Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Sweetwater-Impoundments-Brackish » Out of the Box Barra Thinking
Out of the Box Barra Thinking
By Ryan Fogg
In the lead up to a recent barramundi trip I came across a great looking soft plastic presentation that I knew would work on barra. After floating the idea past a few super keen anglers, that would also be attending the event, I set about working out the best way to present it, along with the types of areas where I felt it would work best.
The plastic I had in mind was the ZMan 9” Grubz in the classic Pearl colour. I knew the water was going to be very muddy, from all the disturbed silt from rain, so a larger displacement plastic, combined with a contrasting colour, would give me the best chance of attracting the attention of a barramundi.
I normally like to use an 8/0 size hook when targeting barra as this gives greater hook clearance and the best chance of a solid hookset. After some trial and error, I decided to present the 9” GrubZ on a 6/0 TT ChinlockZ hook as I wanted the body of the plastic to float, with just the tail wafting after each pause.
Leader also came into consideration as whilst I knew from previous experience that monofilament leader floated, going too heavy would have the same effect as the larger hook and change the way the plastic presented.
The rod and reel combo that I had in mind had plenty backbone down low, while still maintaining a nice fast taper that would allow for casting the lightly weighted ZMan 9” GrubZ. The rod was rated 10-17lb and was a 7’ fast taper rod that matched well to an Okuma ITX Carbon ITX-3000 spin reel, spooled with 20lb Platypus Pulse X4 Braid.
Whilst on the lighter side, I eventually matched the braid with some Platypus Hard Amour Supple Leader in 20lb. I run a long leader of about two rod lengths and haven’t had any problems with the FG knot winding onto the spool. This chosen combo had caught barramundi on previous trips, so I had plenty of confidence in it to land the target species.
Local knowledge when fishing impoundments, paired with desirable winds and productive moon phases, is a critical part of the preparation leading into any session. While I have fished this lake before, the recent rain meant that it would be very different this time around, from dry times to a much higher water level.
I spent plenty of time sounding around using both side scan and down scan to locate baitfish and structure. With water temperatures dropping below 24 degrees you really need to slow down your retrieve when targeting barra. If you think you are retrieving too fast, then you normally are. Scent also becomes super important in these conditions. I was applying some Garlic Plus Super Gel Scent from Pro-Cure every twenty casts to give myself the best opportunity of attracting a bite.
I fished this soft plastic presentation in two ways -
1. Make the cast and after an initial pause, allowing the ripples to dissipate, commence a slow, constant retrieve, allowing the large GrubZ tail to glide through the water.
2. Make the cast and use a subtle jerking retrieve, with the rod tip down. Allow long pauses so that the body of the plastic floats on the surface, with the tail waving seductively sub-surface.
After a few casts, to check how the presentation rested, I came across a bend with some lilies that looked too good to resist. This bend was situated at the end of a long windblown bank. After a few casts I had what every angler dreams of, a big boil right behind my lure.
I called out to good mate Sean Bekkers that I had seem a boil behind my lure and to get a cast in there. He quickly fired in his plastic but before it had even landed, I had a solid hook up and epic first run. Only running light drag, the first few runs were intense, with the barra attempting to retreat into the structure. Even coming close to Sean`s yak on more than one occasion.
After what seemed like several tense minutes, I had my first look at the silver flanks of the barra. I had to be patient and couldn’t really muscle him too much, however, knowing that I had a solid hookset, I stayed patient. With the net at the ready, after one last run, I bought him alongside the kayak and safely secured the fish in the net.
With the fish safely in the kayak I quickly found a bank close by to slide the kayak in and put the barra on the measure mat. I had 83cm of silver missile and a new PB from the kayak. After a few photos I released the fish back into the lake, hopeful of repeating the capture during the kayak competition. Unfortunately, with the prevailing conditions against us, that was the only barra caught by the group on this trip. Believe me it wasn’t for lack of casts.
It is so rewarding to come up with an idea, think and plan it through and then to be able to put it into practice. On a previous trip to the lake, I had set myself the goal of catching a barra on topwater, fishing the newly released ZMan 4.25” Billy GOAT, with that plan also coming to fruition. This year it was the 9” ZMan GrubZ that got the job done… so what will I come up with for the next adventure.
Taut lines and bent rods,
Ryan Fogg