Super Quick Session

Chen had sms'ed me earlier in the arvo for a night op and so the game was on. Went off to BigW seeing that the Gulps were on sale for 8 bucks a pop and also with the intention to get some Berkley jigheads. Got a pack of camo worms for Chen while I went to Kyeemagh to grab a pack of 1/16oz keel heads. Then Chen told me he had to meet Jenny during the peak tide and so I suggested a quick session at nearby playground. Reached Glebe with approximately less than an hour of fishing. Saw an asian baito (suspected indo that looks like Kitaro) fishing and when we just ruck up to his spot, he had just brought up a good size bream that went straight into a blue coles plastic bag. Seemed like he needed his usual dose of dioxins. Anyways, we rigged up and I was jokingly telling Chen that hopefully can hookup a fish and release it to see "Kitaro"s face, lol. I was using the gulp grub and probably on the 2nd cast whilst reeling almost to my feet, I had a dropped flattie. Both me and Chen were getting hits and knew we were onto the bite zone. My grub was later tail-less and I switched to a used camo worm. It was hard to cast with the slight wind but still managed to get angle right and achieve some distance. Then I somehow did Chen's style of slow dragging and suddenly there was something on the line and I thought it might be a snag. The line moved slowly and knew it was a fish. This one was instantly felt heavy and the fight was like a jew but no headshakings. Then as usual, we'll both start ID'ing the fish with the most probables of big bream, jewie etc... Never would have guessed it was a flattie but it really took some time to pull in for a good view. Finally after several persistent runs and resistive stalling, the head torch shone a flathead! Bloody hell, thought at least it must be a mama size but it was not that big. Obviously Kitaro came over to see the commotion. I had to climb down and lip grip it and Kitaro might have found it amusing why I need to do that. So he asked if the line was not strong ('they' are renowned to use probably >80lb even for estuaries), Chen said it's only 4lb (I bet he must've thought we're stupid). Knn... actually last time when I learnt fishing I was also like that, OK!!! Alright lah.. respect, respect!

Measured at 52cm but one of the best flathead fights I've ever had the privilege to encounter. Stradic, u bloody beau-tey! Zzzz.. Zzzz... Then, the moment we've been waiting for. I brought the flattie down the bank and I heard from Chen that Kitaro walked over and see what I was trying to do again performing my Spiderman stunts. So there I was, releasing the lip grip clutch and let the flattie disappear below the water surface. At least Kitaro didn't behave like the Lima Echo Bravos who would probably lash out at me. Continued fishing and suddenly I snag my rig even before I could start reeling! KNNBCCB!!! With less than about 15 minutes of fishing, I quickly put on Tango. At the same spot, I had a take and this fish went surface, give a splash and I lost it. Re-cast it back and got it, AGAIN. This time it was hooked solid and not to my surprise, a small flattie. After that fish, it became quiet. Kitaro did hook up an Eel and when I told Chen it was an eel, he asked to confirmed if it was. Told him yes and he quickly hold the line over the water and cut the bugger free. That was about it. Chen had to leave and we pack up to wrap this quickie. Dropped Chen at Broadway whilst I went to grab a pack of wrigglers and a pack of jigheads for Chen from Kmart's fishing sale.

Awhile back me and Chen went to the boat show at Darling Harbour and had quite an enjoyable time seeing some fine boats and motors. Came across the Stratos Boats stand and was admiring one of it's tournament style Americano bass fishing boats. Damn salivating man! Too bad can only dream about it and of course beg for a copy of their catalogue.

Dream lah... continue and dream... And I told Chen... "One day bro... ONE DAY..." HA!

Ronald

Luring In The Lunar Eclipse

After a frustrating outing I've had yesterday down at spot SF, with only 1 bream caught and only 2-3 hits, I wasn't keen on luring for few days. Chen was keen to fish for this week's night-time high tides and so it was his call. I've asked him in the afternoon if he wants to go to a new spot in Iron Cove and he said game on. Waited for him to finish work and we ruck up to the new spot just about an hour more for the incoming. Chen went with his usual camo worm whilst I tried with the Lime Tiger Gulp minnow. Since there wasn't much wind, I went with the 1/32oz. 1st cast already I had a hit but no hookup, damn! Things were looking good as next cast I was still getting hits. Few casts later I hookup solid and this thing fought pretty ok. A nice 32cm bream opened the ceremony for this new spot, good stuffs!

