So , How was (is) your barra season

[TinarooTriumph]

Well... where do I start? Spent some huge hours on the water... results were hard to come by on some days but we had nights where every fish in Tinaroo was after our presentations. For me it was the case of the one's that got away... dropped alot of big fish, as well as having some sessions on the water where you won't see a fish but will get 6 or 7 goooood bites from fish. It goes either way sometimes... bites are definetely encouraging at times up here. Truthfully, I have had 3 rub off's from 110+cm fish in the last month, as well as lazy hook setting late last year (dropped 3 meteries in one night!). Lost a fish due to chaffing on Friday lunchtime... Weedless soft plastic fished on 50lb 10X... got 2 looks at him (nice fish... 110'er) and that was it. These fish are telling me what Im doing wrong and I know what to do so the scores are settled. Standing on a casting deck for 7 or 8hrs for a few touches and then your concentration lapses... they know when to strike don't they? Bloody teasers! Caught alot of rats over the last few months (rediculous amount... maybe 8 or 9 under 70cm). My new PB of 108 on Tango Dancer was fun to say the least, however it seems that every time I tie on a certain 'plastic' that PB looks like being shattered! Best fish I saw caught was a 126cm fish off the bank on a Rapala Skitterpop, as well as a 123cm which was sucked off the surface (gotta love that sound!). Best fish I saw was Joe's 135 and Matt's gutso of 127. Also saw a pic of a young bloke who was fishing landbased off 'Downfall' and pulled a 122... fella was 14yrs old and the fish was easily 3/4 of the kids bodyweight! Gotta love it!

Still after that 100lb'er... it will come I know it!

Cheers

Theo

[Steve B]

Theo, if there is a 100lber in there you (or Barraboss) would be the likely candidates to get it. !!! That horse of barrabosses would have to be the fish of the season from any dam IMHO. Closely followed by that Keg with fins that Brian (BR65 aviator) caught!

cheers steve

[the_matrix]

Theres one you didnt see Steve.
Tinaroo monster
Jas

[BR65]

would like to see that Jas, Matts (barraboss) 127 was an absolute beast, are we talking over 130???
cheers
brian

[the_matrix]

Yeh 135 from the email Navi sent me.
Very skinny, long fish. Matts would have been 10kg heavier I reckon.
Bloody impressive, and from a guy who's quiet and not looking for the spotlight.
One hell of a long fish, and if it was 135, would be the longest impoundment barra on record.
Awesome hey!
Jas

[Steve B]

Jas Thanks for that.

Yep, that is a big long fish alright!!! Ok, Its in my top THREE fish for the season !!!!!

steve

[NAGG]

Well... where do I start? Spent some huge hours on the water... results were hard to come by on some days but we had nights where every fish in Tinaroo was after our presentations. For me it was the case of the one's that got away... dropped alot of big fish, as well as having some sessions on the water where you won't see a fish but will get 6 or 7 goooood bites from fish. It goes either way sometimes... bites are definetely encouraging at times up here. Truthfully, I have had 3 rub off's from 110+cm fish in the last month, as well as lazy hook setting late last year (dropped 3 meteries in one night!). Lost a fish due to chaffing on Friday lunchtime... Weedless soft plastic fished on 50lb 10X... got 2 looks at him (nice fish... 110'er) and that was it. These fish are telling me what Im doing wrong and I know what to do so the scores are settled. Standing on a casting deck for 7 or 8hrs for a few touches and then your concentration lapses... they know when to strike don't they? Bloody teasers! Caught alot of rats over the last few months (rediculous amount... maybe 8 or 9 under 70cm). My new PB of 108 on Tango Dancer was fun to say the least, however it seems that every time I tie on a certain 'plastic' that PB looks like being shattered! Best fish I saw caught was a 126cm fish off the bank on a Rapala Skitterpop, as well as a 123cm which was sucked off the surface (gotta love that sound!). Best fish I saw was Joe's 135 and Matt's gutso of 127. Also saw a pic of a young bloke who was fishing landbased off 'Downfall' and pulled a 122... fella was 14yrs old and the fish was easily 3/4 of the kids bodyweight! Gotta love it!

Still after that 100lb'er... it will come I know it!

Cheers

Theo

Theo .... It looks like your having a cracker of a season ..... regardless of the losses & misses
nice to see those big girls still getting around Tinaroo
By the way ..... What is the stocking situation these days ???

Cheers & thanks for sharing your thoughts

Nagg

[bishop]

Nagg,

Thanks for your post, made me look back over the last 12 months and WOW is all I can say. As I live in Gladstone most sessions at Awoonga were only 2-4hrs and I can count the number of trips without a barra on one hand

I don’t understand you comment, “the more traditional end to the barra season” ? The proper barra session is just about to start, we just need a few weeks of cold weather and it will be on.

