Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Sweetwater-Impoundments-Brackish » Striking Green & Gold
Striking Green & Gold
By Jay Noble
Finding time between family and work commitments to plan a trip, while looking for some favourable conditions, is always challenging. This trip in particular was planned out of sheer desperation to get away for 24 hours, recharge the batteries and hopefully find a couple of Murray cod and yellowbelly (golden perch).
Good mate Steve and I set off on a Friday, around lunchtime, planning to be home around the same time the following day. Full of excitement, the destination was reached around 2pm on a private property, camp was quickly organised (rolled out the swags) and kayaks dragged down to the edge of the water.
Due to the relentless drought in the area, we knew the water level was going to be very low and as it turned out there was absolutely no flow in the river at all, making for trying conditions.
Having not fished this area before and after picking Steve's brain on what to expect, I scratched a quick plan together in my head. Thinking that the fish would be tight to the timber, rocks, drop offs and weed beds, with the low water, I choose the ever faithful spinnerbait and in this case it was the 3/8oz TT Striker spinnerbaits. Their medium size profile and solid construction made for a good choice to search the mentioned cover with less chance of snagging up on the structure.
The plan for the first afternoon was to head up river in the kayaks and fish a couple of the bigger pools, then get out on foot to walk and fish the skinny sections. We stuck to this strategy and headed down river the next morning. Steve and I worked out early on that the fish were sitting out a little deeper than you would normally find them. With the recent heat it was no surprise that the fish were not found up on the edges. Most of our success came from fishing the deepest sections in the pools, with the fish seemingly trying to find some relief from the warm water temperatures.
Casting the Striker into the deeper sections of the pools and weed edges accounted for most of my fish, with the odd one coming off fallen timber, including an epic yak side take from a very nice yellowbelly (golden perch).
The biggest cod of the trip did come from a surprising location. We spotted the fish in a very small pool, with a huge fallen tree and root ball at the back in the deeper water (only about 1 metre). I pitched my lure to the back of the pool, very close to the root ball and the cod followed it all the way out while we stood there watching it all unfold... only to eat the lure right at my feet!
A standout colour in the TT Strikers for me is the Fire Tiger, with darker colours not seeming to get the same attention on this occasion.
All in all it was a great trip as usual. Getting away in beautiful locations, with good company, sharing a few laughs and landing a few fish as a bonus.
Gear List
TT Lures Striker Spinnerbaits