20200613 - harbour light winds - sort of

So the doll hair from the little niece - several silicone surf candies were made during the week

• 1/0 34007, 
• place tail on from hook eye with length of tail past hook bend same as shank length, 
• place a pea sized lump of clear silicone on an old plastic lid 
• (i do 20 or so flies at once)
• let the silicone set for 20 minutes
• to stop stickiness of silicone 
• use a drop or two of dishwashing liquid in half a cup of water to stop it sticking to fingers - 
• but not to wet on finger tips as the silicone will have trouble sticking to shank
• then add a sausage of clear silicone along hook shank, 
• massage til even about the hook shank 
• if too much material and thick around hook shank - wet scissors and trim off some
• shape a bit more
• then add your 3D eyes pressing into silicone to ensure they don’t get ripped off while fishing
• leave to dry a couple of days then add a couple layers of clear nail polish

 the nail polish acts like scales as the fish's teeth puncture the lay into the softer (but still firm silicone or 'flesh' of the baitfish - thus holding it longer giving slow guys like me longer to set the hook

plus I think it also sinks slower 

than an all epoxy version

Expectations are high given BOM forecast for light winds most of the day in Darwin Harbour on the weekend - the tuna better watch for I am a comin’

The morning of the weekend saw us launching before dawn

Travelling sedately with the nav lights on out to Lee Point to find some longtail 

Neaps tides for the day, 4:30am low of 2.8 or so, 11:30 high of 5m - so a bit of movement which is better then none

Awesome sunrise again - watching that fireball rise up, the colours chaing form pinks purples towards the orange breath-taking

One out at the point - plenty of boats on water but no fish seen, one guy hooked up on a live bait under a baloon but he brutalized it to side of boat never backed off and being so green it busted off thrashing at side of boat. may have been a shark more than a big mack

After a while we move around into Shoal bay way to the shallow reef as too via the location we found the little macks last time on the harbour

Plenty of bait in thick bands of the sounder at 10-15 feet in 20-25feet of water

But hardly a bust up or ripple

The wind was light but constant disturbing the water surface enough so you couldn’t spot that subtle bait nervousness on the surface before the predators change gears

We did see, and occupy ourselves for several hours, small pods of up to 10 longtails ripping along just under the surface

We would wait fly in hand, line off the reel waiting for the pods to race through – casting in the beginning was dismal, but we kept at it and got several good chances but didn’t convert.

Those tuna are so frustrating but once they are on the scene – nothing else matters!

 

Once this literal wing of longtail swept past the boat, each just behind the shoulder other in a wide sweeping line, we lead the fish well for a change

Peter hooked up, I didn’t (I didn’t hook up for 90% of the day sadly).

Peter fought the fish for several minutes and just as Peter was seeing the bottom of the fly reel with nearly all his backing out – the fly came loose. BUGGER!

The wind shifted to northish, and so we headed into the harbour. Hoping for some queenfish at six mile on way home – dinner fillets was the real hope.

And six mile didn’t disappoint – except for the yahooos roaring about chasing the exploding pods. This zooming about put the fish down.

 

When we first arrived it was tuna not queenfish – I in my panic ended up wrapping the fly, fly line around me and the boat – talk about “buck fever”

 

After that first massive bust up of tuna – it was mostly queenfihs – and none with dickheads flatout smashing through the feeding areas

I am normally non-plussed but one group cut right in front of us like over taking a car on the road  only a boat length from us as we drifted towards a school and then motored into the pod – causing them to dive instantly

My choice of words were loud, questioning their IQ, heritage and gender. It took yelling a couple of time before they even acknowledge we were there.

Best yet we both hooked up – they didn’t

They must have zipped here, over there 100m, back again several times and got nothing – suck that you P*&%$ks! Hope  your boat sinks.

