This report Doesn't include huge numbers of fish or the capture of mighty beasts, although it does have a little action.
It's simply a report of perhaps my most enjoyable mornings fishing at North Pine Dam. My constant fishing companion, my little boy sat this one out as he was feeling a bit miserable with a head cold. Fishing on my lonesome, I decided to get to the water early, and was trudging down to one of my favourite spots in the early morning darkness.
The dam level has risen a lot and most of the trails and now under quite a few feet of water. So a bit of bush bashing was in order. After countless stick burrs and an unpleasant encounter with a very large spider who's web was destroyed by my face, I reached my spot and started to get ready.
With the increased water levels, casting from the bank is all but impossible. The best bet is to stand in waist deep water to get your lure out beyond the many metres of submerged vegetation. So it's off with the boots and wade in very very slowly.
Early morning on most waterways is an amazing time. The water on the dam was like black glass before the sun had decided to make a proper showing.
It seemed this morning that every inch of the dam was alive with little creatures, busy doing what little creatures do, chasing each other or exploring their environment.
Swarms of tiny insects were hovering amongst the tips of the submerged grass, driving the small fish just underneath the water crazy. I swallowed two of the same bugs and honestly I don't know what the fish see in them.
The only fish I could identify without getting too close were snub nosed gar. Further out in the slightly deeper water, tiny bait fish were skipping across the surface to escape the dams larger piscatorial pursuit machines.
Various waterbirds were clucking and hooting in the tall grass nearby. Miniscule little wrens were chirping and dancing from flower to flower. Turtles popped their pointy little noses out of the water for a breather along with their much bigger mates, the lungfish that call the depths of the dam home.
The beautiful electric blue dragonflies made quite a few appearances as well.
All of this right on the edge of Brisbanes suburbs.
It's quite amazing what you can see if you just take the time to stand still and just look around.
Quite a few of the feeding fish appeared to be of good size as they were dispacing a lot of water during their hunts.
I was fishing with my spin gear this morning rigged with Slider and Ecogear paddle tail grubs on a beetle spin jighead attachment. With the amount of rotting plantlife on the bottom, heavy diving lures get snagged too easy to make it enjoyable.
When a fish would hit the surface, I would cast just beyond the settling water, let the lure sink for just a second and lift the rod tip for a slow retrieve back...lift retrieve...lift retrieve, nothing fancy this morning.
The bass seemed to be feeding just beyong the exposed grass, no more than say twelve feet from where I was standing.
Six fish were taken from this point. None were big, but they were a tonne of fun.
Each one was a challenge to get back through the thick strong grass. With two of the larger fish I had to wade out to them and perform a bit of under water gardening to release them from the tangled vegetation.
My drag was wound up tight in an attempt to get the fish up and over the grass quickly. For the first time ever, I was actually dreading the prospect of hooking a good sized bass, for reasons which will become clear soon enough.
Casting all along the edge of the grass, I noticed a few strands standing proud of the water about thirty feet further down the bank. I dropped a cast right beside it, and before the splash from my lure even settled, the tip of my rod was slammed violently.The fish must have been sitting just below the surface. Straight away I lifted the tip to set the hook and also to attempt to keep the fish away from the underwater garden. This fish was obviosly a lot bigger than it's little cousins which I'd been catching earlier. The bass wanted to swim straight down and that's excactly what it did. The drag on my reel wasn't going to stop this one, and from where I stood I didn't have a chance of turning it.
I lifted the rod tip to find no give what so ever. It had wrapped itself around the big clump of underwater grass very nicely. I waded out closer to the snagged fish and could feel it taking line as I got closer, but I couldn't retrieve any for myself.
Up to my waist, up to my chest, up to my neck and then there goes the bottom.
A few strokes with one hand while still holding the rod high with my other hand and I was directly above the fish. I decided to let the line go slack while I treaded water, for no result. Starting to get frustrated I gave one last tug and felt the line give a dull pop and it all went light....DAMN IT. it was gone.
Back to the bank to tie on another lure and inpect my cut fingers. That braid can cut like a rope saw. The whole time I was telling myself, the fish was probably only a smaller one that was extra strong...yep that sounds good.
All I know is that theres a big bass in there now with a small spinning blade lip piercing.
Time for a hard bodied lure, something light and shallow diving.A Stiffy minnow was chosen and cast out past the grassy barrier. A few downward jabs with the rod and a slow retrieve saw the little lure zig zagging lazily no more than a metre under the water back to my position.
It was all too much for the nice little bass that was out and about to rustle up some breakfast. Once again it was. WHACK...THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. Gee I love these fish!
I was starting to feel hungry myself and I'm afraid that the two bugs I ate earlier did nothing to ease my hunger. So I decided to head off home in the hope of finding something along the lines of bacon, eggs, toast and hot coffee.
Arriving home I was met at the door by my little boy with his usual barrage of questions. How many ? How big ? Can I see the photos Dad.
Guess what we'll be doing next Saturday morning ??? Lifes good is it not ?
Oh yeh, I did get my bacon and eggs too
Little grey men
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Originally Posted by the_matrix
