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Make your own bait pump
From: Michael Norton
Well, as you all probably know yabbies can be one of the best baits around. I'm a young kid and not really wanting to spend $50+ on a bait pump and more on a sieve, so I took matters into my own hands... The first thing I did was get a cheap (under $5 from Bunnings) hand pump plunger - although this got me some yabbies, it is small and somewhat ineffective... so i took it a step further. I decided to make my own yabbie pump, and i just wanted to share my success with anyone who wants a cheap yet effective pump.
Step 1. The first thing to do is get a piece of PVC piping. I used 50mm pipe, which works well, but you may differ from this. I cut it to a length of 65cm, which is what I preferred.
Step 2. The next thing I did was attach a fitting over the top of the pipe which has a screw on it, although I had one lying around you can get one from Bunnings or any plumbing store. The screw then has a cap which screws on to seal it up.
Step 3. Next thing I did was cut out a 50mm circle with a boring drill from the offcut from the pipe. Then I did the same with one smaller size (around 45mm) and glued them toghteger. I then got a rubber seal (45mm) and glued it into the ridge formed when the 2 different size circles are together to make the plunger.
Step 4. I then got a 65cm long metal thread peice (10mm diamater) and drilled a 10mm hole both in the top fitting and the plunger made earlier. Then insert the thread into the hole in the top fitting and down the pipe onto the plunger. I used 2 bolts on either side of the plunger to secure it.
Step 5. Next I cut a 15cm piece of alloy pipe for the handle. Dowling wood or some other materials will also make a good handle. I then secured the handle with bolts tightened either side of the alloy/wood.
Well... Now you're pretty much ready to pump... if you find the instructions sketchy, feel free to email me and I will send you some pictures or some extra help. Also a good way to make a sieve it to buy a $2 metal sieve and attach some foam from Clark Foam and Rubber with cable ties.
Hope it helps you get some super bait!
(20 July 2004)

Steve's cheapest berley ever
From: Steve
Go to the supermarket and purchase the cheapest brand of bread crumbs. Place the contents into a larger plastic bag then add all the old used cooking oil that you would use to fry fish or whatever then shake the bag and toss it around so the contents mix well. After it is mixed evenly add small amounts of water then keep adding until you get a firm dough but not soggy! This is the best berley for gars, mullets and others because it's oily and you don't spend a cent for tuna oil which costs $8.
(20 July 2004)

Great Shark Berley
From: Michael Bealham
Go to your local fish supplier and get about 3-4 buckets of fish heads and guts. Then put them all through a mincer. Add some tuna oil and lots of old bread crumbs to bind it all together and then freeze it in 10 litre tubs. Then when you want to use it put the frozen tubs in a fish scaler bag and as the berley defrosts a steady stream of berley will come out and last a long time. This should attract any sharks in the area as well as many other species.
(28 November 2003)

Collecting worms in advance
From: Wrinklybob & Jackson
During my early morning walks through the park at the bottom of my street I collect earth worms which seem to emerge during the night and then get standed on the bare earth of the walking tracks. They seem to be most numerous after rain. They finish up in my compost bin and will come in useful for bait when the grandson visits.
(28 November 2003)

Getting the worms to come to you
From: Jack
If you want worms for bait and you don't want to buy them at the shop I've got a really easy way you can collect lots of worms quickly All you have to do is mix 4 tablespoons of biodegradable detergent with 3 litres of water and mix well. Take your mixture to a grassy patch that you would expect to have lots of worms. Pour your mixture over a 60cm x 60cm area and wait. In a few minutes lots of worms will pop up and sit on the surface. After that it's only a matter of collecting them and putting them in a small container with some dirt. The reason this works is because it creates a film over the grass which stops any oxygen from getting down into the soil, therefore forcing all the worms in the immediate area to come and sit on the surface.
(28 November 2003)

Brad's live bait trap
From: Brad
This is a great way to catch live bait such as minnows or mullet. Get a clear (not opaque) juice or cordial bottle and cut a square about 75mm on the side of it and then place sand and rocks to keep in on the bottom. Finally place bread in it to attract the bait. Sometimes this catches more live bait than you could ever use so please return some of the bait, only take what you know you will use.
(28 November 2003)

Giving berley some sparkle
From: Jonny
When making up your berley, add some silver and gold glitter into it. This makes the aggresive fish such as barracouta, salmon and snapper very excited. I've seen a school of 'couta jumping out of the water for ten minutes straight after I put in a handful of glitter filled berely.

