Day 3- Harrietville trip 2014

I was pretty keen to have an enjoyable final day and particularly anxious to have a look at the area around Freeburgh. Beautiful skies, clear and warm.  The river was magic but after a beautiful walk up the river ended up with 2 marginal trout. Not much to speak of really. Used nymphs, hoppers, mayflies and wulffs, with the small mayfly doing the job. The afternoon was my last walk on the Ovens for this trip. Waded from Grannies to School bridge. Not a lot of fishing involved after I had a companion follow me for about a km of river. Every time I cast he thought it was a game and jumped into the water. I saw the monster Denis caught a couple of weeks ago have a look at my Humpy but as he was moving through the water the dog jumped in and the trout swam back to safety. Beautiful fish, I'm glad I saw him after all.

Day 2 Harrietville trip

The morning dawned with clear sky and mild weather, perfect conditions for me. I walked down to Archie's bridge and began with a nymph. Got a few nice trout early and once i arrived at the deep hole where they measure the river depth I tied on a very heavy nymph to get down deep. No action for quite a while but its far to good not to hold fish. I had a massive hit on the fly and of course missed the take. Got a couple more on the way and decided to fish up to school bridge. Had a couple hit my indicator and one fish in particular displaced a lot of water. I cleared up the access to that hole as I walked past. I'll try for him again tomorrow. Got up near the road and took two more fish from the run below the bridge. Another cast and a big take saw me hook into the biggest fish I've had on a hook. A big brown trout, very very dark on top and a deep golden colour. I couldn't control him at all. He took me to the top of the pool many times and then back to his rocks. I fought him and kept him out. He took me into the reeds but I kept him out as well. I had big pressure on him for a long time between the rock, the reeds and the current that ran between both snags. Couldn't get him to come down stream into quieter water. I could see how big he was and I desperately wanted to put a tape on him, but the pressure was too much and one more time between snags and as he went across the current he flipped off and skulked away under the reeds. My heart was racing and I couldn't believe what I nearly managed to do. I know where he lives and I'll get him again one day. Gotta love nymphing. I walked up under the bridge and caught a couple of other trout but couldn't concentrate so walked back home for lunch. Lunch in Bright and a walk around is always nice. Decided to just fish the East branch from the junction up under school bridge in the afternoon. Tried hard to catch the two fish I missed but they were both sooking from this morning I think. Caught a beautiful rainbow above the bridge and had an audience while doing so. He was difficult to manage as bigger fish can be. After landing him and getting a couple of photos I released him and the lady that was watching gave me a clap.

Harrietville trip 24-28 November

Michele and I have regular trips to the North East. While I fish, Michele normally works on a scrapbooking project. This week was no exception. We arrived Monday afternoon and I prepared myself for a quick trip along the river before dark. As I walked to the door I heard a massive clap of thunder and down came the rain. No fishing Monday evening but 28 mm of rain to freshen things up. Up early Tuesday and a walk up from Howards Bridge to Archies bridge. Took 7 in that trip using a nymph and another 4 in the West branch on a red Humpy in the afternoon. Managed to foul hook 3 trout, one in the eye and 2 in the bum. a great start to the week. Photos are of the brown from west branch and Michele's Christmas boxes for this years guests.

Harrietville October 2014

A new season starts with a trip to the North East with Denis and Rod. Left Melbourne early Friday morning and were wading the river about 3.30. Decided on the Howards bridge wade. I managed a few early on a Red Wulf while the others decided to use a nymph. I couldn't believe it, sun's out still day and they wanted to cheat with a nymph. I was trying to find them both a worm. Denis got a good fish late in the arvo and Rod also managed 2 for the day. The first hooked itself but he genuinely hooked the second. We were tired but looking forward to another full day on our favourite river.

An early morning and on the river at 7.00 Rod and I fished Howards again while Denis fished from Archie's bridge back to the caravan park. Enough trout for us all and we continued to be interested. Mid morning, a journey to Freeburgh.  River looked fantastic but we couldn't get a fish so bailed out and went back to the caravan for a short rest and a plan for the afternoon.

