Trash and Treasure

[Little_Flatty]

This morning started with a 5am weed and sand raid. Jumped in the car rather than walking this time to go to my local cabbage spot. There was none! Looks like the recent rains and hot weather have burned it all up.

Found a little after a bit of running around in a very difficult to reach spot, if I wasn't careful I could've ended up in the drink. Thankfully I stayed dry. Then went to my weed spot. Again, there was none, but I managed to collect enough short bits to make a bit of berley to last me for a while. If I run out of bait, might be time to start chasing fish on fly. I've been wanting to get back to some fly fishing anyway.

The water felt like bath water so it's a little wonder the weed has been all dying off. I'm really glad now I put some weed in a tank earlier on. It seems  happy enough in there, though we will see how it goes in the summer. It is out of direct sun, so hopefully it is ok.

After mucking around for the best part of an hour, finally got down to Meadowbank for a fish. The past few days, I have been spotting fish on the margins, dark shapes mooching about on the weed. They are finicky and you need to be looking hard for them, but you can see them on a higher tide. I notice their fins first and maybe their bellies if they roll, but you rarely see a whole fish.

Anyhow, when I got there, there was a fishing outfit floating in the water. Oddly, it was staying in one spot in the current. It had clearly happened overnight as I was down there yesterday morning and it wasn't there. I'm guessing someone spat the dummy after their line snagged and threw the whole lot in the water. I'd been speaking to another fisho earlier in the morning about the litter. I hate seeing dumped gloves, but this just takes the cake.

Cast out at the rod, snag it and reel it in. As I'd guessed, it was snagged. Got it off and put it aside. Cheap glass rod and the reel is likely shot, but I'll put the rod to use with kids fishing some time.

Started berleying and put a bait in. Down straight away, and a hookup but lost contact after a brief but good fight. They are fantastic fighters, these luderick.

A few downs and a few stolen baits later, I hook up and after a fantastic fight, up comes a 33cm luderick:

The fish were clearly on, but try as I might, I couldn't get another fish in the time I had left. Happy enough with that.

 

[big Neil]

A mixture of emotions from your latest Blackfishing exercise. Got to be on a high with a lovely Luderick like that one. They are such great fun once hooked and landing them is never a guaranteed result. I do hope that your weed issues can be resolved otherwise you will have to resort to the weed fly set up. That can be equally as much fun though.

Tight lines. bn

[Burger]

Tried 3 of my string weed spots this week for naught, though one had signs of new growth.

[Little_Flatty]

10 minutes ago, big Neil said:

A mixture of emotions from your latest Blackfishing exercise. Got to be on a high with a lovely Luderick like that one. They are such great fun once hooked and landing them is never a guaranteed result. I do hope that your weed issues can be resolved otherwise you will have to resort to the weed fly set up. That can be equally as much fun though.

Tight lines. bn

Thanks Neil, Yes, some fly fishing is on the plan anyway, I might need to head east for weed soon, but we shall see how we go. Saw some signs that lure fishing might be hotting up, so there are other distractions to be had anyway. This hot weather is making me feel like wading with the fly and lure outfits.

5 minutes ago, Burger said:

Tried 3 of my string weed spots this week for naught, though one had signs of new growth.

Yes, it's unfortunate  The only stuff I can find is the stringy cabbage-y stuff that is 5cm long if you're lucky. It's only barely useable as bait, but it does catch fish.

[Green Hornet]

The hunt for good weed spots never ends Mike, you can never have too many. Nice fish too.

I thought golfers were the only ones that threw their sticks into the water.

 

[Little_Flatty]

5 minutes ago, Green Hornet said:

The hunt for good weed spots never ends Mike, you can never have too many. Nice fish too.

I thought golfers were the only ones that threw their sticks into the water.

 

Absolutely cannot have enough weed spots, especially in summer!

