Your ABT essentials

[Nath_18]

Well as the ABT rounds are getting oooh so closer I’m starting to ooooh so much more nervous and excited.

I have been working out what gears going and what gear will still be needed for the Glenelg round.
So fare I have my rods & reels covered. I have my Money covered. I have accommodation and food covered BUT I don’t have all my terminal gear covered.

I've spent the last few days making up a list of essentials such as leaders, Main lines, Lures, Trebles & split rings, Jig heads, pliers, Life jacket (I’m a NB) but I still feel I haven’t got everything covered.

So what are the main items that I need to have covered for Tournament fishing that I shouldn’t go into a comp without?

Cheers, Nathan

[Traveller]

Well from last year ABT Glenelg I would put a dry pants and decent spray jacket with hood...................

[Nath_18]

Thanks Trav. Iv pretty much got those covered..Ill be after some Columbia pants though. And maybe a decent hat :D

I was going to ring Simon Goldsmith up about being your non-boater soon, If its still alright with you could you send over some details so he knows who to double me up with? thanks for that!

cheers, Nathan

[Traveller]

Nath,

Simon Goldsmith knows me........... Just say Glenn from SA.

Also I would put hand towels of course........................

[the_hide]

Pack your camera.

Where did you end up getting your accomodation Nath ?

Im booking mine tommorrow. I just need to get the livewell situation sorted (currently don't have one).

[Nath_18]

The camara goes in before the fishing rods do :D

I worked my acom out the other day :D It takes allot of your back when thats done!

cheers, Nathan

[the_hide]

Yeh Ill get the accomodation done tommorrow and then get stuck into the livewell.

[Dave W]

Plenty of water, otherwise you feel like crap come the afternoon ;)

Something else to think about is what ruler you use. The ABT guys measure on 'Alvey' brand plastic rulers. I know at a few rounds last year guys were measuring their fish on Fisheries tapes to be just on 25 or 26 to the fork (depending on the venue) only to have them knocked out at the weigh in.

[Nath_18]

Dave thats something I thought would be handed out at the breifings? Those groovy orange ones with the lip on the end that you can push the fishes nose up to look pretty good. Where do I get hold of one of them.

Cheers, Nathan

[Dave W]

At certain rounds last year fisheries gave out the tapes, but the Alvey ones can be sourced from almost any tackle shop (or K-Mart) for a few bucks - well worth spending :)

Personally, the ABT should get a branded batch done up (you can commission them I believe) and make it part of the tourney kit, no questions then.

While we're on the measuring subject, if you get a fish that is 1 or 2 mm undersize turn it over and try again. Occasionally you'll find a fish measures longer on one side than the other, something to do with better muscle formation on one side (sort of like us being left or right handed). I always turn them over if it's close - it has saved me on three fish to date that were needed for my bag, and one of those was the Glenelg last year.

[Nath_18]

That is an awesome trick Dave! I doubt I would ever have though about that!

Ill have to test it out next time I’m out!

An ABT pack in general would be nice. Say a show bag with a half decent map with rules regs ect...but then I suppose that’s what the briefings for???

Cheers, Nathan

[troy-the-boy]

And don't forget your self :D :p . Various jig head weights in lowest gms and worm hooks. Don't forget the Crabs. Eco gears HB's as well. A pillow would be handy as well Nath :p :D .
Troy

[yellow door 1]

Whats the deal with the scents you are allowed to use in these comps. Can you make your own. And are home made lures accepted.

[flathead_boy]

i dont think u can make your own scent

[swoffa]

Originally posted by Dave W
While we're on the measuring subject, if you get a fish that is 1 or 2 mm undersize turn it over and try again. Occasionally you'll find a fish measures longer on one side than the other, something to do with better muscle formation on one side (sort of like us being left or right handed). I always turn them over if it's close - it has saved me on three fish to date that were needed for my bag, and one of those was the Glenelg last year.

That's interesting Dave.

What's the ruling there? If the fish measures 249mm first then 251mm when flipped over is it legal? Or does the first measurement count?

[the_hide]

Yellow Door I think the scent things always a bit of a line call. I think that it has to be commercially available and can't have been living (not sure of the specifics here). I've got a bunch of scents that are commerically available and I know are made from the real thing, ie bass yabby etc. I won't be taking these.

It does get a little grey however since I make my own plastics when I can be bothered and theirs nothing stopping me throwing my oil based scents into the plastic during the pour process. Again I won't be doing this because it doesn't feel right.

Im probably going to get my scents "approved" prior to the event.

Its always a grey line since I know one tournament I remember reading starlo used Yum spray, and Yum claim to make their scents from the real deal originally.

[Dave W]

Originally posted by swoffa
That's interesting Dave.

What's the ruling there? If the fish measures 249mm first then 251mm when flipped over is it legal? Or does the first measurement count?

