"Bloody Oath I did" - again!

Following the previous weekends efforts there was no option other than to find out if it was dream or not. This time a few of the mob had the same thoughts with 5 boats making the trip.

Preparing the gear for the next day

On arrival there was one other boat that had been lure fishing without any success and left by Saturday lunch leaving it a “Mobster Only” Billabong. One of the Mob boats ended up with 60 or 70 fish aboard!

"The Blue Boat" off to kill a pig!

Two of our younger mob are going to pen a few words regarding the weekend for the blog. They are going to do this when they have their own fly tying day. Their enthusiasm for fishing is fantastic to see.

Couple of pics as an appetiser for the blog report!

"The White Boat" in full swing.

The results!

Even I got fish!

Remember, “You’ll never never know, if you never never go.” Get out there and fish.

Tight lines

Jim Churchley

FRASER ISLAND TEASER

Courtesy of South East Queensland Fly Fishers Club and Strip Strike Productions

Strip Strike - Fraser Island (Black Torpedoes) Trailer from StripStrike Productions on Vimeo.

PLAYING FOR SHEEP STATIONS 2014

Over the weekend of the 20th and 21st of September, 2014 we will  be holding the 2nd BSSS (Bynoe Sheep Station Stakes) and yes, we will be playing for a sheep station....but just to give you a bit of insight into 'Playing for Sheep Stations' here is the Wikipedia definition.....

Playing for sheep stations

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The phrase is a traditional Australian English term to denote something large and/or important. A sheep station is a large sheep farm in Australia or New Zealand.

The phrase 'playing for sheep stations' has both a literal and ironic usage. Literally, it is used to encourage participants to play in a friendly and not too competitive manner. Playing sport or cards or a game of some sort, but not for prizes, one might say 'take it easy, we're not playing for sheep stations'. It could be used starting a game of cards or pool for example, to check whether the game would be played for money, beer, or just pride, asking 'so, are we playing for sheep stations or what?'

In typical Australian fashion, it can also be used to mean the exact opposite, because a sheep station is such a ridiculously expensive item that nobody would bet it on a game, the phrase 'we're playing for sheep stations' can also be used to mean that the game is purely for sport, and there is no bet or prize involved.

Here is last years sheep station and the cocky who won it....

The whole idea is to allow everyone a reasonable level playing field by having five (5) species drawn out of a group of fifteen (at this stage) that is made up as much as possible of five of the most usual fish from the three different areas, that is, flats, rock bars and blue water.

The five species drawn out would be the main target species for that particular day. Another five would be drawn that evening for the next day.  Species to be chosen from are, at this stage, golden trevally, all other trevally, queenfish, golden snapper (fingermark), mangrove jack, black bream, catfish, cod, mackerel (all), blue salmon, tarpon, threadfin salmon, ock ock or javelin fish, spanish flag, barramundi and tuna (and more). 

We do have some guidelines........

Guideline One:                       Go fishing and have fun

Guideline Two:                       If you're not having fun, then revert to guideline one.

This "prestigious" gathering will be based at Sandpalms (shelter for the homeless mob) and the most exciting part of this gathering is the fact that it is........ 

FREE ENTRY !!!!!!!

"Bloody Oath I Did!"

With the opening of some more Kakadu Billabongs decided on the way home from work at 5.30pm to make the trip out there to get out of housework and gardening. Arrived close to the destination around 11.00pm and pulled up short as I was not sure of the condition of the access road. Put the swag out on the flood plain and had a sky full of stars and a moon just pushing over the horizon to highlight the vista. Around 3.00am had a visit from 3 Buffalo making their way across the plains. A sight to enjoy, but not when they are only 10 metres from your swag!

Up before light and made the final couple of k’s in and found a launch spot. Put the boat in and was impressed by the amount of surface activity and thought to myself that “if all else fails will have fun with the Tarpon”.

Home sweet home!

Kitchen, lounge room and sleeping chair!

Launched, set up a quick camp, then hit the water. Everywhere there were bait balls being attacked with the predators leaping clear of the water, not Tarpon but Barra in the 30 – 50 cms range. Immediately my casts either produced a fish in the boat, a boof that could be felt through the boat or a fish following the fly to the boat. This continued until the sun rose above the trees when the bait balls disappeared and the surface action ceased. Casting still produced fish and when the sun got high with clear blue sky schools of Barra and cruising fish were revealed.

Bait ball waiting to be smashed.

Take your pick - all are hungry!

All over the place!

Sight casting to and catching Barra was the order for the rest of the day. Largest fish in the 70’s with 50 – 60 cms the most prolific. Casts would be made to large fish which would turn to take the fly just to have a 50 cm fish come from left field and steal the fly out of its mouth. All fish caught were diseased having the same ailment as Roger and I “Fat Bugger Disease”. Because of their bulk all fought well above their length in comparison to salt fish of same size.

