Kingie Flies for Moreton Bay

[Duncs]

I just had the frustrating experience of kingies that shadow a popper all lit up but won't take it. They were about 60cm, hanging around the beacons at the south side of Peel Is. All other flies were ignored, but they followed the popper cast after cast. >
Any tips on turning followers into takers would be appreciated.

Thanks

Duncan

[Talon]

Good afternoon Duncan.
I would suggest you try reducing the size of your popper and tying a section of mono or FC 500mm to the bend of the hook, to which you connect a small, #1 size hook, baitfish pattern, with a olive back and white sides/bottom.

The size of the combination will depend on your lines profile and size. Reduction of the leader length will also assist with the roll over of the 2 flies, as will increaseing the butt section of the leader.

And reduce the size of your tippet or shock leader.
Hope this helps to trick a fish or two.
Kind regards.
Barry.

[vince]

Hi Duncen If the fish are not feeding on the surface they are very fussy, either you wind in very very fast or use slow sinking fly I had success with both.
sometimes I see them following the fly or popper to the boat and turn back next to the boat. I found fast action is the go. [I meen fast like crazy fast.]
good luck.
vince.
ps check the picture I am going to post soon.

[Duncs]

Thanks for the advice guys. Thats a top Kingie on fly, did you have to drag it away from structure or were you lucky enough to find one out in the open?
I think I'll give the tandem fly thing a go, after all it works so well on trout.

Cheers

Duncan

[vince]

Hi Duncan I wish they live in open water, as soon as I hook up one, the drag locked to braking point I start the motor I pull one way the fish the other way whomever is lucky wins, don't worry they know where to go, most of the time the big ones they win.
did you have any luck with your kingies?
cheers Vince.

[CraigW]

Duncan, You'll find the kings will often come on the bite in dark conditions. Dawn, dusk or dark days. They're pretty wary when the sun's high. Fishing structure with the sun behind you is another good trick. That way they can only see a silhouette.

Slotting the popper fly hard against the structure works too. You'll have to learn the 'softly, softly' technique if you want to get them out though.

Cheers,
Craig.

[Duncs]

Craig

Ive been told that the the 'softly softly' technique doesn't work on kings when using lure or fly. I have used it to good effect on live baits though - bigger the bait the better it works. Ill have to try it out next time. It may be the only way to pull a decent fish out of the pylons at Dunwich.
Do you know if going easy on GT's works as well? A bloke trolled one up of about 16kg here a month ago, but there are plenty of smaller ones about the place.

Cheers

Duncan

[CraigW]

Duncan, The 'softly, softly' technique works fine with kings on fly. The long wand actually helps you maintain that gentle steady pressure that leads them slowly away from structure. As you say - doesn't work on jigs etc 'cause the kings are more aware of what they're hooked to.

If you get a lot of line out the fly line can start to creat a fair amount of drag on the fish. This can stuff up the 'leading' process so you have to slacken off even more.....difficult to do sometimes.

Once you've got them in the clear and heading in the right direction put more pressure on and they'll keep on going.

Friends who fish Fiji for GT's say it works there too.

Cheers,
Craig.