Thanks bro for the piccies. Whilst we were luring, I suddenly saw that the moon had a funny looking red-ish colour and told Chen: "Hey bro, how come the moon tonight look so evil?" Lol, how ignorant was I! Only when I went back and watch the news and that's when they said the event occurred around 8.37pm, which is why we managed to see the best peak time of the eclipse! Evil?! OMG!!!

Seemed that the hot bites were ongoing and Chen was getting heaps of hits till he finally managed to hookup. This fish fought pretty good and when brought up finally, it was a whiting. Good legal size too.

Wanted to take a proper photo but Chen bro too shy lah! Hahaha... It was actually quite a warm winter night and whilst Chen was in light clothings, I wrapped myself like a bloody chinese dumpling! Scored a long but skinny flathead on the lime tiger and we were still getting hits every now and then. I then had some timid bites and began to stop the lure. Twitch a little bit and felt a solid bite. Quickly struck it and I was on. This thing went zzzzz intermittently but would have been going for at least 5 seconds. Funnily it went up surface and I could feel plenty of bumps on the rod. At first I called for a flathead but then it didn't felt like a big fish to run that hard out. Soon, it started swimming side belly and Chen's headtorch shined a Silver Trevally! What?! A trev at night in IC?!

Measured 37cm and what a fight that really was on the Stradic. Woohoo!!! Both of us were stoked at the fact that we were almost getting all the usual estuary species in one night at one spot! Then, the 'one that got away' thing just had to happen. Whilst one of the twitch was done, the lime tiger must have got taken on the drop and next thing was Stradic went on afterburners and orgased both me and Chen. But it was shortlived and relatively gone. KNNBCCB!!! I told Chen: "That one really hurts man!" But I was quite convinced it was also a trev since the line went up surface and their paper lips are renowned to throw hooks. Soon after, it went quiet. I then snagged the lime tiger, shit. Chen did score his second fish and it was his best tussle by a bream that ran pretty good for its size. I changed to the Gulp grub without any noticeable hits till I had a pretty bad wind knot. It was so bad that I gave up and told Chen to call it quits since it was too quiet for him as well.

Ronald

Springtime Brooders

It's been sometime since I've last blogged. After that canal session, I went again with Chen on the next night but only managed one flathead on SX40 while we both have dropped fishes, damn! Then, the weather changed again in Sydney with rain and strong southerly winds hammering for almost a full week. I was also kept busy with some temp stocktake jobs for a bit of tackle money, lol. Anyway, the weather turned good this weekend and so Ronia the Chinu lurer was out by the water yet again. Went to spot SF in the late afternoon as the tide was coming into the last light. Bloody hell, I was contemplating whether to go spot SF as the wind was blowing against me but still went ahead since I haven't got a fish for a nong nong time..

Casting of softies was totally out of my mind at first so went with hardbody 1st with quite a low water level still. Put on the Jackall Cherry for not a single hit. Then, it was time to go against principle and try around the snag. I got a pack of Gamakatsu 1/22oz jigheads from BCF for 2 bucks and tried it with a used Gulp worm. 1st cast of it and I got a violent take, struck but got nothing. Reeled it back and the worm was gone, that was a huge take. Re-rigged with a new worm and what do you know, this stupid lurer with his crap casting skills got the worm on the tree, there goes a dollar rig, KNNBCCB!!! Next up, I put on the wriggler with a foul mood. Being quite light weight, I knew I wouldn't get any distance. Still, it managed to land on the sweet spot. Couple of twitch with it, the plastic went off. This thing didn't fight spectacularly but it certainly felt heavy with heaps of resistance. As the water was not clear, I couldn't see the fish earlier as normally I would. Once on the surface, it started thrashing and take some line intermittently. Just as I was trying to lift its head out, then I realised the hook was in the eye and turning the eyeball inside out! Fuck, I felt so bad! Wanted to quickly lip grip that bugger but he kept thrashing non-stop probably due to the blinded eye. Anyway, got hold of it and it was another biggun bream of 39.5cm.

