Bream Candy - Fly Tying Video

Apologies for the time between posts, things have been pretty crazy here. Just finished my latest fly tying video and this pattern is a great one for the flats and can be fishing in snags by weighting the fly using wire around the hook shank. Enjoy.

Interesting Read - mono vs fluro

Interesting read:

https://activeanglingnz.com/2016/01/04/the-fluorocarbon-myth/

Blackwood

Blackwood Dreamin’

Late Afternoon on the Blackwood – Paradise Found

It has that effect on you. Drifting down the bank, casting into the snags as the breeze and current do the hard work for you. The mirror finish reflects the trees and sky giving and almost surreal vision.

How many of us really take the time to have a good look around us when we’re on the water? To soak up the sights and sounds and really appreciate what we have right at our doorstep. Some times it’s not just about the fishing, it’s about taking time to relieve the stresses of the week share it with a good mate or just enjoy it on your own.

It’s right on our doorstep, and yet how many of us really know much about the Blackwood River? It’s been in the news for all the wrong reasons, as the pursuit for Recreational fishing rights, fish stocks and commercial fishing sees a battle waged on all fronts.

To be honest, it’s a snapshot of what has been brewing in this state for the last few years. As the positive influence of Catch and Release fishing from the print media and WABREAM Tournaments spreads, people have started to have a good look at what we do to our rivers and not just the fish. All that aside, but not forgotten, we have really just began to appreciate the true potential that has been enjoyed by a lucky few for so many years.

OK, so I’m a little biased when it comes to the Blackwood and my passion for Black Bream has me coming back to this river often, but what is it really that just keeps us coming back.  Well, for starters. How many rivers in the south of WA give sooo much room to move and bank to fish? The Blackwood is one of our few big southern rivers, extending from the mouth near Augusta right through to the trickles around Balingup and Nannup. Its sides are surrounded by towering trees which not only provide some great protection to the angler from strong winds and the unpredictable rain, but also occasionally falls victim to the elements and comes crashing down the banks to become part of the river system itself.

It’s also a system that gives us corner after corner to explore. Trust me when I say you can spend countless days going from snag to snag and have all your ideas spin around as the weather changes or you find yet another nook.

And hey, from just a guy’s point of view, the ski area can be a lot of fun :-)

For those of you who love to pursue a Blackie or 2, then this is a great spot that is still within easy travel distance from Perth. The choices are pretty easy as far as accommodation. I’d avoid the town unless you want to travel across the estuary every morning. Best bet is to either tent it at Alexandra Bridge or spend a few more dollars and get a camp site at Molloy Caravan Park or spend a bit more and live in luxury in one of the cabins. We managed to spend a few nights at Molloy recently and the facilities are excellent. The extra dollars for the cabin meant less hassle as far as the sleeping arrangements went and the ramp is one of the best Park ramps I’ve had the pleasure to use. It also makes a great backdrop for a few pics before release.

A Couple of Blackwood Beasts, the Grassed area at Molloy Makes is Easy to Move Around

Woops, aren’t these beasts just a tease. Sorry, couldn’t resist, but this is why we keep coming back. Bream like this aren’t just for the pros, but can be caught by anyone who puts in the hard yards and thinks about how they fish.

For the hard body Breamer, this really is heaven. The deep banks mean you really do need to get close to the bank and think about lure selection. As a bit of a HB nut myself, I take 2 approaches to the Blackwood. The first is to get right down amongst them. This means a deep diving lure that is going to go to 3m plus and quickly. Two of the best of these for me are the Taylor Made Tiny Nugget and the Salmo Hornet. Unlike a lot of other anglers I’ve fished with, I’ve actually found that brighter lures like Chrome Gold or Fluro Orange work the best as we head into the clearer waters of the warmer months.

The key…… slow and steady. A great way to get the lure down quickly is to actually twitch\rip the lure a few times to start with. This is where a rod that is stiffer in the tip is going to help. The less give, the quicker you’re going to part action onto the lure and get it down. Once it’s down to a reasonable depth, a slow retrieve with small pauses is the way to go. The easiest way to impart a pause onto a lure is to nod the rod.

What we mean by this is to lower and raise the rod or move the rod away and then back towards the body while still retrieving the lure. The idea is that as the rod moves with the retrieve, the lure literally pauses its movement. This pause will often be enough for a Bream to strike. The next few seconds here can be joy or sheer frustration to a lure fisherman. The first thing many a snag fish will want to do is head straight back into the cover. The temptation here is to pull like there is no tomorrow and more often than not, rip the hooks. In many cases, a little line will be enough to get the Bream to have a small run, yet still be able to turn it. On some occasions though, they will be straight back in there and then it’s panic stations. Again, give the fish some line and then gently play the fish out of the snag. DON’T keep pulling the fish up and down to get it out, you will often be able to feel the line rubbing on the timber and that is when it gets tricky. Giving the Bream some line often calms the fish, as it’s not constantly struggling. Then we can tease the fish out slowly but surely. You’d be surprised how many times you can do this and have the leader chaffed to pieces. A good thing to remember here is that good leader material is worth its weight in gold and can mean the difference between grief and a possible PB. My choice here is the Yamatoyo Fluorocarbon leader and for the Blackwood we usually fish around 6-8lb.

