Help getting the young uns onto a few gars

[wongus]

Heard that Northpine dam holds a good population of gars. Thought they would be a good target to introduce the kids to fishing.

Headed down to Bullocky Point armed with some quill floats, a 50mm trace with a few small split shots and a size 12 long shank hook. Used bread for bait and burley and fished into the sunset.

Just got a lousy turtle... eeks..

Any tips that can help put my kids onto some fish to spark their interest in fishing..

I actually prefer saltwater fishing but don't really mind as long as the kids have enough action to keep them entertained and felt the dam was a safer spot for young kids.

Cheers
Danny

[Canoedle]

Bad luck Danny, maybe should have taken a few worms as well, some good size eeltail catfish and silvers in there as well as the usual bass and yellas that could all take a look at a worm.

[wongus]

Karl,

I'm not much of a bait fisherman with the exception of maybe pumping some saltwater yabbies for whiting. As you know mainly use lures.

The kiddies are not up to luring yet so have to start them off on bait. Bread was handy and I thought ok for gars. Digging for worms sounds like too much work especially with the ground being so dry in most areas. Maybe some gulps but seems overkill for gar.

[Feral]

That would normally be spot on, but from what I have heard, the dams over SE Qld were just plain shut down over the weekend, no one was catching anything.

[shayned]

Almost spot on with the approach, mate. Try these couple of changes. Four pound line with no split shots, use small bits of prawn flesh as bait on the no. 12's. Put half a loaf of bread in a bucket with some water and get the kids to mush it up until it looks like floury water, too many big chunks of bread and you're bait won't get touched. Squeeze the water out of a handfull and throw to casting distance. Pick a spot with the wind at your back this time of the year check out car park before bullocky's you'lkl see a lone portaloo as you walk down.

Best you go by yourself and get it sorted out first then take the kids, it will stop a lot of frustration all round. Also take a heavier set up and put out a live gar, just in case. After all there's no reason that dad can't have a bit of fun too!!!

[knuckles]

Hi Danny,

I had the same problem, I took my oldest son (11) to McGavin's view yesterday at around 16:30 hoping to get a few, we have been fishing off the bank at Deep Water Bend without much luck and I thought taking the current out of the equation might make it easier for him and if we got a few it would spark up his interest again. No such luck, though :(
What is the bank at Bullocky point like?, McGavins view is really muddy, I nearly lost a shoe there yesterday.

Douw.

[wongus]

Shayned,

Thanks for the detailed and useful response.

I was using 6lb line but my casting distance wasn't great.. maybe 6 to 8m... the quill float was catching in the air... probably your reasoning for the wind at your back.

Is the recommended spot between Forgans Cove and Bullocky's Rest? Should I be fishing the bays or the points?

Should the prawn flesh be green prawns or cooked prawns... I've heard those little whitefish you can buy at selected fishmongers being quite good also.

Should you be able to see the fish feeding on the burley before casting out to them?

Thanks for the help

Cheers
Danny

[shayned]

Danny,
Just use flesh off of a standard frozen bait prawn. Yes the wind helps the cast but also spreads burley further out to drag more gar in close as they follow the burley trail back to you. The white fish is a bit of a sthn thing for salt water gar i think, and isn't necessary. Half a bag of bait prawns goes a long, long way. Try the car park before Bullocky's as a start point. You will see them working through the burley if they are there.

[Zimbarra]

Hey wongus try use bread mixed with a bit a of tuna oil to give it a nice smell and try and make your hook from for float about 5 to 10cm of line with no split shot as I usually see the gar close to the surface.(thats in fresh water)
If no bites when you fist cast reel it in a bit because they are very inquisitive fish and might be attracked to the moving float. ;)