Before I took the photo, I quickly did the op to remove the hook gently out of the eye socket, but I knew he's blinded for sure. Can't understand why they attack lures in such ways, oh well, that's fishing. Good thing is it swam away without drama when released. Then, maybe it's karma or what, I snagged the wriggler in just 2 casts, tamade! The light faded away and so a switch over to Tango. As soon as it was total darkness, the whole area went berserk. Big splashes were everywhere and you knew it was frenzy feeding time but I'm just not sure what they were, as it didn't seemed to be like bream feeding. After quite a few casts of Tango, it finally came up tight on a funny bump I haven't felt for a long time. This thing didn't take much line but as it was complete darkness, you could only feel the constant line bumping as if the head shakes were hitting the line. As soon as it was brought up near the surface, the head torch couldn't shine the usual silvery flashes, so bream was out of the equation. Took me quite a while to finally figure out that it was a flattie, probably I haven't been catching them frequently to remember their struggles. As soon as she was near the bank, I then started to feel that she was heavy, only till when I managed to lip grip her out from the bank then I realised she was freaking long! Ooh yeah, springtime brooders are out to feed! (I got my 80cm during mid spring)

This junior mama went 64cm, 3cm short of my previous biggun caught on the very same lure! Tango, u beau-tey!!! When I lifted her up, could see the big belly which might suggest it's still pregnant. Anyway, as usual, released without any drama. The splashes were getting more and more rampant, with some really violent katooosh!!! And for that matter, I persist like a desperate fisho with only 2 hookups and 2 dropped fish with quite a lot of hits.

Not the best of those 'quantity' type of session but the 'quality' type was the go. Just felt sorry for that bream that I accidentally caused it to blind. Packed up with almost a super low water level and left to get my Nasi Campur fix at Randwick.

Came sunday, Chen wanted to fish and though supposedly we were going to target blackfish but end up didn't wake up at all. We were talking about how un-motivated we are recently with 1st light fishing but guessed the passion of launching boat at 4am and squid got kings could be the only thing that can whipped us out of bed that early. Anyways, we planned for a last light op instead at spot SF. Arrived to an almost same condition I faced yesterday and as usual, I went with the $3 ebay lure 1st. Chen was onto a fish super early with a good size bream taken on the Gulp worm. I wasn't getting any hits at all until he told me that he got more hits and said to go Gulping. Ok, changed and sure enough, got a hookup in a few casts. You know what? I hooked the fish eye again! Yes, can you believe it? AGAIN! But luckily this one didn't turn the eyeball inside out and I slowly wiggle the hook out and luckily it came out easy. Seemed that the eye was ok and didn't bother to take photo and quickly released this approx 27-28cm breambo. The worm was totally ripped out and so I rigged it on the other side.

As I slowly moved down, we were still within the biting period. While my 'barely could stay on' worm was twitched near to a pile of rubbish just below my feet, I felt a weight straightaway and then the fish was already on. It fought like a bream but turned out it wasn't. Chen saw a whiting and said it was a big one, and we thought it might hopefully cross the 40cm mark this time.

Nah, bloody hell it was demoted. Just 38cm, damn! Worm's gone, left the Gama jighead in its mouth only. Thing with releasing whiting is that they always pose a drama and take quite some time to revive, with some occasions of tendency to float up after you thought you had released it successfully! Well, this one didn't, lucky it! Thought of re-rigging with a new worm but then decided to go lighter since the wind was dying down and so went with my usual wriggler rig. Few casts later, I was on. This one fought pretty good for its mere size of just 27cm.

Then, it was totally quiet for both of us, not even hits! I told Chen it might be the tide peaking and so maybe when darkness prevails, I was hoping the splashes will make a show for Chen. It did eventually, but not as spectacular as I've personally witnessed the night before. Still, Tango DID NOT get a single hit the whole bloody night. Chen scored another good legal sized bream on a Gulp grub. That was it, splashes a plentiful but hookup-ing fishes... disappointing! We left feeling tired and cold for a long-deserving taiwanese fried chicken meal at Cho's.