Fat fish and angler!

Sight cast this one along edge!

A great weekend was had with non-stop fishing activity, a Billabong to myself, perfect weather producing memories to last forever. I sincerely hope that all of the mob experience, with a fly rod, what I have just been lucky enough to have done so this weekend. While the numbers of fish and sizes all become a blur the real thing is, did I have a good time? “BLOODY OATH I DID”.

Typical fish.

As with all trips there is always more going on than just the fishing, Buffalo in the middle of the night, the morning sky being darkened as the sun rises above the horizon by birds in formation off to their destinations, the results revealed of life and death struggle heard for hours during the darkness.

3 metres v 5 metres

Sorry about the quality of photo but it was still dark! The victim, another croc, all of 3 metres and the victor 4.5 metre plus. The body could be pulled underwater with ease or towed along the surface at a speed greater than my electric at full speed.

Sun on the way up.

The full strength of the crocodile was demonstrated by the victor as he would throw the 3 metre body from side to side fully clear of the water. Awesome sight and makes you think how inadequate we really are in their territory!

Another one!

Can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend! Tarpon was the first thought of the day but only caught one of them while there!

Remember, “you’ll never never know, if you never never go”. Get out there and fish.

Maybe I wasn't where I thought I was!!

Tight lines

Jim Churchley

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

The school holidays are about to start and there are some good tides starting from Monday if you have time off with the kids.  The flats should be great and if the wind gives us a bit of grace both the harbours should be firing.  There are tuna and macs on the reefs, but if you are really after some fun for the kids, the fresh side of Shady is still alive with small barra (some big ones too) so the kids can have a ball.  

Jack and Hayden had a pre holiday fish in the lakes at Palmerston and got barra, so you dont have to go far.  If you are short of flies, have a look at Graeme's post, plenty of flies, and I bet there is a story to most of them.

Just remember even though it is cooler, make sure the kids are croc wise

Free to whoever wants them

There are still many usable flys in all this, their free to whoever can be bothered coming and getting them all before I throw them out.

34 Legune ave Leanyer 0412481592

2 Mile Hole

Three dry seasons ago, in the good old days of shift work and time off, I fished 2 mile hole for four days where an old fella camped next to me caught 2 or 3 Barra every day in the 90’s, saw the evidence of his spoils. I could only come up with 60’s and 70’s. On the last night around the campfire and finishing off the last couple of reds his wife told me the secret of where they were fishing – another Billabong!! Evidently there is another Bong downstream of 2 mile so went out this weekend to try it, if I can find it.

Arrived late Friday night with two creek crossings in the dark, more later on about this. Campfire, few cold ones the swag for an early morning start. I must have slept in because I was last up, the million and one mossie were up before me, be warned if you go.

2 Mile Hole Sunrise

On the water before light with no wind and proceeded to fish the edges. Found Archer fish in almost plague proportions with the odd Sootie thrown in for good measure. Barra and Togas were hard to find early on. Once the sun got up Toga action heated up with the odd Barra thrown in however fishing deep into the undergrowth the odds were their favour with bust offs frequent.

2 Mile Hole at first light

Having got scales in the boat time to find that other Billabong. Spent an hour trying to find where an entrance could be without any obvious access. Got out of the boat and scrubbed bashed and found the other billabong on foot so knew it was not a story about that. Back in the boat I eventually sighted water behind a Pandanus Stand and forced my boat through a small gap to find a small creek with flowing water towards the other billabong but after about 100 metres it just became too tight to manoeuvre around the snags. Access found but “gotta get a smaller boat”.

Roggie Dodgie with Jim's weed guard attached

Back at my camp found another vehicle with the bonnet up. A southerner on a bird watching trip of the North had made the second creek crossing without wading it, went through the deepest part, over bonnet, and stalled it.  Climbed out of window and walked 6 km back towards highway where someone came to his rescue and came and pulled his ute and camp trailer out of the crossing and onto the campsite. Damage was being assessed but did not look good, hydraulic lock a possibility. “Walk before you wade!!!”. When I drove out investigated the crossing and if you keep to one side water depth was 0.2 metres at most. Walk and all is revealed.

Called into Shady Camp fresh on way back to Darwin. If anyone wishes to catch a 100 plus Barra in a day this is a place to be able to do it at the moment. Small Barra in plague numbers in the 20-40cms size with the odd legal one thrown in. Great fun for the kids.

Bigger ones are there too.

Word on the street is that 4 mile could be open next weekend.

Remember, “if you never never go, you’ll never never know”. Get out there and fish.

Tight lines

Jim Churchley