Spinning for Barra in Monduran?

[Greggo1]

Hi all,
I will be hitting Monduran over the break for my first ever venture into fresh water angling, targeting Barra and Bass, though I only have spin gear. Most dam reports on here seem to only talk about baitcasters and hard body lures.
I don't have a motsa to blow on 2 new b/caster set ups and a bag full of hard bodies, and have no experience with either anyway.
My rigs will be my bream and heavier Flatty set up-
* a 7 foot 2-4kg graphite with 2000 Daiwa loaded with 6 pound Fireline/6 pound flurocabon
* a 7 foot 4-8kg graphite with 2500 Stradic running 10 pound Platyl braid/17 pound flurocarbon
I guess the first rig will be my bass set up and the latter my Barra, from there onward I have absolutely no idea.
I'd like to know if anyone here has had success spinning dams for bass and Barra with similar rigs, with plastics? If so, any fav plastics for each, or do these Tilson/Rapala/Barra Classic etc. thingamies I read about go ok with this type of equipment?

[Roo]

get some heavier braid for the barra outfit. do you have a spare spool with your stradic? if not then remove the 10lb and put on some 30lb. Platil millenium is a good budget priced line for this and the spool should take about 120m of it.
Grab a couple of packs of slick rigs in the 100-110mm size and a half a dozen hardbodies, barra classics or RMG Scorpions in the 90, 120, 150 mm sizes, get some shallow and some deep divers (just a few will do as there are lures available from the kiosk @ the camping ground or from Foxie in town if you run out. Better to pick up a few locally as you can get a bit of info on how the dam is fishing to better plan your assualt!!
Good luck.
Cheers Roo.

[Jeremy87]

Stay away from the timber mate, 10lb will land any fish in open water if you have enough time to play them in, 17lb leader will last about 4 seconds of rubbing on a barras palate plates. 20lb braid will do there is no point running heavier main line than what your reel can handle, best to give yourself a bit of capacity for fish caught out the the open if you get done in the sticks then heavier briad is not going to save you if you can't stop the thing going further in. save the 30 and 50lb stuff for a reel with a decent drag output. you will want atleast 40lb leader 80lb is more suitable though. casting at weed beds or trolling in the main basin will be your best chance of landing a sizable barra

[Roo]

good idea Jeremy!! although the 2500 stradic is quoted as being capable of 15lbs of drag.....maybe on a good day, but not for long, so weedbeds and open basin points for casting and trolling would be a good idea. I did forget to mention the leader upgrade although i reckon 60lb penn 10x is about all you'll need.
Cheers Roo.

[Greggo1]

Cheers lads.;)

[Steve B]

Greggo,

Sorry to break this to you, but you will be disapointed if you bring that gear. You may, by sheer luck, land a fish, but the odds are not in your favour. Your travelling this far. get the right gear if you can.

Most fish are in the timber, or not far from it at the moment. the best I reckon you can do is load up the stradic with 30lb braid, get some 50 lb leader and a half a dozen lures (b52, classic barras, rapala xrap x12, etc) and a bag of slick rigs. Upgrade the trebbles and splits to OWNER and your off to a basic start.

Spin rods will land fish as good as a baitcaster (if set up right). Baitcasters are just easier to cast all day with IMHO. Forget the bass, they are hiding this time of year. Once you get barra you wont chase the bass!!!!

I'm sorry, but I have to be honest. You may have to spend a few bucks to save disapointment. If you do get onto them, I guarantee you will come back again!! tis very addictive!!!

If you want to borrow a baitcaster and a few lures to help save a few bucks, send me a PM and I can lend you one for the trip.
merry xmas

Steve

[NAGG]

Greggo ..... As Steve B said ..... "You'll be disappointed with the gear you intend to bring" ...... Either that , or you'll have a blast getting monumental bust offs:P

That is a very generous offer Steve B .:thumbsup: .... good onya mate! ... its great to see people like you in the fishing community who are willing to help a newbie out :beer: Nagg

[Steve B]

NAGG, thanks mate, I just like to see people catch barra, if I can help, I will.

That offer is for anyone who is new to the barra game and havent got all the right gear. OR they have splashed out on their first barra outfit and need a backup 'just incase'.

Of course, you wont be getting my Egrell and zilion combo;) ;D But I have a Abu Revo Stx and a Dropshot which does the job good which I lend to mates who need gear. What goes around comes around i reckon.

Greggo, If you can get yourself a slightly bigger reel, say, 3000 tierra or 4000 stradic (or something similar), they hold a bit more 30lb line and will match well with you 4-8kg spin rod. That should give you a good chance.

cheers steve.

[Greggo1]

Thanks to everyone who replied, it's been a great help. At time of writing I'd forgotten I have a 4-8kg Sic Stick with 4000 Sahara supposedly for Bay pelagics. Forgotten mainly because it never gets used. So given the common vibe in the replies, it's about to become my (fingers crossed) Barra stick. I'm off to Coorparoo warehouse now for some 30lb braid.
A big thumbs up to Steve B. for the generous offer all the same. People like Steve and the others that responded to this thread are the kind of stuff that keeps me recommending Ausfish to everyone I know who wets a line.
Merry Chrismas and a happy and safe new year to all Ausfishers.;)