Waiting on new steering cable

New cable on the way from US of A.

To buy from east Australia $340 and $75 postage - was the most expensive found while researching - cheapest $230 plus postage.

The USA ordered one was $100US and $75 postage - (a total of $235AU after fees and conversion) 

Better yet - instead of four weeks to get it to Darwin from Brisbane - it is 10-14 days from the US (go figure that one out! - probably buying from same US place I am and then on-posting it onto me!)

I am hoping it arrives this week sometime which gives me time to get it in to boat and have a couple of trips to refresh my freshwater billabong skills

I worked out the other day I haven't really had a decent fishing trip since before Christmas 2014

and I am starting to go nuts. Have had just a cast or two in little freshwater lake behind school for baby tarpon (sub 20cm) 

If I didn't have fly tying - I would already be in a padded cell

So luckily a couple of my students have taken up fly fishing. Well casting flies I helped them make on spin gear and at least attempting the fly rod casting from time to time. 

Also got badgered this morning by another student so overtly excited due to the NT Fly Fishers Social Mob doing a tying and casting demo at the Darwin Trailer Boat club over the weekend.  (see NTFFSM blog) 

My deckie is also suffering from a lack of fishing so has started the process of buying his own boat. who is going to make my morning coffee if he abandons ship??

Things have to change! Lets hope no delays on my package arrive in 10-14 days, hopefully closer to ten days - also in time for the May 2nd NT fly Rodders club's Corroboree comp and then the weekend after the May 9th NT Fly Fishers Social Mob freshwater get together/competition .
As I would like to fish both.

Until then and the timely delivery of the steering able and installation
- luck I have more fly tying - TO KEEP ME SANE AND LUCID!

if is not one thing, its another

Awesome morning for fishing today

Very light winds, temperature great and water crystal clear in the harbour

We put the boat in the water just b4 dawn

The deckie is holding boat next to dock

After parking the ute and  trailer - I run down ramp full of expectation of what should be a great day on the water 

Then I hop in boat and push forward the throttle leaving the dock behind

As I turn the steering wheel a little more - pop!  

And everything in steering mechanism goes loose

The pop was the steering cable breaking about halfway along its length

With low revs and some hands on the outboard we gradually get back to the dock again

With many a muttered word under my breathe (and sometimes aloud) we reload the boat onto the trailer and head dejectedly home

It seems like every school holidays - if it’s not a crack in the hull it’s something else - like the steering mechanism breaking!

Even made up some ubeaut "barra buster" flies for the edges of the mangroves

I use them for barramundi and saratoga at corroboree too

Tail is some flash n slinky, a little gold flashabou, and a white rabbit zonker strip. Collar is crosscut rabbit strips of a contrasting colour, bead chain eyes and a weed guard for the high vegetative terrain the target fish sit in ambush waiting for their dinner. Simple but very pulsating and effective fly.

So with no boat I may have to go back to simpler times when I only had to drive 30mins and walk into water (no crocs) when I lived near Newcastle NSW