Ryder

I feel for you Pickles. Just had cancelled a week up the coast myself, landlord cancelled the booking and the boss cancelled my leave. I’m lucky I’m still able to go out to work, my wife is working from home whilst tidying up the house. Now I have a “To Do” box. Bless her.

My first Blackfish changed my fishing life. A fellow Fishraider took time out to guide me and instruct me in the etiquette. Thanks Trevor. That lead to me catching heaps of fish and fishing with some great guys. I won't forget it. Mine is the smaller fish.

Hi Raiders, I have acquired a few rods over the years, but this one is probably my favourite. I won it in an online auction for about $40 a few years back. It's very light and it has a great action. At the time I called it a Snyderglas 2 wrap 144BF, just recently I removed the butt cap revealing the actual model number C144BF. It has caught heaps of fish in the past, love got to start using it more often. Does anyone else have a favourite piece of gear?

Thanks guys, it all adds to the story, 'Provenance' (Antiques Roadshow) So the shop moved from one side of the road to the other. Shame it's gone now. They built quality gear.

Hi Raiders After wild weather I finally got out to put the newly acquired Butterworth through it's paces. While the upper harbour is still off colour the lower reaches are clearing up after the big fresh and the Blackfish are hungry. I met up with Trevor at the spot before sunrise, only to find it occupied by another group of fishos there so we made our way around to a second spot hoping it might produce. In the pre dawn light it was hard to judge the depth to fish. It was a matter of trial and error, looking at the way the float was sitting and adjusting the float stopper. Trevor got the first down but pulled the hook, only just feeling weight. I got a few downs before I pulled up tight on a good fish. The new rod performed beautifully, with a great parabolic action and a softness which makes you really feel the fight. We were into a school and the fishing was pretty consistent as the tide was nearing high. One fish reefed me in the kelp, I couldn't pull him out so I free spooled, dropped all tension, and after a couple of minutes my float surfaced and I was still on and soon he was safely in the net. At the the top of the tide the bite slowed down, we looked back at our first spot and the other guys were gone so we move in. Fish came on from the first drift, and we kept adding to the bag. Quite a few throwbacks, but most fish were in the 30 to mid 30 range. Trevor got wrapped around a pylon by a very good fish, he tried everything to get him out, but had to bust him off and we watched his homemade Aussie red cedar float drift away. I bagged out with my 10 and the bite really slowed down so we called it a day. I pulled up the keeper net and 2 fish dropped out the bottom onto the deck and a third with his head half out the hole. The net obviously got torn on the oysters. 5 fish had made their escape so we ended up with 13. Good day thanks mate.

There is a great looking gutter at the southern part of Newport. This photo is from low tide this afternoon. There is a lot debris up on the sand from the storm and the big high tide last week, but the beach is clear and weed free!!!

Great session. Those toothy fish gave that lure a makeover. Nothing a little nail polish won't fix.

Cheers guys, calling it BF3144 light.

Hi Raiders, Here is a vintage Butterworth blackfish rod custom built in Narrabeen by Grahams. The colour of the blank made me think it was Snyderglas, but when I showed Royce he confirmed it's Butterworth and predates Snyder by more than a decade, early 70's. Its the classic see thru red, with underbound black Fuji guides. It's Butterworths version of a Sportex 662, and when placed side by side the length and taper are identical. It's in great usable condition, binding show a bit of age but still OK. I've matched it up with an Avon Royal making it a classic combo. I can't wait to get out and use it.

Hi Raiders I just picked up a couple of vintage custom built Blackfish rods from Grahams 1315 Pittwater Rd. Does anyone remember them? Looks like they could have been where Bunnings is now.

The jetty holds heaps of garfish, drummer and even bluefish (legal on LHI). It's really interesting to watch the resident drummer, they're wise to the fact a floating piece of breath may have a hook in it, they smack it with their tail a few times to break it up before striking. The spot called Old Gulch is a hot spot for landbased kings, garfish are there too and make a good bait. You could even take a kayak around the lagoon and throw lures for reef species. Its been a while, but Too Shop used to sell an envelope of fishing spot, the Jetty and Gulch were on it. Dont miss the daily fish feeding at Neds Beach, metre plus kingies being hand fed leftovers from the guesthouses in knee deep water.

Good to hear Neil. I hope things keep improving.

Cheers guys it was good to catch-up and get a few fish too. Neil, summer is a pretty good time, off the rocks especially.

Hi Raiders, I planned a trip to Huntleys Pt to fish the runout tide, I was just speculating and wanted a bit of a sleep in. The plan changed last night when I got the call the fish were on at Rozelle. I arrived late, like something the cat dragged in to join the gang. There was Hawkesbass, Luderick Angler, McGoo, The Guru and the Bee Keeper, some of the best known characters of the Sydney blackfish scene. Good natured banter and competition for the fish of the day kept things interesting while it was a bit of a slow start. The boys had a few in the bag when I turned up, and after a bit of fiddling with depths I was into them too. They came on really came on towards the top of the tide. I added 4 to the bag and another throw back. There could have been more but I still struggle a little trying to cast distance on the Trudex. I got a couple of nice birds nests and finally had to cut line and re rig, by then the fish were gone. We ended up with 17 in the bag, the Bee Keeper added one more after I took the photo. There were a few throwbacks, and fish of the day was The Gurus 43cm. We actually got some rain as well, let's hope it starts falling in the right places. Cheers

The servo sells live worms, you must get in early.

Another day at the office. Conditions look great and fish are busting up at Manly. The smoke haze should keep them around.

Great report. The boys certainly look happy.

Very nice

You can launch there, I've seen folks do it. There is a path of stepping stones at the edge of the mangroves. Rotary Field Lane Cove is a much easier option with a purpose built pontoon.

Nice bag. Glad you're back.

Thanks for that. They look pretty cool. I’m surprised how solid those guides are. I will definitely keep them when I do a refurbish.

Hi Raiders A couple of weeks ago I found a rod in an online auction with the title 'Vintage Rod No Name'. From the pictures I could tell it was a game rod, custom built with quality guides all underbound. The colour of the blank was also a bit of tease, it could, it probably is maybe a Sportex. I put in a bid of $20 and won. The pattern in the glass confirmed my suspicions, it is a Sportex. From the dimensions I calling it a 701 model. Another one for a growing collection. Now I need a game boat.

Well done Rick. I love a bargain.

Hi Neil, Thanks for the report. I, like many others can't imagine how bad conditions really are, your pics make it hit home.

Great bag. Your family are lucky to have such a good provider. At near $50 per kilo flathead is getting too expensive.