While the deeper regions are often a better source for larger fish, don’t discount the shallower regions either. While not abound with larger specimens, there can be a LOT of smaller fish ready to give you a bit of fun. For me, this is the domain for the twitchers. I just love using smaller lures like Yo-Zuri Snap Shads or Eddy’s Lip Rippas and twitching them ready to be slammed.

There is something about our southern Bream that just seems to make them meaner and even a 27-32cm fish will give a good account of itself. Again, a more responsive rod like the Black Diamond Sniper or Hardback are ideal rods.

Author with one of a Bag of 15 fish, all Caught Twitching

For plastics Breamers, this really is the ultimate in scary fishing. If the plethora of trees, rocks and other hazards don’t get you, then there’s a good chance Mr. Bream will have a good try any way. It’s a great way to learn how to fish plastics better as you watch the line for signs of a hit and learn to gauge the depth of a region and when to lift the plastic.

One of the big plusses in this area is the use of a brightly coloured main line like the fluro yellow Fireline. Even in bright conditions, you can see the line move when a fish hits. A good pair of polarising sun glasses is also an advantage here.

The beauty of plastics is that they can be fish in an incredible variety of ways. Something we just can’t achieve with HB lures without an very good collection. Still, we tackle rats never need much of an excuse. We can also use an incredible number of sizes and colours without even having to change the jig head. Lately the belief has been bigger plastics mean bigger Bream, and to that extent, plastics like the Berkley 3” Bass Minnow and the 3” Eyeball Tail have been a popular choice and a real winner.

30cm Bream Caught on a Pearl\Watermelon Bass Minnow on a 1\16^th EnviroJig Head

Jig head selection is also critical as some really do like the timber more than others. Lately I’ve been fishing the new EnviroJigs, made locally here in WA. They are a lead free jig which fish like no other I’ve used. They actually fish light for their weight, which means you can keep I tin the zone for longer. Don’t feel as though you must use a heavy head for deeper water though. As said, keep it in the zone for longer as you just never know what may be lurking on the way down. You’ll be surprised how many Bream are picked up on the drop. For most occasions, that means 1\16^th at the most unless the current is ripping.

It’s going to be a bit hit and miss to start with as you get used to fishing the deep snags, but the key is persistence and be willing to learn. Places like the Blackwood do often have a good current so for something different, cast the jig a little further out so it drifts back to the snag as it sinks. This is a great way to get to those fish sitting in deeper water and also allows you to get right under a log instead of just down the side of it.

Another lesser know structure is the shady tree. The banks of the Blackwood are lined with hundreds of Peppermint trees in sections, and under these tress lurk Bream seeking shelter from the bright sun.

While it’s not easy to cast straight under these trees, there is a method that comes in very handy. Skipping is the act of casting a plastic so that it skips along the surface of the water, very much like skipping stones. The idea here is to cast using a sideways flick, holding the rod down low with your arm in a similar position you would have it if you were skipping stones. A bit of practise and you’ll have a deadly weapon that also a great way to get in under jetties on the Swan.

Another very overlooked structure for the plastics Breamer is the scrubby shoreline back down near Molloy Island itself. Bream often lurk in along the edges, feeling on the moss growing on the exposed roots of the trees, the mussels that grow on them or the small bait fish that swim in amongst them as well. The beauty here is that a plastics can get right beside the snags, whereas a HB lure tends to miss the zone as it is retrieved out from the snag before it’s at the right depth. In the recent WABREAM State Invitational, this area was very productive for many anglers. One frustration here though is that many of the smaller fish tend to inhabit these zones and can be an annoying distraction as you look for better quality.

In the end, it’s the deeper water where the reward is. There is just nothing quite like the feel of a kilo plus fish doing its best to stitch you up. And the reward for your patience is all worth it.

Willo with a PB 1.24kg Bream Taken on a 1\16^th Nitro Head Using a Bass Minnow.

Oh, and the by-catch isn’t too bad either. Monster yellow fin whiting, herring, tailor and the occasional mulloway, but that’s for another session. ‘Til then, may your leaders hold and you hooks stay true.