Cheap berley buckets
From: Nas Foscarini
Most people have a Napisan container sitting around the house somewhere. This is a good sized berley bucket with a few holes in it but you have to make sure the lid is secured. Make sure it is cleaned thoroughly.
(9 July 2003)

Using leftover shrimps
From: Tom Schneider
If I have any shrimps left after a day's fishing, I take them home and soak them in the oil from sardines or tuna. Place the shrimps in an empty butter container and pour some oil from the sardines or similar stuff over the shrimps and either freeze or put in the bait fridge for next time you head out fishing. The oil seems to add to the scent of the shrimps and yellowbelly just can't resist them.
(9 July 2003)

Homemade fish oil
From: Matthew
Whenever I use a tin of fish, sardines, mussels or whatever, I keep the juice contents in a 2 litre bottle in the outside fridge. Next time I go fishing I soak the berley with this instead of water. Much better than tipping these juicey contents down the sink like I used to, and much better than using plain water to break up the berley pellets or bread or whatever you may use. You can still add tuna oil if you wish, but I have found this oil works a treat.
(9 July 2003)

Rabbit is best bait for freshwater crays
From: Paul Landmeter
When fishing for fresh water crayfish the best bait I have found is rabbit. Some people soak rabbit in vineger to clean the blood out and make it a better eating rabbit but if you do this the crayfish will not touch it.
(20 June 2003)

Trevor's berley recipe
From: Trevor Stewart
I made up a berley mixture before I went out to Werribee fishing for flatties and whatever else it turns on. It starts with some chook pellets, smelly cat food, mollasis and tuna oil all put together in a home made berley bucket and trust me it worked a treat.
(5 June 2003)

Any pork in a storm
From: Steven Garland
When I was a boy, a long time ago, I was fishing at the mouth of the river which runs to the bay at Mt Martha, the Balcombe Creek, it runs beside what used to be the Mt Martha Caravan Park. We ran out of bait one day and used some stale pork sausage and caught two of the best bream that I have ever seen, I am going to give it a go again at the Patterson River, this is no fishy story, it worked.
(27 May 2003)

Berley idea for freshwater
From: Jordan Kelly
When you are freshwater fishing for trout, redfin, yellowbelly and all other freshwater species this will work a treat. Get a film canister and drill a small hole in the top and in the bottom (keep the lid on). Feed the line throught the two holes and tie a basic knot to keep it in place (it should be about 5cm above your hook). Fill the film canister with berley. This will draw the fish directly to your hook instead of just into your area. Good luck.
(27 May 2003)

James' super berley recipe
From: James Anson
Super berley: prawn heads, tuna oil, cut fish chunks, vanila essence, little bit of cheese, pellets crushed and whole, bread crumbs and wheat germ, add water. Will attract most fish throughout Victoria and NSW.
(27 May 2003)

Berleying in the surf
From: Andrew
To help improve your catch when surf fishing, try these two simple tips for berleying. They really work well! Firstly, use a plastic net/bag for a berley off the beach (e.g. 2kg onion or orange bags from supermarket). Simply place a berley of cat food, pet mince and tuna oil into the bag and tie it closed with a long length of rope. Tie the other end of rope to a stake which is driven into place up the beach, and throw the bag into the waves. Secondly, you can use a small old sock, and place a handful of berley into it. Tie this onto the star sinker on a standard paternoster rig, and you will have the same smell as the berley you're using up the beach, but the fish can only eat your baited hooks. Re-dip the sock into the berley or tuna oil before each cast.
(27 May 2003)

Cat food berley recipe
From: Craig Cummings
Recently I have made a berley from a mixture of cat food (pilchards) and bread crumbs. Mix it together and it goes like playdough. I had the idea the other day to take out in the boat some small rocks. While out there I simply moulded the "playdough" around the rocks and dropped them overboard. It went straight down to where I was fishing rather than drifting off. Good for hand lines or small boat rods where you don't cast off a long way.
(9 May 2003)

The ultimate Yarra River berley
From: James Anson
If you fish the Yarra River for bream, mullet, snapper, flatties and mulloway this is a great berley mix. Get a bucket of chicken pellets from a pet food store and 8 litres of cheap tuna oil. Use one quarter of the pellets (crush them up), add one pack of wheat germ and one pack of bread crumbs, add water, stir until gooey so you can throw it in a ball, add vanila essence (few drops) and tuna oil. This is the ultimate Yarra River berley.
(6 May 2003)

Simple way to make cheap lures
From: Jonny
Here's a simple way to make cheap, cheap, cheap lures that work, expecially on barracouta when you need them for bait. Get a spoon and cut it where the head joins the shaft, drill a hole in each part and insert a treble hook. Then put a linking circle thingy on the other end and there you go. It's so easy, and they shine really well. Also, costs you basically nothing and will catch you fish!
(2 May 2003)

Freshwater yabbies
From: Tony
A fantastic bait for bream, perch, trout and bass is freshwater yabbies. 1" to 2" yabbies fished unweighted near snags become almost unbeatable. I have decide to share my secret and also sell them and delivery can be arranged almost anywhere. Please contact me on 0408 598 096 or tonydare1@iprimus.com.au if interested.
(16 April 2003)

