Pindari Dam
Pindari Dam is a horrible place. If you live on the North Coast it is way too far to drive to get there. The dam is filled with too many huge rocks and snags for the Murray Cod to hide under. Due to it’s remoteness, hardly anyone goes there and there are no amenities with the free camping on the lake shore. To top it off the beautiful scenery and wildlife distracts you from your cod fishing addiction. So don’t go there! Best you leave it all to me.
A Stripping Basket for the Kayak
For me the biggest challenge when fly fishing from a kayak is line management. During the retrieval of the fly, the line must be stripped into a pile somewhere. Once the fly is retrieved and a subsequent cast is made the line inevitably becomes tangled around any conceivable nook, cranny or edge that the line can find. This can be very frustrating. So let’s look at some options.
My first preference is to strip the line into a clear space. But with a pile of tackle, rod holders do hickies and gizmos that I like to take fishing, this is usually not an option. My second preference is to use a towel. A simple towel can easily be draped across any rod holders, sounders, pliers etc preventing your line from becoming snagged. In addition a towel serves a number of other purposes when canoe/kayak fishing. It can be used as a rudimentary bailer, mopping up every last drop of intruding water. It is amazing how much water even a standard bath towel can hold. On long sunny day trips I often use the same towel to keep the sun off my legs.
A more familiar choice for fly anglers is the stripping basket. This can be any container that simply collects you line as you retrieve. I have seen fisherman using everything from their hats to a washing basket. However if you are fishing from a kayak with very limited space such as a pedal kayak, you can’t go past a personal stripping basket.
I recently tried out a new basket from South Pacific. 
The basket is easily fastened around the waist using the plastic buckle. When in the standing position the basket sits nicely around the hips. When in the seated position you can just slide the basket up your torso a little and collect the line just above your lap. At first it took a little practice to deliver the line into the basket, but it became second nature after a short while. I must say I was very impressed with this bit of gear and will be sure to bring it with me on all Fly Fishing Charters in the Native Watercraft.
October 4, 2015
Had a great trip to Clarrie Hall today with Tim and Tyson. An early start saw us on the dam which was completely enveloped by the mist. I believe the low light conditions the mist provides usually gives the bass the confidence to feed near the surface for as long as the mist hangs around. However the fish had other ideas today and we saw very little surface activity at all.
By around 9am the mist had dissipated revealing a picture post card day at the dam. Not a cloud in the sky or a breath of wind all day. All around us was mirror images of the horizon and each others boats as we persistently peppered the edges of the lilies with our lures. As the sun rose we switched to deeper presentations. Tim ran a 1/4 oz Slider across the points and flats and Tyson chose a 1/8 oz Revehead Jig Spin with a Slider Grub.
All 3 of us got a number of bites but on this day the bass appeared to be apprehensive in committing to an all out attack. Tyson came up trumps with a solid bass of around 36cm. Once hooked it gave him plenty of curry and soon Tyson had his first bass on a soft plastic/spin. One of many more to come no doubt. Another great day on the dam!
Shimmer Stik
I tried out Austackles ‘Shimmer Stik’ today at Clarrie Hall Dam. After first hearing about its ability to swim backwards away from the angler, I was very keen to give it a go around the edges of the weed. Sure enough when cast out to the edge of structure, as the lure slowly sinks it shimmers backwards away from the direction it was cast. I have always thought that if a someone invents a lure that swims backwards they would surely make a million dollars. Because by casting to the edge of a tree or weed like lily pads, the lure will actually swim under the structure where the fish are!
Once the lure has rested on the bottom I would slowly lift the rod and impart a few twitches. This provided an excellent darting action that I imagine would be very tempting to a hungry bass. I would then wind up some slack before letting the lure flutter back to the bottom. To a bass the whole show must have looked a bit like a wounded bait fish trying to regain its senses between epileptic fits! Whatever the case I was very pleased with the action and the bass appeared to like it too.
There are plenty of lures on the market that wiggle or shimmy on the drop but most are either too light and don’t cast very far or too heavy and sink too fast. The beauty of the Shimmer Stick is it casts a country mile but sinks at quite a slow rate. This allows the lure to hang in the face of the target species which should improve your strike rate considerably.