Ronald

Canal Breaming

After that somewhat good session in Glebe, I was tempted to head there again but after a quick check of the current wind directions, it seemed like Le Montage or poor-man stretch was those go-ers. Then I thought, nah, it's been quite a while since I've visited Iron Cove and so went there instead. Have done ok at night around there and was hoping it'll produce on a relatively calmless and cooling night. Reached there with about 1 hour plus to spare for the incoming. The water level was pretty high for that stretch but it didn't bother me so long my feet wasn't wet. As usual, just chuck the Tango with megastrike for night luring nowadays. Couple of first casts didn't met with hits but as soon as I was at the mouth of the canal, BANG... the lure got smashed just right under my feet! Stradic sang for 2 times but I knew it was quite a heavy one. Slowly play that fish as there is no snag country around. The irritating thing was trying to lip grip that bugger as he kept thrashing around even when I had his head out of the water surface. But still, no escape..

Song lah.. just there for barely 10 minutes and already scored a 34cm. But that bugger don't know how it can flatten the Owner treble! Diew lah, waste my money again! Luckily I got spare trebles but in fact I pull it out from the dis-used Daiso lure and put it onto Tango. Can't stop using this hip-hop lure.

After that drama, continued around the same spot. Suddenly I saw a squid near my feet! Quickly snap out the Tango and switched to a squid jig and see if can catch a sotong at that polluted canal! But by the time I had put on the jig, the squid was gone. Tried casting in every direction but just no takes. Sianz... Changed back to the Tango and moved down towards the canal. Never really lured this section before as I thought it was too shallow or too stinky to catch anything. Few casts later had a weird take which I haven't been experiencing for a long long time! Yes, a flathead!

Actually this flathead fought quite alright. I really miss them. But the change of tactics nowadays meant that my concentration was on breams rather than flatties. Going at past 40cm from my hao-lian ruler (approx 42cm), not a bad size either during winter. I kept getting hits non-stop on the Tango but just couldn't connect. Thinking that it might be smallies so I didn't bother adding more pizza smell. Just as I thought, one solid take after a few casts from the flathead I scored a winner. This one ran better than the 34 and I'd truly enjoyed Stradic's drag. Surprisingly, it was a mere 30cm!

Big ones don't muck around with the lure. They go for treble instead of headbutting the lure body, hahahahahahaha... I hope all other species behave the same way! After that, it was pretty quiet. Had a few hits here and there whilst I slowly move to the floating debris thing. The water was stagnant and the shrimps were jumping at the bank fringe. Made a parallel cast and had a dropped baby, TAMADE! Held my rod high and jiggle the HB along the bank. One hit and I was on with this virtual non-fighter.

Small ones can only headbutt the lures. The moment it reached the grass, it fell off from the hook. Sadly, all I could manage was this small one even though I knew there were other small schoolies with him. Moved back out to the canal mouth and dropped another flathead which felt alright weight! Sianz... Phil called for tea back at HQ and so packed up for what I'll say an enjoyable breezeless and dewy night op. Tango out!

Ronald

Die Hard 4.1: Braving The Cold

This week seemed to be a busy week as I had to supervise some students in Shell for their 3rd year industry attachment. Been itching to wet the line since Saturday. Phil called me up to watch Die Hard 4 movie at night and so I thought I'll go buy the tickets 1st and go for a quick flick whilst waiting for him to finish his evening lessons. Was contemplating to head to sure-fire but then I reckon I could only fish for an hour as it's a pretty far drive and so made a quick change and drove away from Officeworks and head over to a spot which I haven't been visiting for donkey ages! Ah, there I was, good ol' Glebe. Have been disappointed many times in the past trips with zero catches and super cold winds that I thought the nearest spot to us wouldn't be our favourite playground. Anyway, reached there in double quick time to be greeted with quite a cold southwesterly wind which meant that the casting had to be done in an angle. I knew it would be hopeless or too cold to feel for soft plastics and so I just try with Tango. After luring for like 5 minutes I was already tempted to give up and head back to office. The wind was not too strong but enough to make me super uncomfortable. I thought that was it, until I just randomly tried casting against the wind and lure at an angle near the canal. Finally got something after almost 30 minutes of persistence. Baby bream again, sianz...

Then, it was mayhem time. Based on the time stamps of the photos, I was like getting one fish every 10 minutes or so. The next fish came as the best of the night, going to 29cm tip. It certainly felt heavy when I tried to hoist it up from the high wall. Fight wise, not that good.

