Once a year the diplomatic community in the ACT puts aside any real or perceived domestic, social, financial or political differences and spends a happy weekend fishing at Lake Eucumbene.
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This year the event is scheduled for November 20-22 and the venue once again will be the Buckenderra Holiday Village. The event opens with a happy hour and supper on Friday night, with fishing on Saturday and Sunday and prize-giving at the conclusion on Sunday.
Each mission or embassy fields a team comprised of staff, wives, children and an occasional ring-in, and there is a handsome swag of prizes for the heaviest and most fish. The lake is high this year at 58 per cent of capacity and is fishing well, especially for browns.
Fishing will be with fly, lure and bait, and participants no doubt will be vying to break the tournament record fish, which is a 6.1-kilogram brown.
With good weather predicted for the period, a cheerful and productive weekend is guaranteed. If your team is not already enrolled, contact the organising chairman, John Tuckwell, on 6271 2734 or 04 0862 5156.
Streams improving
Rain throughout the region has worked wonders for stream trout fishermen, with some excellent catches reported east of Cooma, from high alpine country and around Tumut.
Fish that had bedded down and were feeding only at night because of the high temperatures and brilliant sunshine finally emerged and acted in a much more normal manner, taking flies and small lures with gusto.
There were many reports of small and large fish taken, and two fly anglers scored browns of 2.2kg to 3.2kg.
The successful flies were Woolly Buggers and small nymphs. All the fish were released after the ritual photographs. The streams should now remain high and fish well with dries and wets and small lures for several weeks.
Big lakes, big fish
There were good reports of fish from both Eucumbene and Jindabyne. Fly fishers scored some nice fish on Woolly Buggers and stick caddis.
Trollers did well on three colours of lead core line and small hard-bodied minnows. Lime Twist, Chunky Cheese and salmon eggs were the best of the Gulp and Power Bait series. Night fishing was productive with scrub worms, wood grubs and Power Bait.
Burrinjuck rising
Burrinjuck is taking in a lot of water following heavy rain in the catchment, and should be well above 75 per cent full by this weekend.
Fishing fell away somewhat during the rain and associated low barometric pressure, but some reasonable catches of golden perch and numerous redfin were reported.
About 150 anglers fished a weekend convention at the park and reported some carp above 5kg among the captures.
Perch, catfish take bait
There were good reports of golden perch and catfish from Wyangala and Burrendong, taken mostly on scrub worms, small live yabbies and fresh shrimps.
Locals lie low
Fishing was quieter in the local lakes during the period of low barometric pressure, but a few golden perch were reported on live yabbies in Lake Burley Griffin.
At Googong redfin beat the natives to the lure every time, and bank and boat anglers did not fare well.
Coastal rain
Heavy rain at the coast restricted fishing generally, but some nice salmon were caught at Moruya breakwater and One Tree, and there were large bream on bait in Coila.
Offshore there were good kingfish and snapper at Merimbula and flathead off Tilba. Travelling anglers reported good fishing for a wide variety of species at Mallacoota and the Hawkesbury.