After giving it a go today and catching a couple of bass I am convinced it is a great addition to the tackle box. The Shimmer Stik is no magic bullet, but it certainly comes close.
Check it out here Shimmer Stik
Tweed River Bass
Here is the latest video showing some highlights catching bass on the Tweed River. On a still day this place is heaven on earth!
Post Spawning Bass
I fished the Tweed River on a solo mission today. I am pleased to say the bass are starting to make an appearance back in the freshwater. These bass move back into the fresh after they do their spawning business in the estuary over winter time. Over the next month or so I expect they will be showing up in ever increasing numbers so now is an excellent time to book a charter.
I must say that fishing these waters in the Slayer kayaks is an absolute pleasure. Not only is the scenery on the Tweed River picture postcard, but the versatility and comfort these kayaks offer just makes the day effortless. Having the ability to sit back and maneuver around the waterways hands free is just ideal.
I managed 4 solid bass for the day with two around the 39 & 42cm mark. They were all too eager to snaffle my Destroyer jerk baits from Austackle, one of my favorite lures for targeting bass around the snags.
Transducer & Battery Mount in a Slayer Propel 10 Kayak
Here is how I installed a Lowrance HDS 4X, transducer and battery in a Slayer Propel 10 kayak;
Transducer
After reading an article on a kayak fishing forum written by a guy that worked with industrial ulrta sound equipment, I decided to go with an in hull or ‘shoot through’ hull transducer mount. He explained that the sound waves produced by the transducer would not be effected when travelling through the hull and that no sensitivity would be lost. At least nothing discernible at all!
Until I found this article my research (watching YouTubes) revealed all kinds of different arrangements when mounting transducers in the hull. Some people advocated having a certain amount of water in the hull to prevent loss of sensitivity and others would simply glue the transducer down. Some used Vaseline and others used duct seal putty. Some people went to the trouble of mounting a water filled container on the hull with the transducer mounted inside. Mounting the transducers externally was also an option. The transducer could be mounted through the scupper holes or even beside the kayak using a retractable arm hanging off the side of the kayak.
After contemplating all these options I decided I would keep it simple. If the article was right and no sensitivity was to be lost with a ‘shoot thru hull’ installation, then that’s what I would do. So I spent $5 on some BlueTac and simply stuck the transducer on with that. After a test run on the water I was satisfied with the results. The images revealed solid returns from the bottom and from structure such as logs etc. Fish symbols also appeared along with the indicated depth.
Battery
As with the transducer installation I wanted to keep the battery mounting simple. I didn’t want to drill any holes but I needed the battery to remain firmly in its place yet quick removal for recharging was needed. After much thought I discovered some battery carrying bags at Jaycar Electronics. These bags were $20 each and easily fastened around the molding structure inside the Slayer Propel 10. Unzipping the bag provides easy access for recharging.
Despite transporting the yaks on their side and after several trips the transducer and battery have remained in place. I am still getting good readings and would recommend this installation to anyone.
Simon Fitzpatrick 🙂
ANZAC Weekend at Lake Glenlyon
What better way to celebrate ANZAC day than a father and his sons fishing for the iconic Murray Cod. Just holding one of these glorious fish makes you proud to be Australian. This is what life’s all about. This is what our forefathers fought for. So live it up!
Easter Sunday at Clarrie Hall Dam
It’s Easter already and the average daily temperatures have dropped now that summer is over. But that hasn’t stopped the bass from feeding on the surface of Clarrie Hall Dam. There are still plenty of dragonflies doing their business and laying their eggs in the water. I have seen dragonflies hovering just above the surface, dipping their tails in as they go. I am not exactly sure what they are doing but I notice they often choose a gap between the lily pads to perform this strange dance. In any case the bass notice it too and use these gaps to wait in ambush. These are perfect little windows to cast your surface lure. Low light conditions that occur at the book ends of the day are best, as are overcast days. However today I still managed a few fish on surface lures in the middle of a bright sunny day. Fishing the lily pads that were in the shade of the bank side vegetation was the key. The cover provided by the lily pads and the shade cast from the trees was all that was needed to give bass the confidence to feed at the surface.
