WHAT MAKES A MASTER? - WELLO PT 15/08

[T1]

Hi fellow Ausfishers!

Who can deny that the last 4 weeks (since breaking the much publicised 'salmon curse') have been extremely kind to me? In this time:
TINN and I have bagged out on Squire in the Brissie River in 3 hours and within 2 mins from the F/Is boat ramp;
IBBO and i did a similiar trick at Wello Pt which included a new Snap PB for me;
2 separate trips in my boat to Wello saw IBBO and my close buddy SMERDO achieve Snap PB's, while i still scored a nice selection of fish;
A trip with ADAMY saw me break my PB again witha 64cm Snap and ADAMY achieve a new PB for himself;
And again a new PB of 69cm for me last week with ole mate TINN.
And not to mention that the amount of fillets devoured in my house and my parents has been consistent in that time (in fact i just polished of a couple of custard beer battered snap fillets with vinegar encrusted chips)

A damn good 4 weeks if you ask me and one that has brought many accolades and positive comments from a heap of Ausfishers, including the term 'master'! Now if I said that I didn't enjoy the attention that has come with having a great time like this i'd seriously be lying! Who wouldn't? Why do we post? So we can share our joy with others and share the joy of others! But am I a master? No way! Just a commited fisherman who is keen to learn and achieve - like the majority of you on this site!

So last night when I was sitting in our usual xyz spot with good mate PV, well, he was snoring below below deck and I sitting there watching the half moon glisten on the glassy waters, it got me thinking as to what or who could be defined as a 'real' master, and what it would take for this to occur! To me, a 'master' would be someone who goes out and catches fish every single time they leave the boat ramp or step onto a beach or take that first step up a jetty. And that certainly is not me or the majority of people who fish! How many of us can honestly raise our hand to the question 'do you catch a good feed evertyime you go?' I bet it would be less than 5% of fishermen, even less perhaps! See, when I first came on to this site some 6 months ago, every post i'd read was about someone who'd caught this and that in this place and that place and i'm thinking, WOW, there's some serious fisherman out there. But stop for a sec and think, how often do we hear about those that don't catch anything? And there a lot of people in this category! Here's a recent example: Mr & Mrs WOPPA had an exceptional night on Friday night catching 4 fish between 55 & 61.5cm and taking home a total of 7 with the by-catch being tailor and about 10 big bream! Woo hoo I thought too, however they must have a better spot than me at Wello Pt! Damn! But how many of you saw the latest post on that thread yesterday from Mr WOPPA saying they went out again of Sunday night for only 1 fish? Same spot, same conditions, different result! Don't feel so bad after all! (In saying that I was seriously still ecstatic for your catch Mr & Mrs WOPPA )

Is it any wonder when i asked for a Deckie for last night I was inundated with requests from people like myself 6 months ago - people who are seriously keen to learn and catch a feed! Overwhelming indeed that people consider me a good fisherman because i had a good 4 week period! Damn flattering actually! But also count the hours that TINN and i have put in over the past 6 months trying different things, looking for certain spots, listening to other fisherman and reading these posts! Countless let me assure you! And that's just boat fishing! I won't mention how many years it took to become successful at beach fishing... So come last night and PV had seen all the photo's and read all the posts and finally managed to get his vessel on the water in the hope that i would get him on to a nice fish. Off to XYZ. Top conditions, incoming tide, no-one out there - all the ingredients for another successful outing! Except for one thing! What is the key ingredient/player in any fishing trip? Come on now, it's not that hard! That's right, you guessed it! FISH! That 4 letter word that seems to frustrate a lot of people, and brings joy to so many too!! The difference between the word 'fishing' being an adjective or a verb! Just ask CHARLEVILE! Charlie frequents Mud regularly - same spot 3-4 times a week! Does he score every time? We burleyed, we baited, we waited! We picked up anchor, we drifted, we flicked, we yanked, we tossed! I couldn't even get frost-bite last night! Master, don't think so!

Which brings me to my point! At the end of the day, you need some knowledge, no doubt - you need this in anything you do! and you can never acquire enough in my opinion! But ultimately, if the fish aint there, they just aint there! So next time you read a post about how well someone did in a spot, and you go there and don't do so well, perhaps it's just that the fish are simply not there!

And so to my final question - who's a and what makes a 'master' - simple really! FISH!!!

Take Care T

PS: I did manage to add another piece of knowledge to fishing Wello last night! The wind has to be blowing in the right direction! No point having your lines and burley going the right way but your boat in the opposite direction - see, always something to learn! It will never stop!

