slinkymalinky

And I was just reminded to add to the list... 3. Drag Pressure A lot of companies are also now advertising big drag pressures. Firstly, not all drags are created equal. Just ask anyone who goes popper fishing for GTs. It's not just the absolute max drag that's important in fishing but also how smooth it is, smooth progression as pressure increases, and also the minimising of 'drag inertia' (or 'startup drag' as it's often called... the possible spike in drag pressure just before it starts to give line... a good drag has minimal or none... a bad drag can have a huge spike) A good drag is about materials, design & tolerances. Good ones cost money. The other thing to say about drag is that some of the pressures are pointless. Why do you need 9kg of drag on a bream reel that's only going to be fishing 2kg line? And anyone who says they can fish a jig reel with 30kg of drag is either a titan or gilding the lily.

I agree with the comments about the Okuma reels. They're great value for what you get but you're paying for better features at the price rather than better engineering. The newer generation Okumas (like the Cedros) seem to be getting much better though. I've also got a Saltist 40H and would highly recommend it. With that said though, when I chase kings and amberjacks off the Tweed, I usually take an Abu and a Stella outfit. Cheers, Slinky

I was having a chat today with another Raider and it raised a point that I thought I'd share. A lot of us grapple with how to compare different reels and judge their quality. Everyone is looking for something different in a reel so I'm not about to tell you what's right and what's wrong. Here's a couple of things to think about around a couple of the main criteria a lot of people use to judge a good reel: 1. Smoothness We've all picked up reels in a shop, given the handle a couple of cranks, and fallen in love with the buttery smoothness. BUT, not all reels that aren't velvety are bad. If you ever use a reel with stainless gearing for example you will nearly always notice a slightly rough feel. That's a given with stainless... it's much harder than the alloys more commonly used which makes it usually a little 'rattly' but it's a lot stronger too. Some reels are also buttery out of the box but because of soft gears or cheap bearings, deteriorate rapidly. 2. Bearings A lot of tackle companies still make a big point of featuring the number of bearings in a reel and we're supposed to believe more is better. Good bearings at retail cost upwards of $10 each, so a 10 bearing real could potentially be $100 just for the bearings. I can buy bearings for $1-$2 each though... so can the tackle manufacturers. That's how they manage to sell 'many bearing' reels that seem like a massive bargain. Not all bearings are created equal and a reel with 4 or 5 good bearings will be a much better bet than a cheap reel with 10 or 11. The cheap bearings have poor tolerances and don't last. Cheers, Slinky

Wow, Roberta. What an awesome trip and equally awesome report. Not sure the salad photo straight after the tree frog photos tells quite the right story... without reading the words it looks like a recipe for tree frog salad Fantastic pics as always. What an amazing crew you hang around with... catching the sort of fish out of Yaks that most of us rarely see in boats. Congrats to all. :thumbup: Cheers, Slinky

G'day Jez, I don't have either of those 2 reels but servicing spin reels is nearly always about following a standard procedure. Make sure you have the schematics at hand, then carefully disassemble the reel, keeping all the parts lined up in the order and orientation they were removed. Once it's all disassembled, clean everything, lube everything, put everything back together in the reverse order you removed it. Any bearings that aren't running perfectly can be replaced (along with any parts that are worn or damaged to the point where they effect the reel's performance). If you read through any of the spin reel tutorials in the forum then you'll see they all follow this procedure. If you're not 100% confident then I'd advise you not to start on your favourite reels until you have some more experience. Practice on reels you don't care so much about. The alternative is to send them off for a service to Daiwa. They'll service the reels and replace any parts. By the sounds of it, the Procaster might need a bearing or two replaced. If it's as rough as you say and full of crud then other problems might need fixing too. As for the Carbontex drag upgrades, you won't find sets specifically listed for those reels but if you get in touch with... http://www.smoothdrag.com/ (as always, please note that this web link has been allowed courtesy of admin) ... they have a comprehensive range of washers. You'll need to accurately measure the washers in the reels at the moment (using digital calipers... a ruler isn't accurate enough). Here's a pdf of a list of sizes I know they have: Carbontex_washer_sizes.pdf Cheers, Slinky

