OneMoreFish

Nower where is a smile with the sound of a furneral dirge for the dearly departed reel? It could be time to admit it has had a good life and put it out of its suffering....the poor thing.

Hi, 1. Baitrunner reels are just not up to scratch for Kings... the drags are not usually good enough and the simpler you keep the reel the better (keep the baitrunner for the flathead and bream and jewies) 2. I have used an Epix reel with the stainless gears.... and must say they dont feel that good at the turn of the handle and often develop sideways slop on the main gear which can cause the reel to jam under load...not what you want on a king... I would suggest if budget is limited to under $200 then you probably want to look at say a Penn Spinfisher 650ssm (or if you can get your hands on it the previous 6500ss or 650ss as they were USA made)... The 650ssm is china built and probably not as good as its predecessors but it still has sintered bronze gears.. I have a 650ss which I have had for 20yrs and it still pulls the kings and has a good drag, and has never failed me. I would stay above a 500 size reel as the drags are bigger diameter and therefore have more surface area. As far as line goes... try 30lb mono backing and then 120m of 30lb or 50lb Kokoda livewire infused braid (very soft) .... and top it with 30-50lb flourocarbon or quality mono leader. (30lb will do if the fish are on the surface or clear of structure. but you will need 50lb of stopping power on anything about 80cm if you are near structure) hope this helps Cheers Rodger

Hi Guys, Havent been on for a while as I have been busy working.. and the fishing has been quiet (even quiter now as I am currently boatless...aaarrrgghh! ) I bought a new custom Fishfinder pro series rod from Tony at Fishfinder Bait and Tackle early in the year and really havent had a chance to give it a good flogging ...until recently! It is very similar to Sammy's rod in the attached link... Sammys rod but 7'6" long, still with the double handle, but double foot guides...lots of em actually... Tis super light... and I am waiting till I have enough dosh to put a decent reel on it... Currently I am running my old Penn Spinfisher 650 on it.. with 30lb Kakoda fused braid (heaps softer than fireline) and either 24lb or 40lb flourocarbon leader. but the spinfisher is almost corroding away from 20yrs of use!...but is still able to turn Kingfish.. (I dont know that the china-built spinfishers are anywhere near as durable) I gave it a good go on Kings in the harbour this week.... using 10cm poppers and sluggos.... it loads up superbly and cast beautifully... and much MUCH.. further than expected for distance... it certainly has no trouble handling the kingfish (and the 30odd flamin big chopper tailor that kept grabbing it before a king could!) I think I may get Tony to chop a couple of inches off the butt though... as I am just finding it could do without it. If I can find the money some time I will be chasing Tony for a bream special and a jigging rod I can troll for kings with too... I would like to see what he can come up with similar to the Jigwrex rods. Cheers Rodger

Well as your apprentice for that trip I wanted to know why you didnt rip any jaws out ... at least with the 80lb gear we were running at the heavier end... much fun was had...but it will be nice to get back into your Noble... hope the beggers at Mercedes get your tow bar sorted "this week" finally... Look forward to our next trip (PS looks like I have a new job which might give me some fishing time free ...possibly on Wednesdays ) Rodger

Mate, about 1985 towards the end of the drought these things started showing up in the mud banks of the upper georges river around East Hills and Milperra.. Namesay can vouch for me, we wasted so much time digging for bloodworms only to find these bloody things had burrowed down and swallowed the worms we were looking for. They vary in colour from deep red to pink, have nasty teeth, very slippery pink skin and are almost totally bind... if not eyeless. bloody ugly... look like a mutant penis from hell. never worked out what they were but they decimated the bloodworms and seemed to live burried in the mud chasing bloodworms... any ideas I would like to know too... and how the hell they got there as they must have been introduced... Seriously worse thing to happen to the food chain other than Bankstown council building the flood mitigation levy and blocking kelso creek completely, or the chipping norton lakes which silt up the river. Rodger

Well done Sammy, better than my trip in the Bay today.... Pitty the squid are so cagey... was good to catch you at Fishfinder on Sunday too Catch you round PS... I think the kings are going to regret seeing me on wednesday with my new Fishfinder Prograph... it is awesome... I'm in love with my rod...LOL Rodger

