Hodgey Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Location: Tuross Lake Equipment: 7'6" 1-3kg Duffman matched to 2000 Penn Applause spooled with 4lb braid and 10lb Vanish fluro (Deno) 7'2" 2-4kg Daiwa SOL matched to 2000 SOL spooled with 4lb braid and 10lb FC Rock (Hodgey) 4" Gulp minnows in a variety of natural colors 65mm poppers Target species: Australian Salmon! We hit the water at the very gentlemanly hour of 7:45, with every intention of pursuing the flatties in the shallows. On the way to the shallows, Dene pointed out a large school of fish 'tailing' in the water. " I wonder if I can coax one of those mullet with a popper?" says Dene. His first cast into the seething mass and he's on! "Hmmmm, pretty big mullet, mate" says Hodgey with a grin. A couple of seconds later and a 'salmon missile' rockets out of the water! What ensued for the next few hours was champagne fishing My second fish for the morning really kept me busy. It refused to surface and jump, opting to give strong head shakes whilst heading to the depths. After much grunting and groaning, a new FR lure caught record of 72cm is lying on the floor of the boat It was around about this time that I phoned Slinky so he could enjoy listening to 2 x 2000 reels singing their hearts out. He cast aspersions on my parentage ... so I phoned him 30 minutes later and did it again! The last I heard, Slinky was stumbling down his driveway, bristling with rods, and was heard to shout "Taxi! Tuross Head mate, and make it snappy!" It didn't take long for the rest of the boats on the Lake to make their way to us, and the site of leaping fish and the sound of screaming drags could be seen and heard in any direction you turned. It would have been easier to measure the school in acreage as opposed to numbers. Yes...there was THAT many! We switched to soft plastics and twitched them just below the water surface. Salmon candy! With the number of boats in close proximity alternating between 'annoying' and 'downright bloody dangerous', we decided to head towards the entrance. The salmon were in similar numbers there! More screaming reels, more destroyed plastics, and more silly grins. At one point I cast into water that was barely 6" deep, with the thought of sneaking the plastic off the shallow and into the waiting salmon. The bail arm had barely clicked over before a beautiful flathead measuring in the high 80's materialised out of the sand and took the lure in her mouth. Sadly, the connection was short lived, and she spat the lure a couple of seconds later. Bugger Oh well, back into the salmon insanity The morning was drawing to a close and I had broken the leader on my SOL. Ok, one more cast with my other outfit and I'd call it quits. Picked up the Strudwick SicStik Pro 1-3kg matched to another SOL 2000 loaded with 2lb braid and 6lb fluro leader and cast into the mellee once more. On!!!! This was going to be a personal achievement for me, so drag was loosened a touch and Dene sat back to enjoy the fun. The piscatorial gods had smiled upon me, for the salmon that had taken the lure was to be the smallest one of the day. After a few tenuous moments fighting the fish in the current, the net slid under the salmon and it was dragged on-board. A little bloke of 58cm The final tally? 40 salmon landed (20 each), with half as many again finding freedom before reaching the net. The average size of the salmon was approx 60-65cm. 3 salmon were kept for Dene's dog and the rest were released unharmed. 2 very weary (but satisfied) fishos trudged up to their cars at 12:30. A quick chat ... and we're going to chase them on the beach tomorrow arvo Hope you have a great weekend folks! Cheers Hodgey and Deno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g.t. Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 (edited) Sounds just awesome Hodgy. Light line, screaming drag, and more fish than water in the mix ! It doesn't get much better than! ... Oh yeah, and big congrats on the new record Edited March 20, 2010 by g.t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray R Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Salmon galore, mate that was a top read, you and Dene sure had fun, they really go hard and congrats on the new FR record, you and I now hold the salmon records for bait and lure.. Congrats on a top sesh Hodgey and Dene.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 It might have been champagne at your end boys... but at this end of the phone calls the taste was a little more bitter The sound of little Sols bleeding line was being accompanied by lots of hooting and hollering whenever the phone rang. That's just insane action Skip & Deno. The boys wouldn't say anything and Hodgey makes it sound easy but I know that a lot of fishos on the water were struggling to get fish at the same time. If any raiders ever want advice on how to fish an estuary, 'Team Tuross' are worth listening to. Have a look at those conditions... finesse fishing conditions if ever I've seen them. Well done on a fantastic (if frustrating for me) morning on the water And congrats on the record fish, Hodgey... all done. Hope that beer tasted good. I'm about to have one to drown my sorrows. Cheers, Slinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahajo Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Great read hodgey Looks like the lake is starting to hot up again after the opening wish i could be down there harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie machine Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Hodgey, Sounds like a brilliant day out. Good work, fella. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dene m Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Hodgey, Sounds like a brilliant day out. Good work, fella. cheers Totally insane morning!I`ve been fishing here for nearly 40 years and never seen so many salmon. One thing to note is that it is still important to rig your plastic perfectly straight.Any spin and they won`t go near it.Poppers will work a treat but its safer and easier to release with a single jig head. Hodgey-I went for a swim when I got home and helped a lady carry some big sambos up from Coila beach.they caught them at 2pm! Dene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooker435 Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Top Photos, Top Read and some great fish there.... Looks like a fun filled session Regards, Nathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 OMG!! Where is the video camera when you want one!!! Congratulations Dene & Hodgey!! What a fantastic episode on the water! That 2lb braid & 6lb mono was almost suicide!! But FUN!! I don't know if any salmon come into our system? I hvae certainly never caught one in the lake yet!! Boy it would be fun tho! Look forward to seeing video footage sooner or later!!! GO GUYS!~! Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashlee Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Inspirational great work light gear big fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul.kenny Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 WOW....I wish I could get a leave pass to go to Tuross Lake for a couple of days Well done fellas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krispy ! Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Nice report , Great size salmon, I have caught one at 76cms but i wasnt a member when i caught it so i couldn't claim the record. Welldone SL, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mako1 Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Great report Hodgey Sounds like a top session. Nothing like salmon on light line to get the adrenalin going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robeebee Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 what an awesome days fishing mate top stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgey Posted March 21, 2010 Author Share Posted March 21, 2010 And congrats on the record fish, Hodgey... all done. Cheers, Slinky Thanks mate. Thank you for the feedback everyone. Looks like the weather is going to put an end to our beach session this afternoon Not to worry; I have plenty of tackle maintenance to keep me busy (upgrading hooks, line and leader replacement, etc) Cheers Hodgey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenno64 Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Hodgey, That is certainly sportsfishing at its best. Unbelievable fish on the gear! How has the lake been for flatties since the grand opening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewhunter Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Congrats on a terrific session & the Raider record Skip! That must be a MASSIVE school of Sambos that has come in. What a blast catching them non stop on light tackle. Great stuff mate. Cheers, Grant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catchin Jack Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Congrats on the record salmon mate, the challenge to beat it will be fun. When they hit my way i'll be fishin hard to top you haha. Well done! Cheers, Leo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgey Posted March 21, 2010 Author Share Posted March 21, 2010 Hodgey, That is certainly sportsfishing at its best. Unbelievable fish on the gear! How has the lake been for flatties since the grand opening? GDay Rob The big girl I dropped in the shallows is the first decent flattie I have hooked (briefly) since it opened. I have SEEN plenty, but even now the falling tide is still dragging out very discolored water. Give it a couple more weeks though and it should be a different story! Cheers Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmak Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Hodgey, That must have been an awesome session especially on bream gear! I am so envious! I'm ever so hopeful a salmon school that size will come visit us at Botany Bay on day ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny doi Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 that sounds like you & dene had a session to remember.great read hodgey.landing big fast powerful fish is fun in itself,but to get em on the gear you guys were using is just the best.i love it,light lines & big fish,sportfishing heaven.good onya guys. cheers johnny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod L Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Awe Bloody Hell guys, that's amazing. What a fantastic session and what a sight it must have been. You live in paradise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusky Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 great read - thanx for making me green with envy - I will have to find an excuse to do some work up there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brendong Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Mate looks like I turned up a couple of weeks too early...I'm imaging Kyle strapped to a rampaging sambo.....awesome effort and a day that will no doubt go down as one of yours and Deno finest..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 Sounds like you guys had fun on the Salmon, and congrats on the 72cm Kingy size specimen. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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