I kept getting hits and knew that the action was hotting up, or maybe I didn't cast correctly. All I knew was I kept putting on more and more megastrike and the hits were soon converting to hookups. This third fish was small but one of the weirdest bream I've ever seen.

The tail is not forked and it has net-damaged dorsal fins! Gave me the creeps as how the surrounding shipyards might have done to the marine life there! Anyway, the fishes were on the bite. Quick look at the watch and I knew I don't have much time left before meeting Phil. Kept casting to that same spot and there indeed was a school. Number 4, 5 and 6 came in quick succession.

The baro was up as well so it might have triggered the school to come in close and feed. Funny thing is when I didn't cast correctly or way out of the trajectory, the hits or hookups won't come, but the moment I cast at that sweet spot and wind in slowly, they would go mad on the lure. Tango is suffering big paint lost for sure, makes me wanna get one more eh... hehe... control.. control..

Left the fish biting and went to pick up Phil from UTS. Die Hard 4.0 is really worth watching for the action.

Ronald

Catches Are Shrinking

On Saturday, me and Chen were supposed to have fishing plans but the bloody wind forecast dampened out spirit. So it was called off the night before and what a bloody mistake it had seemed to be. Woke up to a beaut saturday morning only to know we've been screwed by the weatherman. Oh well, what more could we do? Go tackle shop! Went to Fishfinder at Matraville and brought our Gloomis blanks and Matagi grips plus Chen's recoil guides and my Fuji Titanium Sic to get it pimped up. Told them our specifications and the good thing is, our guides were all sorted out even though we had some sizes wrong. All we can do now is, waiting game.

Did some work in the afternoon after coming back from the tackle shop and was getting really bored towards the evening. Was contemplating whether to go lure or not seeing that the wind was kinda dying down. Asked Chen if he minds for a quick flick after nancy's dinner and he gladly obliged. Headed down sure-fire and lure in the dark. The wind wasn't really felt and seemed like an ideal condition. Tried gulps for nothing and we roughly knew it would be a donut trip. We were practically fishing in the highest tide but then we kept hearing splashes even on a moon-less night. I went with LC Tango and didn't help much as I knew the lure was probably swimming mid-water. Lured for almost an hour before I got a baby, BORING!!!

Well, at least not a donut. Moved down a little more and we were constantly hearing more and more splashes. Got another smallie near the snag, was thinking, wah... sianz... could be due to the fact i'm using a hardbody lure.

Was thinking about going back to gulp but too lazy to change and so continued with the Tango. This lure definitely the hip-hoppest one I've ever owned, could say it has caught more than the Sydney Guppy SX. At one point, the feeding frenzy seemed to have come on. Bang, I'm on the third fish, slightly better size almost made it to legal.

This time, I told Chen to change to hardbody which he had already did by using his SX48, lol. Next 2 casts and I'm on yet again around the same spot, they are feeding! But sadly not a biggun but at least made it to the legal department.

Had a hit but no hookup but yeah, that's about it for the evening. Told Chen to pepper my spot while I was taking pictures. By then, we had to leave as Chen had something on. Went off to Maccas for a small feed and we talked heaps at Stanmore which was pretty cool. Not bad spending a quick flick with a mate.

Ronald

Fishing Is Tough

No more hip hop curry pok sessions nowadays. Maybe it's so much easier blaming on the fact that it's winter. The wind nowadays are blowing heaps of gusts, and I didn't have much chance to use soft plastics much. On thurs, I was reluctant to head out seeing that the wind wasn't as kind as wed. But since I knew I couldn't head out on Fri evening, might as well just go once more for this week. Reached there with the wind pounding sure-fire but at least it's from behind. Still, it makes soft plastic fishing uncomfortable. So tried quite a few hardbodies like: Megabass Baby Griffon (1 hit), Zipbaits Rigge, Basspro XPS and SX40 sydney guppy. After luring there for almost 2 hours, the first more noticeable hit came almost last light conditions. Wah lao, pathetic, such a long wait. 2nd cast saw another hit and I got frustrated, the fish was still there but not eating the SX. Put on more Megastrike and finally 3rd cast the rod tip automatically loaded up. With the way how the fish not striking my lure on the 1st hit, I knew it was a pup.