Hi Guys, Just thought I better leave a report as disapointing as it is.. Went out today in the Bay....trying to hit Kings with no luck at all... There seemed to be a bit of action around Molinaux Point, I saw Scotty Lions pull up a couple and one other boat... but no real size in them at all.. I could see fish on the sounder but thet dissapeared shortly after the tide turned... (wish I had thrown in my downrigger) I then tried the Hot water outlet and the oil warf with not a bit... (we were burleying heavily too!!!) We gave up after that and headed to Towra where we got one decent bream and a stingray.... poor consolation... We would have chased flathead but were geared up for Kings... Oh well think I will stick to the Harbour for a while... Rodger

now that rod looks familair sammy, Will be picking up my Kingfish killer 8-10kg version on sunday from Tony. Rodger

Heya kelvin... well done on the kings.... could have been worse than parting braid on the side of the boat.... a lost rod overboard is much worse... esp witha Torsa on it! I should be picking up my new rod from Fishfinder Tony on Sunday... cant wait... just got to get out there and try it. Rodger

G'day Brad, You are asking alot of range there (as I was)... you really need to break it down into "needs" and "wants" What is the majority of the fishing you are doing? Bream/Flathead or Kings/Pelagics? If you want the soft tip for bream flathead it is hard to get the butt to handle kings and your tip will be too soft to cast sluggos etc... the only compromise is something like a silstar crystal tip. but the tip is too soft for sluggos... if you want a rod for kings/pelagics and are prepared to use another rod you already have for bream etc (as I have decided to do... plus you can pick these up cheaply... ask tony to show you the cheap vista graphite rod I was looking at) I can give you no better recomendation that to Talk to Tony and Fishfinder and ask him to show you the rod he is building me.... (should be virtually ready now) Tony talked me out of trying to have a stick that would do both... with good reason... you just cant get it... unless you get a multi-tapered rod.like the wilson texallium... but this is composite not pure graphite and to me feels like a broomstick with a soft tip.... feels horrible compared to the one he is building me... Cheers Rodger Wearne

HAHAHA..... That is amazing ... the fish must be hungy.... I'm waiting for Namesay's report from his trip today.... Wonder if he will have taken some on bananas at the boat...?

Best to stick to smaller jigs size 1.5 to 2..... colour is a matter for probably the area you are squidding... if they dont take it and you know the squid should be there.... change colours... I would stick to the Yozuri as I know they work... even though they cost around $18 in these sizes... they will most likely outlast cheap jigs and they are designed to sit in the water horizontally.... hence look more relaistically like a prawn or yellowtail etc.... you wont regret it.... Give Fishfinder Tony a call on 9661 7967 as he has a huge range with discounts for forum members and is a wealth of information... If you cannot get over to the shop he will organise for it to be posted out to you..... Tell him Rodger sent you (or he wont have my cuppa ready next time) if you get over there check out the rods too. Rodger Wearne

Well Kelvin, sounds like Sunday must have got you exicited... you have been active a lot online today with posts and replies... (either that or your were bored at work) Can't wait to see your new boat.... Hope Danny's Jonah-itis improves so he fishes as well as he squids.... don't want to see you give any more of those kings the easy way off.... keep the rod tip up and the pressure on..... (Don't know about Kelvin's Banana theory... he has always been more ass than class he may be the only one rubbing bananas on the lure or bait works for...)..haha

Im not too sure... I have seen it from forshore drive as I went past... in Penryn estuary area...(where everyone skis etc) I suspect it has something to do with the new Port construction.... basically it will mean that at least 1/3rd of the area from the end of the exisitng port and boat ramp to the 3rd runway and back down into penryn estuary will be closed off and the boat ramp relocated to along forshore drive.... It will be messy for a long time boys.... and we will lose some good fishing ground.... thanks to the state government

Seriously... (and I recieve nothing for saying so)... give tony a call at Fishfinder Bait and Tackle (Fishfinder Tony on the site...look under sponsors)... Was there yesterday...he has a huge range of light rods.... and there are so many to choose from... and it all comes down to personal preference.... 1 piece/two piece, length.. feel etc.... worth a trip over... Rodger

