The second of the three pre-season fly fishing classes staged by the Canberra Anglers Association on the lawns of Old Parliament House attracted a large crowd of anglers keen to learn the gentle art of fly casting. Most were able to make a reasonable job of casting after a short tuition period and some were even casting at near-professional level by the end of the two classes. Those attending included men, women and children of differing ages and even attracted four young ladies from New Zealand who were so impressed with the event they made a video of it to show fishing clubs back home. They and the audience were especially impressed by the new two-handed fly rods being demonstrated by International Fly Fishing Federation teacher Nathan Walker. One angler, partially disabled by arthritis in one arm and no longer able to cast a conventional fly rod was delighted to find that he could cast the new rod with ease and immediately placed an order for one so that he could resume his fly fishing career.
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The third and final class, to be held on Sunday 20 September, will now shift to a rural property, Kungla Lakes, near Nimmitabel, where the anglers will be able to test their new-found fly fishing skills in two large lakes stocked with brown and rainbow trout The fish in the lakes range from tiddlers to double figure specimens and should provide some exciting fun for the new casters. Despite their lake environment they are essentially wild fish and will provide a suitable challenge for the anglers.
To heighten their chances of catching a fish anglers should make sure they have appropriate gear. The most suitable outfit for this excursion is a nine foot rod six or seven weight rod with a weight forward intermediate sink line and a nine foot leader. This line is designed to sink slowly and take the fly down to where the trout are most likely to be sitting, given the low water temperatures at this time of the year. Suitable flies include Woolly Bugger, Woolly Worm, buzzers, dark nymphs and small wet patterns such as Coachman, Hardys Favourite and Greenwells Glory. The fly should be retrieved slowly with repeat casting to the same area and hopefully the angler will experience the thrill that comes with the first-ever fish on fly. It is an experience that most veteran anglers can remember with ease; there is nothing quite like it for a new chum fly fisher.
Local lakes firing
The sudden burst of warm spring weather triggered a quick response from golden perch in the local lakes. There were many reports of fish to 60cm on lure and bait in Burley Griffin, Ginninderra and Yerrabi.
Most of the fish came from areas with structures such as rocks, tree stumps, jetty and bridge pylons and significant weed beds, but a few were taken in open water. Yabbies and scrub worms were the best baits and bibless minnows the best lures.
A few redfin also showed. There were small ones, some in obvious spawning mode, in Burley Griffin and a couple of thumpers in Yerrabi. One fish in Yerrabi, taken on a red Celta spun above the weed beds, was almost 45cm in length.
Movement in alpine lakes
Fish are on the move also in Eucumbene and Jindabyne. Good numbers of small rainbows have shown and some were taken on Power Bait and wood grubs. Trollers averaged two to three fish for a session with Tasmanian Devils and small hard-bodied minnow patterns. Fly fishers landed a few larger fish. Despite windy conditions at Lake Eucumbene Nathan Walker caught one medium-sized rainbow on a Woolly Bugger at Yen's Bay and colleague Dave Eals landed a superb 53cm brown on the same fly in Wangrabelle Bay.
Coast cleared
Reports from the coast suggest all the floodwater and debris has dissipated and conditions are mostly back to normal. There were reports of salmon on Moruya Breakwater and beaches at Brou, Tilba and other locations with moderate sized tailor mixed with them. Late afternoon and evening were the most productive times to fish. Large squid provided anglers with fresh bait and delightful offerings for the dinner table at Tathra Wharf.