Every so often I get to witness a truly memorable capture. When that's combined with a great day out on the water in perfect conditions, it's something very special. OK... so I might be exaggerating a bit... or a lot... but it was a fantastic day out. Mainly because it's the first time I've had my boat in the water since December and especially because of the company on the day. Jewhunter and a non-Fishraider mate of mine, Paul, both joined me for s morning session on the Tweed River. Paul and I picked up JH at around 6.30 in the morning and after a quick stop so Paul could get a fishing license (we still don't need them on the other side of the border so it's pretty common that it's a last minute 'oh my gosh!' moment for us Queenslanders), we launched at Condong ramp. The perfect conditions were in fact, a river that looked like strong white coffee and a really annoying gusty wind. Jewhunter's original plan to throw poppers for trevally was a wash, as was his next plan to fish Barney's Point bridge, and his next plan to fish near the Golf Club, and his next plan to fish some shallow flats for whiting. Geez, you've got to admire that local knowledge. So with responsibility as the skipper, I cam to the rescue by randomly picking a nice looking bit of bank where we got a nice drift and a succession of just legal and just under flathead. In return for my ability to get the local and my other mate onto some fish I copped a barrage of sledging. Some people could learn some gratitude I tell you! All because I made sure that my crew caught the legal fish while I thoughtfully restricted my own captures to the 'just unders'. We managed to find an amazing hole that we'll be going back to again too... it drops from 3m to about 14m and has great current and eddies. We saw another boat pull a really nice Flatty there drifting livies. No doubt JH will now claim 'local knowledge' of that spot even though it took a Queenslander to find it for him. So... finally on to that memorable capture. It was the only one that warranted pulling out the camera. Of course, it was the result of another of JH's plans... to fish an area that was "crawling with Flathead". We didn't catch any flatties but JH did get a couple of small bream, Paul got what must be close to a world record Fortescue, and then Jewhunter caught this: Don't get too excited... we don't want the tweed full of boats next time we go out... Cheers, Slinky

For around $10 you could replace the felt washers with Carbontex which IMHO will noticeably improve the performance of your drag. Just give them a coat of drag grease and swap them straight in. Cheers, Slinky

I use white spirits for everything except bearings... Then I use carburetor cleaner in an aerosol can. Cheers, Slinky

Hi jonathon, Just a quick reply from my mobile while I'm sitting in my car hiding from the rain in Yamba... Its very likely to be problems with one or more of the bearings but the only way to know is for you to have someone look at it properly. At the very least it's probably going to need a strip down and service. Cheers, Slinky

Well, it's been a lean start to the year fishing-time-wise but I finally had spare time, weather and freedom from other commitments coincide and got out fishing. The real motivation of course, is Jewhunter's absence on a family holiday... so he gets to come back and read about us getting out fishing without him I went out yesterday with Bob and Greg on Greg's (aka Brown Dog) Bar Crusher. Met the boys at Fingal ramp on the Tweed at around 5.30am (thank heavens for the end of daylight savings so it was also 5.30 on my own side of the Queensland border!!). And we were out on the water most rinky tink Crossing the Tweed bar is always hairy. Even in the nearly flat conditions we had for our trip, the last of the falling tide had waves standing up and occasionally breaking in the entrance. It's very rare nowadays that I'll take my own little boat through there:1giveup: but Greg's girl is a weapon and handles it easily and safely. First order of the day was catching live bait which was also hairy. Partly it was the lifting swells in our favorite bait spot and partly it was the slanging coming from another boat containing one of Greg & Grant's mates, Norm ... oh, and he followed it up with the occasional bait hurled our way After a run out to one of Greg's top wide marks, the livie rigs went down and what followed wasn't frantic but it was a pretty good session nonetheless. Bob started things off with a 6kg snapper and the rest of the session saw Amberjack in the 5-7kg size range coming over the side. They were in great condition and pulled a lot harder than the Ambers we were getting late last year. They'll only get more numerous and more hungry now that the cooler weather is coming. I finished the day with a couple, Greg got 4 and Bob landed 3. There were a few pulled hooks and I got completely bricked once. It's brutal fishing... heavy drags (for those of us who have working drags in our reels - by the way Bob, I do have a carbon washer here for the TLD!!) and brute force all the way from 70m to the surface. Lots of fun and it was great to blow out some cobwebs. I don't have any pics so the other boys will have to post some of theirs. Cheers, Slinky

The new mark to beat for King George Whiting on bait is 51cm, taken by Mad Keen Jon from the York Penninsula (SA). Report here

the new mark to beat for Pigfish on bait is 35cm, taken by Cungee George. Report here

My 'YAAAAAAYYY' for the day goes to Roberta. She dunked a reel and I had it on my workbench from Forster inside 48 hours. Less than 4 hours later it had been completely stripped, cleaned, relubed and reassembled. It didn't even need new bearings. As soon as Roberta dunked the reel she stopped using it immediately (continuing to use a reel that has been dunked, even just for the rest of the session, can emulsify the lubricants and magnify, or even do extra, damage). She sprayed inside and out thoroughly with Innox... it doesn't solve anything but does disperse a lot of the water an slow down any damage. Then she got it in the post to be serviced. A lot of people I talk to who want advice on reels that have started to seize up or are having problems, tell me "yeah... it got dunked a few weeks ago but I thought it was ok". It's not... if you dunk your reel, do what Roberta did and get it serviced immediately. Cheers, Slinky

For almost the same price (only usually around $10-$20 difference), consider getting yourself a 6600C4. The 2 extra bearings make it smoother but more importantly, the thumb-bar free-spool lever is more convenient when casting than the lever on the right side assembly on the C3. I have lots of ABUs including both C3s and C4s. Both are great but the C4 is just that little bit more enjoyable to fish with. Cheers, Slinky