Preparing solid berley
From: David Moore
A great way to prepare solid berley is to buy chicken pellets and mix them together with tuna oil in a bucket. When you think that the pellets are sufficiently coated, tip them out onto a sheet of some sort and leave to dry in full sun. Now you have berley that does not need to be mixed into some sloppy mess and you can use a bait sling shot to fire this lovely smelling berley out to where your bait is. This is great for fishing off a pier or shoreline but equally as good fishing from a boat.
(16 April 2003)

Making your own berley bucket
From: Brad K
When fitting out my smaller boat I realised I needed a berley bucket as I fished offshore occaisionally. Not wanting to spend big money on gear for this boat I looked at my alternatives. Going to Reece Plumbing I was able to buy a length of 200mm PVC pipe. This cost around $15. I cut this to a length that suited my boat and attached it to a simple bracket. I also purchased an end cap for the pipe (around $7) which I bolted to the bottom. I then drilled several holes in the bottom and sides. I then attatched this to the stern. The trick is to have this at a level that it has sufficient water coming into it, and when the boat rises over a swell, the contents drain out, dispersing your berley. A berley bucket that is strong and costs a third of what the professionally built ones do.
(16 April 2003)

Flathead bait for gummy sharks
From: Jonny
Use flathead fillets for catching gummy sharks, they are an awesome bait and hold the hook very well. They can withstand the nibbling of smaller fish and crabs, while still maintaining good presentation. If you are having trouble catching flathead, read down further and read the tip about using a fixed float and the bait about 1-2 feet off the bottom. I doubted this method, but tried it and it hasnt failed me yet. I'm advising it to everyone!
(16 April 2003)

Helping Bait Last Longer on Your Hook!
From: belinda
When using oily bait,such as Tuna or Sauries. I put my Tuna Fillet or Sauries on newspaper the night before and cover them in rock salt overnight in the fridge. Helps solidify the oil and smell in. Holds much better on the hook and doesnt go mushy quickly. Have caught lots of gummies using this method

Retrieving snagged lures when trolling
From: Peter Tremain
A cheap and easy to use method of retrieving snagged lures when trolling. Carry a strip of sheet lead anout 100mm by 150mm, the type used for roof flashing. When snagged, roll the lead sheet around the line and drop it down onto the lure. It will usually knock the lure loose. It is faster to use, particularly in windy or high current conditions, than many tackle retrieval methods sold in the shop, and far cheaper. Pete.
(25 March 2003)

Most expensive not always the best
From: Callum Lorkin
Next time you're at the local tackle store don't buy the dearest lure you can see - try a cheaper one, it will work just as well and you will save a lot of money and get great results. I bought a 50 cent lure and caught a barracouta 1st cast, I also got a flathead which weighed about 2 kilos.
(20 March 2003)

Add some reflection to your lures
From: Tom Brettschneider
I had some lures that had never caught a fish, I glued some reflective tape (from our local guide post) onto the side of a few lures. Well it certainly made a difference, I caught fish on the reflective ones and nothing on my old favourite lures. Try it and see the difference.
(13 March 2003)

Minimise lost strikes with stinger hooks From: Harry When fishing with spinnerbaits, you may have noticed a number of strikes which fail to hook-up. By adding a "stinger" hook to the spinnerbait you'll miss a lot less fish. These can be purchased through most good tackle shops in small packets for a couple of dollars. This 18kg Murray cod is a classic example and was only hooked by the stinger hook. Caught on a TT's 3/8oz purple spinnerbait. (4 March 2003)

Small hooks for trout
From: Phill Woolf
Recently went fishing for trout for the first time and one thing I learnt which I found amazing was the small hook size. We put 3 or 4 maggots on an extremely small hook and low and behold I caught my first two trout weighting between 1kg to 1.5kg which thrilled me. We put them back to fight another day and to excite another happy fisherman!! Thanks to Tony Cates for the handy tips!!
(4 March 2003)

Add some sparkle to your lures
From: Harry
When using soft plastic lures like Squidgees or Sliders, you can add a bit of sparkle to your presentation by tying a couple of strips of "crystal flash" to the head of the jig. It can really make a big difference when fishing for bass in the fresh or flathead and bream in the salt. It can be bought from the fly tying section at tackle shops.
(26 February 2003)



Soaking bait in tuna oil
From: Brennan
Before I go fishing for sharks, gummies and elephants in Western Port I get a plastic bag, put my pilchards or squid in and then I tip tuna oil into it and let it sit there and soak for a while. Then when we go fishing I pull out the bait which is now scented and when I use this I am usually in for a good day's fishing. This method does not just work for gummies, it works for other things as well.
(26 February 2003)

