Monduran - Rattlin The Sticks

[Awoonga]

why would all these "quality" aussie lures intended for barra come with 3x VMC fitted? it has me stuffed.........One word Price

[Roo]

would be good if you could buy them bare!!!! and the put your own(er) hooks on at your leisure.

[1337]

Re: The slim beauty lads

I was still experimenting with the knot last night and found that if you cut the mono tag too short and don't tighten the figure of 8 properly, you can actually work the tag end back through the figure of 8 knot and un-do the connection (its even easier to do with thicker gauge leader).

Has this ever happened to anyone when out in the field? And how short do you guys cut the tag end/or is it best to leave just abit in excess?

Regards
CT

[Peter4]

A drop of Loctite superglue will resolve this issue!

Pete

[the_matrix]

Jas, you make a good point. the biggest pain is why would all these "quality" aussie lures intended for barra come with 3x VMC fitted? it has me stuffed.

Perhaps the folding of these hooks in our case was more to do with leverage in the fish's jaw than outright tug-o-war. I do think the st66 owners may be my next lure upgrage.......just a pain do it
cheers Roo.

Howdy Roo.
These "Quality Australian" lures are mostly made in China...........cost effective.
Is a big deal for them to change hook suppliers, mostly they are tied up with a particular brands.

Its why Bushy's stiffy's, and the eco-gear hardbaits are selling so well.
Owner hooks and hyperwire rings standard.

In regards to your second question, yes the hooks are folding because of jaw pressure. It has nothing to do with how hard you are pulling on them.
Leverage from the upper and lower jaw open trebles in a flash, esp if you have a set in the top jaw and a set in the lower.
The fish dont have to be big either, Ive had 60cm fish open up Owners, but the hooks still hold most of the time. It depends how they are hooked, and its why the odd fish is landed on standard terminals. Playing with fire though.

Size 1 and 1/0 STN -66N will see more fish landed, they are super strong compared to #2 and#4.
Be aware of light gauge Owners as well, used for different applications.
Yep its a pain to do, but take it from me, before long you can do it in ya sleep with the right pliers.

Too right Roo, great knot, one I have been using for a few years now, and does not let me down.

If you need super glue, then you have to pose the question, "was it tied correctly in the first place"?
If its tied correctly, you wont need glue.
Cheers
Jas

[Peter4]

It's called insurance, Jas.

I use an albright rather than a slim beauty. With a drop of glue I have yet to have a knot fail with barra up to 114cm!

Trebles are a different story. Had quite a few VMCs straightened on barra classics last time out.

Have now upgraded them all!

Pete

[BR65]

Jas,
thanks for the input mate, I'll just reply in a friendly way,
you are certainly passionate in your preference for owners over vmc, I'm sure thats from time spent on the water, gear up gradeing is an on going process, and your thoughts on hooks are noted. The vmc's 6x are straightening , this was the first trip following the drag upgrades on the reels, and Im seeing the difference when fishing tight into cover.
Re splits, most have been upgraded because, like I said, its an ongoing process.
Funny thing tho, no fish dropped this trip were due to hook or split failure, all leader rub offs, go figure, guess I got lucky, I reckon there are some fish you will absolutley never land in the sticks, no matter what gear you are useing but I want the odds in my favour as much as possible, so the upgradeing continues.

brian

[Steve B]

Great reading Brian. Good fish and good pics too. What happened to cause leader rubboffs brian as a matter of interest?? was it after a few hookups or landed fish etc?

I might sound like a bit against the majority, but the old 'muscle up' teqnique has gooone out the window for me. I dont care about upgrading drags, I hardly use the 6kg I have on the reels now. these big girls have no where to go! they will stop sooner rather than later due to lack of physical stamina and endurance.

The more hurt you put on fish the more pressure you are putting on your terminal tackle particularly the braid and leader rubbing against the trees and that important connection between trebble and fish. ( as Jas said ...MUST have OWNER trebbles and split rings....nothing less)

Minimal pressure has increased my fish landing rate from about half to about 90% of fish hooked in timber. I have more scratched on the boat now from chasing them!. gives it charicter i spose. As brian said some fish will always accidently brick you in unlandable spots. I can count on one hand how many times that has happened. The rest generally find open water to be safely landed.

