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10 Tips for the Travelling Angler
By Justin Willmer
It’s been an interesting couple of years since the arrival of Covid and we have been lucky in Queensland thus far, sending our thoughts, good vibes, and support to others around the country and the world. For many anglers around the world, it’s been the fishing that has kept us grounded and sane through lockdowns and we are blessed that our sport generally keeps us away from the crowds and allows us to clear the head and think about other things. With talk of restrictions easing and borders opening, we may now have access some of our favourite fishing destinations again or be able to plan to explore some new water further afield.
Like many I will probably ease back into it, however I am excited to be able to travel a little further, visit some favourite fishing locations, plan trips to some bucket list spots and dream of possible overseas travel to target a bucket list species. I have been lucky enough to fish around a fair chunk of Australia, along with a few fishing adventures overseas and here’s a few tips that I would offer to anglers looking to travel to fish. Obviously, the amount of gear that you take will depend on whether you will be fishing with a guided operation, where you are travelling to and how you are getting there, along with any set luggage restrictions, however, here are a few things that I consider when travelling. Fish on!
Rods & Reels
When it comes to rods and reels, I may take three away on a weekend adventure or more than a dozen for a couple of weeks on Fraser Island. The more target species and techniques involved, combined with luggage restrictions, can make rod and reel selection the toughest part of packing for any fishing adventure. It’s important to keep your key target species and technique in mind… is it a barramundi trip, cod trip, bass trip… and select your go-to combo for this purpose. I know some anglers that compromise on this go-to combo to try and cover other bases, however it’s amazing how many times you take three or four combos and use one combo most of the time. So, take the one that best suits the bulk of the fishing you will be doing.
If I have the luxury of taking four combos, then I will often duplicate this go-to combo or take something similar, then also carry a lighter and heavier combo. For example, if I was heading up to fish with a mate at Hinchinbrook Island chasing barramundi and mangrove jack, then I would carry two combos suited to this type of fishing, along with a bluewater combo, in case the weather was great allowing us to sneak out further. The fourth combo would be a lighter option for finesse applications and in case everything is shut down and we end up chasing bream and grunter or heading off to target jungle perch and sooty grunter.
Likewise on a Fraser Island trip I would carry a minimum of a couple of 7’ 3-6kg spin rods for chasing tailor, with a different presentation on each, along with a heavier combo for throwing a stickbait, popper or larger slug, and a lighter combo for chasing whiting. An SA kayak estuary adventure may consist of two 7’ 2-4kg spin rods for chasing bream and flathead, along with a 1-3kg for finesse work and a 3-6kg or 4-8kg in case I get a shot at spinning for salmon or chasing a school mulloway.
The key thing is to make sure that you take the ideal combo for your target species and even two, if possible, along with a lighter and heavier combo if you believe the opportunity may arise to use them. This is something that I have learnt from trying to cast finesse presentations on rods that don’t bend and trying to sling out large lures on rods that are too light. You will enjoy the fishing a lot more, fish more effectively and handle the fish a lot better once hooked, if you have the right tools for the job.
Rod Tubes
There is a stack of rod tubes available to anglers and I own multiple options to suit different adventures, from tubes that will hold two rods, to tubes that will carry 18 rods for a fortnight on the tip of Fraser Island fishing the beach. Ensure that the rod tube is up to the journey that you are about to take it on and consider how many rods it will carry, remembering the size of your largest guides as this is commonly the problem point when loading them. Ensure that the rod length is approved for the travel that you are doing and if the rod tube extends, make sure that you extend it in store and ensure that it is still structurally sound once extended.
Other features to consider include weight, if it is lockable, inclusion of your details on the tube and what sort of padding is provided in the tube or how you can minimise rod movement in the tube when travelling to avoid scuffing, wear and damage. Rod wraps are good for keeping everything together and I often sneak an extra fishing shirt, fishing pants or head scarf in the tube to keep everything secure and reduce the size and weight of my other bag.
Lines & Leaders
I treat leaders a little like rods and will make sure that I carry plenty of the main leader weight that I will be using, along with a heavier leader in case I need to step things up and lighter leader in case I need to go more finesse. If you have the luxury of space you can take as much leader as you like, however, if you are restricted by weight, take plenty of the main leader that you will use and then as an extreme you could cut some pre-made leader lengths of the heavier and lighter leaders, stowed in zip lock bags, and packed in your kit.
When it comes to braid, I will be fully spooled up and ready to go on the reels and I will also carry a minimum of a spare spool of braid for my main combo. For the weight and space that this takes up it beats being a rod down if something goes wrong. For longer duration trips you may wish to carry two or more spools of braid to suit the main combo, along with a spool for the lighter and heavier combo, which could also be spooled on the main combo if required.
