Quobba Helium Ballooning Advice

Hi all

Headed to Quobba in a couple of weeks and planning (Weather permitting) to do some helium Balooning.

We have an idea of what rigs and bait to use, but are mostly interested in how to connect the baloon to the line.

I have had a look at a few youtube videos and am unsure how they have managed to have the bait in the water and yet the balloon 15-20m above.

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

Also keen to hear any recent quobba reports.

Cheers

Jeddy


Da pirate's picture

Posts: 1564

Date Joined: 03/05/15

Swivel !!

Sun, 2016-11-06 18:30

 Simple bud !! I use a swivel ! Blow balloon tie 

mono to base of the ballon tie desired length 

to a swivel then thread main line thru the other 

end of the swivel then tie skip rig on !! Little tip

have one person hold rig free spool balloon out 

then drop her in the drink ! Happy days !! Probally 

other ways but that's how I've always done it !! 

Goodluck mate ! Pirate !

jeddddy's picture

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Date Joined: 12/07/13

 Thanks mate I really

Mon, 2016-11-07 08:04

 Thanks mate I really appreciate it, sounds like the way to go

duncan61's picture

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Date Joined: 21/11/14

agree

Sun, 2016-11-06 21:02

 I use 20lb for the mono and about 20 ft.Let the balloon out about 75m then hurl the bait in and watch it swim out.Adjust the amount of line out to control the bait you want it coming out the water sometimes and splashing back down.As the wind dies down just pull it in closer.you can get macks from the base to 500m out.dont use gars from the south they dont seem to go for them the ones from Carnarvon work better as do mullet and tailor

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jeddddy's picture

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Date Joined: 12/07/13

 Thanks mate, have a few

Mon, 2016-11-07 08:01

 Thanks mate, have a few whole mullet i might take up from down here which should do the trick i reckon

DTrain's picture

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Date Joined: 10/02/12

When I've ballooned in the

Mon, 2016-11-07 09:07

When I've ballooned in the past I do like Da pirate said and use a swivel onto the main line, however I also use a Uni knot around the neck of the balloon and use it as a slip knot. You can tighten it up to stop the air getting out of the balloon but you can also work it loose if you want to add more helium or let some out.

You'll find that the windier it gets the more lift the balloon gets and you can end up with your bait floating in the air. So you usually need to adjust the amount of helium to suit the conditions.

jeddddy's picture

Posts: 104

Date Joined: 12/07/13

 Thanks mate,I'll definetly

Mon, 2016-11-07 12:35

 Thanks mate,

I'll definetly give that a go.

 

Iceman's picture

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Date Joined: 17/03/09

Wind Direction

Mon, 2016-11-07 11:49

 This time of year the winds at Quobba do not favour Ballooning, mainly SE - SW wind but there are still some spot you can try and you never know the weather may just change in your favour.

I would ensure you take few lures as well. 

I will be up there in 3 weeks and we mainly target Sharkies, Cobia and Tuna this time of year by spinning leadhead jigs, metal lures and hard body lures.

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jeddddy's picture

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Date Joined: 12/07/13

Yeah lets hope so,Should

Mon, 2016-11-07 12:33

Yeah lets hope so,

Should still be able to float them out from camp rock though could we with the SE-SW?

Going to wait till the week before to decide if we'll take helium or not.

Thanks for the advice mate.

We'll be up then too, so if i see you up there we'll give you a wave

Dale's picture

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Date Joined: 13/09/05

Mon, 2016-11-07 14:47

 Stock up on some of Big Johns lead heads, the sharkies go nuts over them up there.

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walloped's picture

Posts: 191

Date Joined: 08/04/12

 The sharks are in plague

Mon, 2016-11-07 17:54

 The sharks are in plague proportions at the moment...difficult to land a fish from the stones

Posts: 246

Date Joined: 27/08/11

 oh joy!!, this time last

Mon, 2016-11-07 20:20

 oh joy!!, this time last year we were losing 19 out of every 20 fish in the popular locations.

Have you just been up walloped?

walloped's picture

Posts: 191

Date Joined: 08/04/12

In the last 10 days

Tue, 2016-11-08 09:00

In the last 10 days

Posts: 246

Date Joined: 27/08/11

 Aside from the Greycoats how

Tue, 2016-11-08 10:02

 Aside from the Greycoats how was it? Sharkies running yet?

walloped's picture

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Date Joined: 08/04/12

plenty of cobia

Tue, 2016-11-08 13:28

plenty of cobia

jeddddy's picture

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Date Joined: 12/07/13

 Really man, that sucks...

Tue, 2016-11-08 07:19

 Really man, that sucks... should make for some good gopro footage though

Posts: 246

Date Joined: 27/08/11

 Jeez you're keen ha ha! I'm

Tue, 2016-11-08 10:00

 Jeez you're keen ha ha! I'm heading up in a fortnight so might see you up there.

 

jeddddy's picture

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Date Joined: 12/07/13

You've got to make the most

Tue, 2016-11-08 14:02

You've got to make the most of everything mate

I'll give you a wave if i see you up there, we will be there in 3 weeks

Beard_Slob's picture

Posts: 29

Date Joined: 02/07/13

Balloon Clips FTW!

Tue, 2016-11-08 11:45

My set up is similar to what the other boys have said (swivel from main line & about 10-12m of balloon leader from 15-30lb), except I use an aligator style large balloon clip with a small hole drilled in it to use a snap swivel to connect the balloon leader to the balloon, this makes adjusting gas/air levels quick and easy, last thing you want to be doing is mucking around with knots when the macks are busting out the front. Other things ive seen used are sheep nut rings and a small length of clear tubing. Plus you can re-use balloons with either of these methods @ $10 + a pop (excuse the pun) it makes it a little more economical. Ive had balloons last up to 3 days when using good quality gas and only having to squirt a bit more in to top up!

Posts: 246

Date Joined: 27/08/11

 That's some good advice,

Tue, 2016-11-08 12:33

 That's some good advice, I've always guesstimated balloon fill for bait size and added a bit more gas just in case, then if needs be weighted down the bait line with sinkers. But in my scenario balloons are not reusable.

jeddddy's picture

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Date Joined: 12/07/13

 Thanks mate, really

Tue, 2016-11-08 14:06

 Thanks mate, really appreciate it I will look into it

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Date Joined: 25/05/12

fill balloon, twist up end,

Tue, 2016-11-08 13:48

fill balloon, twist up end, tie loop on the end of balloon line, put the loop halfway up the twist, then pull balloon end through the tube.

jeddddy's picture

Posts: 104

Date Joined: 12/07/13

 Jeez, you have put some

Tue, 2016-11-08 14:14

 Jeez, you have put some thought into that,

I'm spoilt for choice now,

Thanks for the advice mate

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Date Joined: 20/05/15

 best way to do it mate.

Tue, 2016-11-08 16:24

 best way to do it mate. allows for gas to be topped up easily. diameter of the clear tube depends on the thickness ofthe balloon. been doing this for a fair while without 1 letting go on me( other then when the brey coats decide they want my mack more then i do0.