fishing Can't Catch Anything On An Expensive Rod While The Old Man Catches Great Fish On Cheap Hand-reel. Please Help, About To Cry Lol.

[NMTD]

Hey guys,

Please bear with me because this might be a long post.

Essentially, I’ve been going fishing for bream about 8 weeks in a row at the hawkesbury river. On the boat, my old man will fish with a hand-reel (Cheap one you can buy from the local store), some cheap line and will still catch some very good, legal sized bream.

Meanwhile, me and my brother have spent about $280 on a new rod and reel and much more if you include the braid and such…Yet we can’t catch anything unless we use a hand reel as well. I don’t get it. Clearly, we’re doing something very wrong. Below I’ll outline the things I use and how I go about it.

Just a few things, I mainly use the rod with bait fishing. I only recently started using soft plastics and I realize the reason I probably don’t catch on soft plastics is because I haven’t really mastered the learning curve yet and that it will take a while, nonetheless I will also tell you my soft plastic hookup.

Rod – Shimano Raider Bream, 7ft2
Reel – Diawa BG 2500
Line – J-Braid grand 6lb
Leader – We use about 40cm of Sunline FC Rock (4lb)
Needles – Mustad Big Red Suicide Hook 2/0
Sinker – Just a small running sinker (You can recommend a Size, I’m not too sure about our one), think it’s size 1
Bait – I stick to mainly chicken breast but have used prawns.

Essentially we do the braid, put a running sinker, swivel and then 40cm of leader then the needle. When we do soft plastics, we tie the leader straight onto the braid using an alberto knot and use

Soft plastics – Zman GrubZ at 2.5” (Recommended all over the internet for bream so we got these).

The boat is generally anchored close to the shore and we try to cast closer to the rocks however we’ve tried casting just about everywhere, we rarely get any bites. Regardless, I highly doubt it’s positioning as the old man doesn’t seem to have a problem and just laughs at us and tells us to change to a hand-reel.

 

[Old Scaley]

If you are not getting bites like your dad, are you using the same terminal tackle (leader, sinker, hook) and bait as he is using? If so, it must be a technique thing. Maybe the bream in that area need to be fed a bit of line, which would be easier with a handline?

[Eagleray1]

Years ago I could never catch any Bream.  I started reading up on catching Bream and everything changed.  I used to fish the causeway In Port Adelaide (next to the old train line).  One evening there were about 10 anglers there and it was only my friend and I catching Bream.  We caught stacks that particular night.  I think we were using Tube Worms for bait.

The secret for my success was a running sinker rig.  Cast out but keep the line lose to the rod.  When a Bream picked the bait up and ran we could see the line picked up so knew something was having a go.  Apparently Bream get spooked easily if they feel any weight and will spit the bait out.

Not saying this is your issue, maybe they don't like your line colour?  Try using same line as your father is using.

[snafu]

It's just one of those peculiar things about fishing, something that I've seen many times. Two people in a boat using identical gear and bait - only one catches the biggest share of the fish.

You could try using an attractant like Pro Cure or Sax Scent to see if it improves things, but one thing you need to be aware of is that age & treachery will always overcome youth & skill. 

Jeff

[jon]

Bream can be finicky at times. If the current allows try tying a rod length of light fluorocarbon leader to the braid and fish as close to unweighted as allowable also try and hide the hook as best as possible

[Drop Bear]

Well on the up side..... at least you have not bought a $500,000 boat and $5000 rod and $10,000 reel and $2,000 worth of lures and $20,000 in fuel and  not caught anything... saved a bundle. 

https://www.sportfishingmag.com/most-expensive-center-console-fishing-boat-in-world

[NMTD]

1 hour ago, Drop Bear said:

Well on the up side..... at least you have not bought a $500,000 boat and $5000 rod and $10,000 reel and $2,000 worth of lures and $20,000 in fuel and  not caught anything... saved a bundle. 

https://www.sportfishingmag.com/most-expensive-center-console-fishing-boat-in-world

Hey,

If i can afford to spend that much on fishing, I'd still be happy not to catch anything!
At least it'd mean I'm rich aye.

