Braided lines are great for lure and soft plastic anglers as it gives them the ability to impart more action on the lure and better detection for strikes and snags. Braided line is also a great asset for anglers fishing deep and fast flowing water. The reduced line diameter gives the angler the ability to fish with lighter sinkers as the line has less water resistance. Also since the line has little or no stretch bites are easily detected as the line will not absorb such inputs.
When using braided lines you have to always use a mono leader. This leader acts as a shock absorber as well as protection against abrasion. The leader should be as transparent as possible. To achieve this you should use fluorocarbon monofilament, this material has the same reflective index as water so it becomes close to invisible.
When choosing a fishing line you tend to get what you pay for. If you plan on using your line only occasionally and your not that serious purchase a cheaper line, if your going to use your line often and are a serious angler purchase a good quality line.
There are many different line characteristics. Supple or soft lines are a preferred option of bait anglers as they give the ability to more naturally present a bait. More rigid lines are great for lure and soft plastic angles as they give the angler the ability to more responsively work a lure and detect strikes on the sink.
When un-tangling braided lines it is better to tease a knot out rather than pull it out, if a knot is tightened in braided line it can be virtually impossible to untangle.
Go into any tackle store and the hundreds of different lures on display can be very confusing. Where do you start and what do you look for.
Firstly lets think about what you want to fish for. There is no point trying to catch a 1 kilogram fish on a 6 inch lure, so if you are chasing little fish try little lures. Little lures will catch both small and large fish. Now lets think about the fish we are chasing, are they surface, mid-water or bottom feeders ?
If your fishing for Australian Salmon it’s a good assumption that they will be feeding on the surface or mid water, so you would choose a surface or mid water lure. Now if you were fishing for a bottom feeder like Flathead you would choose a lure that is fished on the bottom, lures like deep divers and soft plastics are perfect for these applications.
Now what do the fish you are chasing eat? If your chosen species eat yabbies a yabby or Crawfish lure is a good choice. For example Yellow-belly eat Yabbies so a Yabby pattern is a good choice. Now if your after a Trevally a baitfish style of lure is the best choice.
When lure fishing here are a couple of great tips. When fishing in clean water use natural colour lures, when you are fishing in dirty water use bright colour lures. Match the lure colour to the water. Also on bright days bright lures are best.
Spoons: are metal lures shaped in an egg, oval or rounded fish shape. Used for Trout, redfin and fresh water natives as well as flathead, tailor, salmon and pike in the salt. Large spoons are also very popular with Spanish Mackerel and Kingfish anglers.
Spinners: Are lures with a rotating metal or plastic blade(s) that spin around a central metal shaft. While most spinners are small some larger models are made for Murray Cod. Spinners are normally small and very effective on all fresh water Natives as well as trout and Redfin. Recently Spinner Baits have come onto the Australian scene. Spinner Baits originated in the United States and are very popular with their Bass fishery. A Spinner Bait is a V shaped lure with a rotating blade and a lead headed jig covered with feathers, plastic or a soft Plastic lure. Spinner Baits are very effective on all Australian freshwater native fish in both tropical and southern waters.
Slices: Are metal lures angularly cut out of lengths hexangular, square or circular metal rods. Slices are predominately used by salt water anglers and are designed to be retrieved at high speed. Slices are very productive on Tuna,Salmon, Tailor, Kingfish and Mackerel.
Lead Lures/ Slugs: Slugs are made out of a lead alloy or lead and are pencil or Knife shaped. Slugs are most effective when they are cast and retrieved at high speed. Lead slugs are designed to imitate a small fleeing baitfish. Lead slugs are predominantly used by anglers chasing Tuna, Mackerel, Queen fish, Salmon and most other pelagics. The key to success with lead slugs is matching the size of your lure with the size of the baitfish the fish are feeding on.
