Jacks in Awoonga

[Fitzy]

Below is a graph Hutcho sent me.
It shows barra survival rates in the presence of Mouth Almighty.
With Ken & Andrew stocking barra into Awoonga at much bigger sizes that initially, the fishery started to improve significantly. This is the key & should only see the barra fishing get better & better now.
It appears that the Mouth Almighty are a major part of Awoonga poor initial return/fingerlings stocked. It could also help explain why the Sooty Grunter, Yellowbelly & Silvers never took off there either.
For a comparison, Awoonga has a high population of Mouth Almighty & Faust Dam @ Prossy doesn't.

[Kalinda]

I own and operate the caravan park at Awoonga. lots of big barra being caught at the moment over 100 tagged in the last month with as many more caught and released, up to 18.5kg.
still to early to tell the Jack story yet three trial releases of fingerlings but we wont see the impact until larger releases.
The dead bird problem was several months ago and was traced to a virus., no problem with the water.
Big barra will be the only predator at Awoonga soon, last month (Dec) two at 20.5kg caught in the one week.
The lake will live up to its reputation.

28% capacity at the moment.

[DeeGee]

Leeann, Fitzy & Kalinda, I intend to spend a couple of weeks camping at Awoonga later this year or early next year, and I'm trying to figure out the best dates/times/weather etc, to maximise the chances of catching my first barra (or two).

I was interested to note Leeann's comments about the SE wind shutting off the action, and Fitzy's response that he thought it was more influential than the moon.

In view of this, and any other factors, what would you recommend as the best month of the year, moon phase, etc etc.

I would appreciate this and any other advice you can give.

Thanks, Don.

[Kalinda]

Hi Don

November and Feb are the best moths but this year the barra have fished well right through. We think that the full moon may not be the go , it seems to us that the new moon is better weather wise. I would be interested in other comments
Merv
Lake Awoonga

[mackmauler]

Yeah the weather is a factor you had better have a solid boat if you want to travel fast across this dam in a 25kt north wester like was the norm last spring.

I wouldn't be as concerned with picking the right dates however winter is not the time, as having your casting etc finely honed, if your there for a while you'll be bound to hit a few bite times, I hadn't fished there before last year and conditions were tough and the fish were catchable, just had to fish hard.

Cheers

[DeeGee]

Thanks Gents, for that advice - any other comments ? - anyone ??

[caveman]

hi all i have fished awonga twice in the past once last easter and i cast my arm off for 1 38cm barra and again in early nov with the same results except the barra was 45cm the red claw were great until someone bastards started raiding our traps

[Kalinda]

Simple
Put a cable tie on your nets.
Stops share farming.

No 45cm barra now, all 70 plus not many undersize at all being caught