Gary Brown's Weekly Reports

SYDNEY REPORTS

FISHING CLASSES FOR 2009.

WATTO’S TACKLE SHOP

The next Fishing class will start on Wednesday the 22nd of July and will run on 3 conconsective Wednesday nights. The class will start at 7.00pm and finish at 10.00pm. For further information you will need to ring or pay them a visit at the shop. The cost will be $80.00 per person.

For further information and to book in and pay you can contact

Sean atEmail: wattosfishing@gmail.com

Address: shop 1 & 2 LOT 9 KURRAJOMG AVE ST MARYS NORTH
Phone: 0416 203 507
Contact Shaun

And while you are at it you could go to their web site and see what special they have on at the moment http://www.wattosfishing.com.au/

WINDYBANKS BAIT AND TACKLE

The next Fishing class will start on Thursday the 13th of August 2009. It starts at 6.30pm and will run for 3 consecutive Thursday nights. The cost of $95.00 includes a fish barbeque and the class. To book in and pay you will need to either ring the shop or pay them a visit.

X Windybanks Fishing Class student Lance Jansen with a 58cm drummer.

Windybanks Bait and Tackle
523 Pacific Hwy Mt Colah NSW 2079
Ph (02) 9477 1501
Contact Annette and John.

LATEST REPORTS.

Well, it has taken about 5 years, but I have finally won my first ABT BREAM Competition as a non-boater at the Pflueger sponsored Lake Macquarie event. The event was held over 3 days. The non boaters fished the first two days with different boaters on each day. On the third day only the top ten boaters fished.

I would like to thank Wayne Reed (day 1 boater) and Shayne Gillett (day 2 boater) for having me on board each day. As you will see in the results Wayne was champion boater for the weekend and Shayne came in at 14th, just missing out on the prize money.

Wayne Reed with one of his 15 bag fish as Champion Boater.

I would also like to thanks the Phil Coles and John Bell from Pure Fishing / Pflueger for standing by me through the bad and good times in my bream competition. I have been using Pflueger gear now for over 16 years and I wouldn’t change.

Day 1

Saw Wayne and I start fishing at the entrance to the power station on the southern end of Lake Macquarie. It was here I caught a 1.1 kilo bream. We then moved to Chain Valley Bay and Summerland Point areas and deep water jigged with 1/6 oz Berkley Mango Ripple and Midnight Tiger Big Eye Blades and 2 inch Baby Shrimp in Peppered Prawn, Banana Prawn and Mango Ripple Glow on 1/6 oz & 1/8 oz, size No 2 Nitro Jig Heads.

It was extremely hard to fish in the wind and keep any feel on the line, so I after casting I kept my rod tip low to the water and to my side. Once the blade or soft plastic had hit the bottom I only moved my rod tip about 30 to 50 cm and let the lure sit on the bottom for about 4 to 5 seconds. Then repeated this back to the boat. Most of the bites came when I slowly lifted the rod tip to roll the blade or soft plastic over the bottom. I caught 15 legal bream and up graded 5 times.

used outfits 1 and 2 for day 1

Day 2.

Shayne Gillett and I started fishing in the deeper water in Bonnells Bay with no luck then moved to shallow water and edges in Bonnells Bay. Caught 2 x 24.5cm bream and a couple of flathead while using Lucky Craft 38 mm Cra-Pea, 40 mm suspending Bevey Minnows. When I mean shallow, it was shallow. No more than 30cm deep.

We then tried deep water fishing near Mannering Park, Wyee Bay and Frying Pan Point. I managed to pick up my only legal bream for the day.

I also caught 3 under legal size for the competition and one 83 cm flathead on a Big Eye Blade while using the Pflueger Supreme PFLS-SP 701UL, mounted with a Pflueger Supreme 8030MG, spooled with Berkley 3lb Crystal and a 6LB Berkley Trilene.

I used outfits 1, 2 and 3 for day 2

GEAR USED

Outfit No 1.

ROD: Pflueger Supreme PFLS-SP 701UL
REEL: Pflueger Supreme 8030MG
LINE: Berkley 3lb Crystal
LEADER: 6LB Berkley Trilene
LURES: 1/6 oz Berkley Big Eye Blades in Mango Ripple and Midnight Tiger
And
¼ oz TT Switch Blades

Outfit No 2.

