Monduran - Rattlin The Sticks

[BR65]

Well, have just spent another cracker week end at Monduran chaseing barra in the sticks with mate Noel, been 5 months since the last cast so to say we were keen was putting it lightly.
An easy 4 hour run up the highway and a new record in setting up camp saw us on the water Saturday at lunch time, haveing a look around. That afternoon we fished a spot that had been successfull previously, but with water levels lower again, we only managed a parade of grunting catties and a number of missed barra, pulling hooks or haveing lures tossed back at us on the jump. This piece of water was a series of open stretches, each about the size of a back yard swimming pool, totally surrounded by the biggest log jam Ive ever seen, so drags were tight and no quater was given, resulting in no fish boated.
Sunday morning we fished B arm, along with the rest of the campground, a couple of dropped fish early and a heap of other boats in the area soon gave us the sh#ts, so we turned the hornet upstream, looking for some peace and quiet and hopefully a few fish.
This turned out to be the right decission, fishing a section of creek that varied between 10 to 19 foot, we landed some nice fish, includeing a new pb of 99cm for me, as well as loseing a number of good barra, filling in the time between boofs with a never ending supply of cat fish, each one bigger than the last.
Tired and sun burned, we made the call to fish the same stretch on Monday morning, then come back to camp and finish the weekend with a troll in the basin.
This was a top little session, 5 fish boated up to the high 80's, a couple lost in the sticks and Noel getting absolutely monstered by a great fish that he dragged into the open, only to see it scream across the 10 meters of reasonably clean water, screwed down drag and thumb locked, and bury him into the sticks on the other side of the creek. I found it all very funny, untill a nice fish smacked my classic between two gnarly trees and did a bit of knitting in between the timber, Noel standing at the back of the boat with a grin saying "yep, good luck getting it out of there", another classic gone.
Monday arvo saw a change in the weather, with a storm brewing we dropped the boat in around 4 for a troll in the basin, not something we normally do, but there were to many good fish being caught to not give it a go. We finished with a nice 80 for Noel, and a wet bum for the run back to the ramp.
So, no metereys for us again, but getting closer. Water temps were high, a lot of big fish were being taken in the basin on the troll, and most people we spoke to were getting a fish or three. A great trip, good company, cold beer or two and some down and dirty brawling in the sticks, does it get any better.
cheers Brian

[BR65]

couple more pics

[NAGG]

Great read Brian ! .... you cant be too far from that metery ... Nagg

[Cammy]

yer mate good post, almost there, you only had 1 cm to go, have you checked your brag mats real length?
awsome fish by the way!!

cam

[eotbmg]

Hey Brian Congrats on some great acion.
Monduran has relly hit its straps lately.
Just a question regarding leaders and braid. What set up etc? Cos some of those fish can be boated if using the right gear and then again some cant!!!!!!
Ben

[BR65]

Ben, gear as follows:

t-curve with luna 203, 30 finns and 50penn 10x leader
penn 56bch with cvz-203, 50 bionic and 60 penn 10x leader
loomis crankbait with chronarch 100b, 30 bionic and 60lb penn 10x leader
all reels carbontex drag up grades
all hooks on lures vmc 6x
most splits up graded
no snaps
if there is a weak point it is in the leader, after last season I swore I would not use 60 again, all 80 from now on, but I just hate that clunking sound an allbrite in 80 makes going thru the guides

cheers
brian

[wheezer]

great trip! at monduran we are now using twisted 60lb FC....tight structure and dirtier or cloudy water there so the barra certainly don't mind. no leader knot so smooth casts...also means you can muscle down on a fish with confidence if necessary

[eotbmg]

Brian
It souds like you have it pretty well sussed
Ben

[the_matrix]

all hooks on lures vmc 6x
most splits up graded
no snaps
if there is a weak point it is in the leader, after last season I swore I would not use 60 again, all 80 from now on, but I just hate that clunking sound an allbrite in 80 makes going thru the guides

cheers
brian

Nice report Brian, but can I ask you a few questions in a friendly manner?
Im not having a crack at you but sheesh theres some holes in your metre fish game plan mate.

You have gone to all the effort (and its all the good gear) of getting the right reels, rods, drags etc......paid the big bucks for it all plus fuel to get there and you are still using inferior trebles???? Whats with that?
VMC was good ten years ago. Owner are the only hooks to use, even they get opened up. They are WAY stronger than VMC, trust me I wouldnt even consider throwing a lure with those hooks in the jungle.
Most splits upgraded????
Forgive me, I aint the smartest bloke in the world but why would you not prepare 100% ???
Surely the 4 hour drive aint that much fun?
Your leader is not your weak point, overlooking those other critical factors is.
200lb leader wont help with inferior hooks and standard rings.

Allbright knots are rough alright, slim beauty is the go. Put it in google and there is a heap of detailed diagrams on how to tie. Very simple.

This aint a cheap shot, its about challenging your mindset and helping you reach a milestone next trip.
99% preperation will never let you catch that fish of a lifetime, coz believe me, you will need 100% to land it, and even then its still in the fish's favour.
Good luck!
Jas

[1337]

Hey Jason,

Great advice there mate but are 4xxx halco splitties considered an adequate upgrade?

Check this site out guys - I too have had knot issues, took all but 5 mins to learn and tie.

http://www.anglers-outlet.com/slim_beauty_knot.htm

I wouldn't mind finding out how hese instructions compare to the way you tie your knot Jason... The knot seems TOO easy to be true! Do you close the figure of 8 knot before tightening/pulling on the braid? Any tips for closing the knot properly would be greatly appreciated....what is the best way to get the figure of 8 bit as slimline as possible? (I am guessing pulling as hard as possible!!)

Regards
CT

[1337]

Hey Brian,

What model classics did you use in the timber/on your trip - I am assuming the shallow 3ft divers did the majority of the damage?

[Awoonga]

Slim beauty is the way to go.... l use owner hooks....even they bend But they are a bit better than the rest

[the_matrix]

l use owner hooks....even they bend But they are a bit better than the rest

Bit better than the rest?
The "rest" are way behind.
I, you, we pay through our ass for them but its still the cheapest way to get results.
I'd rather pay the $price$, than pay the price.

Hey CT,
4XX fishrings are fine, I rather use hyperwire now, nice and round, gives the hooks good freeswim.
Yeh I close the figure 8, but not super tight until end.
How to make it smaller? Yep pull like hell.
Once knot is tied get wraps from both ends of your mainline, close your knee's and put the line around ya knee's then force them open. Welds the knot, will also make your knot as small as can be, and you can test its strength.
Yes your dead right, seems too bloody easy.
A great knot.
Good luck with the topwaters too.
Cheers
Jas

[Roo]

well done Brian,
Glad you had success, the main thing is you had a good time. Appears that we all can learn a thing or two from each others experience.

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. We've used the standard hooks and had them bend. The missus had a 99cm fish fold them out, still got the fish tho and that may have been more due to the rod not being a stump puller (only 3-6kg river raider) and the reel being a fairly cheap Pflueger Echelon (performed faultlessly with out any mods) and not capable of massive drag. 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

oh and the slim beauty is my "go to" leader knot for practically everything now. I was using this knot with 4lb braid and 6lb FC leader on the weekend and the failure point is always the @ the jighead...... my albrights were always breaking . Albights in 60lb 10x are too clunky and tend to unravel after a few casts. slim beautys last all session and cast like a dream.

cheers Roo.

[Peter4]

Great report Brian.

Sounds like you had a fantastic trip. Don't worry the metery will come.

Can't wait to get back to Monduran for my next battle with the barra....2 months to go.

Pete