MARDUGAL MAGIC

Recently been talking to a young fellow who is tying flies to fish one of our favourite spots that we haven't been to for a while.......that's Madugal billabong out in Kakadu.    Mudugal turn off is just past the Cooinda one as you head south from Jabiru.    The Billabong links to Home Billabong (Cooinda) and through a tight passage into Jim Jim Billabong as well.    It's a great spot and good campsites if there aren't too many caravans there that seem to want to camp on top of you.

Setting Up

Tying up some specials during lunch break.

   We would have a morning fish in Yellow Water and fish the afternoon/evenings in Mardugal and Home Billabongs.   We had to learn to do the 'stop' cast as I call..... it to get the line to go under the overhanging trees.   Wayne Hinton was a master at this.  (Stop your forward cast early to tighten the loop and then lower it under the trees...not easy for some!!!)


It.... Mardugal, was our 'go to' place after a Saltwater comp., usually late September or early October.   This was good too because the blossoms were dropping and the Saratoga would move them away if they dropped into there 'space' because they were usually breeding. We 'invented' a fly out there we called the 'Cooinda Viper' which is really a vampire fly.....well with the rum etc. we knew it started with a 'V' so we were close.

The 'Cooinda' Viper (really a vampire??)

The results

 

Dave with a beauty on the six weight

Toga from Yellow Water

The way through to 'Home' Billabong.

Dave with a late afternoon Toga

Even took the flies after the sun dropped.

Wayno with another beauty.

Marissa with a sooty

Lyle with another good toga

Dave keeping the scores.

 During the heat of the midday period, we would tie flies, have a rest and clean our lines...they got very dirty.

Lord Jim making important decisions.

Lord Jim with all his mates near the entrance of the cut through to Jim Jim

Wayno relaxing!!

Dave finding a cool place after lunch.

Even I could catch them!!!

 If we used 'bottom' lines you needed to learn your 'strip/strike' techniques, that is, let the fish pick up the fly and move it (sort of like a crab picking up bait) then strip the line and strike with the rod. Poppers just got taken on the top.

Tying for the young blokes during the night.

On..again