Kedron Brook Floodway - Sat 19th

[Fishin_Dan]

Took the boat out for her first run since her service on saturday in the Kedron Brook Floodway at Nudgee. I'd driven past the ramp there a few times, and it had always looked pretty good.

The ramp was excellent, with enough room for 3 boats to launch/retrieve at once, plus a small jetty for deckies, or a sand beach on the other side. Heaps of parking, and very tidy clean area. There's even bbq's not too far away to cook your fresh catch!!!

If only I had've caught something!

Dropped the boat in at about 11am, and ran slowly up towards the mouth of the river. She ran well, and the sounder was working, so pretty happy with my install efforts! Put the boot in a bit, and she jumped up onto the plane quickly, and booted along to a top of 17knots (A lot slower than a lot of boats I know!)

Anchored up just inside the mouth of the river behind the sand spit, and threw some softies around for a while. Hooked a tiny bream, but it spat the hook near the boat.

After a while, decided to brave the chop and the wind, and went for a run outside. 2 foot chop or so, but the boat handled it nicely. There was a strong run out there, and couldn't get the 6" plastic to the bottom (Storm pre-rigged plastic). Tried casting ahead of the drift and letting it sink, but within a minute, it was out behind the boat, and only half way down the water column... Didnt notice any drop-offs or structure anywhere around, so pulled the pin on it, and went back into the river.

Decided to drif the south bank of the river about 5 times as the sun was setting, and the best we got was 1 stick! (It took out the biggest catch of the day, but we released him to grow a bit bigger, and we'll catch him again another day!)

Few good hits, but no hook-ups. We weren't all that prepared, and ran out of our small plastics (Damn mangroves!) pretty quickly. Sun went down, so up'd stumps (Havent installed the anchor light yet), and pulled the boat out at about 6:30pm.

All-in-all a great day to be out in the boat. Very happy she's running well, so now I just have to find the fishies!

A few little questions I now have, but will put them in the Boating section. OTher than that, very happy indeed!

[Gigantor]

Fishin_Dan,

Next time checkout Jacksons Creek, which is outside Kedron-Brook to the right. #Though you'll need to go out of Kedron-Brook a bit before turning south and then back into Jacksons Creek (see pic below).

Jacksons Creek has good bream, flathead and the occasional Jack.

Suggest you enjoy this creek soon, as I was speaking to Brisbane Airports Corp last week and they are planning to put the new second runway on the Jacksons Creek side of the airport, which will have some affect on the creek at some point.

I've also spent a bit of time flicking lures at the mangroves down along the southern side of Kedron-Brook, with good success. #Some very good lizards to be caught on the right tides/days.

Cheers,

Gigantor

[Fishin_Dan]

Gigantor,

I saw this creek on saturday, and a couple of tinnies cruised up with crab pots. Wasn't sure how deep it was, but will have to check it out for sure! I sit a little deeper than a canoe/kayak though, so the sounder will be invaluble!

What plastics were you using? I've been using a few squidgies (2-3" curly tails), and some berkley minnow tails (3") with some success. Am thinking of getting some 3" & 4" paddle tail squidgies (Hurry up pay day!) and giving them a go for the flatties, and some 2" grubs for bream.

I am using 6lb Fireline as my mainline, with a 6lb mono leader of about 1-2ft. Should I consider going lighter on the leader?

[Gigantor]

Dan,

Yeah there is a shallow entrance, though I've seen lots of deep V boats going in & out of Jacksons. I'm sure there is some sort of a channel in. But as you've mentioned the sounder will be your guide. I use a Huminnbird Pmax 10 portable sounder and have noticed depths of around 3 meters at the mouth of Jacksons during mid-tide.

Have used many type of lures. Hardbodies: DK snagmaster 6's (Colour: Elton John), to small Attacks (Gold with black tiger stripes) to micro mins (black beetle and red/black) etc. Large sizes seem to catch large lizards. The Attacks regularly catch good Bream.

SPs: Tend to use 3 & 4 inch paddletail Squidgies in natural colours (brown/tan) and dark greens.

I've just started using Berkley Bass Minows the other week up at Nungi Creek (near Bribie Is) and kept getting the tails bitten off. These were in 3 and 4 inch pumpkin and dark pink/red.

I use 2 outfits. Eggbeater with 4kg fireline and baitcaster with 10kg fireline. I use 6kg flurocarbon leader (a French brand). I tend to troll as well as cast depending on how I'm feeling. Casting has probably produced more fish. Particularly around the mangroves.

Re going lighter on the leader? I'd suggest you try different things. Heavier leaders with larger lure sizes is my method. With lizards be careful not to raise the rod tip too high when playing the fish. Lizard teeth are sharp. So play the lizards with a low rod tip to the side - you'll get less wear on the leader.

In terms of length of leader. I use at least 2 meters of leader as a minimum and I know that quite a few other lure fishos follow the same approach. I don't want to spook the fish with the change of line colours and the leader being fluorcarbon is difficult for the fish to see the line.

Good luck.

Gigantor

[Fishin_Dan]

Gigantor,
I was considering going to 4lb mono leader.... Will try a longer leader. That sounds like a good idea!
Well payday is Friday (Hopefully!), and have to get some more SP's, so will keep your advice in mind. I did notice that the green squidgies were getting hit more than my jelly prawn one.... Water was pretty clear though...

Thanks for your advice mate. Hopefully I can post a much better report next time!

If you want a spot on boat as well, let me know. Weekend fishing! (Damn work!)

[Wezza]

Hey Dan,
Good to hear the boats running okay. Too bad about the fish though. You will have to bring it up here for a run one day.

[beefaman]

The Bass Minnows on a 1/12th oz jighead will work a treat in Jacksons I have been using 8lb Nitlon leader onto 4lb fireline and not having a problem, although Jacks will sort that out >

[Gigantor]

Dan,

I used to use the short 1 to 2 foot mono leaders and had so-so luck. Started seeing info suggesting longer leaders and immediately saw better results. Then started seeing lots of positive comments about fluorocarbon leaders and bit the bullet and bought some and started seeing better results. I think it's a common progression for most fishos. I use a uniknot to uniknot to attach my leader to my main line. I've tried other knots over the years but have always come back to the uniknot to uniknot. Particularly for lighter lines.

Ultimately trial & error is the way to go. Different rigs will suit different locations. Lighter line is always better. It will catch you more fish. But as Beefaman mentioned, occasionally the odd brute of a fish will bust you up.

I've started trying the Berkley Bass Minnows as I've seen lots of posts from fishos of late that have suggested they have worked like a treat. They have quite a pungent scent on them, which I hope is appealing to fish? Seen lots of posts suggesting that Bream love them.

Good luck at Jacksons. A mate and I will be heading down to Nundah Creek (runs off Cabbage Tree Creek) at Shorncliffe next Saturday around low tide in our kayas to chase some lizards. Always get the odd croc lizard down that way. Nundah Creek also gets real shallow at the entrance at low tide and stops a lot of motorised traffic - good for paddle craft.

Am heading up to Ningi (near Bribie Is) this week end, as the missus seems to think that she has been missing out on something. So we'll dust off the canoe and grab our light spinning outfits, and yabby pump, and go and catch a feed of Pumicestone Passage whiting, which will be a nice change from paddling a sea kayak for 10 klms.

Thanks for the boating offer. Will definitely take you up on it.

Cheers,

Gigantor