Whiting Gurgler - fly tying video

Hey everyone, with the whiting season fast coming upon us I've added the video for my Whiting Gurgler recipe to my YouTube channel. Check it out, looking forward to getting these wet soon.

Bumble Bugger - Fly Tying Video

Well, trout season is upon us here in WA so I thought I'd divert away from the bream and post up a woolly bugger pattern that has been a killer for me on the dams here in SW WA. Enjoy.

Bream Clouser - Fly Tying Video

Hey guys. Sorry for the delay in my next blog. I've been busy with a few things, including trying to get my camera and PC to talk to each other. We're now back on track and have the first 2 videos up and available. The first of these is the Bream Clouser. While it's a very basic fly and a great fly to refine your skills on, it's also deadly on bream. The beauty of this fly is that it's also easy to play around with colours with to target fish in different systems. Enjoy.

A Taste of Exmouth on Fly

Why is it that anglers seem hell bent on alienating different forms of fishing? Spin vs. cast, fly vs. everything else. It just seems very strange that we want to cut ourselves off from certain styles of fishing without really giving it a go. I've been very lucky to have done a large variety of fishing and while some of it isn't for me, my philosophy is 'try it all, you never know what you're going to miss.'

Over the past few years I've slowly, but surely, eased my way into fly fishing. First starting out on the dams within a few hours of Perth, then something a little closer to home by chasing flatties on the Swan. As my passion for breamin' grew, so did the need to target them on fly, and while I haven't really cracked it yet the feeling of getting any fish on fly is something you really have to experience.

One piece of advice here. Don’t fool yourself, spend a little time and money and get some casting lessons from someone who knows what they are doing. You’ll thank yourself in the long run and save yourself hours of frustration.

Practising Casting in the Park is a Great Way to Hone Your Casting Skills.

Casting Lessons are Well Worth the Money

The past couple of years I've also been venturing back to the north of the state to rekindle some of the lost passion I had for what the north has to offer in terms of piscatorial pursuits having lived there for many years. It's easy to get locked into a groove and while I love targeting species such as spangled emperor, doing the same thing every day soon has me stale. With fly on my mind, I spent a lot of time on the net and forums keeping an eye out for a few bargains. Don't fool yourself though, as with any area of fishing, good gear is going to cost you and if you do fall for the addiction, the bling is numerous and can cost you a pretty penny. In Perth, check out the range at Bluewater Tackle Myaree. they stock sage, TFO and Innovator and have a good number of guys on staff who are experienced fly anglers and more than willing to help.

I planned to travel with a 10wt and 8wt rod for this trip. The 8wt is an ideal rod for use from shore and will stop a lot of things you're likely to encounter. It's also a good size to cast with without getting to heavy, great for beginners such as myself and a rod you can stay with you for many years to come. The 10wt I had in mind for off the boat as we usually came across larger species and stopping them is much harder. If you hunt around you can find a few reels that come in the range of  line weights and you can set up spare spools for each weight type. This means you don't have to spend too much to get you going and gives you some flexibility while you're away.

Having a few trips under our belt now, we’ve  added a 6 and 7wt to the quiver, but you will always have the chance of hooking something too big and snapping a rod or losing a fly line so be careful. You may need to break off quickly to save one or both. Still, the smaller trevs, bream and other species that inhabit the creeks mean the lighter weights still have their place and there are many anglers who use 6 and 7wt lines for chasing bone fish, something I’m yet to crack.

As for lines.... Well, there is a mine field for sure and I won't really bother getting into brands, but a little research will give you some idea on the vast and growing variety of what is available. Sufficed to say a floating line and an intermediate line is a good place to start and will get you into most situations. The theory here is that the floating line will keep the line on the surface and reduce the depth to which the fly will sink, where the intermediate will sink slowly so you can get some depth if need be. The thing here is the more the line sinks, the heavier it is and does take some getting used to when casting. Don't discount the sinking line if you feel confident enough in your casting to give it a go as a good sinking line is ideal for off the boat in deeper water.

Lastly, flies. As with any sort of fishing, there are more styles of flies than you can poke a stick at and they are not going to be cheap. We're lucky enough to have a few good stores in Perth, such as Fly World, which also has an online store, but don't discount some of the Oz based eBay sellers who have some good product for very competitive prices. In a short word, clousers are the way to go without getting into it too much. Without doubt, if you get the bug, there are fly patterns for every situation that look like just about anything you want and many have their place. I don't doubt the permit we saw would have been more interested in a crab pattern than our clousers, but more on that later.

