Somerset Dam

[capt]

I'm a salt water fella heading to Somerset dam the weekend of the 27 ,28 ,29th , would like some help on rigs and bait etc ..... any info would be appreciated Reg JImmy

[capt]

Sorry about the double post Boss!!!!

[Fishing_Freddy]

I went up a couple of weekends ago and we used live shrimp during the day and caught a good feed of yellas, we used worms and muscles during the evening and caught some jews and one silver that went 42cm hope this helps Ken

[capt]

Thanks for replying Ken. Sounds like you had a top time. Were they blood worms, and what sort of mussels ,surely not salt water ones ? .I read a post on catching red claw and shrimp, so I will take some crab pots , hope the mesh is fine enough for the shrimp, how big are they ? Reg JIMMY

[Fishing_Freddy]

The worms we used are earth worms out of the garden or you can buy them at most tackle shop. The muscle where fresh water one a mate got but he woudn't share the location as they are hard to find at the moment, as for the shrimp they can be any where up to 3 to 4" long and look a bit like prawns. Sometimes you get fresh water prawns as well as the shrimp in the traps. i found getting the shrimp from the river near home the easiest for me as I can't seem to catch them in shrimp traps. Good luck with youur trip and tight lines Ken

[Canoedle]

Hey Jimmy, the worms you want are the regular garden variety, available from the kiosk up there and the muscles are often plentiful in the dam, if you see one, there'll be more around in the shallows.
The opera house traps are best for redclaws.

[capt]

Ok Freddie those shrimp seem a lot larger than I expected . If I didn't hook up I could chuck em on the barbie !!! So would I just hook him through the tail and just float him out the back like I do for the snappa ? Burley any good ? Canoedle mate thanks do the mussels grow on anything or just in the mud like pipies on the beach ?.... and I think I'll take some of my fine mesh crab pots ..... yeah can't justify buying 4 just for one weekend .,unless they are cheap enough ! I just read about the spinner baits ... might try a couple of them ...got a special ? Jimmy

[Canoedle]

Yeah, the muscles grow in the mud, walk the bank till you see one then search around in the shallow water close by.

[Fishing_Freddy]

Hi Jimmy I used a pea sized sinker or if you have split shot sinks they would work as well. The less weight the better but still need to get down, some of my mates have thrown the bigger shrimp on the bbq as I don't eat sea food. Just hook them thru the under side of the tail and come out before the main body so they can still kick about as this helps atracked the fish I'm told.Some guys use berly but I haven't used it fresh water fishing. Hope you do well !!
Ken

[Plasticin]

The opera house pots are 4 or maybe 5 for 15 bucks at the major sporting store ?mart

[Canoedle]

With the shrimp, they will stay active longer if you hook them through the tail, half way along there will two lines along the body, put the hook through between the two lines and it should live for quite a while and this allows them to move a lot more freely than in anywhere else too.