Rod and I walked up the Bon Accord section for one small trout and Denis fished Archie's bridge back to the caravan park.  A few fish for the Maestro but he also missed 6.  They're hard to catch with worms, sorry nymphs. Once we returned I took Rod to the back of the oval for an hours fishing before dark. Showed him the Honey hole and bingo, 3 trout from the hole and missed 2 as well. Amazing.  I got another up further and we returned to the van for a BBQ, bundy and a sit by the fire. Another great day.

Sunday morning saw us wake and move to different sections of the river. Denis had a crack at Frosty corner, and then Howards bridge, while Rod and I walked the section from Archies bridge to the caravan park. Denis got a couple and was holding the trophy with a best fish of 34 cm. We decided to count it even though it was caught on a nymph. Creeping along the West branch was magic and Rod had finally crossed from the darkside and was using a 14 red humpy. A crisp cast to the little gutter on the right and a slow soft slurp saw his Humpy disappear. He hooked and played out a beautiful brown trout. After putting the tape on it a number of times it measured 34.4 cm. The winning fish for the weekend. I continued up the west branch and in the last 400 meters , including the section in the caravan park took 6 trout and missed 1. A great way to finish off a sensational weekend chasing trout in our favourite river.

A trip to the Rubicon

Was keen to explore this part of the fishing world. All the planets aligned and I headed off early in the morning. A 2 hour trip was what I expected and after a quick look at the Kendall camp area, up past Rubicon, I returned to Tumbling Waters and hopped into the river. Never been there before and I had a very enjoyable day. The river was amazing and I expected fish to be all over my hopper, but no joy. The first fish was caught at Kendall on a Wulff and the second took a small olive dun. I look forward to returning soon.

The old favourite...again.

After getting a few yesterday I didn't need to venture over the Gap to Mountain Creek. Decided to walk from Howard's bridge again this morning. It's just a great wade. Water is beautiful, the banks are pretty clear and it's about as easy as it gets on a river. Had a couple of small fish slash at the elk hair caddis but no luck. I took a medium sized brown on a small mayfly. Nice fish sitting in the river where you would expect him to be. Always great to put a bend in the rod. In the afternoon I waded Frosty corner. Only a few hundred meters and I saw a couple of small trout slash at my hopper. On the final bend I took another medium rainbow and saw one other. This was also the day of Archie Wilson funeral. He would have been pleased with the turnout. All of Harrietville must have been at his place for the funeral.

Morses creek and Howard's bridge.

Ventured to Morses creek early this morning. Fished for two and a half hours and didn't see a fish the whole way. Water looked beautiful. I was a little disappointed cause I was expecting to see a few. In the afternoon I walked from Howard's bridge to home. Took 3 on a Glenn Innes hopper and as I walked up the west branch I took a beautiful 39 cm brown trout on an elk hair caddis.  Four trout for the day means it was a good day. I've walked some Kms chasing them though. What a great trip, with another day to follow.

Harrietville 2014

Always look forward to our trips to the North East. Beautiful weather planned for this week, unlike the week of 44 degrees across the state last week. Had a short cameo trip up the West branch of the Ovens last night for one 28cm Rainbow. First one I've caught since the fires last year. The water was low but to be expected at the moment. Tuesday morning saw me walk from Howard's bridge to the private bridge. Didn't land a fish but hooked 3 but lost them all. Two good fish took me into willow roots and I lost them both. There was enough going on to keep me interested for the morning.

They all count

A beautiful day greeted us as Rod and I made our way to the "Parrot". Clear skies and no wind was the forecast and it was delivered as promised. We waded one of our favourite stretches and caught absolutely zero, nought, zilch, nil, nothing, sweet f.a. On the way home we stopped off and had a look at the Wallaby Creek. It was clear and low, like the Parrot and a beautiful little creek. We did latch onto a fingerling and as I said...they all count!

South Esk river at Evandale

Took my fly gear with me on our annual trip to the Tassie running carnivals this year. The South Esk at Evandale is only 15minutes away from where we stay at The Country Club. A windless 25 degree day saw me spend a couple of hours on the river. Used a nymph and managed 4 trout including a beautiful 43cm brown. I also saw another large brown leap half a metre clear of the water right in front of me chasing a damsel fly. It was a big fish. As I walked the edge I also nearly stood on another large brown sitting among the submerged grass on the edge of the river.  There are some big fish in that river and I'll return next year.  The other trout I caught were all about 30cm and all browns.