LEGEND’S GREATEST FLAT TIPS
RUGBY league has got Jonathon Thurston, AFL has Gary Ablett and flathead fishing has got Ross McCubbin.
I first met Ross nearly 30 years ago when I was still at school and he had just become the youngest game fishing skipper on the Gold Coast.
Since then he has had his name etched onto most fishing trophies around the country but it is the Gold Coast’s own Flathead Classic where Ross has become a legend.
In the lead up to the Classic Ross doesn’t simply go fishing to prepare, he trains.
He practises different techniques, different lures and different locations so when the competition starts he knows he has left nothing to chance.
That would help in part to explain why Ross has won the classic more than anyone.
Ross grew up fishing here on the Coast and has more than 50 years experience on our waterways catching anything and everything. He is always thinking of fishing.
On a recent trip to Hervey Bay Ross woke at 3am to the call of nature and while on the back deck of the boat he noticed a large barramundi at- tracted to the boat lights.
A minute or so later Ross had landed an 80cm barra, as he was relieving himself.
As I said always thinking of fishing. But what sets Ross apart from other experienced fisherman is he isn’t protective of his accumulated knowledge.
He is passionate about teaching the younger generation not only the joys of fishing but also the skills required to catch them.
So from the greatest ever champion of the Flathead Classic here are Ross’s top five tips for catching Flatties here on the Gold Coast:
There is always more fish around bait, so use your sounder or keep an eye for where birds are particularly pelicans;
Fish in water that is not too clear nor too dirty, also if you see a colour change in water fish there;
Use natural colour lures in clear water and bright lures in dirty water;
Fish shallow banks on run in tides and sandy drains on run out tides;
Fish light, use 6-10lb braid with a 12lb fluorocarbon leader.