abitfishy

Ha Ha. Funny you should say that, I'm about 25 kg too heavy and until 2 weeks ago was a smoker (on patches at the moment, so a bit stressed). I'm wondering what the walk will be like in a few months when I've quit for good (I hope) and maybe lost some of the kilos. To get off the subject for a sec, the misses and I went down to Fitzroy falls (I think it was), a damn hard walk up to the top, we were both ready to pass out when we got there (and nearly gave up and went back earlier), and at the top, low and behold, a couple in their 70's. We were stunned when they said they live locally and do it once a week. Yep, checked google earth and agree, not a great deal of water in parts. Unfortunately there is a section just before the weir thats overgrown and no water from the looks, otherwise it would be perfect to kayak down from prince edward park and just carry it over the weir. I might check with the hire place at prince edward park and see how close exactly to the weir one can get up the river and whether there is access to take the kayak ashore and walk a little way to the weir. From what I can tell, the pictures are as old as when the bangor bypass was being built (check the area, you can see the construction phase), which means its since the drought - I've been told that due to this they are not releasing any water from the dam whereas they used to regularly, hence the lack of water down that part of the river. I think due to the lack of water theres no use kayaking it truthfully, and it makes you wonder seeing the lack of water splits it into sections, I wonder if the bass are even in most of the sections? Thanks again.

Thanks for that info mate. I was afraid you would say that though. I'm so unfit the walk back up the hill from the needles to Engadine nearly kills me. I'd like to at some stage to kayak the fresh water too, but sounds like that might be a no go! It sure explains why it is such a beautiful river down there, its so unspoilt - have you seen the view from up at the Barden Ridge track? (the track from the other side that heads down to the needles), its beautiful. Might check it out from the dam road, possibly from there. As for not very big fish, mate, in a superb spot like that part of the river, who really cares what, if any, are caught. Ta Martin

With the colder weather slowly disappearing, I'm thinking in the future of going for my first bass fishing attempt and have a few questions. 1. Are they very active during the day (more so than saltwater fish in the rivers). 2. Does anyone know of any decent access to the freshwater section of Woronora river - it seems that past the old weir down the back of engadine, access is pretty limited?? I will have to go on a bit of an expedition, but hoping some locals might be able to point me in the right direction. You can PM if you don't want to give too much info away publically. Many thanks abitfishy

I'm surprised at the lack of reports I've heard of poeple getting hurt on those rocks. I had a drive out there to check it out intending on fishing, and as soon as I saw it, I said to myself 'no bloody way'. Risking life and limb for the chance of a fish or 2 is ridiculous. I don't even know how the guys that were down there got there - it didnt even look possible to me.

Hey guys, Still in the initial thought process of upgrading to something bigger and thinking of getting an open aluminium boat in the size about 4.8 - 5.2 and using that as a base and customising it. Wondering if any of you guys know of any manufacturers of reasonably priced basic tinnies (not the custom builders - too expensive) of that size that have side decks on their tinnies - most of the basic open boats don't. So far I've only found the Allycraft 450 TANK (which I think is a bit small for what I want) Thanks abitfishy

Try whitworths.com.au (theres only one 'T' fellas, not 2)

Hey all, If one was to join a volunteer rescue organisation, would one be better off with the Coast Guard or the Coastal Patrol. They obviously do the same work, but just wondering if anyone has had experience as members, and whether there may be advantages of one over the other. I'm talking courses, experiences, opportunity to gain knowledge etc, as well as I guess potentially any other 'perks'. I have a meeting tonight with a top notch from one of these groups I'm thinking of joining, so would like some quick feedback if I could guys..... Many thanks abitfishy

Hey crow, Looks like it'll do the trick. I'll give ya $5k. Oh well worth a try. Did you get it as it is, or as an open boat and got the screen and covers done for it?

Cripes, that sounds cheap. It wouldn't happen to be the 450 TANK model would it? Its got a 2.25m beam which is fantastic too. The pic on their web site looks a lot shorter than 4.5 - but maybe beaing so beamy it looks shorter, or the angle of the pic.

Ahh, the motor debate. How boring. Not that I know much, but my advice for a small tinny, for moderate use for a bit of fishing & cruising, the cheapest out of your 3 options will probably be the right choice. My 2c worth anyway.