Well, at least not a donut trip. Actually I was on the verge of going home when I thought let's give a few more casts, lol. With the wind blowing at an awkward position on the snag, I thought I'll fire a hard cast at an angle near the snag and walk a bit to where I want the lure to swim in the direction when I was reeling. This technique paid off, when the lure swam in a curve pattern rather than straight retrieve. So basically when it was swimming near the snag as close as possible, one bream came out of nowhere and clobbered the SX! This was a hardbody that I treasure very much and so quickly tightened drag and skull pull the bugger out. Luckily it works and the fish wasn't pulling line but just yank my rod down near the banks. To my surprise, it was quite a good size even though this was a windy and shitty day.

31cm just before 6pm. The sky was almost completely dark and the wind doesn't seemed to die off. Got really sick of the wind pounding on me and so left with at least a bit of satisfaction. The breams are yet again icy cold. Bummer..

Ronald

Tides Good, Wind Sucks

The tide for sure-fire has arrived again. With the high anticipation, it sure has put a dent to my thesis corrections, shit.. Well, I tried to buck up and make sure I meet the dateline to submit the changes. Anyway, time is running out for me in bleaming-land. Honestly speaking my bleam quota also don't know up to what. Got small fish big fish I also happy. After I went to immigration and get a visa sticker (hate going there), I went to plunder Australia's bream population. Grab some feed while in Chinatown as well.

Reached there to be greeted with some winds, was actually hoping for calm conditions. Seeing that there's still 1.5 hours before highest tide, I went with hardbodying 1st. This time round I also brought out Stradic, cause not contented to only catch a bream with it. Put on the Megabass Smolt and cast near the snags. No takers. Moved further down and on a particular far cast, blackhole started bouncing. Small fish.

Oh well, not a donut trip for sure. On the 2nd cast after that release, another take and a good hookup. The whole treble in the fish mouth! But, even smaller fish, sianz...

All the fishes felt icy cold yet again, different from the last few outings. Even the lures felt cold! Damn, I knew I'm not into hot bites for sure. Things got interesting when I started to use a neglected sp which I had since long time ago. Rigged up a Ecogear Bug Ant on the modded jighead and casted near the snag. I believe it was the 2nd cast on a slow twitch very near to the snag. It was a funny take which I couldn't feel much but then the next thing is zzzzzz.... SONG AH!!! Finally Stradic sang properly! This one suddenly head into the snag and I know.. oh oh.. Once I heard enough of shimano's drag, time to tighten up! Quickly stumble away from the snag and skull drag that fish out. She swam towards the bank and I knew it was a bream. Loosen the drag a bit since it's safe territory and it made Stradic sang once more.. It was quite big and so had to try and lip grip it but luckily goes to plan.

36cm to da tip. When releasing it, the moment I put into water and drag the bugger forward and backward to revive it, it suddenly shot off, reverse and headbutt onto the bank wall! Hahaha... so funny but later on it flip belly up and floated! Oh no... too far for me to reach it and grab it back but after a few seconds, it swam away correctly... phew! Continued with the Bug Ant but got snagged later, TAMADE!!!

Changed to the wriggler seeing that the light is fading. With the winds, it made the surface a bit choppy. There was no evident sightings of surface activities.. Damn! Tried the wriggler at various spots to no avail until I came back near to sure-fire. Felt a bite but couldn't convert so cast again and then thought that I had a solid bite, strike, but no hookup?! Put a heap more Megastrike pizza and voila, I reckon this thing really works! A slightly better bream than the previous 1st twos.

It was kinda dark and I thought it'll be pretty pointless to fish the run-out and so packed up and headed back. Conditions this week not looking good actually. Sianz...

Ronald

I Love PE

Physical education? Ermm... no thanks! Was watching Deep Impact on Friday night and thought it's jolly good time to spool in the new roll of Yamatoyo PE line I've just acquired. Bloody big job to spool in and out of a disused reel and measuring the backing needed. At last towards the end of the movie, job's done. As tight as I can get it in and also filling it to the brim. Hopefully this line behaves just as I wanted it, not like that crappy fireline I have to put up with.

