Lures OR Flies - Which Fishing Method Catches More Trout?

[@StarloGetsReel]

GEAR USED: Steve's spin gear consisted of two outfits based on 1000-size Shimano reels (a Stradic and a Stradic Ci4) filled with fine braid and matched to a Shimano Anarchy spin rod (702 Light Spin) and a Shimano Poison Adrena rod (266L-2). The productive lures were an Atomic Jerk Minnow and an Ecogear Breamer Vibe. Jo fly fished with a 10 foot, 6-weight G.Loomis NRX rod and various fly lines, from full floaters to Type 5 fast sinking lines. By the way, if you're looking for some quality fly gear at an affordable price, try this link: bit.ly/3BUnX7x

[@ukfishslayer]

Thanks Steve, great watch. I really like the way you utilise the multiple cameras and the voice over. I know you’re an old pro but it really does show.

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@ukfishslayer Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. 👍

[@PurplePatchFishing]

That lure you scored at VicBream really produced the goods for you. Great video Steve 💜🎣

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@PurplePatchFishing it sure did! Thanks for the feedback. 👍

[@kevdimo6459]

Thanks again Steve and Jo for letting us into your world of fishing. I’ve been watching you fish for probably thirty or forty years now mate, and from your early videos where you exuded your enthusiasm for the catch, i was most impressed by your subdued attitude in out fishing Jo. It takes a smart man to know when and when not to go overboard with the celebration of catching more fish than your partner. It makes for a happier home life 😂. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@StarloGetsReel]

So true! Thanks so much for your kind words and your continued support. It means a lot to us.

[@onneb90]

I really enjoy all your trout fishing videos. Definitely has helped my game over here in WA. Cheers mate 👍

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks for that! Tight Lines. 👍

[@BernardAustin-ie4qq]

Good on you Steve, unlike most channels you leave nothing out. All the little tips that help make an average angler a good one.

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@BernardAustin-ie4qq Thanks so much for that great feedback! Glad you’re enjoying the content. 👍

[@michaelpaul5498]

Hi Steve and Jo. Thanks for sharing another one of your epic adventures. Trout are a great sport fish and tasty on the BBQ. Beautiful clear sky and very fresh. Not that cold in Melbourne ATM but definitely in the hills. Looking forward to your next adventure. Kind regards MP

[@StarloGetsReel]

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@christophergold6056]

What a great video, Starlo. Beautiful words at the end there.

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@christophergold6056 thanks mate! 👍

[@jeffbrunsdon7227]

Another awesome video Starlo, I am not a trout fisho, but this video, makes me want to go and give em a go.

[@StarloGetsReel]

I’m glad to hear it. You should!

[@prizmatik8696]

thanks for the video starlo, fishing is south aus these past few months has been a proper struggle

[@StarloGetsReel]

Tell me about it... Same here! It has been a long, tough winter. Things can only get better!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Saved to watch later. My guess is whatever best matches the hatch. But I'm a lousy fisherman so I'll watch the video and learn something. Thanks Steve. 👍

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers! 👍

[@thecatchtherelease8982]

as someone who used to love life fishing for trout because that first hit you get from them was so addictive and what types of bait fish imitations to use from year was a very good introduction to trout fishing, but i can 100% say without any hesitation that fly fishing for trout is the most effective way to taregt trout. first friday first when fishing for trout in rivers especially when theirs a over lap of hatches trout will selectively target one species of insect during a hatch, no differently during the winter months in the victorian central highlands when they will selectively feed on smelt. with fly you can over all imitations as unfortunately lure fishing you can not. now in eucumbene or jindabyne you can chuck on a tassie rapala or whatever lure you would like to cast and troll and effectively catch some beautiful trout 100% but that’s not teaching you why your catching them trout not to mention the amount of trout you would of encountered in you got our if your comfort zone and tried to self educated on the whys. Now if anyone has read the studies done by fred dunford on those two lakes will know what the main food source for trout is in those two lakes are and will also understand why fly fishing those lakes are superior is due to not what fly, lure or area your fishing, but it’s how you fish them, when to fish them “mainly a day where the winds exceeds more then 25-30k” and what to look for in those lakes. now i can sit hear and right a book and half on how to fish ecumbene or jindy but i’m a big believers of people should self educate but ill give you a tip… “yabbies” ;). i’m happy to talk about rivers if anyone’s interested in having a discussion i also would like to spread awareness of catch and release fishing is super important in those lakes/areas so if you are going to keep a fish you keep only what woood be practicable not a bag limit. 🎣🎣

