Russell Ramblings!

My lady, Debbie, works in real estate. She is a workaholic (or the job demands it) and rarely has time off work, especially on weekends.

Well last weekend we "bit the bullet"....Debbie's lovely PA Tash, had given us one of those gift vouchers that included;

• One night accommodation in a hotel / resort in town
• Movie tickets for two
• Full breakfast and late checkout

WOW...just being in the hotel room felt like we were on holidays. We could have been anywhere in the world (well almost). The view up the esplanade from our balcony was lovely....we really do live in a tropical paradise.

We checked in.....late, because Debbie was doing open homes all Saturday!
We settled in....for about half an hour before heading out to another commitment
We had a few drinks and pizza for dinner
We drover around the Night Markets looking for a park....gave up!
We bought a couple of those magnificent ice cream things....yummmmm!
And were back in bed by about 10:30pm

Ahhh.....it was a magnificent morning!
The sun was rising along the Yarrabah Range....there was a bit of breeze fluffing the palm trees.
Time to get up and have that scrumptious, full service breakfast. We hoed in!

So babe, what you doing today, I asked?

1. Well, I have to go to the office by 10:00 to get some files
2. Then I have open homes from 11 - 5:00 pm
3. And to Gordonvale to check on Peter's house
4. Then cook a roast for dinner

Bloody hell..........a weekend off boiled down to quick night in a strange bed and a cooked breakfast.
Seeing as you're working darling, I'm going fishing!

And so it was that after an extremely late start....we checked out / drove home / packed the boat / fueled up and I was on my way by about 10:30 am. As I cruised south along the Bruce Highway my thoughts were racing as I tried to decide on which river to fish.

Beautiful Russell River - sunset on the mountain

I fished the Mulgrave last week and it was pretty slow!
I hadn't been to the Johnstone for a couple of weeks, but the tides were good for a trip up top
But Innisfail was a fair way off at this late stage so after weighing it all up, I decided to give the Russell a go. Its only a few minutes further that the Mulgrave and I hadn't been there for ages.

With a high tide of 2.6m at approx 11 am there should be plenty of water backed up so I could get upstream a fair way. With a low of 1.1m at approx. 4:30pm, I should have a leisurely run downstream and be back at the ramp by....hmmmm (I'm going to fish late)....lets just see what happens eh!

Babinda Creek - cool coffee spot!

To my surprise it was quite an easy trip upstream, the tide had backed up the river and I soon found myself zooming above submerged timber, sand bars and weed beds, under the bridge and powering down at Babinda Creek. This pretty little waterway often held sooties and JP's, so in I putted, tied up to a shady tree and had a cuppa and lunch.

What a beautiful day it turned out to be.
It was certainly windy however and I did have a few difficulties in keeping the tinny in line. But as I drifted slowly downstream on the ebbing tide I was just taking in the vista. Beautiful water winding through forests, tall palms and verging rainforest. The Bellenden Ker Range was the imposing backdrop as the sun streaked through the clouds; the light lit up various patches of bank side and cane.

SR5 & 50cm barra

Catching a fish would be a bonus here I mused...and when the little 50cm barra raced from the grassy edge and engulfed my little SR5 I was more shocked than expectant. It put up a spirited fight on the light 8lb braid but was soon photographed and released.

The next hit was quite different....drifting along a slightly deeper bank, I cast right to the edge. As is my usual pattern I tweaked the offering down deep, pausing now and again before continuing the erratic action so enticing to our river predators. BANG!....my lure just stopped dead.

A lovely fresh water jack

It took me several moments before I realised that I was hooked to a lovely little jack. It fought doggedly right to the boat....don't you just love the honesty of these wonderful fish - a quick pic. and it was gently released.

Drifting down I tried my usual haunts...a cotton wood tree here, a grassy verge there. I saw more barra than I hooked. The clear waters making them very shy and often they would dart from cover as my boat passed by. It was great to see that a healthy population was still in the river. All we need is a big flush and they will be on the chew.

I did miss a nice barra of about 70cm however...as I drifted past a creek mouth, I tossed the SR5 right to the bank and worked it past a huge clump of drowned timber. Out she came, a quick flash and a huge take. She was airborne in milliseconds and gyrated her body and flared her gills.....and just like that, she threw the hooks and was gone. I can still see her silver body dazzling in the afternoon sunlight when I think about it.

These are the magic moments that keep us fishing...keep us coming back for more, time and time again. I love it.

What a magnificent back drop!

I did manage a couple of smaller rat barra, dropped a few tarpon and had near misses on at least another 6 barra. But to my surprise I managed to hook and land two tilapia (which I killed). These fish are in the river in their thousands and are here to stay I guess. But they will take lures and an SR5's in gold are a real prospect.

It was late when I got home, I told you so............man its great to be alive and fishing up here in Tropical North Queensland.

Catch you on the water, regards Les

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