Jigs: While jigs were traditionally just oversized lead slugs, now days jigs represent a number of different forms. Forms of jigs include lead headed flies, lead-headed soft plastics and also the traditional form of oversize lead slugs. Jigs can have a number of different hook combinations from single hooks to trebles. Jigs can range in size from just a few grams right through to half a kilogram. While jigs were once traditionally used only in deep water, today with the increasing range and diversity of styles there is a jig to suit nearly every popular angling species. If a suitable jig is moved in the correct region in the water column very exciting fishing is possible. As a tip vary your action and retrieves to find the most popular for the day.
Squid Jigs are a type of jig that is specifically designed to catch squid. There are two distinct types of Squid Jigs. The first type is the Bait style squid jig. This jig is characterised by a long steel shaft that that has a set or two of very sharp barb less prongs. A whole fish bait of a Whiting or pilchard is threaded onto the shaft. The second style of squid jig is the Yo-Zuri or prawn imitation jig. These jigs are very popular with squid anglers and are made out of cloth, wood or plastic.Squid jigs range in size from one inch through to six inches.
Bait Jigs or flasher rigs are multiple hooked rigs dressed with a combination of luminous beads, tinsel, feathers, cloth and/ or soft plastic lures. While flasher rigs are typically used to capture bait fish such as Mackerel, Herring and Trevally, they are also popular in larger sizes for larger off shore reef species including snapper, morwong and trumpeter.
Plugs: Are deep-bodied diving lures with a bib that controls the lures action as well as the lures diving depth. Usually of timber or plastic construction, Plugs are sometimes call Crank-baits. The term Crank-bait refers to the action in which the lure is retrieved, the lure is literally cranked through the water with the reel. Plugs are productive and popular on all Australian freshwater and estuarine species including Barramundi, Cod, Bream, Saratoga, Perch, Trout, Flathead and Bass.
Minnows: Are a timber or plastic slim baitfish profile lure that also has a bib. As with Plugs the bib on the Minnows also control the lures depth and action. Minnows are designed to imitate baitfish like mullet, pilchards, sardines, white-bait, blue-bait and mackerel. Certain Minnows are designed to be retrieved in a jerking motion. These lures are popularly called Jerk-baits. Minnows vary in size from just a couple of centimetres right through to models exceeding 30 centimetres. Minnows in their respective sizes will catch nearly every popular Australian species.
Pre Tied Carp RigsPoppers: Are surface lures that are made out of wood or plastic. There are many different types of poppers including fizzers, bloopers and chuggers. Poppers are designed to imitate a startled or injured bait fish on the surface of the water. Typically a floating lure with a concave, flat or scooped head large poppers are predominately used in the tropical waters while smaller models are popular with fresh water native anglers and now also bream and whiting fishermen fishing the shallow sand flats and weed beds.
Lipless Crank-baits: Are deep bodied lures that typically have a loud internal rattle. Lipless crank-baits have no bib and get their action from the flat section on top of the lures head. Lipless Crankbaits are very successful when used on estuarine and freshwater species.
Trolling/ Kona Heads: Often called locally Pakula style lures, Trolling Heads are made out of metal, fibreglass and resin and have a skirt made out of plastic, tinsel or vinyl. These lures are used in game fishing and regularly catch Bill fish, Tuna, Mackerel, Wahoo and King Fish.
Soft Plastics: Are in all essence artificial baits. Typically plastic in construction and attached to the line by a jig head Soft Plastics have revolutionised Australian fishing as we know it. There are two parts to a Soft Plastic and these are the Tail and the Jig head/ Hook. The tail is the part of the lure that gives lure its action. The tail of a soft plastic is at times scented and even in some cases completely biodegradable. While the tail controls the action the Jig head and Hook control the lures position in the water column and sink rate. Soft Plastics are typically sold in 2 parts, the Jig Head and the Tails. This is a great advantage to the angler as they can use the same Jig Head on different Tails and vice versa. Soft Plastics also can represent a great value for money as you get a number of tails and jig heads per packet. It should also be advised that when you fish with Soft Plastics you will get your best results when you angle in a fashion that is a combination of Bait and Lure fishing. Soft Plastics will catch species from Tarpon to Tuna and salmon to Sailfish.