Australia Day 2015
Fishing for natives in our impoundments can be tough. It takes a lot of planning, preparation, checking weather forecasts, organizing time off work, preparing tackle etc. But if the fish aren’t willing to play all the best laid plans go to waste. I am happy to say this was not the case with my recent trip to Clarrie Hall. One of the most beautiful dams in Australia.
It was an extremely hot and humid day and shortly after I put the boat on the water I had to seek shade for an hour or so. This gave me some time to collect some underwater footage and do a little research as to the bass’ potential food source. There was certainly plenty of bait fish swimming amongst the lilly pads. Probably Firetail Gudgeon and Gambusia. So I made a mental note to collect some next time for identification.
The other thing I noticed is there appeared to be more weed than usual. There has always been a thick perimeter of lilly pads around the edge of the lake with another rim of feathery submerged weed, I identified as Ambulia, leading into deeper water. I think this ambulia has spread since last I visited the dam and it is my theory that the extra cover provided by the weed has drawn the bass out of from under the lily pads thus making them more susceptible to angling. In any case the fishing was great!
I worked the edges of the ambulia with hard bodies, jerk baits, soft plastic frogs and dahlberg diver flies. I caught fish on all my presentations and finished the trip with about 12 bass. Watching the bass crash tackle the surface flies is always a highlight! As usual the bass aren’t huge in Clarrie Hall but they are a robust and hard fighting population with a very respectable average size of around 35cm. I also managed my personal best for Clarrie Hall dam landing a fish of 38.5cm.
Fitzy
Canoe Fishing 101
There I was standing on the surface, like Jesus walking on the water. Only I didn’t have to walk. As the river moved me along, I could see occasional big green fish in eddies behind the rocks. Immediately I would snap out a cast and hope to connect with one of these beautiful creatures. If not, it didn’t matter, I was in no hurry. For the next five days and nights it was just my canoe and me. I had plenty food, drink and supplies on board to fuel my fishing expedition and there was nowhere else I would rather be.
Since its inception among indigenous people around the world, the canoe has been a reliable form of transport across waterways. The canoe has connected communities together by opening up communication and trade. For fishermen it has long been a vehicle to access fishing grounds. The modern day canoe has changed little in its design. Its multi-purpose shape continues to ensure the canoe will remain the vessel of choice for fisherman the world over.
Canoe Fishing
The style of canoe I am referring to is the traditional Canadian canoe with a fully open cockpit, seats inside and a hull pointed at both ends. Examples in the Australian market place include brands such as Rosco Canoes, Australis, Coleman, Old Town and Mad River Canoes. They are predominantly made from polyethylene, making them tough, durable and light. Perfect for canoe fishing.
The main advantage of a canoe over a vessel such as a kayak is its carrying capacity. With its comparatively wide beam (width) and high freeboard (walls), a good length canoe can carry upwards of 200kg. In addition to this, a heavily loaded canoe can actually increase the boats stability allowing the angler to stand and fish (albeit very carefully). These two features make the canoe the vessel of choice for extended multi-day canoe fishing trips.
Buying a canoe
When choosing a canoe for just such an adventure I would recommend something in the 4.3 to 5.0 metre (14 to 16 f00t) range. A canoe with a nice wide beam and big open spaces will allow more options for carrying gear. A canoe with too many seats and thwarts (cross members) that take up too much space could inhibit carrying capacity.
Some essential items for canoe fishing – a bottle of water, a dry bag, short handled landing net, hat and fishing rod.
Buying a canoe is a big investment, so you want to ensure you choose one that suits your needs. Before you make your purchase be sure to ask yourself the following questions.
- What am I using the canoe for?
- How am I going to transport the canoe to the water?
- How heavy can I manage?
- How many passengers (seats) do I need?
- How much gear do I need to carry?
- How am I going to propel the canoe?
