Richie

This is correct, you will cast alot further as well. I've never heard this for braid. I've heard this for casting SP's though. This can happen if you don't wind the line on the reel with a bit of resistance (like a fish on the other end ). I've never had a problem with it. This sounds like something someone would say to justify not making the switch. 20m of mono has a lot of stretch, 2m has very little. If you're worried, just use the crystal fireline. Possible I guess on handlines and cheap rods. I have a rod with ceramic guides from the 80's that handles braid well. Most reputable rods these days come with decent guides. Even if you do have a cheapie, it cost little to change the guides yourself. Personally I made the switch to braid and was awesomely surprised. But in the end it is all about what you feel comfortable doing. There is no need to justify it. The best advice is to try it for a while and if you don't like, go back. Same could be said for alot of things really. Cheers mate, Richie. EDIT: Fixed up quoting

Hi dude, A day out on the water with three mates? Doesn't sound like a failure to me It just sounds like you didn't catch any fish is all. Any idea why they were off bite?

The other way to test if a pair of sunnies are polarised is to look through two lenses at the same time. There should be no light coming through. There is a whole fly-fishing fraternity devoted to "Polaroiding". Like said previously, after a rod, reel and basic tackle; polarised sunnies are the go. I use a pair I bought at the local Cancer Council Shop. They have a lot more eye coverage than my everyday sunnies (and they cost $35 so I can afford to lose them). Richie. EDIT: I R speeling jeanius

Hrmmm... Am I the only one who still uses a knot?! I must be getting old... I use a lefty's loop or a penny knot (at night because you can tie it by feel) but I can tie them up in seconds. I just snip the old knot out and tie the new fly (or lure) on.

Give a shop a call. Depending what brand they should be able to help. Also, a lot of home and contents insurance policies will cover accidental breakage of sport equipment even while outside.

Hi RH, Be careful up there as a majority of the area is now a marine park. http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/pdf/psglmp-zoning-plan-lo-res.pdf There was no rhyme or reason for it, let alone a sound scientific basis or justification. But it's there and we have to live with it. /rant Cheers, Richie.

Cool, I thought you may have had an unnatural fear of ABC children's television characters. Not that I'd blame you, come of them are creepy Welcome to the site dude. EDIT: Bestest speeler evar!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_(fluid_dynamics) It's where water swooshes around behind a rock or outcropping making an area of slower moving water. Fish hang around there as it is less work to stay still.

Trout streams of mainland Australia by Bill James? $45 ex tax at www.biblioz.com (Online out-of-print book retailer) http://www.biblioz.com/main.php?action=3&a...81&record=1 Also, bookfinder has 2 used copies: http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?author=&...st=sr&ac=qr AFN also publish a more specific guides for trout in the Snowy. http://www.afn.com.au/shop/scditem.asp?ProdID=45 Hope this helps.

You've had your first taste... Now the addiction sets in... Well done dude. The next stop - fly fishing Cheers, Richie.

Hi Daniel, For bream I usually use a fine gauge chemically-sharpened 1/32 keel size 2 jig when there is no wind for all the above. If there is a wind I'll use a heavier head. I'm of the school, "Bigger hooks catch bigger fish but smaller hooks catch all the fish" Cheers mate, Richie. EDIT: Dodgy speeling

Hi BM, Nice tally there! I've just bought a house in Hornsby, maybe once the family and I have settled in we could go out for a session and see if we can get some action on the fly rod? Cheers, Richie.

Fishing for Virgin Bass? How can you tell? Nice one guys, good to see the season is firing up. Handsome fish the ol' bass, and those are some beauties. Love that olive and gold.

Hi dude, You're right, fly can be quite challenging at first. The best advice anyone can give to someone first starting out is to shell out for some casting lessons. There are a few guy's out there who are really good at getting you on the right track. The only other thing I'd advise is to try and steer clear of the e-bay specials... A crappy rod and line will have you walking away in disgust. There is a good kit in http://www.fishraider.com.au/fishing-artic...-flyfishing.php As for catch rates, the others speak true. One thing... When fish start feeding on small "eyes", tie on an eye-fly and you'll be pissing your mates off impressing your friends by being the only one with fish on. Unless your mates flyfish too

Vote 1 : Albright Knot

Ahhh! "CLEAR! Bzzt! Alright buddy, you're good to go!" This ol' beauty has been revived! The most common version of the "Obstinate Lighthouse" usually involves the American Navy vs a Canadian lighthouse. http://www.snopes.com/military/lighthse.htm It still gives me the laughs even though I know it's an urban legend.

They jump cause they swim in a shoal and if the fish in front pinches one off... Well, wouldn't you jump?

Golden words there. The guy's in the club will let you cast their rods and give you some instruction. There is also some really good second hand gear available on occasions. BM, I'm a member too... How often do you go? Richie.

A neat trick with braid is to use your spare spool when loading. - Wind the braid directly on to your spare spool. When you have reached the end of your braid, tie on your mono. - Wind your reel until you have filled your reel up to taste (I like about .5 to 1 mil off the lip). - Swap the spools and tie the mono from the spare onto your primary spool. - Wind with some *constant* pressure applied to the spare spool and voila! A perfectly wound spool! If you don't use constant pressure when winding, you can get undercuts and loops. Not good. Richie.

Nice healthy-looking fish! It's funny, but I've never thought of trying Crosslands - even though I'm pretty close as well. Might get the fly gear out there one afternoon/evening. Richie.

Use a heavier leader for abrasion resistance around rocks, oysters, coral, etc. Lighter ones when fish are spooky, clear water, in areas of heavy fishing pressure, etc Cheers, Richie.

As we all are probably aware, next year we have the NSW state, as well as the federal election. When I go to the booth, I want to know the person that gets my vote is going to do the best by me. I don't want to start a fit shight over this topic, I want to keep it fishing only please. What parties are the most supportive of the recreational fishing community? Which ones aren't? Cheers, Richie.

Interesting stuff genetics... I'm surprised the dolphin survived being netted.

Got us among those monster females at Wallis Lake... Remember to Rip-and-Stop the retrieve. You want the jig to hit the bottom to make a puff of silt or mud. If you feel a bump and you miss, cast there again - flatties are lazy, unco buggers - they often miss but will strike again (and again) if you put the cast through the same place. Cheers, Richie.

Hi dude, I regularly fish Cowan Creek using SP's and found that berley makes a huge difference. I do prefer a leisurely walk and flick at likely spots without using berley - hunting the fish so to speak... But if I'm out for results, I'll berley up a likely area for half an hour and then jerk a BM, flick bait or grub around. Bream are suckers for that. I say try it and see if it works for you. Cheers, Richie.