frankS

kingie. I'm not knocking the idea but I wouldn't use it. I don't use the roll up one I have as I feel if a fish needs to be measured it's probably too close to being undersized anyhow and by the time shrinkage takes place it's likely to become a fine. It would need a large storage space ( side pocket ) and would suit boats in the 6 metre + range. I might make 3 out of the piece I have and wait till I get 3 guys that want one. I won't be gluing the mats to them, whoever they go to will have to do that job themselves. Frank

I have a piece of 1m x 25cm x 5mm pvc pipe here that I think 1/3 diameter would be plenty wide enough so would get 3 x 1m lengths out of it. I just use this to store yard brooms etc upright in so maybe you have put me onto having a proper use for it. I moved the tape as the shutter snapped so it appears wrong measurement but it is 25 cm. Frank

Can't remember when, or where , but I think I started fishing on the days I wagged school just to fill in the time of day till it was time to go home, the passion soon developed into an obsession and I bought a boat before I left school, I worked in a fish and chip shop to earn pocket money and the shop owner went guarantor for me to purchase a 12 foot alloy boat with 4 hp Johnson outboard from Nock and kirbys . The brother inlaw would drive me down to the ramp and pick me up at a designated time. I would start of with a small bag of prawns and usually end the day with almost as many as when I started. I soon developed the knack to find fish and the slaughter began. By the time I got a licence I upgraded to a 15 ' Savage boat with 70 hp Johnson. That was 1965 and I started venturing outside. The rest is history. Frank

Think you may be on the money here. I will try the jumper leads thing tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion. Something I didn't think of. Frank

Kingie. I have played with the mode button but still no go. Frank

All good connections. Thanks for your reply. I have another 1 charger. Frank

Hi all. I have a smallish battery charger that does the job most times for charging ordinary battery's , however to charge small battery for powering my NBN back up the charger doesn't appear to work. I have 2 of these battery's that I alternate between each other when needed and have another charger that charges them. The charger doesn't light up any of the charge modes and was wondering if anyone could explain to me why this is, and if there is something I am doing wrong ?. Sorry for the out of focus pictures . Frank

I remember some time ago I arrived at Waratah Bay to fish for Hairtail, I arrived late as I was fishing further up the creek for Bream and having some success. Anyhow I got into the bay and all the usual spots were taken up by anchored boats, I pulled up on the opposite side of the bay to what I normally fish and pulled out a decent sized bream from my keeper tank, hooked it through the mouth and cunningly lowered it over the side of the boat. Waited a few moments and then proceeded to make out like I had just hooked the fish, made an awful racket to insure the other boats would notice my capture and played the Bream back to the boat and netted it. Within minutes 3 of the anchored boats up anchored and proceeded to come over to my side of the bay. I then motored over and anchored in my favorite position for the night's fishing. Frank

Waza. What an epic tale, most enjoyable reading I have done in a long while. As I am a bad reader I generally get bored with long threads but your story and the way you tell it had me interested all the while I was reading it. It also reminded me of many of my youthful days adventures. Thanks for sharing with us. Frank

Thank you Donna and thank you fishraider and all on board. It's the members here that help people like me and the rest of the gold members to do what we do. It's all about helping each other out in any way we can. I am proud to join a group of wonderful people and will continue to do whatever is within my ability to help anyone out that I can. Frank

Put a rattle gun on a greased nut/stud and you are just asking for failure. Just wash the wheels at the end of the session. Frank

Kingie. I feel for you , loosing what would have been your PB is hard to accept with grace but still the excitement of seeing the beast and having a couple of chances of netting it is far better than loosing it before you see what it is, you always wonder , was it the fish of a lifetime ?. Thanks for sharing the moment with us. Frank

Well sorry guys but I have to disagree with the idea of putting grease on wheel nuts of the trailer. On the spare wheel a thin smear of Vaseline is all that is needed and the nuts should only be used for the spare. IF you put grease on a wheel nut it won't find it's proper tension and you will tend to tighten the nut up very tight which will in fact stretch the stud out of shape and could lead to failure , a wheel nut should be tensioned DRY not greased. Frank

Except for the mushrooms that sounds delicious . Gummy is one of my favorite eating fish and I keep the cooking part simple as I prefer to taste the fish rather than all the added stuff. Frank