Research a Plan B
You may be heading away on a fishing adventure with one species or technique in mind and it’s great that you have done your research and fully geared up ready to go… but make sure you have a Plan B and the appropriate gear needed to execute it. You may be heading north to pop giant trevally the weather changes and you have no backup. A bit of extra research and you could be getting stuck into jungle perch or sooty grunter.
I have had saratoga trips turn into hot bass bites, saltwater sessions turn into impoundment barra sessions and tailor trips turn into sessions on whiting, big dart, queenfish or trevally, with a few tweaks of gear and techniques. Regardless of where I am going or the target species, I will always carry a packet of ZMan 2.5” GrubZ and a packet of 1/8oz #1 TT Lures HeadlockZ HD jighead. If my barramundi, GT or Murray Cod bite isn’t happening… I can always catch bream, flathead, bass, mangrove jack, sooty grunter, jungle perch, golden perch and the hundreds of other species that have eaten a GrubZ.
Plastics & Jigheads
We could write a book on lure selection alone when it comes to fishing travel, however I generally lean towards soft plastics as the core of my kit, due to the versatility of being able to present a single plastic in different ways, based on the jighead that I rig it on. This allows me to fish the plastic from topwater to fishing deep. It also helps that ZMan are 10X Tough ElaZtech, so I know that they are going to last, and that I am getting maximum bang for buck out of the weight that I pack.
I will generally start with my go-to plastic for that species and make sure that I have plenty, in a selection of colours. For example, on a Hinchinbrook barramundi trip I may carry a ZMan 4” DieZel MinnowZ in a light natural colour for clear water, dark silhouette colour for dirty water and a fluoro in case the other two aren’t firing. I will increase the volume based on the duration of the trip, then also maybe increase a particular colour type based on information I have received prior to the trip… the water is dirty, so pack a few more dark silhouette colours.
I will then look at a smaller plastic for downsizing, perhaps a ZMan 3” MinnowZ, along with my backup pack of ZMan 2.5” GrubZ. Now I need an upsize plastic, in case the fish are feeding on larger bait, so maybe a ZMan 5” DieZel MinnowZ, along with a plastic for the heavier combo offshore, such as a ZMan 7” Scented Jerk ShadZ or ZMan 8” StreakZ XL. I can also run the smaller plastics offshore if required as a downsize. On top of this you can then throw in a couple of left field options that may get you the bite if things a tough, such as a ZMan 3” Baby GOAT, 4” Turbo CrawZ or a 2.5” TRD CrawZ, just to mix things up. A couple of dozen packets of plastics in the Tackle Block and we are looking good.
Now, once we have selected our plastics, jighead selection becomes much easier as we are selecting hook sizes to suit the plastic and target species, in weights to suit the environment that we are fishing and techniques that we will be using.
Weedless is simple, because I will select 3/0, 4/0 and 6/0 SnakelockZ jigheads as these hook sizes suit my plastics and I will select a variety of head weights across these hook sizes as the head weights can be clipped off and interchanged. I will carry 1/12oz, 1/8oz, 1/6oz, 1/4oz, 3/8oz and 1/2oz heads, leaning more volume toward the sizes that I believe I will use most, while having the ability to change things up, or totally remove the weight and fish the plastic on the surface or a dead slow sink.
When it comes to selecting standard jigheads, this can be a little trickier if you have weight restrictions, so it’s important to back what you think will be the key weights, techniques, and target species. Again, focus on your core plastics and build around them first, then select a more refined range for your change up plastics. For example, I will focus on 4/0 TT Lures HeadlockZ HD jigheads for the 4” DieZel MinnowZ, carrying a wider variety of weights and more volume in these. The downsize plastic is the 3” MinnowZ, so I will select some 3/0’s for it in the core weights I am most likely to use, knowing that I can also squeeze a 4/0 in there if required.
When it comes to my upsize and offshore plastics, which have a slimmer chance of being used and will likely be used less often, then I will select the appropriate HeadlockZ HD hook sizes in a more refined selection of weights. Don’t forget a couple of different weights for the 2.5” GrubZ and we’re ready to go. If I have some room, I may throw in a couple of out of leftfield jigheads, such as a RevlockZ or NedlockZ, to mix things up further.
Finally, depending on the adventure and how I am getting there, I will select a variety of more specialised lures, such as some metal slugs, stickbaits, poppers, hard bodies, ChatterBaits, spinnerbaits and so forth, again to suit the key target species, techniques, and location.