[@StarloGetsReel]

Good feedback. 👍

[@crissmith7087]

Well done Steve and Joe I personally think trout fishing is some of the best fishing in the world, there is something about these special fish that gets your heart pumping and your adrenaline high. I personally seem to release my trout these days and keep a photo as a reminder as I find them just to beautiful however they are tasty and very good for you. Hopefully we see more stocking programs in other waters and see trout fishing explode in numbers and popularity even more than it currently is 👍🎣

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers for that feedback!

[@jeremytaylor3093]

A great clip. I grew up only fly-fishing in New Zealand, and many of our North Island waters will only allow fly-fishing, so it’s a style you have to learn, in my opinion, to have more options. Still, in the last five years, I have taught myself soft-baiting and how to use hard baits as well. I feel if you can learn about all three methods (I don't really use pure spin or spoons, so can't comment here), you will become a better fisher. Now that I use all three approaches, my take on the different methods is: Fly-fishing is the go-to method for low river conditions as you have greater options of small fly-size available but in terms of still-water, my go-to methods are a black and gold soft bait or a Daiwa double clutch (again black and gold). One thing that I absolutely love with soft baiting is the sheer variety available, (equal to the choice of fly, in my opinion) - I could not imagine now being only a fly-fisher but understand that for some the only method is the fly.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Great feedback! I reckon you've summed it up beautifully - different horses for different courses.

[@niallcameron6433]

Nothing against fly fishing but I can’t get behind the idea of waters reserved only for fluff chuckers - feels too much like an excuse to keep the poors out 😂

[@PeachyFlyFishing]

Nice session mate, hope it warms up a bit for the Buckenderra comp! :)

[@StarloGetsReel]

I hope so too! I'm sure it will. It was grim!

[@peterreid7771]

I have had many trips to Eucumbene, I have found that if trout aren't hitting the lure get the fly rod out. Many a time I have found if the ain't hitting one change to the other. Can be the difference between a good day and a bad. Not that you ever have a bad day fishing 😊

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks for the tips!

[@morerealestatetassie]

Hey Starlo I've followed you from very early days, and was at your first sqidgie night in hobart ! I still use my 5ft8in Calcutta medium mated to my 5601C4 AbuGarcia yes Left hand wind ! I busted the heavier Calcutta matched to my 6000 series LH wind and need a new rod , what would you recommend these days? Thanks Craig

[@StarloGetsReel]

Wow! that's amazing! That Hobart Squidgy night was our first one EVER and I still have very fond memories of it. To replace that rod, check out some of the models in the latest T Curve and Artiesta ranges from Shimano... some beauties in there! Also the Shimano Poison Adrenas, although they're a bit more expensive. Very nice, though. Tight Lines!

[@morerealestatetassie]

@@StarloGetsReel thanks mate

[@glentaylor4867]

I would have thought while drifting like you were Joe might of had more success drifting nighs olive or black in the wind lanes love watching you guys fish together

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers! You might be right.

[@lesperkins8402]

Enjoyed the video - interested in the drogue you are using. From what I can see it's a std style but has additional material on the rope section that goes out to the main drogue. Was this standard or added by you & if so why?

[@StarloGetsReel]

Well spotted. Jo added those "wing" bits as we felt it wasn't quite slowing us enough in stronger winds. Seems to have helped.

[@lesperkins8402]

@@StarloGetsReel Thanks - l will give it a try. It may also reduce my boat sliding across the wind.

[@brentanddea]

I reckon one of those 360 cams in the middle of the boat would be dynamite for recording both of you at the same time. Getting those hits is sometimes more exciting watching the rod bend over vs fisherman reaction. 😊

[@StarloGetsReel]

I agree, and I've got one, but I find the editing of the footage a bit of a challenge... I'll get there!

