I've finally cracked the code

[Bob9863]

I went down to the river today to give it another shot. I've tried soft plastics, lead fish, jelly vibes and hard bodies. I've finished in the current, along the bank, in the calm water ect and nothing was working and nobody else, was, catching either. 

I had good luck yesterday arvo and decided to work on what was doing it yesterday.

But after an hour trying different approaches I had no luck, but then using a combination of what worked yesterday and tweeked to what's worked in other parts of the river, although in those situations I'm only casting 5m-10m, here I had to cast 30m-35m.

But working the current and the eddies I hit pay dirt, and in an hour and a half more or less I pulled in 5 yellow belly and a cod. 

The real key was the pause on the retrieve, I see so many people fishing lures ect and it's just a strait retrieve every time. I got one little 2lb yellow during the retrieve, but I got the other 4 and the cod on the pause. That pause is a deadly weapon in bringing on a strike, the other big key is always point the rod tip at the lure, when you get a hit it's pulling against the drag rather the rod which has flex and you get more hookups instead of strikes. 

Anyway here are the biggest. 

[ellicat]

Nice work on working it out. Well rewarded !

[Bretto77]

Long time since I fished lures but what you say rings true. I was fishing very different places in the country and for different species but some things are transferable.

I reckon you are right in your observation. The only thing I would add is not pulling the lure out of the water immediately at the end of a retrieve. Maybe just another pause and then even jiggle a little figure of eight in the water. Particularly if casting from a boat or a steep bank.

Sometimes you can be surprised

[Bob9863]

Definitely when fishing for yellow belly or cod, if caught yellow belly right under my feet when fishing from the bank. 

The other thing that worked today, and I tried other colours but the water has been quite murky, so I fished a purple lure early and then as it got late I switched to a black one. 

I've also started using the McGrath 75mm lipless vibes, and now they are the only lure I'm buying for 80% of my fishing, I've caught trout, redfin, yellow belly and cod on them in the same day. They just about do it all, I wish I bought that style back when I would fish for Barra in the NT. 

I'm buying more in those colours so I've got back ups for when I loose them, and around here you definitely will. 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Nice work Bob. 

[Bob9863]

Managed to get out for an hour this evening and got this on my 2nd last cast, solid little 62cm specimen. 

It's definitely picking up out there.