Local Lud #2

[Little_Flatty]

Since my last Meadowbank lud I have been itching to get my next and start to build some consistency with targeting them in the area. I need the practice!

I’ve had a heck of a frustrating time targeting luderick here, but it’s been a strangely addictive pursuit. They are clearly present, but hooking and landing them is proving difficult for this second year luderick apprentice. Last week, I lost a good one but managed to positively ID it. It’s funny, I have less trouble with luds in the lower harbour when I’m actually chasing a feed.

But slowly the river is starting to divulge secrets. On a higher tides, the fish hang hard against rock walls and on the lower (but running) tides, I have found fishing for cruising fish in the current seems to work better. I’ve only tried one spot this far, and will soon start exploring other spots in the area.

This morning I popped down for another try. It was quiet for the first half hour but then the tide started running. The first down caught me off guard and my bait was gone. Then several drifts later, I got another down, tightened up and felt weight. Up comes Meadowbank lud #2!

Happy with that, it was time to pack up and get ready for the day.

[Green Hornet]

Sounds like it won’t be long before you crack the code Mike.   
That’s a nice, healthy looking fish too.

[Burger]

Lots of places fish differently dependant on the tide, I like to think about how the water/current moves.

Well done on no. 2!

[lhan]

Very well done Mike! It's a beautiful fish and a perfect hook up too!

[Little_Flatty]

4 hours ago, Green Hornet said:

Sounds like it won’t be long before you crack the code Mike.   
That’s a nice, healthy looking fish too.

Cheers Pete, will see how we go. Funny how dark the fish are this far upstream. You can barely see their bands.

2 hours ago, Burger said:

Lots of places fish differently dependant on the tide, I like to think about how the water/current moves.

Well done on no. 2!

Thanks Stu,  I’m trying to fish this spot till I start to see some patterns. Not enough data points yet!

1 hour ago, lhan said:

Very well done Mike! It's a beautiful fish and a perfect hook up too!

Cheers Henry, gotta keep plugging on and then eventually get you onto one!

[Basil D]

I have tried fishing for these fish and it is fun.

Since Ive had the boat Ive rarely been out fishing land based 

I love it when the float goes down and you strike , a lot of fun.

[Little_Flatty]

10 minutes ago, Basil D said:

I have tried fishing for these fish and it is fun.

Since Ive had the boat Ive rarely been out fishing land based 

I love it when the float goes down and you strike , a lot of fun.

Sure is Basil. Good option for when the weather is bad and you can’t get your boat offshore 😎

[wazatherfisherman]

Great stuff Mike- you can now get rid of all your other fishing gear (except for the stuff the kids like using) and concentrate on the dark art- a life-long pursuit has begun methinks

[Ryder]

Mmmm, lure of the Dark Side.

[Little_Flatty]

1 hour ago, wazatherfisherman said:

Great stuff Mike- you can now get rid of all your other fishing gear (except for the stuff the kids like using) and concentrate on the dark art- a life-long pursuit has begun methinks

I can actually conceive how that might happen Waza 🤣 That said I have been out for a few lure sessions of late, so I’ll keep the other gear for now😎

20 minutes ago, Ryder said:

Mmmm, lure of the Dark Side.

The lure is strong!

[Larkin]

Nice work Mike! 
All the effort paying off. 

[big Neil]

Good onya Mike for working at the challenge. Success is all the sweeter when you have to work to resolve the issues at hand.

Looking forward to reading reports of your efforts.

 

bn

[Pickles]

Another great report Mike. You are so correct - Fishing for “Lud’s” certainly is addictive, I guess like any targeted species. For their size and the gear needed to get them, they give a great account of themselves. You obviously have no problem sourcing weed / cabbage which is 80% of the key to success (although weed flies do give a good result).

[Little_Flatty]

9 hours ago, Larkin said:

Nice work Mike! 
All the effort paying off. 

Cheers Chris. Glad I’m starting to see fish.

8 hours ago, big Neil said:

Good onya Mike for working at the challenge. Success is all the sweeter when you have to work to resolve the issues at hand.

Looking forward to reading reports of your efforts.

 

bn

Cheers Neil, it’s a fun challenge.

4 hours ago, Pickles said:

Another great report Mike. You are so correct - Fishing for “Lud’s” certainly is addictive, I guess like any targeted species. For their size and the gear needed to get them, they give a great account of themselves. You obviously have no problem sourcing weed / cabbage which is 80% of the key to success (although weed flies do give a good result).

Thanks Bob, I have my supplies for bait/berley and I’ve realised I don’t need much at all. Also as per I’ve been experimenting with storing the weed in a small fish tank with water where it came from. It’s been working a treat - no more weed in the fridge (keeping everyone else happy) and the stuff I take out for bait goes back in the tank for ‘rejuvenation’.

[Little_Flatty]

Meadowbank luderick #3 turned up today as well:

This time this one of the fish that was hugging the wall on the high tide. These are finicky fish; tentative, fleeting takes and lots of baits lost. I ran out of bait today! Granted, I only take out a pinch of weed at a time for bait. Lasts me an hour on average. The last batch I collected was on the short side and not very strong/tolerant to being put on a hook.

The water here is shallow (float set at about 80cm deep) and yet you can’t see the fish!  The water clarity is not the best, with the current raging at times.

By the way, I’m loving this little kayak net, especially the measure feature. This fish was landed, measured, photographed and released with minimal handling, which is the way I like to handle fish destined for release (quite difficult to do when land based). Being such a short handle, is a bit hard to use with the luderick rod and will be impossible on a low tide in most of my land based spots, but will be perfect for wading the flats with my lure and fly gear (which is what I bought this for). It’s not going to usurp my favourite carbon 3m telescopic net, but I will use it where I can!