Norto

Mate if you have time take an opera house yabby net with you, load it up with some dog biscuits and catch yourself some fresh water shrimp. They are the best bait in Wyangala from the bank. You can try the berkley MF 80 vibes or the jackall vibes(not sure what there called) anywhere around the small trees and logs that have been submerged with the rising dam.Last time I fished Wyanagla we caught plenty of yellowbelly on the shrimps and even a couple on the vibes best time was early morning and just before dark but they will bite all day sometimes.If your going to Bigga then you will probably come in from Grabine, anywhere along the gravelly banks there mate where you can find some trees will work if the fish are on, but as was said that could be the weekend of the comp so there could be quite a few people out there. Goodluck. Norto

Thanks Mate, I will post a before and after pic. I think I will just do it as the rod is not that expensive and it really is not much good for what i use it for at the moment. Thanks Norto.

All, I'm just wondering if it is possible to cut some of the butt off one of my cheaper Diawa rods.The but has a cork grip but I am assuming it would have a plastic inner which would form part of the reel seat. Is this correct and would it be possible? What do people think? Norto.

Drummo, Used to fish down that way with the father inlaw and we always used to get good flattys on the southern side of Brush island about half way along the island and about 3-400m off it.Have not been down there for a while now but between 3 of us we used to get a good feed each and nothing under about 50cm. Norto.

Thanks Tom, Yeah mate I have been trying lateley but no luck, may just have to use bait until the summer and then try for some whiting or something. I have been just dead sticking though could be the problem also. Norto

Hey all, Just want to know if anyone has used or does use soft plastics from the beach. If so I'm interested to know what sort and how you rig them ? Thanks Norto

Breambo, From all reports the Nelson Bay breakwall is fishing very well for Bream ,Luderick and the occasional Jewie. They have been getting the luderick on weed of course but the bream have been picking up peeled prawns, Mullet gut etc, and also 2" Gulp Shrimps. Good luck. Norto

Yep I'll be there I'm taking the missus too except I don't have to drag her she'll probably beat me there. Looking for a new boat , maybe huey so I might drop in. Norto.

Pike, There is a couple of places you can camp on the fish river, One is called Flat rock on the Mutton falls Rd out from O'Connell and the other one is near the road bridge on the main rd between Bathurst and O'Connell. But like they said make sure you have a good sleeping bag gets down below freezing.

Mate, If you go to the website www.bream.com.au they have the dates of all the Bream , Flathead and bass comps throughout the year. Regards, Norto

Raiders, Just thought I would post a few pics of my electric that I have now converted to become a bow mount. Does not look the best but should do the trick just fine. Norto

yeah mate is usually the best time of year, Blue swimmers are usually on as well. Have had no luck finding them so far. Norto

G'Day Fellow raiders, Have been up at our caravan at the island for a week now, have been turning my hand to being a fishing guide as my sister and husband joined us with their kids. Spent most of the week with the Brother in law and his mate in the boat trying to catch a few fish and show off my fish guiding skills but as they say I think I will stick to being a sparky. Things have been very slow as opposed to what we are used to here, have managed to catch a few whiting and the odd Flathead but 2 of the flathead came off the beach in the late arvo. Today they went home and just like clock work the fish seem to come on with us getting 2 Flathead 4 nice whiting and a good flounder in about a 2.5 hr session. Still quiet for this place but things are looking up a bit I will be here for the rest of next week so Hopefully I can get some fish and a few photos as well. regards, Norto.

Mate if your gonna put them in up in the bush which is really the only place you can use them, you can pick some up in Bathurst and pretty cheap. Regards, Norto.

