A_DIFF_PERSPECTIVE
13-02-2008, 12:23 AM
A Few Interesting Statistics –Awoonga
Lake Awoonga Guided Barra Fishing Charters
Where we are at!
Dam Statistics-
Dam Age- approx 42yrs
Overall Max Depth – 40 metres.
Maximum level ever reached- approx 36 metres
Current level 29.47metres
Highest level of rising water in one hit- Approx 17 metres.
Current capacity 34.12%
Highest water level rise in the last 12 months- 20cm only.
Inflows are apparent today from regional heavy rains.
First production of fingerlings from the Gladstone based hatchery- Dec 06 (12 yrs, 2 months ago)
Largest barra officially weighed (dead) 30.3kg.
Most successful fish stocks- Barra and Sea Mullet (thriving).
Most number of cars and trailers at the ramp counted- approximately 180 in one hit.
The coldest water we have landed barra in- 15 degrees Celsius surface temp, 5 days in a row until it warmed up again.
The harshest winter period for barra, Winter 07- several hundred fish were lost. Many were sick, but the thousands regained their health to return a healthy fishery.
The ramp access for launching- it has just been manageable for two wheel drives. Ramp upgrades are likely to depend on water inflows in the coming week.
Some recent projects worked on -1.Water core sampling and graphing temperature variations over a 6 month period so far, from the surface to 35ft below with data loggers that record temp changes every 30 mins. Integrating that info with major visible current and water flow driven by wind and weather was extremely interesting and of value.
-2. Meeting with biologists periodically to try to understand the world of science and how to interpret their papers and correlate their documented knowledge with my findings on certain specific barra movements and behaviour. Sometimes I wonder can we go too deep into the world of the barra- but its all relative in understanding the fish and its persona much more. Some of it does and doesn’t help catch rates.
-3. Taking the extra time to compare salt barra fisheries to lake barra fisheries and understand how both really operate. There are sleek comparisons and contrasts between the two. I have actually written an article on the topic for an up and coming publication in a Fishing magazine.
Sept 2007 to date-Feb 2008 saw the following statistics for my daytime charters.
Anglers from as far away as England, Japan and Thailand, Tasmania and W.A. took to the waters on Awoonga.
Of all the half day trips in the last 5-6 months-
The deepest water where a barra was hooked on a lure worked on the bottom was 42ft deep.
The average sized fish landed was 95cm.
The percentage of trips where 100cm+ barra were landed by clients was 78%.
The remaining 22% accounts for-
4 % of day trips were unfortunately for all involved 0 (read NO BARRA) were landed. The other 18% are trips were mostly 80-90 odd cm were landed.
Success rate -96%.
(Overall success rate since kick off in 2005- 92% -all weather conditions- all 12months of the year.)
The largest landed in the last 6 months was a neat 120cm fish by an Englishmen.
The most caught in one 6 hr session was 15. We also did a short 4 hr trip for 15 landed.
The most number of strikes in a 10 hr day was 42 strikes. September 07. (Not bumps or nibbles).
The most predominant wind direction -South East, of course.
Number of flat tyres- just two, both in one week.
Best sight- Locals floating in a blow up pool mid lake whilst enjoying several ales.
Worst sight- the winter barra deaths
Best future insight- A New Awoonga with flooded banks- coming soon we all hope.
Something different.
Johnny Mitchell
Lake Awoonga Guided Barra Fishing Charters
Where we are at!
Dam Statistics-
Dam Age- approx 42yrs
Overall Max Depth – 40 metres.
Maximum level ever reached- approx 36 metres
Current level 29.47metres
Highest level of rising water in one hit- Approx 17 metres.
Current capacity 34.12%
Highest water level rise in the last 12 months- 20cm only.
Inflows are apparent today from regional heavy rains.
First production of fingerlings from the Gladstone based hatchery- Dec 06 (12 yrs, 2 months ago)
Largest barra officially weighed (dead) 30.3kg.
Most successful fish stocks- Barra and Sea Mullet (thriving).
Most number of cars and trailers at the ramp counted- approximately 180 in one hit.
The coldest water we have landed barra in- 15 degrees Celsius surface temp, 5 days in a row until it warmed up again.
The harshest winter period for barra, Winter 07- several hundred fish were lost. Many were sick, but the thousands regained their health to return a healthy fishery.
The ramp access for launching- it has just been manageable for two wheel drives. Ramp upgrades are likely to depend on water inflows in the coming week.
Some recent projects worked on -1.Water core sampling and graphing temperature variations over a 6 month period so far, from the surface to 35ft below with data loggers that record temp changes every 30 mins. Integrating that info with major visible current and water flow driven by wind and weather was extremely interesting and of value.
-2. Meeting with biologists periodically to try to understand the world of science and how to interpret their papers and correlate their documented knowledge with my findings on certain specific barra movements and behaviour. Sometimes I wonder can we go too deep into the world of the barra- but its all relative in understanding the fish and its persona much more. Some of it does and doesn’t help catch rates.
-3. Taking the extra time to compare salt barra fisheries to lake barra fisheries and understand how both really operate. There are sleek comparisons and contrasts between the two. I have actually written an article on the topic for an up and coming publication in a Fishing magazine.
Sept 2007 to date-Feb 2008 saw the following statistics for my daytime charters.
Anglers from as far away as England, Japan and Thailand, Tasmania and W.A. took to the waters on Awoonga.
Of all the half day trips in the last 5-6 months-
The deepest water where a barra was hooked on a lure worked on the bottom was 42ft deep.
The average sized fish landed was 95cm.
The percentage of trips where 100cm+ barra were landed by clients was 78%.
The remaining 22% accounts for-
4 % of day trips were unfortunately for all involved 0 (read NO BARRA) were landed. The other 18% are trips were mostly 80-90 odd cm were landed.
Success rate -96%.
(Overall success rate since kick off in 2005- 92% -all weather conditions- all 12months of the year.)
The largest landed in the last 6 months was a neat 120cm fish by an Englishmen.
The most caught in one 6 hr session was 15. We also did a short 4 hr trip for 15 landed.
The most number of strikes in a 10 hr day was 42 strikes. September 07. (Not bumps or nibbles).
The most predominant wind direction -South East, of course.
Number of flat tyres- just two, both in one week.
Best sight- Locals floating in a blow up pool mid lake whilst enjoying several ales.
Worst sight- the winter barra deaths
Best future insight- A New Awoonga with flooded banks- coming soon we all hope.
Something different.
Johnny Mitchell