 

A nicer group of young guys were also working the water hard but politely no crowding etc - and one young guy who by his actions seemed to have caught his first big fish. In his jubilation he fell off the little tinny – his three mates helped him back in (we saw a 15foot shark here last time) and as he climbs in a rod gets flick out – “that’s my rod!” one exclaims and dived in deep to retrieve his rod – when he eventually popped up -  I was amazed he got it – for a few more seconds and it would have sunk into the 70foot deep water for ever!

 

The waves were not as harsh as last time here but still – yuck!

more yuck - So many absolute dickheads that would come rushing in putting fish down, catching nothing and take off again – was soooooo frustrating

 

The bust ups were irregular and a fair bit apart. If they did bust up it would be 100m away, but we chose to wait till they came closer rather than chase

The electric was losing power as well after using so much during the day

 

But we hung in there, and caught 10 or so fish – kept 5 bigger ones I would fillet , slice into fish fingers, then flour, egg and breadcrumb for all the family (wife’s brother, sister, their partners, and all their kids)

Peter’s wife made what peter said was an awesome fish bake!

 

One boat asked us – what was out secret - for while plenty of boats only ours was catching fish regularly. Their lures to heavy, to large, retrieved to fast and nothing at all like the bait fish being eaten. Our silicone surf candies perfect – though Peter did use a larger greenish clouser for just as many fish as I was catching with my candies.

 

One young bloke, barely taller than the gunnel - got a good fish – his excitement and effort seen from a distance – love it when kids catch the fishing bug!

 

Until next time – though Peter telling me he needs to spend more time with his wife after fishing with me every weekend for over a month.

I might need to go back to land-based if that happens – yuck!

20200606 - Hardies lagoon - too cold!

So another early start - that in hindsight didn't really need one

So wind up again on harbour and offshore - so DFR club outing to Corroboree Park Tavern for the long weekend and the range of billabongs and lagoons as fly fishing options

We didn't stay/camp at the Tavern as my place in only 30 minutes away

As we drive past the tavern the outside temp was 13° - my place at Humptydoo was 18°

So cold morning without a doubt

We launch just after dawn. the ramp at little shallow on the end - and have since been told a bad dropoff at the very end- lucky we didn't go that far

I must say what an awesome location - first time I have fished it. So many fishy spots to cast to, endless even. seems on a different planet to corroboree billabong. Lilies different, banksides different, so tactics will need to be different

We started casting to bankside spots only a 100 or so meters from ramp

We frothed the water with our efforts for nothing for the next hour or so

Then at a spot in between other really good spots - peter lays out a cast, Fly lands on the edge of some crappy slimy weed , as usual let it sink and then when near bottom start stripping 

And then a nibble and a take - WE ARE on! (well I tied the fly at least!)

But Peter was on for sure!

But Peter is very worried as he last used this rod (10foot 6weight),  reel and set up on lake trout in Canada and he remembered he only has the lightest of tippets on - 8lb and the leader is over 18feet long when he used it for chironomid applications

So everything is slowed down and luckily the fish heads to middle of water - no snags no weed - awesome

After circling the boat a few times in its struggles to dislodge the small hook in the corner of its jaw - the fish comes meekly to the waiting net

Peter is stoked! – so am I 

His PB freshwater barra on fly!

So nothing seen for next several hours but archer fish

And of course a plethora of other wildlife

such as a Buffalo – this guy came of out thick scrub, attacked a small tree – bashing it. It was the only tree on the bank and the young bull had some serious issues to resolve it seems by the way he ripped apart the tree. He eyed us off and like the local fish saw no harm in us - so ignored us - and starting sauntering up to edge of water for a drink and to lick his nostrils several times - that last bit looked disgusting!

We also kept an eye out for crocs. We saw a couple of narrow jawed freshwater crocs, saw a couple of smaller saltwater crocs but up o nthe bank absorbing the sun's heat were two big crocs they were at least 4m plus versions 

I was so bored at times I snoozed a few times but Peter kept on casting and casting

Eventually all the good spots to cast was too much for me and I cast a few more times

As usually drop the fly off edge of weeds, pause and then staccato retrieve

Touch, touch – hook up!

