queensland A Day Of Firsts. Pb's New Species New Knots And New Friends.

[Drop Bear]

I am a very lucky man. 

Today Ray let me tag along and be decky up at North Pine Dam. Something that I have been hankering to do for months after seeing his (and dino's) reports all year. It has been waaaaayyy to long since I have fished the sweet water. I have read the reports about yellas and I have never seen one caught so was super keen to try and get one. 

I got there a bit early so I could re spool my 4lb line to 10lb under instructions from Ray. The gate is isolated and a bit spooky in the dawn light but cool to see somewhere new.

It always amazes me that I can be in a new place in a city where I have lived for... ever, especially that with my job I get to go to so many strange and unique areas. 

So spooled up quickly and then while I waited, I did a bit of research on North Pine Dam.

At just over 40 years old it forms an important part of Brisbane's northern suburb's drinking water and flood mitigation. 

Fun Fact; the dam wall is the North Pine Dam but the body of water is Lake Samsonvale.

It cost $20m to build the 45 m (148 ft) high and 1,375 m (4,511 ft) long concrete gravity dam which flooded 27km of roads and many Dairy farms.

Ray and his mate (I'm now claiming rights to call him my mate..) Rick arrived and we got through the gate with one other boat. Rays boat is about the same size as my new one is gonna be and seeing how awesome it is filled me with Christmas cheer and dreams of what soon will be. It was great to see how big it was. (excited) then we headed to the lake. The first time I had seen NPD. This simple sight was to be one of many firsts for me. 

We launched and pulled in Rays clever home made shrimp traps and caught what seemed hundreds of shrimp and a stack of Redclaw.

I was very excited to be asked if I wanted the Redclaw... I said yes... YAY

 then we motored to the first of about 8 spots. The first spot was a bit slow so off to the next one. I saw something large on the surface that looked a bit like an xxos eel tailed catfish. Rick told me it was probably a lung fish, something I have never seen outside of an aquarium or on TV.  Another first.

We passed black swans, whistling kites, a juvenile white bellied sea eagle as well as many water birds and our ears rang with the call of cicada. 

The next spot produced a stack of good sized Bass and a small yellow. I upgraded my pb Bass from a previous minno at 32cm to a formidable beast of 38cm.

I learnt a new paternoster loop knot that is a bit like a surgeon's knot. Very simple and much faster than the normal one I have been doing. Never looking back. I got busted off. the line broke at the hook and I learnt another knot. To make it; pass the loop through the eye then make a half hitch before putting the hook back through the eye.... (ok pretty lousy description) with a bit of care this ensures that the line stays well clear of the little sharp bit of the end part of the eye on the hook (also pretty lousy description)

So having busted off I was very glad that I had taken Rays advise to upgrade my line. After a few more bass I hooked a really decent fish. Trying not to high stick the Sharp shooter and with the drag on the 1000 aernos up pretty tight and with Rick telling me to get it out of the timbers or "ya gonna loose it" I slowly stated to gain line. A flash of colour had me calling for the net... it was right beside me... all along... and I saw the mother of all yellas. I had never caught a Yella so was super excited (not much poop came out... ok a fair bit) it had a few more strong runs for the bottom, a stunning fish and a fight I will long remember, but before too long I got it in the net. Wow what a cracker! at 55cm a fantastic fish and it was all I could do to not do a little dance. (I'm way too cool for that....)

Ray got a photo of me holding it and hopefully he will put it up but I did get a brag mat photo. 

I hooked another very large fish here. I got it to the surface and amazed to see the 62cm Bass... I grabbed the net. Ray had said he had never seen a +60cm on a brag mat so here was my chance to go into NPD folk law history.... but... as I got the net ready...  the monster spat the hook... and my PB stayed at nearly half of what this fish was... no joke... 38cm.

The bite slowed down so we headed to another spot. We saw pelicans ambushing Black Cormorants and stealing there fish. Bullies. 

The next spot had the bass sitting at about 20 feet under us in about 30 foot of water. I had to work out how to know how deep my bait was so I dropped it to the bottom and found it was 16 winds back to the surface so could work it out from there. 

Boom we got stuck into them. I had a great tussle with a good fish that stripped line and folded the nordic stage in half... (ok I was high sticking a bit...) but it is such a fun rod and so light to hold. I got the fish to the boat and knew it was bigger. Boooom 40cm! New PB Bass!

We caught a few more then Boooom 41cm New PB Bass!

 I then caught my first tagged fish. 

The person that tagged it and the details are;

W14404

AUSTRALIAN BASS

MCLEOD A

12/08/2017

length 330

fork 310

LAKE SAMSONVALE

and thanks to Ray the capture details are; tail length 340mm fork 315mm location north pine dam map sam grid h6 

So... not really an interesting catch as it hasn't been long but great to see that in only 4 months and with a tag in its back it had grown 10cm or 5cm... one of those.

Back to the fishing. Next fish Booom 42cm New PB Bass! you cant write this stuff.

They got a little smaller after this but soon Boooom 43cm Bass New BP! Was this going to be the biggest! Yes it was... or was it?  yep it was... or was it? yep it was.... oh

They went off the chew and we tried a few more places and caught a few more but not in big numbers.... WHAT THE F... When did I get so blase about catching a dozen bass. MY PREVIOUS BEST DAY WAS 6 BASS! (sorry for caps grammar police... I got a little excited).

Rick got a nice little Yella from next to a sunken tree that we all thought.... well probably just me... was a silver perch. Apparently they don't catch many silvers in NPD. I assume that the massive bass eat them all?

But way too soon we needed to call it a day and headed back to the ramp where Rick showed me how to poop shoot the redclaw. twist and pull. Who knew?

We put the boat on the electric winch and pulled the mighty bass destroyer up the ramp. 

