ONCE considered a rich-man's sport, fly fishing is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance in parts of the country as the pastime moves out of its traditional hunting grounds and into suburban waterways.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As many of the high-country streams close to trout fishing over winter, eager anglers are heading to lakes closer to home in pursuit of year-round opportunities to cast a line.
Peter Batho, president of the ACT Fly Fishers, said when rivers closed to trout fishing during spawning, Canberra's lakes offered a great opportunity.
Mr Batho said the availability of inexpensive equipment meant more people were able to have a go at fly fishing, and his club's membership was up from 80 anglers to nearly 140 in just a few years.
"People are wanting to get outdoors more and experience getting away from the rigours of daily life," he said.
"Fly fishing is caught up in that, I think it's one of the great ways to get you out there, you get to see some absolutely magnificent spots around Canberra and the Snowys.''
Unlike other types of fishing, Mr Batho said fly fishers used the weight of their line, rather than a lure, to cast off.
They often waded into the water to find fish, stalking them based on where fish could find respite from the current and food.
Mr Batho said he had tried most styles of fishing, and enjoyed them, but fly fishing remained a passion.
"I think it's a different way of looking at what you're actually doing, you tend to think a little bit more about things like insect life, what the fish are feeding on, what's happening in the environment," he said.
Fly fishing was also less likely to harm fish, Mr Batho said, so they could more successfully be released.
In Victoria, the number of recreational fishing licences sold each year has risen steadily from 228,300 in 2007-08 to more than 303,200 in 2011-12, in the most recent figures available.
Licences are not required for recreational fishing in the ACT, but in NSW fewer recreational fishing licences are being sold, down from 529,000 in 2008-09, to 490,000 for the 2011-12 season.
President of the NSW Rod Fishers Society, Gerhard Benz, said his club, founded in 1904, had about 200 members, a number which had remained steady for the past few years as young members were hard to recruit. Cooler alpine spots with pristine water were best for fly fishing, Mr Benz said, and the Central Tablelands and Snowy Mountains were anglers' preferred spots.
"You learn something new every time, as far as fish behaviour is concerned. My favourite thing is to try to see a trout before I cast to it, which makes it even more interesting because you can see how it reacts to the fly,'' he said. Mr Batho said a basic fly fishing rod, reel and line package could be bought for a few hundred dollars, waders cost about $100 and trout flies $2 or $3 each.
Fly-fishing clubs are often willing to lend new members equipment so they can have a go before buying their own gear.
