Pine Rivers Fish Management Association

THE LAKE

From the boat ramp at Boral landing on Adsetts Road we have roughly 4 kilometres to the west and 5 kilometres to the east. When leaving the boat ramp you head south out of the back water and into the lake main stream. By turning right or to the west this takes you in the direction of Dayboro or the top of the lake. If you turn left when you head out into the main stream this will take you down towards Mc Gavin’s View or the dam wall. Refer to your Lake Samsonvale Map which you received when you picked up your PRFMA permit, for other points of interest.

WATERCRAFT

The choice is yours, small to medium tinnies, blow up boats, foldaboats, canoes and kayaks. You are required to carry safety gear as per the law and for your personal safety as well.

POWER

Pedal, paddle, sail or electric, it is necessary to know your limits, it’s a long way down or upstream to the boundary markers. It’s no good pedaling, paddling or powering to the far boundary if you do not have the power or personal stamina to return. If relying on power it is always a good idea to carry a spare battery. It is advisable to carry a mobile phone with you as well as your PRFMA card with emergency numbers which is compulsory.

SOUNDER

A decent entry sounder is advisable if you are serious about tracking down fish. This also shows you the depth you are fishing in and any underwater structures etc. These days a sounder with a good pixel count of 480x480 is reasonably priced.

TYPES OF FISH AVAILABLE

Australian bass, golden perch, silver perch, saratoga, mary river cod, spangled perch, garfish, eel tail catfish, eels, tilapia and red claw crayfish.

FISHING AND READING THE LAKE

Use the sounder to read the lake, learn where the drop-offs are, the underwater structures, these can be standing trees, fallen trees, logs, large rocks, bridges, roads, fences, mounds, creek beds, underwater points. In fact get to know the fish’s underwater paradise because these above areas are the types of places the fish hide out. If you do not have a sounder it is all guess work.

TYPES OF FISHING

FLY

This has been successful for a small amount of avid fly fisher people. Things to try are:<

1. Surface fly
   Early AM or dusk, cast between the dead trees, next to the lily pads or to the gaps or along the edges of weed beds when they are available. Use poppers and gurglers. Etc
2. Subsurface Intermediate.
   Early AM or dusk cast to the bank or weed edge. Let sink a little, then slow strip a few feet, let it sink again and repeat. Use mud eye patterns and sub surface water pushers. Etc
3. Sinking Fly
   Best used to schooling fish suspended or on the bottom. Cast, count down to required depth and retrieve through school. Strip jerk, strip jerk or whatever works on the day. Use bass vampires and crazy charlies and fish patterns. Etc

BAIT FISHING

Bait gathering on the lake must be as per DPI and PRFMA rules and regulations. There are several types of bait that can be used. They include worms, salt water yabbies, grasshoppers, small red claw, but the best seems to be shrimp. With shrimp traps please use a bit of commonsense when placing them around the dam. Keep them out of recognised trolling lanes, don’t leave many metres of loose rope attached to float that is not needed, don’t interfere with other people’s traps and don’t use traps with openings that turtles or diving birds can get caught in. When using shrimp for bait make sure you change water regularly especially in summer.

RIGS FOR BAIT FISHING

Any of the bream rigs will work okay. Floating sinker, sinker above swivel, or best is a type of paternoster rig. Sinker on bottom 50 cm line, hook, 25cm line and then swivel. This allows you when trolling and using snaps to unhook lure and put on bait rig quickly. Good hooks to use are the wide gape hooks as they seem to hook up around the outside of the fish’s mouth more so than smaller hooks which can do a lot of damage when halfway down a fish’s throat. Floating shrimp is another good way to fish, simply just attach a hook to the end of your line then attach a shrimp, cast and let the weight of the shrimp slowly float down.

Couple of hints when using bait:

1. Make sure after smoking, applying sunscreen, eating oranges etc etc give your hands a wipe with a wet cloth, as sometimes the smell can turn the fish off the bite.
2. Also if using paternoster rig, remove the long claws off the shrimp as they tend to hang onto the line and not move about to attract the fish’s attention.
3. Quick release rod holders are also a good idea when using bait, as opposed to the lock in model. Sometimes a fish can be lost while trying to get the rod out of the holder.

RODS AND REELS

Rods and reels are a personal choice. However when deciding which to use remember a light rod is better to detect the slightest bite, but is much harder when fighting the fish. A stiffer tipped rod is easier when fighting the fish but you may not see the lighter bites. Try both till you find what suits you. Reels are also a personal choice. Either bait caster rods and reels or spin rods and reels. When choosing a line keep in mind that too light a line is useless if you hook into a yellow belly or fork tail catfish or even a decent size bass. On the other hand too heavy a line will scare fish away so a good starting point is about 10 to 15 lbs braid with a 10 to 15 leader.