Propelling a canoe
Traditionally a single blade paddle is used to paddle a canoe. This is fine if there are two paddlers. If you are by yourself and you only have a single blade paddle you will need to learn to ‘j-stroke.’ During the j-stroke the grip is rotated in the paddler’s hand. This eliminates the need to alternate your paddling from the left side to the right in order to prevent yourself from going around in circles. The j-stroke can be frustrating to learn but once mastered it is like riding a bike. Alternatively a double bladed paddle can be used if the paddler(s) are seated in the front or rear of the canoe. From the middle seat the beam is usually too wide to comfortably use this type of paddle.
Other more creative options for propelling your canoe include standing up and using a pole or a paddle. A paddle with an extendable shaft can be employed so the user can choose between seated paddling and standing. Be aware however that standing up in a canoe increases your chance of getting wet tenfold. In other words, don’t stand up if you don’t want to get wet. Elevating any object in the canoe (including people) will reduce the stability dramatically.
Another option is to use an electric motor. These days you can pick up a new electric motor from around $250. No need to go for anything too powerful, just an entry level stern mount motor with around 30lbs of thrust will suffice. Connected to a decent size 12 volt battery, there is enough power to motor all day for a couple of days. There are motor mounts available on the market or if you are good with your hands you might try to build one yourself. There are plenty of designs available on the internet.
A home made motor mount on my canoe
Weight Distribution
Weight distribution has a dramatic effect on how your canoe will handle on the water. If all your gear is to one side the canoe will lean to that side. Not so obvious is when all the weight is either down the front or down the back, the paddler will struggle to get the boat to track in a straight line. This is because any momentum caused by wind, current or paddle strokes will dramatically alter the course of the canoe.
For the most part, weight should be distributed evenly throughout the canoe. If this is not possible then put the heaviest things in the middle of the boat. For example if you are using an electric motor down the back of the boat, it will be beneficial to put the heavy battery in the middle. A 10-20lt water container can be placed up the very front of the canoe as an additional counter balance. I never go canoeing without one. Particularly if I am canoeing solo. When paddling my 16ft canoe alone with no gear on board, I always sit in the back seat and put a 20lt container up the very front. This helps the canoe track correctly.
Loaded up for a trip with weight evenly spread for better balance
So there you have it; canoe selection, propulsion and handling. Understanding these basics before heading out on the water to fish will help you to position the canoe where the fish are. With lure casting in particular, good positioning of the canoe is one the greatest challenges. Get this right and you will improve your chances of catching fish dramatically. Tight lines and happy canoe fishing
Thanks to Scott Rawstorne at Global Paddler for the inspiration http://globalpaddler.com.au/canoe-fishing-101/
My First Murray Cod on Fly
If I had a bucket list, somewhere near the top of that list would be to catch Murray cod on fly. Well last weekend I made that dream come true, although it took some doing. During the week leading up to the trip the conditions couldn’t have been worse. Easterly winds and a low barometer were forecast. To top it off the recent rains had dirtied almost every river in the area. All accept one. The Severn River.
After the long drive I met up with Nick and we hit the Severn. The river looked great. It was running clear and warm. But the low pressure system and easterly winds Heralded that the cod fishing would be tough. As tough as it was, we patiently probed our flies into the depths of every fishy looking snag. Nick was first of the mark with a solid little cod of about 50cm. I encountered a few bumps and follows before I had my first hit. There is little question when a cod hits your fly. They tend to hit it hard. Whether fishing with a fly or a lure, that familiar strike delivered from a cods’ powerful jaws always puts a smile on the dial.
With the first strike, I simply failed to set the hook hard enough and the fish swam away. But I didn’t make the same mistake twice. When the next strike came I lifted the rod sharply and drove the hooks home. I was very happy to feel weight at the end of my line and shortly after had my first Murray cod on fly in the net. He wasn’t going to break any records but I was stoked. My First Murray cod on fly!!!!
