We’ve taken the time to interview Rob Payne about how the team went about their tournament – what they used, where they fished and how they managed to cope with the extreme conditions that challenged all anglers fishing the comp.
A quick run down of the stats for the competition saw 588 competitors catch 4,195 flathead of which 2051 were over the 40cm minimum legal length. The event was capped about three weeks out at 240 teams, making this event a seriously large event for a single species, catch and release tournament.
Following will be our interview with Rob Payne. You will be able to understand who is talking by the designation WF for Wilson Fishing and RP for Rob Payne.
WF
Congratulations Rob to you and the team on the win. We know how much effort you have all gone to in the last three or more years to achieve this win and Wilson Fishing has always been a high level sponsor of the event. But what makes this event such a big priority for you and the boys?
RP
Flathead are such an intriguing fish to consistently catch even though some people say that they’re dumb and easy to catch. These people obviously don’t try to catch them throughout all tides, daylight hours and weather conditions. There are not too many fish that can be caught from 1m to 30m of water using just about every conceivable lure/fly on the market
WF
The forecast was atrocious. How did that impact on your plans for the event?
RP
It didn’t really impact our plans as we always roll with the punches. Sure we knew it was going to be horrific but as with every Flathead Classic you have to adapt quickly to the conditions and sometimes the amount of traffic in an area that you want to fish
WF
You chose to troll a lot of the time. How did you come to this decision?
RP
It’s pretty simple. Three blokes can stand there and cast and work a 30m stretch of bank in half an hour and you still only cover an area the length of your cast by the length of the bank for that half an hour but if you troll you can cover all different depths and about four to five times the area in the same amount of time.
WF
What were the most productive lures?
RP
No. 1 Tango Shad, No. 2 Fish Trap, No. 3 Micro Mullet, No. 4 Flat Shad, No. 5 Flash Wriggly
WF
Are there any tips you can pass on to the readers on how to get the best from the Zerek Tango Shad?
RP
Go as light as you possibly can in the line department and never use them with bent terminals or eyelets
WF
The wind was ridiculous on the second day, and it was from an unusual direction. How did the team cope with having a lot of fishable water made unfishable by this wind?
RP
Suck it up and use every fishing skill you’ve accumulated to put the boat in the right place. The wind creates its own current lines, pushes water off flats where it never usually goes and more. You just have to be on the ball to be able to recognise potential fish holding areas
WF
Given that many of your go-to locations were wiped out by the weather, what did you do to keep fish coming over the side?
RP
We looked for new water firstly by using our eyes and then by scouting the area while trolling. There were some very surprising locations found – locations that will produce fish again and again. Locations that were totally new produced fish beyond many of our expectations.
WF
Are there any last tips or tricks punters can use to get amongst some flathead? Is there a tactic that everyone needs to know?
RP
Pick a designated fishing radius before the competition, learn every blade of weed, every undulation, every sinkhole on all stages of the tide and wind and fish it for the day. Stay focused on this area other than filling your head with ideas of “should I be here? Should I be there?”.  Believe in the area and work it
WF
Thanks for your time Robbie and again, congratulations to you and your team on a sensational result in very tough conditions.
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