Bleeding Green

Good point Greg regarding dash space. There's not a great deal of it. What differance can I expect from mid range combo unit which I assume is around the $1k mark to the top end units? I don't need every function that would be available. Basically I want somehting that can show me the bottom to give a good idea of whats down there, plus a reasonable GPS so I know where I am and get back there if I wish to.

Hi Raiders, Last time I took my boat out the sounder was playing up. Considering it's around 10 years old it's probably time to upgrade. But when I do I'd like to get a decent one. Probably can't afford it right now. However I'd also like to get a GPS so I can see where I am and store co-ordinates, So, is it worth while looking to get a GPS now and then another sounder later, or should I just wait and get a combo unit? I fish the south coast, from lakes / inlets to close off shore.

HI, I have a dunbier trailer in great condition to suit a 16ft boat for sale. It comes with everything in working order, needs no work and I've just paid the rego. PM me if your interested.

Cheers mate, good tip. I drive a hilux so the stud pattern would be differant. I'm getting a mounted spare with the trailer so I don't have to remember to throw the spare in the boat on the long trips.

Thanks for the reply. After speaking to another dealer I decided to go with the skids. Rollers should be fine, but skids offer more contact surface so spread the support around a bit better than rollers. And becuase I will have the boat in tow with some camping gear loaded in it, the reason I am going for a heavier trailer, the more support the better.

Well done. Hope it serves your needs. I'll be in the market for a new sounder next year so I'm interested to hear all you've got to say about your particular one.

Hi Mate, Are you speaking from experience? That's not the first time I have heard their name mentioned. Coincidence? I don't think so. That's who I've gone with. Very helpful and very well priced. All Aussie made, and have been recommended to me by other customers which is good to hear. I looked at all the brand names quintrex, dunbier, stacer, and boeing and none of them compare in value. I'm getting a lot more trailer for my dollar; I just hope I am not over capitalising and that the trailer is too big for my boat. I think I'll be right though. I intend to keep the boat madium to long term, and I need it to suit my family's needs so it will make life easier. Looking forward to getting it out on the road.

I know this is for inflatable life jackets but I don't like starting new threads if it's not required. I don't want an inflatable one as I don't want the servicing cost or hassle, 12 months comes around very quickly. Atm, I have the standard cheese blocks and have only worn them when crossing a bar. Where can I find the most comfortable jacket that doesn't require inflation?

Just a qestions with sounders/fish finders; Are they two seperate units which have evolved into 'combo's', the way mobiles have evolved into cameras eg; if you want a proper camera you don't buy a mobile phone, you buy a camera but if you want a phone the 'basic' camera is just a bonus? Or do they all do both? How good are the 'fish finder' functions? I have an older unit in my boat which shows depth and indicates when it senses fish; The depth I'm sure works quite well, but the fish indication I'm not quite so sure.

So... Went and got a price for the new trailer. All seems good, I just want some opinions: * It's going to be higher than my current one by around 75mm. Will this make a big differant to retreval? As it is now, I usually just guide the boat to the trailer with a rope, then hook it up to the winch and pull it up. I don't drive it on. *I have the option of skids or multi rollers. The guy suggested that the multi rollers will make retreival easier considering the new height, but I'm a bit concerned as I have read before that skids are recommended for alu hulls. He said he was aware of the recommendation but they have put heaps of them on multi rollers in the past and have never had an issue. It will come down to preference as it costs the same. * This trailer will be almost a foot wider than my current. It suit me better, but is my boat going to look way to small on the trailer? * It's going to cost me about $180 for them to setup the rollers to suit my boat; they use a hoist to transfer the boat which I imagine would make it easy for them. Is this reasonable or should I just pick it up and do it myself? (With the extras I am going for the guy took over $250 off anyway so the transfer cost is kinda covered). * How much more can I expect the rego to be; and will I need an inspection from the first 12months or do we get 5 years like cars? Opinions??

I'm looking forward to it all, but seriously I have nfi, if I catch one feed from all that I'll be happy. If I can't catch anything on this charter I may aswell give it all away...