My First Murray Cod on Fly
The next day we tried a different section of the river. The easterly wind fired up and again it appeared the fishing would be tough. As we worked the pools and runs from our kick boats no strikes or follows were forthcoming. I decided it was a good time to replace my leader. The very next cast I let the fly sink deep across the face of a snag under a willow tree. To my amazement the fly was smashed hard and I immediately set the hook. I gave the fish no line as I knew it would bust me off if it headed back into the sticks. Suddenly the line went slack and the tell tale boil of a large tail fin surfaced. Upon closer inspection the uni-knot in the leader had pulled. It was definitely my bad. I have tied hundreds of uni-knots before but not in 30-40lb fluorocarbon line. I’m not exactly sure what went wrong but from then on I vowed to leave longer tag ends and set the knot really tight. Loosing that fish was a bitter pill to swallow. Not only did it feel like a very big fish, but the knot failure was my fault and to top it off the fly I lost was a ripper.
Still, the day was young and we continued floating on downstream. Then to our delight, the wind died down and the day started to really warm up. From then on the fishing vastly improved. We both worked hard and by the end of the day I managed about 4 cod averaging approx 50cm. Nick, being the local must have landed closer to a dozen cod, at least 4 of which were more respectable fish of around 60+cm. I watched him closely and tried to learn from his example. He had fly fished these rivers for many years with great success.
Severn River Murray Cod on Fly
For the most part, the tactics used in fly fishing for Murray cod are similar to any type of lure fishing for Australian natives. Cast the fly/lure as close as possible to any likely fish holding structure and retrieve the fly with plenty of action, pausing occasionally to tempt a strike. Trying a variety of retrieves to see what works best on any given day is the key. Triggering a ‘reaction strike’ that day involved beginning our retrieve the moment the fly hit the water, with shorts sharp strips that would cause the fly to ‘pulse.’ I have seen this style of retrieve work with bass on certain days too. Other days they like the fly to just sit there motionless.
What surprised me more than anything was the type of habitat that we caught fish in. Of course the cod were found in the usual places around the best looking snags, but most of the fish came from sunny positions. When fishing for bass I only ever focus on the shaded areas as most often the fish are found under the trees. However it would appear that day the cod actually preferred more sunny positions. What surprised me even more was the depth of the water Nick was targeting. He had no hesitation in fishing snags that were in no more that 1ft of water!
The other surprising thing was how close Nick would manoeuvre his kick boat to the snag he intended to fish. What appeared to be paramount was getting that fly right up into ‘tiger country’ and if you need to be 3 meters away to do just that, the cod didn’t seem to mind. Nor did they appear to be put off by repeated casts, with the fly slapping the water, probing for a closer position to the snag. In fact if anything I think the cod were actually turned on by all the commotion. I clearly had some old habits to break.
We caught cod on a number of different flies that day but the pink ones were the flavour of the day. With the sun now fast retreating I excitedly gave a purple surface popper a swim, but it drew no response. As we made the long hike back to the car I reflected on what an awesome day it had been. A dream come true and hopefully the first of many more to come.
Fitzy
Cod Season Opens Tomorrow
I am very excited to say that the fishing season for Murray Cod opens tomorrow! It has been a long slow closed season for me. I managed a few trips to Glenlyon Dam but landed no fish at all. For myself as with many Cod fishos, it can be a long drive to our favourite dam, so to come back empty handed can be a bitter pill to swallow. But when the rivers open to fishing on December 1st our options more than double. If a day out on the dam produces zero results, then a visit to the rivers around the impoundment might just save the trip and make the long drive worth while.
Also locating Cod in a river can be a far less daunting task than locating Cod in a dam because the fish tend to sit in certain predictable areas. ‘Cracking a pattern’ by finding the right combination of structure, shade and current will help to consistently locate fish in a river. Conversely, in a dam if the fish are ‘not on’ then it seems sometimes no matter what type of structure you fish, you just can’t draw a response.
With all that in mind, over the closed season much preparation has taken place. The fly rod, the float tube and some new flies from Kaos Cod Flies, all lie in anticipation of the open season. Minyon the Cod has personally eye balled and approved all the flies and blessed them with good Cod ‘ju-ju’. Stay tuned for all the action…..
