P40 - FISH & BOAT, April 2019 Fishing Barra in a Kayak By Paul Chew - Line snips With the local waterwaysagain producing reason-able numbers of “man- leader- Net- Tackle bag (lures/pliers/snips/Catching barra like this one can ageable” sized barra this season, I - Camera Stick-Rear thought it would be a good idea to - Camera stick-Forward be a lot of fun from a kayak. run through the trials and tribula- - Tie downs tions of targeting barra out of the - Towel kayak. With Awoonga dam, Lake - Small esky-Water Monduran and Lake Lenthalls all - Waterproof box for car keys/ producing fish, some thought needs phone etc to go into the practicalities of kay- - Length of rope with buoy at- aking, especially on large bodies of tached to tie off water. Boat traffic is a major consid- The only other thing I need then eration, and for this reason, I tend to grab is whatever combination of to stay close to home and fish Lake cameras I am taking on the day and Lenthalls more than anywhere else, a couple of rods. Keeps it all nice, though the techniques below cansimple and easy. be adapted to most types of fishing. When I am getting the yak ready The kayak pictured in this article is at the dam, I always set everything my current platform; however the up ready to minimise time out of hunt for the perfect fishing kayak the water for the fish. In saying that, still continues. I bought this yak once in the net I normally right the to specifically address an issue I fish and give it a few seconds to had with the larger Lenthalls barra catch its breath so to speak, before a couple of seasons ago. With no bringing it aboard. Also, if caught on ability to steer my previous yak, I a lure with trebles I try and unhook was losing every second fish when it in the net over the side, as I imag- it towed me into the trees with no ine it would be quite painful being way to slow up, and the rudder does attached to a net full of thrashing indeed work for that, kicking it hard barramundi, not to mention the for- over, once a fish is hooked, pushes midable spikes on the fish itself. the yak sideways, creating drag and Another real issue while chasing in morning and afternoon sessions. RumbleB have got some good fish,throwing the hard bodies in the tim- enabling me to stop at least some of barra in the yak, is getting a barra The morning seems to be throwingwith the deep diving shad account-ber, and a lighter MH as a the fish. The trade-off with this one close to the yak while still “green”. up bigger numbers with the arvoing for barra and a stack of bass.bass/barra combo with 20lb braid is stability or lack there-of. It prob- You are much better off, if the loca- session throwing up the bigger fish. With all the weed in the dam, its and 30lb leader for the lilies and ably is a “perceived” issue, as I haven’t tion allows, to play the fish out slow- Mornings have started with surface sometimes hard to fish hard bodies, weed edges. tipped it over, but it certainly isn’t as ly away from the yak, as rods tend offerings with my go to so the TT Snakelockz ¼oz People often ask where to fish, and stable as my previous kayak, though not to bend under the yak that well, Bagleys Rattlin’ Finger Mullet ac- 4/0hook, with a 4” Diezel Minnowthe answer is simple, everywhere in it was considerably wider. That leads and when they break they go off like counting for some good fish as al- or 4” Swimmerz being the easiestthe dam has fish. Choose areas with into the other issue I have with my a gunshot. Additionally, you do not ways. These things are bulletproof, way to land a fish in the dam. the wind blowing into the bays in current ride, and that’s legroom, par- want a lit up barra jumping into the with one I lost recently having ac- Recently, I added a TT HD jigthe afternoons, and for early morn- ticularly when I am carrying quite yak, as there aren’t many places to get counted for 20 odd barra. Two dis- spin to this rig, and gave it to a mate ings, just work along any good look- a bit of gear, and then add 70cm of away other than over the side, and tinct retrieves (Or lack thereof) have who was up from Brisbane, and heing edges, keeping your eyes out for unhappy barra to the mix, it all gets that’s no fun for everyone. I recently been working well. First one I cast ended up taking it back off after 8 any pelicans or cormorants as there pretty uncomfortable pretty quickly. had one jump from right beside the out, give the lure two quick rips, then or 9 bass, as he really wanted a barra, will often be fish mooching along In saying that, it paddles awesomely, yak, and landed on my legs, with the just let it sit. You need to let it sit though I have had success on with them. Moon phase hasn’t been taking minimal effort to paddle long landing net thankfully stopping any until ALL ripples have gone, then the barra using it in the last couple a huge factor, in my experience at distances and has plenty of other spikes from penetrating. repeat. This has been the most effec- of trips also. It’s a good way to rack least, with fish coming on all stages good features, like a large rear stor- Hopefully the above gives you a lit- tive and is great while sipping your up good numbers of fish, just work- of the moon. As the water cools, sus- age area. It is hard to find a kayak tle insight into how I fish from the morning coffee. The second is just ing along the lily edges and slowpending small hardbodies will get that ticks every box for a few differ- yak, with the focus being on keep- a steady walk the dog retrieve with rolling it back out. Often the hits more interest than surface, though I ent styles of fishing. ing it as simple as possible, being set no pauses. A couple of sessions have will come within the first couple of do hope to target them in winter this I have culled my kit to what I con- up before catching a fish so taking a seen the fish follow along behind the winds of the reel. I have been trial- year on Frogz. sider to be the bare minimum that I couple of photos is fairly easy, lure for a couple of metres, then eat, ling two Okuma Cerros rods in the Tight lines, and let’s hope this can get by with, and store all of it in and safe, for all parties involved. but on this retrieve, I have found if yak for a while now, one heavy rod wind eases soon. a plastic tub, so it’s easy in, easy out A little about how Lenthalls Dam you stop the lure the fish loses in- with 30lb Fireline 40lb leader for Chewy and nothing gets left behind. is fishing. terest. I will list below what I keep in the This season has been a funny one, The other lure I have been using tub. with next to no fish seen prior to are the 4” Zman Frogz. At this stage, The current fishing platform with cameras set up. - Seat and padding Christmas in the local dam, how-they’re something I haven’t thrown - Paddle ever since then, every session has a lot, but results in the last few ses- - Lip grips seen a couple of fish at least. There sions have been good. Sub surface, - Pliers for de-hooking has also been a distinct difference the Bagleys MinnowB05 and Kayak fishing allows you to get in to some pretty tight spots, and that’s where you’ll find barra like this.