Reeseman, I was fishing up at the bay between xmas and New Year and let me tell ya it was the worst weeks fishing I have had up there in about 12 months. We still managed a couple of whiting an a couple of legal Flatties but compared to when we normally fish up there it was very slow. But if your still there mate keep trying and if the weather is kind try a place called One Tree Island it is near the Soldiers Point Mariner. Regards, Norto

Well a mate and myself went in the BETS series round 1 event on Sunday and whilst we did not catch a bream we got plenty of by catch Flatties , tailor etc and generally a good time was had by all. The guys that won it did it with a pretty big bag I think it went something like 3.84Kg but if you go to the website it has a full list of results. Anyway look forward to round 2 (if I can get the time off) and we will see what Lake Macquarie can throw at us, having never fished there before it could be a tough round also. regards, Norto

Yeah your right Grant, It certainly got them very interested.The youngest (the one on the right) he never stops when we are out fishin he casts using the SP's and keeps this up the whole time we are out, whereas the other 2 kids will do it for a while and then have a spell but as soon as Blair cathes one they get straight back into it, for a while anyway. Blair is a real fisherman in the making he gets rewarded on occasion too I think he put me to shame last time we were at the caravan with about a 45cm Flatty. Norto.

G'day Raiders, Caught my biggest Flathead to date while I was up at our Caravan at Port Stephens she measured 65cm . Up until now the biggest I had caught was about 45cm. Only been using soft plastics for about 8 months and I will never go back to bait. Caught it on a "Shaky Shad" in pumpkin seed colour I have got a photo but the file is too big so don't know how to fix that, I was also going to enter it in the fish of the month comp but did not have the time stamp on the camera. Incidentally the day after, I caught another and it went 60cm. Just a question The bigger one had swallowed the jighead and lure so I cut the line and she still swam away ...what would her chances of surviving be do you think? Thanks. Regards, Norto

I 100% Agree Rick those fellas are pretty funny on Hook , Line and Sinker. Lets face it they are probably not the most experienced fishos but at least they make it feel like you have the same chance as them to catch the fish they catch. As for Fishing WA and there is another show I think the guys name is Jason something, I would watch Dave B on hooked before these Clowns. Norto.

Victor, Mate I live in the area and if you do what JEWHUNTER says and keep coming past Tarana but don't turn left and go to Oberon keep coming towards O'Connell and when you get close you will see where the fish river starts to follow the road, not far after it gets close to the road there is a camping spot called flat rock, it is free to camp there and gives you access to alot of the river although, it is popular. If there is too many people there keep coming right into O'Connell and turn right onto the main Highway to head towards Bathurst, after the little town there is another camping area that has toilets and a playground for the kids. Mate PM me if you need more directions and I will give you my mobile number, I would organise too meet you and show where to go but I gotta work. Regards, Norto.

Great work mate it is a great place to go and to fish and I am glad you were able to catch a couple of flatties. Where abouts did ya go(no specifics of course just a rough idea). Regards Norto

Hello All, Was staying up at our caravan across the water from Lemon Tree passage last week and did a bit of fishing (between wind gusts).Got about 6 Flatties ranging from 38 -48cm and also managed to snare a couple of Blue Swimmers. Norto. PS. Tried to attach a pic of the crabs but file is too large.

Been a labour supporter for a long time now but there is no way in the world either them or the mongrel greens will be getting mine or my families vote . I have also informed everyone I can what the go is and i was very suprised that after I told them they too could not believe what they were going to do and they were going to change their vote as well (or so they told me). Norto

Hodgey, Just wondering mate do you always use plastics or do you occasionally slip a bait in the water? I have only recently caught my first few flatties on plastics after fishing with bait my whole life.. and I gotta say I don't think I'll go back to the bait. Norto.

Mate that is a great report and some really nice fish. The only thing that worries me is knowing that area and the very large catchment (or should I say steep catchment) were you not at all worried about a flash flood should there be a lot of rain up stream and camping as close to the river like you have? I have worked in that area in all types of weather and I have seen creeks become raging torrents in a couple of hours. Would not be a problem providing you heard it coming, I suppose depends on how well you sleep. One particular Job wew were called out to (working for the Electricity distributor) we had to cross a creek to get to the wires that were down and by the time we had fixed them could not get back across and had to detour by about 50k's to get back to town. Mate I'm not telling you where or how to camp but it is just something to be mindful of thats all. Regards, Norto.