Fitzy
Clarrie Hall is Good for the Soul
I have fished many impoundments on the east coast of Australia but perhaps none as beautiful as Clarrie Hall Dam. I find it necessary to be on the water at sunrise to achieve the best results. At that time of day, as the rising sun slowly dissipates the mist covering the dam, the true beauty of this wetland materializes from the early morning haze. Lush green lily pads, purple and yellow lotus flowers come to light as the lake margins are revealed. The calls of water fowl echo and the popping sounds of Bass feeding are all part of the morning symphony as this ecosystem begins another day. Finally when the fog lifts, Mt Warning watches over the lake.
This particular morning I fished a tan coloured Dahlberg Diver, blooping it across the surface like a frog or insect of some type. Initially upon touch down I let the fly sit there for a while then gave as little action to the fly as possible. If that drew no response I would make short ‘bloops’ back to the boat. I had about 5 hits and boated 2 fish of around 33cm. About average for this dam. Once the sun rose higher I changed tactics, pulled out the spin rod and flicked out a small diving jerk bait. I immediately got smashed but the fished shot into the snags and spit the lure.
All in all not a bad 3 hours of fishing. If I had managed to convert a few more hits into fish landed then I could have had 5 Bass in the live well. Clarrie Hall is my local impoundment and I have fished it numerous times. The Bass are of modest size and I rarely come home with cricket score card numbers of fish, but the place is just so incredibly scenic. I will be back!
Fitzy
Minyon the Cod at 57cm
Minyon the Cod has out grown her previous tank. Now at 57cm long she is enjoying her new tank and the added space it provides. As you can see she is a very inquisitive Cod. Always looking for some action; some food, any movement really. She loves chasing the cat and she will bite anything that goes in her tank. Including the hand that feeds her. If I need to move anything in her tank I use the barbecue tongs because a bite to the hand will draw blood every time.
Interestingly each spring at exactly the same time as the wild cod are spawning Minyon prepares to lay her eggs too. Despite the artificial lighting and heating in the dining room, she is still able to determine that early spring is spawning time. She doesn’t have a male fish to prepare a nest for her so she does it herself; busily moving gravel and rocks into a suitable position for egg laying.
Minyon is a very intelligent fish and although doesn’t say much, she has somehow talked me into feeding her raw king prawns. At $24 a kilo she must be very convincing. I mostly feed her a quality pellet but have started feeding her green peas also for a balanced diet.
I have always kept fish and I am fascinated by fish of all kinds. But Murray Cod are definitely my favourite. And Minyon is my number 1.
Fitzy
Australian Native Fish in the Northern Rivers of NSW
Last summer I was able to dedicate some quality time to fishing. Chasing Australian native fish in my local creeks, rivers and dams I was lucky enough to tempt many fish on both lure and fly. By-catch included some very nice eastern cod that can be a real test on light bass gear.
A couple of valuable lessons were had during these fishing trips. On overcast days, fishing the surface is an excellent proposition even in the middle of the day. On some of my local dams, it is difficult to raise a fish at the best of times. However, tying on a surface lure in any low light conditions, be it dawn, dusk or during overcast day light hours can produce great results.
As an added benefit I found that often the larger fish are the most eager to scoff a well presented surface lure or fly. During a recent trip in the canoe down the skinniest of creeks I managed a 42cm bass on a cicada surface lure. I was amazed at the size of this fish inhabiting such a small creek. Upon closer inspection I noticed a small water dragon protruding from the bass’ mouth! What a guts! He had obviously just eaten the dragon and then decided to have a go at my lure too. No wonder he was so big.
On a different trip I was using the same cicada lure, again targeting Bass. This time a nice 65cm eastern cod snaffled my offering. The loud implosion when he smashed the lure at the surface nearly caused me to wet my pants. The fish then proceeded to put up an excellent tussle on my 6lb outfit.