Storage
I like to try and keep my gear together in the one bag or crate, depending on the adventure, and will pack it well in advance, ensuring that I check off everything that I need. The size of the storage container will vary depending on the duration of the adventure, location, target species and proximity to stores where I can restock.
For a weekend it may be as simple as a ZMan Bait Binders with a tray of jigheads and Switchblades, along with 10 packets of plastics, leader, scent, pliers, and snips. For a longer duration trip or larger target species I may step up to the large (double) binder and a go-to for longer duration adventures is the ZMan Deluxe Tackle Block or two if I want to transport my reels, spare braid, and other items safely, then leave this second bag at the base camp. The ZMan Tackle Block is ideal for carrying plastics, a couple of jighead trays, scent, leader, pliers, and snips in one grab it by the handle and go package.
The final solution is a heavy-duty black plastic crate with a lid, that I often carry when we are travelling by car and have the luxury of space. This allows me to pack way too much gear, including the other bags and trays loaded with gear.
Scent
Don’t forget your favourite scents. I will think about location, target species and the lures that I am presenting, then pack at least two Pro-Cure Super Gel flavours. You may not know how tough the bite is or what the conditions are like where you’re travelling to fish, so scent maximises your chances of attracting fish and triggering strikes. It also allows you to slow the presentation right down if you need to and grind out the bites. This is an easy one to forget in the chaos of packing, so make sure you have it on your list as it good be the difference.
Local Knowledge
Anglers can be pretty tight lipped at times however I believe that travelling angler karma inspires all of us to share a little more with visitors to our region, in the hope that the favour may be returned when we are travelling to fish new locations. There seems to be a direct correlation between how far you are away from your home waters and how often you visit the area, to how much you will be given. If you are a long way from your home waters and on a one-off adventure, someone may even take you fishing, while a couple of hours from home you may get given a generic spot that everyone fishes.
The key thing is to support the local businesses in the area you’re visiting and often the favour will be returned with a few tips. Whether it’s talking to the local pub owners while having lunch, the local bakery while grabbing breakfast or a coffee, or visiting the local tackle store for a chat and to grab a couple of last-minute extras, if you support the local economy and let them know that you are a visiting angler, you may get a hot tip that lands you a fish or two.
Likewise, the local jetty, boat ramp or foreshore will likely see you bumping into a few anglers that may share a tip or two. Many times, on my travels, I have been having a flick off the jetty or ramp the first afternoon of arriving somewhere and a local has shared a few tips that have assisted me in catching fish. In turn I am happy to share a few tips with anglers holidaying in my local waters, especially if they are beginners or trying to get the kids onto a few fish. What can take days of working out yourself could be offered to you in a single comment about bait, tide, moon, general location, lure selection, recent captures and so forth.
Clothing / Protection
One thing that is often overlooked when travelling to fish is clothing. If you are uncomfortable or unsafe, then you are likely to fish less and be less focussed. Research the environment that you are travelling to and consider the temperature, wind, rain, sun, insects, snakes, and other variables that may impact the clothing that you choose to take. There is some great lightweight and technical clothing available now that can keep the weight of your kit down if required, while keeping you safe from the elements.
Don’t forget to consider footwear also as I’m sure we can all think of times when the thongs just weren’t up to the environment that we were fishing in. Sunglasses are another important inclusion in your kit, and I will carry a spare pair with me just in case.
Safety First
I will finish with this point because when travelling to fish we can find ourselves a distance from any assistance, outside the range of traditional communications, including phones and in some wild environments. It’s important to think before we act and be aware of what is going on around us. It’s important to research the weather, the region and how it may be impacted by wind, rain and so forth. You may be camping on the side of a river where no rain falls, however rainfall upstream could send a wall of water your way, so just be aware.
When standard comms are not an option I will carry a PLB or EPIRB, giving me the confidence that I can reach assistance if required. I also carry a basic MacGyver kit that, depending on the adventure, may contain a first aid kit to suit the number of people on the trip, environment being fished and the distance / time away from assistance, zip ties, electrical tape, waterproof lighter or matches, compass, polished metal signal mirror, multitool and a variety of other gadgets, remembering that you may be restricted in terms of what you can carry with you.
If the opportunity does arise for you to travel to fish, we wish you a safe adventure, hope the weather and fish play the game and that you picked up a tip or two out of this article. If fishing travel is still a way off for you, hopefully this article assists you to plan some future adventures or sort your travel kit so that when the opportunity arises you are out there and into a few fish.
See you on the water…
Justin Willmer