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A weekly column from Geoff Lacey covering the Alpine High Country.
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24 October 2003 With Geoff Lacey of Angling Expeditions Victoria. Most rivers of the Alpine high country are "milky green" and running high this week, following a large run-off of snowmelt. Spring rains are also contributing to strong stream flows, which should ensure a good trout fishing season. Very few anglers are about at the moment, although mostly locals are catching good-sized trout during the day. FALLS CREEK Falls Creek still has some hard snow and ice about which is slowly melting. The Bogong High Plains Road from Falls Creek to the Omeo Highway remains closed until Saturday, 1 November, by which time snow drifts across sections of the road should have melted. Fishing conditions in Rocky Valley Reservoir and Pretty Valley Reservoir should ideal by the end of October. Fishing around the edges at this time of year, even right now, with wet flies can produce surprising results, as really large browns come in close at times, mooching around in the shallows after nymphs. BOGONG VILLAGE Lake Guy at Bogong Village is currently affected by water level fluctuations, caused by seasonal run-off further upstream and hydroelectric requirements and is not recommended for fishing this week. The feeder streams adjacent to the tennis courts are also running a bit high and should be left for another week or so. MOUNT BEAUTY PONDAGE The Mt Beauty Pondage continues to produce rainbow trout to 750 grams for bait anglers and a few lure fishers from around the edges. For best results use a bubble float above a big bunch of earthworms to keep rig out of thick bottom weed growth. I understand that this water is booked as a venue for the National Fly Fishing Championships later this year. KIEWA RIVER The Kiewa River at Tawonga is running high from good seasonal rains with a "milky green" texture at times, due to a landslip that is causing an ongoing soil erosion problem in the west Kiewa River above McKay power station. The material released by the soil movement consists of decayed granite, the powder-fine minerals of which are producing the odd colour. The situation is hoped to be rectified as the ground dries out. Anyway, best fishing results are to be had by using live bait, particularly earthworms, under a light running sinker at the moment. The east Kiewa River at the end of Rock Pool Road is in superb condition for fly fishing and worth a visit around dusk. MITTA MITTA RIVER (upper) The Mitta Mitta River at Angler's Rest is running "milky green" and high this week, with fishing conditions similar to the Kiewa. Conditions are ideal for whitewater rafting, with many such adventurers on the water just above the Blue Duck Hotel at the moment. The river level should drop in about a week or so. The Bundara River and Cobungra River are also running a bit too high and fast this week for any serious fishing. The Victoria River near Dinner Plain, which flows into the Cobungra River, would be worth a try on bait as it always fishes well early in the season when the water is high. It contains very large brown trout until around the end of November, when they drop back into the Cobungra. MITTA MITTA RIVER (lower) The Mitta Mitta River at Mitta Mitta is in perfect condition for fly fishing activities this week, with moderate flow levels as water is held back in Dartmouth Reservoir. Trout are rising in the tails of pools near dusk to a variety of insects, particularly caddis moths and spinners. Bait anglers continue to dominate in the deeper sections during the day, with lure anglers getting their share of the action in the runs. Dartmouth Pondage continues to fish well this week and the Snowy Creek around Granite Flat is running a little high but producing nice brownies for bait and lure anglers. For bait anglers, best results are obtained by using an ultra light rod and spinning reel with a large bunch of worms on a size 10 fine wire hook under a small (size 00) running sinker rig and casting upstream then snapping the bail arm shut and allowing the rig to drift down-current to its full extent before slowly retrieving, keeping the bait down deep but not touching the bottom. That's all for now, more next time. From: Geoff Lacey Angling Expeditions Victoria TAWONGA, VICTORIA 3697 Tel: (03) 5754 1466 Fax: (03) 5754 1991 Email: flyfishingtrips@bigpond.com |
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