LURE FISHING

Lure fishing involves, trolling, jigging, casting and covers plastics, spinner baits, bibles rattlers, hardbodies, surface, metal slugs, jigs and blades etc etc.

Plastics

Plastics include paddle tail grubs, single tail grubs and triple tail grubs, shads, stick baits, flick baits and minnows etc (These are usually fitted to jig heads and cast, let sink to required depth and hopped or jigged back to the boat)

Spinner baits

Range in style and size from 1/8 ounce to the 2 ounce models. Stinger hooks can be added and also soft plastics can be added to the stinger hooks. Spinner baits are a good searching lure as they are less likely to snag up. They can be trolled or used for cast and retrieve.

Bibless Rattlers or Non Rattlers

These include Jackals, Megabass, Rattletraps, G Vibes and Spros etc. They can be trolled or cast and hopped off the bottom or through a school.

Hardbodies

Include small minnows, long skinny minnows, short fat minnows, and large fish shape shads. The size of the bib on these lures and body shape usually depicts the depth it travels at. Also the length of line out from the boat when trolling. Smaller hardbodies like Atomic Hardz, Jackall Chubbies etc can be cast to the bank and retrieved.

Surface Lures

These include many types and shapes, paddlers, crawlers, stick baits, poppers, fizzers, and insect patterns, walk the dog style lures and many more. These are usually cast as close to the bank as possible and slowly retrieved. With some of these lures you have to jiggle or jerk the rod tip to get the action you require from the lure. Surface lures are also very good around lily pads or weed beds.

Metal Slugs and Jigs

These can be cast, let sink and either hopped along the bottom or through a suspended school, or vertically jigged up and down under the boat when holding over a school.

Blades

There are many brands and types on the market at the moment. They range in size from 1/12 ounce up to several ounces. These can be cast, let sink to the required depth then slow or fast retrieve back to the boat. They can be hopped along the bottom and also stop jerked along in whatever depth the fish are sitting at. Sometimes a little jerk of the rod is required to get the lure vibrating on the start of the retrieve.

Types of Lure Fishing

Trolling Lures

One of the more common forms of lure fishing is trolling. When doing this use the knowledge gained by reading your sounder. Troll along the creek lines, over drop offs, over the top of under water hill tops, across points or spur lines, along the edges of steep banks and weed beds. Trolling with your lures just above the thermocline and trolling just above the under water trees is also an advantage. These are all the places where the fish hang out, so the closer you can get your lures into the strike zones the better. When trolling the best way to know your lake is to take a different track each time you set out. Learn where your creek beds are, these areas become very important when the water levels drop. Trolling is a good way of covering ground and searching for those elusive schools. When located you can troll over the school or stop and try other styles of fishing.

Trolling depths depends on the size of lure and the size of bib, rule of thumb, big bib dives deeper than small bib. If you need to get a small bib lure down deeper when trolling then you need to use a down rigger or a paravane or let out more line behind the boat.

Trolling Lures Include. Hard bodied minnows, bibles rattlers, Tazi Devils, spinner baits Etc

Casting Lures

Main use of casting lures is casting to the bank. This covers casting to steep banks and hopping your lure down through the water column. Also casting to underwater points, dropoffs and creek beds and hopping or slow rolling your lure back This is where the fish like to hide or the path they take when moving about. Casting to suspended schools in midwater and slow rolling your lure through them. Casting to the gaps in between or along weed beds, or casting to lily pads, dead trees, logs Etc

Casting lures include just about every lure available. Surface style lures, plastics, blades, slugs, hard bodies, spinner bait etc. Pick your casting lure by what depth you require it to go down to, what speed you are going to retrieve it at, how much action and noise you want it to have and what colour is working on the day.

Lure Colours

Without going into a lengthy debate on what colour lures to use on North Pine Dam, general opinion from many reports and fishing magazines are that dark days dark lures, light days light lures, dirty water dark or bright contrasting colours, clear water light or natural colours. Rule of thumb start early am with darker coloured lures and go lighter as the sun rises in the sky, then go darker later in the afternoon. A bit of trial and error is needed here to see what is working on the day.

Weather Conditions

Wind, rain, barometer, sun and overcast conditions play a part in a successful days fishing.

Wind

Fishing is not usually as good when there is no wind at all (glassed out). A slight breeze is okay as it puts a ripple on the water, which gives the fish security from above when in shallow water. It is also an advantage when bait fishing as it makes the boat yaw from side to side when anchored up, which in turn keeps the bait moving around. It also helps for a slow drift when casting or bait fishing. Only use for a strong breeze is if you have the wind behind you. It can help you get distance when you cast your line.

