Quite a full issue. Jo Starling’s talk to the club meeting was very informative, including guidance on a new knot to try out. The Tantangara trip was a real success for most, though many of us under-estimated how close we are to winter. Many thanks to Greg S and Jason M for some interesting links.
Management of NSW Crown Lands has been somewhat problematic – it impacts on we anglers as the sale of crown roads and travelling stock reserves can impact on angler access to fishing sites.
The opportunity to comment on a Discussion Paper on the Review of the Crown Land Management Act 2016 has been extended to Friday 9th April 2021.
You can read the Discussion Paper and provide your feedback via the Have Your Say form on our website. If you have any queries, you are welcome to contact the Office of the Crown Land Commissioner at commissioner@crownland.nsw.gov.au
You’ll probably need to read portions of the Act (links in the Discussion Paper). I’ve personally sent commentary – especially in relation to the Community Engagement Strategy – for that you need to also read the Crown land Community Engagement Strategy
The following has been received from Monaro Acclimatisation Society:
Following a number of complaints regarding the water quality in the Eucumbene River down stream of the Providence Portal and the upper reaches of lake Eucumbene the Monaro Acclimatisation Society engaged with Snowy Hydro to identify the cause and to propose remediation works. Over the years the Providence Portal out-flow has scoured out the rock and clay banks to a point where the fine clay sediment was affecting the lower Eucumbene River and the upper reaches of the Lake. In February MAS President Steve Samuels and Adaminaby Branch member Col Sinclair met with Snowy Hydro managers at the site to discuss how the problem could be remediated. The Snowy hydro Board has approved funding for the works which are beginning now and will continue for the next few months. Anglers are advised that the Providence portal will be closed to fishing to allow the works to progress and a traffic management plan will be put in place to keep people and vehicles safe during the works.
While this will be a small disruption to fishing the long term benefit will be a stable outlet and no further siltation from the erosion.
For further details please consult the following joint press release from Snowy Hydro and the MAS.
Improvement works at Providence Portal
Work is about to start on a 500m section of channel between the Murrumbidgee / Eucumbene tunnel outlet and the Eucumbene river at Providence Portal, to improve safety and environmental outcomes downstream.
This section of channel is designed to sit below the Lake Eucumbene full supply level, but due to the current lake levels, it has been exposed, resulting in some unstable banks. As a short-term measure, the area has been fenced off.
Improvement works have been designed and funded to address the instability, according to Snowy Hydro area manager Kent Allen.
“The banks of the channel would benefit from ‘laying back’ and armouring with local rock material to address these concerns. This work is also expected to improve water quality outcomes downstream,” said Mr Allen.
The work is being carried out for Snowy Hydro by Leed Engineering and Construction and is due to commence in late March so it can be finished prior to winter.
“Snowy Hydro regrets any short-term impacts to people who use this small section of channel. This can be a busy time of the year for fishing and camping. However, the works are not expected to impact anyone who is fishing upstream of the Portal on the Eucumbene River or visiting the wider Eucumbene foreshore area,” said Mr Allen.
“The long-term benefits of these improvement works will result in a much safer and improved foreshore experience for people visiting this area of Lake Eucumbene.”
The works are being carried out in close consultation with the local trout fishing advocacy group, the Monaro Acclimatisation Society. MAS spokesman Steve Samuels said the works should improve conditions downstream for trout breeding and fishing, which are an important economic driver for the region.
The work is expected to be completed by 30 April 2021.
Led by Claude, via Zoom. Details sent via email. All set for Tantangara.
keyword wetfly nymphfly streamerfly
Over the last few days the original post has been subjected to a large barrage of spam comments. I’ve deleted the original post and replaced with this one. We will see if this fixes the situation.
Submitted by Greg S.
This arrived after our March Burley Line.
Read it here. Key points not previously covered by the NSWCFA March Newsletter are:
NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers has been pressing the NSW Government to follow the lead of other jurisdictions and ban these traps. The design is quite dangerous for airbreathing animals such as platypus.
NSWCFA have just received the this news that they will be banned from 30 Apr 2021. An education program, including free swaps on nets, will commence soon.
Another positive outcome from CFA agitation.
From a personal perspective:
I’m disappointed in respect to a couple of matters in the Minister’s statement: no mention that the swap of nets was funded by RFFTEC (our ‘licence’ fees) rather than Government funds, no mention of use on private property and finally describing the yabby trap change as a ‘minor change’ – why then did it take so long.
I keep doing this … March issue arrived today.
Top items:
Correction: I’ve just been told that the Anaconda Trout Challenge at Buckenderra has been postponed to Dec. The organisers tell me they are hoping to include an extra prize, a very special prize for fly fishing only. I’ll fix in next Burley Line
American writer Henry David Thoreau said, possibly after a day’s angling, “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.”
Important news is that, for those still using Australia Post, our PO Box has changed. Please take note.
The February club event proved successful for Peter – I understand employing the Charlie patented technique. Well done to him but also for his generosity in explaining the technique and evening donating one of the special, essential pieces of tackle to some potential members. We hope they join now.
We have a new section in our blog which will also appear here – Shaun has volunteered to provide a series of book reviews from his extensive library. I understand he is also amenable to his borrowing a book from you to read and write up – saving you the effort! I’ve promised to do some also from my less extensive library … maybe next month?
I was fortunate enough to be invited up to a region that I’d not explored – the Barrington Tops. Notionally it was for deploying some water temperature loggers as part of ‘citizen science’ in support of trout research (though we also got to do some research with fly rod in hand). I’m also set to do similar with Monaro Acclimatisation Society locally too. A short report, including some of my drone photography, is here.
Some of our eagle eyed members pointed me to two interesting web articles.
Some activities outside the CAA schedule are coming out of COVID hibernation – check them out.
We’ve moved the PO Box from Civic to Hawker. If you are intending to use snail mail to send stuff to the club, the address is now PO Box 4115 HAWKER ACT 2614.