South Australian Angler – June 2018

least areas where the fish will have to

traverse. Channels that drain the flats

or hold water at low tide, smaller gaps

between weed beds, different bottom

composition – the list is endless and can

differ between locations and the species

you seek.

MAKE A TROLLEY

One thing I have found invaluable

when wading the flats for a feed is an

amphibious trolley. It truly does help

make the whole experience that little

bit more enjoyable. Rather than having

to carry a box around, I simply pull my

trolley along the ground and when it gets

to the water, it floats level and is stable.

My trolley is not unique, and if you

travel the flats regularly, you’ve no

doubt seen variations of it. It’s basically

an alloy frame that supports a suitably

sized butchers’ tub. The tub is held in

position with occy straps. Wheels are

foam buoys, available cheaply from

any chandlery store, with suitably sized

plastic rod butt caps securely glued to

the ends of the axles. An appropriate

length of rope completes the rig,

allowing it to be pulled by hand or

placed through a waist belt, attaching

it to your body and enabling it to be

moved hands free.

The addition of some rod holders

helps when you need to prop up a rod

for re-rigging or unhooking a fish, as

well as providing the option of stowing

another rod or even a crab rake.

Keeping yourself hydrated and the

catch cold.

While much of my fishing these days

is purely for sport, some species are just

too good not to take home. Yellowfin

whiting are perhaps top of that list.

It’s no secret that the best way to

keep your catch in top condition for the

table is with an ice slurry, but there is

little chance of keeping ice in just the

tub of the trolley on a hot day. I needed

an ice box, and a little investigation soon

had one that fit the trolley perfectly. The

20 litre Evercool I use was the perfect

size in length and height, allowing not

just the fish to remain in good condition,

but also to ensure the water stayed

cold, even if it did at times smell a

bit fishy! It truly has been a fantastic

addition to the arsenal.

TACKLE STORAGE

When on foot, carrying large amounts of

tackle is unrealistic, but spares need to be

taken unless you are happy gambling on

not losing tackle or lures. There is a myriad

Bream are easy to find and adore small hard bodies

The author’s custom fishing trolley

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