Category: Fishing reports

My desire to hunt down untested waters thwarted my trip plan to explore the upper Cox’s river late in the season. Instead, a session on the NSW DPI angler access site led me south of Oberon to the Hollanders River and Jaunter Creek.
I find the angler access map more miss than hit. This is not so much because of a lack of effort by NSW DPI but due more to the efforts that landowners put in to restrict access, sometimes on public land. I had a few access points marked on my route, and today was no exception to the miss and hit rule.
First on the list was Hollanders river, blocked by a gate with ‘Private Property’, ‘You will be monitored by camera’ signs. The DPI site said this access point was on a public road, but maybe the public road was coming from a different direction, who knows.
Next stop, Jaunter creek. Despite there being plenty of water around, this creek was skinny and overgrown. Plus, there were fences on either side of the road, which effectively ruled out access from below the high water mark. Strike Two.
Third attempt was on the Tuglow River. Again, this access point was marked by DPI as being on a public road, and as far as I could tell, there was no other road leading to it, but guess what?

So after wasting the morning on those access points, I made for the Fish River. Getting down to the river took a bit of slipping and sliding down the hill while wrestling with blackberry bushes, but at least there was access. I walked downstream for 15 minutes and fished back up to the bridge.
The river was high and coloured and probably perfect for euro nymphing but I don’t have any of that setup. For me it was a pink jig nymph about two feet under a stimulator. I soon hooked a small rainbow in close to an undercut bank. I’d show you the triumphant photo, but it was at this point I realised I’d left the net in the car. So fishy slipped back into the water before I got the shot.
Here is the spot instead (undercut grassy bank on right).

I cast the rest of the way upstream and hooked the next small rainbow in a pool within sight of the road bridge. I landed this one up on the bank to get proof this time.

The Fish River redeemed my castless/fishless morning, but I was running out of time, so I started for home via the Cox’s River. It was getting on in the afternoon now, and I’d never caught a fish in here after 2pm. I’d put this down to the sun heating up the water too much during the hot summer afternoons, which is why I was keen to explore this stretch of the river late in the season with the water holding up cold.

The river access and scenery along this stretch of the Cox’s is among the best of the central west, but the fishing can be tough. Today was no exception, with not a fish sighted, but plenty of casting practise sufficed. So much for my hot summer afternoon theory. Maybe the fish are Spanish stock and have a siesta at 2pm?
There was a fair bit more algae growth on the rocks than in past visits, which could be because of the runoff from Lake Wallace. The water temperature here was 13°c. Still a fair bit warmer than the Fish River was at 7°c (which, I can tell you from firsthand experience, if you don’t watch your footing in the water, is bloody freezing).
Turning over a rock, the nymphs here are closer to a size 16 or 18. My fly box is mostly size 14s, so I have since stocked some smaller nymphs. Maybe I will have one last foray into this area before season’s end, the view at least is worth it.

As the rivers are soon opening I decided to get some practice at this pristine lake. This was the first decent day in a long time.
On my walk up to the water I bumped into two guys coming the other way as they had finished for the day. I was starting, they were finishing. I keep gentlemanly hours these days!
It turns out one guy was our Martin Mednis who recognized me as a Lakeside member. We chatted for a while and I continued up to water.
Conditions were very good with a bit of a breeze. On the water there were no rises and I reluctantly tried some wets and nymphs.
Then I noticed a few rises. Most were fairly serious slashes, but try as I might I could not tempt a take.
Soon it was time to go (to feed the chooks etc). Heading back, I noticed a more serious swirl type rise. I could not resist a last go, and cast my small dry fly in the location. Immediately a serious swirl type rise hit my fly. A slow deliberate setting and STRIKE!

After long and trying battle, a fat 3.5 to 4lb rainbow hen was landed.

Can’t wait for rivers to open, the weather to behave and many good days!

Billy T

Snow and rain in the weeks leading up to closing weekend built anticipation the flush might have started the fish on their annual run up the Eucumbene River.

The Portal was in full flight and the river low but flowing nicely. As usual the run from the Portal to the tree line at Denison was well populated with anglers and campers at the Denison car park.

The hot rumour was to fish the Eucumbene down stream of the Portal. So there wasn’t much room either at the junction or down stream. We tested Denison instead, fishing for several hours down stream of the old road bridge but to no avail. One chap said he landed a reasonable sized brown but that was the only report of a catch.

We moved on to Kiandra and fished the river downstream from the Kings Cross Road and Snowy Mountains Highway junction. The river looked perfect and there were only a couple of other people about. Despite several hours of trying we didn’t even a spook a fish.

On Sunday we checked the Portal and seeing the usual mob we decided the Murrumbidgee where it joins Tantangara would be a good chance. The volume of Tantangara was 19% so we thought the river would be spot on. Port Philip Fire Trail was in good condition but the Dam Track was very muddy. So much so that we only made it half way along before deciding that it was not worth getting stuck on the very boggy and slippery track. It was well and truly cut up by other vehicles.

