Healthy System, Healthy Fish
Not a bad effort for your first Bass Jon. Just so good to see the average size of the bass here in Clarrie Hall continuing to grow. Such a perfectly conditioned fish too.
Look Back at 2020
A quick recap of some of the highlights of 2020. Despite its challenges we experienced plenty of great fishing in 2020. The people, the fish and the natural beauty forever inspiring us to create the next amazing experience out on the water. Thanks for fishing with us this year and hope to see you again next year! . #lovethetweed #thetweed #goldcoastfishing #bassfishing #australianbass #murraycod #northernriverssportfishing #clarriehalldam #tweedriver #tweedriverfishing #newengland #shimanofishing #gloomis #looptackle #codonfly #cod #flyfishing #freshwaterfishing
Bucket List Fishing
Brian ticks 
Cod on Fly off his bucket list 
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Garmin the Game Changer
Our clients are loving the Garmin Live Scope. To find fish we simply scan all the likely haunts: points, weedy edges, snags etc. If there is fish around it is immediately obvious. All the bass we found today were sitting at 4m deep. And so were the baitfish. A 4m thermocline must have provided the optimal comfort zone.
Tilapia Documentary
Filming a Tilapia documentary today with @dart4life These invasive fish are now breeding in Cudgen Lake so its important anglers know how to help eradicate these pests. Thanks to @tweedshirecouncil and @ozfishunlimited
Byron Bay Hinterland Rainforest Fishing
Beautiful Day
KOTD Tour 2020
Northern Rivers Sportfishing Guides Harry and Simon both turn 50 this year! To celebrate they go on tour fishing Lake Monduran, Kinchant Dam, Teemburra, Eungella, Pioneer River and Awoonga. Big thanks to all that helped along the way; @mackayflysportfishing @gladdyflyandsportfishing @shimanofish @looptackle_ausnz #froggleysoffshore #samurairods #gamakatsu #shimanofish #ejtodd #templeforkoutfitters #samakifishing
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Panoptix Goes Live
So much easier to find hungry Bass now with the new Garmin strapped to the bow. Super cool watching the Bass react to Brian’s flies. Adds a whole new dimension to our charters. Message us to experience it for yourself. You will be amazed! 0409 760 380
10,000 Bass Stocked into Clarrie Hall Dam
Thanks to Fisheries NSW 10,000 Bass fingerlings have been stocked into our favourite lake on the 1st of September 2020. What better way to celebrate the first day of bass season 🥳 Fisheries were careful to select local brood stock to ensure the genetics of the local Northern Rivers strain of Bass is preserved.
Toonumbar was also stocked with the same number of Bass. Our recreational fishing fees are put directly towards these stocking programs. So kudos to everyone that pays their fees 😀
Garmin Panoptix Live Scope
Very happy to announce we installed a Garmin 8410 Panoptix Live Scope on the NRS boat over the weekend. As soon it was bolted down we eagerly launched the boat on the farm dam to test out the new Garmin. It wasn’t long before we found fish and we watched the screen with amazement as the fish reacted to our lures. Within 1/2 an hour this technology confirmed what we had suspected for years. That fish like Bass are attracted to the boat but then become wary and only follow the lures with curiosity.
The Garmin will enable us to locate fish from a distance and in real time observe their movements. This will give a huge advantage in learning about fish behavior and how they react to a lure or fly. Very much looking forward to taking this baby fishing out at Clarrie Hall. Look out fish, we have the advantage now!
Tweed River Bass
Congratulations to Bruce who caught his first ever Australian Bass today then followed it up with 3 more 🙌 Gavin, Michael and Jo joined us in the afternoon for their first ever fishing trip. Great effort guys!
Message us to get your piece of the action 🎣🎣🎣
Barbless for Bass
One of the 11 bass caught today ‘eye balling’ me as I removed the barbless hooks. If the bite is hot, I like to flatten all the barbs on treble hooks to make releasing the fish easier and safer. Barbless hooks are far safer for the angler and cause less damage to fishes eyes, gills and mouth parts. All fish were caught today on a #jackallblockripper, using 8lb #shimanopowerpro with a #shimanocurado 70 and #samakizinggen2 SZG-541BL rod. At only 5′ 4″ its a very sweet combo for chucking small hard bodies at snags in skinny water👌
Glamping at Spirit of Gaia Eco Retreat
Looking for a place to stay when visiting Clarrie Hall Dam? The Spirit of Gaia Eco Retreat offers a happy medium between a luxury eco retreat and camping. This is ideal for folks that love camping but just cant face the organizing and packing of the camping gear. The Eco Retreat already has everything you need for a few nights away ‘glamping’.
The tents are decked out with all the luxury of home such as power, hot water, bedding, bathroom, toilet, BBQ and are nestled in among the trees so you still get that outdoor experience. The property is situated right next to the Border Ranges National Park. So there are plenty of walks within easy reach such as the Falcorostrum Loop Track which takes you through some stunning rainforest dotted with ancient Arctic Beech trees, some of which are 2,000 years old!
