Richie

I'd prance, dance and whinge on telly if it let me make a living by fishing where he goes.

1/8oz is an ok size for flatties. The impact of the head on the bottom makes a little puff of silt/mud/sand that flatties come to investigate. Small 10cm-20cm lifts of the rod-tip every few seconds. Going light is a bream game where a gentle entrance and the journey to the bottom is more important. Cheers, Rich.

If you want to get even more traditional you could look at a cane rod Bit pricey though. What kind of reel is it? Do you have any pics? Cheers, Rich.

Nice one mate. I'm glad guys enjoyed yourselves and caught fish to boot! Looks damn cold

Hi Caddis, I think you may have started something... I know I'd be in for a trip out to TCD. And a Raider flyday! You can count me in that. -Rich.

They'd roll it up

Smiths Lake is good for the kids - burley up and aim for small bream. This lake has been badly affected by the Port Stephens Marine Park. As much as I love Smiths Lake, Wallis lake (the next one along) is the champion fishery of the two. Especially now due to the productive areas of Smiths Lake being shut down. Forster is only a 15-20 minute drive away. One of my favorite things to do is to hire a boat and hit the racks early in the morning. Fly, SP or bait. They usually open Smiths Lake a few weeks before the Christmas holiday period. So now likely. That is a good time to hit the beach (Cellito Beach?). The opening brings every predator from the area into the mouth of the lake and opportunities abound. Seriously, Smiths is OK, but Wallis Lake is just that much better.

Oxygen levels were about 30% higher then IIRC, allowing creatures like the brontoscorpio to reach immense sizes. As the Atmosphere changed, the smaller arthropods were the more successful lifeforms and hence, in an evolutionary sense, they shrunk.

I find there are a few knots you can tie by feel. The penny knot comes to mind. http://www.sydneyflyrodders.com.au/penny%20knot.html Contrary to the pics, there is a trick to tying it. I just havent found a website that shows it.

I've just received a 6'6" 2 weight blank and a 7'6" 4 weight blank from the US to wrap up for just that reason. They're my projects to work on when I'm sick of the house - along with my solar-electric boat. I need to get out more though...

It is certainly originates on a site I would trust. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/01/2079239.htm

Nice one dude. Once the house is done, I'll call you and we'll have a go too. Man am I jealous! Was that on the three weight?

Dude, it depends on what type of fishing you are doing. Ultralight for bream and bass, the reel is of primary importance due to the sensitive drag required for that type of fishing. Fly fishing for trout (and bass and bream) on the other hand, the reel is just to store the line and the rod is by far the most important component along with the line itself.

Hi mate, I've heard of people using fast-sinking shooting heads, heavily-weighted clousers and short, sharp long, slow strips with some success. If you have a sinking line and a baitfish pattern, have a crack at your local snapper ground. Not much is known about Reds on the fly, you might come up with something new. Good luck. Richie. EDIT: Further information has come to hand.

"Gee-Oh-Gee-Gee-Oh"

The best way I have found to clean a hotplate is beer. Plenty of it. By the time you have knocked back a 6pack or two, you wont give a crap what's been on the hotplate, whatever it is just adds some extra seasoning... The problem is convincing others. But beer works for that too! 2 more 6packs and you wont care what they think either!!! (or you could share it)

Were they activists? or just anuses?

Reminds me of a phrase, "Red sky in morning, sailors warning; red sky at night, sailors delight."

A gps works by triangulating your position in reference to 3(?) satellites. One of these satellites puroposely puts an error into its signal so you can't get an exact position, that privilege is for the military. I wonder if your unit picked up more than one erroneous satellite? Probably not likely though. Interesting to see this weekends results. It could be your unit's maps need calibrating.

Mex, There is also an article that talks about Cowan Creek specifically in the articles section of this site - http://www.fishraider.com.au/fishing-artic...wan-fishing.php

You can but special wading boots with interchangeable soles. Fly guys use them all the time with their waders. There are a few brands around, but Korkers seem to be the favorite - http://www.korkers.com/ I tried to see if any of the site sponsors carry them, but they don't seem to. Any Fly fishing outfitter will carry wading boots. Some people keep a pair of 10mm+ thick dive booties for wading too. *Much* cheaper, but you have to carry them around. I just use a pair of old Dunlop Volleys, but I sight fish when wading. Cheers, Richie.

Welcome dude. Cowan is a hard nut to crack. It's a flooded valley with lots of underwater features so the fish are quite spread out. The number one thing is berley. Berley up to attract the fish, a little but often. I love fishing Cowan and I have a few "Spot X"'s there. Richie.

Nice session dude! 35cm Bass on a 3wt... that would have been an awesome fight. What pattern are you using for your hoppers? I'm trying to master tying the Gurgler for surface work.

Crystal Fireline is just a transparent Fireline. As for the best braid, I'll have to defer to someone elses wisdom on that one, I've only really used Fireline. I imagine it will be a matter of personal choice though. Richie.

Lighter weights have less inertia so you need to compensate with speed. This is part of the reason that 7' rods cast further, the tip moves faster and further during the power stroke of a cast than on a shorter rod.