Definately... you need to buy the best you can afford.... just a pity the best at the moment the best is way more than most people (including myself) can possibly afford!!!!! A Torsa or Certate will set you back between $500-800 for the reel alone.... (but they are soo smooth... and the Torsa has soo much grunt for High speed overhead!!!!..it impressed me the most... and the Certa was it?? was smoother than the certate...) Now if you want one of those fancy schmantzy Diawa Saltiga sticks...(that one you got is nice) then add another $600-700..... really you are paying an extra $200-300 for the name... (and Mr Diawa will come out shake your hand, relieve you of your hard earned cash and say "fank you very muchy"...but offer no discount)....... but a nice off the shelf rod none the less... but do tell us how many tips have you broken recently?...ouch! ...LOL I dont suppose Diawa has offered a replacement? I would love a Torsa though... they are choice...top lever drag... Oh well ...sigh....I guess some of us have to live in the real world and only dream about these outfits.... (any offfers of gear testing sponsorship welcome... )

Ha.. still waiting for the site sponsored dental work too Dr Hawknose.... Maybe a discount like two fillings to one free tooth knocked out of your mouth without pain killers.. or a free 10/0 fishhook insertion.... I would settle for you having a garage sale...(as long as I get first pick) .....I have seen your tackle collection!!!!! Was Telling Fishfinder Tony yesterday you had more rods and reels than he did!!! and dont use most of them... (I really Hope Sue is reading this...Give me a call Sue..I'm sure you want your house back!!!!....LOL) Sounds like they are building more than they were last week when you and I were out....Excellent.. And sounds like the Bigger kings are starting to move in a bit more .... rats starting to show up in Botany Bay in decent numbers too which is a good start... I can't wait to get the new rod New Pure Magic Stick Link I wil definately have to get out next weekend... Rodger

Maybe thats why it will take 2 weeks... he has to do yours first... I recon that there must be a big queue forming ... I tell ya these blanks are so unique in the way they handle .... I think he must have sold one of the 4-6kg snapper plastics on Saturday cause it was gone on Sunday.... Recon the new owner will sleep with it under his pillow... or throw the wife out of bed... Really I just can't stop raving about these blanks... I would like to replace all the rods I own with these.... Well most of them are now 20yrs old... things like Gutsbutt Uglysticks etc.... so as I said above... if they last this long you can easily justify the price over a variety store special which will only last a year and wont give you 1/10th the pleasure... and hey they have a 10year warantee to boot!!!! This is virtually what Loomis give you...!!!! Rodger Wearne

