Big-Pete

Give it a go it's all good fun I did another six this afternoon, I am working on a good mullet imitation for flaties and what ever else takes them. I just hope they don't scratch the paint work lol. The paint I use is water based nail paint, just hit it with a hair dryer between coats and all is good. Big-Pete

Hi Everyone, just thought I might put up photo's of my new hobby of lure painting, I started hand making lures on and off years ago, make that many years ago and just recently I found a DVD on a US site that showed how to airbrush them. So I gave it a go and I am really liking it.So I thought that you might like to see some of my work its early days yet but as I said I like it and as they say the sky is the limit. I buy the unpainted lures from the US in case you were wondering. Big-Pete

rozza_b, from memory I think the angle is about 45 deg. You dont have get them chrome plated just polish them right up and spray on some sealant, or repolish when required. Dont forget to smooth off any sharp or rough bits. Big Pete

Thank you everyone for your thoughts on the day. Big-Pete

Hi Roberta, I also have tinnitus, mine is in stereo lucky me. A friend has given me a set of cd's to play, they have a white noise built into them which is supposed to over time get rid of tinnitus. PM me for details if you are interested.. Big-Pete

I bought my wife an ABU spincast reel about 30 years ago and it is still going she has fished for barra on the Daintree River with it chased bream on plastics etc . It has been used to cast lures,fished bait and as I said it is still going strong. Dont knock em the are good gear. Big-Pete

Roberta, either one of those buff head covers or just simply a bandana will work, after all you are going fishing not a fashion parade. James Morison the trumpet player, wears one of those cheap dust masks to protect his lips while flyfishing. Big-Pete

Congratulations Roberta, you certainly were the best choice for the article. Big-Pete

Hi everyone, I buying a kayak and I would like to know what sort of racks you use I am looking at some auto loading ones from the US. The kayak sits on its side not flat, so if you have any thoughts likes dislikes please let me know. Thanking You in Advance for your help Big-Pete

fisherboy, there are plenty of prawns down in Lake Illawara plenty of access to the water and now the lake is open there should be good numbers of prawns to catch. Big-Pete

fisherboy, a prawn net is just that the mesh is about 12 mm in size and is made of a fine material ie cotton. Witches hats are a hoop type crab trap, I mentioned these in case someone wanted to use one in the Port Hacking. Landing nets are now available in a few styles such as the enviro net, standard 50 mm mesh size and the new silicon/rubber type. Sizes mentioned are only approximate. Big-Pete

fisherboy, the only type of net allowed to be used in the Port Hacking is a landing net. You are not allowed to use crab traps (witches hats) in the river. So yes there are prawns in the Port but catching them is going to be a bit hard without a prawn net. Big Pete

troutboy, I would use crazy charlies,pink things or green things,baited breath and as suggested BMS. I would tie the pink things on 1/0s and down to a 4 the charlies dont need to big at all a 6 would be good maybe a 2, baited breath in the same range. I like golds and browns for the charlies , flathead seem to like chartruse so do a few in that colour. For bream dont go much heavier than 10 lb leader but have at least 2 metres of it,flathead dont seem to mind about the the so about 1 metre should be ok. Give the fly plenty of time to get down before starting your retrieve, as most these flies ride point up they are reasonably snag resistent. Big-Pete

kel, I have actually bought one but I have not had a chance to use it yet, I am just waiting for this weather to settle and out I go. I dont think the weight is that big an issue but I guess time will tell. Big-Pete

Iceman, the sad thing I can remember reading the articles that Vic McCristal wrote about Eric,it was a long time ago; I think this was the first one and the second one was a how to article because he had so much work he couldn't keep up the second article was called something like "A call form an Old Bushy" Make your own. It was this second how to article that inspired me to make my own lures, and other things. Big-Pete

An Old drinking man told me the best way to beat a hangover was to stay drunk Big Pete

One thing about the pink okuma range for ladies some of the money goes towards breast cancer research. My wife loves the pink reel and I spooled it with pink fireline. Big-Pete

wendyb, I use chook pellets you can buy them just about anywhere, you can use them dry or wet them down. Half fill a bucket with pellets then fill with water, the water will soak intot the pellets squeese into a ball and throw. With the catfood get a mesh bag from the green grocers the ones the put onions or oranges in tie a rope to the top and throw into the water give a shake everyso often and a berley trail will form. You can put the dry cat food in and when its ready it will break down and sink where you want it Big Pete

Thanks everyone, yes it was definately a cobia no sucker on its head, I have heard of big sharks caught off the wharf, possibly the week before or after I was there Here it is by popular demand the thumb Big Pete PS. the photo was taken on the phone camera in the waiting room of the hospital

