Today and a couple previous sessions - getting outfished by garlic marinated chicken - Parra River

[telescopic_rodd]

Anyone who read my intro post would know I'm keen on learning the art of SP angling.

I've got a new setup and have gone out a few times. So far I've been focused on getting the technique right, but still it stings slightly that I'm yet to get off the donut. 

The most galling part is that I fish side by side with a mate who uses chicken thighs marinated in garlic that I prepare and he always comes away with something 😒 

Today in fact he snagged a donkey of a bream. Didn't measure but let me tell you it was hefty. Previously he's gotten onto flathead too in a slightly different spot.  

Don't worry, I'll persist 🙃.

I'm getting occasional hits, and have dropped a couple and was busted off once when it ran into rocks.  

If anyone wants to comment, this is what I'm using / doing: 

• 2.5" GrubZ or Slim SwimZ in Motor Oil, Watermelon, or Midnight Oil. 
• Size 1 hooks with 1/8, 1/12, 1/16 weighting. 
• S Factor applied. 
• Fishing couple hours either side of the tide. 
• Finding most interest "on the drop". Mostly though they just seem to make initial enquiries and then lose interest. 

I guess the report here is that they are out there on the Parra River right now if you're keen to use garlic chicken! 

[Little_Flatty]

Doesn't seem like you're doing much wrong with your tackle selection or timing.

You don't describe where you are fishing. One thing that I have found is that it's easier to fish shallower water (e.g. <= 2m deep) with lightly weighted plastics than deeper water. I just find that line management etc is easier.

Your mate just needs to start preparing his own bait!🤣

[linewetter]

1 hour ago, telescopic_rodd said:

Anyone who read my intro post would know I'm keen on learning the art of SP angling.

I've got a new setup and have gone out a few times. So far I've been focused on getting the technique right, but still it stings slightly that I'm yet to get off the donut. 

The most galling part is that I fish side by side with a mate who uses chicken thighs marinated in garlic that I prepare and he always comes away with something 😒 

Today in fact he snagged a donkey of a bream. Didn't measure but let me tell you it was hefty. Previously he's gotten onto flathead too in a slightly different spot.  

Don't worry, I'll persist 🙃.

I'm getting occasional hits, and have dropped a couple and was busted off once when it ran into rocks.  

If anyone wants to comment, this is what I'm using / doing: 

• 2.5" GrubZ or Slim SwimZ in Motor Oil, Watermelon, or Midnight Oil. 
• Size 1 hooks with 1/8, 1/12, 1/16 weighting. 
• S Factor applied. 
• Fishing couple hours either side of the tide. 
• Finding most interest "on the drop". Mostly though they just seem to make initial enquiries and then lose interest. 

I guess the report here is that they are out there on the Parra River right now if you're keen to use garlic chicken! 

I caught my first fish (and subsequently most of my fish...) on 2.5" GrubZ in Midnight Oil.  It took me a bit before I got my first fish on plastics though - many days of spending several hours on the Parra River before I got it.  But man once I got that first one, I was hooked and went on to spend several more hours chasing the next fish.  I have a variety of colors and shapes but always come back to the 2.5" GrubZ in Midnight Oil....likely because that's the one I caught my first fish on so the one I also use most often leading it to be the one I've caught most of my fish on 😁 I've had pretty good success on when the lure isn't moving too.  Sometimes I would let it sit for like a good 15-30 seconds before moving it and be on - probably a lot longer than what the Youtube videos and others will tell you to leave it for but I've had a lot of hookups on the longer pause.  

[lhan]

I think it's pretty common that lure fishing is always slow to start - I accidentally caught my first lure fish (bream) on grub styled SP (the bream smashed it on drop) and had many donuts before the next one while I'm figuring out how-to.

For what you're using, it seems nothing wrong. And Zman grubz and swimz are actually my confidence lure in upper Parra, especially 2.5 slim swimz in bloodworm color. If you only find hit on the drop (the most natural movement of a lure), prob double check the way you work the lure? Bream likes it slow, even sitting on the bottom for a while is fine (another benefit of swim slimz is the action even you don't work on it). I found that a very slow roll with slightly tip shake can be very effective if you're within the strike zone where normal twitch could work the lure out of the magic area. But be careful with snags if you're doing this as it's basically searching the bottom. One thing you didn't mention is the line you're using, my experience is 4-8lbs all works well while the lighter the better.

Also as @Little_Flatty said, shallow water is a bit easier when using light jig heads. Generally I wouldn't fish a wharf using anything < 1/8oz unless the tide is low.

