Garrick on spoon

[gavin erwin]

This is my biggest Garrick so far, small I know but i'm getting there. Got it on a S bend spoon in the Kowie river. Any tips to catch the big ones?

[CLS]

Well done, try a chisel nosed plug on the surface, (you cannot order the size).

[gavin erwin]

Thanks CLS Ive got one or 2 of those, I think Ill give it a try.

[MZeee]

Lovely fish that gavin, Iv yet to catch one...
No Offense, but I read something here on ultimate about not holding the fish suspended from its mouth, apparently it can damage the spinal column.


Can anybody confirm?

[gavin erwin]

Good to know MZeee I didnt know that Ill be sure to hold it the correct way the next time thanks.  

[Gregf]

Live mullet and you do not need wire trace for Garrick

[MZeee]

Good to know MZeee I didnt know that Ill be sure to hold it the correct way the next time thanks.

No Prob bro, we are all here to learn and i didn't know either until very recently, that's what makes this site 


here's a link,


Apparently smaller fish can be held vertically by the mouth like small bass, however larger fish should be held horizontally.


http://www.recycledfish.org/safe-angling/catch-and-release.htm


   for that superb catch

[gavin erwin]

Thats great info thanks guys, you learn something new everyday!!!

[tackle whore]

never hold a leerie by its mouth like a bass also never hold a big fish by its tail either support it under its pecs while you hold its tail  horizontal for a quick pic also makes for a better pic as well  [ esp if you lean a bit back and you straighten your arms a bit but you never heard that from me !!]

[carll]

never hold a leerie by its mouth like a bass also never hold a big fish by its tail either support it under its pecs while you hold its tail  horizontal for a quick pic also makes for a better pic as well  [ esp if you lean a bit back and you straighten your arms a bit but you never heard that from me !!]

Hahaahahahaha ! 

[gavin erwin]

Thanks for the advice TW I might be heading down for the sardine fun next week so hopefully I be able to get some pics on how to hold a fish correctly!


I also used the "holding forward trick" for my garrick, its actually only 10cm
Na it was actually about 40cm.

[pieta]

Why would any one want to take a lying photo? Staightening your arm to make a fish looks bigger? That is why the pics in the mags does not corespond to the waight given. Enjoy the fishing while you can. If you do it to brag and fool people to think the fish was bigger, rather get your self another sport. You are fishing for the wrong reason.

[Lenny]

Gavin get a couple of Nylon plugs , Chizelnose plugs long time fish catcher . or rapala skitter walks ,  storm Chugbugs , and my favorite ZARAspook .


The chiselnose plugs tend to sink , so your retrieve will have to be faster to keep it on the surface .
but with Skitter walks , and Spooks , they float , you can twitch them , and pause them often you will find that working your lure a bit slower , gets the smash .
Remember , if you get a take , missed take , or swirls  behind your lure , dont slow down your retrieve , speed it up .Leeries are clever , and know when they chase a meal , the meal just doesnt stop whist being chased , the tries to get away .
[size=78%]A bit of support under the fish while possing for a pic is a must . [/size]

[gavin erwin]

Fantastic thanks Lenny thats some great advice, Ill try put it to use and see what happens.

[Debbie]

Great info there Lenny.  What size spoon/plug would you suggest ?

[Lenny]

Great info there Lenny.  What size spoon/plug would you suggest ?

Well good Question , I for one like to get away with the Smallest Chizelnose I can find , you getthem from 3/4 ounce and up , I prefer the Predator plugs as the have a channel in them . But really any chizelnose works , My favorite colour and hands down the most popular amounst my buddies , are a the Pale pink  , not the lumo pink .


Zara spooks comes in 4 sizes , Baby spook very small and light hard to cast ! Zaraspook, the old favorite , and the Super spook , the big one , I would suggest , a normal Zaraspook , as the super spook is a bit to big . all of them has a walk the dog action , and Leeries go bossies when they see them .


Chugbugs also 3 sizes , I like the middle one , with the Rattle called a rattlin chugbug . but its bigger brother works too , on a slow retrieve .


BUT the best is to go with the rod you are fishing , no use fishing a 1 ounce lure , with a rod rated 2 to 4 ounce .
Another thing you guys can watch out for is sometime the LEeries vommit up thier last meal , have a look at what they are eating , 90 % small fish , Stumpies , mullets ect . try to match your offering with the size and colour the fish are feeding on . If you look closely to mullets and Stumpies they have a yellow line/spot on thier bodies ...
 Dark days/ lowlight /cloudy days , fish darker colours  Golds ect ,
Bright , clouldlessday , fish bright , colours , with lots of shine ,or just fish your spoon , just under the surface . 


I am seriously thinking of leaving the mother city to be able to enjoy this type of fishing more !


Tight lines

[MichaelK]

Live mullet and you do not need wire trace for Garrick

i fully agree with greg, live bait is the best. Live mullet put out is dynamite boet.
 
I see you are fishing in an estuary, so throw a cast net for your mullet and then put your live bait out in the surf close to the river mouth.

[gavin erwin]

Great info thanks Lenny I  will be joining you on that one day when Ive made all my money in Joburg

[Debbie]

Thank Lenny, I have a few Zaraspook ( coming from a bass background ).
I need a few Chieselnoses and Chugbugs then 

[Lenny]

Thank Lenny, I have a few Zaraspook ( coming from a bass background ).
I need a few Chieselnoses and Chugbugs then 

Yes , actually years back i fished the river with my bass rod and reels , and bass lures ha ha ha Some of the lures , you have to chance the splitrings and hooks , as the freshie hokos rust quikly .I have caught some many bass and Leeries and Elf on Spooks , Even now when i go into a shop see a spook i dont have i Buy them . ust have 30 or so ...
Some of the Spooks come with proper hooks but i just dont trust the crome plated one on the Spooks .


Remember the skitter pops and skitter walks too . you can also try flutter sticks , by storm , a small suspending jerk , an minnow type pure wil produce , lipped lure do work , too , big Shad raps are well know for taking their fairshare of leeries and Elf , the lure that dive deeper works too but you get snagged up , and most of our rivers has got this terrible green grass/snot and fish dont bit a lure covered in  grass and muck ... with the Shadraps , i start my retrieve , pause it , this give the lure chance to float back up again , lots of times this is when you get a strike . this is also a good way of cover a certian section in the water . The problem with ost bass lures is that you tend to mess them up pretty quik , as the Elf chows the paint job ... needless to say I will rather have a chewed up lure in my box than a shiny one not get me bites ...
Thers some excellent threads by Tommo , with pics and less typos ... worth reading them all .