Clarkie

One of the many problems with carp, is because they feed from the mud, they also pick up all the dioxins/heavy metals etc in the mud. That would pretty much rule out eating any caught in the Sydney basin. That said, I also wouldn't be putting them in my vege patch either. Those Tommy's might get pest resistant and heavier but not in a good way.

Thornleigh tackle are pretty good. Don't have big sales (well none that I've seen), but their prices are pretty competative.

The body referred to I think was a jumper off De Burghs a week or 2 ago.

Only on special carp bashing days. They don't happen very often. Once every year or two. Very difficult to organise.

I know you know Fletcher, but for others who don't, bait fishing isn't allowed in the fresh section of the LCR. Because it's catch and release, lures and fly are a safer option for the fish. With the weather heating up, the Bass should be around. Just keep persisting. You'll get them soon.

There are heaps of those dragons down there. I've had to move a few times when they start chasing the lures. Good luck with the spot Fletch.

There are definately bass there, but they are pretty cagey. I've only caught 2 there from more trips than I care to remember. Land based you can only fish west of roughly Fiddens Wharf. There are signs posted on the park entrance road. It's pretty tough going being land based as there are only a few spots you can get to the water and get casts in. Better off in a Kayak or canoe. You can hire them on weekends (not sure about midweek) from the boatshed. If in a yak you can't fish downstream of the boatshed. It's also lure and fly only and catch & release only. There are very good reasons why they restrict fishing in the fresh water part of the LCR so much, and it's because the bass population is really struggling in this section from years of polluted water, the wier and the huge carp population in there. There are EP's downstream of the weir, but I've never caught one. Again yaks or canoes are the best way to fish this section. Good luck, Clarkie.

About $370 aren't they?

I've got a TD-S that I quite like. If you don't mind buying off ebay, then there are a few new ones floating around.

Where do you park the chopper?

No idea about spawning, but bait is the go for carp. It isn't unheard of for them to take a plastic, but it's pretty rare. I use corn from the can. Put 2 or 3 pieces on a smallish hook, and throw a bit around as burley. Apparently bread or dough works pretty well as well, but the carp around my way like corn better. Good luck.

The trick with salmon (goes for most fish really) is to bleed, gut and get them on ice as soon as you can. Also don't let them thrash about on the deck. they bruise easily. The do go mushy if you don't look after them.

Can't fish land based downstream of Fiddens Warf rd, roughly. There are signs showing where you can and can't. Up stream there are spots you can fish from the bank, but there aren't many. Mainly on the north side of the river. I've caught a couple of carp myself from there, and they aren't bad fun on light gear. The Bass are more fun though. Cheers, Clarkie.

The antique shop has fresh squid. Apparently he sells more bait than antiques.

After spending most of Saturday, and Sunday morning paving, I was more than keen to get on the water. The plan was to meet up down at Balmoral beach, where a mate lives around 2ish. I was deckie in his Tinny, and my other Sth African mate was supposed to be meeting us there in his. Well, the other guy was a no-show. Got home around 5am apparently in no state to leave the house again. Anyway, me and Dave drag his Tinny down to the beach (he's got a little trolley set-up) getting lots of strange looks, and off we go. Start off trolling a couple lures out the back with the plan to head over to nth head. Going around the navy dock we get a hook-up, but it turns out to be a plastic bag. Problem is, when we're ready to start-up again, the clip-on won't fire. As we drift into the no-go zone, the Navy patrol boat comes along to watch us. It was pretty obvious we didn't intend to be there. After about 5 mins trying to fire it up, the handle comes off the ripcord, and the cord comes off the pulley and jams tight. Bugger. No chance of getting this little baby started now, so we drag ourselves on the ropes tying the barge to the pier till we're on the northern side, then the wind starts taking us back to the beach and out of the restricted zone. The Navy boys were happy with this and took off home. Tied off an another of Dave’s mates mooring, and spent about an hour trying to fix the pull cord while Dave tried to burley up some bait. Thought I had it sussed once, but one pull and the return spring slipped off the spool. Bugger this, time for a fish. A couple of casts with a placcie, and one of the tender boats runs straight over my line without looking. Took about 30mtrs before I cut it off. Anyway, re-rig, and next cast come up tight on a 40cm flatty. Nice one. There's dinner taken care of. After about ½ hr of mucking around sipping beers, the guy who owns the mooring rings up and is keen to keep going, so he comes in to drop off his missus and pick us up. It’s about 5pm at this stage. But at least we’re going to get out of Balmoral. Troll for a bit to middlehead for nothing, then over to the waverider for a bottom bash. Pretty windy, but not much of a swell. Didn’t have any luck getting any livies, so frozen pillies and small squid are the bait. Lot’s of pickers around. I picked up a wrasse, and the guy who owned the boat picked up a good sized rock cod, which went back. I also got an eel which was a first for me. It actually took me back to his hole and wouldn’t let go, so I thought all I had was bottom, but after about 5 mins of pulling he finally let go and up he came. Nothing else so at around 8pm we head home. Did see the Endevour come through the heads though. To cap off a pretty ordinary day as we were loading all our gear back into the tinny when I stepped on Dave’s bait jig. Thankfully it was only 1 hook into the middle toe, but F**k it hurt on the way out. It was better than paving though.

Size limits certainly do apply, but if you're thinking Bass, there actually isn't a legal minimum. There is a bag limit of 2 fish in possession. No limits for redfin. Can't help with your question though.

Don't know if this will help, but the shop on Pennant Hills Rd in Thornleigh has a pretty good selection I think.

Great stuff Joe. Backing off the fight must have been hard to do in the middle of the battle, but got the result. Hope I remember that if I ever come across one.

Tomorrow I'll be laying a few pavers, fixing a few things up in my ute and doing whatever the wants me to do. Then Sunday 3 mates, and 2 tinnies are meeting up off Balmorral beach for a fish around Middle Head. Haven't been out on the harbour for ages.

Congrats on the fish Martin. Always good to have a happy ending with a crowd on hand. Great report too. Kept me on the edge of my seat.

And I thought I was the only one. It was my start-up bream stick for a while. Biggest fish I caught on it was a 50cm Salmon. That was good fun. Here's a pic.

Great report Lizard, and well done on the pb bass. Can't wait to upgrade my pb to those sort of specs. Cheers, Steve.

Cowen is thick with the live ones at the moment. Went through about 20 plastics on Saturday.

Minimum once a week, twice during daylight savings. Although this may change in approx 7 months.

to the site Nic, and great fish. If it's any consolation I picked you for a girl, but kept it to myself