Who Says You Can’t Teach

An Old Dog New Tricks?

Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling has been Australia’s most trusted fishing educator for four decades. His articles, columns, books, videos and TV segments have helped us all to fish smarter… But did you know that Starlo now has his own YouTube channel?

StarloGetsReel is packed with the fishing wisdom Starlo’s so famous for — all presented in that relaxed, laid-back and accessible style that’s become his trademark.

Tune in NOW, and take a moment to subscribe, so you don’t miss a thing!

As Scottish comedian Billy Connolly once quipped about the notoriously challenging climate in his northern homeland: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes!” He had a point, too. It’s amazing what a difference dressing correctly can make when it comes to taming the very worst that Mother Nature can throw at us.

During my most recent Tasmanian sojourn to gather material for a guide to the island state’s saltwater fishing (featured elsewhere in this issue), I had frequent call to remember Connolly’s sage words of advice. I was there in mid-summer this time, but on some days you would never have guessed it. If the 19th century American author, Mark Twain, truly did claim that the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco, I can only guess it was because he’d never visited Tasmania in December!

Seriously, though, dressing appropriately — or at least carrying the extra gear to do so if the need suddenly arises — is absolutely critical to enjoying Tasmania’s exceptional fishing opportunities in comfort and safety. Not being equipped to do so can not only ruin your whole day — it can actually put you at serious risk of hypothermia.

Of course, these considerations aren’t confined to the Apple Isle. I’ll never forget being chilled to the bone and shivering like the proverbial leaf when suddenly drenched in an early wet season cloud burst on a Northern Territory billabong. Dressed as I was at the time in shorts and a lightweight shirt, the combination of an immediate

10 degree plunge in air temperature, wet skin and a light breeze was almost more than I could cope with. Even at that relatively moderate level, loss of your body’s core temperature can quickly lead to brain fog and poor decision making — not things you really need on a snag-studded and crocodileinfested Top End waterhole! It was a relief to get back to the car and dry off that day, and I never fished again up there at that time of year without packing at least a lightweight spray jacket in the boat.

Wherever you fish — from Darwin to the Derwent or Broome to Byron Bay — you really need at least a decent jacket of some sort that’s capable of cutting the wind and repelling rain. I make sure I always have one of these packed in my gear now, no matter how friendly the conditions are when I leave home or camp. Wet weather pants or coveralls are also a great idea, but if you don’t have them, at least being able to protect your upper body and its vital organs (including your head) will keep you functioning in most situations.

For a few months now, I’ve been trialling the Infinity Jacket from Ridgeline for exactly this purpose, and to say that I’ve been impressed with it so far would be something of an understatement. I reckon it has saved my bacon on more than a few occasions, and definitely kept me out there catching fish long after other anglers had pulled stumps and headed for the nearest pub with a fireplace.

If you’re not up to speed with the Ridgeline name and company history, make sure you read the fact box hereabouts. Suffice to say, this Kiwibred brand is legendary among hunters, hikers and other outdoorsy folks, and is quickly catching on in fishing circles, too.

The Infinity from Ridgeline is a long, form-fitting rain jacket with an integrated hood and four generous, waterproof-zippered front pockets. It’s constructed from breathable 3M Thinsulate stretch material, with 3L wind- and water-proofmembrane sealed seams. The “breathability” of Thinsulate means that very little condensation occurs on the inside the jacket, even if you’re working hard in warmer, more humid conditions. Moisture in your sweat quickly “wicks” out through this high tech’ material, but rain is blocked from passing the other way.