A great little guest write up (and some great photos) from keen fisho, Jay Hayles. Enjoy! ____ It started like many a trip before. Late one arvo I get a text from a mate who says he is heading on a weekend trip with some of the other boys from work and would I be interested in coming along. Now I…
Category: Freshwater
Kayak bassin’
The plan was to chase kingfish, however once we were out of bed it became immediately obvious we wouldn’t be heading out to sea as the wind was howling, whitecaps peppering twofold bay. Time for plan B(ass), which we developed over coffee and google maps. After toying with the idea of an epic 15km car drop in order to fish…
Guest post: What to Expect Fly Fishing in Alaska: It Isn’t Australia, But That’s OK
It might seem like we’re pretty far north of Australia. Flip that over, and it looks like Australia sets pretty far south of Alaska. Still, we have a lot in common stretching across those 7,400 miles. Both our homes give way to incredible backcountry, and fly fishermen all over the globe daydream about a chance to cast into our waters.…
Fishing in Scotland – the majestic Loch Morar
I called Viv at about 10am on a Wednesday morning after seeing an advertisement in the window of the Mallaig tourist bureau. The advertisement for ‘local guided loch fishing’ was similar to Mallaig; quaint and decrepit in places, but seemingly honest and real. At 60 pounds for a half-day trip, I was thinking that I might get to sit in…
The best lure in the box
The trout were there. I could see them. Every few casts, a fish would follow the lure. Every so often, one would swipe, its white mouth flaring as it tried to kill its prey. I even hooked a few, but kept losing them to their jumping antics. Part of the problem was that the fish were small. This is definitely…
Fishing on Little Pine Lagoon, and observations on observation
I was reading some Gierarch the other day and he was describing his approach to writing. After getting home from a fishing trip, he’ll often wait a few weeks before reflecting on the experience. The story—if there is one at all—should naturally bubble to the surface. It might be a story about the fishing, but it might be something else…
Finally…a legitimate winter cod
I drafted this post in late winter but for some reason didn’t get around to posting it. Anyway, thanks for reading 🙂 ___ It’s always good when a plan comes together. Over the last year or so, I’ve been lucky to tangle with three sizeable Murray Cod (and a few slightly smaller, but very satisfying ones). Big cod are undoubtedly…
The old man and the fish
The old man was there when we arrived. Crouched down behind a tussock a few rod lengths from the bank. His quarry soon became apparent. Just a few feet from the shore, a dorsal fin and then a tail broke the surface. The old mans attention was totally focussed on the fish. Not once did his gaze wander as we…
Preparing for a trip
One of the things I enjoy most these days is prepping for a trip somewhere new. Unlike fishing locally, going on a destination trip means stepping into the unknown and stepping out of your comfort zone. Many hours are spent pouring over google maps scouting out potential fishing spots. More hours spent reading every bit of information the internet…
The impact of trout on threatened galaxias
The issue of trout impacts on native fish raises its head from time to time in the recreational fishing community. The latest flare up happened a bit over a month ago when the Threatened species commissioner Gregory Andrews posted this facebook post. “Introduced #trout are great fun to catch, but did you know they are having a devastating impact on…
Carp herpes virus: risks and rewards
The fishing media is currently awash with articles about ‘carpageddon‘ and wild claims from all sides. In this post, we want to answer a few of the questions that have been raised about the release of the virus and the potential habitat and ecosystems benefits that may occur, but also some of the risks of the release. What is it? …
Lake Burley Griffin – best fishing spots and techniques
One of the great things about living Canberra is the access to some great fishing opportunities. We are lucky enough to have the coast and the mountains within a few hours’ drive, providing nearly endless fishing options. However, it’s the lakes and rivers close to home that make it a truly great spot for anglers, both casual and avid. Lake…