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What's in My Kit? Warren Smith - Fishing NT

By Warren Smith

Tackle Tactics Pro Angler and respected NT Guide Warren 'Wazza' Smith gives us a run through of some of his go-to gear, why it works and how he uses it.

When I go fishing there is always way more fishing related stuff in the boat or tackle bag than I really need, however I reckon its 'better to be looking at it, then for it' as the saying goes. Most of my fishing time is on board a boat taking clients out chasing all manner of northern species of fish. You need to have a pretty wide range of tackle as you could be chasing bluewater pelagic species at some stage of the day, jigging the reef for bottom dwellers or spending the prime stage of the tide chasing barramundi, threadfin salmon, mangrove jack and such in the rivers or estuaries. So, with that being said, my main objective is to find fish and then get the paying client to catch them.

Over the years I've had many people that represent different fishing tackle groups in Australia on board and that gives me the chance to use or observe lots of lures, hooks, line, etc. Some work well and others just don't. I'm lucky enough to be part of the Tackle Tactics family and they have some of the very best fish catching lures, lines and hooks available. This is not just a plug for Tackle Tactics because when working at a lodge, with sometimes up to 7 other guilds and 20+ clients, the talk at the end of the day is what or which lures were catching most of the fish and trust me, if you haven't got them on board and been tying them on the end of a rod you'll hear about it very quickly. There's no hiding behind excesses as to why your boat didn't produce the goods, when one or two other boats did. So here's my list of Tackle Tactics gear that works consistently for me and lots of other guides.

ZMan 3" MinnowZ

My #1 go-to lure is easily the ZMan 3" MinnowZ. This soft plastic lure accounts for more fish than any other lure that I have used in the last few years. Rigged on a 2/0 TT Lures ChinlockZ, with the appropriate size ball sinker (depth and flow dictates the size but normally a size 1 or 2 ball), it appeals to all manner of fish. Rigged on a ChinlockZ you don't get snagged up anywhere near as much and in turn spend much more time fishing then retrieving snagged lures.

ZMan plastics are made from a product called ElaZtech which is tough enough to catch up to twenty odd fish without changing it. Other brands of plastics that will catch fish are nowhere as tough and are mostly what we call one hit wonders (catch a fish, plastic tears and no longer usable). Don't let the 3" size fool you either as plenty of metre plus barramundi have come unstuck on one of these mighty lures. I don't have any one particular favourite colour and normally have several different colours in the tackle bag at any given time. I do like to use ones with plenty of red in them when chasing mangrove jack, with Calico Candy and Red Shad my faves. Most of the other guides that I know wouldn't leave to start a days fishing without 3" ZMan MinnowZ and TT Lures ChinlockZ hooks aboard their boats. Lots of guests who are more used to fishing hard body lures for tropical species are amazed at how productive 3" ZMans are and on return trips always come loaded with plenty of these great catching plastics.

ZMan 5" Grass KickerZ

The next plastic that I always have with me is the ZMan 5" Grass KickerZ. I've started using these over the last couple of years and when we're in spots where the water is shallow (anywhere from a metre to 2cm) and the fish are hanging way back amongst the mangrove trees and air roots (think around 10 to 20 metres) these plastics, rigged on a TT ChinlockZ SWS in 6/0 with either 1/8oz or 1/6oz of weight, are easy to cast and have the ability to bounce, ricochet and roll over most obstacles encountered while fishing this style of tight country, without snagging up.

Once the retrieve is started the Grass KickerZ will travel nicely along, just below the surface, with the paddle tail producing a very nice wobble that appeals to barramundi, threadfin salmon and mangrove jack. I wouldn't even think of asking someone to send a three hooked hard body shallow minnow into these spots. Even the best caster in the world would be getting into trouble 8 times out 10 using a hard body. Once again, more time fishing and less time recovering snagged lures means more fish to the boat.

TT Lures Spinnerbaits & ZMan ChatterBait Mini

The next Tackle Tactics lure would have to be the ones that I like to use when chasing saratoga, Spinnerbaits and ChatterBaits. TT Lures Striker and Tornado spinnerbaits, along with the ZMan ChatterBait Mini 1/4oz, have the ability to produce saratoga when other styles of lures are failing to get a hit. Once again they have the ability to get through lots of weed and snags, without snagging or fouling up. The single hooks that these lures use also produce a good hook up. Striker and Tornado spinnerbaits are also my go-to lure when chasing Murry cod down south.

Boomerang Tool Snip

The next piece of kit from Tackle Tactics that goes everywhere with me is one called 'The Snip' from the Boomerang Tool Company. The Snip is a small set of stainless steel scissors that are the best line and leader cutters that I have ever owned. I can normally get a full season out of one set and they don't get much love either, spending most of their life in a saltwater environment. They handle anything from the lightest braid up to 70lb leader and I always carry two in case I lose one throughout the day. Love The Snip.

Okuma Rods & Reels

Tackle Tactics also distribute the Okuma range of rods and reels. The two outfits that I have been using over the last couple of seasons are the Okuma Helios SX Spin HSX-20, matched up to a Cerros Travel Spin rod rated 3-6kg, and the Okuma Cerros baitcast reel on a Cerros 6'0" baitcast rod rated 4-8kg. I have had a couple of the Cerros baitcast reels for around two years now, they are still showing no signs of corrosion and about the only maintenance I've done is a drop of oil on the bearings every now and then, along with a hit with a freshwater shower every now and then. Not many other reels in this price range can boast of this type of longevity.

Both outfits have accounted for heaps of fish and have proven to be trouble free and a pleasure to use. I put them in the hands of clients aboard the boat and haven't heard any complaints about either outfit. For the price you can pick up either outfit, they are excellent value.

I use heaps of other Tackle Tactics stuff as well, however the above are the ones that get used the most and also produce the goods for guests expecting results on their trips. I'll do a blue water list up in the near future.

Cheers Wazza

Go-To Gear List:
ZMan 3" MinnowZ
TT Lures ChinlockZ Jighead - 3/0

ZMan 5" Grass KickerZ
TT Lures ChinlockZ SWS Jighead - 1/8oz or 1/6oz 6/0

TT Lures Striker Spinnerbaits
TT Lures Tornado Spinnerbaits
ZMan ChatterBait Mini 1/4oz

Boomerand Tool Snip

Okuma Cerros Travel Spin Rod - CER-S-703M 7' 3pce 3-6kg
Okuma Helios SX Spin Reel - HSX-20

Okuma Cerros Baitcast Rod - CER-C-601MH 6' 1pce 4-8kg
Okuma Cerros Baitcast Reel - CR-266V