Best of all the Spirit of Gaia Eco Retreat is only 10 minutes from Clarrie Hall Dam, so you can be up early, well rested and straight into the bass fishing! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there and highly recommend it to any of my clients fishing with us who want to experience the best natural highlights that the Northern Rivers has to offer. For more info contact @spiritofgairetreat
#spiritofgaiaretreat #bnb #glamping #camping #mountwarning #mountburrell #nightcapnationalpark #forest #northernrivers #australia #birdlife #wallabies #kangaroo #marsupial
September is Bass O’Clock
September is prime time to book your bass fishing trip in the Northern Rivers. As the water warms, so does the metabolism of our local native sportfish, the Australian Bass. Spawning time has ended and they are again ready to feed.
The Tweed River is looking particularly good. Last year the drought dictated low flows and the river was choked with weed. This year, good rainfall over winter has flushed away the weed and the water is clear and begging to be fished.
Clarrie Hall Dam is also looking good. The dam is 100% full and crystal clear. The average size of the larger Bass (42cm) is bigger than it has been in years, possibly ever! And as always, the condition of these fish is outstanding. Clarrie Hall Bass are fit, vibrant and full of lustre. I can’t recall ever seeing a Clarrie Bass with a parasite. And boy can they pull some string!!
If Bass on fly or lure are on your bucket list, September is the time to get it done. Message me or give me a call, dates are filling up fast 0409 760 380.
-Simon Fitzpatrick, Northern Rivers Sportfishing
A Birthday Bass
A birthday bass for Pavel 🥳 Black Gulp Minnow Grubs working well today. Great fishing with you Pavel and Oksana 👌
#lovethetweed #thetweed #bassfishing #australianbass #northernriverssportfishing #clarriehalldam #shimanofishing #catana
Not Your Average Popper
During my recent trip to New England Harry and I made thousands of casts for only a few eats. Easterly winds and a flat lining barometer meant conditions were poor. Perseverance was the key once again. Eventually……..Twitch, twitch BOOM! Is there anything better than a predatory fish smashing your surface fly? Extra special when you have tied the fly yourself. Even the small fish are ace fun.
This Murray Cod took a NYAP (Not Your Average Popper) fly
Crankbaiting Clarrie
Some highlights of Alex from Germany who spent the past few days fishing with us. Alex is a keen Pike fisho back home and was super proud to tick Australian Bass off his bucket list. 👊 Always great to share the passion with folks who appreciate the environment as much as the fishing. Congrats Alex 🍾
A Mammoth Effort
Mammoth lures continue to account for plenty of quality fish in Northern NSW. With only an hour up their sleeves Harry and Dennis hit the water with hopes of tangling with some mighty green fish. Despite a howling easterly wind and a midday time slot, the boys managed to stir up some solid cod. The Lil Runt Rager by Mammoth Lures proving just too irresistible for the fish today. Made in the US, Mammoth Lures are now available through SMAK Lures right here in Oz. These unlikely looking surface lures are proving themselves to be a must have in the tackle box when wanting to fish the surface throughout the day.
Want to tick big wild river cod off your bucket list? Give Harry a call today 0412 241 934
New England Comes Alive
After drought, bush fires, fish kills and floods its great to see #newengland still producing quality fish! Today Harry guided Chrissy onto some crackers including this well conditioned 89cm cod. Surface lures throughout the day accounting for all the fish. Happy days 😃 #northernriverssportfishing #shimano #shimanoaustralia #shimanofishing #gloomis #fishshimano #powerpro #environet #stradic
Bass Tactics
Today’s mission was to guide Glenn and Helda onto their first Bass on fly. Heading out on the water the plan was to focus on all the usual areas one would expect to catch fish. Looking at the sounder, the fish were holding in around 5m of water. The boys diligently stripped their flies past the suspended arches, but the Bass were playing hard to get. We cycled through the fly box but the fish just appeared to be ignoring our offerings.
Like other native fish, Bass can be active and hungry one day and shut down the next. After weeks of northerly winds, a cool change had arrived the night before and the wind was now blowing from the south. Recognizing that the changed conditions may be dictating the mood of the fish, we changed our tactics. The boys picked up the spin gear and threw skirted jigs out among the fish. We could see the Bass following the jigs on the sounder, but again they wouldn’t commit to the bite.
Again, switching tactics we tried crank baits. Sometimes a more aggressive bait is needed to trigger a response. But that response never came. After exhausting a number of other lures in the tackle box we finally succumbed to trolling. Whilst not the preferred method, trolling is one of the most productive methods. It wasn’t long before Glenn hooked up his first bass on the troll. He finished the day with 3 more.
Bass fishing is a challenging sport. Catching Bass consistently on any given day is like cracking a code. You will need to draw upon all your past experience, ingenuity, tenacity and plenty of luck. But the rewards are certainly worth it.
Clarrie Hall Dam 5th Jan 2020
Father & son Jeff and Jay landing 6 fish today including this double hook up!
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A New Year for New England
Despite low water levels there is still some great fishing in the New England area. Today Harry guided his good mate David onto his first native fish on fly! The boys encountered a number of healthy green and gold nuggets. A great start to the new year boys!
“Just got my first native on fly. Thanks Peter Lister for the fly and your encouragement. Harry Thomas was todays guide, champion.” – David Harris
