Tackle Tactics » Pro Anglers » Ethan Flowers
Ethan Flowers
HOW DID YOU GET INTO FISHING?
Fishing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My earliest memory would be when I was in America with my brother, chasing smallmouth and largemouth bass, before moving to New Zealand, where I really got the taste for fishing. From fly fishing with my uncle for rainbow and brown trout to buckling up on the boat chasing snapper and kingfish. In my 20’s I moved to Australia and discovered my passion for Australian native species and kayak fishing.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU ABOUT FISHING?
It’s the challenge of the hunt, it’s the environment, and it’s the thrill of the chase. The places it takes you and the experiences of each catch… that’s what inspires me.
WHERE IN AUSTRALIA DO YOU FISH AND WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN TARGET SPECIES?
I am from North Brisbane. I am fortunate enough to have access to some of the best freshwater dams of SEQ on my doorstep. On top of that, there’s the shallow reefs through the peninsula and the greater Moreton Bay region. It is not uncommon for me to load up the car and head either north or south in pursuit of a new scenery and species. Australian natives are my target species; however, it is not uncommon for me to put in a cheeky saltwater session from time to time.
WHAT ARE 3 OF YOUR FAVOURITE SPECIES AND WHY?
- Saratoga – They are one of Australia’s most prehistoric fish, I find them beautiful to look at and chasing them is a thrill as every time you get a hook set the acrobatics and chaos begins. I think they are one of the most special fish that Australia has to offer, and they take a certain amount of skill to target.
- Bass – The humble Aussie bass. They are brutes, they fight hard, they can be finicky, they can humble you, and yet they can offer so much excitement. Chasing these guys in all sorts of waterways, on a wide variety of lures, make the Aussie bass, in my opinion, one of the most fun and exciting species to target.
- Squid – They’re tasty… not much more to say. Haha.
WHAT ARE A FEW OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE CAPTURES?
Theres a few, from saratoga taking lures mid-air to epic barramundi EATS. The most recent and most memorable would be my 20kg golden trevally that I caught on bass gear while out fishing with good mate Sean Bekkers. Plenty of banter ensued, along with cramped hands and nearly an hour-long fight, but we got it done. Watching Sean struggle to lift it into the boat, while dropping a few swear words, ha ha. We quickly realised just how crazy this fish was! It was a fish of a lifetime on a silly stick, and something that I/we will never forget.
GO-TO TACKLE TACTICS PRODUCTS AND SOME TIPS FOR USING THEM?
Hands down the ZMan 2.75” Finesse FrogZ and ZMan 3” Baby GOAT, paired with a TT ChinlockZ 2/0 jighead. Throw these into the most gnarly structure you can find and hold on! Burning these across the top, over lilies, logs and snags, makes them absolute dynamite topwater presentations. Or you can slow things down and pause them to let them slowly waft down next to structure, or slow wind them to keep the lure just below the surface. The versatility of these lures and their ability to work in almost all levels of the water column make them standouts for Australian natives.
GO-TO OKUMA PRODUCTS AND WHY?
The Okuma ITX spin reels. By far the most reliable reel I have every used. They have a butter smooth drag, plenty of stopping power and handle casting ultralight lures, right through to the heaviest of set ups. Fishing mainly from a kayak I need reels that can coop a bit of a flogging (I am not gentle on my gear) and the ITX has handled everything I have thrown at it and some.
WHAT SPECIES ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? WHY?
Murray cod - Probably one of Australia’s most iconic and challenging natives to catch. I will be putting some serious time and kilometres into these brutes in the near future and there will be a little dance of joy when I finally get one.
Jungle Perch - The prettiest of all the natives in my opinion. The country that you must visit when chasing these guys is incredible! The experience of chasing these guys is very high on my list.
Giant Trevally - Big GT off the top! We all want to do it and seeing these guys explode on your lure, along with the chaos that comes with it, is epic. A few gym sessions are required before I chase these guys.
WHAT IS A PIECE OF FISHING ADVICE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THAT STILL STICKS WITH YOU?
Keep your eye on the prize.
Persistence - Keep putting your lure in the right place and eventually something will happen.
WHAT ARE 3 TIPS FOR SOMEONE NEW TO FISHING?
Observation – Pay attention to your surroundings. There are lots of giveaways that the water, fish and nature will give you.
Research – Understand the waterways, the weather, and the conditions.
Time on the water – The more time on the water you have, the more you understand behaviours and condition changes. Understand how to react to each situation.
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
Don’t forget to have fun and rock on baby!