Nice gear, Leo. Having Scotch in a tackle shop seems like a very dangerous pastime. Cheers, Slinky

Nice pick-up Roberta... not like you need any more advantages chasing the Blackies. They already virtually give up as soon as they see you heading for the water. You'll have them lining up to hop straight into your keeper net soon. Are we going to get to see photos of the Bullet Bobber at the Entrance? Cheers, Slinky

Strap a trapeze under it and it might make a handy hang-glider. I think that was Nessie's cousin. Cheers, Slinky

PM sent

Is it any wonder I don't love you any more??? I've barely had time to scratch myself recently and you keep calling and texting me while I'm working, traveling or sitting in the dentist's chair... just to let me know you're fishing and having a ball. I'm thinking of opening up a fishing tackle museum for all my dusty old rods and reels. A couple of fantastic sessions and some beautiful fish. And here I am with my macrame needles sitting all on my lonesome. I have only one thing to say.... COD It nearly sticks in my throat to say it... but nice work, JH Slinky

Nice mixed bag, Swordy. A very relaxing way to pass the time Cheers, Slinky

G'day nosliw, It depends on the reel and how well it's been prepped in the factory. There are some top name brand reels that come out of Malaysia that have been known to arrive with no lubrication in the bearings at all for example. I usually open up every reel I buy and give it the slinky treatment before they hit the water. This can end up being anything from simply applying a couple of drops of oil or grease, through to completely stripping the reel down and cleaning & relubing everything. The best way to think about it is to just be able to go fishing being 100% confident in the gear you're using. Cheers, Slinky

G'day dafidav, The simplest rig for baitfishing for bream is a simple 'running sinker' rig. First though, there are 2 important things that will give you a much better chance from the outset. - Use the lightest line and smallest sinkers you can get away with - Use only the freshest bait (preferably that you've caught yourself or at least that you buy fresh... good quality Pilchards are an exception though... but pink nippers, blood worms, sand worms, pippis, prawns... all work heaps better fresh. 'Servo prawns' and similar are on the bottom of the list for fish, although you'll still get some. I'd rig up with about 6lb - 10lb mono or 4-6lb braid with a 6-10lb mono leader. Tie a small swivel to the end of your line or leader with the smallest ball (round) sinker you can get away with above it running free on the line (your sinker should be just enough to get you to the bottom. If there is no current at all you can even get away with no sinker at all). To the bottom of the swivel tie on a 6-10lb mono or fluorocarbon trace around 60cm long. Tie a hook to that which suits your bait size and type. Then go fishing. The running sinker rig will allow a fish to pick up your bait confidently and swim off with it without feeling resistance from the sinker. Their are heaps of variations on this and everyone has their own preferences but if you fish the right location with quality bait and this rig, you WILL catch bream. Cheers, Slinky

I don't know the first thing about Indonesian fish or fishing but a good starting point that's the same everywhere is 'match the hatch'. What about getting some soft plastics in the approximate size of the one's you tried for bait... like Atomic Prongs, Powerbait or Gulp Shrimps. Or maybe try Prawn Star lures??? You can get some bright colours as well as naturals to try out in the dirty water maybe?? Cheers, Slinky

G'day Dafidav, The very first and most important thing you should do is to stop 'trying to catch anything'... and instead focus on one particular species at a time. It's the very best way to learn and get a lot better quickly. Each type of fish can be caught best with a particular rig, bait, location, conditions. If you specialise you'll give yourself a much better chance of catching that kind of fish (and therefore putting something in the bag), as well as quickly learning just what works best for them. When you feel you've got a bit of a handle on that particular kind of fish, have a go at a different species and then just keep learning the best way to catch one new species after another. Fishing for one species doesn't mean you won't catch any others either. If you focused on bream for example and used the rigs and baits best suited to them, I'll guarantee you'll also catch flathead, whiting and other species too. But your odds on Bream go WAAAAAY up over a 'catch anything' approach. Let us know the fish you'd most like to catch and you'll get a heap of good advice on the best rigs, baits, locations and so-on from other Raiders. Cheers, Slinky PS... A snapper lead is a kind of sinker, shaped a little like an elongated spear-point.

Hi anw, I sure do. It's certainly up to catching big fish... I run 50lb braid on mine and have it as a Kingfish (Yellowtail in your part of the world) reel. If you're after a dedicated jigging and popping reel for real monsters like Dogtooth Tuna or GT's (not sure if you get those in the USA... but the nastiest, biggest reef brawlers) then I'd probably have to recommend spending bigger $$ and going for something like a Stella or Saltiga. I'd class Soron's as being in the top rank of general purpose spinning reels rather than as a specialist. I use mine for jigging and popping but I don't do that style of fishing much so cant justify the expense of a specialist reel. Hope this helps.... Cheers, Slinky