Canberra - Lake Burley Griffin 22/9/07

Nice clear day on the horizon, will I get a chance to wet a line?

With my parents in town for a few days up from the South Coast, running around like a mad man with them was the order for this Saturday ( Forecast for the entire weekend actually ), I still managed to get out for a swift afternoon session and meet a few mates on the water. Rushing to meet Craig turned out to be hazardous for my fishing health, I forgot to pack my trusty net ( Trebles caught in the net are better than in leg ), my homemade rear rod extenders ( Just for secure peace of mind ) and my fishing / paddling gloves ( Which I mainly use to avoid dish pan hands ).

Launched around 3:30pm from Yarralumla Bay into a calmish 10 knot breeze, my favourite weed patch ( Redfin Land ) was contaminated with small sized water craft in various formats from the YMCA A.C.T Sailing Club performing slapdash tacs left and right. After catching up with Craig around said area he mentioned he had a few close calls with these vessels and there blind sailors ( Lucky there were no rowers out, eh? ) so it was determined we venture east of them towards a quieter waterway.

Managed to bump into Leigh on route around the Peninsula, no positive reports of any species ( Including the feral populous ), opting to catch up for a yak later we bid Red farewell and commenced trolling once we exited the temporary marked out buoy course.Craig had arrived 3 hours previously looking to clock up some local fish and produce his first Lake Burley Griffin Golden Perch. Nobody that he spoke to before my arrival ( Including the local tin men ) confirmed fish of any portrayal.

After about half an hour the yacht brigade dismantled there field and left the arena, without delay we moved back into memorable waters, treading the path so well worn by our Canberra moderator ( Red Phoenix ). Craig lost battery power and in due course the use of depth gauged from his sounder, relaying the water temperature once ( Around 14 degrees ) seemed to be all he needed. Looking at the Mr. Squiggle trail of breadcrumbs on the GPS screen lead me to believe we were approaching the infamous 4m - 8m drop off.

Just beforehand I hooked a small Redfin around 15cm and lost in next to the yak ( Much to my disgust ), after retrieving the lure and casting it out yet again my supplementary combo bent with the tell tale sign of a Golden Perch. No screaming drag ( Unlike previous encounters over this area ) but nether the less the ominous tugging match began, turning the fish towards the yak early resulted in a small Yellowbelly in the region of 30cm gracing the kayaks deck for release ( Thanks again for the photographs Craig! ).

A few more trolling passes of Redfin Land produced not so much as a hit so we called it a day… Zilch, nada, nothing. Craig’s mammoth 5 hr effort had taken its toll hard, after ferrying passengers around our metropolitan centers all morning I was pretty keen to head home too, even after only managing an hour on the water ( Kayak fishing providing my only escape plan ).

On the way back we sighted Leigh once more and moved over to converse, He mentioned he had achieved a very poor result ( Any change on this Red? ) while relaying to us that Brad ( Mackrel ) was on the water and had caught only one 20cm English Perch.

Sydney - Hen & Chicken Bay 15/9/07

Had a great time, lasted till about 2:15pm after launching around 9:15am and got sunburned, entertained by Bazzoo, Ken and Steve and had a well deserved rest on the couch till about 5:30pm. After all that we didnt make the Flower / Vegie markets ( He he, just been advised were going next time ) and scored a few PB's and a new species off the yak for myself, a 39cm Whiting of some description ( Wouldnt stretch to 40, just shy with its tough skeletal structure ) caught on my Perch coloured Predatek Micro Min, a fish for the AKFF Saltwater HOF!

Didnt bring the USB cable ( Doh! ), oooo actually, transfering from camera via card through printer to parents PC ( Ahhh, the wonders of technology ), spent an hour looking for mini USB cords only to realise they would be overseas with them at the moment.Ripper day fish wise, I managed to catch 5 Bream ( A PB of 30cm, smallest 18cm ), 3 Flathead ( Largest 40cm, smallest 33cm ), 1 Whiting ( 39cm, elbow slapper ) and 2 Tailor ( Biggest 25cm, smallest about 12cm )... Claire did ok too with 2 Tailor ( Biggest 31cm, smallest 23cm ) and a nice Bream that went 25cm.

Dropped numerous fish left, right and centre but enjoyed every last second of it, damage was done on the Micro Min and Ecogear CK ( Chubby style ). Deployed the standard Sx 40's in various pattens ( 5 different ones all up ) for nothing, same with the Halco Scorpions and a few assorted Frenzy lures, the Micro touched the bottom in as deep as 3.5m and was a pleasure to use on my light 1- 3kg setup.

