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Gidgee Lures
The Gidgee Lures Story
Tom Barratt (Jnr) is the man behind
Gidgee Lures, growing up in Tenterfield in Northern New South Wales. Tom
created his first lure somewhere around 1989, designed to capture Murray Cod
and Golden Perch (Yellowbelly) and proved to be fatal on Trout also when
they were plentiful in the rivers and streams around the Bolivia area.
These days Tom resides in Brisbane. Of course growing up in Tenterfield did
play an integral role in many of Tom’s designs, growing up with Trevor
McFeeter’s (Tenterfield Lures) boys, Tom witnessed first hand Trevor at work
in his lure making shed and him and the boys taking a couple of blanks to
have a carve at.
Tom recently has been discussing the fine tuning of his lures with Lure
Designer and Craftsman Brett Campbell, but credits his back yard neighbour
John Geihe for introducing him to the craft of lure making.
Being able to easily access lures from
other well know lure makers like Peter Newell and Terry Marshall have also
given Tom an insight into the styles of lures people are interested in. Tom
originally started to make his lures for his own personal use carving them
from red cedar window frames, and sanding them by hand with pieces of
sandpaper, cutting aluminium bibs with tin snips and applying paint with a
spray can. These days Tom has fine tuned the manufacturing process of his
lures and upgraded his paint, bibs and tackle along the way.
Always willing to share what he has learnt Tom has conducted a few lure
making workshops for various clubs and organisations, giving others an
insight into his hobby that has slowly developed into a small scale backyard
business.
“Gidgee” the brand name, reflects Tom’s
early years, back in the day he trained as a butcher and was called “Gidgee”
by his work mates, so when a name was needed it popped up again and has
stuck ever since. Tom reckons there is no better way to spend an early
morning, day or evening walking the banks of creeks and river systems
lurecasting and having a fish take something you have made is even better,
but the thrill for Tom at the moment is top water fishing with a new surface
lure called the “Paddler” it creates a loud plop, plop, plop, plop, plop
paddling noise……that takes Cod both day and night, when retrieved
continuously or by hesitation but you need to brace yourself for the
BOOF!!!!!!
The lure colours which anglers choose are wide and varied and all have their
own personal preferences, as Tom does his favourite colour
scheme/combination is purple with either yellow/black patterns or bars which
have proven to be the most successful for him.
The latest model to join the Gidgee Lures
growing stable is the deep and shallow diving “Sardinops”, this new exciting
lure was originally designed by Paul Kneller (Deception Lures) and is now
produced by Tom. Its hand crafted timber body measuring 100 mm and a total
overall length 125 mm (deep) 115 mm (shallow), including the clear lexan
bib, the “Sardinops” is clearly aimed at Barramundi and Mangrove Jack, but
is also sure to take its share of other species in both fresh and saltwater.
The “Sardinops” dives reasonably steeply when retrieved and can easily
attain running depths in excess of 5 metres, trolling depths will be greater
depending on line type and speed. There are currently15 models in the Gidgee
Lure range, one of the smallest of which is dynamite on Bass, the Gidgee
“Ripple Crank” a top water wake lure to the largest a bruiser for Murray
Cod, the “Big Fella”.
Personally, my current Gidgee lures total 7 but it won't be
long before this changes
Personally, my current Gidgee lures total 7, comprising red/white Jewmack,
purple /silver Kelpie and its black and gold offspring called the Pup.
The small poppers are known as Kidney Slappers, but it won't be long before this changes
I'm sure.
The full range at present is below, details on the Gidgee website link
below.
Please go to Gidgee Lures very
informative Website for sales information.
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