ROD: Pflueger Trion PTSPAB 1 LFT
REEL: Pflueger Supreme 8030MG
LINE: Berkley 3lb Crystal
LEADER: 6LB Berkley Trilene
LURES: 1/6 oz & 1/8 oz, size No 2 Nitro Jig Heads
And
2 inch Baby Shrimp in Peppered Prawn, Banana Prawn and Mango Ripple Glow

Outfit No 3.

ROD: Pflueger President PFLP-SP 701UL
REEL: Pflueger Supreme 8030MG
LINE: 4 lb Berkley Trilene straight through3lb
LURES: Lucky Craft 38 mm Cra-Pea, 40 mm suspending Bevey Minnows

A stated earlier in this report I have been competiting in these BREAM competitions as a non boater, boater and in teams events for around 5 years and along the way I have learnt so much.

If you have ever thought I having ago in one I these comps I would suggest that you do so.

FOR ALL THE RESULTS FOR THE LAKE MACQUARIE SUPER SERIES GO TO http://www.bream.com.au/

LOCAL REPORTS

Scotty Lyons from Southern Sydney Fishing Tours http://www.fishingsydney.com.au/ reports Great weather but the wind and swell stop us again from heading off shore as it pounded the coast, Trevally Alley again provided lots of action with Tailor and Trevally, Lots of smaller fish in the mix and quite a few bite offs from the Tailor.

Trolling produced a few Tailor as well in Yarra Bay. The water was quite dirty on the run out tide from all the dredging in the bay; the run-in tide may be a better tide to fish.
Alley proved the hot spot most of the week with Tailor and Trevally and the odd Salmon, Wednesday we headed out on the first of out midweek singles day that now run each
Spinning with Squidges this week boated a few nice Flathead and one good flounder in Yarra Bay all caught on Lobbies. Trolling only produced small Tailor to 25cms.

Saturday started very slow as if the tap was turned off but once the tide pushed in all came good.
Fished the Drums and the Oil wharf but only found large Yellow Tail at both spots.
Sunday afternoon was the hi light of the weekend with great fishing around the bay and top weather and we finished the day with two Jewies from under the bridge, one of around 2kgs and one smaller fish that went, we hooked a third fish but lost it on the pylons, great way to end the week.

WHATS COMING UP

*This Wednesday Singles day, I have four spots open Botany Bay trip.

*Wednesday the 15th Singles day, Snapper trip.

*Saturday the 18th open Botany Bay or Deep sea trips.

*Sunday the 19th Singles day deep sea trip, four spots open.

*Next fishing School August the 10th, Day on the water 16th.

All booking and details call Scotty 0418 169 439.

Paul Martin from Rock Marine Bait and Tackle (rocksmarine@tsn.cc) reports that after a long and frustrating wait Blackfish are finally on the bite along the Break Wall. They are coming out of water that is slowly clearing, some around the kilo mark. If you are reading this from out of the area you will need to bring your own weed because there is nothing here. The north and south wall has been producing some nice Bream but the undersize fish are reappearing again. Small School Jew are being caught from the bar up river to Jerseyville taking live Worms. Flathead have been on for the land based fisho’s producing good fish from in front of the Tavern down to the Boat Shed and cleaning table.

Beach fishing has been good along Smoky Beach with Tailor making a return with a few Salmon. There has been plenty of Bream coming in with Dart in good numbers and the odd Whiting in the surf. Gap Beach is fishing well for Bream, a few Salmon and the odd Tailor. Little Bay is worth a fish as well with some nice Bream being taken. Tailor are back on the menu for the rock hoppers bagging a few off the headlands from the Gaol down to Hat Head. Bream and Drummer are in fair numbers as well.

Outside was a little more promising last week with good Snapper caught off Scott’s Head from a holiday crew fishing around 35 meters on the bottom using 7 inch Gulp plastics. The Charter boys are fishing the same area for Snapper and Pearl Perch, all saying if you fish out any further out you are in acres of Leather Jackets. A few boats ventured out to Fish Rock with very little success. The water has cleared up well with live bait about in various locations.