Robbie was a mate of mine and a regular on my other site, he then started to write to magazines so had to leave my site due to conflict with the magazine. He is a great bloke with plenty of knowledge. Your outfit should handle Cod to a certain size. Frank

Geoff. As Scratchie said the bar is not just a couple of wave breaks, it goes on and on for about 200 metres or more with washing machine waves which are very hard to pick. You need to study the path for a while from shore and then from boat before you GO . Coming back in is the dangerous time. It can be scary . At times it will be mild enough for a beginner to safely negotiate but those times are rare. The creek crossing has a right angle twist to it and is like a beach launch where you have to cross a couple of steep waves, not what you need on your first trip there. Once you get out the fishing is great, but there are safer places. I could tell you a few stories of my adventures there some great and some not so great. I love the place but I have had 50 years of crossing bars. If you had a few days to study the area and get used to it you would be fine once you done it a few times. You have to start somewhere so try a few easier bar crossings before you try to tackle one of the worst. Frank

Neil. Has the water level risen any or is it restricted to how much the release through the catchment gates ?. Great photos. Wow I could get a few bowls from that tree Susan is holding up !!. Frank

Geoff. AHH yes you're right it would still turn the trim motor over but slip. MY bad. Sometimes wires look OK but have bad connections, multi meter all wires shake them etc. good luck and I hope it turns out to be something simple. Frank

Geoff. I'm with Sigma on this one. Either that or check for oil leaks around tilt unit and on ground where you park boat and check oil level in reservoir . Frank

So here it is all ready to put some line on it and catch a fish, the drag works fine and reel is nice and smooth. I have a coat of varnish on it and will probably add a couple of more coats. Hope the varnish keeps the salt water out , but probably only be used once and then stored away somewhere. At least now I know I can make reel spools successfully so might make a few more for the Alveys. Frank Sorry photos slightly out of focus

Follow up on my new hobby. This is my first attempt at making a wood spool for a fishing reel. Couldn't find one of my 4 inch Alveys so decided to make a copy of a Seamartin 11 spool and this is the result to date. raining at the moment so not in the shed as it leaks right where I want to work, so showing a progress shot. Just have to finish it off by drilling the through hole and hollowing out the back to make it a bit lighter. The crucial part will be the thickness where the drag washers go so that the drag works properly and placing the clicker spring in, will have to find some tiny screws ( probably from an old watch. Frank

Must admit that is one I have never done, done most of the stupid/forgetful things but not that one as the last thing I do before launching the boat is double check to see if bungs are in , and you would see the muffs on the motor, almost kissing them when checking bungs. Frank

Back in the day when I was a kid ,long, long time ago , the ferry used to go between Lugarno and Menai . As the ferry came to the ramp and the ramp of the ferry slid up the ramp of the roadway for the cars to get on/off it was sometimes packed with Garfish and I would be there with a bucket and run onto the ramp and gather up all the stranded garfish. The ferry operators knew me so gave me a minute or two before opening the gates to allow the cars to drive off. So to answer your question Yes Garfish are OR were abundant in the Georges river. Frank

Hi guys. Bought myself a cheap small wood turning lathe to start up a new hobby. Thinking of making some spools for Alvey reels and some hand casters from various types of wood. I have a heap of Camphor Laurel logs which I believe is a popular furniture making wood so will see how these turn out. So far just kicking off with some very simple items like egg cups and pen pencil holders but as I get a bit better at it I will start making bowls of all sizes and shapes. Probably something to give away at Christmas time IF I think what I make is worth giving to anyone for presents. I know a lot of us fisho's have different hobbies aside from fishing so what is a few hobbies that others do ?. I know Big Neil is into pottery and he makes some very nice items. Please use this space to show us all what other hobbies you have. Frank

I am /was lucky enough to have a water restriction exemption permit but I felt a bit guilty to use it when others around me couldn't . As for victims not receiving any benefits yet. my mate in Cobargo got $1000 up front to help out with small things like lack of electricity etc. he was lucky enough to have his house and sheds saved and had a generator which powered his freezer and a few essential items . He will use the $1000 to buy a new water pump for his dam which is now pretty empty. Frank