Yes, clearly there is a fishing version of Happy Gilmore🤣

[lhan]

Sad to know the local weed spots died off - I'll collect some cabbage next time I hit the rocks (hoepfullly soon as I really want a bonnie)

I have to say you're slaying those parra luderick now mate! I blame those bass bugs for keeping me away from the magical luderick 😆

[XD351]

Might be Mother Natures way of telling you to go fish for something else? 

[Hill373737]

3 hours ago, Little_Flatty said:

Cast out at the rod, snag it and reel it in. As I'd guessed, it was snagged. Got it off and put it aside. Cheap glass rod and the reel is likely shot, but I'll put the rod to use with kids fishing some time.

Nice recovery, even a cheapy is worth cleaning up, they make great setups for kids to start with.

In my kayak, I recover quite a few lures especially in winter, probably snagged by fishos walking the bank and its too cold to swim for them.

I use an ABU Max Pro reel for yellas that I recovered, still attached with rod to a top water lure I found on a snag, I always pull the line up to get it out of the waterway but in this case I got a surprise when it had some weight to it and up came a rod and reel. I suspect some-one needs to work on their anger management!! 🙂.

[Little_Flatty]

49 minutes ago, lhan said:

Sad to know the local weed spots died off - I'll collect some cabbage next time I hit the rocks (hoepfullly soon as I really want a bonnie)

I have to say you're slaying those parra luderick now mate! I blame those bass bugs for keeping me away from the magical luderick 😆

Thanks Henry, yes getting there.

It’s those luderick stopping me from getting into the bass!🤣

35 minutes ago, XD351 said:

Might be Mother Natures way of telling you to go fish for something else? 

Maybe, I did see some fish chasing prawns on the surface this morning! Oh, the options available!🤣

3 minutes ago, Hill373737 said:

Nice recovery, even a cheapy is worth cleaning up, they make great setups for kids to start with.

In my kayak, I recover quite a few lures especially in winter, probably snagged by fishos walking the bank and its too cold to swim for them.

I use an ABU Max Pro reel for yellas that I recovered, still attached with rod to a top water lure I found on a snag, I always pull the line up to get it out of the waterway but in this case I got a surprise when it had some weight to it and up came a rod and reel. I suspect some-one needs to work on their anger management!! 🙂.

Cheers Hilly, Yes fishing is not a great activity if you have a patience and/or an anger management problem 🤣

Good to see other outfits and terminals being put to good use. We’re too much a disposable society these days. Even a cheap and nasty rod can catch fish.

[Robbo from Sydney]

2 hours ago, Little_Flatty said:

Thanks Henry, yes getting there.

It’s those luderick stopping me from getting into the bass!🤣

Maybe, I did see some fish chasing prawns on the surface this morning! Oh, the options available!🤣

Cheers Hilly, Yes fishing is not a great activity if you have a patience and/or an anger management problem 🤣

Good to see other outfits and terminals being put to good use. We’re too much a disposable society these days. Even a cheap and nasty rod can catch fish.

I have a light Ugly Stick rod that was dumped on the pontoon at Tunks Ramp by someone. I put an old reel on it and tied on a sabiki rig and sinker and it is now in my boat as my yakka rod! It is perfect for it - waste not want not

[Koalaboi]

Hi,

Three tips to improve hook ups and landing luderick:

1. Long rod and centrepin reel. Glad to see you using a centrepin. A centrepin reel is obligatory/mandatory/favoured for so many reasons, not the least being heritage let alone control. Turn up with a dp reel and you're not going to be treated seriously by the old timers. Why do the experts use centrepins? 'Cause they are the best option.

2. Greased mainline kept straight from rod tip to float

3. Longer, lighter trace with more ballast so the float only just floats.

KB

 

[rickmarlin62]

Check the dams n drains in some of the golf clubs for weed

[Little_Flatty]

3 hours ago, Robbo from Sydney said:

I have a light Ugly Stick rod that was dumped on the pontoon at Tunks Ramp by someone. I put an old reel on it and tied on a sabiki rig and sinker and it is now in my boat as my yakka rod! It is perfect for it - waste not want not

Fantastic Robbo! I have evil plans for this rod 😎

49 minutes ago, Koalaboi said:

Hi,

Three tips to improve hook ups and landing luderick:

1. Long rod and centrepin reel. Glad to see you using a centrepin. A centrepin reel is obligatory/mandatory/favoured for so many reasons, not the least being heritage let alone control. Turn up with a dp reel and you're not going to be treated seriously by the old timers. Why do the experts use centrepins? 'Cause they are the best option.