Two interesting tips from David
From:David Gurry
Here's a couple of beauties that'll help you catch 'em. Firstly, uncooked chicken fillet with a touch of aniseed essence on it will make it irresistable to fish. The essense is hard to get hold of because apparently kids used to drink it to get drunk. Secondly, if you want a cool, cheap lure that works, get a top off your stubby, fold it in half and clip a swivel on one end and a 3 pronged hook on the other, and there you have it. Works better with American bottletops as there's a variety of colors!
(24 February 2003)

Try a gas light for eels
From: Nathan
Next time you're fishing for eels try using a gas light, I dont know why but they bite like crazy. Also, chicken is a really good bait for eels.
(9 January 2003)

Fresh pippies are always better
From: Ange Kenos
My son and I love to visit beaches like Brighton where we collect pippies fresh for our fishing the next day. Fish prefer them to the iced ones.
(7 January 2003)

Potato for catching yabbies and shrimps
From: Harry
Looking for a no mess no fuss effective bait for your yabbie pot or shrimp trap? Try part boiling a potato in the jacket for a few minutes and place in the keeper section away from the sides as normal. Yabbies and shrimp are essentially vegetarian and you'll not have to put up with handling smelly meat. Very effective bait for collecting a feed or live baits.
(10 December 2002)

Getting the best from bibbed lures
From: Adam Crossman
When using bibbed lures always allow the lure to run freely on the line. E.g.: tie the line to the lure using a snap swivel or by tying a loop. This will allow the lure to use all of its action in great depth. And also work your lure by twitching the end of the rod tip when trolling or spinning. This will give the lure a far better action and help you catch more fish.
(10 December 2002)

Aftershave and bait don't mix
From: Joe Garro
Just a quick tip for you all, as some of you guys might already know. When going fishing never put on aftershave, it's a proven theory that once you handle bait after putting on aftershave, you will not attract any fish!. We used this theory whilst fishing waters where your average catch was 100 fish a day (all released). Over 4 days we used this theory and on the days we put on aftershave, we caught nothing.
(10 December 2002)

Keep you bait in the shade
From: Jesse Dyke
Just a handy tip I leant from my dad: always keep your bait in the shade, not in the sun.
(6 December 2002)

How to make your own soft plastics
From: Peter Frawley
(see Peter's tip here)

Unsnagging your lure, part 2
From: Riley Davison
Next time you are trolling through deep water, and find yourself snagged in the depths, before snapping the line or going for the big dive (which certainly isn't recommended), find the biggest sinker you can or the U bolt that attached your boat chain to the car. Then attach it to the line so it is able to freely move into the depths, push the lure down, release the hooks, and in turn it will bob up to the surface. This little tip has saved me countless numbers of lures snagged while trolling for cod in the muddy Murray, and those stump-jumpers sure aren't cheap! Riley.
(3 December 2002)

Look after your bait
From: Riley Davison
A fish's attraction to bait is partly visual, but mostly has to do with taste, smell and touch. For this reason, contaminants such as sun cream, insect repellant and some kinds of food such as bananas, onions and oranges, can turn fish off. Fresh and live baits work best because they secrete various chemical signals that stimulate fish to feed. These natural chemicals are, however, labile; that is, they become dispersed and destroyed on contact with air and water. Dead or cut baits lose their attraction very rapidly, while live baits continue to exude chemical strike triggers for a short time but as fatigue and stress mount the production of these attractants slows down, so counteract this by constantly replacing live baits. Riley.
(27 November 2002)

Extremely cheap homemade lures
From: David Taylor
First make up some playdo (my mum makes it for me). Then in another pot, bucket, etc., throw in fish scraps, left over anything that comes from the sea like prawns, pippies, pilchards, etc., and mash it into a soup (just liquid) and remove the solid pieces). Mix the playdo and the liquid together and then make different types of designs using the playdo and insert a long shanked hook in the middle. Then place in the sun to dry, the playdo will go hard (not in the oven because it will cook it). KEEP THE SOLID PIECES for later on. When you get to your fishing spot, chuck pieces of the solid stuff out as a berley. After a while start flicking in the lures and it is a sure way to catch a fish on a lure. I have caught salmon, tailor, flathead, trevally, barracouta plus many more.
(25 November 2002)


Spray you bait with tuna oil
From: Luke
I have a great tip for berley, I got a spray bottle and put my tuns oil in it, about 250 ml of oil and about 50 ml water. Just give it a spray over your bait or berley to give it a strong scent to attract big fish. I have used this method lots of times and have been successful with it.
(25 November 2002)


Keep your flies dry
From: John Kerford
Always remember that after catching a fish, a fly is waterlogged with fish slime which the fish seem to dislike. I read that fish like the scent of saliva, so I swish the fly in water, shake it off then wet it again with saliva, then dry it as usual. It really works great!
(25 November 2002)