Our Australian native fish species often appear to react to a lure out of instinct. ‘Reaction strikes’ can be triggered if a surface lure sounds just right when it hits the water. If the lure or fly touches down with the same sound as an insect such as a cicada, a bass for example, will smash the lure in a split second without a second thought. Similarly a jungle perch will follow a lure as it is cast through the air across the river with tremendous speed and crash tackle the offering as soon as it touches down. If not in the mood for food a cod will simply chase away any intruding lure from its territory. However if you can provoke the cod by landing the lure in it’s face, the fish will smash the lure in an instant. In these cases the strikes are lightening quick. There was no time elapsed for contemplation.
The challenge of catching our natives lies within figuring out how to trigger a reaction strike on any given day. Ya just gotta love fishing for Australian natives!
Simon Fitzpatrick (Fitzy)
Catching Bass Under Lily Pads
When catching bass under lily pads it is hard to go past fly fishing. A fly such as a Dahlsberg Diver can be presented again and again without having to wind the lure back in each time as you would with conventional tackle. This can be very effective with fish such as Australian Bass who often prefer to strike a lure or fly as soon as it hits the water. As mentioned in my previous article, if you can mimic the sound and sight of an insect splashing down, a reaction strike can result. Furthermore the fish aren’t always willing to chase a surface lure as it is being retrieved.
However if you snap your fly rod trying to contend with yet another snagged fly on a lily pad like I did, then its time to pull out the trusty old spin or bait casting outfit. After doing just that, I discovered an absolute ripper of a surface lure that is virtually snag proof whilst retaining an exceptional hook up rate. Not only that they cast a country mile and you can hop them across the lilly pads all day long with very few snag ups. Further more, Bass go nuts for them. These hollow belly frog style lures impressed me so much they deserve a style all to there own……It’s not fly fishing, not lure fishing, but frog fishing!!!
When you fish them you become the frog. Hopping from lilly pad to lilly pad, sending out little hopping vibrations down the lilly stems, telegraphing that it’s dinner time to all the hungry Bass below. Finally when you jump off the last pad and out into the open the Bass are already waiting and BLAMMO, your history!
Watch this video for some tips on how to catch Australian bass under lily pads using hollow belly frogs and rev head jig spins.
106cm Murray Cod
One night I had a dream that I caught a meter long Murray Cod. It was a vivid dream. Perhaps the dream was just in anticipation of the trip to Glenyon Dam I had planned the following day. In any case the next morning I headed off to the dam with great enthusiasm. I stopped along the way at the tackle store and bought the biggest landing net they had in the shop. The label on the net revealed it was rated to 30lb. I asked the assistant if he had a bigger net? He replied that 30lb was a big lump of a fish and that I would be lucky to land a cod that big.
Once on the water and after about an hour of casting my spinnerbait, I had a good strike. As soon as the fish hit I said to myself “This is it!” I somehow just knew I had my first ‘metery’. After a shorter fight than expected, I lead the behemoth of a fish into my new landing net. Whilst lifting the fish into the boat the net was stretched way beyond its’ recommended weight limit, but it somehow held. The cod measured 106cm. The DPI fish length/weight conversion scale shows a cod of 100cm weighs 22.1kg. So an conservative estimate of 25kg (55lb) sounds about right.
In an effort to release the fish I must have swam it beside the moving boat for over an hour, but to no avail. The big girl passed away. I think it may have been weakened by some kind of illness as the cods eyes were bulging a little. Popeye or exophthalmia is a condition sometimes seen with aquarium fish that causes the eyes to bulge. I usually release all my native fish captures, especially Murray Cod so was a little disappointed she died. That disappointment was short lived after tasting the fillets over a camp fire that night. Absolutely delicious! After returning home I sent the Cod’s otolith (ear) bones the DPI to have it aged. Gavin Butler at the Grafton DPI was nice enough to reply with his estimate of 17 years old.
I am not quite sure what to make of that sequence of events. But never the less that’s how it happened. Some days you are full of confidence and everything goes right. Well almost everything. The video of the fish I shot on my phone was pretty lousy and it is equally hard to take a good photo of yourself with a phone and a fish that big, when you are by yourself. When I got home I bought myself a Gopro.
Simon Fitzpatrick (Fitzy)