2. Greased mainline kept straight from rod tip to float

3. Longer, lighter trace with more ballast so the float only just floats.

KB

 

Cheers KB! I’m surprised at how much I’m loving fishing with a centrepin and a quality glass rod. It just works for this kind of fishing.

Centrepins are really the best for this fishing, line management is so much easier with a free running spool like you have with a ‘pin.

I’m clued into most of your tips, just need to master basic ‘pin fishing skills!

3 minutes ago, rickmarlin62 said:

Check the dams n drains in some of the golf clubs for weed

Cheers Rick, I will keep looking.

[Robbo from Sydney]

15 hours ago, Koalaboi said:

Hi,

Three tips to improve hook ups and landing luderick:

1. Long rod and centrepin reel. Glad to see you using a centrepin. A centrepin reel is obligatory/mandatory/favoured for so many reasons, not the least being heritage let alone control. Turn up with a dp reel and you're not going to be treated seriously by the old timers. Why do the experts use centrepins? 'Cause they are the best option.

2. Greased mainline kept straight from rod tip to float

3. Longer, lighter trace with more ballast so the float only just floats.

KB

 

Instead of the old centrepin reel you could also use an Alvey sidecast- but the simple model with no star drag. I still have the 5 inch cedar spool version and it always worked a treat with a 12 foot rod on the rocks. Perfect control, over your line and fish - plus it is easier casting

[Little_Flatty]

3 hours ago, Robbo from Sydney said:

Instead of the old centrepin reel you could also use an Alvey sidecast- but the simple model with no star drag. I still have the 5 inch cedar spool version and it always worked a treat with a 12 foot rod on the rocks. Perfect control, over your line and fish - plus it is easier casting

Interesting idea Robbo. I’m imagining that would be useful for when the fish are out of typical centrepin casting distance. Will see how we go!

[Yowie]

A lot of work Mike, to pull up a fish, but that is what happens during the warmer weather. The weed dies back until the cooler weather arrives. Continue to grow your own weed  (not the smoking type  😂)

[Koalaboi]

8 hours ago, Robbo from Sydney said:

Instead of the old centrepin reel you could also use an Alvey sidecast- but the simple model with no star drag. I still have the 5 inch cedar spool version and it always worked a treat with a 12 foot rod on the rocks. Perfect control, over your line and fish - plus it is easier casting

I can see where you are coming from suggesting a sidecast. I started fishing for blackfish when I was 18 using a wooden 5" Alvey because I had one and it was easier to cast with. That was a long time ago...I'm now 71 and still fishing 4 to 5 times per week using my blackfish rig for luderick and flathead.

The trouble with sidecast reels is line twist. Honestly, a centrepin is definitely the go, though for rock fishing, you really need to work on your casting which is often over greater distances in more difficult conditions (wind and swell) than fishing inside, nevertheless, I would still only use a centrepin off the stones. They are also much lighter than an Alvey.

Anyhow, each to their own and if it works for you then hang in there.

KB

 

Edited November 28 by Koalaboi

[Steve0]

2 hours ago, Koalaboi said:

I can see where you are coming from suggesting a sidecast. I started fishing for blackfish when I was 18 using a wooden 5" Alvey because I had one and it was easier to cast with. That was a long time ago...I'm now 71 and still fishing 4 to 5 times per week using my blackfish rig for luderick and flathead.

