Teewah/Rainbow Sat & Sun

[NeilD]

Headed up to the beach on Sat and arrived at Teewah just after lunch. Had the good luck to meet up with fellow Ausfisher Lindsay (Slider) and got a bit of local info as well as a few of his Slider slugs.

On Lindsay's advice the decision was made to head over to Rainbow and we arrived late afternoon after checking out the other options on the way.

Fished the low and used everything from Pillies , Bonito and Yakkas to slabs of mullet without anything of note. Baits were being stripped by Bream etc.

Fished the dawn to low in the morning and managed to score a dozen choppers with a couple of better fish later in the morning. All taken spinning with 55 and 65gm Sliders and 65gm Raiders. Dropped a fair few in the shore break especially on the raiders. Fireline may be contributing to this. Suprisingly I found the Sliders outcast the Raiders by about 10m and this was important later in order to reach a bank about 90m out. Reach the suds and get hit straight away. Fall short and it was a long fruitless wind in.

It was a really enjoyable session and it was funny to see several people stop and fish the same spot after seeing a fish caught only to leave a little while later with no action while I was getting plenty of hits. I think this was one case where spinning was the best option by a long way.

Sorry no photos this time

Cheers

Neil

[Slider]

Aaaaah now that's satisfying.

If you were dropping choppers on the sliders Neil then the 5'0s may have contributed there with the smallish fish. I've found that to be the case myself. Better dropping choppers because the hooks are too big than dropping greenbacks because the hooks are too small is my philosophy. And yep you'll have to load up with some mono for next time.

Very pleased you caught fish mate and hopefully next time I can join you in the fun.

Lindsay

[Slider]

Forgot to ask Neil - is your mate still a tailor virgin?

[NeilD]

Lindsay

Thanks for the exact info. I would have been fishing 100m away until morning.

I don't think I dropped any on the Sliders. The ones getting off were the ones on the Raiders. I did get quite a few hits and misses on the 5/O's but they usually followed up a couple of metres later.

My mate borrowed my gear and scored one. He just could not cast to where they were sitting inside the back bank. I am thinking of getting a longer casting spin rod to make it easier to reach. What are you using?

Cheers

Neil

[Slider]

Neil

I don't go into rod manufacture very much. That is I trust my rod builder to advise me on the quality of the blank for the application and I assess length and taper of the recommended blank at his shop. He might have 4 or 5 different blanks that fit the bill and I'll try each and make a decision from there. Usually I ask for an alteration to butt length to suit my spinning style and generally take a little off the tip. I have never found a rod off the shelf in a tackle shop that goes anywhere near fulfilling my requirements. The best person to talk to in all reality is my rod builder - he has all the details of every rod he has made for me on file and the exact details of how much off the butt or tip and guide configuration. The rods that we have made are excellent and my distance has improved substantially from what was already a cast that I haven't seen anyone better since I was 14.
So Neil, to answer your question, I would suggest that you talk to
Ken at Eagle Ray Rods at Capalaba. He's a great bloke with a passion and knowledge for fishing that is rare. And make sure you let him know where the reference came from - especially the great bloke bit as I need a new one to replace the one that my mate snapped at Fraser earlier this year. You will need to anyway for him to know the style of rod from my file. Ken will need me to give him an ok to use my specifications on somebody elses rod and I'll email him to let him know that enquiries may be coming his way and that Ausfishers are welcome to use the specs.

Ken - 0417716493
- eaglerayrods@bigpond.com

Don't have a landline no. handy but Telstra do.

[Cruiser93]

Hey Slider

Mate that is an incredibly generous offer to allow others to use your tried & proven spec's on your custom made rods .....
Saying that i'm really interested in talking to Ken , but before I do would you be able to give us a ball park figure (cost ) of one of these babies , as I'd hate to get Ken on the phone & do a deal only to get to the end & pull out because my budget doesn't stretch #that far ............. #


Cheers Mal #

[Slider]

Mal, obviously I can't quote on Kens' behalf, but I would suggest that somewhere around the $200 mark depending on the chosen blank. Ken tells me that there are 2 only of the blanks I use left in Australia and they both have my name on them. I do know however that he has other equally as good blanks there that I wouldn't hesitate to use. Of most significance is the guide configuration that we have come up with that allows the lure/bait to travel unimpeded by friction. You would certainly be able to use this configuration for throwing pilchards and flesh baits with an 8 ball sinker and Alvey better than anything off the shelf as well. He does make them look pretty special too.
Ken is aware that there will be enquiries based on my recommendations coming his way and I know his ethics won't allow him to do the wrong thing by either you guys or me.
Give him a call Mal and see where it takes you.

Linds

[Cruiser93]

Linds
Thanks mate that does fall into my price range so I'll be giving Ken a call & see what develops ......
Will let you now the outcome ...........Mal