Big-Pete

My God, look at the loss of good bream habitat it will takes weeks for the fish to find some where as good as those bream FADs. It must break your heart to go down and check your pride and joy and see it sitting on its side on the sand Big-Pete

Netic, drill a hole at either end of the crack if possible these will stop the crack from travelling until you can get the welding done. Big-Pete

Hi a mate of mine trolls Jindabine etc and has a four stoke on his boat and to make it go slower he fitted one of those trolling plates that drop down at slow speed and when you get going they swing up to to give you full speed. I can not recall the name or brand Big Pete

Many years ago Vic McCrystal came down and fished the Port Hacking River and he caught a Tarpon whilst trolling in South West Arm so they do come down this way but as for numbers I wouldn't bank on catching to many Big Pete

Yorto, I used to use two six volt lantern batteries run together for my hummin bird sounder. Just wire them up pos to neg then hook your sounder up to the other pos and neg terminals. Sounders dont use much power. I ran the same batteries for about two weeks while I was on holidays and they still had life, just run some tape around them to keep them together.This will get you out of trouble until you sort out something else. Big-Pete

Farma, if I may offer some advice look after your shoulder, I had to have mine operated on and I have been out of action for just on a year. Do as the Doctors advise if need be go and see a Physio. Trust me the operation is no fun and the post surgery thing is the pits. And you can not make Pain your friend Big-Pete

Farma, it should not be any harder for you to fish left handed, a very good flyfishing friend of mine only casts left handed but is a right hander. You may have trouble getting someone to show you how to cast left handed but basically its just the same movement and you have the advantage of not having to swap hands to wind. Big Pete

Hi,' I would like to thank everyone involved with yesterdays social, my wife and I arrived late but were made to feel welcome. We only fished for a short while but it was good to get in amonst a group that were getting on with each other and enjoying the day. Stewy you must have some pretty good contacts the weather Gods sure did smile on us. Thanks to those who supplied everything. Thanks again for the great day i look forward to going on a few more social days and getting to know some more of the members. Big-Pete

'Dont Shoot Da Chinamen' , the reel is still sitting in the box I am trying to work out what line to put on it I am glad the lures work for you Big-Pete Stewy, that sounds like a plan I still owe you a fly trip we will just have to wait until October for the streams to reopen Big-Pete

Hi Everyone, my name is Peter aka Big-Pete,I live South of Sydney, I am A Constuction Site Foreman in road construction, I have many qualifications, Butcher,Security Guard,Welder, Cutler to name a few (I dont know what I want to be when I grow up). I am on the wrong side of 40, I have fished since I could walk and there are some embarasing photos of me fishing puddles after a rain storm. I love all styles of fishing from fly to game but I have gone to mid ground these days chasing fish with soft plastics. I fish the Port Hacking and Georges River and spent considerable time fishing Burill Lake. I spent nearly a year doing up my boat so it is suitable for chasing bream,its a 4.1mtr quintrex, but just when I was getting close to using it,I was put out of action due to a torn rotator cuff muscle and surgery to fix this problem I have been out of action for some time and will remain out until October this year then hopefully I will get the all clear to resume a normal life. Hint do not tear a rotator cuff muscle its not worth the grief I love to tinker making my own flies, lures, flytying vices and anything else that takes my fancy. I would like to thank Ken, Donna and Stewart for all the work that they put into this site. Big-Pete

Farma, its not really that involved it is really rewarding to catch a fish on a fly that you have tied yourself and it works out heaps cheaper than buying flies all the time, you can also make a range of sizes in case the fish are locked onto some thing a bit different. It is a good way to spend a day that you can not get out and fish. Big Pete

