pw-bream
09-02-2003, 06:31 PM
Yesterday was intended to be an exploring and prospecting for bream trip.
My trip began with a drive to Ocean Grove, I parked the car and bashed my way through heavy tussocks and mangroves to a small tributary of the Barwon River estuary, the water was a bit soupy looking and the tide was running out. I fished a stretch of a couple of hundred metres until further progress downstream was hampered by large, muddy channels that were too difficult to cross. The water may have been completely fishless for all the results I got, not even a nibble on my 65mm jelly prawn coloured soft plastic grub.
I returned to my car and drove to Breamlea. I parked adjacent to the bridge on the road to Torquay and began a trek upstream along Thompsons Creek.
I fished some shallow areas where weed beds looked like a likely hiding spot for fish, and I fished many deeper holes, particularly where there was timber from downed trees in the water. Not a touch. Then at one particular area I got a few hits, but no hookups. I changed to a smaller grub in a clear salt and pepper colour on a 1/32 oz jig head. Following a tip I got recently I pulled the grub up over the jig head leaving just the hook eye out. I fished on around the snags and began to get some more hits. I saw a small bream or three near some weeds in clear area close to shore. You beauty I thought, finally some more bream to add to my tally.
After missing a few more hits I connected solidly to a fish, but my excitement was short-lived as a small Aust Salmon was the culprit.
More working of the grub in the deeper areas between weed beds and close to snags saw more small Aust Salmon chasing the lure. Finally I was right up to the first weir and the end of the fishable estuary section of Thompsons Creek. Alas my intended quarry, Bream and Estuary Perch were not in evidence. I worked my way back to the car, casting at likely spots, but no more hits were forthcoming.
It was now lunchtime and I went to Barwon Heads with the intention of fishing the Sheepwash section of the Barwon on the rising tide. When I arrived at the Sheepwash boat ramp there was still some water movement as the tide continued to fall.
I donned my rubber boots and slogged off downstream through the mangroves, nearly losing one of my boots when I missed my footing and went down into a deep, muddy drain channel.
I soon landed a Mullet and a further small Aust Salmon. By now the tidal flow was almost stopped, and the fishing went quiet.
When I left at three o/clock the tide was about to start flowing in and I think the fish activity would be likely to pick up again. Alas it was time for me to go home. So there I was, breamless and slightly sunburnt and very tired from the hard walking conditions and long hours of standing and casting. I'd had a good day and now have some more likely bream spots thoroughly reconnoitered for another visit in the future.
My trip began with a drive to Ocean Grove, I parked the car and bashed my way through heavy tussocks and mangroves to a small tributary of the Barwon River estuary, the water was a bit soupy looking and the tide was running out. I fished a stretch of a couple of hundred metres until further progress downstream was hampered by large, muddy channels that were too difficult to cross. The water may have been completely fishless for all the results I got, not even a nibble on my 65mm jelly prawn coloured soft plastic grub.
I returned to my car and drove to Breamlea. I parked adjacent to the bridge on the road to Torquay and began a trek upstream along Thompsons Creek.
I fished some shallow areas where weed beds looked like a likely hiding spot for fish, and I fished many deeper holes, particularly where there was timber from downed trees in the water. Not a touch. Then at one particular area I got a few hits, but no hookups. I changed to a smaller grub in a clear salt and pepper colour on a 1/32 oz jig head. Following a tip I got recently I pulled the grub up over the jig head leaving just the hook eye out. I fished on around the snags and began to get some more hits. I saw a small bream or three near some weeds in clear area close to shore. You beauty I thought, finally some more bream to add to my tally.
After missing a few more hits I connected solidly to a fish, but my excitement was short-lived as a small Aust Salmon was the culprit.
More working of the grub in the deeper areas between weed beds and close to snags saw more small Aust Salmon chasing the lure. Finally I was right up to the first weir and the end of the fishable estuary section of Thompsons Creek. Alas my intended quarry, Bream and Estuary Perch were not in evidence. I worked my way back to the car, casting at likely spots, but no more hits were forthcoming.
It was now lunchtime and I went to Barwon Heads with the intention of fishing the Sheepwash section of the Barwon on the rising tide. When I arrived at the Sheepwash boat ramp there was still some water movement as the tide continued to fall.
I donned my rubber boots and slogged off downstream through the mangroves, nearly losing one of my boots when I missed my footing and went down into a deep, muddy drain channel.
I soon landed a Mullet and a further small Aust Salmon. By now the tidal flow was almost stopped, and the fishing went quiet.
When I left at three o/clock the tide was about to start flowing in and I think the fish activity would be likely to pick up again. Alas it was time for me to go home. So there I was, breamless and slightly sunburnt and very tired from the hard walking conditions and long hours of standing and casting. I'd had a good day and now have some more likely bream spots thoroughly reconnoitered for another visit in the future.