Hi Raiders, I promised to give a report on my trip up to Cairns. My wife ans I went up to Cairns mid may up tp the 1st of June. The plane circled over the reef before landing and you could see heaps of boats out on the reef, so I thought this is going to be the trip. We walked from Clifton beach to Palm Cove and all was good gentle breeze nice looking water, walked up to a leading tackle store at Clifton beach and got some info for the next day. Next morning wind was 15- 25 knots and it stayed that way for two weeks, so the trip out to the reef was called off. I fish off the wharf at Palm Cove had to bolt everything down due to the gentle breeze, I caught gold spot trevally,strippies (a northern pest fish),tropical toads(they are a nice gold colour) and the worlds smallest cobia.No fish was over 30 cm long the trevally weren't that long. We drove up to Tinaroo Dam it was blowing a gale up there no barra but some nice photos. I am not complaining I still got to fish I caught some new spieces fished in some great locations. One day is one to remember, I was and am keen to catch a Jack so I was told of this spot close to Cairns so off I went Mud Herrings and all went down the bank and was instantly set apon by midgies, but I battled on cast over the other side of the river and my line was blown over a mangrove tree, no worries a quick shake of the rod and it broke a foot down from the tip,midgies still gnawing on me so I took the nessacary steps and left, after lunch went to spot two in Trinity a new canal estate found a good spot where the rock wall met the mangroves, has to be a spot for a Jack a cast here a cast there my wife was fishing with bait just watching my fleet foot work. I did this wonderful cast parallel to the bank and I got snagged no worries it's only a metre from shore I will get it. Down I go and there is my lure caught in the fabric they line rock walls with , its as tough as old boots.Just ahead from my lure I notice a halco scorpion so I think while I am getting mine I will get another for free. I grabbed the lure and started pulling hoping to pull the hooks free I feel a hook against my thumb then I realise it not against my thumb it's in it. So here I am stuck onto the lure arm deep in a croc and shark infested canal, I called out to my understanding wife to bring me a knife,which she does its blunt so off she goes to get another one and my braid scissors,after a bit of grunting and sweating success then its back in to get my lure a few minutes later success. So I then had to cut the lure free from my hand and I removed to points from the other hooks, then we went to Cairns Base hospital to get the hook removed from my thumb. Quick and easy when you know how the Doctor was a fisherman and had just returned from a trip up North. He carries his own kit for removing hooks. All in all a great trip a good holiday and yes I will return. PS if requested I will show the photo of my hooked thumb LOL Big Pete

'Rode Cary' I only know the beach as Sharkies not sure of its real name sorry Christos, where I normally fish it has been rare for a wave to go over it but with all ocean rocks there is always the risk. I have stuck with river fishing for a couple of years now and I have started venturing out onto the rocks again this year. One thing about any fish caught off the rocks they all give a good account of themselves, and when you get a good one you certainlly know it. Big Pete

Over the past few weeks I have fishing off the rocks just north of Austinmer (north of Wollongong). I have a good spot with a bommie within easy casting distance and a gutter between. I berley up with some bread and fish with prawns on 35 lb line 20 lb leader, I use a ball sinker as small as possible for the conditions, about the size of a pea. I have caught some pigs up 48 cm and fat as, heaps of weed cockies and a few wrasse. I went down this afternoon only to find a ground swell with some waves about 3 mtrs, they keep you fit. All I caught were three cockies and three wrasse, I hooked a couple of things that I just couldnt stop. But they will be there when I return and this time they will be mine. Big Pete

ilk fish, thanks for your advice, I have used a guide twice and didnt catch anything so that is why I am asking about spots to fish. I will have to see how much space I have in my bag on the way home before I buy a cast net. I might be able to work in with a local and use theirs. I have started packing but the hardest thing is to limit the amount of gear I am taking, you all know how hard it is to keep the lure count below 100 and thats just the hard bodies. But it's a bit far to return to the house and pick up the extras. I am really looking forward to the trip, I love it up that way and I dont mind what type of fish I catch as long as I can catch some. Yorkeys Knob sounds good it is now on my list thank you. Big-Pete

browney1, is the wharf the one near the park or is there another one in Port Douglas? Big-Pete

AJ, all that way with out any gear,I dont think I could do it. There is a great wharf at Palm Cove. Mind you I have never caught anything from it but still its there. The locals tell me they catch fish offit but its normally the week after I leave or I should have been there the week before. Thats why I am asking for any advice before I go up this time. Yes there will be reports when I get back. Big-Pete