Fun with Redfin

I recently coached my cousin's grandkids in the fine art of lure fishing a swirling farm creek for Redfin Perch. Winter rain in the Bridgetown area meant this little creek was discoloured and I wondered if the lures and spinners I'd selected might not even be visible... . Needn't have worried. Just before dusk we enjoyed repeated hits and had ten Redfin on the bank before dark. Most successful patterns were Mepps, Gibbs, Blue Fox, Vibrax and Tiger Tails, with red hints and rainbow trout colouration the most successful colours.* The most popular lure had a tuft of dark red feathers on the treble. At times, there was a frenzy of hits... and yes, we lost a few lures to snags.

Eighty percent of the fish were very healthy females loaded with eggs.  

Did the kids have fun? You bet. The family had known for years that this little creek sheltered Redfin, but these were apparently the first caught. Pretty excited about their adventure, both boys went out first thing the next morning and caught another good-sized reddie.  Late afternoons may produce more fish... .

* Quite a few of these lures had been successful with Rainbows, Dolly Varden, and Cutthroat in Vancouver Island streams and lakes.  Next time I visit Bridgetown I'll try some wet flies with red hints against these voracious predators!~

Image Upload: 

hilly9's picture

Posts: 282

Date Joined: 13/10/12

Very nice!  Decent size 

Sun, 2019-10-13 20:30

Very nice!  Decent size 

Mark_M's picture

Posts: 158

Date Joined: 10/04/15

Great result

Sun, 2019-10-13 21:33

best way to fillet that I have found is here:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opTnahD5fMw

 

 

 

Posts: 49

Date Joined: 18/03/12

Filleting Redfin

Wed, 2019-10-23 05:07

 Brilliant little vidclip. Thanks, Mark!~

Posts: 5981

Date Joined: 17/06/10

What a size

Mon, 2019-10-14 00:16

That's one hell of a reddy.

Posts: 445

Date Joined: 29/04/18

 Kids have done well  with

Mon, 2019-10-14 05:10

 Kids have done well  with that one ,good sized fish

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 Happy dayz 

Wes F's picture

Posts: 1059

Date Joined: 07/01/12

Good stuff

Mon, 2019-10-14 06:43

 These lads will duck out at any chance they get now. Good times.

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 Old fishermen never die they just smell that way.