Barra Another key feature that I look for when targeting barra is a back eddy, as they just scream ‘barra’ and fishing these back eddies has proven very successful in my local area. A back eddy is formed when the tidal flow meets a structure and is deflected off in a certain direction, creating a patch of still or dead water not affected by the current flow. Barra love to use this to
their advantage, so they can exert minimal energy. This is where timing is so important, as at different stages of the tide there may or may not be a back eddy, so learning to time your session for when the tide is at the right stage to form an eddy at your chosen structure is very important. I have purposely positioned myself at locations before the run starts to identify at what stage of
the tide a back eddy started to form in that location. In doing so, I was able to monitor just how consistently barra moved into that location once it had formed and the same trend followed for a large percentage of the locations I fish. Knowing your tides is also very important. On the Fraser Coast the last of the run-out tide has generally produced the greatest results
Two of the author’s favourite combos – a Chronarch 150G matched to a G Loomis E6X 684BCMH is his preferred setup for twitching and stalling hardbodies and a Curado 200K matched to a Zodias 661 BCMH is ideal for working soft vibes and soft plastics.
The Hervey Bay region has a larger fish population than most.
AUSTRALIA’S
when targeting barra and I presume the same trend would be applicable in most areas. As the water recedes from behind the mangroves, mud flats, drains and timberlined banks, it forces the nervous baitfish out into vulnerable waters. It also concentrates the barra into smaller key locations for this stage of the tide, in-turn making them easier to locate and target. This low water period also makes finding structure a lot easier, as often it isn’t visible. Modern advancements in electronics have definitely come a
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long way with features such as StructureScan and DownScan being invaluable tools when searching for barra, especially in new territory. You can basically scan a rock bar or laydown timber and determine whether or not there are any fish sitting on this structure. Structure Scan allows me to monitor the fish’s movements and basically work out at what stage of the tide the fish would move into a certain location and when they would leave. Learning to read and trust your electronics will enhance your overall results. Once you
gain a greater understanding of where, when and why, you come to the easier part of how. There are many different lures and techniques available nowadays that if used in the correct scenario will undoubtedly work and draw a bite. Soft vibes are one of the most versatile lures, and can be fished both deep and shallow. They can be hopped, double hopped or slow rolled and are a great option for fishing in areas with current, as they get down to the required depth and are easily kept in the To page 12
Lure Fishing
Combination.
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3” SLIM SWIMZ
FLAVOUR DEADLY ON BOTTOM FEEDERS!
3.5” & 4.2” TRICK SHOTZ
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