Finished the day by going to the local shops and indulging in a dozen steamed BBQ pork buns, steamed asian greens with soy and some BBQ Roast Pork / Roast Soy Duck... Claire just ate some noodles, NOT! ( PS - Bazz, your too smooth... Claire was blushing after your lovely comments, keep ya schlong to your self! ).

Thanks again all for showing us the ropes, hope to get offshore over the long weekend next time and fish a bit longer...

Canberra - Lake Burley Griffin 1/9/07 & 9/9/07

Just a few lines to inform you of recent efforts,

Spent the last few weekends out on Lake Burley griffin trying to replicate my feat of catching a decent Golden Perch, all reports I have read governing the Canberra region suggest the Yellowbelly are starting to fire up with a spritely spring feeling in the air. Craig, myself, Red Pheonix and his son Luke plus a fresh face ( Gibbo ) set out to land fish of any description ( Except Murray Cod due to the closed season coming into effect) hoping to find schools of Redfin keen to play, unfortunately for us the fish were few and far between.

Luke and Red managed a few sub 30cm Redfin including Lukes second ever fish from LBG, give this boy his own yak Red and we might all be in trouble, guess the Espri will come in handy when he assumes his growth spurts, eh?. Craig managed to get creamed by a monster fish ( Again ) and fought like all hell to catch sight of it before he was wrapped around one of the line marking buoys on the rowing course ( Cue broken treble and lost fish ).

Probably a good thing as the 1st of September marks Murray Cod closed season and judging by the bend in his rod he was hooked up to the motherload. The remaining five hours proved useless so Craig and I headed in after losing touch with Red and Gibbo after Luke had been dropped off to his mum... First weekend of the AKFF comp period was a dud, what would the following weekend hold?

After securing my 'P' plates and my freedom, I went for a solo journey on Sunday to LBG. Not expecting much I was blown away when I turned and saw my Daiwa Heartland bend almost on cue and drag start screaming from my Daiwa Sol reel in short, strong pulls ( Definite sign of a decent Golden Perch ), alas after a brief 10 second struggle and retrieve the fish broke contact with the lure and the fight was over... Even after upgrading the Bagley's Killer B1 with Owner 2x sharp trebles ( This lure is proving its worth! ).

Next few hours wasted with not even a baby Redfin wanting to play, the second AKFF comp period in a row I have registered a donut or tale of woe. Amazing how one can have such good luck on the fish front lately and then go hour long periods using the same technique or adapting to suit for nada. Most of the time was spent dreaming about my new Subaru Forester X and the exciting times I will get to share with you all in the future.

More trips to the coast, more kayaking, more photos with new camera ( Underwater salty ones too ) and basically more positive fishing experiences...

Canberra - Lake Burley Griffin 26/8/07

There was a call to arms put out on the Australian Kayak Fishing Forum, the English Perch were starting to invade the Capitalist motherland once again after a cold winters hibernation. Having infiltrated our home lands previously on a number of occasions, ravaging and destroying our once pristine waterways, it was up to a few baron troopers to thwart there movements and subdue rogue forces expanding towards and over the East, West and Southern basins.

After being dropped at the lakes edge around 9:45am on a gorgeous August Sunday, Craig and I set out to meet fellow members milling around the forsaken battlefield, the infamous Black Mountain Peninsula weed bed. Lake Burley Griffin was eerily calm with not a soul to disturb, graceful Swans hooted in the shallows, Cormorants scouted from beyond while the Gull of the sea took to the airborne flow in droves as we grew closer with suspicious but inattentive disregard.

With no friend nor foe joining us at such an early hour it was time to commence our initial attack runs, weaving back and forth amongst the weeds whilst trolling our dedicated weapons with reckless abandon. My weapons of choice ( Viking Talsiman / Killalure Pakrat ) have been engaged in war many a time and are scarred heavily with memories of the land, Craig had employed the services of a Halco Scorpion with a deadly new silver armoury and a few battle worn, trusted steeds from his lure stable ( Notably dual Poltergeists in notorious garb ).

Collectively we covered respectable ground and the seventh pass, on the seventh minute past the hour of eleven, Craig ( The seventh son of a seventh son ) was attacked mid flank by a large unknown assailant. Being caught off guard drew a costly outcome, the goon started smoking line off the light wand, making off with the corpse of the Scorpion ( No doubt to parade before the Perch King ). The lure had defended his trade well but paid the ultimate price with its life, a restless native was identified as the most plausible culprit. Beginning our second assault phase proved futile, it required the union of fellow members amping numbers beyond the straights towards the Dam wall.