Stupid Dropbear forgot to bring an eski. Rick and Ray helped me put the fish in plastic and I popped it in my fishing bag and I got some ice on the way home but not a beer... that would be bad... and im good... so i definitely didn't have a beer.

So a massive thanks to Ray for an amazing day. So many new experiences and so much learnt. My only regret is that I will now have to buy a boat dedicated to fresh water. 

Here is a bit of a list of new things for me. I think i have forgotten a few.

First tagged fish caught

First Yellow belly... and it was a cracker!!!!!!

PB bass at least 4 times

New way to tether fish

Great oportunity to see a very well set up boat similar to what I am getting

2 new fishing mates

Saw first lung fish

Saw Pelican bully fish out of black cormorant

Saw NPD

First time in a fully electric boat

learnt how to pull poop shoot out of redclaw

Most shrimp ever seen

first time wearing a piss pot as a hat (in joke, no I wont explain)

And finally... I am so in debt to AFO. i have met so many new friends and had so many new and exciting experiences. I'm actually quite emotional writing this as I feel so privileged to have met you all.

I hope I get to catch up with you all soon and I really hope when I do you all stink... of fish. 

DB

 

 

 

[ellicat]

That was quite a day and quite a report !

I'm sure your contributions to the site and the members since joining are appreciated also. Thanks for livening up the place with reports like this.

[kmcrosby78]

Ditto what Brian said Rob, you've been a great addition to the clan. Awesome report mate, quite possibly the best written I've ever read on AFO. Sounds like a great day out with lots of highlights. Cracking yella!!  I forgot to enquire about the knot used for the paternoster - my lines had swivels on them so just jimmied them up with a short trace hanging to the side. 

Enjoy the delivery day tomorrow - I'm hitting Mud Island up tomorrow arvo with Liam and some bloke who doesn't feel he'll be able to work tomorrow after lunchtime .......... 

[Drop Bear]

5 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Enjoy the delivery day tomorrow - I'm hitting Mud Island up tomorrow arvo with Liam and some bloke who doesn't feel he'll be able to work tomorrow after lunchtime .......... 

Pushed back to Friday... hopefully...

[rayke1938]

What a fantastic report.

 Makes my 4 liners insignificant and my photography worse.

Rob it is always a great day on NPD even if we donut which has only happened about 4 times over the years.

I am afraid that I tend to take it all for granted but do get a kick of taking newbies there to share.

Thanks for the company and you are always welcome.

Cheers

Ray

[rayke1938]

Couple of new fellas making some running adjustments on their first trip.

[Old Scaley]

Geez, @Drop Bear you are setting an unacceptably high standard with reports like this one .  Great read and some excellent photos, Robbie.

[Angus]

Brilliant report @Drop Bear!

Can i reccomend garlic butter red claw or a wine cream garlic and herb red claw pasta. These are my go to for the reddies.

Cracking report and need I say it again a toast to @rayke1938 the provider of firsts!

Angus

[Luke Landrunner]

Brilliant. Just brilliant. 

[Luvit]

Everyone has already said how good report and entertaining it was. What could I add 

"And finally... I am so in debt to AFO. i have met so many new friends and had so many new and exciting experiences. I'm actually quite emotional writing this as I feel so privileged to have met you all."

And so you should, not often a bunch of social awkward people get together to talk openly about unspeakable things they have seen or done on the water.

Thanks for your valuable & educational input Robbie.

[Drop Bear]

3 hours ago, rayke1938 said:

What a fantastic report.

 Makes my 4 liners insignificant and my photography worse.

Rob it is always a great day on NPD even if we donut which has only happened about 4 times over the years.

I am afraid that I tend to take it all for granted but do get a kick of taking newbies there to share.

Thanks for the company and you are always welcome.

Thanks Ray,

Your 4 liners were what got me excited to go to NPD! I had a great time and you are great company. I'm really keen to do it again.

[Drop Bear]

3 hours ago, Old Scaley said:

Geez, @Drop Bear you are setting an unacceptably high standard with reports like this one .  Great read and some excellent photos, Robbie.

Thanks mate.

 

[Drop Bear]

3 hours ago, Angus said:

Brilliant report @Drop Bear!

Can i reccomend garlic butter red claw or a wine cream garlic and herb red claw pasta. These are my go to for the reddies.

Cracking report and need I say it again a toast to @rayke1938 the provider of firsts!

Angus

Sounds like lunch is sorted. Thanks mate and good luck today

[Drop Bear]

1 hour ago, Luke Landrunner said:

Brilliant. Just brilliant. 

you are

 

[Drop Bear]

16 minutes ago, Luvit said:

Everyone has already said how good report and entertaining it was. What could I add 

"And finally... I am so in debt to AFO. i have met so many new friends and had so many new and exciting experiences. I'm actually quite emotional writing this as I feel so privileged to have met you all."

And so you should, not often a bunch of social awkward people get tg! ogether to talk openly about unspeakable things they have seen or done on the water.

Thanks for your valuable & educational input Robbie.

Thanks mate.  More fishing!

 

[aussie123]

What a top day out Robbie.

It's been a great year fishing wise for you.

You can caught plenty of firsts including PB's with good upgrades and fished places that many would only dream of and with some very knowledgeable guys as well.

Let's hope 2018 is bigger and better again for you. 

[The Mad Hughesy]

Probably the best report ive read all year. Very in depth and great pics. This kind of content makes AFO the awesome club it is.

[Drop Bear]

Yummy dinner of beer battered snapper, silver perch and yellow belly. Was very tasty but yellow had a strong fish pond flavour. Juicy white flesh. Will do it with soy and ginger next time

[Luke Landrunner]

1 hour ago, Drop Bear said:

Yummy dinner of beer 

 

Indeed !