Jason and Virginia Isaac from Ned Kelly’s Bait and Tackle jasned@ozemail.com.au reports that off the rocks, drummer numbers are beginning to hit their straps with good numbers of fish taken from most ledges. Call them what you like, eastern rock blackfish or drummer, but the appropriately titled pigs are one species that perhaps more than any other, is eagerly awaited by many rock hoppers along the NSW coastline. You only need to experience a good session on some knuckle busting pigs to understand what all the fuss is about. Locally, Lighthouse, Rockies and Shelley’s are beginning to give up increasing numbers, as too are Plommer, Hat Head and Point Perpendicular, whilst most other recognised ledges are also providing fish when conditions suit. With the pigs favourite morsel, abalone gut currently prohibited from being used, cunjevoi, large prawns, cabbage and even bread are all yielding results. Elsewhere off the stones, good bream remain on offer albeit patchy at times, with Lighthouse and Diamond Head producing some nice fish. Tailor numbers too have begun to improve, in line with the improvement in water clarity and the subsequent increase in baitfish levels. Blackfish of course remain in good numbers for those willing to float a bit of cabbage around the washes.

Off the beaches, there are a few nice fish about however erosion and access problems remains the biggest hurdle. Locally, Lighthouse has been holding a few bream particularly from the northern end, whilst closer to Lake Cathie; the deeper gutters have produced a better showing of tailor than we have seen for some time. North Beach has also been producing some solid bream, although the better results have been achieved on the morning tides. On the mulloway front, not a lot of activity from the larger fish, however the juvenile models are still being encountered in pretty well all locations. Salmon unsurprisingly, are increasing in numbers daily.
In the estuary, blackfish numbers continue to improve however remain somewhat inconsistent. The south wall as often is the case, is fishing as well as anywhere. Flathead numbers are down a little as expected with the water now cooling considerably; however solid numbers of bream now in the lower reaches. As far as bream bait is concerned, pretty well anything will catch fish in varying numbers, however gut baits or yabbies fished with minimal lead will prove a deadly combination. Those throwing the larger plastics are still encountering plenty of juvenile mulloway, which is terrific to see.

Offshore, wire is now essential if you plan to go wider than about 40 meters, with the jacket population beginning to make their presence really felt. If you can get past them, some nice snapper, pearl perch and the odd kingfish have been on offer off Plommer, whilst closer in off Lighthouse and Lake Cathie; the better reds continue to respond well to plastics of all types.

Steve Williamson from Jindabyne reports that last week was cold and windy on the lake with a couple of very damp days as well. The wind swung to the south finally but it was very cold on the water. A few brave anglers went out and most had success using either bait or lures. I thought it was a little too cold to be swinging a fly rod and stripping wet fly line but this week ahead looks a lot better with a high pressure system and stable weather. Full moon this week will make fishing a little easier for those that don’t mind a little late evening fishing. Not a lot of changes in the fishing conditions which is very normal for winter so forgive me if the report looks like a repeat of last weeks.

Lake Level
Water level is now about 46% and has risen slightly with the rain and snow we had last week.
The boat ramp is still OK but will need fixing up shortly as it’s getting a little chopped up in the area they recently placed the gravel.

Lake Water Temperature
The surface of Lake Jindabyne is now dropping and sits at 6 degrees C

Best methods to catch a trout.

Best method – Bait fishing and spinning around the lakes edges. Best lake lure – Minnow lures like 7 to 9cm Rapalla with soft plastics now starting to catch some fish also. Best lake area – Creel Bay and South are near the dam wall. Best fly method lake – Some great catches at the moment on my Snowy Mountains Goldfish Fly. Best River – Rivers and streams now closed until October

Winter Boat Trolling.
The best way at the moment is to start off with a couple of surface lines and run the lures through the shallows. First light use Rapallas and then as the sun rises you can switch to Tasmanian Devil Lures. After about an hour try moving to slightly deeper water and it’s worth a try to put out 2 to 3 colours of leadcore (20 to 30 metres) early and go even deeper later. Early try closer in over the weed beds and it’s also worth still trying a minnow lure like a Rapalla or Stumpjumper for the bigger brown trout.