Guys... Keep an eye on this space..... I have just commisioned Tony the Maestro at Fishfinder to build me another Killer rod.... After a lot of too-ing and fro-ing of phone calls and 3 trips to the shop with me telling Tony what I wanted and Tony telling me that is "if you do this with that particular blank then you wil get a rod that will do xxxx" Soo many choices.... aaaarrrgghhh.... but Tony knows what he is talking about and really helps fill in the blanks.... (No Pun Intended) Anyway after some common sense talking and exploration of possabilities today ( and a few stirring remarks... you will keep tony ...) We arrived at a formula that will give a killer rod for kings and other fish like snapper.... After much debate about rod length (me not wanting to cut down this amazing 6-8kg 8'9" blank... yet have something to fit in the car no longer than 7'6") it finally dawned on me that "Hey I usually have the boat on the back of my car.....so I can fit an 8ft rod in!...." so 8ft it will be... "it feels soo choice at this length!!!" Let me tell you the feel of nearly the full length of this blank is something to behold... nothing out there matches it...if you dont believe me.. go see it at Tony's and check it out... I dare you...(just tell him Rodger Sent you or he wont have my cup of tea ready next time!!!) Tony has had these blanks custom made... so you are not just getting a custom binding job... you are getting a "complete unique ULTRA-Mean stick and a half!"... you will have to ask him all the technical details... (perhaps you can add a bit on a reply tony?) I have personally tried the 4-6kg "snapper plastic" rod built on the 4kg blank... and that rod had amazing feel.... (if you are that way inclined it will kill snapper , bream and big lizzards etc.. and casts like a dream....... so for God's sake go take a look...it is amazing!!!!) However I wanted something with a bit more GRUNT to be able to handle Kings over a metre in length and also be able to punch line out as far as possible with only unweighted 6" sluggos....in the wind even!!!...LOL ... yet still be able to handle Snapper with some finess.... hence keeping as much TIP as possible was crucial.... I had tried both of the current market leaders in factory rods... the T-Curve Rods (where much action was lost dut to a very long stiff handle section) and Wilson Texalium which for all intensive purposed seems like a broomstick with a tip on in..and a bit short for my liking at 7' ... which is great if you want to personally eat 50 wheatbix a day and muscle a fish out .... then tremble on the bottom of the boat for 1/2 an hour with fatigue....but I prefer to let the rod do the work and absorb the runs and shock.... Better to save my shoulders and back!!!! I think this makes fishing for Larger powerful pelagics much more enjoyable and fun.... KINGFISH iN MY BOOKS ARE A TORPEDO WITH FINS.... it isnt so much the speed of thier run but the momentum due to weight and torpedo shape... this makes them so hard to hang onto and to turn. (ALSO Note: for around an extra $50 over the Wilson you are getting your OWN PERSONALISED CUSTOM Rod".(and something I consider far superior).. Rods like this may seem expensive but my last custom rods have lasted me 20 years and are still going strong.... so divide the cost by 20... it will probably work out cheaper than the variety store specials!!!!! not to mention give you a hell of a lot more pleasure and pride!) Anyway enough for now.... But I will have this rod within 2 weeks (guess the epoxy has to dry hey Tones) and I will give you a full review under "test conditions" Personally I can't wait!!! If you feel the urge to check out what is available then go over to Fishfinder and Tell Tony I sent you... he honestly has a huge range of rods factory and custom "off the rack" and those special blanks he can build for you I hope you get as much pleasure out of them as I do.... Cheers & tight lines (with no broken rods) Rodger Wearne

Hi Dan, I must say I use cyrstal fireline and I am not all that impressed with it... though this is in 20lb for kingfish etc.... It is not invisible... no line is... even leader material... just less visible than something else... One thing you will find is that fireline is not true braid... it is twist and then heat fused.... other fused braids such as mustard super braid are braid ...then heat fused... Fused braids can be misleading in this way.... unfused braids such as finns and others in a dyneema or PE braid are true braid because without the fusing they will fall apart without being braided. as for braid in itself... it has next to no stretch and therefore you have better feeling of bites through your fingers... You will need some good leader material... several feet... mono or preferably flurocarbon which is much more abraision resistant and tougher, but otherwise it is personal choice. One thing you MUST make sure of is "Is my reel suited to braid?" Basically... your reel MUST wind the line on very evenly and in a fine tight pattern!!!!! Most of the current generations will do this... however be prepared to have to modify the reel slightly to fit shims under the spool to ensure the full face of the spool is covered with braid.... sure you will get it on your reel otherwise... BUT.... getting it off the spool without grabbing, tangling or twisting is critical... and you dont want to continually stuff casts to timid fish or have the line grab in the spool in the middle of a huge kingfish running on your drag.... it will bust you off. (this may result in the expensive habit of throwing equipment overboard) There are true benefits to braid though.... 1. it has a fine diameter.... eg 20lb has a diameter of 8lb mono (just dont run it through your fingers with a big fish on!) 2. it is stronger... 20lb braid breaks at around 30lb. 3. braid has no line memory... no annoying spirals 3. unfused braid is softer (but more prone to knotting than fused) 4. fused braid is stiffer (good if you are unsure about reel capabilities) and has no memory but prob wont cast as far as unfused as it is rougher ... therefore harder on your guides and reel. it is worth trying but get some solid avice based on the gear you intend to use.... I would suggest you give a call to or go and see Tony at Fishfinder (he is also a site sponsor and you will get a discount anyway) Cheers Rodger Wearne

Great to hear sammy.... Hope the water outside warms up for your test run... Tony is a great source of Gear isn't he....

It definately pays to have a backup plan if you want to head outside... Just in case... bring some prawns and fish for Flathead.... good backup in Botany Bay.... Of course if your boat is too big to attack them in the shallows then all you can hope for is a trevally or two... (bigger boats are a pain in shallow water ain't they?)

