|
Fishing
is fun
with the kids.
As
guides we are expected to produce quality fish every time we go out, we
know that’s not possible, but a lot of clients have that expectation.
Not so with the kids, they just love to fish, they see things in a
different light to us adults. They have fun even when you are not
catching fish.
When fishing with our usual crew we have a points system, 5 pts for a
Barra, 3 for a Jack, 1 for anything else and minus 1 if we have to go in
and retrieve the lure. I’ve seen guys trying to defend 10 or 12 pts, by
that I mean that are short casting and won’t take a chance of getting
hooked up, how serious is that!
As well as having the opportunity to fish with a couple of “Likely
Lads”, James and Ashley, I am able to fish with my Grandson Kale. Is
there anything better than fishing with your son or Grandson? No way
it’s the best! I mean this is the kid who froze his first fish (a smelly
old carp) so I could check it out next time I was in South Oz. You have
to love that!
Kale has been fishing with me from day one, he was been fishing with a
light spinning outfit but after this year I will switch him to an
overhead. I think it’s important that you don’t rush them into an
overhead. Most Queensland kids fish with them at an early age, not so in
SA, not much call for them there.
Prior to this year he had yet to land a Barra, so he was keen to fish
hard this time. His first Barra was boated when we were on a trip with
the big fella, Dave “Lumpy” Milson, we were fishing the upper reaches of
the Russell River. We had anchored of a small feeder creek, which had
some rain and it was running ok with just a light color change.
Lumpy informed Kale that there was a bit of a weed bed near the bank and
to cast over it and work the lure slow, giving it a bit of a dive at the
edge. A couple of practice casts and then he was on, ”I’m on Grandad”,
Magic words indeed. A small Barra was soon boated with smiles all
around, plenty of pics too. It was a special moment for everybody
including Lumpy who was also wearing a big grin. I think that day we
boated 6 or 7 small Barra before we headed home.
The next time we fished, things didn’t go Kales way. We were fishing the
snags in Hinchinbrook Channel, he worked his “Flatratz” through the
timber and was rewarded by a silver flash but no hook up. I told him to
go back again and to stop the lure, near the snag where the fish was and
let the lure float up, well that did the trick, it was smashed! And by a
nice fish, well talk about a comedy of errors, I had forgot to check the
drag, its to tight and Kale has “Skull Dragged” it out of the snag and
half way into the boat. Before I could say “back off “ he has the Barra
almost to the tip, the fish gave a last jump and was off, not much you
can say, but just make sure it doesn’t happen next time. Kale said he’s
checking his own drag in future!
The fishing had slowed a bit so we headed for the Haven to fish the
small creek that runs into it, there’s usually some Gt’s or Queenies
hanging out the front harassing the bait schools. Sure enough as we got
there we could see something “chopping” up the bait, I thought this
would be a good chance for Kale to learn how to play a fish, as Gt’s of
any size put up a good fight. We’d switched to surface lures now and
Kale was using a gold “Bomber” and after a couple of casts had a
smallish GT on.
He’d worked out the drag bit and was playing the GT a treat, not long
before it was boated and pictured.
The end of the Holidays was near and I’d promised him a trip to the
Missionary Bay, he’s a bit like me and reckons the fishing is better
there. We didn’t have to start early, as I wanted to fish the flats on
the incoming tide. As soon as we got there a small Queenie jumped out of
the water chasing bait, well that was it for Kale, stuff the barra he
was chasing Queenies. I reckoned there might be some nice fish on
the flats and snags including some nice Barra and Jacks.
I had a nice Jack smash at my B52 but it missed, I thought this could be
an interesting session and decided to let Kale do what he wanted, he was
more interested in giving his friend Samantha casting lessons. I spotted
a small gutter coming out of the Mangroves and cast into it, a nice
Barra picked up the lure and swam towards me faster than I could wind,
as soon as it felt the line it jumped out and spat the lure out.
Very next cast into the Mangrove I’m smashed again, this time by a big
fish, its gone hell for leather to another root, wound me around it and
broke me off, in seconds! And then swam passed the boat with my B52 in
its mouth, en route to remove it.
Now I don’t know if you’ve seen how they get rid of the lures (Barra
that is) but this is how it goes. They swim flat out into snags or
roots, rub the lure on to the timber so it hooks up then continue on
leaving the lure behind, amazing to see.
I decided to work the snags on the flats proper, which were just
starting to cover as we were fishing in 60cm of water. Kale had a few
smash’s and half hook ups but none landed, he was having fun. I cast at
a single stick and was rewarded by a decent hook up and a chance to land
one. ”Make it jump Grandad” Kale had obviously been taking lessons from
Lumpy, anyway I didn’t have to do a thing this fish was airborne most of
the time. I must admit I did play to the crowd a bit.
Kale netted the fish and measured it and held the fish while I took a
pic, a nice fat 71cm.We managed to catch another keeper before the wind
and tide got up and we had to head for home.
I look forward to the school holidays when the kids come up to stay, we
always try and make their stay memorable, talking of memorable moments.
Kale informed me that when I die he’s going to take over the fishing
business! Mate, when I die you can have it, I won’t be using it.
Jim (Jimbo)
Lee - www.un-reel-sportsfishing-adventures.com.au
|
Email