The Tasmanian Devil number Y Freddo has been good and Tasmanian Devil Holographic has been the best lure to use on the lake early and down deep. As predicted anglers reported good results using pink or pink and purple Tasmanian Devils.

Some of the better trolling areas this week will be Hatchery Bay down to Lion Island or troll a line from Cub Island to the Dam Wall and it will be worth a look at Waste Point. During the week when there are less boats about its worth looking at Creel Bay at Waste Point.
Winter Lake Spinning

Spinning improved last week with more fish cruising around the lake edges. Bays like Creel to Waste Point and the township end of the lake all fishing well.

Soft plastic lures are continuing to be worthwhile over the weedbeds. 2 inch minnow Gulp Baits and some of the natural colours Squidges are well worth a try using them just over the weed beds. Very light tackle with light jig heads and making certain you work the plastics in a jigging motion will get the best results. Floating minnows also in a start stop retrieve and also over the weedbeds is also producing both rainbows and brown trout.

Lake Bait Fishing. (Primarily most rivers and streams in the Snowy Mountains Region are fly and lure only, We recommend that you first check with the Department of Primary Industries (NSW Fishing rules) as to which rivers in the area you can legally bait fish in. IF IN DOUBT DON’T BAITFISH IN RIVERS!)

Bait fishing has improved again and is now the pick of the fishing methods. Powerbait and worms off the bottom or under a float are still the best baits.

The best tip at the moment is to use light line and make certain you grease it to stop it sinking into the week. Use a proper line floatant like muslin. For those interested we have been lucky enough to have a limited stock of the old favourite Lemon Lime and Orange Twist. Be quick before it all goes again it took 6 months to get stock last time. The Gulp Chunky Cheese has been a big seller over the last week also. Best bait fishing areas are Creel Bay, Hatchery Bay and Curiosity Rocks.

Lake Fly Fishing
Best fishing has been early and late in the day with evening possibly being a little more comfortable than early mornings. Any of the streamer patterns such as Mrs Simpson and Williamson’s Gold Fish will do and fish the fly slow and deep in deep water, using a sinking leader if you can. As it gets darker in the evening you can move to shallow weedy bays and fish a fly higher in the water and mach slower with the retrieve.

Olive green nymphs and shrimp patterns are also worth a try and you will need to get these down deeper as well.
The South Arm, Creel Bay and Hayshed Bay are all great.

GUIDING
Boat tours are now available given enough notice. The boat will be in and out of the water over coming weeks as the strong weather changes arrive. I need at least a days notice at the moment for tours so as I can also arrange staff for the shop.
Beginner fly fishing lessons available right through out winter.
Pop into my shop where we have a full range of fishing tackle hire as low as $15 a day per rod.
Advice is available on the best setups to suit the current conditions.

You will find my shop located next to the Shell Service Station at the Discovery Holiday Park, Kosciuszko Road Jindabyne.

\If you want to know more about the latest in fishing conditions just give me a call on 02 64 561551 during business hours or check out my web site at http://www.swtroutfishing.com.au/
For more information on the local fishing conditions call into my shop at Snowline Centre, Kosciuszko Road next to the Shell Service Station..
For visitors to the Snowy’s we have a full range of fishing tackle for hire at my shop and fishing tours are now available.

For more information on the latest fishing conditions, please call into –
STEVE WILLIAMSON’S TACKLE SHOP
Shop 1 Snowline Centre, Kosciuszko Road Jindabyne 2627
Fishing Charters – Bait and Tackle Supplies- Marine Supplies
P.M.B. 5 Jindabyne NSW 2627 E-mail mailto:sales@swtroutfishing.com.au
Shop – (02) 64 561551 Fax – (02) 64 562991

Matt Turpeinen from East Jindabyne with an Atlantic salmon caught on powerbait in June 2009

Steve Williamson's new Trout Information Centre at Quality Resort Horizons. This is where we now hold all of our courses and is situated beside the main entrance.

Shawn and Samantha Lawrence hand over the Steve Williamson's Trout Challenge trophy to Cameron and Kerry Webley winners of the team category of the Discovery Think You Can Fish Series 2009