My precious prizes.

Hi there,

Yes I have received the prizes for my win the the fourth round of the Top End Barra Series.
And let me tell you that this is some really cool prizes...

The best of them is the fishing rod: a G.Loomis GL2 CR665.

Yes, that's the one.

A fishing rod to which I would only give a quick and furtive glance once in a while at the tackle shop. Too expensive for my fishing budget, it was till last week just a dream.
And then all it took to have one was just an enormous amount of luck, and one of them become mine.
It is ultra light in the hand, yet cast like a breeze, and seem to be able to show some guts if a fish was to be caught. I can't wait for my first catch on this rod.
For the reel, I have mounted my old and trusty Curado 201E7 on it.

In situe.

This is a very nice combo, light and beautiful. 

One of my favourite things about this rod, is that it comes accompanied by a very large understatement. Like most items of high quality, there is no bling attached to it. Just a very simple, short and efficient rod, made of the best materials possible. This fishing rod could be described as being chic, rather than trendy.

The lure on this images is a Reidy's B52.

This rod was the prize for winning the round.

The second prize was for having caught the biggest Barramundi of the round, and it is a Plano 1374 Guide Series tackle box.

An absolutely massive tackle box, which I think I may use mostly as a storage box for my lures at home. 

First because I don't really see myself going fishing on the pushbike with such a large tackle box. Then, because it would be a bit awkward when I am lucky to be invited on a boat, to arrive and occupy half of the boat room with my gears. And finally for the very simple raison, that I need a one and all storage place for my lures at home, instead of having them all over the place...

Have a look at it:

My biggest tackle box so far.

So yes, it would be faire to say that when I look at my prizes, I am a happy chap.

Even if it is true that now I am very afraid of breaking my new rod...

But hey, it could be worse.

Have a good day,

Me.

Pimp My Reel.

Hi there.

Yes I did pimp one of my reel last week.
My little Shimano Curado 201E7 to be exact (the one I use for Barramundi fishing).
And nothing too bling, it is all under the bonnet.
You won't see any thing from looking at it, and here is a proof of it:

The reel under the banana trees.

So what has been done to this reel you could ask...

Nothing too flashy to look at.

Well, first the aluminium drag was changed for a stainless steel one for a smoother action. 

Then the factory drag washers have been replaced by some Carbontex ones for a stronger action. Allowing me to put more weight on the fishes.

And to finish it up the reel has been spooled  with yellow high visibility 30lb. braided line.

As you can see, there is not much to look at on the outside, most of it was done inside of the reel. It still look the same old reel full of scratches, but has in fact become a mean fishing machine. 

That the way I like it.

After about three year of duties this little reel finally received some well deserved care and attention. In fact it cost me a lot less than buying a brand new reel, but its performances are now much better than what it ever was.

So have I already caught a monster Barramundi with it since it has been modified?

Nope, not yet...

But hey, it could be worse.

Have a good day,

Me.