Diane

This may have been discussed already but I will post it anyway. To downsize photos for putting on this forum I right click on the picture then click on "send to" and then click on "mail recipient" and outlook express asks if you want them made smaller - check ok. Then when the e-mail box comes up right click on the attach bar then click on "add" and from the drop down box click "desktop". Once it is on your desktop it is ready to put onto your post, all downsized without the need for any other programs to do it. When you are adding the pic to your post on the forum click "browse" and find the pic on your desktop and click on it.

Another great session on Tailor this morning with 9 landed mainly around the 40cm mark, one at 55cm. Most were caught on the new home made lures but the largest was landed on a deep diving barra lure bright orange and gold in colour. The water was a little too calm today for tailor but a brilliant day to be on the water. Cheers Diane

Just caught this on a Tailor strip and hand line. 2lb and about 35cm long. NICE!!!

This is my first picture download so hope it works ok. The spoons have a treble on a split ring, a treble with one prong cut off and fixed with small bolt plus tip of spoon cut and wrapped around end of treble plus solder to hold in place. The plastic white lure (from our local tackle shop) is a smaller version of what we used yesterday but got cut off either from a Tailer or stupid boat driver that ran over our lines. Must say that even though the silver spoons worked well, the white lure ruled for the day. To top off a good days fishing we put the frames from the tailor into Dora Creek and caught two 36cm - 1.5 lb bream on tailor bait.

Had a great mornings fishing on Lake Macquarie trolling for Tailor. Using hand lines and a home made spoon lure, plastic squid lures and a hard plastic white lure we landed seventeen lovely legal fish for the morning. As the water got rougher the fish bit harder! We had smoked fillets for dinner tonight. We have fed ourselves and the neighbours - the portable smoker is amazing and makes fish enjoyable for a fish "catcher" but not eater like me! With a couple of glasses of Tasmanian Chardy the smoked fillets were beautiful. Looking forward to another session in the next few days.

Leaving Dora Creek to fish Lake Macquarie Heaven Diane

Hi Geoff, The speed limit for Dora Creek is only 4 knots, it is a no wash zone. cheers Diane

Buy a pair of cheap magnifying glasses at the bargain shop and leave in your tackle box, they are great for tying hooks. I also use the hook holder disc thingy that Hobbit has - especially useful for small hooks, it gives you something to hang on to and great to tighten the knot too!! Diane

Haven't you guys realised yet that there is a huge link between investing and fishing? The earlier you invest, the earlier you are freed from having to work, the more time you can spend fishing!!!! It worked for me

Look at www.somersoft.com.au - this website is for property investors both experienced and new. Lots of good advice and you can learn heaps by reading posts on all the ins and outs of property investing. I think you will find financial advisors will be directing you to managed funds and you might find they do not know much about investment property. As for myself I have been an investor in property for the last 13 years or so and have been very very happy with the results. As you get older and towards retirement property is probably not always the way to go due to being quite involved when wanting to cash in whereas shares are easy to liquidate. One thing I have learned through investing is make sure you have a good spread on your assets - property and shares as whilst one is performing the other is often not. Don't go in over your comfort level to start with, take it one step at a time and you will be ok. Good luck and good on you for having the foresight to think about investing at your age! Diane

Just about every day, sometimes three times a day!!!! Diane

Hi Roddy, We have an e-tec 90 hp. We have not had a service but do have to go and have an adjustment done by the computer as our motor is missing at low idle, it is a common problem after 100 hours more or less, other than this there has been no problems so far and we have been extremely happy with our purchase. Diane

The E-Tec 90 comes in either white or blue, we have had one for 12 months now and have had no problems. They are fuel efficient, low noise level, low fumes and don't mind long periods of slow speeds - we quite often do a 4hr river cruise at 4-6 knots but give the engine a good blow out after. We never have to prime the engine, just turn the key and away it goes every time - as you would expect with a new motor! The 90 gives us more than ample power on a 5.1 Quintrex Freedom Sport (bowrider).

