GREAT salmon were caught in and around the Leven River last weekend, mainly on silver lures and bait.

These fish were down deeper than usual, so a heavier lure, sinker or jighead is the ticket, especially when the current is running.

The rain earlier this week may have flushed these fish out for a few days, but they have been super consistent over the last few months, and are very likely to return.

Give it a few days to settle and the fresh to flush out and the Leven would be well worth a look.

Good salmon are also being caught at Marrawah, and have also been running in the Inglis on and off.

With more and more fishos switching to braided line, especially for winter casting and bottom fishing, we are getting plenty of queries about this style of line.

Braided line is super low diameter, so it improves casting distance, and also has very little stretch, so you can feel everything happening at the end of the line.

The low diameter also allows you to fish significantly heavier line if required - it is possible to spin cast with lines of up to 50lb!

Following are a few tips that will allow you to enjoy all the significant benefits of braid and minimise the frustrations.

Not all reels are suitable for running braid, plastic spools are a definite problem as the line will cut the spool.

A `worm drive’ oscillation system on your reel is a big advantage as it lays the braid on the spool much more smoothly and evenly, this minimises looping and tangles when casting.

When loading spools with braid, run a couple of layers of monofilament on first and then attach the braid - otherwise the braid will slip on the spool under load.

As a rule, fill your spool only to about 80 per cent full.

Buy the best braid you can afford, as better lines have coatings or additives to stiffen the braid slightly, again minimising tangles.

Keep an eye on the line, especially during the first couple of winds after a cast when there is less pressure on.

If you see a loop on the spool, don’t keep fishing - run the line out behind the boat or along the shore.

If fishing very light jigheads or lures, especially into the wind, looping is more likely.

In these conditions, every 10th cast or so I turn around and fire a long cast with the wind or with the current.

This straightens the line out and allows you to wind back onto the spool with pressure against the line.

Finally, I recommend investing in a good pair of braid scissors - these make cutting this line much easier and stand up to the braid, unlike many pliers and nippers which very quickly go blunt.

If you would like more info regarding braid, knots to use, leaders to tie on, or anything else, feel free to call in.

Tight lines.

Source: The Advocate Tasmania