WildeFishing

Oh god, this is very subjective and as Ellicat posted, a can of worms haha. Most anglers have this discussion regularly. See the difference of opinion from your friends to enthusiasts! Like the old Billabong slogan, "Only a surfer knows the feeling", this rings true for us too I think in some ways! You can catch any fish on a K-Mart combo or the best combo. A Toyota Corolla and a Rolls Royce will both get you from A to B just fine, one just feels a lot nicer and the price difference is considerable, same same with combo's, both do the same job, but one will feel a lot nicer than the other and cost difference is there as well! As already mentioned, you can get a beautiful combo for that 250-400 range, its what you prefer and your budget allows. I stopped buying cheap a long time ago, but that's me. I went down the very very slippery slop of the best gear (It doesn't take long either!!). Once you dip your toe over the edge, you fall and are sliding very fast down that slope hahaha I use near $2k combos for just my flathead fishing, is it needed no, is it excessive, for sure. Does the gear feel amazing, my god yes, yes it does! Once you get a taste, there is no comparison in terms of weight, sensitivity, action, smoothness etc. You would not even think a 500-600 combo would have much difference to a high end combo, but let me tell you there is and some differences are night and day. I only lure fish as well, I don't use bait, as a lure fisherman, I can notice and feel the differences. But I also see and get value out of my gear, I am fishing a minimum 3 days a week and sometimes 7 days. So, they are the tools of my trade so to speak and I get the use out of it, I am also lucky to be able to be in a position to buy it. I seen a meme the other day, it said "People see my lure collection and think I am rich" he said back "Nah mate, I am just irresponsible" haha That's probably me lol I can afford it but I probably shouldn't, but fishing is my passion and life. You buy what is good for you, makes you happy, what your budget allows, as long as you are fishing, is all that matters! If you are a regular fisherman and love it, my advice is to buy the best rod and reel your budget allows! But I have mates that are just as serious about fishing as me and they buy cheaper combos, purely because they don't look after their gear, they acknowledge that, and buy gear that if it breaks, they have not lost too much. I very much look after my gear, so that is a difference too and something to consider. At the end of the day as long as you are fishing that's the main thing, could be a handline or a $2k flathead combo hahaha

Bloody hell, poor old Gerry missing out on a little, not happy with a 2 billion net worth hahaha It appears the package may have slipped through. Good savings to be had on there but not if duty and GST are applied. Guess it is a bit of a gauntlet.

No permit system required, The 5 billion dollars they gave in foreign aid and to the Ukraine in 22-23 would pay for any program they wanted and hospitals and much required medical gear/MRIs etc...........

Great report on Digitaka. I have always wondered about this site, great to know there we no taxes/duty applied by customs coming through. I wonder if this is the norm or your package just slipped through the cracks...........Some cracking deals on Digitaka and a lot of JDM stuff that is not available here.

Qld does not need a fishing license!! We pay for everything in our taxes and other multiple fees extorted out of us! We do not need another money grab on the already too many.............

Hope you get some mate, some nostalgia to share with your sons too

Yes the Snyder Glas rods are very very hot at the moment and old ones are selling for a fortune, wish I had a couple of old ones sitting in the shed. Apparently a lot of people hitting garage sales and estate sales buying them for $5 from people who don't know and cleaning up........Not my cup of tea. A lot are being refurbished too. I know nothing about them and not sure what makes them so desirable, especially to beach anglers. Hope you get a few mate

This. To me it sounds like you have a heading sensor issue. I dont know much about this brand but to me it sounds like a heading issue. Minn Kota do not have the heading sensor in the head, it is a separate unit but this brand may. I would try to recalibrate it and if no joy may need to contact the OEM. Normally the boat should just follow the lead of the electric........

Thanks mate!

You would still do alright of the bank, just cant sound around for them that's all. Hope you get out regularly on a boat to hit them mate!

Yeap, better than a mouth full of plastic taste and smell. If they get a little taste of something, it can stimulate a second strike, also masks your smell or any smells on your fingers, sunscreen, fuel etc. Holts were mentioned earlier, they have a very weird and strong plastic smell, 100% would use scent on them just to mask that.

If your into trolling, the tango shads are like flattie lollies!

I do a little bit there mate! Threadies will be coming on very soon down there, so will be doing more soon. I do more trips there over summer. But still good fish there all year round mate. You get down there much?

The guys have given you some great choices there! I also second what ABF said in regards to scent. Plenty out there and work good but the S-Factor is great as it also has UV in there. UV attracts but any scent really helps getting a second strike if you drop the first nib. A good one for beginners on lures/soft plastics I think is any grub or curly tail, as you get a fair bit of action out of the lure without having to do too much, assists you a little bit. One thing to remember when going for flatties on any sort of soft plastic or soft vibe, keep in contact with the bottom, if your not getting to the bottom, you aint catching a flattie. Keep it slow, nice pauses and some nice little "hops", 90% of you hook ups will probably be on the drops of these hops/movements.

This is true mate! Probably couldn't afford it either with the fuel costs at the moment! Another benefit of mine, cheap to run, especially when fishing so much

Just a Quintrex 400 Hornet Trophy with a 40 on it mate, set up good for Flattie fishing and the good for the Port. But no good for offshore unfortunately, hence my addiction for flatties haha

They are so much fun, I love them! Lure fishing is pretty easy, does not take too much to get fish but can take a little time to refine your techniques for each species. Plus no smell and a clean boat haha

Exactly Ellicat! Ill fish weekends if I have too, bad weather during the week, take son etc but prefer not to. Just lucky I have work that allows me to fish the weekdays! Fish mostly the Pin, but head to the Broadwater every now and then, I just love the Pin area so much. Yeap, fingers crossed for a nice summer! Hey ABF, soft plastics are my favorite way mate, But love my fish traps and big glide/swim baits too. But if I had to choose one, it is soft plastics for sure! What's your favorite mate?

Hi All, New to the forum and wanted to say hi. As my profile states, I am a mad keen flathead fisherman based on the GC. Might be able to offer some assistance to questions sometime or hopefully get some answers or opinions sometime! I try to head out 4-5 times a week when weather/conditions and commitments allow. Hoping La Nina does not stuff up our summer fishing again this year but predictions are not too good, lets hope they are wrong! I don't really do too much fishing as I do have a boat, so mostly fishing from a boat. Anyway, hope all have a great weekend and get some fishing in, although I do prefer my weekday fishing! Cheers, WildeFishing