[Pitsta]

Great post T1
shame about the night hey SEEMS 2 BE FLAT SEA .. NO FISH ...!

Mark

[mickstar001]

You're very right T1, guess i have never really thought about it in depth as much as you have. Wont feel like S**t now when i dont catch any fish in the morning with Tim . Master or not T1, you sure know what the hell you are doing

[Got_the_Fever]

T you do have a way with putting thoughts into words, just like Charlie. None of us can surely stop learning. Your posts are always a great read and pleasure. As I said to Charlie when I first started reading here you are a true gentleman.

I enjoy reading your adventures and even if you dont come up with a fish it doesnt matter, you put in the time and effort and share them with us.

THankyou

Kel

ps. you mightnt have caught a fish mate, but at least you where trying. Good luck next time.

[Dirty]

Hey there T1.

What makes a master aye?!! Well, thanks for such an interesting and down to earth post. I was expecting photos and stories accompanied by big cheesy grins to accompany equally big fish!!! Everyone else was probably expecting the same and I'm saying this by way of your fantastic reports and catches from your recent posts (Excluding the last two!). However I will have to add, your report regardless of the desired results, it was a fantastic read!!

I always thought you must have been a long time poster and you seem more experienced than many. Even though you didn't catch anything and probably wont be able to hit the water as much as you would like, it basically sums up fishing (regardless of the type). There are plenty of factors to consider and you are spot on with everything you said about this 'art' or 'sport'. It was never meant to be easy and I guess that is what makes it more appealing to many, especially when 'the big one' is caught. The fact that most of the time, you are suprised, i.e. fishing for one species and expectations blown out of the water when another by-catch breaks the surface of the water, or speculation arises about the one that managed to get away!

I too am new to this chat forum and have been fishing for years learning from my uncles, however mainly fishing for bream of the rocks! I have met interesting people along this journey and even though I rarely eat the fish I enjoy the game for many reasons! Ever since venturing from land and getting onboard boats I have learnt that fishing was never meant to be easy and yes your right... your always learning... With that said, I still havn't bothered to start a fishign journal and record elements such as wind, knots, fish caught, location, moon phases, baits used, etc.

I guess a masterin my opinion is a victor, and certainly one can only do that by learning from ones mistakes and that you have down with plenty of trophy fish and PBs smashed with stories to share with others and photos to proove it! In doing that T1 you are taking others along the journey and giving them an idea about how and where to fish for what! You are indirectly teaching ausfishers this special craft independently. So well done for your good efforts!

Keep us posted!

George.

[Adamy]

Nice post T!!! But mate thats fishing... you can do everything right, but if the fish dont show then they just dont show.... But you already knew that - its when preparation meets opportunity that you get to take home the goods. But if opportunity arrives and you're not prepared.... you go home empty.... You're still "The Master" T (gotta keep it up)

Great post mate - did you eat that squid?.... I would have... too good to drown!

[solwota]

Yeah, good post T1. I too look at all the posts here abouts and get deflated. I've been having a good run of late also and i think there in lies the secret. When your on a purple patch enjoy it. Getting the runs on the board while everything is in your favour sure helps you feel better about your results when the fishing is tough.
I go fishing when i can afford the time which does not always mean the tides are good or the moon is good. It is at these times when you know you are doing right things and you keep your eyes open and look for opportunities that even average results can be extremely rewarding. I can think of quite a few trips when conditions were far from favourable and only one or two fish were caught. These trips are sometimes the most rewarding as you know you have still produced the goods even when the fishing is extremely difficult by reading the conditions right and fishing the right way.I spent 6 months of fairly fishless trips while living in bamaga looking for a permit on fly but i finally caught 2 in close succession. They were among the sweetest captures ever for me. Given their status as a fly fishing holy grail I was quite the envy of my fly fishing mates for a while. But i spent 3 months in fishing paradise catching very few fish while my mates were cleaning up on other species.Success finally came but it was hard earned .If i had been on ausfish at the time my reports would have been few and far between.However if i had of made a post when i finally succeded i'm sure the congratulations would have flowed freely.What none of us see are everyone elses fishless trips. These trips when things don't go so well though, are the trips where we often learn things which make us better anglers.
As to what makes a master angler i don't know i just keep thinking anyone who who thinks they are could well deserve the title "master baiter"

cheers
richard

[Scalem]

I agree to a certain point T1, but I think that certain rules apply to having a successful trip. The following rules should be a checklist every time I go out, but for some reason I am bound to lose a fish because I have failed to follow one or more of them. Sure, sometimes you don't get any bites, and obviously because the tides are not right, or something in the environment you are fishing is non condusive to big fish numbers. But I can think of a few things that I do wrong that excludes me from being called a "Master." Here's a list that affect my catch rate. Most of them are directly related to how much time I actually have a line in the water. It's like selling. It's a numbers game. Less time fishing = reduced catch rate.

