wazatherfisherman

Showing back view of Pflueger- drag is on the opposite side to the handle and still functioning smoothly. Would be capable to play large fish on this reel. Drawback would be you'd need to swap rod hands to alter the drag during fight. An interesting find

Here's a really unusual old reel that I've never even seen a picture of before. Housemate John went to Nambour swap meet last Saturday and picked up a few reels for the collection. This one is a Pflueger saltwater- a bit on the heavy side, but built like a tank. Has a non-reversing handle

Hi Chokpa there are smaller Black Drummer in the calm water spots in the Harbour, have caught them while Luderick fishing as far in as Cremorne Point and plenty of times got 1 while Luderick fishing all along the east side of Bradleys Head to Taylors Bay. They aren't there in enough numbers to really target though. A better class (and number) of fish are around Middle Head, but again not a great spot to fish for them. There are some giant "unlandable" sized Blue Groper at Middle Head also. The best spot is Dobroyd Head to Reef Beach, that is genuine rock fishing area. You need a lifejacket and rock plates when fishing there, as the area is affected by swell, similar to ocean front fishing. Best fished in NW to W winds and is even ok in NEasters in summer. Forget going there in any southerly sea, as all the platforms are really low to the water and wave-washed at high tide, which is the best time to fish there. Any northerly swell on the coast leaves Dobroyd pretty flat and easy to fish. The whole Dobroyd area fishes well from about half tide in to half out- there isn't enough water depth towards low tide. As it is a sanctuary zone, you can fish there no problem, but need to take your weed/cabbage in with you. It is mostly known as a Luderick spot, but there are plenty of Drummer, Bream and some giant Blue Groper, as well as pelagics to spin for during summer. Some of the Pigs (Drummer) along here are genuinely large (over 4-5 kg) with average fish in the 1-1.5 kg range. Also you need a keepnet for keeping your catch alive as no decent 'safe' pools for them, landing net not necessary, just wash fish up. Park in Beatty St and the first time you go take the Reef Beach track (Angophra Track) and continue south past reef beach and around the rocks- not dangerous- this leads you to a succession of different platforms. If you look on Google maps, the best platform is the one directly under Dobroyd Head lookout. There are stacks of tracks that lead down to the more southern platforms, however, the first couple of times you go it is easy way to find the spot. Takes about 20 mins walk to the first one, then a few mins from next to next etc. In summer there are plenty of nudists there and by-passing the beach via one of the many higher tracks advisable! As Connico suggested, size 4- 1/0 hooks, if using weed/cabbage (which is abundant there) the smaller sizes will get you more Luderick. Best of luck if you try Dobroyd Cheers Waza

Hi Baz Spearheads 'pointy' edged Stalwarts rounded (top is Stalwart). The jointed diver in "Brown Trout" pattern looks like a Rebel. The Nilsmaster Invincible's were my favourite 'hardbody' due to you could both work and cast them really well with an Alvey. The orange jointed above "Trout" pattern was the "go-to" Bonito lure for years. My brother spun at Julianne (Little Bay) at least a couple of times (usually more) a week and never failed to get Bonnies on that lure in that colour, often he was the only 1 of quite a few blokes spinning to get any. Still have a couple in same and also blue Mackerel colour. There was also a small Invincible that was great for Flatties in pink colour Your home made's look great too! Nice neat paint jobs also! Gives great satisfaction to catch fish on home-made lures eh!

Hi TheCount- Abbotsford Ferry Wharf produces quite a few squid some nights- mostly on the small side (great bait size)- there's rarely a night that someone isn't there trying for them. Best spot is to fish off the eastern side of the walkway out to the wharf, using small jigs (up to 2.5 size). Pheromone or scent spray on the jig recommended when jigging up the river. Battersea Park around the car parking end can be ok for a couple at high tide also, but again, they are often not much bigger than your jig. Some nights the council ranger locks the gate, but not often. A few fish around both those spots also, but when fishing the wharf, there are hours of use restrictions (check with Waterways or Sydney Ferries) Can also get crowded some nights, but you can generally get a spot on walkway

Last one for today- more "Pegron" divers, larger size- got doubles and triples of these 3 colours and also green/yellow- which seemed to get the most fish

These are "Pegron" deep-divers top 3, bottom 2 are absolutely identical lure but "Killalure" brand- maybe a business 'take-over'? not sure, but lures look like from exact same mold

Small Rebel an d Excalibur poppers, originally made for USA freshwater scene, but became popular here at the advent of "Whiting spinning"- lost a fair few to Trevally around the Tweed coast estuaries too- shouldn't throw them out on 2 and 3 kg mono as "big things" like them also

These are probably the most "modern" lures from the box- top 3 are Excalibur and bottom 2 Rebel- all poppers

Heddon Tiny and Teeny Torpedo's bottom one is a Heddon "Dying Flutter" with propeller's at each end

Heddon Baby Torpedo's and Torpedo's- still popular

After fishing Narooma convention and just loving the place, I was lucky enough to go there heaps of times, mostly out to Montague or Mystery Bay if Bar "unfriendly" did a little bit in the lake also when too rough for outside. Also went into the old gold mines from ground entrance and lowered down into the top from above (I was smallest!) really interesting and lovely place Narooma

A couple of original "Devon" minnows- maker unknown. Line through the middle and a treble tied on, similar to Tassie Devil set-up. These lures spin on retrieve, great for Redfin, Trout etc

More small shallow diving minnows- made for freshwater (copper split-rings and 'bronzed hooks) but good for finicky Bream and Flatties also. Lost plenty of these to blasted Tailor over the years, so generally only use in the shallows last few years

Rebel minnows in "Brown and Rainbow Trout" colours- for those that don't know, Trout are both territorial and happily eat there smaller 'kin'- these patterns have been used world-wide for Trout (and other species) for many, many years

I think top is a Cotton Cordell but can't remember name, then Heddon 'Zara Puppy', Zara Spook and bottom is a Rebel "SST" (Super Strong)

These are in "oddities" category- top is a Arbogast "Mud Bug" then a "Creature"- at least I think that's what they were called! Bottom one I think is a Rebel "Hellgramite"

Hi Noelm no you're not dreaming! There were several series and a few similar like Shakespeare's version. Got a couple of the smallest sizes in Saltwater box

Thought the Cotton Cordell deserved a spot on it's own, as it is one of the 'go-to' Bream lures we used to use in the Parramatta River when wading or fishing the shallower bays. Probably would still be almost first choice hardbody for Bream in this colour "Crawfish"- there is a smaller version called "Little O" which is great for the river- caught Whiting, Bream and Flatties, regardless of "non-aerodynamic" shape, it casts well (has metal bib) I think they are still made

Top 3 are "knock off" copies of 3rd row Cotton Cordell "Big O" a really popular style of lure throughout the world, next row these 2 are 'Wiggle Warts' divers and bottom 2 I can't remember the name and print is too small to read- caught a few Bream on them

Better shot of Bumble Bugs

Rebel "Bumble Bug" topwater Bee imitation

Clockwise from top left Rebel Cicada, then 3 x Rebel "Crickhopper" then Rebel "Hopper"s and last ones with tails are Arbogast "Jittermouse"

These are all jointed "Jitterbugs" except bottom right, which is a "Bill's Bug" jointed, again mostly used for Bass

Different sized "Jitterbug's" by Arbogast- still popular surface Bass lure