[tugger]

When ever I fish for whiting or bream I never hold the rod or put it in the rod holders I always lean it against the side of the boat it keeps your bait looking natural in the current. I own a Jarvis walker rod called a black queen you can still buy them from Kmart for about $40 mine is over 40 years old and is a known whiting and bream specialist rod. A shimano 2500 size sienna reel again about $40 with 6lb mono is what I use and I love using yabbies with a long shank hook for these fish. A small sinker onto a swivel with a long trace of just over a meter to the hook of the same 6lb mono is my go to rig. As the gun whiting and bream fishes have used this whole method for as long as I can remember good luck with your fishing.

[Drop Bear]

53 minutes ago, tugger said:

When ever I fish for whiting or bream I never hold the rod or put it in the rod holders I always lean it against the side of the boat it keeps your bait looking natural in the current. I own a Jarvis walker rod called a black queen you can still buy them from Kmart for about $40 mine is over 40 years old and is a know whiting and bream specialist rod. A shimano 2500 size sienna reel again about $40 with 6lb mono is what I use and I love using yabbies with a long shank hook for these fish. A small sinker onto a swivel with a long trace of just over a meter to the hook of the same 6lb mono is my go to rig. A the gun whiting and bream fishes have used this whole method for as long as I can remember good luck with your fishing.

Nice. 

[swmcl]

Well back in the day my father used a different product but this was in the NT  with crocs.  I've heard it worked on all species but I can't see it for sale anywhere.  My dad called it TNT ...

[BarraKageBuster]

On 22/02/2019 at 7:40 AM, tugger said:

When ever I fish for whiting or bream I never hold the rod or put it in the rod holders I always lean it against the side of the boat it keeps your bait looking natural in the current. I own a Jarvis walker rod called a black queen you can still buy them from Kmart for about $40 mine is over 40 years old and is a known whiting and bream specialist rod. A shimano 2500 size sienna reel again about $40 with 6lb mono is what I use and I love using yabbies with a long shank hook for these fish. A small sinker onto a swivel with a long trace of just over a meter to the hook of the same 6lb mono is my go to rig. As the gun whiting and bream fishes have used this whole method for as long as I can remember good luck with your fishing.

we have a black queen as well its been the goto rod when biting is shy. up the river hawkbury i haven't ever fished but wanted to. i have heard of people catching off the carnivore covered rocks  with chicken as bait and do ok possibly because the fish want to know what it is why not chuck a bit of fish fillet out for them maybe entise a bite or two. as for the op a different bait might be worth a try like worms or crickets.

[natang]

I have always used the lightest whippiest rod I have for bream and whiting. I used to have a surecatch $30 rod that got stolen. Now I have a Daiwa Pe 1-3 rod around 7ft long with a 2500 reel loaded with 6lb green or orange line. I always use a long shank hook or a circle hook these days with a small ball sinker running straight onto it. Other rigs for whiting I use is about a 50-60cm trace with a small amount of red plastic on the line to attract them.

As others have said though the Black Queen rod I have is my grandads old one and it is perfect. I leave it out of a rod holder leant against the side of the boat and just let the fish hook themselves! I have always used either pilchard cubes or fresh pumped yabbies.......  

[The fessor]

Fancy expensive gear wont make you a good fisherman who always brings home a feed.

My advise to you :

Setup

1) get the whippiest rod you can that will still lift the fish you want to catch (bream)

2) get a spare spool and load it up with 6lb mono (Maxima grey is very good) use this when fish with the old guy

3) size 1 stainless suicides for the hooks

4) sharpen those hooks

5) same rig as the old guy

6) same bait as the old guy

fishing

1) cast the baited hook out with the very lightest sinker you can get that will take the bait to where the bream are , sometimes no sinker is the go

2) lay the rod down with bail arm disengaged (resist the temptation to have the tip poking up into the air)

the bite and run

1) resist the temptation to pick up the rod or even touch the line when the fish is testing the bait - lots of fine fish are spooked by over zealous fishermen

2) when the bream runs with the bait , let it run , DON"T touch the rod or reel or line , lots of fish lost when fish only has the bait between it's lips

3) the fish will often stop running, he's now swallowing the bait, this is the time to engage the bail arm and pick up the rod , resist the temptation to flick the tip back to set the hook , often this only pulls the baited hook from the fish's mouth.

