Fishing with Tony Lincoln | Final points on lure fishing

WHILE we've discussed the main types of lures, there are still more sub-categories and hybrids within those we've briefly examined. Hybrid hard body/soft plastics, pre-rigged and pre-tuned soft plastics, flies, skirted trolling lures and many more.

Hopefully the main recurring point has been recognised. Experimentation is the key to consistently successful lure fishing. Whilst this experimentation can be frustrating due to the innumerable combinations of models, colours and styles available, once we start to crack the pattern, we should be able to narrow down our experimentation range to less than ten lures on a given day, targeting a particular species. If you apply this experimentation mindset to retrieval techniques, you’ll be well on your way to a successful outing.

One last point that I'd like to make is that, as in most of the things we utilise throughout our daily lives, we get what we pay for. Lures higher in price do deliver more bang for our buck. Some are made from tougher materials or use a more robust method of construction. Others may be sporting higher quality terminal tackle or deliver a significantly increased fish attracting action. Some brands will give more consistency across batches of the same model due to higher standards of quality control and tighter tolerances in their machining, materials or moulds. And some will deliver all of these characteristics in one package.

Whilst these lures can sound unbeatable, lower priced lures do still have their place. That keyword – experimentation - pops up again. It may be a case of the angler themselves needing to impart more action to the lure during the retrieve, upgrading terminal tackle if the factory supplied gear isn't up to the task, or something as simple as utilising a lower drag setting when fighting a fish using a particular lure.

Get out and give them a go. It's a great way to fish, you'll cover a lot more country and that strike on a lure compared to a bite on bait is incomparable.

Thanks for reading, and remember;

Talk to old people, they know stuff you don't.

Talk to young people, they know stuff you don't.

FISHING REPORT

• Our summer fish have started to arrive but a few cold days in mid-September slowed them down. Hopefully things will have warmed up again by the time this edition goes to print.
• Still a few tailor around but they're definitely on the downhill run of the season. Some great catches by some of our locals on their trips to Fraser Island.
• Land-based golden trevally, GTs, and some tarpon have all been caught around the peninsula in the past week or so. Fingers crossed for some more cobia, like last season, and a few murmurs about what the threadfin salmon will be like this time around as well. Fingers crossed for a good prawn season.
• School mackerel should return right around the peninsula off the jetties, rocky points and inshore reefs as well as the Pine River mouth and Ted Smout platform, and out in the bay on the beacons and reefs.
• Consistent flathead fishing in the Pine River, Hays Inlet, Clontarf foreshore and off Scarborough Spit.
• Summer whiting becoming more consistent. Try the beaches, rivers, creeks and sandflats.
• Squire and snapper are still firing well off the rocks and inshore reefs around the peninsula as well as the reefs on both sides of Moreton with some good tuskies thrown into the mix.
• Quality bream are still being caught although not in their usual wintertime numbers.