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In
search of Sooty’s or Lumpy finally catch’s one!
For
some time now I had been pestering David Milson AKA “Lumpy”to fish a
special part of the Tully chasing Sooty Grunter, JP”s and the
occasional Barra. This wide stretch, almost a lagoon was pristine
wilderness at its best! Spider Orchids, Golden Orchids, Tree Ferns,
every type of creeper imaginable, the trees lining the banks where
covered in them! And the bird life! Kingfishers, Flycatchers,
Honeyeaters, Waterfowl the place was a veritable sanctuary, you’ll
understand if I don’t give a way the exact location.
Lumpy had put me onto the fun of catching Sooty’s with a trip to
Koombalooma Dam one hot stormy December day, the bird life that day was
a different, sort more of the nudist variety. We came ‘Hooning “ round a
bend in my punt, past a floating box (well that’s what it looked like)
only to find the occupants where all sun-baking in the nude! Anyway
that’s another story!
I was keen to repay the favor (not the nudists, the fishing!) as I think
the big fella enjoys the surroundings as much as the fishing. Come to
think of it he does fish a lot at Koombalooma!
So the date was set we were to fish an early Wednesday morning. I mate
Lumpy on the Highway, leaving his car there we toddled of in my Toyota
with the “Leaky Punt” on top. This was pushed along by my electric,
which I find is plenty for the fresh. We soon had the boat in the water,
loaded up with the necessary provisions, battery, rods and tackle boxes.
Now I’m no lightweight and “Lumpy”is certainly in the heavyweight
division so watching the pairs of us in a battered old punt is certainly
mind bending. We have one rule ”if your falling in, Jump in”! No need to
bring everything in with you. So when one of us stands up or move around
there’s every chance that will happen.
Anyway we finally got started fishing, I was using a light Penn Rod, a
small Shakespeare spinning reel, 6kg line, 8kg leader and to start of
with a small “Mermaid Popper”. David had opted for something heavier as
I had made the fatal mistake of mentioning that there was some
Barramundi living there. This was to be his undoing in the fish stakes.
I soon had a small Sooty attacking the popper and after slowing it down
it was hooked up. I find in the clear water they will often grab a
stopped lure. It was great fun on my light gear, a quick pic and back it
went. Things started to slow down from then on, so much so that I decide
to change to a deep diver as I had purchased some new lures from
Craftmaster at Wodonga. They are a beautiful lure designed by John
Bennett and I was keen to see how they went up here as they are
primarily a bass lure.
We had moved along the bank slowly and had come across a small tributary
running in to a rock bar, a likely spot. I cast across the bar working
the tiny lure deep when it was absolutely hammered by a nice fish. In
the clear waters I could see that it was an almost black Sooty and it
was putting up a decent sort of stoush! A good sized fish, it was really
working hard to dislodge the lure but to no avail as its was soon boated
and had its photo taken.
Lumpy by this time was changing lures at an ever-increasing rate, trying
to find something that would work but heavier enough for him to cast. I
can tell you he bought some weird and wonderful stuff out! One of them
looked like a big beetle with massive bibs either side and appeared to
walk thro’ the water but still no Sooty’s. I had also changed back to my
popper.
We had crossed to the opposite bank by now and where fishing under some
overhanging trees with nice snags and rocky bottom. This was the go;
Sooty’s where grabbing my Popper like no tomorrow. We could see them
swimming every where, even following the boat, its worth noting that the
fish swimming around weren’t interested in our lures. I even saw three
Barra about 40cm swim past and one big fish probably 90+cm I didn’t
mention it to the “Big Fella” as he was fishless and I had boated about
six or seven. No point in rubbing it in, he was well aware of the
situation.
By this time had finally found a lure smaller enough and heavier enough
that he thought would work. Sure enough the fish were interested, they
were attacking it with “Gusto”, pushing it around, even two or three at
a time but could he get a hook could he heck!
Things continued in this vein until we reached out point of entry again.
I had some seven or eight nice fish to my credit with the “Lump-meister”
still on zero. ”Mate” I said, “We will we will have to fish that stretch
again, I can’t have you going home fishless”! So of we go again, the
fish are still on the chew with my tiny popper still attracting plenty
of attention. That’s the thing about fishing for Sooty’s, there always
is plenty of action, with plenty of splash’s, ooh’s aah’s and did you
see that’s, great fun.
By this time I was starting to get worried, at on stage a nice fish left
my lure swam flat out about 4 mtr’s and grabbed Lumpy’s lure and missed!
Then it swam of in disgust! Finally Lumpy is hooked up solid to a nice
fish; ”Stuff me, if he isn’t trying to jump it off” reckons it would
spoil his unblemished record! No chance of jumping this fish of its
inhaled the popper down to the split ring, luckily none of the hooks
were in its Gills, so a quick pic and back in the water.
On that note we decided to call it a day as we were back at the ute,
after some awkward moments we both disembarked, not both at the same
time I can tell you.
What a great day, great weather, fabulous surrounds, good company and
above all good fun, that’s what fishing is all about, Not about numbers
or size, enjoyment!
Jim (Jimbo)
Lee - www.un-reel-sportsfishing-adventures.com.au
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