Operation 'Sooty' - 28/10

[TinarooTriumph]

Hey guys.

Thought Id try out one of my favourite spots on the edge of the Tablelands today. Havnt tried it since Cyclone Larry tore through there, and wasnt expecting an easy walk to the spot. Sure enough there were trees and branches left right and centre, but we managed to pick our way through all that and threw our lines in at 7am. The gear we were using was paper light, with 2kg Shimano Technium Rods, matched with little Viva 2000 reels, 6lb Trilene and 8lb Vanish. Like usual, we were mixing it up, with Ox-Heart and the occasional lure.

On my previous occassions to the spot, I have been impressed with the different sizes of Sooties, some small, while some are quite large - But don't think that those little one's cant pull, they are just as fiesty!. Last trip I managed to land about 10/12 fish, all around the 24/28cm mark, fishing solo on that day, and the previous trips around the same amount of fish, but in larger proportion (Some close to 40cm). All fish are C&R, as it is too good a spot to rob of it's stock.

I managed to land 3 or 4 in the space of about 15mins, some on a smallish G&H Signature diving minnow in a Cherry Red colour (Sooties love red!), and the rest of them on my beloved RMG Scorp'. The smallest went 16cm, while the largest went around 24cm. In the following hour to follow that it was fairly quiet, with another 4 fish caught, this time all on bait (Ox-Heart) as I had a few big bumps from some larger fish. I had one big bugger bust me off at around 8am, which lead me under a log and cut me off about 10 feet infront of me - I had a reasonable look at him, and think he would of made the 40's. The largest in that little period went a shade over 25cm, while the smallest went 13, and gee he must have been hungry - I don't go light on the heart when I put it on a hook. My mother who was also fishing there with me, landed no fish, but had numerous hook-ups and like the large sooty that cut me off, it happened to her aswell on a few occasions. Never the less, her fishing is coming along well .

Like all the other river trips I have made since 'Larry', the fish are slowly starting to come back in numbers. Mighten be the big fish we all hope for, but the near future looks good.

[TinarooTriumph]

Carefully lifting one onto the bank for a quick release. Thats a 5ft dropoff right infront of me, and it's bloody cold I tell ya' .

[TinarooTriumph]

Removing the hooks from this little fella'.

[TinarooTriumph]

One of the best fish we could manage for the day. They get a hell of alot bigger in this spot.

[TinarooTriumph]

The lure that did the bulk of the work - Proably my favourite Sooty/JP lure, the little RMG Scorpion. Get in down deep, a few twitches here and there, and you'll get a fish a cast no troubles.

[bdowdy]

some nice little sootys, there great fish cheers bdowdy

[hardb8]

Nice TT,
Love readin about these fish.They're a bit out of my range,But I read all I can cause they're on my must catch list.

Informative report,And nice pics .

[TinarooTriumph]

Cheers Fella's!

Hardb8 - I am in contact with a guy down in Sydney, who use to live up here, and on weekends he would fish most of the tropical Rivers. He told me once he use to get sick of catching Sooties , which I find quite hard to beleive!. He is now a Bream fisho, and competes in a number of events down there - But if you ask me, Id rather play 'snaggy' with a Sooty over a Bream anyday . You will definetely have to have a crack at em' one day mate!.

Id rate the Stream sooties a better fight then the Impoundment fish too, no matter what size.

[Obi___Wan]

G'Day Tinaroo Triumph,

Good report mate, fish don't have to be over a meter to give you satisfaction sounds like a great trip.

If you go down to Faust try the river under Camp Kanga as there are some good Sooties there among other species, i know you would put them back

Whats the water temp been at Tinarroo Dam lately? was at Faust for the first two weeks of October, was nearly blown away and the temp ranged from 22 to 25 degrees, mostly in the 22 degree bracket though, pretty sad after driving all that way.

Obi_Wan

[TinarooTriumph]

G'day Obi

Sounds like I might have to give that location a go mate, sounds good.

As for Tinaroo... Last weekend during the ABT we came across varying water temps, with some places in the 18-20 degree range, but most around the 20-24. We did though have a fish in one of my preferred bays, where I knew it would be warm, around the 26-28 mark - Perfect... except the fish weren't on the chew.

The last week though has seen the usual November weather start up, with every day since Tuesday kicking into the 30's, with no winds and dry heat... Would imagine that the water temps would have kicked up a little again ahead of next weekends Barra Bash.

Cheers.