P32 - FISH & BOAT, April 2019 Lure Fishing What a Classic By Brendan Pollard media can affect what you use while There are certain things a manwill always remember and bythis, I don’t mean dates likefishing or give you a one track mind.The Barra Classic is a typical “clas-sic”, and it has worked well since daysaltwater barra that fell victimBrendan Pollard with another Valentines or birthdays, I mean fish- one, and still continues to work well ing dates or life long memories of for anglers all across Australia. The to the Barra Classic. great captures. For me, there is one range of classic lures, in both size thing that sticks in my head, and and colour, is huge, to say the least. that is my first lure caught wild bar- With so many choices to suit all ramundi. depths and water clarities. We have A few years ago, I started out my also been quite impressed with the journey of lure fishing for barramun- smaller models now available to re- di and wasn’t this a steep learning place some of the traditional larger curve for a beginner. It can become barra lures. quite overwhelming walking into a I couldn’t have asked for better tackle store and having endless op- timing opening up some newly pur- tions available to buy, and when you chased goodies: lures arrive one day, are new to this, its hard to decide and I’m fishing the next. Heading what lure is best to buy and buying out to one of our favourite haunts all of them just wasn’t an option. I around the Mackay Net Free Zone remember clearly picking out a few to see if the classics still had their hard body lures, little did I know mojo I remembered them for, and this was going to be the beginning this didn’t take long to show they of my life long tackle addiction, to be still are a great all-round barra lure. honest, what fishermen doesn’t love On this particular day, we never shopping for new lures or tackle. It boated any large fish, but these lures reminds me a lot of my partner and accounted for several fish between clothes shopping. 500 – 800mm and this alone can be a My love for barramundi fishingbunch of fun. We found the 100mm came through the old faithful Barra 3m diver to be the flavour of the day, Classics, armed with a $100 bait cast twitched around the heavy structure, combo and tray of Barra Classics, I with the floating action they were set out on the hunt for this elusive practically snag free. Straight out of creature. It’s still clear as the day it the box these lures come armed with clearly hear the distinct rattle a clas- happened in my mind, rolling upall the fruit to handle the larger scalesic makes in the water. It’s pretty onto a creek filled with rock bars, fish, and it still blows me away how a obvious why they are such a winner This nice salty took a liking and sunken snags wondering where barra can throw a lure with 2 -3 sets in the dirty water, were most lures to the slower floating model. to start. A few hours had passedof trebles hanging off it, but I guesswould go unseen or heard. Even at when a sudden thud was felt radi- this is how they come to grow so big. a slow roll, the action in these lures ating from the rod tip and through With the weather playing havocis enough to attract any predator my whole body, and I soon came to on Central and Northern Queens-that may be in search of there next realise I was hooked up to my first land the last few weeks, it left me feed. In particular, a recent trip to barramundi. At this stage, every pos- little time to work these lures and lake Kinchant, a short drive west of sible thought of what not to do went give them the full potential they de- Mackay, had us pulling our hair out through my head and not too longserve, but two trips on the salt werewith the barra being shut down and after, a nice 85cm model had been had with some great results eachnot taking a liking to any of our of- secured in the landing net. The feel- time proving that they are not only ferings. A last attempt at securing ing no fishermen will ever forget, a lure that’s great for the Northern a barra was made before we had to their first ever barramundi. Territory but also here at home in head for home and a white 100mm This day and age, with so manyCentral Queensland. Some littleclassic was tied on. The fish were options of lures it can be quite easy tips we found with these lures was to coming through on the side image to get caught up using one type or change the split rings and trebles out in droves and not playing the game, brand of lure and never change. If for heavier options to slow the float and everyone knows how frustrating you’re anything like myself, you will rate down slightly, which helpedthis can be! After a short period of have cupboards full to the brim with keep the lure in the strike zone for using the classic and a couple of en- lure options, and sometimes thea longer period. Note, I use the wordquiries were made, in which one fishAlthough we didn’t secure any fishout of the box it’s no denying that planning and selection of lures for “change” not upgrade, as straightin particular ‘boofed’ the lure as itin the net, we were happy to finallythey would handle even the nastiest a trip can take just as much work from the box these lures are well and was pulled from the water. This was have raised some interest and get us of predators such as Spanish mack- as heading out for a day’s fishing. truly equipped to handle all sizes of sure to get the heart rate up, and the excited. It’s been a long time since erel and other pelagic and estuary It wasn’t until chatting with a few fish. other a short time after jumping off, we tied a hard body on to troll, but species. friends over beers that I realised I Something has to be said aboutsending the classic sky high. We putfor us back in the day, this whiteAfter this short period of throwing had a tray full of Barra Classic lures the vibration and rattle these lures this sudden change of interest down classic was one of our go-to trolling the classics, it brought back many I had neglected for so long. It’s fun- put out. It could be felt through to the rattle and vibration these lures baits in both the fresh and salt. fond memories and made us wonder ny how certain influences like social the floor of the boat, and you can put out under the water. They are a very simple lure to use why we had ever stopped using these on the troll and is as easy as tying lures on a regular basis? These lures Typical NFZ barra now abound around on a loop knot and throwing it out genuinely are a ‘must have’ for any the back a few metres and waitingkeen barra fisho in Australia. It won’t the Mackay region, which means only onefor that well-known thud and firstmatter if you like to troll or work thing....There’s even more fun to be had withbig run. Don’t limit these lures tosnags, these lures will have you con- the Barra Classics in the future. only barramundi though, straightnected to a barramundi in no time. Barra Lollies. This barra engulfed the lure without hesitation.