After a brief diversion to Tantangara we found it low and boggy so crossed the causeway and tried Mosquito Creek. We walked the creek for about a kilometer and fished back to the car. The muddy water was barely flowing and the lake bed very soft and boggy.

One of the problems was the water level had only dropped in the past month so there was no plant life in the creek or the lake bed. The creek was dirty and so were we.

It was getting a bit late so we made one last attempt on the Murumbidgee below the dam wall at Tantangara. We parked at the old road bridge and although the river at this section flows through very thick undergrowth and tussock we could see some nice pools a few hundred metres down stream.

The tussocks were a pest but the pools were just fine. There were even a few rises to be seen. An active fish of at least ten centimetres jumped several times, tempting us back for next year. But aside from the occasional rock, log and tree, we didn’t hook anything.

We caught up with the Illawarra Fly Fishing Club back at the cabins and swapped tales of woe. In summary the trip was great; the weather fine and the company perfect. No fish for us, though we did hear of a few being taken down stream of the Portal.

It must unfortunately be recorded that Illawarra Fly Fishing Club caught one fish (no photo but a real live Illawarra member claimed he witnessed the event). The consequence of that one fish is that Illawarra get to keep the Cup for the end of season competition. There is always next year.

Fish River, O’Connell

Fishing these days is limited to snippets between toddler demands, which would be fine if I lived on a trout stream but the Cooks River is the closest I get. Those dumped shopping trolleys are harder to hook than you might think.

So with the mother-in-law in town and happily assuming my share of child duties I escaped for a morning out to the Fish River at O’Connell.

Luckily I didn’t get out too early because the fish didn’t appear until about 10am. They fed actively, but evidently not on dries. A lack of fishing practice was my biggest hindrance at this point. I lined a fish that surprised me by porpoising on the surface parallel to where I stood.

Eventually, with the casting arm warmed up, I hooked a one pounder on a prince nymph at the head of the pool but the tippet snapped almost immediately. Testing the tippet after (Rio 6X Flurocarbon), I was able to snap it at almost every attempt. Time to invest in some new tippet.

After a beautiful, still morning, the wind picked up at 12pm and the fish shut down. So I set off on the drive back to the Cooks River.

Monaro streams

We rented an Airbnb on a high country property while visiting family in Cooma over the Easter. With family commitments pulling me every where but where I should be (on the trout streams), fishing here was limited to hit and run expeditions while the toddler had her midday nap.

On the first morning I sat on the balcony, coffee in hand, admiring the views of the Monaro plains and googling ‘trout stream near me’ when I realised there was a creek in the valley right in front of me.

Enquiries put to the Airbnb owner revealed the following:

1. Yes there are trout in the stream
2. Yes you can access it, it’s public access, Torrens Title
3. It’s fly fishing, catch and release only
4. Point 3 is the owners rules. He doesn’t have any jurisdiction to enforce it, but he’s evidently a good bloke.

Rain the prior week, and warm sunshine this week, meant there would be prime fishing time during the evening hatch. The owner had seen some decent fish on his evening constitutional with his wife.

However I was expected at family dinner in the evening. So instead I hit the stream at midday, during toddler nap time. It was a typical Monaro stream with clear, slow flowing pools. And with the sun high, the fish were hiding. Never mind, I told myself, I’ll get down for the evening hatch later in the week.

Snowy River

During the next day’s toddler nap I ventured a bit further afield to the Snowy River. This was another clear, slow flowing stream, so I was surprised to find a trout tailing in the midday sun. I only had about half an hour to spare before said toddler was due to wake up though and this was not enough time to lure that trout into a trap.

Eucumbene Trout Farm

Yes folks, you read that title right. Instead of the planned venture to fish the evening rise, I found myself with niece and nephew minding duties. And for better or worse, over the years, time with Uncle Jodi comes with the expectation of a fishing trip.

An earlier expedition to the creek with niece and nephew ended in many sticks, stones and children throwing themselves in the water. Conditions entirely unsuitable to stalking trout. So instead I took them to the Eucumbene Trout Farm.

This is about as close as trout fishing gets to fishing for yellow tail off a jetty and therefore entirely suitable to the limited attention spans of eight and ten year olds. Although hooking a trout on powerbait, in a pond the size of a backyard swimming pool with about 50 fish in it, is harder than it sounds.

The real challenge was not jag hooking them, but at the end of the day, two trout were landed and niece and nephew went home satisfied. While Uncle Jodi went home with his wallet considerably lighter and, well, there’ll always be another evening rise.

Gundowringa is located half way between Goulburn and Crookwell and is famous for fat lambs and potatoes. What has this to do with fishing? Nothing.

But based on recent stocking figures and the proximity to Sydney, we had to give it a go. So in early March Lakeside Fly Fishing Club descended upon Gundowringa.

Fish stocking 2017:

• Pejar: 5,000 Brown Trout; 10,000 Rainbow Trout; 4,200 Bass
• Todkill: 2,000 Rainbow Trout
• Redground: 4,000 Rainbow Trout; 5,000 Golden Perch

Accommodation at Gundowringa consists of shearers’ quarters accommodating up to 18 people, shared non gender washroom/toilet block, communal sitting, dining room, wood fire, kitchen, industrial fridge and BBQ. As there were only six of us we each had our own room, and at $30 per night it was a bargain.