Ended up one of the largest archer fish I have caught – a PB even - it looked bigger then the picture, I remember it bigger than the picture as it was the only fish I caught for the day

 So despite the cold start and despite the lack of fish

We had a great day – as any day fly fishing is better than sitting at home!

so where next - thinking tuna in harbour next weekend or if better wind conditions maybe off Dundee

must tie more flies too!

here is Peters final stages of his barra flight

20200530 - Saved by Six Mile - Again!

Ok the fishing gods must chuckle to themselves when fishermen make plans

Cause our plans fell into the abyss as soon as we made them - just took us a while to find out

The wind forecast sort of made it possible for maybe a few hours of calmness offshore so we could chase tuna

but no - despite the darkness of a 5am launch and with what seemed by the time we got out wide near fenton patches - wind and wave was all we could see.

we cruise about - used the sounder but nothing

we found some thick bands of bait but no predators

we took some awesome pictures of sunrise and ourselves

but no fish

Round 9:30 we put it down to the learning curve and headed back towards the harbour

Rough ride straight into the wind generated waves – thump thump thump thump - uugghhhhh!

Finally we arrived and tucked in behind Lee Point giving us a bit a relief from the increasing wind

Our “Honey Hole” which has saved many a harbour trip was absolutely empty, even though plenty of bait schools showing on sounder. We hoped it was just a tide thing - looking forward to what the turn of the tide might bring so we hung around and hoped for better conditions and options t oshow up

Eventually however we got bored waiting and head off further shoal bay way towards a shallow reef outside the entrance to Buff Creek we have ocassionally had success near and along the way come across a heap of nervous water near a couple of other boats

We nudge in to one side of the two boats - and with a wind so crappy to cast into but it was the only spot we could get into near the baitfish  given the position of the other boats. And we hook up immediately to small macks – some greys but a few small what seemed to be narrow barred macks. The garfish hanging on top of the reef would surge forward  to hammer the bait schools as the tide pushed them against the reef line. Then exploding out of this chaos would be fast moving mackerel from under them. Spraying bait and garfish into to the air. Such awesome mayhem!

We annoyed the other two boats due our regular bent rods so much they eventually took off elsewhere. Them casting and casting for nothing.us - fish and tight lines regularly  – “Go the fly” – again! But I lost five flies in a row at one stage - at least we were getting some action!

Wind eventually changed direction and we thought we would move and work our way into the harbour - fishing a few sheltered bays or points along the way. But as we moved over the main reef line that pokes out from Lee Point proper - we spied for the first time that day birds over slashing active fish. the Tide change had begun!

We power up and zoomed over – macks again - but better than nothing, right!

But wait was that last slpash darker? Bigger? Yessss! – Tuna!

Their porpoising active surface feeding style unmistakeable !

We chase, they dive, we chase they dive,

Frustratingly they go right past the front of the boat, or casts land where they were, such was their speed in the shallows

Peter eventually cast the perfect cast and the tuna hammered the silicone surf candy just after it landed

It turned the boat as the taunt line between fish and rod pressured the boat around – Peter was fighting it classically in an only Canadian way that he could do saying "ITs HUGE!!!!"
and sadly moments later - all came loose with one hundred plus meters and flyline past the rod tip – Bugger!
fly still attached, no curled hook tip
just let go! damn!

We chase a bit more, but the tuna are so flighty in the shallows - we come close a few times but no more tuna hook ups

Finally wind from the NW too much and we start to head back to the ramp. 
Peter suggests a diversion via the red Six Mile buoy but I wasn’t sold on the idea as wind was funnelling right down the harbour and the wind wave was against the outgoing tide making larger waves. Uncomfortable! And given the results so far today – probably on the percentages would hold nothing worth our time and discomfort
plus i had been up since 3:30am and was feeling trashed!