One of Craig's Poltergeists sighted a solo enemy unit fleeing and managed to ensnare the now wailing individual, fearing for his safety he slipped through the lures piercing grasps, earning the passage of freedom and discounting his soul from a ruthless interrogation. Small gusts of wind drew breath from the overcast sky, begging to avenge its brothers death, Craig ordered the two Poltergeists to search the depths as we moved towards the small berth housing the local rowing population. I scrambled with animation, these rowers sculling blind were not to be trusted, keeping an eye open incase of wayward projectiles kept my senses keen and fresh, I could smell the blood of an Englishmen.

It turns out that the English had employed the rural services of the humble indigenous population in hope of early warnings and potential enemy fatalities, the contemplation of losing another soldier to the casualties of war drew frowns on my brow. An American bounty hunter by the name of Bagley mentioned he could speak in various dialects, recently upgraded with razor-sharp weaponry he was deployed on reconnaissance… In recent times he had served under another in the Orient attaining the martial art rank of 'Diving Killer B 1'.

While retreating with hopes of gathering affable numbers, Bagley was ambushed… Raging with torment I became betrothed in his anguish, the skirmish was protracted and fierce and in due course gratifying as a large, fat native announced surrender to the armada. Bagley spoke in tongues unheard of in the southern hemisphere but alas was unable to converse freely with the natives personage. Offering no optimism of locating the English, the Yellow-bellied inhabitant was liberated much to Bagley's consternation.

Adorning the tree lined banks upon return were strange poles, what was the purpose of such wonders? Was it a type of tribal art or expression? Perhaps it was meant to alert marauders as to what lay in wait? Signs of such led Craig and I to hastily recoil into the loving arms of the female advent party, anxiously awaiting our safe homecoming.The first phase of the war was over, during epic crusades such as this, we must constantly remind ones self that the English will return, stronger, faster and in larger numbers than previously encountered before.

It wont be long before they procure the help of the mighty Europeans.

Canberra - Lake Burley Griffin 18/8/07

Saturday, its a Saturday ( Five days of work, 2 more days to play )...

It had been a while since I had the gratification of paddling on Lake Burley Griffin due to cold and wild weather so when I awoke to a rather balmy Canberra morning ( A still, foggy 2 degrees ) I lept at the chance. Arriving around 11am to a calm bay at Yarralumla I set out in hope of a Redfin or two, bringing a minimal amount of light gear and three of my favourite English perch lures... I also took my new camera and waterproof housing for its Kayak debut, thinking if the fish were quiet I would cruise the shoreline in search of some amateur photography opportunities.

Pushing across the weed beds around Black Mountain Peninsula proved simple enough with no wind but fish were showing on the sounder few and far between and there was plenty of weed on the surface creating havoc with my early trolling runs, no Redfin were extracted from this location ( A first in a long time I might add, this is usually my rock ) so I headed towards the Yarralumla rowing platforms taking photos of bird life and moored boats a long the way.

After an hour of mooching around I moved over to the small Island's weed beds and finally hit pay dirt, trolling my lucky silver and red Viking Talisman in depth varying around 3.5m I saw a violent jerk of the rod tip out of the corner of my eye, turning my head I was pleasantly surprised to see the Daiwa Heartland arching with excitement. Putting up a spirited fight I finally landed my first Redfin of the day, a healthy looking model around 28cm in great winter condition... While handling the fish for release and operating my new camera at the same time I managed to get water on the lens housing, blurring small sections of the image.

Wiping dry the housing, I zig zagged to and fro hoping to replicate my actions and encounter more virulent Perca fluviatilis around the same area. Moving around the opposite side of the Island I managed to get some good photographs of a Cormorant while leaving my lure idling behind the Kayak, during the photo shoot of said bird I felt the familiar rap on the line through the hull and was promptly taken into the weeds and bamboozled by a small English Perch ( Estimated size approximately 20cm ), needless to say safe handling of the camera was at the time the number one priority and the fish was lost.

While Phoning Claire at 2pm when the wind slowly picked up, beckoning to be collected, I managed to ensnare another Perch while once again drifting the lure in the shallows with no motion or movement, this time a small Englishmen had engulfed both sets of trebles and subsequently was netted, losing the battle to regain his freedom ( Or so he had thought ). Eyes weary from a spate of X box gaming the night before I headed into shore, celebrating the cameras wonderful performance and the slight pre-spring capital weather...

A great day out on the water, I had the lake to myself.