Glittering berley attracts more fish
From: Dave Wheeler
This is a simple little tip to make your berley trail a little more attractive, all I do is add some silver and red glitter to my mix which is having some amazing results for me. There is plenty of glitter for sale that is bio-degradable so please make sure you choose one that will not harm our waters. Also in my berley mix of unused bait I add good quantities of bread crumbs and mashed potatoes, I find that the starch content is a real winner. Give it a go, I am sure that you won't be disappointed.
(22 November 2002)

Fish sauce is not just for cooking
From: Catherien Booth
Dip bait or lures in oyster or fish sauce to make them irresistible.
(11 November 2002)

Gummy shark tip
From: David Czerniakowski
Whenever fishing for gummy sharks use a berley cage and marinate your bait in tuna oil.
(6 November 2002)

Added noise will improve strike rate
From: M (Harry) Potter
When using soft plastic grubs like sliders and shad immitations, you can add a lot more noise to your presentation by inserting a small rattle into the body or by wiring or fixing the rattle with epoxy glue to the head or hook shaft. These small glass and BB rattles are available in the fly tying section of most larger tackle shops. The added noise will dramatically improve your strike rate, particularly when fishing for fish like flathead, bass and yellowbelly in discoloured water. These rattles can be used either with or without artificial scents. Work the lure with a mixture of actions such as small jigging motions with a slow retrieve. Shaking the rod tip for a few seconds at a time or a "burn and kill" action allowing several seconds for your lure to sink again.
(23 October 2002)

A super glue idea for mudeyes
From: Stroudy
When using mudeye for bait, use super glue to affix the mudeye to your hook. Blow dry the mudeye, place a small amount of superglue to the main body of the mudeye and attach your hook. Blow on mud-eye and hook to dry glue. This will enable the mudeye to stay alive in the water and swim therefore making a more attractive bait. This method is best used on a bubble float or other light float rig.
(10 October 2002)

Using scent on your pippies
From: Jo
When fishing the surf try rubbing some Halco catch scent on your pippies - great fish attractant.
(10 October 2002)

Unsnagging your lure
From: Jordan Kelly
When your lure or jagger is snagged hold your line firm and wrap a six inch strip of lead around the line. Make sure the lead can travel freely along the line without coming off. Holding the line firmly in one hand thrust the lead down the line. Hold the line firmly until the lead reaches the lure then let the pressure off the line. Most times the weight and speed of the lead hitting the lure removes it from the snag. Wind in and see the results.
(24 September 2002)

Two berley tips
From: Matthew Dalle Nogare
1. When you want to get a berley down deep when fishing for bottom feeders, try this. Fill a large paper bag with your berley. Tie the top of it closed with a long length of thin rope or fishing line, to which you have also attached a surf sinker. Drop the bag over the side of the boat or pier, feed down the line, and let it sink to the bottom. Make sure you hold onto your end of the line! Wait a few seconds, then pull sharply on the line. The bag will split open, dispersing your berley over the bottom, and you can retrieve the sinker and bag remnants. A paper bag is cheap, and most importantly will also be biodegradable and won't harm the environment if it breaks apart.
2. A good berley for larger predatory fish can be made using pet mince/liver from the butcher. At around $2 a kilo it is cheap and easy to chop up and blend with tuna oil and pellets, etc. I have found it works very well fishing the surf.
(24 September 2002)

Catfood berley
From: Edward
The best and easiest way to berley (tried and tested in Port Philip Bay only) is as follows. Stock up on home brand cat food in a tin and cheap stockings. (Don't worry what the check out girl thinks of you). When you go fishing empty a can of cat food into a stocking, tie it to a rope or line and throw it overboard - that's it. When finished simply tie up the stocking and left overs in a bag and throw away (in a rubbish bin of course). No mess, quick and easy and brings fish in their droves.
(12 September 2002)

Use a smelly net for more shrimp
From: Danny
When you go for shrimp try to make the net as smelly as possible, try using soap, dog food, eucalyptus leaves or whatever else you think is smelly enough to attract them. When I use this technique I always get about 20-30 shrimp in one haul. Hope this will help some of you.
(23 August 2002)

Attracting big fish
From: Andrew
Although I am very new to surf fishing, I have found that when using a paternoster rig, bait the top hook with a pippi or two and use a whole pilchard on the bottom hook. This seems to attrack the bigger palaegics, I think this comes about by the pippi attracting smaller fish, which the palaegic chases, but gobbles up your pilchard instead.
(21 August 2002)

