{"id":197578,"date":"2017-12-11T14:26:44","date_gmt":"2017-12-11T04:26:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=197578"},"modified":"2020-08-09T15:48:27","modified_gmt":"2020-08-09T05:48:27","slug":"storms-make-fishing-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/12\/11\/storms-make-fishing-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Storms Make Fishing Fun!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
The sunsets on Boondooma are sensational … there’s not many better ways to finish a day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

December 11, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Matthew Langford<\/strong><\/p>\n

The hot weather and afternoon storm build-ups are creating some awesome opportunities for big Bass and Yellowbelly.<\/p>\n

With the onset of summer, this weather pattern is quite common and it really brings the native fish on the bite.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re an avid troller, from now through to February is the best time to dust off the deep divers and head to the South Burnett’s dams to get among some great native trolling action.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Boondooma<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

When the warmer months arrive and it’s hot, the Yellowbelly and Bass like to position themselves in a zone called the Thermocline which is generally at a depth of 18 to 25 feet. <\/strong><\/p>\n

This zone is the water the fish find the most comfortable, where the temperature is just right to sit in while it’s hot upstairs. It’s also full of the little critters they love to gorge themselves on.<\/p>\n

With the majority of the fish sitting in this column of water throughout the dam, it opens up the doors for some fantastic fishing opportunities.<\/p>\n

If I want to target Bass, the first places I\u2019ll look are the deep water off any prominent points. I\u2019ll use my sounder to find the fish sitting in that optimal depth. When I\u2019m happy that I\u2019ve found a good concentration of fish, I will pull up and begin casting 3\u201d to 4\u201d soft plastics rigged with a \u00bd ounce or 5\/8 ounce head.<\/p>\n

With a big long cast over the areas where I’ve found the fish, I will let the jig head sink 7 to 10 seconds and begin a slow retrieve back to the boat with a couple of twitches mixed in. The same can be done with a 12 or 18g Norries spoon.<\/p>\n

Continue this technique until you start to feel a few taps on the plastic or spoon. When you feel a tap it’s important to keep that slow wind going until you feel weight on the line. Slowly lift the rod tip until you feel the weight of the fish.<\/p>\n

At this point the fish will know its hooked and make some great runs back down into the deeper water. Keep your drag fairly loose so that the hook doesn\u2019t pull on the way back to the boat.<\/p>\n

Using this method over the holiday period will account for some big Bass on Boondooma.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Craig and Rob had a cracking day on charter, throwing spoons to Bass positioned at 20 feet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The timbered arms of Boondooma Dam are holding good numbers of Bass and Yellowbelly.<\/p>\n

The fish are holding very close to structure so you\u2019ll need to get your lures in as close as you can to get a bite.<\/p>\n

Look for spindly timber, or big trees out in the middle of the arms.<\/p>\n

Lures of choice for this scenario are 5\/8 or 3\/8 Bassman Spinner baits, \u00bd ounce jig head rigged with a 3\u201d soft plastic and any sinking lipless crank bait. Give your lure up to five seconds to sink down and start a slow wind.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to make sure that you have a lure retriever with you as you WILL get snagged on the trees occasionally, but if you\u2019re getting snagged you know you\u2019re in the thick of it.<\/p>\n

Fishing close to structure, I use 14 to 20 pound leaders so I have a chance if a fish rubs the line through trees. Otherwise, if I\u2019m in open water I\u2019ll decrease my leader size to 6 to 10 pound as I\u2019m less concerned about a fish dragging me through trees or any structure.<\/p>\n

Trollers are picking up some great Bass and Yellowbelly trolling around the deeper sections of the dam, targeting those suspended fish.<\/p>\n

Make sure to have plenty of deep divers handy, and some 5\/8 Bassman Spinnerbaits. Any lures that dive 15 to 20 feet will be the ones that get you onto consistent fish.<\/p>\n

Bait fisherman are consistently getting among a mixed bag of fish up in the timbered arms of the dam using worms and fresh shrimp.<\/p>\n

It may even pay to move to the main basin and let your bait suspend under the boat in that 15 to 25 foot range.<\/p>\n

Drifting with the wind is a great way to cover water with your bait under the boat. Eventually it will cross paths with a hungry fish or two.<\/p>\n

Redclaw numbers are also starting to pick up with the hot weather, so make sure your pack the opera houses if you\u2019re coming out for a day or two.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lake Barambah<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

With a similar pattern to Boondooma, Lake Barambah is producing some great fishing as well. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The fish are sitting in that 15 to 20 foot range and are very willing to take anything that is placed in front of them.<\/p>\n

Because Barambah is a shallower dam you can target more areas and use a bigger variety of lures to catch a few natives. The Bass are responding well to 3\u201d soft plastics, \u00bc blades and 3\/8 and 5\/8 spinnerbaits.<\/p>\n

Some likely areas to target are the large flat area in front of the main dam wall, the Quarry and wide off Bass Point.<\/p>\n

On a recent fishing charter, we targeted the lake’s Bass with a \u00bd jig head rigged with a 3″ soft plastic and caught dozens of Bass and Yellowbelly. We targeted areas that were 15 to 20 feet and had rocky edges or a drop offs adjacent to them.<\/p>\n

I found the bigger fish were tight to the drop-offs, and waiting for bait to swim over. Areas like this are prime ambush positions for native fish, so don\u2019t forget to give areas like this a go next time you\u2019re out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Maddie and Lane with a nice variety of fish on a recent charter on BP Dam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bep, 82, had a great day on BP Dam catching a few Bass on 3 inch plastics rigged on a \u00bd ounce jig head<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trollers are catching some nice Bass and Yellowbelly trolling over the quarry towards the dam wall as well as adjacent to the steep rock wall on the left of the dam just before Bass Point.<\/p>\n

Bait fisherman are consistently catching good numbers of Yellowbelly and Bass, anchoring along the steeper edges of the dam. Best baits have been fresh shrimp and worms.<\/p>\n

Redclaw are patchy but I have heard of some good numbers coming from the dam.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Park News<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The fish stocking for both dams is still very much alive and well with another massive stock of Australian Bass – 56,000 – put into Bjelke-Petersen Dam recently.<\/p>\n

Boondooma Stocking Association also released 82,000 bass into Boondooma a couple weeks ago, so it\u2019s a great boost for fishing in the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s great to see our stocking associations working hard to make this happen because without them we don\u2019t get to catch the fish that we really love chasing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Members of the BP Stocking Group and a group of eager young helpers release Bass into BP Dam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Don\u2019t forget to book your site for the New Year\u2019s celebrations at Boondooma Dam.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s fireworks display will be a cracker! And to top it off when you get to enjoy your holiday with great fishing, water sports and beautiful sunsets.<\/p>\n

I reckon you would be mad not to come out and enjoy your break.<\/p>\n

On a final note, I have just started up my own fishing charter business on BP and Boondooma dams.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like a great day out and all the info and knowledge to catch Bass or Yellowbelly in our two great dams, make sure you give me a call on 0408-658-592 and I\u2019ll be happy to take you out for a great day’s fishing. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Until next time, tight lines and bent rods!<\/em><\/p>\n

[Photos: Matthew Langford]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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