More Mondy Mayhem - 21-24 Feb
Just spent four quality days at Monduran with great mates Parksy (Garry) and Jacko (Ken). It had only been four weeks since my last sojourn to the Lake and it had changed aplenty since the well-documented inflows (thanks Foxie).
We fished a range of styles and presentations - from surface walkers and fizzers, to big-bibbed hardbodies and shallower runners. By far in a way, the Classic Barras won hands down, scoring every one of our eight fish.
Like any full moon period, the Lake was popular, but Monduran is such an expansive body of water that you can escape the crowds to a point.
Our trip was planned around our scheduled days off, not the moon (that was just a coincidence), but it was a blessing when travelling through tiger country in the pre-dawn and at night.
The bite was not furious but it was steady.
The trip produced a few firsts: Parksy's first impoundment barra (82cm), Parksy's current PB (87cm), Jacko's first Monduran barra (after breaking his barra virginity at Awoonga late last year), and the realisation that Parksy should really be employed as a cattie contractor (we lost count at 27). We had a quick chat on the water with Foxie and Steve B on one afternoon, with Steve making the interesting observation that the catties really came out to play when the water temp hit 30. Boy was that an understatement.
We didn't crack the metre mark this trip but some of these fish fought well above their weight division, particularly a couple of the 90s we scored. We probably dropped 10-15 fish post hook-up so our conversion rate can do with an improvement.
Still, it was bloody nice being on the Dam again.
Thanks to Parksy and Jacko for an awesome trip. I am sure they are at the chemist seeking a fruitless remedy for the fever they have now caught.
Anyway, rather than give a blow by blow description of each session (seven in all), here are a couple of the key stats we noted:
Dam level: 38% (up from 18% on the Australia Day long weekend)
Water temps encountered: 28-32 deg C
Range of water clarity/quality: Clearer but not necessarily warmer in the main basin, to coffee-coloured in the bays up the system as far as B (we didn't venture further and really, we didn't see the need)
Peak Bite Times: 6.00-7.30 both dawn and dusk
Style of fishing: Almost exclusively casting to timber, although we resorted to trolling for no more than 20 minutes in total
Most successful presentation: Classic Barras (Grey Ghost and the bobby Dazzler Blue were the stand-outs)
Successful depths worked: Most hits/hook-ups were in about 30-36 feet (these areas were an amazing 15 feet shallower just four weeks ago). We also ventured into 10-15 foot depths which were recently flooded, but only scored one jump-off
Size of fish encountered: 72-96cm
Total fish released: 8 barra and 30-odd catties (Jacko topped the count with four barra. Awesome work mate. Most hook-ups came on the pause in our retrieve)
Total bust-offs/jump-offs/rub-offs/spit outs/unexplainables: 10-15
Terminal upgrades: Absolutely
Areas fished: Cattleyards, Main Basin, Bass Straight and its adjoining bays, B Bay, plus a few more non-descript locations.
I have probably missed a bit in the detail but I am sure I will fill in the gaps eventually. Great to catch up with you again Foxie, and nice to chat to you Steve B (especially your cattie advice)
Anyway, here is a small selection of pics.
Cheers
Paul
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