However – on arrival hundreds of birds and 1000s of silvery predators were frothing the water as they gorge themselves on some smallish baitfish. 
Good choice Peter! never listen to me again! (well not never 'ever' type of never of course)

Below looks heaps better on video but wind noise ruins it - so just a picture

First cast we are onto fish even before the boat orientated itself in the current with the lock anchor on the electric. Awesome! but who wouldn't be hooked up - they were everywhere and feasting themselves on baitfish by the mouthful.

Most brought to hand are between 65 and 75 centimetres in length – voracious queenfish feeding with abandon. With a few larger ones mixed in we didn't hook up with - you could see them riding in the 70cm waves as they came towards the boat. You could pick your fish and make a selective cast. great swoffing! when a small one would move towards your fly you could recast it to a larger one. great fishing by any standard.

queenfish are such an underratted sports species - especially when nothing else about!

There again are a few boats in same area trying to catch the ravaging fish under the swirling birds above them 
but in the 2 plus hours we endured the rough windy bumpy conditions we were the only boat catching fish. Their lures too large, retrieved too fast, their techniques and gear just not attuned to the fish and how they were feeding. When the fly was absolutely perfect for it!

next image not the best - but shows the baitifsh that was being eaten that was spat up by one of our successes

despite the poor zoom screen shot of a video  - above you should see the spat up baitfish is the top silvery shape in my hand and the silicone surf candy fly we were using is the bottom one

A perfect match - unlike the chunky lures and huge metal slices the dark side boats were using

 And did we catch fish on the fly or what!

Fish were actually banging against the side of the boat as the swathing packs moved with the tide as they fed on the schools of bait

The after 10 or so fish to hand, we started noticing some dark shapes zipping through the mayhem

TUNA!

I hooked three tuna (in amongst a plethora of queenfish) over the next period of time -
 got one to the boat – 

what an awesome fish longtail tuna are 

Its looks, its strength – the one I got to hand 65cm.
 I had one break me off on 20lb leader on the take as I watched it surf along a wave to take my fly 10m from the side of the boat. So great to watch – so frustrating the queenfish teeth that most likely nicked the leader the fish before. The other one let go the fly with most of backing out of the reel.

So many many times we would wait and cast to the tuna only to have a queenfish pinch the fly before the tuna could get a go. Good queenfish, strong queenfish, aerobatic queenfish but man we wanted those tuna!

Peter had another repeat of his tuna for the morning with another extended tuna battle only to have the fish softly drop the fly 100s of meters from the boat.

here i am hooked up and another vast mass of fish passing the boat as the tide flows past

So we finally get a few fresh fillets and some incredible action as Six Mile buoy saves the day again!

Best yet we tweaked our passion for Longtail Tuna for the first time this year due to various delays in getting on the water this year that we all are too familiar with.

Our plans didn’t work out at all but those underwater humps near the eSix Mile Buoy on an out going tide when the baitfish are about. 
How awesome is the Six Mile Buoy!

So where next? When species next? What flies should I tie?

My neice "trimmed" her dolls hair for me to ties flies - and said to everyone it for uncle to tie some flies with. 
(it seems she took to heart the story I told her about that as a kid my sister's dolls had no hair too!)

The pink tinged material might just be perfect for some tuna specials - a silicone surf candy variation

Bring it on! the tying and the swoffing!

(I took a heap of video during trip but the wind noise on the clips was terrible so no trip summary video this time.)

202005116-Corroboree Bllabong saratoga

A short video on the takes, mistakes, sledges and the rest that goes with a days fly fishing Corroboree Billabong and its amazing sports fly fishing

x

Corroboree Billabong outing 20200515

So too windy offshore and still desperate for fly fishing

So like two weeks ago - Corroboree the best option - that while not the best place to catch a feed definitely one the best places around for quality sport fly fishing

The previous trip would have been the timing for the actual DFR 2020 freshwater comp that Peter and I had won the teams event for, in 2019- but we all know the impact of CoVID19.

But that trip two weekends ago was tough fishing - plenty of tarpon but the Saratoga were as always proving difficult to stay connected to, with only five of them coming successfully to the net. I blame the cold snap the night before - first one of the dry season.

hopefully - the conditions this trip would prove more favourable to active fish.

