▲TopTackle Testing at Maningrida

My most recent inter-state travels involved a return visit to Alex Julius’s excellent Arnhemland Barramundi Nature Lodge, near Maningrida in the Top End. This was my third time at the Lodge in a year, and I’m pleased to report that the standard of accommodation, service, food and guiding remains as high as ever. It really is a top-class establishment.

Primary reason for this latest visit was to put some new Shimano tackle through its paces, and also to showcase that company’s latest product ranges to the movers and shakers from a fast-growing, chain-store business called BCF (Boating, Camping and Fishing). If you haven’t heard of BCF yet, or don’t have one of their mega-stores located near you, chances are you soon will! There are currently around 30 BCF stores Australia-wide (mostly in QLD, NSW and WA), with plans to expand this to more than 40 outlets by Christmas, 2007. When you understand that BCF is owned by the same people who operate the vast Supercheap Auto chain, you’ll get a much clearer picture of where this organisation is headed.

We only had three days on the water this trip, but packed plenty of fishing action into those days, as well as lots of “networking” and presentations at night.

Of foremost interest to me amongst the gear on trial were production samples and prototypes of some tackle that will carry my name and which will be available exclusively through the BCF chain of stores by spring 2007. These included a range of signature series Steve Starling rods from Shimano (co-designed by my good mate Ian “Barra” Miller) and the very first samples of my Starlo Pro range of hard-bodied lures (another exclusive item for BCF). Thankfully, all of this equipment performed extremely well where it matters most — out on the water!

▲TopBeyond Barra

Obviously, barra are the prime focus of piscatorial attention at this lodge, which is rather fittingly named after them! Barramundi are certainly wonderful fish, too. There’s something iconic and incredibly appealing about our giant perch, whether it’s a sub-legal salty from a mud flat drain, or a keg-sized behemoth hooked in the standing sticks of a stocked dam… I love ’em all.

On this recent trip to Arnhem Land, I was reminded once again what magnificent fish barra really are. I didn’t hook any monsters on this visit, but the string of 55 to 82 cm models that smacked my soft plastics and hard bodies all gave a brilliant account of themselves. Their strikes were jack-hammer hard (magnified by the braided line I used) and were followed by short, sharp dashes, often towards trouble, and gill rattling leaps. On more than one occasion, my companions commented that they couldn’t understand people who sell barra short, or reckon they’re over-rated. I agree. Barramundi are brilliant sport fish. End of story.

Of course, some other amazing critters swim in those same waters, too. I was just about to lift my little prototype shallow-running hard-body from the water at the end of one retrieve when it was intercepted by a gunmetal grey flash less than a metre from the rod tip. I very nearly lost my grip on the outfit as braid was ripped from the reel in a tearing run that took me twice around the boat, ducking and weaving under and over the other guys’ lines. The speed of this thing was incredible, and I wasn’t overly surprised when it turned out to be a blue salmon.

Blueys don’t get anywhere near as much press as their bigger cousins, the giant threadfin, but in my book they are more consistent fighters. All blue salmon go hard, while the larger golden threadies can be either pussycats or Polaris missiles depending on their mood… You just never know until you light the wick!

Blue salmon, Indo-Pacific tarpon (ox-eye herring) and giant herring all do it for me in a big, big way. While they typically only weigh a kilo or two apiece, all three fight well beyond their division. To keep things really interesting, every now and again you’ll stumble across a genuine whopper. I’ve landed a couple of giant herring over the metre mark (and lost a lot more), as well as a handful of tarpon and blue salmon of 3 kg or better. You don’t forget those encounters. They’re burnt on the old mental hard-drive for good.

A mate recently told me about catching a 7 kg blue salmon in a Top End barra creek. I got a far away look in my eyes just thinking about it. Similarly, there are tales of giant herring topping 10 kg, and isolated pockets of Aussie tarpon half that weight and better. I’d walk a long way over broken glass for a crack at exceptional, unsung scorchers like those. I’d even drive past barra for them! Thankfully, all those targets are on offer in Arnhemland…

If you’d like to find out more about Arnhemland Barramundi Nature Lodge, visit www.barralodge.com.au (www.barralodge.com.au)

Until next time, Tight Lines!