We had access to Pejar Dam, Todkill Dam, Redground Dam and two private dams on Gundowringa.

The lack of rain has made fishing challenging and this was reflected during the weekend. Pejar Dam was picture perfect but the other two dams need a flush out as they could not be fished due to the weeds. The catch rate was disappointing but fine weather and good company made the weekend a great success.

On Saturday night it was planned to have dinner at the Willowvale Mill restaurant. Upon trying to book the restaurant we were advised by the owner that the restaurant would not be open as he was taking his lady friend to the Blue Mountains.

Alex asked if we were invited but he said his friend would not approve. So we all ended up at the Commercial Hotel in Crookwell for dinner.

Who caught what?

• Jim Screen – 2 pound trout with beautiful eyes.
• Alan Steege – a turtle with attitude.

Even though I have for various reasons been unable to attend meetings it does not mean I no longer fish. Quite the opposite I now consider myself a fly fishing addict !

The fish in this picture was caught by me a few weeks ago in ‘my river’. I have been trying to catch this Monster, 4lb / 50cm brownie for more than a year.

The waters out west are very low and whilst it is easier to see them the reverse applies. There is bugger all visible flow and most of the fish have reverted to doing beats in pools, rather than sitting in non existent flows.

This of course makes catching them even harder than it normally is. The story has a sad end as I was in a situation I could not revive him, no flow, inhaled fly, difficult to land (reeds etc).

It was therefore with great sadness I took him home and we feasted on him with my neighbours who have been nagging me anyway to bring some catches home!

Tight lines, hope to see you soon at next meeting.

Bill Torok (Billy T ).

Many of you will have read the excellent article by Josh Hutchins in the Autumn edition of FlyLife about fishing in the Southern Highlands. I had never considered this area as a place for trout fishing,  having always concentrated on either the Snowy or the Oberon areas in NSW. My interest was piqued by the article, so my mate Simon lined up a day of fishing down there.

I drove down in excellent Autumn weather, taking a tour of the Highlands area, including Don Bradman’s birth place, arriving at Moss Vale in the afternoon. After a late lunch, I checked in at the Moss Vale Caravan Park, a little way out of town, where we’d booked a cabin. It was just as well we’d booked, as that was also the weekend of the Scottish Gathering at Bundanoon, and the place was packed with grey nomads.

For those who don’t know it, Moss Vale is a lovely little town, with all the facilities you could want, including great restaurants and clubs. After Simon had spoken to our guide Angus about arrangements for the following day, we headed up to the local RSL club for an excellent dinner.

At 8am the next morning, we met up with Angus and his Land Rover Defender in the McDonald’s car park. After a brief discussion, we followed him in our car to a local creek. This was a lovely little creek, but very closed in, and we had to follow an ill-defined ‘track’ a fair way along before we had our first go at the water.

Angus showed us the ‘bow and arrow’ cast, which we both used a lot, as it was extremely difficult to get a proper cast in. It was mainly high stick, short line, nymph fishing with small bead heads and some dry fly action thrown in.

There seemed to be a lot of time between being able to fish, as it was always walking through brush, over and under and around logs, up and down hills, and fording the stream backwards and forwards. On one of those occasions, I went for a very cooling swim, stepping off a log straight into a deep hole, but luckily only wetting my fly boxes.

While I didn’t see any fish, Simon managed to catch two, one a nice size for that area. However, I did manage to ‘catch’ a few leeches. Luckily no snakes were sighted, although Angus said not to worry as they were only red belly blacks.

Around 1pm, we arrived back at Angus’ car. He’d run off earlier and fetched Simon’s so we had the two together. After a very welcome lunch of quiche and fruit, we followed Angus to another local creek on private property. The going was a bit easier here, with better access to the water. Bow and arrow casts, and some ‘dapping’, although we were able to get some proper casting in too.

Again, while we saw a few rises, I didn’t see any fish. Angus reckoned you had to be there on a good day when there was a hatch on, and then the fish go mad. I would have loved to see that on the day.

As we were quite tired, hot and sweaty, we finished up around 5.30pm at beer o’clock, and said our farewells to Angus to drive back to our accommodation.

Again, the delights of the town came to the fore, and we found an excellent seafood restaurant (if you can’t catch them, eat them) for dinner, before going back to our accommodation for more drinks.

All-in-all, I thought it was a valuable learning experience, learning some new casts, and seeing a new part of really close in fly fishing I hadn’t really considered before. Possibly, ‘twig fishing’ might not be for everyone, but I think it’s worth a try, particularly if you get a good day when there are hatches on and the fish are really feeding and aggressive.

Angus is a great guide, a member of the local Acclimatisation Society, and having grown up around the area, he knows the streams like the back of his hand. He was always available to demonstrate a cast, tie on a fly or lengthen or shorten tippet.

If you’re interested in a trip, you can book through Josh at Aussie Fly Fisher, as he’s always been a good friend to the club.

John Vernon