SA Footy

Well after subjecting myself to hours of frustration at the footy on Saturday ,I thought I should really punish myself and go fishing.
And once again after a 2 week break I hit the lake .
Thinking it would be pouring with rain left late morning and hit the water around 8 am.
I started down one side of the lake and walked and cast most of its length of beaches.To say the fish were staying home tucked up in bed would be an understatement.
So I walked back to the start and crossed the road and tried under the rail bridge. This was something I had promised myself to do when I bought my waders. Once again nothing and it looked to be dead low no water was pouring in from the lake.
So out I trudged and across the road to the other side of the lake.Like the other side I had a few follows from small bream and one different fish .But no hits touches or takes.
I continued on my way and met up with a SP fisher who I have met a few times .Now he was doing just ok getting the odd fat ST from shore.But I could not get out as far from the shore .
So after 2/12 to 3 hours of walking and casting I headed home the long cold slow fishing time continues .
Now what I did notice was the lack of Seaweed Beds .Many of the seaweed beds have or are dying .Not sure if its the weather but it is depriving the fish of cover .
So until next week when I venture forth in search of fish thats it.
I live in hope

Thanks Micky

Sorry you've had such a disappointing weekend so far

Is it usual for the fishing to go a bit quiet at this time of year or is it drought related ie less water = higher concentration of salts, minerals, chemicals off the land etc.

Regards
JAS

JAS wrote:Thanks Micky

Sorry you've had such a disappointing weekend so far

Is it usual for the fishing to go a bit quiet at this time of year or is it drought related ie less water = higher concentration of salts, minerals, chemicals off the land etc.

Regards
JAS

Thanks Jas but it was nice to get into the water again
And its salt water i am fishing .For Bream I find winter to be a slow time they are out further in the lake and down deeper. The last two times either the lake was not opened to allow water in or I just fished on a very low tide. The level was very very low .Some of my wading and I could not get over my knees.
Was dissappointing that nothing was around the bridge been wanting to try there for a fair while.
There is always next week

i think the fish heard of your frustration mickyj and hid under what ever cover they could find. enjoyable read and todays fishing story isn't bad either

magpie in the 80's wrote:i think the fish heard of your frustration mickyj and hid under what ever cover they could find. enjoyable read and todays fishing story isn't bad either

thanks mate

Jas,the estuary/lake system Mick fishes in is man made on swamp land.

Chekc out 'West Lakes SA' on Google earth or google it and read up more on the system.

Mick,I do a bit of bait fishing in there with my lad when weather and conditions permit and have just started to use some soft plastics which,much to my surprise have been rather successful,more so in shallow water of a beach as opposed to deeper water in and around bridges/deeper parts of the lake.

Might have to catch up with you at some stage in a couple of weeks,I have annual leave and will be getting down in there a bit.

Cheers,

Booney

Booney wrote:Jas,the estuary/lake system Mick fishes in is man made on swamp land.

Chekc out 'West Lakes SA' on Google earth or google it and read up more on the system.

Mick,I do a bit of bait fishing in there with my lad when weather and conditions permit and have just started to use some soft plastics which,much to my surprise have been rather successful,more so in shallow water of a beach as opposed to deeper water in and around bridges/deeper parts of the lake.

Might have to catch up with you at some stage in a couple of weeks,I have annual leave and will be getting down in there a bit.

Cheers,



Booney

You are right Booney I bought Waders to get further out in the lake .Water level was much lower than normal .and the chap with the SP's was getting further out than me .The main reason why he could catch them .
Was just nice to get out on the water again.
And I find it easier to fly fish from the beaches not having to worry about backcast etc .The draw back being less fish in some spots it was like a ghost town .The up note being a flock of pelicans was having a field day .

There is always next week .

Thanks for that Booney. Had a look on GoogleEarth...I must try to stop thinking of lakes as giant land locked freshwater ponds

Seeing how much bank/coast/edge (what do you guys call it) it has I think I'm going to have to send Micky out with a gps from now on to relay his co-ordinates...he could be anywhere in that lot

Regards
JAS

JAS wrote:Thanks for that Booney. Had a look on GoogleEarth...I must try to stop thinking of lakes as giant land locked freshwater ponds

Seeing how much bank/coast/edge (what do you guys call it) it has I think I'm going to have to send Micky out with a gps from now on to relay his co-ordinates...he could be anywhere in that lot

Regards
JAS

I have a simple rule JAS I stay North on weekends and during the week or on my RDO'S I might venture South . And south as far away from the rowing club on military rd I can get .
After my first attempt at the Rail Bridge I might try down there a bit more . And Jas thats in the Port river across the road from the lake .Harder to wade but I like a challange.

MickyJ,

I think the lower levels you have been experiencing of late are to do with the tidal movements at present. I have been studying them and over the last month the high tide in the morning is 1 meter less than the evening high tide. So at 8.00am for instance the going down of a lower High tide would mean by low tide 11ish no water would be going in or out of the lake, whereas later in the day there would be a flow. Of course these things change over time but something to think about.

Alaska wrote:MickyJ,

I think the lower levels you have been experiencing of late are to do with the tidal movements at present. I have been studying them and over the last month the high tide in the morning is 1 meter less than the evening high tide. So at 8.00am for instance the going down of a lower High tide would mean by low tide 11ish no water would be going in or out of the lake, whereas later in the day there would be a flow. Of course these things change over time but something to think about.

Funny you should say that Alaska .Was chatting with the SP fisher Sunday Morning and he said the high tide earlier in the morning produced no movement or very little .
There was a stage last year where the level didn't change or the gates didn't open .And if you are near the gates when the water is flowing out fish action or movement increases by a large amount.
And I would think I got to the bridge very late the water flowing out of the lake had stopped by the time I trudged across the road. Pitty because I put some nice casts near the rail pylons .
Next time I will attack the bridge first .I also think the easy to catch fish have moved on and its time for me to attack the fish hanging around the structures more so than in the easy to reach beach areas of the lake.
But yes something to ponder