Rain

A pending storm is a good time to fish, as long as it is not an electrical storm. This usually coincides with a rising barometer. Rainy conditions are usually okay for the first couple of days of rain and then the fish seem to go off the bite.

Barometer

Old saying 1020 Bass Aplenty. This is not always the case but it is another of the contributing factors. Usually a rising barometer is okay and a falling one seems to put the fish off the bite.

Sun

Fish seem to be a lot more active in the low light hours, early am and late afternoon, they seem to feed and attack lures early am and then as the sun gets higher in the sky they slow down, and then get more active in the afternoon. These times are also good times for surface lures.

Overcast

Overcast days can be rewarding also as fish seem to come up higher in the water column, overcast days and early am, late pm are good times to hit all the shallow back waters as sometimes the fish tend to move into these areas when there is low light.

Summary

When choosing the type of fishing you wish to do, remember to try to match your lures or bait the food source available for fish in the lake. These include shrimp, baby crayfish, bony bream, tilapia, small minnows and gudgeons, small elves, insects and worms from freshly covered banks when the waters rise.

Author - Dennis Pearce

Land based fishing has been going on at NPD ever since the dam was constructed in 1976. With the help of the stocking group it has turned into an excellent fishery, with some trophy size fish being recorded. During the next few paragraphs we will try to give an insight into the essentials needed for land based fishing, types of fish, access points, bait and lures etc

Types of fish available include Australian Bass, which are the most sort after and caught fish in the dam ,Golden Perch (yellowbelly) would have to come in second, Silver Perch, are also caught in good numbers, Saratoga, are very scarce at the moment, but should improve due to recent stockings, Mary River Cod, are very rare also, Spangled Perch, can be a pest in the summertime with their great numbers, Gar, plenty of these little fighters in the summertime also, Eel,usually a rare by catch, Eel tail Catfish, can be targeted if required, and the noxious pest fish Tilapia are usually a by catch unless targeted. Red claw crayfish are also available and can be obtained using traps close to the shore.

Access Boundaries

Access for land based fishing is displayed on signs at most of the picnic and parking areas. It is up to the individual to be familiar with all the information on them before going fishing. Fishing areas are mainly contained to the north eastern end of the dam. Southern boundary is marked by a string of white bunting flags situated at Forgans Cove, Ref map 97 d10 and the northern boundary is situated at Macgavins View, Ref map 87 g19. There is also a no go zone from the rangers workshop near Bullocky Rest to the dam wall.

Main Access Points

To go fishing land based, MacGavin's View, Ref map 87 j19, beside rangers workshop Ref map 97 m2, Bullocky Rest Ref map 97 m4, next car park south Ref map 97 m5, north side of Forgans Cove Ref map 97 h8, south side of A Ref map 97 gh9.

Terrain

By far the most accessible area to fish would have to be Bullocky Rest, as it usually has the grass mown right to the waters edge. This makes it the most popular for families as it is suitable to teach children the art of fishing without the worries of long grass. In the summertime some of the other areas have grass up to7ft tall and this is a cause for concern as you have to be on the lookout for snakes, ticks and spiders. Some of the fishing areas have steep rocky banks, while other areas offer wide open submerged paddocks, it’s usually a good idea to do a bit of water depth testing before casting expensive lures into these areas. Cast a small sinker out attached to your line and count the seconds it takes to reach the bottom, to give you the approximate depth.

Types of Fishing

There are three main types of fishing in the dam; they are bait, lure or fly. When choosing your type of fishing remember to try and match your bait, lure or fly to the food source available in the dam. These include shrimp, redclaw, boney bream, small tilapia, small minnows and gudgeons, small eels, worms and whatever insects fall on the water.

Bait Fishing

This form of fishing is very popular especially for families fishing from the picnic areas. Bait used is shrimp, worms, small redclaw and saltwater prawns and yabbies. These baits can be fished on the bottom or suspended under a float. All Qld DPI Rules and regulations on gathering bait must be adhered to.

Lure Fishing

Everybody has their favorite lures, they have had success with and they tend to stick with these proven favorites. Here are some of those used over the past few years.

Soft Plastics

These are available as paddle tail grubs, single tail, double tail and now available triple tail grubs, shads, stickbaits, flickbaits and minnows and the list goes on. These can be fitted to numerous styles of jig heads and are mostly hopped or slow rolled along the bottom, avoiding any close in underwater obstructions. Plastics work well when the bass are schooled up in the winter.

Spinner baits

These are available in sizes from 1/8ounce to 2ounces, however 3/8 ,1/2 and 5/8ounce seem to be the most popular. Spinnerbaits are a good searching lure as they are less prone to getting snagged. They can be cast out and returned by using different styles of retrieve, top water, mid water. bottom bashing, fast and slow, the most popular is a slow retrieve keeping the lure just above the bottom. Spinnerbaits can have a stinger hook attached and the stinger hook can be dressed with a teaser i.e. any of the plastics mentioned above. In addition you can add fish attracting pastes or spray to the lure.

