Hell of a fight today.

[Bob9863]

I headed out this morning for a flick, and didn't realise until I got there that I'd left my bigger heavier lures at home, as I'd been drilling them out and filling them with lead shot to get some extra distance as the fish have been holding out pretty far recently.

All I had was some soft plastics and small lures, so I packed up the big rod and fished the little 3kg finesse rod with a 1000 size reel and 6lb braid.

Things went pretty slow until I started seeing some yellows following in my plastic, so I put on a little atomic vibe and fitted an assist hook on the rear, the 1st fis o got was a small foul hooked carp, so I wasn't to hopeful. But then I landed a couple aof reasonable yellows right at the bank tea bagging at a ledge, lost two more and then got smoked by something big.

I hooked in and had a hell of a fight thinking I'd foul hooked another carp as there was no head shakes just a lot of weight holding ground. I played it for another 10min, then it came up about 15 yards out and it was a very solid cod.

Every time I got it near the net it just swam away, it just wouldn't go near the net at all. My drag was light, my rod was too, 6lb braid didn't give me much confidence and the little hooks didn't fill me with a lot of hope either, I couldn't afford to mess anything up.

So I slow played it, tried to manoeuvre it into a better position and finally got it in the net.

74cm 6kg cod on 6lb braid, trmurned out being a pretty good day after all.

 

[ellicat]

Nice cod, Bob.

It's said "fish light to get the bite", but landing a 6kg Murray on 6lb is some good angling.

[Old Scaley]

That would have been heart in mouth stuff Bob. Even though I never fish freshwater, I love reading your reports. I had no idea that there was such a great wild freshwater fishery available. Keep ‘em coming!

[Neil Stratford]

Great fish on light gear , well done Bob!

regards

Neil

[Kat]

Awesome catch.  Well done!

[mangajack]

Onya Bob, cod are always noteworthy.

Creek or dam fish?

[Bob9863]

Out of the river, so I was pretty worried about rocks and snags.

But one thing I really learnt catching arapaima is that it's best not to muscle the big fish, that just makes them fight harder, even pressure and ease them in seems to be the way to go.

That and try to keep them near the surface, let them wear themselves out.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Nice work Bob, that’s a great cod.

[Huxstang]

Good fishing Bob.  

[mzaakir]

great cod mate, 6lb would have been scary but fun as well

[Rebel]

Well done.

Top fish.

[Bretto77]

That's really well done

[Bob9863]

I'm actually finding catching the bigger yellow belly on that rod is harder in its own way. They head shake and dive towards the rocks a lot more, every time they do I'm always left with a sinking feeling in my gut.

But that light gear is working when everything else won't. But I think I'm learning a lot about playing them better because of it, and less are getting off the hook as a result.