Witches hats or drop nets are legal in Lake Macquarie not pots or any form of enclosed trap and I presume it would be the same for The Entrance but you can check the nsw fisheries site for more info.

I was approx 2km up the creek but you can catch them anywhere from the channel weed beds upwards. They take a bit of burlying but it is great fun except when a large Long Tom wants to muscle in on the act!! I don't know what Gars taste like but my husband and friends love them. The fish were only medium to small but I am hoping to hook into some larger ones soon!! I have also put a few in the freezer for bait. Don't think I will be going to the Jetty today as the weather is just soooo cold and windy!

Another fun day fishing from the jetty, 21 Garfish ready to eat!!

Thanks Ross, I will give it a try.

I did get a picture but did not have a measuring tape next to the fish for proof and I don't know how to post pictures!!!

Had to tell you I just pulled in a 60cm Flathead from the little jetty at the front of our house. I landed it on 6lb line using a small whiting hook and tiny segment of peeled prawn!! It was great fun nursing the fish into shore until I could see what was on the line then it was a mad dash to the house for the net and with the help of my husband it was out of the water and now in the fridge filleted and ready for tomorrow nights dinner. I had only gone fishing for a minute to see if there were any mullet around for bait or to have fun with some small bream!! Last week we caught a 77cm Flathead on heavier line baited with Garfish. I love summer!!!!

Hi Guys, As far as I know and according to NSW Fisheries site you can keep female crabs as long as they are not carrying eggs. This applies to Crays as well. It is good practice to return the females of course but not law. Diane

Hi, my name is Diane (49 years young) and I must be the third of two femal fishos!! I live at Dora Creek which runs into Lake Macquarie. I am mother of two beautiful and talented daughters, one is almost a doctor (studying in Melbourne) and the other is training to be a teacher. Since retiring four years ago we have completed an around Australia trip in our caravan and 4wd - it was fantastic! My hobby is fishing mainly with a little gardening on the side. We spend a lot of time enjoying the beautiful water ways of this area. Our boat is a 5.1 Quintrex Bowrider with a 90hp E-Tec motor. I have fished since I was very young when my Dad and Grandfather used to take me with them to throw a line in on our family holidays. I lived for ten years in the N.T. so have had some of the best fishing in Australia. Most of my Territory fishing was done out from Maningrida in Arnhem Land where the waters were virtually untouched. We fished both river and reef in the N.T. and hooked some great fish over the years there including many Barramundi. This time of my life will stay in my fondest memories for ever, it was a once in a life time experience. Have fished quite a bit in Tassie as this is where my husband comes from originally. We fish for trout in the north east on someones farm and have fished Port Arthur, Dover, St Helens, Bridport and Scamander. My personal best bream in Dora Creek is 42cm (dont know the weight) caught on mullet flesh, a Sand Whiting 43cm and weighed one and a half pounds (prawn bait), Flathead 62cm on lure in Lake Macquarie. We catch plenty of Whiting and crabs in the lake and have had some of the best oysters ever eaten from off the rocks around the lake. All in all life is great here and having moved from Liverpool area in Sydney we appreciate the beautiful clean air and access to the water so close.

Welcome Kimmy, I am ex Liverpool but now Dora Creek (Lake Macquarie)

Lake Macquarie and Dora Creek

The best smoked fish I have had was a large carp down on the banks of the Murray River. Normally the old carp get killed and thrown up the bank so they cannot re-offend but we decided to try the smoker out on this rather large specimen I caught. I am not much of a fish eater, just love to catch them but this was absolutely beautiful! The smoker was just one of those little boxes with two metho burners and we put sawdust and a couple of gum leaves in for flavour. I cannot remember how long we smoked it for but probably two hours at a guess.

We love our 90hp E-Tec!! Had the pick of all motors and chose the E-Tec and don't regret it!