Picture wire for securing bait
From: Lee Smith
Those of you who use fuse wire to secure bait fish to hooks may like to try this innovation of mine. Instead of using standard fuse wire which can tear the flesh, particularly if your bait has gone a bit soft, get hold of some multi-stranded picture-hanging wire. Separate the individual wire filaments and cut 15-20cm lengths of these to store in your tackle box. The filaments are much thinner and more flexible than fuse wire making it far easier to secure the bait to the hook. The 20cm lengths allow you to do a thorough job of it too, though it's up to you what length suits best. Try it - you'll like it!
(20 August 2002)

Best lure for trevally
From: Fisharoo
For all who want the best lure for trevally, well I can tell you the best lure is the Prawn Star. It has a great flicking action and is guaranteed to catch a large trevally.
(20 August 2002)

Tip for baiting with yabbies
From: Scotty
Live yabbies can be set with the hook through the second or third segment of the tail. This hooking process keeps the the bait alive for a very long time.
(20 August 2002)

Rigging freshwater prawns
From: Scotty
The key to using prawns is to present them so they attract the fish. The key is always to thread the hook through the back segment of the tail. With live prawns the hook can be passed through the side near the tail or through the first two segments of the prawn.
(20 August 2002)

Try blood worms as berley
From: Luke Sammut
When fishing in saltwater you can use blood worms as berley. Even frozen they attract big fish like snapper and big flathead. Luke, age 12.
(10 July 2002)

Effective way to rig shrimp
From: Michael Ketelaar
A great tip when using shrimps for estuary perch or bass is to pass the point of the hook through the 'horn' on the top of the shrimp's head. This way they stay alive much longer and are free to kick around and attract the fish.
(4 July 2002)

A berley tip when targeting mullet
From: Jo Delac
When fishing an estuary for mullet bring along some stale bread and mix this with some tuna oil. Throw it in a bit at a time and if there are any mullet around they will rise to take it (usually making plenty of splashing) indicating to you that they are there. Once you know that they are there it's as simple as throwing a bit of pippi or bread dough out under a float and a feed of fresh mullet will be yours!
(4 July 2002)

Making sandworms last longer
From: Alan McFayden
When using sandworms, if you want them to last all day and maybe a little longer, put them in container of water, preferable from the same area from where the bait was caught, but remember to change it before the water changes to a reddish colour. Another way to keep worms is to wet a hessian bag and also keep them covered and cool. If you leave them in a container with sand they will just be cut to pieces in no time.
(2 July 2002)

Fishing live baits for flathead and jewfish
From: David Palmer
I've had good success using a small treble hook (as small as practical) using one barb to hold the bait just after the tail ending and above the spine. My baits have been staying alive much longer and with the two other barbs protruding I rarely miss a strike. It still pays to give the fish some line with this method.
(2 July 2002)

Turn your Tassie Devil around
From: Michael Jones
Don't be backwards in going forwards, if you are fishing a shallow water with weeds, turn the Tassie Devil lure around and they run shallow. I use this in Lake Wendouree and it works a treat!
(2 July 2002)

Surf fishing Berley
From: Jim Sheppard
This tip was given to me by 7 times AAA Surf Champion, Keith Collins. An excellent way of berleying when surf fishing is to use an unsliced loaf of bread and some fish oil. First slice the loaf in half, then scoop out some of the bread, pour some fish oil into the loaf shell and replace the bread that was scooped out and put the top back on. When fishing place the loaf in an onion bag and allow the waves to lap against it, slowly dispersing the bread.
(3 June 2002)

Bread tip for trout
From: Bill Hammond
Next time you are fishing for trout (both types) try a piece of bread flake under a float near or on the bottom in still water. It does get results, my best was two browns and one rainbow, gross weight alive just over 10 and a half pounds, out of lake Wendouree in Ballarat.
(29 May 2002)

A handy backup berley!
From: Mark Williams
Next time you are packing supplies for that day trip, throw in a couple of large packets of "Twisties", both chicken and cheese. They crush up easily into fine crumbs or larger pieces and the chicken ones are nice and oily. They work really well on garfish and if the fish aren't biting they go well with a cold drink. Give them a try, you will be surprised...
(23 May 2002)

Avoid attracting predators when using berley for garfish
From: B. Parry
For all you people who occasionally fish exclusively for a feed of gars, I have found it is better NOT to use fish oils and fish frames in the berley as this seems to attract the odd predator. I have seen even the smallest of predatory species scare off large school of gars. Putting them off the bite indefinetly. My berley usually consists of bread and sometimes grain, with a floated maggot drifting in the trail. Always works a treat, especially off the piers around the Mornington Peninsula. This simple berley seems to occasionally bring a squid or two into the area at times as well... an added bonus if you have a jig handy!
(22 April 2002)

Chicken marinated in tuna oil
From: Paul Demertzidis
A very good tip I learnt recently is chicken meat marinated in tuna oil.Works well in the surf and I suppose it will work well in other varieties of fishing. When fishing in the surf always fish with a friend. It's much safer and much more enjoyable. Plus twice as many fish as well.
(27 March 2002)

