Secret Spot ‘X’

Spot 'x' fires when the conditions for that exact scenario don't quite suit spot 'y', 'b' 'c' and 'd'. When the variables come together that suit that given situation, all hell can break loose, but take one of the key variables away and spot 'x' can be as quiet as a mouse. Salt and fresh offer the same, a certain wind direction or speed or a combination of, including water movement, clarity, temp, season, time of day, food presence etc can influence if 'x' will fire or it won't. Add to that external influences like vegetation density above or below water and many other human governed reasons will all impact as well. Animals and fish will continually search for the next best thing and if 'x' is not lining up to offer good opportunity, well it’s off to spot "Q" or back to hunting tactic "j" or "c34" to give them, (the fish), the edge. Hunting and fishing in my books is a game of cards. You get dealt cards, (variables) and you have to find results amongst those handed out. If you get 4 aces, you are on a good thing, if you get 3 "5's" a "6" and a "joker" you will need to search and think hard to make the most out of that situation. If you keep your eyes open, you may just find an 'ace' lying on the floor-(i.e., a patch of milky water, or a pocket of spawning baitfish or some other variable that may turn a poor hand into a winning game.
A lot of our salt or fresh fishing will see locations fire for brief periods, some windows as small as 5 mins when all variables required come together. This is when we must be in the right spot at the right time waiting with the right lure to deliver when Mother Nature tells us too. Many spots 'fire' best when a whole list of variables align, yet spot 'X' can turn it on when just 2 favourable variables come together. On an average day, dozens of natural environmental triggers can act as stimulants for fish. Match or time these natural triggers with aligning variables with for increased results for minimal casts.
Johnny Mitchell

Weed Banks
Cy and Kerrin Taylor

Mate, we never really spoke in depth on weed while on Awoonga, 2004, but yea, if you drift over any large weed bank and stop and look, you will see how much water and free space is actually in amongst the fairly dense weed stands. Some places look impenetrable, but to fish it is like the home of all homes. Different techniques apply to these locations for fishing, but with your ability, along with your brothers, I'm sure you will come up with a quality solution to 'fit the bill'! Remember when I told you everything happens for a reason. Just watch a weed bed for a while and you tell me what goes on! It will teach you a lot about barra when you slow down, look and think, just like that barra you hooked in 'no man’s land' near the surface! The environment talks to you, don’t forget that. I won't forget you and your brothers fishing ability for a long time. Great to watch!

Fishing Competitions

Firstly, I don’t fish barra competitions. Competition fishing should consist of a major plan, and all this I feel depends on one's background knowledge on barra, their natural movements and daily activities! One big mistake I have noticed is that some competitors actually trial new techniques during comp time. I think this is a big ‘no no’. Go with what you know, and if what you know is a plenty, you’re in with a good chance! Know very little, and if the fishing is a bit tougher, you’re in for a rough time ahead.
When barra bite well in comps, I feel that anyone can win it! When the fishing is a bit harder, that is when the experienced anglers shine through the clouds. I feel they are the best conditions for a competition.
Simply, barra are either stationary, or active and moving. This coincides with a few factors, but one's approach to these time frames should see their fishing techniques alter to suit. Barra have favoured areas in which they visit or hold up in; albeit for short periods at times. There are times that the ‘flog’ technique will bring results, and times when ground covered will earn you a fish. An angler must 'go to', and stimulate a stationary fish to entice a strike, and moving fish will quite often 'cross paths' with an anglers lure. A varied and sometimes hourly approach needs close scrutiny. Strategic anchoring will work! Great idea...... if you know where!
Nothing is better than time on the water, and paying close attention to fine detail. Most answers lay in front of you, but only if you think of the question! Continued, successful barra fishing is more than just angling!

Weather Conditions

Every day is different when we talk weather, yet the most common weather pattern in the Awoonga district is a South East to North East air flow. Picture perfect weather is evened out by periods of stronger wind, just like most areas along our coastline. SE wind patterns are generated by high pressure systems in the south of our country and can create winds up to 30 knots in our area. SE winds can blow as a gentle breeze or a strong gale. A forecast often predicts this and can be checked before boating. SE patterns can and will create a reasonable sharp choppy wave in Awoonga which can be come uncomfortable in smaller type boats. As a high pressure system moves eastward, strong SE winds usually start to swing more Easterly, then on to the North East. As they swing to the North East, the winds usually back off to a max of 20 knots, more like 10 to 15 knots. Even a 15 knot North Easterly wind on this lake will create uncomfortable waves the further south you travel down the lake. Don't get sucked in by the calm and serene feeling at the boat ramp as it is protected by the hills to the north. Later in the year, North and North West winds up to 25knots can make the lake an ugly place to fish from, again, don't be caught thinking it is calm when you look at the waters at the ramp. Southerly changes and South West winds in the winter months will see waves crash onto the main launching ramp making launching and retrieving any boat more of a challenge. A 10 foot boat in Awoonga is usable, but probably not recommended because of the prevailing conditions, unless you strike good weather. I have already rescued one group of 3 from the waters of the lake after their 11 foot boat upturned in a 25 kn NW wind. They lost all their gear, but managed to stay afloat. It was near dark and we were lucky to cross their paths that day. When the lake glasses out from early morning 'til lunch time, in say, a 10 - 15 kn North East forecast, expect a windier afternoon North East sea breeze to blow over the lake. Usually, the calmer the lake by morning, the windier it is by afternoon. True northerly winds have a tendency to drop out on dark, a North East wind may last a bit longer after dark, and a NW wind can often blow all night. As I said at the beginning, weather patterns change hourly and your senses offer the best guidance as to go out or not. The weather is only a phone call away or nowadays just a touch on a keyboard. I hope this helps with your decision.

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