Let me open by saying Im new to this whole Barra game. I dont own a flash v-nose bara boat or a shiny fiber glass rocket with 115 horses on the back, Im more at home sneaking up the creeks in Pumistone Passage, chaseing whiting, flathead and the mythical jack.
My creek tub is a 3.9mt blue fin tinny, 30 on the back, but I have lashed out and bolted a 55lb minn-kota on the bow, more to help out with the plastics fishing for the lizards than any thing else.
Unfortunately for me, the barra bug has bitten, and bitten hard. This has resulted in the credit card coping a hideing, with the purchase of new rods, reels and a mountainous supply of lures, much to the bemusement of the other half, who cant fathom why I would want to catch a fish that she wont get the chance to eat!
With the week end being a four dayer, a trip to Monduran, my first, followed by a dash up to Awoonga was planed, this time fishing by my self as the regular crew were tied up.
Arrived Sat morn at the camp ground at Monduran following a good trip up in drizzly rain, pitched the swag and was on the water by 11am, with absolutely no idea where to go, except for a few clues from other Aus fishers.
Fish the bays was the call, so I worked my way around to the north flicking at lantana patchs and any other likely looking spots, result being one smallish fish jumped off at the side of the boat in about 6 foot of water, caught on a silver B52. Bit of a storm rolled in and it was interesting to see how different fishos regarded it, with some saying the rain sent the fish deep and others saying it would bring the fish on. Didnt make any difference to me though, as that fish was the only one I saw that arvo. Still it was a start, and a good one I thought.
Next day saw me heading up the dam, looking for bank side structure, but on the way through I just had to have a flick at a big old tree standing alone in 60 foot of water.
Second cast saw the barra classic get slammed, and I managed to wrassle out a lovely fish of 715mm, my best barra ever and the day had only just started. A couple of quick pics and he was sent on his way, giveing me a face full of water in the process.
Rest of the morning was spent casting at bank snags, un eventfull until I flicked the lure up against a tree root and was absolutely smashed. Locked up 50lb braid made no difference to this fish, it just dragged the tinny into the structure with it, busting off the 60lb leader in the process. That was a good fsh that left me shakeing.
Pulled the pin in the early arvo and headed up to Awoonga, staying at the motel along with some of the ABT boys as my neighbours.
An early start in the morning saw me up the Boyne arm, casting at bank snags again, hooking one small fish, only to have it spit the lure back in my face. Rest of the morning was very slow and very warm, with no wind. For something different I slipped back out to the main basin and had a troll with deep divers along the old river bed drop off, then a troll up into the shallows with nil results. Dont think Im cut out for trolling, the buzz of being smashed in the snags is just to strong, so I changed lures and headed up the Boyne again for the arvo session, along with half of the ABT boys by the looks of things.
A good northerly was blowing by know, makeing it difficult to get a nice steady drift along the banks, but perseverence paid off with 2 small fished jumped off (Im starting to see a pattern here), and a very welcome 730mm fish pulled out of the snags. This one put on a real performance, jumpng 4 or 5 times, with the lure well and trully lodged down his big bucket mouth. Again a couple of quick pics and he was on his way home, none the worst for the experience, but I was stoked.
No more fish that arvo, and haveing promised the missus no night fishing by my self, I called it a day, sun burnt, sore twitching wrist but as happy as larry.
Tossed in a couple of pics, cant wait for the next time I can scratch the bara itch.
Cheers
Brian
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Originally Posted by BR65
