BIRTHDAY FLAT WITH DAVE AND THE S.A. CONNECTION.

Dave, Leo and Pete apparently understood all those location names from Bynoe and found 'Birthday Flat' and the fish...here is a report from Dave....

After the mob had cleared out on Monday, we had the opportunity to sneak out in the morning and fish a couple of spots that had boats on them on the weekend…I see why Lord Jim is on water by 4am during these weekends.

After my southern guests had been hearing me bang on about the addictive nature of sight casting to cruising fish on the Bynoe flats, they had the opportunity to see what it is all about and why we love it so much. We got to our preferred flat (Birthday Flat?) nice and early and within minutes had Barra showing interest in our offerings. While I stuck with my trusty collection of  'things', Leo and Pete were keen to use Gold Bombers that they had been talked into purchasing from enthusiastic tackle store owners. 

It's been such a long time since a hard body has been in my boat, I forgot how much of a pain in the arse trebles and environets are when mixed together. While I was busy getting Pete's lure out of the net, Leo would catch the next Barra and the process would start again. Somehow on the fourth Barra they both managed to catch the same fish on both of their lures. Although the Barra had been pinned by all six trebles involved, it released quickly and easily. The next 20min it took the boys to get their lures out of the net gave me a chance to have a fish. the Barra were playing the game, cruising around in small schools and while they weren't big fish (55-60cm), they were pretty aggressive and keen to eat. Overall the bite lasted about half an hour with half a dozen Barra caught and a few more dropped boatside side. Pete got his PB at 68cm.

Pete with a 'Birthday Flats' barra

Leo with another.

After all the talk of the Finnis firing on Sunday arvo we thought it would be a good opportunity to show the boys some more of the Territory. We quickly got off water before the tide dropped out, packed up camp and cruised down the Finnis to Three Ways by 12.30pm.

Sooties too

It wasn't hard to find the fish, but getting them to eat was a different story. Rat Barra would consistently come up from the snaggy depths to look, nose, nudge, sniff and do everything else a Barra can do to a fly …..but not eat. I tried a range of fly's, big ones, small ones, light, dark, shiny, plain, etc… for no luck. Leo and Pete were still on their Gold Bomber high and tied on the Stigs Gold Bomber Bendbacks and were in luck. They both caught some small Barra and Sooty's. I must remember to grab a couple of those Bombers off the Stig when I next see him, it's the only thing the fish were willing to eat. While it wasn't the 24 fish session that Cathie enjoyed the previous day, it was great to get back on the Finnis and be reminded how lucky we are up here. 

I can't recall ever sight casting flats Barra in the morning and then catching their freshwater mates in the afternoon. A big hats off to all who helped organise the sheep station stakes, it was a great weekend and it was certainly enjoyed by Leo and Pete who were made to feel very welcome by all the mobsters and of course the crew at 'The Shelter'.

Dave and the S.A. Connection.

NOTE: The 'Stig' is going to do up a post on his blog for his special 'Gold Bomber Bendback' you can see it and his reports on the blog at SWOFFINGNTWATERS    (A few fished the fresh after the presentation and its a good way to clean the salt off.)