Same predawn packing at my place and then off to ramp 30minutes down the road from my rural block. (Peter had a much earlier start, coming from the Northern Suburbs of Darwin).

On arrival - motor won’t start! bugger!

However, Peter seems always prepared for most events and had one of those jump start batteries. And soon we are heading down the billabong to one of our favourite locations. A new crank battery needed before next outing!

Fishing started slow again - but I manage a quick couple of toga on a variety of surface flies right in the lilies. A skipping prawn got the first, my dragon flies sank – so were quickly replaced by an oversized hopper pattern – once just sitting still in a patch of water enclosed by lilies – the fly got the 100% approval rating by a lovely toga! Awesome indeed!

Fishing was slowish in our favourite place – however a fish take or netting every 20 or so minutes kept us casting. As too the plethora of the most fishiest looking spots that just HAD to be cast to. By 10am the strong winds predicted were affecting our drifts – making casting the fly hard, the drifts were too fast – so many prime lies were bypassed as the wind pushed the boat along.

So our casting was saved for the selected prime locations most likely to produce. Wished we could have fished slower but you take what your given. Peter did an awesome job on the electric remote all day in howling winds that changed direction every few hundred metres!  - and he was still able to catch a few fish!

We sort out the best sections of the billabong for a controlled drift with the wind or even at times into the wind with the electric controlling a step by step approach to working the weed banks.

I caught toga and the odd tarpon regularly on my “go to” flies, however Peter was having such success with his “jelly bean” fly – I switched to my version of it. Heavy eyes, high motion tail material and cactus chenille body all on a B10s gammy hook with 60lb longish mono weed guard.

I got 4 toga and a heap of tarpon in a short time. It was as if a switch was flicked on for feeding time. Awesome fishing! Love the fly Peter! Might have to make a few more.

What an awesome day – weather was very kind to us (except the wind but that’s also why we were there not offshore!). the bird life was mind blowing in its scope and view. Sea eagles, kites, jabiru. On the way to first spot we were commenting on the number of dragon flies flying about and then we saw a cloud of micro bats out late (well for them!) swarming in the dawn lit sky chasing a food source about 100m up over the flood plain -fascinating!

On our doorstep we have one of the most breath-taking natural environments around. The scope of life – almost uncountable! What a joy to have access to such a world heritage location and then you add the sport fly fishing aspect - such a privilege!

Can you see the 2m croc in image below? He/she/it was sitting amongst the lily pads - we believe thinking we could not see it - maybe it was waiting to steal a fish we might hook.

Then there is the fishing – these Saratoga are such a deservedly  highly rated sportfish. Absolutely frustrating in hook up rates but a beautiful fish with its colours, shape and lip whiskers! The places it hangs out in and its eating habits make it perfect for fly fishers!

So, the day ended up 20 plus tarpon for each of us – the majority solid, thick shouldered, strong pulling fish. the Tarpon were not push over easy targets, you had to work the fly to get a response - but when they do they commit fully and take the fly hard. Strong runs, heaps of jumps - great fish to catch on fly!

For the boat, we also got 15 of the prized Saratoga. Sadly, we also dropped as many, if not more, of the hard mouthed, tricky, lily stalk loving and forever more frustrating fish! 

Peter dropped an absolutely stonking toga that followed the fly well out from the weed bank taking the fly very deep in the water - such a non-usual toga take that we thought it a tarpon and treated it distanfully before we saw the slab sweep roll of its huge body as it spat the fly! 

Late in the arvo we had another memorable moment when I was using the skipping prawn pattern again and a small toga, its head the size of the fly it chased, followed the fly out from the weeds/lilies - and slurped the surface fly - sadly no hook up - but the visual nature of seeing the fish reactions to the fly in the cyrstal clear water, chasing the fly enthusiastically - all fantastic to watch.

Saw heaps of other fly fishers - caught up with a few back at the ramp and swapped notes and fish stories.

When are we going next! Where are we going next? So many options living in Darwin.