In praise of the humble worm
From: Melissa Hansen
The use of a traditional worm works wonders. Try it one day and see!
(19 March 2002)

Another berley recipe
From: Chris Allchin
When making berley, instead of using pellets, use bread crushed up with vinegar, soy sauce and any herbs you can find. It's great for mullet and garfish.
(19 March 2002)

Berley recipe
From: John Didge
With most species, mixtures of chicken pellets and tuna oil will suffice. But in our waters I believe you can't go past a good dose of fish oil and fish pulp, as well as adding a few chicken pellets to make up the density and mass of the berley (bread is not a good berley as it expands 10 times its size when wet which then fills up the stomach of the fish, so then the fish won't want your bait). The simple recipe I have is to combine old fish frames and baits from my previous trip that are not so fresh, finely chop them in an old food processor (or mum's good one, but wash and put back before she finds out), add dry pellets and a small amount of water and tuna oil/fish oil if you wish. What happens here is the pellets absorb the fish oils instead of water, which makes for an more intense rich mixture. If you don't have the time or the equipment to take on such a task, for around $5 in Geelong you can buy a 3kg tube of fish pulp already made up.
See John's weekly report here.
(27 February 2002)

Novel idea for dead yabbies
From: Kirsty Young
If you have yabbies that have died, instead off throwing them away, cook them. This way you don't waste your yabbies and you can be sure that you'll get a bite or two.
(18 January 2002)

Carp bait for eels
From: Myles Kummrow
When eel fishing, go down the night before and catch yourself a carp, gut it, skin it, and chop it up into bait size pieces. Take it home and hang it in a tree for the night. When you go out the next evening it will be great for eel fishing because the smell attracts them, especially conga eels.
(10 December 2001)

Bait from berley for trout
From: David Russell
Take some of your berley such as trout berley pellets and grind them up finely. Mix this with flour, vegetable oil and water to make a stiff dough. Mould a small ball around your hook and fish in conjunction with your berley.
(11 October 2001)

Always check your trebles!
From: Mark Bolger
Before lure fishing, check the state of your treble hooks. Are they rusted, corroded or damaged? Nothing is worse than hooking a large fish, then seeing it break off. Catch and Release in another form!
      What material are your hooks made of? Even stainless steel hooks rust after heaps of use. It pays to keep your hooks in a water tight container, away from corrosive substances. Sometimes coating hooks in vaseline after Saltwater use prevents rusting.
      It pays to check your hooks before you fish every time. Also carry a sharpening stone or hook hone to touch up any 'soft' barbs or points. Hooks can easily become blunt after a long fight, or continous casting into woody or rocky areas. Place the odds on your side by being prepared.
(3 October 2001)

Garfish on fly
From: Mark Bolger
Garfish can be great fun to catch, for the youngsters and the oldies alike! Float fishing is an extremely effective method, but experimentation is fun and often works. They say fortune favours the brave, and they are right.
      I often fly fish for garfish from the shore. Clean, calm beaches are the best. Oliver's Hill, Frankston and Canadian Bay Beach are my favourite spots on the Mornington Peninsula. Basically you berley by throwing out plenty of bread and tuna oil. Within 5 minutes, the water wil be covered with garfish. I tie on a suitable looking fly, which is basically anything that floats. Red tags, bread flies, Royal Coachmans and the like all prove very effective.
      The best fly I have ever used is one of my own. I simply tie 4 or 5 pieces of gold tinsel onto a long shank size 12 hook and rapidly retrieve across the water's surface. It works fantastically, although a good session requires a few flies, as the garfish attack the fly with so much vigour, that the tinsel becomes loose and falls off.
(3 October 2001)

Try a Mr Twister for bigger flathead
From: Macca
Hey to all you flathead fishermen or women who are catching small undersized flathead! Try a Mr. Twister lure and you will catch big flathead and you will not be able to put your rods down without getting a strike. They sell these lures in Kmart and they are soft bodied lures and are pretty cheap too.
(2 October 2001)

Tips for Tassie Devil lures
From: Mark Bolger
With the ever increasing popularity of Tassie Devils, anglers are finding more unconventional ways to catch fish on these brilliant lures.
TIP 1: When using a Tassie for the first time, try taking the treble off and replacing it with a single hook. These hooks 'bite' harder, and become embedded easier. They are not as easy for the fish to throw out of it's mouth, and you will find you have a less chance of snagging weed, etc. Adding a coloured bead between the lure and the hook can help stop the lure pulling into the rig, and can act as a valuable attractant, especially on a sunny day.
TIP 2: When buying a Tassie-style lure, change the end you tie your hook on. I mean, change your Tassie around, so that the front of the lure now becomes the rear. The shape of the lure will give it a deeper broader action.
TIP 3: More on Tassie hooks. Some anglers are now putting two single hooks on their lures; one at the front of the rig, and one at the back. I suggest placing a red, shiny chemically-sharpened No.6 on, as it will serve two purposes. One, as a hook, two, as a fish attractor - redfin and trout love that redness!
Cheers, Mark.
(10 September 2001)