If you’re also the creative type, have a go at tying your own flies. You don’t have to spend a fortune on an expensive vice. My Dan Vice was only $90 off eBay and have helped me tie hundreds of flies and saved me a fortune. It will cost a bit to get you going with materials, but these will tie a lot of flies and means you can play around a bit with colours, styles and there is nothing more satisfying than catching a fish on a fly you’ve tied yourself.  I’ve heard it said ‘if it ain’t chartreuse, it’s no use’ and while our chartreuse and white clousers did count for a lot of the fish we caught, so did other combinations like red\white, tan white and so on. A little bit of flash doesn’t hurt either.

Clousers are an Essential Saltwater Fly

Variance on the Pink Thing

Having exercised the spanglie demons at Exxy, it was time for the wands to come out and see what it was all about. We’d always had in mind walking the drop offs at Pilgramunna after heading down there the year before by boat. If the sand isn’t too badly chewed up and the tide is right you can launch a boat there, but the sand wasn’t great this time so the boat stayed and we hit the beach. The first kilometre or so south of the ramp can be a little rocky, even pebble beach at times, but don’t let this fool you into thinking it’s not worth a go. The shallow reef just out of sight of the ramp is where we found some blue bone and while we didn’t land one, blue bone - 1 Bear 0, it was amazing to sight cast to a school of around 30 fish in about 150mm of water. Further along the beach were sandy fingers in amongst the reef and we could see queenies and small dart swimming in amongst them. Trying to get them to hit the fly was another matter and while we had many follows, that was about the extent of our luck.

Wading the Pilgs Drop Off

Once past the reef we were immediately greeted by more schools of dart. As close as a few metres to the beach, they were well within casting range, but once again we just couldn’t get them to take a fly. Several pattern, size and weight changes later we gave up and moved on. The blood was pumping now though. Moving around to the point we could easily make out the drop off and very quickly made out some likely shapes in the water. A number of queenies, to 1m, were chasing the bait schools that were hanging along the line of the drop off. Again, getting them to take a fly was another story. We continued further on spotting other fish and then hit frustration city. Just in casting range we spotted 2 very large permit, head down and feeding. Creeping up slowly we put out a cast each and despite them being well place, we couldn’t raise much more than a cursory glance and while we didn’t hook one of these beasts, simply sighting them and being able to cast to them was a major buzz.

Sandy Bay was our next stop and again we were greeted by a large school of dart and salmon right in the shallows. Dropping down to a lighter 6wt rod we had a ball catching the salmon and around the edge of the salmon school, the dart occasionally managed to get in for a hit as well. These guys go hard for smaller fish. Once we’d had enough of these we started to cast around the smaller bombies close to shore, hoping these many hold fish as they do out deeper. We weren’t disappointed with a few nice spanglies landed. Be prepared to shed some blood with these if you don’t have stripping gloves. They hit hard and run a mile in the first few bursts, something we encountered again fishing the inside reef area over the next few days.

Sandy Bay Shallows

Sandy Bay Dart

Sandy Bay Spanglie

Our last land based spot was new to us, but one we’ll be back to for sure. Using the tracks near the airport you can head down to the bottom of the gulf and access some great shore based locations, including some of the creeks. It really is 4WD access only as there is one good sand dune, but there are plenty who get over and if you have a small boat or dinghy you can beach launch from some of the creeks as well. The creeks were a lot of fun giving us access to deep channels and lots of fish. It’s a great location for surface flies such as gurglers with regular surface action from queenies and trevs.

Don’t be surprised if you end up with a visit from a friendly local either. We had a sizeable turtle buzz us for a few hours in the Gulf and they are always popping up around the inshore area off Tantabiddi. They don’t seem too scared of us either as one big guy proved as he swam within just a few metres of us on many occasions. A real buzz to see these gentle creatures swimming in the wild.

Small Goldens can be in Plague Numbers at Times

Another Golden on Clouser

Another Trev Variety to Tick Off

A Curious Local

Even Small Queenies are Fun

Add to our land based travels another couple of days hitting the structures of the inside reef out from Tantabiddi. We’d fished this quite a bit on spin and were really curious to see how it would compare on fly, we weren’t disappointed with over 50 fish landed on the first day. This included some nice trevs and a spanglie that went 83cm. My hand still twitches just thinking about that one, part of the reason I now wear gloves. Lesson learnt. One thing that really had us going were the amount of squid that will follow a fly. Now we’ve seen them chase the odd popper and hard body lure, but at times our fly was being mauled by squid. Time to play with a squid jig pattern I think. Might be a bit of fun.

Hooked up to Another Trev

Spanglies Go Hard in the Shallows, Wear Gloves

Great Colours

Inshore at Tantabiddi

You could spend a life time making your way around somewhere like the waters around Exmouth. There are just so many creeks, islands, beaches and reefs that can be explored. I hope this has just given you a taste of what you can get out and do on fly or spin gear. Until next time, stay safe.