Traces and leaders are used as shock absorbers, abrasion protection and main line protection. Monofilament or Mono leaders should feature Fluorocarbon co-polymer construction, high abrasion resistance, high knot or crimp strength and high tensile strength. Mono leaders should be used when fishing with braided line, this gives the angler extra abrasion resistance and shock protection. A leader should be used when ever an angler has a hook attached. This gives main line protection, more natural bait and lure presentation as well as shock protection. Mono leader material is a better choice over a wire leader as Mono leaders give a more natural presentation, are less visible and more shock absorbent. Wire leaders should be used when chasing Toothy critters like sharks and Mackerel. While coated multiple strand wire is normally the choice of anglers there are occasions when an angler will require a thinner gauge wire. Single strand wire is often used by anglers live baiting for mackerel.
Swivels are used for a number of functions. The primary function of a swivel is to prevent line twist as a result of a rotating bait, lure or rig. Swivels are also used as a joining mechanism to join main line to leader, and as a separator and restrictor to stop sinkers from moving on to a rig or too far up the main line.
Swivels are sized the same as hooks with 14 being the smaller end of the scale and 4/0 being the upper end of the scale.
Swivels are sized the same as hooks with 14 being the smaller end of the scale and 4/0 being the upper end of the scale.
There are a number of different types of swivels. Types include Barrel, Torpedo, Box, Crane, Snap swivels and 3-Way swivels.
Barrel swivels are the cheapest and most popular swivels. Barrel swivels are not the most effective in reducing line twist but they are a very effective component when used in a running sinker rig, where the swivel is used as a separator and joiner. Barrel swivels come in two colours, Brass and Black. The brass are fine in most applications but if you are fishing in areas where fish like Barracouta, Barracuda, Mackerel and other toothy predators live, a black swivel is the smart choice. The reason behind this is the fact that a shinny brass swivel can look like a baitfish and attract the unwanted attention of hungry toothy critters resulting in bite-offs and lost fish. Black swivels are very useful in clear water and when targeting shy fish, this is once again due to the minimum amount of “flash” that they produce.
Crane Swivels are stronger, smaller and more effective than Barrel swivels. The only disadvantage to the Crane swivel is the fact that it more expensive than the Barrel swivels.
Torpedo swivels are typically used in Game fishing and heavy-duty applications. Torpedo swivels turn more freely than other swivels of a similar size and come in
3-Way swivels are great in dropper style rigs. 3-Way swivels are great for preventing a dropper twisting around the main line. The reason behind this is the 3-Way swivel’s ability to enable unbalanced bait to spin in the water and during casting. The major downfall of a 3-way swivel is the possibility of the swivel arm breaking under pressure due to metal fatigue.
Snap swivels are mainly used by lure anglers as the Snap mechanism gives the angler the ability to quickly change lures while not having to re-tie on the lure. Snap swivels do reduce the action of a lure and its buoyancy. Snap swivels are great for offshore anglers frequently changing rigs. I personally use Snap swivels in a dropper or paternoster rig to attach sinkers in fishing locations where there is a large amount of tidal flow. Snap swivels also come in Black and Brass finishes, and colour selection is the same as that used for Barrel swivels.
To reduce line twist when trawling some anglers employ Keels in association with swivels. For heavy-duty salt water applications heavy lead keel sinkers are employed where in fresh water applications like light spinning and slow trawling for trout, clear plastic or celluloid keels are used. Keels are not required for all trawling and spinning applications but should be considered when fishing with free spinning lures.
There are two types of Rings, Brass rings and Split rings. Brass rings are used in much the same ways as Barrel swivels. The advantage of Brass rings over Barrel swivel is the rings lighter and stronger for its size. This gives the angler the ability to more naturally present baits. Split rings are made of steel and are used to attach hooks to lures.
Ezy-Rigs are used in running sinker rigs and give the angler the ability to change sinkers regularly. Ezy-Rigs come in 2 sizes, small or large and 2 colours Blue or Red. There are many imitations of Ezy-Rigs on the market these days they come in a range of sizes and colours, they are sure to do the job, but the original is always the best.