The trouble with sidecast reels is line twist. Honestly, a centrepin is definitely the go, though for rock fishing, you really need to work on your casting which is often over greater distances in more difficult conditions (wind and swell) than fishing inside, nevertheless, I would still only use a centrepin off the stones. They are also much lighter than an Alvey.

Anyhow, each to their own and if it works for you then hang in there.

KB

 

The advice I had 'way back' was Butterworth bent tip (2145? 3145?); chrome runners; cork-wrapped butt; plastic butt cap; and, bind on chrome reel seat. They were all designed to keep the weight to a minimum. The bent tip gave a fixed float a slightly better hang. Add an Avon Royal and that was close to best technology for Luderick off the stones in the 70s. I still use the rod. Unfortunately, corrosion killed the Avon Royal.

A few years ago, I bought an Alvey 475B Luderick reel. It's fairly good, gives good line control, but is not an Avon, and lacks the line guide that I like on windier days.  To avoid line twist, I don't side-cast, but use a centrepin-style cast.

Not long after buying the 475B, Alvey released (or I became aware of) Alvey 475CP, which is a more traditional centrepin design.  A look at the current Alvey website indicates they dropped the more traditional designed centrepin and have two offerings similar to 475B.

[Koalaboi]

HiSteveO,

Like you my Avon succumbed to corrosion. Since then, I have tried a number of centrepin reels but in the end I went back to using a Steelite. I have a number of them now having kept my eyes open for them at the weekend markets. The last one, in almost new condition cost me $5.  An old fishing mate is still using his original Steelite which would be over 40 years old and still going strong.

KB

[Steve0]

@Koalaboi Other than food types, markets and I don't go well together. Nor garage sales.

For a while I used a narrow Fuji sidecast that had a reversible spool (in the image, slip the metal catches in take off the blue spool, turn it over, slip it back - fast and easy). A chunk of bakelite cracked out of it. It was never dropped, so I'm guessing a flaw in the casting of the spool.

[kantong]

nice fish, good size and colour. Gotta be happy about that

[Ryder]

I agree with KB, line twist is a big problem using side cast . You almost sacrifice 20m of line per trip, Dango floating is particularly unforgiving. One alternative is to use braid. Line twist is not a big issue, it floats but it doesn’t stretch. You need to include a section of mono in your rig to avoid pulling hooks.

[Green Hornet]

I honestly think if you don’t want to use a centrepin, your next best option is a spin reel. Easily fished with the bail arm open and controlling line feed with a finger on the spool lip. Get a down, manually flip the bail and strike.

When I fished the ocean rocks, a spin reel was my weapon of choice at one particular, very low ledge that often required long drifts. Main reason being, with a far quicker retrieve than a ‘pin, if a saw an above average wave coming, I could wind in quickly and get well away from any danger.

[Little_Flatty]

2 hours ago, Ryder said:

I agree with KB, line twist is a big problem using side cast . You almost sacrifice 20m of line per trip, Dango floating is particularly unforgiving. One alternative is to use braid. Line twist is not a big issue, it floats but it doesn’t stretch. You need to include a section of mono in your rig to avoid pulling hooks.

Yep, line twist is why I took the plunge to try a pin. Don’t know why, line twist has never been a problem for me with spin reels until now. But using a floating mono, it started twisting like there’s no tomorrow.

2 hours ago, Green Hornet said:

I honestly think if you don’t want to use a centrepin, your next best option is a spin reel. Easily fished with the bail arm open and controlling line feed with a finger on the spool lip. Get a down, manually flip the bail and strike.

When I fished the ocean rocks, a spin reel was my weapon of choice at one particular, very low ledge that often required long drifts. Main reason being, with a far quicker retrieve than a ‘pin, if a saw an above average wave coming, I could wind in quickly and get well away from any danger.

I had a crazy thought recently that the next best thing may well be a baitcaster! And it turns out in the states, some do float fish with spiral wrapped steelhead rods.

That said I’m not sure about the longevity of the reel, continuously flipping the thumb bar.

I might one day procure or build a rod like thia out of curiosity, but for now I’m loving the ‘pin!