All week my plan was to spend this weekend going over the
boat and trailer in preparation for a full-on month of fishing. 4 days at Bynoe
with the Mob from “Down South”, Corroboree Park Challenge, Togas in Kakadu (a
mate reported last night 80 Togas in one day at Mardugal!). With the morning
presenting no wind, a midday low the boat clean can wait til tomorrow, a hit
and run session on the Elizabeth won out over boat shampoo.
I was cruising away from the pontoon all within 15 minutes
of driving out of the driveway at home!
The tide was well and truly out of the mangroves exposing
numerous drains on the bank opposite the ramp. Drifted along with the tide and came
across small groups of Queenies every three or four hundred metres or so to
keep the interest up. I must be a real slow learner because I still forget that
the smaller they are the more vicious their spines. My hands resemble a pin cushion!
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| Queenie from the Elizabeth |
Made my way downstream to the flat that is in the channel
next to the island on the left. Again found Queenies to sight cast to and Mackerel
would storm out of the main channel onto the flat to nail the fly. Hook ups
lasted no longer than a blink of an eye, note to self – have trace wire in
boat! As the water came off the flat moved across the river to the other island
and fished the dirty water line from the large creek that joins the river. I spent
20 minutes throwing white clousers at Tarpon rolling in the dirty water line
with not even a bump. Changed fly to a “Roggie Dodgie” second cast 57cms of
angry Tarpon took me all over the place on a 7wt.
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| 57 "angry" cms |
I drifted with the incoming tide and all the creeks on the left
going upstream had Tarpon working any dirty water lines emanating from the
numerous drains.
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| Beware of this in the river between the two islands |
Back at the ramp it was 15 minutes and I was back in the
driveway washing the boat.
Remember, “if you never never go, you’ll never never know”.
Get out there and fish.
Tight lines
Jim Churchley