Hi Guys, I was fortunate enough to get my hands on and test out one of Fishfinder Tony's you-beut Custom pro-series rods during the week... Must say... these are "so choice"!!! wunderbar! So much nicer curve and feel than the t-curve bluewater spin I considered and 1 piece means no weak loading point at the joint... so no chance of lantern blowouts where the rod changes from say 4 wrap to 8... The graphite blanks are custom rolled for Fishfinder by Pacific Composites and are sooooo slick compared to anything else I have felt in a long time.. and look great too... a deep pearl blue colour (blue resin over graphite?) ....great blank choice guys!! I gave it a litteral hammering on 60-65cm Kings and it took it well ...even though it was only the 4-6kg version.... (BIG NOTE TO SELF: 6-8kg version is a must for kings next time.... just in case ... besides...I cant let them have too much fun...... but it WAS FUN!!! ) The rod casts a treat too... with slick silicon carbide guides unweighted 6"-7" sluggos were no problem to cast.... working the sluggo was soo easy... and a quality alloy locking reel seat means the reel cannot move... a problem some have experienced reading the reports. the 4-6kg version was prob a bit light on for kings but truely would be a deadly dream for lure and bait casting on fish like snapper, Flathead and Bream etc... (anything that is not a torpedo with fins basically) I would like to see a multi-taper version of the same blank with a heavier butt section as it would be a killer all-round kingfish rod. Bring on the next rod Tony!!! (and please let me try it!!! ) Regards Rodger PS... I am soooo impressed with Tony's service and helpfulness... he spent ages with me looking at rods... I cannot recommend that you speak to him highly enough... Call Tony on 0418 631 022 or 9661 7967 at the shop

It all depends on how much you want to spend....and how serious you are.... and do you want a rod to last as long as your reel or to last a lifetime... I have just bought a Pro-Series custom rod from Fishfinder Tony (site sponsor) and it mates well with everything from a 2500 to a 6500.... but you will have to buy your missus lots of dinners to tank her for letting you buy it.... A custom rod is something special and in this case Tony's rods are also custom made blanks....made specifically for fishfinder... so doubly special in my books.... and talk about a sweet action!!!!! These will definately handle a huge range of fish including snapper and kingfish.... And they have a 10year warantee ..... Really worth giving him a call... Cheers Rodger

Absolutely all rods (except maybe &&*&*& china made specials) do have and must have a spine.... this is the strength of the rod and they have to start and stop adding wraps to the rod at some point! if you pick up a rod with two hands one at the tip and the other around 1/3 to 1/4 the way down the rod and rotate it slowly you will see it visibly lift the butt higher at a certain point... usually where the runners are up or down depending on overhead or threadline/sidecast configuration. personally I love overheads for the following reasons but I believe that many threadlines are catching up now days with much better drag systems.... and Overheads are harder to cast in a breeze and with lighter weights. 1. The biggest factor for me.... Overheads allow near frictionless free spool... allowing a fish to run and swallow a bait without feeling hooked at all...AND you do not end up with a huge amount of slack line ...only what the fish pulls directly off the reel..... works very well on flathead etc when they are touchy... 2. overheads let you run the line through your fingers while retrieving at any speed hence you can feel small strikes or a fish mouthing the bait... again excellent for flathead which often half grab the bait as it goes past.... but if you strike it will drop it. 3. Overheads allow you to thumb the spool instantly increasing drag or stopping a cast exactly where you want it... OR MORE IMPORTANTLY setting the hooks on a fish without turning the handle... 4. If I ever want to float a bait in a slow current away from the boat (with or without a float) it peels off sooo smoothly..... for this reason apart from casting sluggos repeatedly (the more you cast the more backlashes you will get) or casting into a breeze.. I love these for boat fishing.... I have an ABU 6500c which I have had for near 20yrs and it is still going strong.... and I love it.... but again it is personal choice.... but these are the benefits of an overhead over a threadline.... One thing though that many overheads offered over threadlines is the lever drag..... though to a lesser extent reels such as shimano baitrunners have caught up on this... but I think the overhead will win out on longevity if you are spending big bucks... thats why serious game reels for marlin /tuna etc are still overhead ...such as everol's, TLD's etc... Cheers Rodger