Catching elephant fish when fishing for snapper
From: Peter Jolly
If you are fishing for snapper and you find that you are getting small runs on your baits, go to a half or even a quarter pilchard bait and drop the hook size, most likey you will pick up a couple of elephant fish, they seem to hang around alot of the same areas as snapper do and perhaps swim with them at times. They have much smaller mouths so the bigger baits are harder for them to handle.
(27 August 2001)

Novel way to catch fresh Murray shrimp
From: Bob Grimwood
Many years ago (as most of my recollections are) I saw a young local on the side of the Murray at Yarrawonga pick up an 8-foot long fallen tree branch. Using it like a pitchfork he drove it into the weedbeed in the river. A few twists like picking up spagetti and he pulled it out. The weed he dragged from the river was full of shrimp. Next minute he was catching some nice redfin on fresh local bait. Was a new one on me and maybe a helpfull tip to other novices. Regards from Wrinklybob.
(23 August 2001)

Try a Muddler Minnow for trout
From: Bob Grimwood
The next time you're trolling for trout behind a Ford Fender or Cowbell and run out of live bait, try a Muddler Minnow fly. I have used the muddler many times to outfish my partner who uses mudeyes. A rough old fly tied with a few turkey feathers with a deer hair trimmed head does the job. Knock up a few and chuck them in the tackle box. They may save the day. Regards, Wrinklybob.

Add an extra hook to lures
From: Michael Ingleby
When using metal-slug/slice lures, try adding an extra treble hook, using a split-ring, to the eye at the 'head' end of the lure. I've found that salmon (and 'couta) will often go for the 'head-end' and miss the trailing hooks. This method will result in many more hook-ups. Good luck!

Sport with wrasse & parrot fish
From: Michael Ketelaar
Wrasse and parrot fish can provide excellent sport on lures, particularly Tilsan bass and minnow lures. Next time you are out rock fishing or bottom bouncing near shallow bommies, cast some lures around on a light spinning outfit for some excellent sport! A slow, jerky retrieve is ideal, just remember to have a tight drag or they will take you into the reef.

Saving your bait from the crabs
From: Jimmy Sheppard
A great idea when surf fishing and there are crabs around is to use a cork from a wine bottle cut crossways into 4 pieces. Make a small hole & thread this onto the line. This keeps the bait off the bottom and away from any crabs that maybe around. Some reflective tape around the cork can act as a fish attractor to enhance your chances.

Cast snapper baits away from boat
From: Michael Ketelaar
When fishing for Snapper, it always pays to have one bait cast well away from the boat, particularly in shallow water situations. This will make sure that the more shy fish are taken as well.

Vary baits for bream
From: Michael Ketelaar
Vary your baits when fishing for bream. Excellent results can be had in estuary situations when a variety of baits are used. Often sandworm, bass yabbies and peeled prawn will account for the majority of fish, but a properly presented crab bait will attract the larger fish.

Use two baits
From: Mark Bolger
When fishing for snapper, or any fish for that matter, it helps to have two different kinds of baits out. The key to finding the fish is to find what they are eating. Whole garfish, pilchards, fresh squid and silver whiting work well for the snapper. Somedays they will take all, somedays none. In a nutshell, be prepared to change. It oftens pays off. P.S. Pippies work very well on bream ;-)

Don't bother with jam!
From: Robert Sushames
Robert wrote in to request a fishvictoria.com bumper sticker and included this useful tip: "Do not use jam on pilchards for bait, it doesn't work!" ... thanks Robert!

Berley tips
From: Tom
Whenever you go fishing make sure you always take some berley of some form. Whether it be bread, grain, fish heads, etc., I always have better results using it. If in a flowing creek throw upstream but if in a dam or lake throw towards your bait, fly or spinner.

King George Whiting berley
From: Michael Ketelaar
When fishing for King George whiting it is always a good idea to open some pippies and throw these over the side to act as a basic berley. This will not only attract the fish to you, but also keep them there long enough for them to grab a bait.

Make your maggots last
From: Phil Saliba
Next time you purchase maggots for a day on the trout, sieve them out of the bran or husk mix the night before and add them to a powdered mixure of Rex Hunt Freshwater Berley and wheat hearts - around a 70/30mix does the job. By doing this your maggots stay active, don't sweat up and really attrack better fish on a more regular strike rate.



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