[BR65]

Leaders are constantly checked Steve, any scuffs or nicks and they are replaced immediantly. Dunno, maybe Ive just got to stop casting into spots where the odds are so heavilly stacked in the fish's favour.
Interesting thoughts on the softly softly approach, I tend to go hard early, try to get the head up and take my chances with the jumping/head shakes/lure tossing thing, keep em out of that sub surface structure I cant see, but know is there. I do cast into some pretty horrible spots, just a glutten for punishment I guess. Youre right re the stamina thing.
Jas's comments on hooks and splits are valid, and taken on board, and Ive looked at the slim beauty knot before (used goggle and everything), just havent given it a go yet.

cheers
brian

[the_matrix]

Brian,
Yeh mate its through my learnings in the past, nothing else. I'd much rather read a tale of triumph (when you hook and land that metrey), rather than "split ring failed, or hooks opened up"
Considering the effort you guys from down South put in to get fish in our local dams, if I can help ya then good.
Looking at all your preperation, it was plain to see how much effort you have put in to reach your goal, thats what provoked the response.
I too, need a sharp jab at times, it seems the more bases we cover, the higher the chance we leave a stone unturned.

If I was in your neck of the woods, I'd surely want the good oil, time on the water is valuable, and as life goes on its harder to get. Its all good if you are just down the road, but hell road trips suck IMO, esp the pathetic goat track of an excuse they call the Bruce Highway.

Anyways, gald you took it the right way, I expected ya would.
Cheers, keep us posted on your future trips.
Jas

[Steve B]

yeah brian, thats OK about the leaders, I thought you would have that sorted out replacing it etc! Never stop casting into that timber you love to hate!! Aint it a dilema when you cast into that heavy stuff and think "no way am I going to get a fish out of there!!! But we all still do it! Its the thrill of the hook up and havin your best crack at retrieving against the odds which does it!!

Jas your right about the 'goat track bruce hwy' As a paramedic in Gin Gin I can guarantee the Highway keeps us busy. We pulled another truckie out of a wreck last night on the burnett river bridge south of Gin Gin. Hes in a bad way unfortunatley. 3 trucks pranged on a bridge 30 meters above the ground, in pouring rain is a daunting sight. One of the biggest messes i have ever seen. averaging 3 prangs a day just in our area of coverage while its been wet. Mostly trucks. Not good. the Highway leaves a lot to be desired!

[NAGG]

I might sound like a bit against the majority, but the old 'muscle up' teqnique has gooone out the window for me. I dont care about upgrading drags, I hardly use the 6kg I have on the reels now. these big girls have no where to go! they will stop sooner rather than later due to lack of physical stamina and endurance.

Hmmm .... Steve , I lost my only fish at Faust when after a few jumps .... & having it on the surface , I made the decision to back off the drag to protect the terminals ....... Only to have the big girl run at 45 deg to a lone tree some 25 meters away ... But dont tell Whitey ..... because I blamed his boat driving .... Nagg

[the_matrix]

Jas your right about the 'goat track bruce hwy' As a paramedic in Gin Gin I can guarantee the Highway keeps us busy.

Steve,
I take my hat off to ya, I have a good friend who is a para, you guys are a special breed.
Same goes with guys like Greeny, who on a daily basis deal with stuff most of us hope we never see.
I dont know how you do it, but Im glad you do.
Cheers
Jas

[Mak579]

Something to think about guys,

When your targetting timber, I find, moving the boat to get your cast into "that spot" gives you a better chance of ëxtracting the fish once hooked! Always have an exit plan, your hookup, landing ratio will improve dramatically!

Tight Lines,
Matt C

PS Medicos are magicians, the rods and screws that help me walk are testament to that, I applaud you all.

[Steve B]

Nagg, love ya thinkin...blame the driver. thats the go!! I probably should clarify a bit. I use this apporach in shallow water casting around bigger trees etc at Monduran. Not in the deeper water with spindley upright trees way under the surface. Like parts of faust has from memory. I remember trolling through the gaps between tree tops at faust in 30+ ft of water. When they can run deep to cover....muscle was the the only hope....and we lost plenty. I feel for you with the one going into the trees., I would have done the same as you....and probably would have copped the same result too .

Thanks jas and Matt for the kind comments. Its generally not that bad, you get bad runs. You see some really funny stuff too, especially in the city. I dare say your mate has shared some stories about the stupid things people do...its mindboggling!!! Wish they would pay us more!! like any job I spose!!

cheers steve