ROD & RIFLE TACKLEWORLD KATHERINE
- katherine831
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
It’s February, and the monsoon has just arrived... late. Nevertheless, consistent rain over the NT summer has left Katherine’s Rod & Rifle Tackleworld shop owner, Trent De With, feeling positive about the coming tourist season.
“The monsoon arrived late this season. It was the latest arrival of the Wet since records began in the 1950s,” Trent said. “Still, we have had consistent rains without the monsoon, and if the rain continues, the Runoff is promising.”
Last season, Rod & Rifle Tackleworld underwent an interior makeover that resulted in a 30 per cent boost in shelving capacity—and the addition of a pet crocodile.
Trent’s father, Warren, has retired, but staffing numbers remain the same, with six full-timers. In 2023, at the peak of the tourism season, the shop operated with nine staff and still struggled to keep pace with customer demand. Consecutive wet seasons in 2023 and 2024 boosted barramundi numbers in local waterways.
“The Victoria River experienced good consecutive wet seasons,” he said. Highlighting the impact on barra fishing, Trent referenced the Katherine Game Fishing Club’s annual Big Horse Barra Classic: “In 2022, 120 barra were caught. In 2023, that number rose to 200,” he said.
“But in 2024, more than 850 barra were caught, along with another 150 captures that were disqualified.”
Katherine Rod and Rifle Tackle World has everything you need for fishing, hunting, outdoor cooking and camping.
Roll on 2025.
Asked what was new in-store, Trent replied, “Well, we sell cowboy hats now, and they are great for sun protection.”
Among other new or improved products, Trent said the Jabbers rod range has proven to be a game changer for travelling anglers, particularly those with limited space for luggage or boat storage.
“The Jabbers range of rods is amazing,” Trent said. “Jabbers are five-piece rods that store easily, yet when assembled, the joints don’t inhibit the action, so the rod feels like a one-piece.”
Three models of the Chopper rod range are available this year. Exclusive to Rod & Rifle Tackleworld and designed by Trent, Chopper rods are rated to 10kg and can be carried on a car dashboard or even the roof of a buggy. Trent said they were “good little flicking rods for heavy country,” and such was their popularity last year that between 600 and 700 Chopper rods flew off the shelves.
“These lures come in three sizes and are pre-rigged,” he said. The paddle-tail lures hold up well across multiple fish captures, which Trent attributes to the high-quality hooks used in the pre-rigged versions, built to withstand the rigours of northern river fishing.
Established brands like Yeti are well represented in-store, and Trent said the Yeti range was constantly evolving. Meanwhile, ABU Garcia has revamped its REVO reels, with the latest addition being the REVO 5.
The store also caters to tech-savvy anglers with a range of scopes and sounders from Garmin and Humminbird.
The camo Chopper rod designed by Trent.
Rod & Rifle Tackleworld isn’t just about fishing. The store caters to outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. Campers and shooters are well looked after, and those with epicurean tastes can find a range of smokers and barbecue essentials.
Top-selling firearms in the shop include the Howa 1500, a 10-shot rifle available in .223 and .308 calibres, featuring a stainless-steel barrel and a synthetic stock.
Rod & Rifle Tackleworld has been trading for more than 45 years. Trent, who bought the shop from his father Warren about nine years ago, said adapting to ongoing changes was crucial.
“American-style rubs and sauces are becoming huge, whether you’re smoking fish or meat, and we are at the leading edge of this trend,” he said.
Rod & Rifle Tackleworld is located on Giles Street, Katherine, a city at the crossroads of Northern Territory fishing, with three fabulous barra waters—the Daly, Roper, and Victoria Rivers—all within three hours' drive.