As long as you can demonstrate that it's legal length, no worries. If it's suspect and you know which side was longer (if it's actually checked :rolleyes: ) measure it that way. And if the bloke on the ruler measures it he can be very quick to toss an undersize fish (quite rightly) just be sure to pull him up.

As for scents, the agreement was for commercially available ones I believe.

[BIG PETE]

Dave W
thats very interesting turning the fish over i would never have thought there would be any difference



BIG PETE

[Bear]

More to do with girth Pete.

[Baz]

A lot of non boaters will have looked at this for ideas so as a non boater at Glenelg last year and a non boater a lot of the time socially I will add a few bits from experience.

I take:

2 stormy seas inflatable lifejackets, 1 is a yoke style for hot weather, the other is a full coat for typical Vic weather. Pick the one for the forecast. Advantage is you end up wearing them all day.
3 rods prerigged

Plano 1233 tacklebox, this has 3 removeable draws at bottom and room for several small boxes in the top. I've added ali clips to the side which hold large pliers, small pliers and braid scissors. On top I've pop rivetted an Alvey fish measure and a small whiteboard where you can record fish lengths by number if you get to the upgrading stage in a comp, and dont forget the whiteboard marker pen. Have several large clips for tagging your fish in a livewell, just slip in the top fin. Bushy gave me those tips a while back, he thought of it after tossing an upgrade that wasn't and not all boats have seperate or divided livewells. Tackle box has your lures, extra leader rolls, chain lure retriever, scents, split ring pliers, spare terminal tackle, small scales, knife etc.

Small backpack with hand towel, drink (me its a 1l thermos to keep the caffeine up), a sandwich, lightweight waterproof jacket with hood (in case the forecast is wrong), sun gloves, last minute soft plastic purchases (just in case you lose the first 500 in the Plano), spare socks (I hate wet feet), camera, ashcan if you are a smoker, polaroids, tissues to clean your glasses and probably a few other things I cant think of now.

And of course the kitchen sink.

Photo is the Plano with Ali loops

[Baz]

I forgot the most essential things, pack a sense of humour because you will need it, be willing to learn and most important, buy your boater a drink and offer to help pay for fuel at the end of the day. Most will accept the drink but not the fuel money.
Had to put that in because I'll be a boater one day when I upgrade the tinny or downsize the runabout or get rid of both and get a poly.

[DAGGA]

Hrmmm how much should i pay the boater? and will the boater supply life jacket?

[bubba]

Dagga,
The boater MAY have a spare life jacket but it is your call to provide one.

As for the fuel money take a rough guess.. 5 or 10 bucks is a good start.. I have never said yes but feels great to have it offered

[DAGGA]

Ok thanks.
I wasnt really sure how much a boat costs to run so i didnt really know how much to offer.
As for life jacket i think im ok....

[troy-the-boy]

Or you can offer to buy your boater a beer or 2 after the weigh in. It's a good way to get to know differant people on the circuit as well.
Troy

[DAGGA]

Yer...
They should have a meeting place to have dinner the night inbetween the 2 days of the comp to help people get to know eachother.
How much do people think they will need for Accomodation and any other exspences for the comp other then buying new gear for the comp itself?

[dantheman]

A friendly open mind.

ohh and the fishing gear of course, and lip balm for wind burn

[DAGGA]

What kind of life jackets are we ment to wear?

[Bream Addict]

mate dagga im pretty sure u have to have to have a pfd 1 , i prefer the ones with a rip cord cause they are less bulky, but it costs a bit get a fresh cannister after every use

[Mim]

You will find everyone will be at the Nelson Pub on the Fri and Sat night's of the comp.

We had a ball there last year. The pub also puts on a great dinner. If they are doing the roast...go for it!!!

The Glenelg comp is one of the friendliest comps I have entered. My boater on the Sun still can't get over that I took a handbag on his boat, but there was no way I was gonna leave it in our room at the pub. LOL.

Just go with an open mind and the desire to have fun and it will be great. The fish were pretty shut down last year, but that didn't matter because of the company.

Wish we were going to be there again this year.

If any of you end up with Stu or Wayne give them a big wet sloppy kiss from Mim :D :cool: :D

Cheers

Mim

[Stephen Wilson]

the only problem i can see Mim is if you take your hand bag and your boater compares his handbag to yours then you know what will happen...........he who has the biggest hand bag wins ...us boaters are all the same got to have the biggest fastest best anyway couldnt help myself :D :D

[Mim]

Normally I am a boater Steve.

Just when we headed East to SA and Vic, was too hard to take the boat with us, and JP and I would have fought over who was going to be the boater.

At least in WA a very good friends is lending us a boat to do the 2 ABT rounds, and I think I will leave my handbag at home, so there will be no fighting.

Cheers

Mim