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…
Category: Stuff we’ve learnt
9 tips for fly fishing with a baby
The little dude turned one a week ago and after a year of parenthood I feel that its high time that I share what I’ve learnt about fly fishing with infants. 1- Get someone else to look after the baby and leave them at home Its cheating, but it is by far the easiest, most enjoyable fishing option for both…
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…
Fatherhood, fishing and a new appreciation of non-fishing day trips.
Since becoming a dad my fly fishing time has been somewhat reduced. Which is fine. It turns out there are far more important things in life than hitting the water at every chance possible. Plus, the dreams I had of strapping the wee fella into a carrier and heading off for an afternoon on the water have proved to…
Fishing fashion – revisited
We wrote about fishing fashion a few years ago here. It’s time for another round of fishing fashion faux pas. And…GO! Here is a great outfit modelled by our very own Hamish Webb. Brett going for the ‘north American trout bum’ styles. This guy needs to stop reading so much Gierarch. Buff, stripy shorts over tights, this outfit has it…
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? …
Some tips for fishing streamers in small streams
Its that time of year again. The leaves are turning brown, orange, yellow and every colour in-between, the water is cooling down, the fish are not looking up as regularly and I’m dusting off my streamer box. Autumn isn’t just pretty, it is a great time to throw some meat around. While people generally associate streamer fishing with larger waterways…
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…
Is the social acceptability of recreational fishing being eroded?
Recreational fishing remains a popular pastime the world over. One of the great things about recreational fishing is its accessibility; you don’t need much gear, there are lots of places to do it, and it can appeal to a wide range of skill levels. But recent surveys have shown that participation rates in recreational fishing are decreasing. Current estimates are…
The best online fishing tackle stores
Writing an article like this is sure to attract some criticism, as personal preference is inherently subjective. Added to this, no one wants bad press, so it’s important to be fairly balanced and look at the pros and cons of the multitude of options available to us when spending our hard-earned online. Each online fishing tackle outlet has it’s own…
To cod or not to cod?
In this post I wanted to ask the question (as much for myself as for anyone else): ‘to cod or not to cod?’ Part of this relates to my lack of success last season. It went something like this: Around 15 predominantly topwater sessions totalling roughly 24 hours of cod-targeting. Most of this was spent on my local stretch of…
A deeper look at “wild” places (and is stocking threatened native fish outside their range a good idea?)
By complete coincidence, me and Graz unknowingly both wrote drafts about a similar topic. You can read Graz’s piece about the “Natural trout stream paradox” here. This piece touches on similar topics, however its not about trout and takes a far broader brush to the issue (and is way longer- if you want punchy read Graz’s piece). Conservation strategies,…