Been planning a trip to the Lyne for a while so tagged along with some local mates for a three day expedition. Three boats in all and the other two boats full of flyfisherman.

 Fly fishermen, like their long wands are full of long stories of big fish in remote locations....... so it was going to be a great time.

Heading out from Wyndham ramp with three days supplies. This was going to be a camping trip in the wet season......

Following the lead boat of Troy and Matt, both experienced flyfisherman

Half way point and no return...... nice chocolate coloured water here in the Gulf.

After reaching the Lyne time to head up and explore the fishing options

Cast plenty of lures but no interest.....time to troll and see if that draws a fish..... while not a Barra very happy with Josie's first Jack after some quick instructions on the art of trolling. Fell to a classic 10+ Guns and Roses.  

The only fish we scored for the day and after 55 miles in the boat time to head for camp.

Some wild country this end of town. Time to moor the boats

and set up camp

One thing about the Kimberley is the sunrise

Especially with a Boab or two fringing the escarpment

So with day two came the full day of fishing. Expectations were high with so much country to explore. With VHF turned on we seperated to go our own way. Given the pulling power of the latest generation of Japanese lures when I was chasing bream down south it was time to cast many a lure from my recently aquired new age Japanese lures......those Ima Flint look sooooo good......... but alas no Barra interested....... Throughout the day, Josie, who has very limited fishing experience, mastered the skills required to cast small plastics amoungst the wood. Very happy with the results of the new found rod handling ability

And while not the biggest Queenie for someone who couldn't cast a rod in the moring it's a fine capture.

While Josie caught a few other fish there was no Barra on lures for me. Josie did drop two Barra that day, one on plastic that smashed the lure at the boat, jumped and spat the hook while a good 80+ fish smashed the classic on the troll but threw the hooks upon jumping. Needless to say no fish in boat but spectacular strikes and jumps to keep us excited. The fly fisherman had a better day with a few Barra boated.

I was somewhat dispondent at the complete lack of interest by Barra in the lures so I thought long and hard about why...... after talking to the 'wanders' it became evident the size and speed of lure was critical. Something to mull over and sit patiently, like the boats, while I contemplate what to do on day three, our last. 

Waking in the morning to low tide and the photo gives you an idea of the manitude of the tidal fluctuataions here......

Day three dawned blue and like my boat that has recently had a conversion (from centre console to side console) change needed to occur.......

Time to consolidate and target gutters, it had occured to me that I was doing something wrong at the gutters....and size it was! The gutters I was passing up were too big so concentrate on small ones..... This one was a little two big.......

So for the rest of the morning we hit really small gutters and we bid managed a few Barra. I had shelved the lures and tied on a plastic. This time it was a 1/4 TT with a 3" Slam white minnow. Cast into the gutter and bounce it out. Any Smacked by Barra but soon threw the hook mid air though........ Must say, never have I come accross a place were all hooked Barra jump.... but given none in the boat, the aerials make up the excitment high. Gota love those aerial flips...... 

The 'wanders' pulled a few fish on the trip but nothing big unfortunately. Lucky in this neck of the woods with wide open skies, escarpment country and no other distractions, its a bonus in this country if you catch a fish 

Even sleeping in stinking hot, sweaty conditions ain't gona stop me from returning again cause I now know were the Barra hide.........