My opinion is a professional factory paint job, as long as you are likely to look after it and not knock it around too much, looks nicer. If you want something that you can knock around a bit more, forget the paint. As for the wife, ha, good luck. Personally I'm quitting smoking using the patches (19 hrs with no ciggie, longest in years, I'm a hopeless addict, dozens of quit attempts), which I should do anyway, but since she's been bugging me for 8 yrs to do it, what can she say when I want to upgrade my old thing and I say 'I quit smoking and save us a fortune, surely I should be able to spoil myself with a newer boat'. She'll go weak.

Hey tunofun, I agree, those rod holders are good, but just sitting in the rowlock they just spin around willy nilly and its a pain in the arse! I've thought having a thread on it would be a good idea too.

Thanks guys. I don't think $3500 sounds TOO bad for cabin and windcreen. Picture buying a solid older 5m open boat with good beam, high sides, adding the cabin, screen, painting it all up to look like new, steering, carpeting, nice seats, sounder, all the other little bits and pieces one might want - a lot of which I would hope to do myself (with advice from fishraider users) and some of it might have already been done - I can see it being a bloody nice 5m fishing & cruising rig. Considering what one would pay for a rig like that recently refurbed and ready to cruise - might be something to save a couple of dollars for. But its all dependant upon the initial price of the starting hull.....finding the right base to start at a good price might be the issue I can see pictures spinning round in my head.......just wish I had deep pockets so money to start the project wasn't the issue.

Thanks for the great tips guys. I've copied and pasted into my 'useful info' text document for later use! One more bit of info that would be great - the standard white colour that tends to be used on quinnies, stacers etc - can you give us a name of one or two so we know what to order? (thinking of sticking to white) abitfishy

Hey mate, Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean 2 pac, Ive heard its a bit of a b*itch to bother with. I was also mentioning etch primer as I'm most likely going to be painting a bare hull (if the plans in my head go according to plan). I was thinking for a bare hull, give it a sand, clean it with some stuff I can't think of (prepsol I think???), etch prime and standard auto paint. A couple of clear coats afterwards maybe?

Just roughly, I would have thought maybe to do the job its a lot of sanding, cleaning up, etch primer, 2 pac, top coat? Is that the basic process?

Hey guys, I'm attempting to sell my 4.3 open runabout and upgrade to something a bit bigger and with a bit more protection from the breeze, spray etc and have an idea. I don't need anything new or fancy and am having trouble finding what I am after, so have had a thought..... An aluminium cuddy cabin would be nice, but not much around in the lower price bracket, so I'm wondering if I can track down an older solid large open runabout, say something from 4.8 to 5.2 (5m would be fantastic), is it feasable to get a metal fabricator to make some sort of cuddy style cabin only to bolt onto the hull - then I can get a windscreen made for the top, add steering etc and have a half decent rig for hopefully not too much money......surely a lot less than the $25-$30K for the newish 5.25 cuddys on boatpoint..... Or is it better off just adding a largish windscreen to the open boat and forget the cabin? Any ideas on cost for either, or if anyone has had something similar done your experience would be great. Ta abitfishy

I'm hoping to get an old aluminium hull and do the same....I'd like this info too please........ Ta abitfishy

It must of been the cold ones talking mate.

I'm confused - subject says Monday 10/6......

If you like aussie movies, whatever you do DON'T get Aussie Park Boyz. Its a movie about different ethnic gangs here in australia, what got me is that its rated for frequent violence and course language (my kind of movie), so I gave it a try. WHAT CRAP. The production is so bad in one scene where it is crossing between 2 gangs talking, that the colour cast (ie time of day) was considerably different between gangs and so was the background noise. TERRIBLE STUFF and a disgrace to our country. I just hope it isnt released overseas.

Can't believe I've heard of something some others haven't.... http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/recreation...tank,_newcastle Whether its still there or not I don't know - I just came across the link the other day and don't know any more than whats on that page..... Now the money came out of the 'saltwater trust', but going from the location, unless they have water piped from the ocean somewhere, it must be freshwater. Now don't go and rip it all up, will you guys???

Ah, but would be interesting to see at what premium price.....which is usually the catch with most great ideas.

In that case, does/did the weed from the Newcastle free trial green bait weed pool work?? It must be freshwater?

I have a strange but interesting question.....why, when I catch a fish, they are going completely ballistic and flapping like a aussie flag in 100kmh winds, but when you see them on these TV shows etc, the fish are acting like they are drugged - they pull em in, sit them there for a few seconds talking about them, pick them up, take the hook out, hold them up for you to see and talk about them again for 20 sec, then release them, and they have hardly moved the whole time...... I reckon someone off camera actually hooks a half dead fish to the guys line that they previously caught just to shoot the scene!!!! Anyone else notice this?