Evolution Mr Darwin .........
Dave when I first had a go at impoundment barra some 4 years ago ........ My set up consisted of a Calcutta 400 & 200 (Suped up drags) 50lb Braid . Rods were a Custom made black bass stick & Millerod TEBB ....... It was elephant gun tackle purchased on the back of media hype & poor advice......... lack of knowledge
Then as we completed another couple of trips ..... We started to realise that casting that type of gear was just plain hard work - at the same time I was catching reasonable salties on a much lighter combo (Cronarch SF & Loomis CR722) without a problem.
Then I joined Ausfish & started to read what others were using - yes there were still lots of elephant guns (black sheep) ........ but some of the switched on anglers were using lighter reels like Chronarchs & Zillions - So i bought my first of 2 Zillions ........ & managed some reasonable fish in tight cover - but it was still locked up drag stuff on 50lb
More research ...... & talking to people (ausfish) about techniques & tactics + looking at open points rather than the timber ....... had me looking for longer rods for casting plastics-
March 2008 - Zillions ,longer softer loomis rods , plastics , 30 & 40lb braid - are the weapons of choice - Awoonga sessions with the help / guidance of Dr Awoonga ........ sees many barra landed & some good fish lost . These Awoonga sessions were the key ...... The failures were terminal so to speak ..... broken leaders & bent jig heads ...watching 80lb leaders being worn through on tight drags during open water head shakes - The penny had dropped ...... We were fine using Zillions & a chronarch - plus the lighter gear meant less wear & tear on me (during 12 hour days) ........
Since then...... a Steez has been added to my armoury - to cast those lighter 4" plastics........
lighter (3.5-4kg) drag settings are the norm ........ as we will chase fish
Leader- Leader- Leader- Leader- Leader ....... has been my focus over the last 6 months - & with the help of Trev - the full length twisties in 40lb have been the revolution in the evolution. - Im yet to break one (50 or 40lb)...... I did break a 25lb FC twistie during the ABT
Sorry about the long winded response Dave but I guess it gives a bit of an idea of tackle EVOLUTION (why)....... It does evolve with experience Sure there will be a time when I may wish I had an elephant gun ...... but I'm yet to get to that point.
Chris