After a stop and Foxies to finally meet the well known couple, we arrived at Monduran around 3.30pm Wednesday to be greeted with a strong SE breeze after a week of calm weather and good fishing. I had lined up Rob form the park for a guide and by 4.30 we were fishing with him.
This was a father and son camp for 5 dads and I was really hoping for my 11 year old Josh to experience a barra at the end of his rod and maybe spur a interest in fishing that isn’t really there.
Rob took us to a productive spot in B that had been producing the goods for the last few weeks.
He certainly taught me the finer art of using slickrigs and after about a hour of gentle taps I am onto a nice barra. I pass my rod to Josh who can’t believe the weight and pulling power and the fish runs and then goes under the anchor rope. I grab the rod off him and feed it under the rope while keeping tension on and pass it back to him. He says” no dad it’s to hard” and I stand behind him and give him some help. A couple of flashes and a jump and then the barra does a deep dive near the boat and snap the braid is cut – This was to be the first of many high points and disappointments over our 2 full days and a evening and morning.
Back to the house boat now moored at white rock to meet the rest of the kids and fellows. Up at 4am and I casting from my boat next to the house boat and 5th cast I am on. Same spot and same lure as the trip some 5 months ago. One jump and its off. A few more casts and I am on again to an even better fish and a good jump and couple of runs and I am feeling confident. One more big run after getting it near the boat and then slack line – the lure has pulled free. I cant believe it, this is just like what happened last time again.
From then on it was no fish to be seen or felt. I spent hours casting at the spot in B and the bays around it that resembled the pictures and hints given during the muster reports. The guys on the boat had been up there for a full day longer than me and over the whole period no barra were landed by any of us. The kids couldn’t even get catfish off the house boat with bait. Maybe it was the weather change or what I don’t know but no fish were landed over the next couple of days in any of Robs other charters either.
Weather changed again back to good conditions the morning we left. Fished from 4am until heading back at 8am with all of us trolling or casting without a single hit. It was beautiful watching the fog role in that morning and very eerie in the trees with the fog. Great spending the time with our boys but sad that again it was a big zero from Monduran. Josh never got the fishing bug and begged me not to a take him to Awoonga for the Saturday and part sunday as I had hoped but we had a great bonding time together and some good memories.Also happy to at least hook up on a few fish and get the adrenalin pumping.
This barra fishing can be hard. Especially disappointing with all the monies that get spent preparing for a trip ( e.g brand new Yamaha efi) and the anticipation of what could happen and how long until the next trip if it doesn’t happen. I have all the good gear but really don’t think I know how to use it properly yet and I certainly don’t have much luck in finding active fish. Over time I will learn but it can sure be a frustrating yet beautiful experience. You local guys are very fortunate to have these great dams and fish down the road. – cheers Richard
Reply With Quote
....... Next time , it just might turn it on for you
But when you here the guides and the regulars have had zip trips too you don't feel as bad.
