Guys,
It has been fairly well documented by myself that I have been having a substandard summer post Xmas on the barra scene here at Monduran. There have been many factors creating this dilemma, mostly revolving around work, family and confidence.
So when I recieved a PM recently from Jas W regard a session on my dam, with him I was quite nervous. My form has been poor, and his results speak for themselves. Just to rub the salt in, we were going to use lures which I haven't really given a great deal of attention too in the past. I have Stiffies, but haven't really given them a good run. I am the first bloke to put up my hand and admit I stick to 'tried and true' method....and that has been one of my downfalls in the past...not this year.
11 am..We get on the water in Jas's skeeter..what a rocket. 38 seconds later sporting a free facelift and hairdo, we are in B arm poking around. Plenty of boats...no action. Jas dropped the DO probe into the water and we agreed it looked good. ( the abundant bait sort of gave that away anyway...no big secret there). Stiffies were flying, covered in S factor by Jas. I switched from one old favorite to the other. I spent most of this time absorbing the wealth quality info Jas was supplying whilst concentrating heavily on observing Jas working his lure..It was very different to any action I have seen or used at Monduran.
Basically for the first 3 hours we chatted, compared theories sussed out the 'right zones/pattern' ....we lacked a bit of serious concentration....result in 6 hookups/strikes on the stiffy for Jas... none landed. Nil for this duck....true to form.
'Switch to the stiffy steve' was Jas's reply. So I did. And its time we got serious. The missed fish were starting to not be funny anymore!! More swirls half strikes and dropped fish for Jas. Jas suggested I upsize the front trebble ( create a suspending stiffy) and add a little S factor. The action of the lure instantly looked better and I felt I had mastered a retrieve which gave an awesome action. I was right, half a dozen casts later..whack...the Egrell Bear 8-6 bent over as the line peeled around a tree..Gently gently manouvered into open water including some great air action. A relatively short fight later, saw a hefty 108cm on the deck. Few photos taken after the big girl got cranky resulting in a big gash in my arm where the spine tore into my forearm and came out a bit further up. No pain due to excitement (hurts like crap now).
We up stumps short time later returning to the first zone fished. Jas was keen on this spot earlier as we spooked several big fish there. This time we snuck in at a different angle. Electric down, I began wiping some S factor on my now favorite stiffy...look up to see a monster barra leap over a 3 ft high snag sticking out of the water!!...with Jas in hot pursuit on the electric. this thing didn't want to stop, nor come near the boat. Lucky we were in relatively clear water...landed in at 114cm!! Few photos later...no trauma to fish or anglers an away she went.
in the nutshell, We fished a dam which has been on the quiet side fishing wise for for some time now. In a short 4 hours or so (during the middle of the day) we raised 8-10 hookups and genuine strikes from big fish (swirls the size of spa baths) landing 2 big fish, on lures which I had been a bit 'oh yeah' about in the past. I now believe genuinely the S factor works, as do the Stiffies. I am not here to say 'get out and buy these lures' but they definatley have added a much needed 'confidence' lure to my faithful collection. The more you have the more options you possess. Like any lure, getting the correct action and working the lure to its full potential, will ultimately increase it's performance factor...no matter what the brand. That is pretty much my point here. As for the S factor, the interest/hits/swipes experienced by Jas using it, and the lack of by me not, sort of had me convinced of its worth. When I applied it and a solid hookup folllowed soon after....that was the clincher for me. Again its another positive option/tactic which makes a difference when times are tough.
So thanks Jas for the day. I have landed one or more fish on so many occassions in the past that have never really rated a report. This one fish and one short session along with a session I had with Eric Grell some time back, have completley redesigned my approach, thinking and dedication to future sessions...at any dam.
Sorry to waffle on....mabey its the septicemia in my arm talking .... but I finally had a good day again at Monduran
cheers Steve
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I find I get more hookups using the S-Factor as well in Tinaroo. If the fish gets in the "wake" behind the lure when worked hard with S-Factor, I am normally guaranteed of a hookup (even if only to be jumped off). 
Re: Monduran-Stiffys,S-factor..success!
Some trophy fish alright, and nothing like having JW down at Mondy to get you out of your doldrums....imagine the facelift you would have received if Jas still had the big Yammie on the bum of the Skeet.....I think he has repowered down now to sneak up on the fish these days
Originally Posted by Steve B
