FISH & BOAT, February 2019- P17 Fishing From previous page Casting amongst the lilly pad is probably not the best way to catch a barra however. Using TT Snakelockz jigs with their swivelling heads If a sizeable one comes along, wrestling it out of the tends to result in more saratoga staying attached – that’s maze of stems becomes a major problem. Even the if you can extract them from the underwater obstacles! smaller models can sometimes tangle the lure and pull free quite easily, so if old Pink Eyes is on your list, it’s probably better to find a suitable open stretch and try some trolling. Many experienced fishers use an electric motor to work their lures, keeping any noise to a minimum to enhance their strike rate. Both hard bodied and soft plastic lures can be trolled, usually at idling speed. Many experienced fishers use an electric motor to work their lures, keep- ing any noise to a minimum to enhance their strike rate. Using a sounder to locate where fish may be sit- ting is another smart move as those areas can be tar- geted by lures trolled at the appropriate depth. In these days of side scan sonars, that task is being made very much easier. One other regular inhabitant of Corroboree Bil- labong is the estuarine crocodile, in fact, it’s reputed to be the most heavily populated waters for that icon- ic reptile in Australia. No visit is complete without sighting a dozen or more of these fantastic creatures, some of them usually over 5 metres in length. Just be sure to keep your feet and hands inside the boat at all times and no matter how hot you feel, DON’T go swimming! One of my most vivid encounters there was com- ing across an ‘old man’ buffalo, obviously a veteran of a few stouches with his compatriots as he’d lost a chunk of one of his trophy set of horns. The buff seems totally unconcerned when I came over to take a couple of happy snaps but quickly dissolved into the bush when the camera started clicking. Those special moments topped off an unforgettable day on the Bil- labong. So, I’d suggest if you haven’t been to Corroboree Billabong yet, make sure you put it on your bucket list. But, more importantly, make sure that next time you’re out fishing, take a good look at what’s hap- pening around you and enjoy the full extent of what nature has to offer. I can guarantee that your fishing trips will never be ‘boring’ again! Author Dave used a plastic frog to entice this fish to eat. Catching a few fish was just part of the ‘holistic’ fishing experi- ence such places as Corroboree provide – and make you want 7.3 Metre Cat to come back for more! Any ‘togs this size is certainly This custom-built power cat has twin 140hp worth a huge grin! Master rod Suzuki outboards with long range fuel tanks builder and NT local, Larry in place, providing 540 litres in total. It is built Lockwood with a beautifully with all non-rot materials with a solid glass marked Corroboree Billabong fish taken while casting weed- in the layup. The top is made from glassed less soft plastics amongst the over structural 80kg foam. It has a toilet and lily forest. shower with a main double bed and storage bins. Lights in the cabin and a kitchen sink with cold water tap. Navigation with Ray- marine 10” plotter sounder and radar, marine radio and AM FM radio with down light in the The Tri hull 4.5 is resin infused with vinyl ester resin and allconsole. Rear deck light and large storage kill bins, one with insulation all round. Electric glassed over and overall weight is a very light 193kg. Thisanchor winch with s/steel anchor. All safety gear on board. Trailer is a full breakaway sea place. Max people is four and max HP is 60hp. It is a very link type and will need a vehicle with three-ton towing capacity. A Noah Thompson design well. The engine and boat can be towed on a unbraked and custom built by Sandy Straits Marine. trailer making it an all-round cheaperboating option. Built to last with all non-rot materials.