Years
before being born it was set that Jason would be a keen fisho.
His father Lance by 1976 had taken many senior club outing
wins fishing with the Grafton District Angers Club (GDAC)
in the early 70's fishing the famous middle wall at the Clarence
river mouth pulling many thumping bream on handlines.
While growing up in Grafton on most Saturdays as a boy Jason
could be found on the bank of the Clarence River with his
Grandfather Kevin soaking a worm dug that morning in pursuit
of bass (perch) in locations from Copmanhurst down to the
mouth.
Quickly learning about fishing after spending a lot of time
in boats with Lance and off the bank with Kevin it was not
long before a young lean kid could be seen riding a BMX down
to the water on most afternoons to soak a black cricket in
the waters not far from the Grafton Bridge.
Joining the GDAC as a junior and fishing with Lance through
the late 80's and early 90's Jason took out many club wins
as junior ending in his last year as a junior with the junior
deep sea title.
By the age of 20, competition fishing had lost it's alure
and to this day very few are entered by Jason due to his contempt
for rules that tell him where and when we can or cannor fish.
No waters of the Clarence system had Jason not seen and it
was about then he started to drive boats on the open ocean
and started to develop and refine the saltwater techniques
still uses today.
Having spent many days walking the banks of the upper Nymboida
River fresh water fishing was always on his door step and
readily accepted.
Working indoors for a supermarket at the time the chance to
get outside and rough it with nothing but an esky a swag and
a fire with his best mate and little brother Nathan and Lance
was always jumped at.
Once known for never stopping for moment he could go weeks
without having the time to sit and relax dividing every spare
minute between hunting, fishing, crabbing and having a cleansing
ale or nine at the local pub on a Saturday night.
During this time the Late Ron Collins picked up on a report
relating to the Clarence River posted on the then small Ausfish
website and offered Jason a spot in Bush n Beach Fishing Newspaper.
As Ron was short for correspondence from that part of the
world it was a lucky break that saw Jason begin to learn the
art of public writing, an art he is still trying to perfect
today. Happy writing for just Bush n Beach and Sweetwater
Fishing Australia at the moment it is a hobby cherished.
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Moving
with work to Tamworth 2002 Jason was introduced to western fishing
both impoundment and wild river fishing. Split Rock, Keepit and
Chaffey Dams were regular haunts chasing Murray cod, Golden Perch
and Carp on lure and fly.
It was nearing the end of his time Tamworth when he found the
holy grail of lure casting in this country when he and brother
Nathan followed the piper north to Lake Proserpine and the love
affair with big impoundment barra began.
Having a year off work due to Lack of interest and spending some
time back in his home town of Grafton, Jason landed at Woody Point
on the Redcliffe peninsular in early 2005 where his addiction
to saltwater fishing could be fed and those big barra of the central
dams are within half a days travel.
Developing an intimate knowledge of fishing tackle and general
boat bits through working in the industry he is up to date on
all of the whistles and bells of the boating and fishing world.
Signing off everything he writes as "Birdy" he very
rarely gets called Jason these days but I suspect that may be
how he likes it.
Some
of Birdy's writting
Peter
Faust Dam Revisited
Faust
Dam Express
Gearing
up for Big Lake Barra
Fishing
Fun at Faust Dam
You
can email him at Birdy[at]sweetwaterfishing.com.au
