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Down South Salmon......

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:38 pm
by MattGoodall
Went too walpole for some holidays with my family. Was great fun taking my little girl fishing and getting some bream.
Second last day we drove out too the mouth of the inlet early. Got there too find the inlet still dirty and stained from the rain. Thought it would have cleared alot more since the inlet in Albany is starting too clear up. Anyways before we were about too head home i took the fly rod out for a cast just incase. Plenty of casts of nothing than got onto a salmon trout and that was just after changing the retrieve. Was great fun on the 6wt. I thought if that was the only fish i get today im happy.

After packing up the car and headin off, not far from the mouth i spotted too fish crusing in the shallows surely their salmon. Fly rod was packed away and spinning rod was rigged up from my wife fishing with bait. Cut the rig off and
tied on a metal. Fired out a cast and they were both straight onto it and hooked up. After getting that one in a couple more came past and my wife got into the action. Than packed the rod away and was about to drive off than saw more and more and by now my little girl was asleep on my wife but i said i just have too get one on fly. Out with the 8 wt
and of course by the time i was ready they were out of range. But i waded through the channel too the sandbar too cast back with the wind. Some more appeared and got a shot at one and they spooked and fled haha who said salmon are always easy. Next 3 came past and cast was good and one straight onto it and came out of the water with it in its mouth.
i think my heart stopped but it came up tight. Than i remembered that in my excitement i didnt up the leader so still had on the 6lb leader from the inlet. So after a lengthy fight and almost in, A metre from the edge and the leader pops = heart broken.... reminder to self, take the 30 seconds too put on a heavier leader :)
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Well we couldnt have that so on comes the 20lb leader and new fly and straight out there. The next few fish seemed really spooky and swam off after a few casts. But persistance pays and finally came up tight too another solid fish. First fish too get me into my backing and really had me going. The feeling cant really explain but all u guys know so thats that.
After some good leaps finally came into shore and had my first good salmon on fly. For down here really only a small one but definetly put a good bend in the rod. And too be able too sight cast in the middle of the day too cruising fish im not sure it gets much better. So kept the first two on metal for dinner and couldnt help but release my one on fly. Was definetly an awesome day and a very sweet way too finish our trip. Was hard too pack away the rod when i turned around and saw more fish cruising past. But than again theres always another day and theres always a fish too catch somewhere.
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Re: Down South Salmon......

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:35 am
by Tony Ong
Well done Matt. First fish that gets you into backing is always a special one.

Re: Down South Salmon......

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:41 am
by Andre Rossouw
Awesome Matt!!!
Good job!!

Re: Down South Salmon......

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 10:54 am
by MichaelG
Nicely done Matt

Re: Down South Salmon......

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 11:33 am
by Roger Smith
What a wonderful tale Matt.
You had me hooked from the first few sentences, never mind the salmon. Thanks very much for sharing it with us.
Rog

Re: Down South Salmon......

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 12:31 pm
by MattGoodall
Cheers guys,
I think what also made it so memorable was seeing them
Coming off in a distance in 2-3 foot clear water and having them
Fight each other and seeing the eat :)
Won't forget that day in a hurry and very surprized
Too see them this time of year.

Re: Down South Salmon......

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 1:38 pm
by DNYE
Very good read and pics mate, I cant bloody wait for the salmon run!!! Haven't caught one on fly yet so I'm very excited, this has got me all revved up now.

Re: Down South Salmon......

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 1:57 pm
by MattGoodall
Yeh mate definetly got me going. Can't wait for the run will be so good let me
Know if u ever down this way around than we'll hit em up.

Re: Down South Salmon......

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 3:04 pm
by DNYE
It will definitely happen mate!

Re: Down South Salmon......

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:29 pm
by peter birch
The day the salmon run is on out from Perth will be a epic return.