CULTURE ON THE LINE
- NAFA
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
THE STORY BEHIND THE INDIGENOUS CLASSIC LURES
Review By Steve Cooper
It isn’t often in fishing that something comes along that blows your mind, but the indigenous designs released on the Classic Lure range did just that. The concept came from Pat Levy at JM Gillies, who contacted Lance Butler and asked him to create the designs based on Aboriginal culture and apply them to the lures. The result is nothing short of remarkable.
Lance, albeit retired now and based in Ingham, North Queensland, built a reputation as one of the premier fishing guides across the Top End. When I met Lance in 2006, soon after Cyclone Monica hit Maningrida, he was the head guide at the Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge, and his wife, Kate, was the chef. It was a unique partnership in the world of fishing.
“I am a proud Bandjin man,” said Lance. “We are the traditional owners of Hinchinbrook Island.”
Passed down to me by my father through his teachings, traditions and connections to country.
Speaking about the lure designs, Lance added: “I am a saltwater man; saltwater is my life, bringing its deep connections to the sea and its coastal waters, waterways and fringes that have shaped me as a barramundi fishing guide all my life. It was passed down to me by my father through his teachings, traditions and connections to country.”
There are six lures in the range, and each design tells a story reflecting Lance’s culture and the belief that all animals have meaning and connection to barramundi as they undertake their dangerous journey from saltwater to freshwater. Lance said he was honoured to be asked to design the lures.
There is Hunting From Above, which Lance said tells the story of the Jabiru spearing its prey with its beak, and the Egret or “barra bird” that shows him where the bait and barramundi are.
The lure called Fire represents the red-hot coals of a cooking fire, and the white represents the ash itself. Lance said, “Campfire is our sitting-down place, where we cook our traditional tucker. This connects me to country and to the telling of stories.”
A place of deep connection, spirituality and cleansing country.
The third lure, Journey, represents the barramundi’s journey from saltwater country to its freshwater resting place – a place of deep connection, spirituality and cleansing country.
Then there is A Turtle’s Life. Lance said it represents the turtles’ emergence from their nests in the sand and their journey to saltwater country, their enduring wisdom and steadiness guiding them through life.
Life Cycle and Renewal depicts the barra breeding and hatching in saltwater before making their way to freshwater country to grow and fatten among the water lilies.
And finally, there is Hunters. Lance said this represents the wise and cunning crocodile, while the sea eagle “is my father watching and guiding me”. Both the crocodile and the sea eagle show him where the barramundi will be. It’s a lure we all need.
