FIVE RODS FOR FLATTIES

Every trip starts with a plan. When we chase flathead, it's often difficult to work out where to start fishing but in general the tide is the major consideration when it comes to working out where you are going to start fishing and where you are going to finish the day. In the decades I’ve been chasing these fish on lures I’ve seen constant and unrelenting change when it comes to lures, technology, rods and line. It seems every year we adapt our methods in attempts to improve our catch rates. Over time however, the major learnings are all about learning to read the water and work out where the fish are. It is no longer a simple business! Things can get very complicated when you stare into a box of 200 plus lures trying to work out which one will bring you joy.

Yesterday was windy and stormy. The plan was to head north and work a series of sand banks with broken weed near Jumpinpin. This area has been kind to us in the past, and is well sheltered from strong southerly winds. We arrived at the spot about an hour into the run out tide. Despite a few days of steady