Page 76 - Bush 'n Beach Fishing mag

Shane Banks got so close to the metre mark with this 99.9cm cod that ate a Mudeye Snake as it rattled off a granite boulder
and fell into the water from a very ordinary cast.
A cool dawn bite had this 80cm cod eating a Mumbler, and the pic was taken seconds after Josh missed a massive boof on a Zerek Stalker.
The spray jacket we love so much in Queensland is hopelessly inadequate when it’s raining side- ways and the temperature maximum for the day is under 10C.
While it does get warmer during the day, fishing in the freezer doesn’t go quiet.This mid-afternoon 110cm cod got the blood pumping.
Page 76 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, July 2020
Marc Ainsworth with a solid 90cm cod that smashed a Bassman Spinnerbait at Mulwala in winter. He looks a lot warmer than he was.
Setting up for cold weather cod fishing
* from P75
I know if I fall in,
because they come with a mitten flap that can be pulled over exposed fingertips to warm them up.
Gear
the neo waders will lift my legs up – I don’t tie them into a belt so they can be removed if the need arises.
The gloves also allow you to place a hot pack on your palm, wrist or in the mitten pouch.
Let’s assume we are warm and can move freely in our winter clothing and all we need to do is fish.
All this extra cloth- ing comes with some responsibility on your behalf too.
The hot packs are the greatest thing ever when your hands are just too cold, and you need to warm them up.
While I am not nor- mally a big fish snob, if I am fishing the freezer, I am absolutely a big fish snob.
At higher risk times such as dawn, dusk and through the evening, we find ourselves wearing a self-inflating yoke- style personal flotation device.
I love them.
I’m not putting myself through everything to catch a just legal cod – I’m going specifically to catch a big fish, so you need to make sure your gear is set up for the task.
If you have quali- ty clothing on, you’re probably not going to sink as quickly as you would with five jump- ers and four pair of pants on, however ac- cidents happen and in some states it’s the law given time of day or size of boat.
I wear a thermal bean- ie and my down jacket comes with a hood.
I will always get ex- cited catching a cod, regardless of size, but these trips I have a tar- get in mind and fish for that target.
At worst it’s good peace of mind, at best you get to go home to your family and friends.
Carl said he some- times resorts to using heat packs on his head near his ears, and after a couple of super cold Copeton trips I reckon it’s not a bad idea and I’ll be giving it a swing this year if I can get on the cod lakes.
Both are set up for big fish and both offer something different to allow for options while I’m on the water.
The last area to pro- tect is your head.
This keeps me toasty warm for the most part, but I have added the Wilson Hooded head sock to this arrange- ment when the expect- ed temp is approaching zero.
I have two outfits I use when fishing in cold weather.
The biggest pain for me has always been my fingers.
The first set up is one of my favourite outfits in my quiver.
I hate cold fingers and when you’re casting lures in temperatures below 5C, your fingers are going to get really cold.
Whatever you do though, absolutely make sure your head is protected and that heat loss from this area is minimised.
It’s a Venom 8kg 7’ baitcaster matched to an ATC Combat Plus reel spooled with 50lb braid and a 60lb leader.
Kris Hickson sold me a pair of SIMMS gloves that are made from windstopper ma- terial. They’re awesome
A cap with a buff sim- ply won’t cut it when it gets really cold.
This rod gets used for throwing things like mid-sized surface lures, Bassman Mumblers, di- vers and spinnerbaits.
* continued P77 www.bnb shing.com.au