Me behaving badly again.. cos' I bought another lure from eBay. It's a 2nd-hand Jackall Bros Cherry which I've been eyeing to get one a cheap price. Well, anyhow bid and ended up paying $13 for one Ginkuro colour.

The tungsten weight rattlers damn loud, clink clank clink clank... So, what better way to field test this lure by using it at night to irritate the fishes. Was damn slow session till probably after 20mins later, a small bream took it. The lure was quite heavy, I couldn't feel the take at all, just happened to have the fish at the end of it!

Continued with it for nothing else. Since water was at an ideal level for more hardbodying, I went with the Tango. Few casts later at the same area, got a slightly better one but still an undersize.

Seemed like not a very good night. Changed to the Gulp grub as the water seemed to be higher. Tried at sure-fire but nothing seemed to be interested. Moved down a bit and on the 1st cast at new area, bang, had a take and it felt freaking heavy! The fish headshakes and put up some resistance, and I could definitely feel my rod tip bouncing. After about 3 secs, the hooks pulled. Wah lao eh!!! That seemed to be the kicker fish leh! Sianz... After that it was downhill all the way. Caught 3 more smallie breams on the grub before I snag the jig. Gave up and left with nothing of legals being caught.

After spooling the Stradic with the line, looks kinda cool and decided to take some pics. Now Chen knows why I poisoned him into getting 'blue' colour PE, looks kinda 'diao' eh bro!

Since the line has been 'swee swee' sitting on the spool, I knew I had to get it seasoned out. Saturday I went out to Cooks to give a few casts with heavy lures. Sms'ed Rock to ask him join me but that sleepyhead slept till very late and didn't see my message. Long story short, cast with Cherry and sps for no hits at all for a straight 2 hours being there. Then, moved away from the usual spots me and JM had fished before and decided to use the $3 eBay lure I've recently patched it up. This area was kinda high elevation from the water level but since it's a hb, doesn't really concern me. Few casts later, there was a take and fish on. Not much fight and just a short burst on the Stradic (song ah.. I love Shimano's clickers). To my surprise, quite an ok size bream! Woohoo.. Stradic and PE line no longer a bleam virgin!

Measured 31cm after 2 hours of drought, tamade.. But that was it. Ok lah, at least not a donut. At least the lure swam ok after the patch-up job. The braid cast like silk, most important.. NO F#%Kin WIND KNOTS! Just the way I wanted it. Very happy with field test. I'm a definite braid convert. Ooh-rah!

Ronald

Pimp My Reel

Me and Chen have been on the lookout for something to pimp up our fishing gears a bit and with too much time on our hands and that thing called "internet", we couldn't help ourselves surfing for stuffs that burns holes in wallets. However, we would have wished for some really cool stuffs but budget constraints put a dent to that thinking. Oh well, so we could only change the reel handle knob to a Daiwa Works cork knob. The package comes with two knobs inside for baitcasters but me and Chen could actually share for the Kix and Tierra. Bloody screw thing in the shaft was so tight that normal strength can't seem to make it budge, luckily for Chen's 'NZ Warriors' strength he could get it moved. We also bought 2 rolls of 6lb Yamatoyo Famell SW Super PE line which was quite cheap compared to the LineSystem we got.

The next night, Chen wanted to fish and so we went to sure-fire spot to try night luring for the first time there. Brought him to Kmart to get him a head-torch as it's very dark over there. Got there to a pretty high tide and quickly rigged up. Chen used the camo sandworm while I'm on the usual Gulp grub. Chen was first to register some action but no hookup. On my 2nd cast, there was a take very near our feet. The fight was funny and not much line taken. What do you know.. another big whiting.

Almost made it to the 39cm mark! Can consider my new pb? Sigh... ok, it'll be 38.9cm then... Chen was having heaps of action actually, he missed quite a lot of big takes and I could hear Tierra singing for short bursts every now and then. He did had a hookup of a legal flattie but was powdered 'ready for frying' with heaps of black sand, lol. Then the action became quite slow, even though we could hear splashes sometimes. All I could manage is another small bream on the Tango.

Actually the session was not hot at all. Thought the new cork knob could bring us luck Oh well, at least it's not a donut trip. Later on we went off to Newtown and grab a kebab each for a feed. Hope sure-fire stays that way all the time.

Ronald