Best trips in the last 12 months were just after a week long cold snap. Friday afternoon, hooked a 114cm barra and seen schools of large barra swimming under the boat, but had to make a mad dash home to get my daughter from school. Returned next day and all I can say was “AWSOME”. Anything that hit the water got smashed, including Arnott’s BBQ shapes. And my office brag wall is testament to that day.

By the way don’t mention SE winds, it has been reclassified as a naughty word in our house.

What did I learn - Warm clothes, listen to the pro’s and your lures need to match the bait fish, especially the big mullet. “Big bait equals big fish”

Funniest moments, this can be broken into two categories

• Fishing – on two occasions while setting for the next cast had barra jump out of the water to try and grab lures a foot above the water, one smacked into the boat and the latest on Friday night left a brown stain in everyone’s undies.
• Armature hour at the Awoonga boat ramp. All I can say some people need to practice reversing, but it does make for an entertaining afternoon if you’re bored.

[two fold]

listen to the pro's what does that mean if you dont mind me asking.
purcho

[Peter4]

Good topic Nagg - I only just spotted it!

This year was easily our best barra season ever! Mind you it was only our second season! Last year in three trips to Monduran we (KH15 & me) managed 4 barra with the biggest going 98cm.

This year in three trips we managed 19 barra with 2 over the magic metre mark - a 114cm to me and a 103cm to KH15 - both caught on the same day.

We found the fishing much tougher in the first part of 2008 with most of our fish coming from a magical three days last October. We are learning more about impoundment fishing every trip - especially from forums such as this. The reports from the guys not only help but inspire us to greater efforts.

I think you would have to go long way before you would find another group of people that are so willing to share and help each other.

We are now prepared to 'think laterally' and try odd things in order to crack the pattern. Our next challenge is a winter trip to Monduran in August. Can't wait!

The barra gear is all packed away for now but once in a while I'll look lovingly at a few pics of big fish on the bragmat, go and sort out the lures, re-spool the reels with new braid and dream of the next adventure!

Regs

Pete

[bishop]

listen to the pro's what does that mean if you dont mind me asking.
purcho

Two Fold,

The Pro’s are the local guides Jason & Johnny. Jason did an article last year which had some great advice on Awoonga and they both give great advice on Ausfish

[NAGG]

I don’t understand you comment, “the more traditional end to the barra season” ? The proper barra session is just about to start, we just need a few weeks of cold weather and it will be on.

Earl ........ Lots of people seem put away their barra gear as it gets colder ( They see it has warmer weather fishing only) ........
If you noticed I did make a little comment " Clued up fishoes" They will continue to fish through the winter months .... & catch fish

Thats all

Chris

[TinarooTriumph]

NAGG,

The stocking is going very well - the footies as I call em' (30cm fingerlings) are climbing over everything and are gaining size rapidly - probably better then at any other Impoudment. That said the Stocking Group are holding onto alot of money... most going towards useless equiptment such as Tables, Chairs and Coffee machines! I can't knock their work too much though... but more fish would be good, and the banning of the Barra Bash even better!

Can I just say that Jason hit it on the head in regards to J's 135cm fish. Yes, it probably would have broken a few records but he isn't wanting any spotlight. We were taking about it this morning actually when we were out on the Dam. Pretty sure he would like people to view the photo but not copy it if you could understand.

Cheers

Theo

[Whitto]

Yeh 135 from the email Navi sent me.
Very skinny, long fish. Matts would have been 10kg heavier I reckon.
Bloody impressive, and from a guy who's quiet and not looking for the spotlight.
One hell of a long fish, and if it was 135, would be the longest impoundment barra on record.
Awesome hey!
Jas

Thanks for that photo Jas, If that horse is not 135 in length its 136cm that is a beautiful Barra, Im not sure who caught it but well done whoever, Cheers Whitto

[BR65]

Yeh 135 from the email Navi sent me.
Very skinny, long fish. Matts would have been 10kg heavier I reckon.
Bloody impressive, and from a guy who's quiet and not looking for the spotlight.
One hell of a long fish, and if it was 135, would be the longest impoundment barra on record.
Awesome hey!
Jas

aye carumba, thats a bloody big fish, thanks for the pic and congrats to the shy guy who caught it. Well done champion!!!
so, do we have a new bench mark at 135??, has there been a bigger impoundment fish measured, not guesstimated, what about the electro fishing up in Tinaroo, I know those boys see some big girls.


bloody hell, 135, I'll be casting for the next 20 years, and still not get near that lol
cheers
brian