​Hookup. Or Not?

Cairn Curran

Back in the day (yea I know, ok Boomer) Cairn Curran Reservoir was my winter “go to”. The colder months provided exceptional brown trout fishing, as well as some fabulous reddy angling over the weedbeds in the bays, or deep in the main pool off the downrigger.

About 18 years ago my job took me to the top of the state in Mildura, and then a few years later a transfer to the south in Warrnambool was effected. The trout were rare around Mildura, but down Warrny way the Merri River is well stocked with brown trout and the boat ramp was literally 90 seconds from my front door, bliss! They were great years, but about 7 years ago it was time to come home to Central Victoria.

So home we came, and I immediately reacquainted myself with my favorite local lake in Lake Eppalock, as well as Lake Mulwala for my Murray cod fishing fix. Something had changed over at Cairn Curran however. For some reason it had fallen from favor as a brown trout destination, and had (instead, in addition?) been receiving some substantial native fish releases. These native releases have been a raging success however, the yella and cod captures from there are great, big fat fish that pull really hard. It may have already occurred, but meter cod from Cairn Curran can’t be far away. The yellas are already as big and fat, as any in the country! Clearly the ample redfin population are not just good tucker for the anglers!

Tullaroop

In recent years nearby Tullaroop Reservoir has come “on line”, evolving from a shore based only destination, to one available for non petrol powered boats and their angling crew as well. Brown trout liberations in this lake remain excellent. The browns that are caught here have always been good, as are the reddys, but now boating anglers can have a red hot go at them as well. Well, as long as the battery power holds up anyway. I bet I’m not the only boaty to “max out” the battery a little too far from the ramp, and limp home with the bow mount electric hooked up to the sounder battery! Oops…..

Tassie Devils are a staple for me, when trout fishing. They just work. What I’m seeing in the shops these days is a bit of an evolution, a revolution maybe, regarding how we fish these winged beauties. Read on…….

Mentors

In my trout fishing heyday I had some tremendous mentors who were exceptional trout anglers. Blokes like premium rod builder Gary Marsh (RIP) and Canadian gun Bill Presslor had forgotten more about trout fishing than I could ever hope to know. And it was Gary who first encouraged me to have a think about the way I rig and subsequently fish my Tassies. Are the three prongs of the treble “best practice” for trout fishing, or would two be better? Heaven forbid, a single hook? It’s a poor student who doesn’t listen to such wisdom, and listen I did.

Singles

The first strike and hookup on the single hook was amazing. A typical Cairn Curran browny, it carried on like a pork chop, seemingly spending just as much time above the water line as below it. Once in the landing net the single hook was snicked in snug as a bug in the corner of the jaw, the Tassie Devil still there on the rig, but no longer part of the contest. The hook was no more coming out of there early, than ole Darky early exiting from a local disco in the 1980s, once I was in, I was in for the duration!

Back in the day (there it is again, ok Boomer) our singles were a large saltwater fly fishing hook in Siwash pattern. It had a straight shank and eye and proved ideal for use with Tassie Devils. Gary’s original rigs were masterful in their simplicity. The Siwash hook was attached to a small rolling swivel, then a 60cm length of monofilament with another rolling swivel finishing the rig. The wire and treble were removed from the Tassie and the single hook rig fed through the body of the lure. Clip it on and prepare to see the trout hit the deck!

Why does it work? I don’t know for sure, but my own anecdotal evidence suggests that (in trout circles at least) the old faithful treble can be bit by our salmonid prey, but due to the inherent “bulk” of a treble, there are plenty of times where they clean miss the sharp bit, or only get a bit of it. This results in missed strikes, or 5 second fights followed by slack line and a loud expulsion of consecutive words which would not make our dear Mothers proud. Not at all.

Whilst getting a better hookup, the singles as mentioned, stay in. The lure body is free to slide up the line if the fish wants to be a circus acrobat and I found it very rare (if ever) to have a single pull out through the fight. But what about doubles you ask???

Doubles

Karl Fedke is a giant of a man who attracted the attention of the (mighty) Geelong Football Club as a Kerang teenager. Over the years, he’s also attracted the attention of plenty of the Geelong region’s trout as well, and it was Karl who first introduced me to the concept of a “double” for use in a Tassie Devil.

If Gary’s single rig was easy, then Karl’s double rigs were simplicity personified. Quite simply, two Siwash (or similar) hooks fed onto a split ring. That’s it! Run your main line through the Tassie and tie onto the ring. Start fishing! Too simple you say? Ok, knock yourself out, add a red bead between the ring and the base of the Tassie. Add a few if you want. It’s just impossible to make this a hard rig. The hooks can oppose each other or face each other. Which way is better? Try it and see. We’d love to hear your results and thoughts.

Evolution

Tassie Devil lures are iconic in Australia and indeed Worldwide these days. When I was fishing frequently for trout, every Tassie was delivered with a through wire and attached treble hook. They were quick and easy to rig up and use, but anglers always took the chance of the fish using the lead based lure as a hook removing “lever” when jumping, as well as the potential pitfalls of a 3 pronged hook as mentioned earlier. Switched on anglers were already snipping off the trebles and tying them on to the mainline with a bead, and landing more fish. While “lazy darkys” just clipped them on, lost fish, and used language my dear Mother would certainly raise an eyebrow at……

It’s a smart business that listens to the purchasers of its product, using this information to evolve. And so it was with Tassie Devils. In something of a revelation, about 5 or 6 years ago Tassie Devils stopped shipping every Tassie Devil with a through wire and treble attached. Justin Causby, Managing Director of Wigstons Lures, tells me the changes were all angler driven. “The trend towards the premium in line single hooks has been hugely successful, both as singles or swinging doubles” careful……… Justin goes on to say “we still offer the wired trebles in a pack of five, but anglers preferring these are now in the minority”.

Finally

So there it is, some food for thought. Clearly there’s more to lure evolution than a revamp of the color range every so often. Wigstons Lures much loved Tassie Devils have always been at the pointy end of trout fishing. The question is, do you want three points, two, or one? Have a chat to the knowledgeable McCreddens Fishing and Outdoors Pro Staff about your Tassie Devil needs. They have a great range, and can help you out with your personal hook choice.

Is less more? In trout fishing lure hook speak, I think yes. Give a single (or a swinging double) a go. Let us know………….

darky out……