 

I've fished for bream using soft plastics , and little poppers and the like, never caught bream as successfully as I have using bait. IMO artificial lures are more effort than they are worth when it comes bream fishing.

Baits:

whole raw prawns

peeled raw prawns

mullet gut

chook gut

strips or yellowtail

cubes of mullet

pieces of pilchard

squid legs

squid tubes (skinned and cut into strips)

cuttlefish legs

cuttlefish tubes (skinned and cut into strips)

beach worms (sections , must be live)

blood worms (must be live)

pippies

yabbies' (live)

…. if the bait is not fresh , don't use it. 

 

 

 

[tugger]

I also have my dad's old black knight rod  its over 50yrs old both the black queen and knight rods are very whippy and wobble every where when holding them that's the reason for lying them over on the side of the boat. I wait for the rod to bend over after the bites finish then slowly pick up the rod and wind the fish in, no need to strike the rod just loads up more that's enough to set the hook.

[Eagleray1]

Can't believe all the posts re specific rods.  Just keep a loose line back to the reel so that the fish can take it before the hooks is set after the slack is taken up.

Bream 1 (Charlie) says to Bream 2 (Fred), "Don't touch that, it's not a "Black Queen" rod!  Danger Will Bream Robinson!

Seriously guys why is this being made so complicated?

[tugger]

19 minutes ago, Eagleray1 said:

Can't believe all the posts re specific rods.  Just keep a loose line back to the reel so that the fish can take it before the hooks is set after the slack is taken up.

Bream 1 (Charlie) says to Bream 2 (Fred), "Don't touch that, it's not a "Black Queen" rod!  Danger Will Bream Robinson!

Seriously guys why is this being made so complicated?

I thought I would help with my technique and tackle I use didn't mean to offend you anyone can take it or leave it with the info I provide 

[Eagleray1]

3 minutes ago, tugger said:

I thought I would help with my technique and tackle I use didn't mean to offend you anyone can take it or leave it with the info I provide 

None taken, I was just voicing my opinion, no more, no less. You stated your opinion and I have stated mine.  I don't see an issue with that except we have differing opinions.

[The fessor]

I have to say, I've never caught more bream than I did as a  kid in the 60s using a cork handline with a bit of mono wrapped around it from the old tug wharves and horseshoe breakwall at Newcastle or from the old jetties at Nords wharf , no more than a split shot used to sink the bait. 

Back then my entire bream fishing kit fit my pocket ( those plastic 35mm film tubs were great for keeping some hooks and sinkers in mixed with some rice ).

 

 

 

[Anglen]

Give the old man the rod and you use the handline. If he starts catching fish - watch and learn. Then repeat that last part. If he changes the rod rig ask him about the reasons behind it. At the end of the night if he's caught all the fish you get your share anyway. Some people fish, other catch. Ask him why he does things his particular way. That's how knowledge transfers and eventually becomes your experience - to pass on - after time.

My 2 cents;

Light line, lightest to nil weight, squid cut into kite strips on 4/0 mustad circles. Pinch the kite wings together push the hook through, release the wings and the hook sits flat. This wafts down the current to settle on the sand / weed edge. The same happens with a nice fresh river prawn. Bream suck bait off the bottom. Then carry n run. Let them run and settle, then load the line firmly keeping pressure consistent, let the circle do its job and retrieve the fish. Do not strike to set the hook.

Consider using a berley cage from the bow as you fish from the stern anchored. Flicking unweighted baits n small plastics up current and letting them drift back with the berley line is the best. Often you don't even feel the suck - until the run stage. Chook pellets or wheat for berley. 

At night big bream inhabit the shallows hunting and scavaging 1-2ft depth commonly. In some of those little sandy bights all along the Hawksberry you can anchor in flat calm water and drift your kite bait into the shallows on the run in tide with great success. Remember to be super quiet - Shooooosh

Use mono too with a good fluoro leader.

Good luck to you.

Cheers