[@franksaunders6534]

Contrary to what many trout anglers think, it's actually better for the system if anglers keep most of the trout they catch as even big breeders reach a point when they are done for and swim away to die. Removing trout from a stocked lake promotes much better growth from the existing trout. Take Little Pine as a classic example. This lake used to have an average size of at least 3 lb .Now, due to constant catch and release, the size has reduced to an average of just 1 lb as there are too many trout swimming around eating the existing food. The bag limit has now been increased to 20 trout and anglers are encouraged to keep the trout they catch in an effort to boost the size of the trout.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Fair comment although it's very much a case-by-case thing. For example, no browns have been stocked into Eucumbene for well over 50 years, so all the brownies in there are "wild" fish and should be treated and managed as such. By contrast a lot (but definitely not all) of Eucumbene's rainbows are stocked fish. I can't comment with any authority on Little Pine, but in the case of, say, Lake King William, also in Tasmania, we are again looking at wild-spawned browns, but with such good spawning conditions (browns are actually trapped there and transported elsewhere to bolster numbers in other waters) and the relatively low fertility of the lake itself, food-wise, the average size of the fish is small. Anglers are therefore encouraged to take the very generous bag limit (12 a day from memory!)... although I'm not sure it does much to boost average sizes. It's simply a "small fish lake"... but lots of fun to fish! It's a bit of a trap to try to make generalisations across the board when different waters and catchments have very different circumstances.

[@franksaunders6534]

@@StarloGetsReel Fair call Steve. In Tassie there are those who would agree with you and those who would oppose what you are saying. I guess in the end, it's common sense and a matter of considering where you are and how many fish you actually need to keep, if at all. Thanks for taking the time to write a lengthy reply. Frank :)

[@crissmith7087]

I think catch and release is the way to go to keep the system sustainable for trout for example the ecumebeme spawn run is full of big fish for a reason they are all spawning fish. I think it’s all our mission to ensure the trout fishery remains strong and we only take what we need not what we want. However I believe with all types of fishing weather it’s salt water or fresh people need to limit their catch not catch their limit if they want to see the future of fishing. 👍

[@franksaunders6534]

@@crissmith7087 Provided catch and release is done properly and trout are supported properly (not lifted by their gills), handled with wet hands (so as not to burn and injure them) and returned promptly to the water (not left high and dry while time is wasted on photos, adjusting cameras, filming etc) then there is nothing wrong with it. Done incorrectly, trout end up injured with sores and some die and wash up on lakesides. Nothing wrong with keeping a few trout for the table, never was and never will be. The primal essence of fishing is the hunt, the catch and processing the catch - done responsibly, it is sustainable with no harm done to a fishery.

[@crissmith7087]

@@franksaunders6534 Nothing wrong with keeping a few, like you mentioned there are people who don’t respect the fish or catch as much as they can to show off for just be greedy. I think its also our job a trout fishos to teach and educate people on how to handle and look after our fishery i don’t think taking everything you catch is really going to benefit the fishery at all ? If thats what your implying. I belive giving back to our waters and less take is the key to the heart of our fishery It is my choice to release fish i want other people for experience the love for these fish as i have experienced and i want the sport and fishery to grow bigger and stronger. That is why i call for releasing fish and photo lasts a life time a feed is for the day. 👍

[@Randyjohn23]

Hey Steve where abouts was camp for you there?

[@StarloGetsReel]

Buckenderra.

[@3runjosh]

I was really hoping for it to be more equal than it was. Still love fly fishing though! lol. So now I think, if I need to eat I will use bait and a spin rod. If I want to have a fun challenge, I will use fly fishing unless it is not catching anything then I will switch to lure spin.

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@3runjosh those are smart choices I reckon. 👍

[@donnanaughton756]

Great vid, thanks guys

[@user-co4ey6mm3e]

cannot believe you kept so many fish -

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@user-co4ey6mm3e believe it. 😉 We enjoy eating trout and this was our first outing of a new season, so we wanted to stock up. The bag limit where we fished is five trout per angler per day. We didn’t exceed (or even attain) that bag limit across the three days we fished, ultimately keeping nine trout from the 17 we landed. I think this is far from excessive. 😉