New DVD Out Now.

“Hey Michael,

Just watched your  DVD…..Excellent work again my friend….It’s the middle of the night and I  just want to grab the rod and head for the river…..

Surface action rocks!  All I can say is another great production and congrats on the result!

I can see many  sleepless nights and kilos of caffeine in this puppy…. I really like  Alistair’s style and narration, you have complimented the visual imagery with a  nice blend of narration, banter and direct to the camera.

I don’t see any  negatives in there at all and thoroughly enjoyed the production.

Hope to catch up with  you soon, this DVD is going straight to the  pool room!

Take care.”

Jamie  C.

more reviews

A First For Codseeker Surface Lures

I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone would try using my surface lures on the mighty Barramundi, better know to us Aussies as Barra!

My good friend Rob was in the “Top End” recently and tied on one of his favourite Codseekers, to see if he could get one of these magnificent fish to rise to his lure.  It didn’t take long to get a willing Barra to have a go.

This beautiful, 70cm silver fish, “Whaled” all over his offering and to the best of my knowledge, is the first confirmed Barra taken on the Codseekers.

Thanks Rob for giving them a “Swim”.

Regards, Michael.

Winter Sessions

With the first frosts for the year having arrived, this signals a new dimension for surface fishing. Days are short and sessions should be kept to 3 to 4 hours, although, fish can and are taken from sun up to sun down.

My favorite time to target Murray Cod in winter, is between the hours of 1 and 6pm. Fishing these hours saves one from getting frost bitten in the morning, whilst giving you a great chance of tangling with a fish or two.

You must still target shadows and shade in the early part of the session but as the sun tracks lower at this time of year, this is not usually a problem.

Winter fishing off the surface will not yield cricket scores of fish like in the height of summer but the upside is the quality of fish you will encounter. Larger fish still actively hunt to feed whilst fish around the 40-55cm mark seem to be much more reluctant to “rise” to the occasion!

Waders are a must at this time of year, as they will keep the damp away and at the same time allow you to enter the water for river crossings or to access drop-offs.

Give the colder months a go off the surface, don’t expect heaps of action but the action you do get will make it all worth while!

Regards, Michael.

Below: An early season winter fish taken off the surface just after sunset.

“Jurassic Park” by Robert Alfeldi

This mission was conditions driven, being virtually full moon (main reason, for light), no wind and the fact we were “stinging” for a fish.

We decided to fish an area where we have had the most success of late and made our way to the pools. After a few hours with no “Boofs”, all seemed quiet, yet we were still optimistic as conditions were perfect.

On the stroke of midnight and some 4kms into the trek, we started casting in what is now known as “The Jurassic Park Pool.” So named for its remoteness and the possibility that Dinosaurs still may exist beneath the water’s surface!!

With a long cast to the other side, I retrieved my surface lure. Just as I raised my lure from the water, a huge grey head emerged from the depths looking for my offering!! I instinctively dropped the lure next to him and in a Milli-Second, SMASH! I WAS ON!!!!!!

Once I saw the size of the beast I was speechless, yet I had yelled to Chris “Get over here!!” He said I did not answer him when he was asking what’s happening. It was all a little crazy!

The fish could have “smoked” the spool if it wanted to, as I was not in control for the first few seconds as he rolled and was looking for cover. He soon ran out of puff and by that time, Chris was in the water trying to get the grips on him.

I jumped in the water and said we need to land him. Getting him up the bank was the issue. I physically could not hold the fish and step up the bank, he was just too heavy, so I got to the first step, Chris grabbed my shirt and pulled me and the fish from the water.

Various grip and grins (photos) followed. I picked him up and got him back into the water and with a few tail flicks, he disappeared back to the depths.

I get the feeling he was between 25kg and 30kg. We confirmed he was 110cm in length.

This was just an insane experience, and one I will never forget!! I just can’t wait to get back to Jurassic Park!!!

Best Regards,

Robert Alfeldi

Below: Some Great Shots Of Rob’s Magnificent Murray Cod.

Tough’n It Out!

