Blood Knot

Talking to a guy the other the day who cuts off (or may be trims) the pectoral fin off one side of a Yakka before sending them down as a livie. He claims they act more distressed and hence attract a bit more attention to themselves. Has any one tried this out ? I figure they might just swim in a tight (or tighter) circle, but maybe this could have some benefits if you have two or more down at the same time and reduce a few tangles. John

Good onya Joe Its fun trying to hold a landing net in one hand and kingie loaded rod in the other eh? Glad to hear you got amongst some Harbour Kings. Strange how most guys reckon you need fresh or live squid for Kings . Personally I have had the best days using yakkas. Plus their easier and quicker to catch. Hope to be on the harbour myself on Thursday, hope thers a few left for me. John

Hey Guys Have got a few months work at Botany and I am looking to fish (land based) the area near Foreshore Drive round to Bear Island ( Where I can get access) early in the morning before work. I am sure I have heard of bream being caught around Bear Island. Only had a quick look in the Gregories and have not reckied the area. Will take the flick stick and softies, any help or advise much appreciated. John

Buoyo Uncanny how women can do it to you. My wife can be relied on to catch the first and biggest fish in on any trip to any waterway. She only uses a handline with a rusty hook and an oversize sinker which I leave on the boat for her. (she has no regard at all for high tech tackle). All this whilst reading a Womens Weekly or a No Idea. I think the tackle stores should be selling them (magazines that is). John

Have been told by one outboard mechanic to use premium as it would help engine idle & troll better (by better I mean obtain a more even & harmonius note). Have tried it and it seems better, but my 2 year old Mercury 75hp seems to vary its note to suit its mood, (must have bought a female). Like to here some expert opinion on Premium versus Standard ULP for the two's. John

Grant - Given any thought to a bow rider? My family tried to talk me into one but I stuck to my guns and ended up with the 4.75 Stacer runabout instead. Now thinking about changing to a centre console. Wish I had got the bowrider with room to fish front and back plus you can fit a casting deck over the front seats and have room to mount a leccy later on. John

Sorry Fastone Didnt mean to ignore your post, just my comprehension skills slipping a bit. What size is your pump and roughly how many feet of tube to your tank. Just wondering if I am overpressurising my pump due to too greater "head" John

Thanks for the feedback so far, would love to hear from someone with a scoop set up under their pump. Took the stuffed one back to Whitworths today. They were not to interested in replacing it as I had cut it open as previously described and had lost the docket. I did point out the Whitworth price sticker on the blister pack the pump came in by way of establishing its heritage, but I guess Rules are Rules (inexcuseable pun in this case I know). Finally gave them my mobile & name and asked if they would send it back anyway. Will hook up the new one and try again. John

Recently fitted a Rule 360 model 24 directly on to stainless scoop. Pretty conventional stuff for live bait tank supply. Only got about 4 or 5 hours service out of the pump before it blew the fuse and stopped working. Investigated for a blocked impellar etc and found nothing. Curiosity got the better of me so I opened up the sealed pump motor case by circumcising it with a hacksaw and found the motor full of rusty water. Bit hard to know if the water got in through the rubber cable gland at the top or has been pushed past the impeller seal and into the motor due to high water pressure in the pump housing due to the water being picked up by the scoop and pushed through the pump up to the livewell at high boat speed. Failing that I just got a dud pump. The guy at Whitworths tells me my setup is the same as "thousands of others" but cant tell me if it will happen again. Any one else had this trouble or got a theory to share ??

Joe Mounting your gauges on a seperate plate may give you an advantage when you need access for maintenance. I had to replace my fuel gauge recently and it was a real pain removing the gauge locating screws and terminals whilst laying upside down and ripping skin off the back of my hand trying to get at it. Reckon if you leave enough slack in your cabling when installing the gauges and mount them on a plate as you mention you will be able to pull the whole lot forward and out to get access. Only issue is to make sure you seal the plate to the console facia, so you dont get water in behind. May be a "H section" rubber seal would work if your plate (for the gauges) is about the same thickness as the material the console is made out of. Failing that, hinge across the top of your plate with a stainless piano hinge and glue a soft rubber gasket behind the plate. Pull the plate back against the console and gasket with a couple of screws in the bottom corners (bit like a hatch) or dispense with the hinge and secure the plate with screws to each corner of the plate (can look pretty good if you get hold of some nice knurled stainles nuts) Just a couple of options to consider - Good luck John

Goodonya Riders, great fish John

BB Thanks for the feedback, treat my reels the same (wash & inox) will keep an eye on corrosion. John

BB - I was looking at the Penn site last week for the 7500ss and the exploded view shows a "silent dog lever" under the spool. My guess is this turns the "clicker" on or off. Though does not explain why yours don't seem do do anything. Maybe you either have a part missing (unlikely on two reels) or this is some sort of option allowed for when casting or machining the reel but not completely fitted. Have a 5600 Liveliner I use for Kingfish but was looking at 7500 / 8500 to put on a beach rod. Are you happy with yours ? (mystery parts aside) Penn site http://www.pennreels.com/Current%20Exp/7500.pdf John

Allan - Good methodical approach. Welcome to the site. John

Heaps covered in previous postings so just a couple of things from me: Extend the winch cable to the back of the trailer and secure it over a screw or roller bracket after you have parked your empty trailer. Also engage winch ratchet. This helps when retrieving the boat single handed as I often do. Doesnt give the wind / current time to swing the boat around while you sort out the winch cable / ratchet. Also make sure to flip over the brake overide tab so your trailer brakes dont lock up while you are trying to reverse uphill into your driveway (something else I often do) Good luck to all new boaties John