So I decided that instead of fitting brakes to my trailer (I need to be able to throw camping gear in the boat when I go away therefore I need to tow more than 750KG) I am going to buy a new one. Reasons are: * The mechanic told me that my trailer was probably a touch small for my boat * I'd like a longer drawer bar so I can fit a bike rack in between the car and boat So I have a price for a quintrex trailer in both gal and Ali (Ali is actually cheaper than gal by $50!!) but they probably wouldn't extend the drawer bar. I also have a price for a Gal boeing which is cheaper than Quintrex and will extend the drawer bar. Earlier this year I got a price on a dunbier which was less than I thought but I don't know if they'll extend the drawer bar. Today I'm going to head up to peakhurst to see a trailer builder their to see what they can do for me. Does anyone have any other suggestions/opinions or recommendations? I want something that is going to go the distance. Are they all pretty much the same? And if anyone is in need of a Dunbier trailer in excellent condition send me a PM and I can send you some details and we can work out a price. Cheers

Thanks for that. It makes more sense now. Just with getting a sinker on, when you say it's easy to change the sinker do you mean by pushing the loop through the sinker then sending the line back through the loop? To do this I'd have to cut the rig from the main line each time and re-tie once done? Or is there an easier way? Also, any good sites that you know off where I can read up a bit about this sort of thing without having to seive through all the jargon?

Cheers mate. Yep the weather was bad up until Monday, but Monday and Tuesday where nice days. The water is still cold though so maybe it needs to warm up a bit. It seems all the fish are being caught down that end near the bridge. Which boat ramp are you referring to? I know of the private ramp off the caravan park, there's the water ski club ramp, and another I saw which looked poor off the channel. Are there any others? Not sure when's the next time I'll be down there. Heading down to bermagui next month and Narooma in January. Have a fishing charter off Kiama in exactly 1 month's time too. And I'd like to try off Port Kembla in between all that too.

It's official; there are no fish in Burrill Lake!! Or I can't catch a fish to save my life Anyway, so there was the odd bloke cleaning some good sized fish at the tables, but the general jist is that no one's catching anything. They do seem to be getting a good amount of black fish of those 3 small jettys in the channel on the east side of the bridge, and right next to the bridge on west side. I didn't have a go there as when I ventured through the channel the wind was up and it was quite cool, so I tried to find a more sheltered spot back inside.

Bit if a general topic title but I am in serious trouble if I consider myself a fisherman.... I have no idea about differant setups. What's what and what to use where. As an example I tried to rig up a pre tied 'flat head rig' which I bought but didn't know one end fromt he other. It has a swivel on one end, a loop tied on the other and two hooks coming off from the middle. I figured that I'd tie the swivel to the end of my line with a running sinker on my main line. Looked OK but I ended up with the loop on the end and have no idea what it's for. Did I tie it upside down? Is the loop supposed to hold the sinker?? Any help is much appreciated. I really don't know where to start with getting up to speed wigth differant setups. I'm trying to learn on the run but it ain't happening. Should I just stick to a basic sinker and one hooker setup?? Are there any good sites which explain in simple terms what do use for what? I only fish from my boat, and mainly in inland lakes and inlets, hoping to catch a snapper, bream or half decent sixed snapper. Cheers.

The bar off the clyde is only the second bar I have crossed and to me it was almost non existant. Of course conditions can change very quickly and you can't take anything for granted when it comes to the ocean but it is very wide and open. I still insisted that everyone wear their jackets and be aware that we were crossing the bar and be on their guard.

Hi Paul, I had my trailable cover and bimini done earlier this year and have just done my second long trip with it. I copped heaps of rain this time and it didn't leak. It is also easy to place, fits really snug and doesn't flap about. It was custom, cost around $800 - $900 but is worth every cent. It's reinforced (doubled) at points wear it rubs and is likely to wear. Only problem I have found is one of the eyelets (there are only 6 in total)is looking abit dodgy but I ring the guy and ask him to look at it. When he fitted it he told me to keep an eye on any 'rub' points he may have missed and if there were any issues he'd come and fix it. Not sure if I can write the company name here but he is Mobile and does Boat Covers so I' sure you can find it easy on the net. PM me if you get stuck. I highly recommend him.

Hey charlie, if you see me out on the lake pull up and say gidday. 'Alfa Rosa' is the boat name.

Boat. Not draggin it down there to fish off the jetty. Leavin in the morning so won't get to get any of your local tips. Wish me luck.

Either radio is suitable for open waters.

Wow, what a shame. is it safe to eat fish from the lake if I'm able to catch anything decent?? Wonder how long it will take for it to recover...

Thanks mate, from memory it gets a bit narrow around the channel before it opens up a bit before the bridge doesn't it? For a nove fisho like myself, what exactly is a fish kill?

Good ramp out at Port which gets plenty of use. Maritime office is right next door just inacse you need anything while you are there.

I will be out on the lake this coming weekend. Has anone and tips for a starving fisherman as to what's the best (and esiest) fish to target out there and what bait they might like best? It's getting harder for my kids to see me as their hero. Unless I can help them pull in a couple of keepers they will be on the lookout for a new dad. Cheers