sport fishing journalists such as Jason Metcalf, Shane Mensforth, Brent Hodges, Roderick Walmsley, Nigel Webster, Lee Brake, Daniel Kent just to name a few.
YAK Fisher Kayaking Magazine has Yak news, Tournament results, dedicated Kayak test rundowns and also features many articles by industry stalwarts covering new products / innovations / gear reviews. The Autumn Issue includes Swashbuckling Scallops, Yakking King George Whiting, Canals + Kayaks and clued up big city Bream, Getting to know your kayak (By yours truly) and much, much more.
Available at all good newsagents or by subscription,
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