[DerekD]

Hi @telescopic_rodd

What is your outfit and of particular interest to me is the braid you are using. I noticed you commented on my "first light outfit" article so I know you have read it.

It sounds like it comes down to the way and where you are working the lure. Are you always in contact with the lure. Are you winding or flicking the lure? Have you worked out how to work the lure in a subtle way with small flicks as well as larger ones. Are you letting it hit the bottom (watch for the sag in the line). Are you teasing the fish - remember it is not bait or actual food so we are usually pushing for the reactive strike. Easy meal or the lure is getting away (in little darts).

Certainly worth persisting but it does take a while to crack the code if you are self-taught. It is more satisfying to work it out yourself but if you continue to struggle reach out to me or some of the people I've helped mentor (it is good for their growth to teach someone else as it helps crystalize what they have learned by having to explain it).

BTW - if I absolutely have to catch fish I'm using bait but lure fishing is way more satisfying to me and generally I found the quality of fish went up.

Regards,

Derek

Edited March 28 by DerekD

[corro]

The biggest thing I've learnt with lure fishing soft plastics is to slow down. I catch way more fish when fishing slow - the lure spends more time in the water, works more of the water column, gets down deeper / to the bottom etc. As you say, you're getting the most interest on the drop - so make sure the lure is spending some time in that zone.

Also, don't go too heavy on the leader. What leader are you currently using?

[telescopic_rodd]

Thanks for the tips and replies everyone! I'll post some replies below: 

On 3/27/2024 at 7:32 PM, Little_Flatty said:

You don't describe where you are fishing. One thing that I have found is that it's easier to fish shallower water (e.g. <= 2m deep) with lightly weighted plastics than deeper water. I just find that line management etc is easier.

 Definitely sub 2m - and preferably sandy areas, if only to save on snags 😄

My go-to weighting tends to be 1/8 to help with a bit of distance, but even that feels a bit heavy at the spots close by. 

On 3/27/2024 at 9:46 PM, lhan said:

If you only find hit on the drop (the most natural movement of a lure), prob double check the way you work the lure? Bream likes it slow, even sitting on the bottom for a while is fine (another benefit of swim slimz is the action even you don't work on it). I found that a very slow roll with slightly tip shake can be very effective if you're within the strike zone where normal twitch could work the lure out of the magic area. One thing you didn't mention is the line you're using, my experience is 4-8lbs all works well while the lighter the better.

Generally I wouldn't fish a wharf using anything < 1/8oz unless the tide is low.

On 3/27/2024 at 7:39 PM, linewetter said:

 Sometimes I would let it sit for like a good 15-30 seconds before moving it and be on - probably a lot longer than what the Youtube videos and others will tell you to leave it for but I've had a lot of hookups on the longer pause.  

A few points here: 

• I'm using 6 lb braid and 6 lb mono as a leader.  
• Have not gone off any wharves as yet - mostly since I know the shallow, sandy areas I'm at are definitely producing on baits, so there is no point going elsewhere yet when I know there are fish there!
• I definitely have a lot to work on with retrievals/working the SP. I've only fairly recently worked out how to get a bit of distance into casting! It will come together in time. I've read and seen tonnes about letting the lure rest. I've tried this but honestly probably do get a bit impatient there. I've tried slow rolls and flicking and retrieving the slack - I've found slow rolls do give a little interest every now and then. And @corro - ditto your comments in relation to slowing it down. 

16 hours ago, DerekD said:

Hi @telescopic_rodd

What is your outfit and of particular interest to me is the braid you are using. I noticed you commented on my "first light outfit" article so I know you have read it.

It sounds like it comes down to the way and where you are working the lure. Are you always in contact with the lure. Are you winding or flicking the lure? Have you worked out how to work the lure in a subtle way with small flicks as well as larger ones. Are you letting it hit the bottom (watch for the sag in the line). Are you teasing the fish - remember it is not bait or actual food so we are usually pushing for the reactive strike. Easy meal or the lure is getting away (in little darts).

Thanks Derek - I've followed a lot of your recommendations and I'm using a 7' 2-4kg rod with a 2500 reel coupled with 6lb braid and 6lb mono leader. Very standard bread and butter setup I think. I mentioned above that I'm certain that my technique needs work, and as always your tips are gold.

[big Neil]

Great advice in the post from corro. How we use soft plastics is the secret. As corro says, the longer in the water the more likely to hook up. Think about what's happening under the water. If you can get your sp to represent a sick or wounded food source, fish will readily take it (an easy meal). Even stopping the retrieve altogether and letting the sp sit on the bottom works. Explore, experiment, and do things differently. Soft plastics are great so keep at it and you will have success.

bn