As Jason and I set out for our third trip to the river, we realised that if no fish were caught on this trip, it would make it 2000 casts between us for just 4 surface strikes!!  Neither of us wanted this to be the case, but as always, the fish would have the final say!!

The night started well with us both getting hit from the get go.  Jason dropped his fish but I managed to land mine.  Neither fish was huge, but after the “run” we had had, we welcomed the much missed sound, Murray Cod make when they eat surface lures.

As we moved down stream to a large pool, we both knew that if we put in enough casts, the fish would come…NOTHING!!

Down to the next pool we ventured, as the full moon belted its light down upon us.  With the moon well and truly up by now, we knew that the shadows formed by the trees and river banks would be the best place to concentrate our lures.  Sure enough, several cast to the far bank and four cranks out, saw this nice Murray Cod climb all over my lure.

As we moved further down the river, we started to fish a good snaggy section that screamed Murray Cod…Jason targeted a large mid-water snag and as the lure almost made it “home” it was hit with the force of a bear trap slamming closed!!  “I’m on!” came the call, so I rushed to his side to shed some light on the situation.  The fish was nowhere to be seen and had no intention of surrendering without a fight.  Five minutes passed and the fish came into the shallows where I could get the grips into him/her.  Hi “fives” were the order of the day as this was Jason’s biggest fish to date.  A quick measure and photo for the memory and it was back where it belonged.

Jason proudly displays his 78cm Murray Cod.

With our “Bad” run a distant memory, how quickly one forgets, we both look forward to our next surface session on the river, where maybe, just maybe we will tangle with more quality fish like Jason’s!

Regards, Michael.

When Your “Local” Fires Up!

We all have our local fishing spots that we fish time and time again…sometimes with great results and other times, well, those trips we would rather forget!

The times that the fish “Fire” is what keeps us coming back to the very same water that let us down previously. It was with this knowledge firmly implanted in the minds of Sam and James that told them to persist with their “local” with some stunning results!!

Below: Sam with one of two 80cm Murray Cod taken off the surface with in minutes of each other.

Returning a week later, Sam was joined by his good friend James that quickly took to surface fishing, bagging his biggest Murray Cod to date of 75cm! On the same night Sam would bag one slightly larger…..

Below: James with some nice shots his PB and Sam with his 83cm prize for the night!

The best was yet to come as the boys headed out for another surface session a few nights later…Sam was to bag a 95cm brute and add to his already impressive list of quality fish taken off the surface. On the same night, Sam told me they encountered a few “BOOFS” from fish that would break the M+. I have no doubts that the boys will soon encounter and finally land one of those fish!!

Below: Sam with a superb looking 95cm specimen!

Your “Local” will not always produce fish of this quality so don’t expect it to…The lesson to learn here, is to keep returning until the fish decide it’s time FIRE!!

Regards, Michael….

Sam’s “Double Header”

After a few trips that yielded several small Murray Cod, Sam discovered that when the “Big Fellas” come out to feed, things that try to make their way across the surface don’t stand much chance of getting to the other side of the river in one piece!

Below: The sight all Murray Cod fisherman love to see.

In all, Sam only made about 20 casts for his two 80cm+ fish.

Keep up the great fishing Sam, these fish do not come along very often!

Regards, Michael.

Skinny Water!

Great Story sent in by Richard Leaver.

Hi Mate,
Had a funny happening this weekend. Went up to Invarell This weekend fossicking for sapphires with the family, and the property we stay on has this tiny tiny creek, with one little pool in it. I took a rod just in case and my brother and I went down to give it a go. I thought there would be nothing in it, so half heartedly tied a codseeker on with no leader and had a couple of flicks. Got smashed second cast in the middle of the pool and scored my first land based cod (we were actually in hysterics because my brother said “there is nothing in here” as I was making the cast).
The next day, went to a neighbouring property and fished some of the skinniest water i have seen for 7 hits, 2 hookups, 1 landed and 1 lure loss. Pretty amazing, bet the bigger rivers up there fish well. Hope you also had a good long weekend.