Farma, there are a few tools that you will need, you can buy a very basic tying kit from most fishing shops, try the guys at The Bass Angler, I was there the other day and they had a fair bit of stuff to choose from. You will need the following, a vice a bobbin for thread control, a range of threads in different colours, hooks to suit the flies you are tying. Most flies are tied on 12s- 18s either dry or wet. The thickness of the wire will determine if they float or sink.Head cement a bodkin and small scissors will get you started. You will need some basic hairs and feathers, deer hair,elk hair,dubbing selections or you can buy individual packs to start with, saddle hackles for dry flies hen hackles for wet flies,marabou also comes in handy, the sky is the limit. Find the patterns that you want to tie and then just buy the materials as you need them they dont go off and you can keep adding to them. Now you will need patterns there are some great videos or DVDs around as there a some great books on the subject check them out as there a couple of really good Australian books with step by step diagrams. Fly tying is the ultimate accessory hobby as there are heaps of little tools all have their own job and all will help you tie some great flies, hair stackers,hackle guards,curved scissors and a whole lot more. My suggestion is to buy a basic kit and see how you go and buy things when you can afford them and as the need arises. My fly tying box started as a shoe box then a tool box now I have four large tubs and its still breeding. Enjoy and if you have a problem just post it here and someone will help you Big Pete

Hey Guys, one thing about dealing with Mick R is the speed of the service I sent off a Pm last night and I recieved a phone call today my order has been placed and I would say my new lures will either arrive on Monday or Tuesday. Good price good service what more can you ask for. Big-Pete

I don't agree totally with the fur trade, but man has been culling seals for over one hundred plus years and a few years I can not remember how long ago it was culling was missed/stopped for one season and the impact of the extra seals was devestating to the fish stocks. So if it were stopped the seals would eat themselves into problems very quickly. Clubbing of seals is the safest way and the most humane way of dispatching the seals that is available, shooting is too dangeous due to ricocheting bullets and missed judged distances over the ice. If the practice is to be stopped it must be done slowly over time to allow a new balance to be established. Point of interest the seals fur we use for dubbing is from the baby seals as they molt the hair is blown along the shore where the Inuit Indians collect it and on sell it. Big-Pete

Sorry fellow Raiders, but I am afraid that I will have to give this one a miss. I hope you all have a good time. Big-Pete

Just a tip, what I have done is set up a small long line float a small orange ball made of rubber and off this hangs a long line clip. So when you have to chase something it just clips onto the rope where ever you can then throw the whole lot over, I also had a small brass plate engraved with my details and I mention a reward. Works well and I haven't had anyone pinch the set up yet. It only takes about thirty seconds to deploy, then your off chasing the one that would have got away. Big-Pete

I will put my hand up as a non boater , so if anyone has a spare seat let me know Big Pete

philip, if I had to chose three flies they would be a Red Tag a Royal Wulff and a small brown nymph. If I had to chose more than that I would go a caddis,a Klinkhammer and perhaps a small hopper pattern for this time of year. Each of the flies mentioned I would have in various sizes from a 18 up to a twelve. Just my opinion Big Pete

Hi Ken, if I am not to late please include my name as well Big Pete

Matthead, looks like your mate did well for his first attempt at using softplastics. Thanks for the update I have bought a few packets and I have just recieved the Doctors ok to go out and try them Big Pete

Thanks for the input Guys I guess I will just have to go out and buy a couple of packets and do some research of my own. Keeps life interesting all this field testing Big Pete

The mullet is the same material as the Bass minnow but mullet shaped. Looks good just not sure how well it works Big Pete

I was just wondering if anyone has tried the Berkley mullet, I saw them on the Berkley DVD and thought that they looked ok but I dont want to buy any if the were just another plastic as I have a heap of other types that I am trying to work my way through. Thanks in advance for you help Big Pete

Thanks George for organising the day, it was just what i needed after being stuck with my arm in a sling and not being able to drive for the past few weeks. My wife enjoyed the day and enjoyed meeting everyone, my mate Ron said he learnt heaps about casting. I think I read some where it was raining on the day but I dont think anyone who attended noticed it, they were to busy enjoying themselves. Joe thanks for your help it was good meeting you. Big Pete

Hi Guys, it looks like the weather Gods are going to intervine on Sunday will the day be called off if it is raining or does it go ahead as planed. I have to travel about 1 1/2 hours to get to the spot so if it is going to be cancelled is there someone I can call on the morning? Thanks Big-Pete