Hard body Lures

A large range of hard body lures can be used when fishing land based at NPD. Minnows and short fat shallow divers are the best, as when retrieved it is back to shallower water.

Bibless Rattling Hard bodies

These lures can save you sometimes from a fishless day. They can also be cast out and hopped along the bottom or slow rolled. A point to remember on the retrieve is that these lures usually travel with their heads pointed down and this can cause them to snag on unforeseen underwater structure.

Surface Lures

Most surface lures should work for you if presented correctly and with suitable conditions. Early morning with low light and late afternoon usually produce the goods. Lack of weed beds and lily pads make it hard for middle of the day surface action. Small poppers, fizzers and walk the dog style surface lures work best. Slow intermittent retrieves work the best, watch how an insect reacts when it accidentally drops onto the surface of the lake.

Metal Slugs

These lures are best used during the winter months when the bass are schooling up. As they like to do this out in the open areas of the dam a metal slug is required to get the distance in your cast. 20 and 25gm size slugs cast out as far as possible, let sink to the bottom, then a couple of upward jerks of the rod and let to sink back to the bottom. A hit or hookup usually happens in the first few jerks of the rod or as the lure is sinking back to the bottom.

Switchblades

There are several names for these flat metal or plastic blades that travel with their heads down and send vibrations through the water to draw the fish in. Blades have been around for years in the style of willow wabblers, cicadas etc. At the time of writing, these blade lures have become very successful in several impoundments. They can be hopped along the bottom or retrieved at any depth top to bottom.

Fly Fishing

Fly fishing from the bank has been very successful over the years, with surface and sub surface flies taking many fish. Garfish are also a lot of fun on fly using bread style flies.

Fishing Times

Without a doubt the best fishing times are early morning and late afternoon. Bigger bass are usually taken during the winter months. Golden perch are more plentiful in the spring. Silver perch and Gar like the summer months. All species can be caught all year round so if you have a line in the water you have a chance for a fish of a lifetime.

Line and Leader

Type of line and leader is a personal thing. However if where you are fishing there are no obstructions then you can use as low as 4lb line and 6lb leader, where it’s a bit tougher like rocky ledges or lots of underwater snags then 10lb line with 14lb leader is better.

Rods and Reels

Type of rods and reels also is a personal choice, when deciding what rod to use take into account the terrain, the underwater obstructions and the size of the fish you are targeting. A 2 to 4kg spin or bait caster rod is ok for the light work or a 3 to 5kg spin or bait caster is suitable for the heavier work.

Stocked Impoundment Permits SIPS

As of the second of April 2009 the above permit is required to fish North Pine Dam for people over the age of 18years. Don’t forget when applying for the permit you have the choice of which dam you would like to see your fingerlings go to, vote NPD.

Author - Dennis Pearce

Red Claw Crayfish - Cherax quadricarinatus

It is important to remember that Redclaw are not endemic to our area and should not be returned to the lake. Also don't forget to check fishery rules for the number and sizes of traps you can legally use.

My Redclaw Method

I only use Jervis Walker opera house traps as they have a 3 inch diameter opening.

Whilst some of the others have a 4 inch opening

You can see that the soft drink bottle passes straight through the opening. My experience with the large diameter opening traps, is that if the bait runs out or the red claw have had enough to eat they can escape easily.

Bait

I use small plastic decor brand containers purchased from Big W at $12 for 10. I drill holes in the sides and the top.

For bait I use a small handful of dried cat food (any kind with a fish flavour) and then top up the container with tinned cat food (whole fish is good). When the dried pellets expand they force some of the tinned cat food out through the holes acting as a burley. The baits work out at around 25 cents per container. I make up my baits in advance and store them in the bait freezer.

I slide home made clips (I make them from the stainless steel inner cable of outboard remote cables) through the top of the clip on lid and through one of the holes in the side of the container.

I use a cable tie inside the trap

And just clip the bait to the tie, it is easy to replace the bait when servicing the traps.

I attach the tie rope to the front of the pot rather than the side where the rope is normally attached when you buy opera house traps. If the rope is attached to the side , the trap picks up twice as much weed and are much harder to pull in to service.

I coil the rope loosely inside the open pot and stack them in the bow of the boat.

I tie the floats on to the ropes when I drop the pots. I have around 25 feet of rope on each pot. When travelling I tie the floats together to stop them blowing out of the boat.

Finally, I find it best to leave the traps out over night and normally try to position them in around some structure.

Author - Ray Kennedy