Harrietville 2015

A couple of trips early in the New Year seemed like a great way to begin our retirement. Jan 27 and 28, as teachers returned to school, Mich and I headed up the highway. The usual occurred once we arrived at Alpine Arnica. The weather was perfect, the river height was good and the fish were on the chew. Managed to nail a few nice fish and we finally jumped into the car Friday morning and head up the Kiewa Valley Highway to Albury for the Gift.
The second trip was a spur of the moment one and again everything worked well. The 4 days accounted for nearly 50 trout, including a couple of very nice fish. The largest was a brown of 38cm. There were a few other good fish and plenty of smaller rainbows that were eager to smash the small elk hair caddis I was using. I took a nice brown trout from next to the ice cream shop and saw a beautiful big brown trout mooching around on dusk in the same spot. Went back each night to try again but only saw him the one night. The trout I caught from that pool finally took a small black ant I used after many changes of my fly. That was great angling and I enjoyed the challenge, with success in the end. Also had a visit from Huddo for a Saturday matinee at the Smoko section of the river. We took 16 fish between us and walked all the way through to the bridge. The next section leading up to Tom Bibby bridge will be something to try on my next visit.

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.