**Be at spot X before 1st light. Make sure you fire the outboard up at home before your trip, so you don't waste time trying to start it at the ramp.

** Always wash hands after handling fuel or sunscreen

** Have all leaders/jigheads tied and ready to go the night before.

** Make sure bait is adequately defrosted before you get there.

** EVERY time you wind in your line, check the leader for damage and make sure the tip of the hook is razor sharp. If not, carry a sharpening stone. Replace either if necessary.

** Two trips ago, I fished wello by my pat malone, had a 55cm+ fish at the boat, but spent too long trying to flip my thong out of my landing net - long enough for the fish to spit the hook > I should have had that sorted out before I even cast out my line!!

** If anchoring, don't bump the chain over the side of the boat, or drop things on the floor. You may as well say it's the biggest advertisement for fish underneath you. "The dumb fisho is paying us a visit!!"

** I bought my own boat for a reason. The people I used to fish with always thought that the fishing might be better "Over there" Trouble was, they would only stay in the new spot for 10 mins and be moving to yet another better spot. At the end of the day, the statistics would read something like 10% fishing, 90% motoring to another spot.

Anyhow, I know that you would know all these points and there's no reason to keep adding to the list, there's a heap more. What I am saying is that there are fewer "secret spots" or "secret baits" than most of us would like to admit. If you know the general area, your sounder shows fish, you have the right gear, the points above will make all the difference, and it's easy to overlook one of them. I try and think about these sorts of things before coming up with my excuse when returning home without a scale. "I dunno, there just were'nt any fish."

Scalem

[solwota]

Had another thought!!! the guys who really impress me are the ones that see a fish (that i cant see) read the situation right and make the cast and nail the fish. i remember walking a beach with Greg bethune and he could spot a fish by the slightest suggestion of movement, pick it's direction and make the perfect cast all in the blink of an eye. Completely amazing to watch.

cheers
richard

[Dirty]

Thanks for that information Scalem. Much appreciated!

I would have been classified as a "dumb fisho" but now I know better... and I was thinking that the hook doesn't have to be that sharp!!!! BUT now I know better... and then again I herd rumors about noise and thumps onboard making a big difference and now its confirmed!

However ... my mate tends to like fishing with the stereo on... would that make that much of a difference?

What about beer! I herd you can drink too much of the stuff and depending on your tolerence it can improve your fishing ability..... as in my case I lost a jewie which was on the side of the boat because I was underestimated the power of GOLD. XXXX.



Thanks!

[dinky]

still a good read none the less. So much for me to learn,so few fishing days

[Great_White]

T1 good post and good points on fishing which is the common denominator for us all on ausfish

I agree with Scalem's report and I am guilty of some of those points myself

I guess we can all strive to be masters or a least the best we can be

One thing is for sure Webby is the bench mark

Peter

[Bundy_Burp]

Just read you post T an excellent post and I have to agree if the fish arent there they just arent there thats all there is to and yes I dont think it would matter what the age of the fisher person there is always something new that can be learnt .
It would be a very foolish person who thought he knew all there was to be learnt about fishing it wasnt too long ago SPs were an oddity now they are common place in the tackle box .
Fishing a never ending learning experience .

Bundy

[Floyd2006]

nice read T1, I put a lot of effort into my fishing and when i dont catch anything I am so dissapointed. Its nice to know that there are others who put in effort but dont always catch fish. And when you talk about constantly learning, that is so true.



Floyd

[Got_the_Fever]

Baby Bream. My first rule about safety in the boat is NO booze. It is up to each skipper to decide whether or not they want to have a drink in the boat but for me it isnt on. Too many things can happen very quickly.

When I was a kid my dad and I where down the pin and a fishing club turned up. As usual half of them were drunk. One of the guys was feeling no pain and went base over apex into the water. He was half way to the pin bar before he was found by the mother vessel half drowned.

Im not preaching about boating and drinking, if you drink in the boat please becareful.


Kel