Author Archives: bill

June 2019 Burley Line (Newsletter Issue 144)

Luke’s latest post on CAA Facebook reminds me that I forgot to mention stream trout season closure real soon now. Oops🙄

An eclectic mix this month.

Thanks Shaun for the gear review on modestly priced wading boot studs – I’ve still got to order mine. There is also some interesting news from MAS and CFA. Many thanks to Stefan for a thoughtful report on the Tumut trip. The photos from Lyall, and particularly by Thomas, are brilliant. Lyall is a trusted provider of material for Burley Line but I look forward to more from Thomas to grace our photo of the month to add to this month’s.

There’s an article here following on from Jaime’s great idea suggesting the coffee and shop trip to the Grand Opening of the Compleat Angler Canberra – the photos show a bunch of happy shoppers in amongst extensive stock. Well done and good luck to Nathan in this new endeavour.

Lyall was kind enough to pen some notes on the recent FFA National Championship held at Tumut. I noted that JQ had been too busy with work (and I’m aware family) to get in his report on this event for this issue. I look forward to some words on his experience with the FFA event next month.

0144

Survey for fishers in the Snowy Monaro region

NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers has brought to our attention this survey.  It is being conducted to inform Snowy-Monaro Regional Council about recreational anglers and their engagement with their sport in the region.  You are encouraged to take part.  This is a real chance for you to have your say and influence Council.  It took me 10 minutes.

Click here.

Anglers Access Website

DPI have been (slowly) developing a website to provide information to anglers of access to waters across NSW. Check it out the prototype:

https://www.angleraccessdev.dpi.nsw.gov.au/

NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers has been pursuing DPI for advice in its further advancement. Seems to me that despite lots of dots on the map, the underlying information remains quite thin.

Any comments placed on this CAA News Blog post via ‘reply’ will be forwarded to CFA. (Don’t forget to annotate your reply with a name that you are happy to have published on the Internet)

Sale at Anglers Art – Update

Update from Lyall:

There are still amazing bargains to be had at The Angler’s Art in Phillip. (Pratt’s Tackle Box has closed its doors for the last time).

At The Angler’s Art in Phillip they have put together grab bags of fly tying material at fifty percent off the usual prices and all fly lines have been consolidated at Phillip at bargain prices. You will regret it if you don’t get these bargains NOW.

You might like to pop in for a bargain or see it as supporting Doris.

Gaden Trout Hatchery – Tri Annual Report – Jan-May 2019

We received from MAS two reports from Gaden. The routine Tri-annual and a special report on the fish kill at the hatchery.

Steve Samuels remarked “Happy to say the hatchery met all our stocking targets, so a big thank you to them for their hard work during this awful event.

The fish kill report shows the effort taken by hatchery staff. I understand they denuded all stocks of bagged ice in Jindabyne at the time. The infrastructure projects referred to look very encouraging.

Gaden Report Jan-april

fish kill report- gaden

Trout Strategy Update 2019

In consultation with stakeholders, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has prepared a snapshot of the NSW Trout Strategy (attached) to ensure the enduring future of the recreational trout fishery.

Following on from the NSW Trout Strategy Workshops which were held mid-last year, NSW DPI will be conducting further informal workshops. The first of these meeting was held at Gaden Trout Hatchery on the 10th of April and we will now be holding further workshops in the New England and Central Tableland areas. This is a great opportunity to meet DPI staff and for anglers to hear about new and ongoing great research, enhancements to hatcheries, stocking and management arrangements and DPI/ angler communication. The event will begin with presentations from management and research staff after which anglers can see demonstrations on research techniques such as tagging, electrofishing and participate in further discussions.

Workshops will be held at the

L.P. Dutton Trout Hatchery (Point Lookout Road, Ebor NSW) on the 25th May 2019 from 2:30pm- 4:30pm

Black Gold Motel Wallerawang (Lithgow,) on the 15th June 2019 – from 2:30pm to 3:30pm and then on Lake Wallace 3:30pm to 4:30pm for fish stocking and scientific display

Registration is required in order to help with workshop seating and catering purposes. To register your interest at either of the two events above contact Jo Merritt via email

jo.merritt@dpi.nsw.gov.au

or phone at the Hume Fisheries Office on 02 6051 7760.

If you have any feed back or questions on the on the Trout Strategy Snapshot feel free to email fishstocking@dpi.nsw.gov.au

15152-Trout_Strategy_Goals(press)-LR (2)

May 2019 Burley Line (Newsletter Issue 143)

The weather didn’t seem to have read the script over Easter.  Yep, a little cooler in the evening and the leaves were falling, but the temperatures were unseasonable.  Whereas Peter, Ian and I were in NZ with some drastic winds and floods but thankfully still got a few fish (especially that ‘almost a Kiwi’ Ian).  Anyway, we seem to be now getting some rain, but I’m unsure if it is having impact on the Monaro streams.

One big item of news is that our own prodigal son, Nathan, is back in town and the powerhouse behind an expansion of WetSpot in Fyshwick taking over the Compleat Angler franchise following the Pratt’s closure.  I’ll pop more info up on the news blog in due course but Nathan tells me it won’t be truly operational for a few week yet.

This issue seemed to be shaping up as a bit thin but clearly my mind is slipping – had totally forgotten Luke’s report on the April trip that he had sent to me while I was away.  It was an excellent report so I’ve popped it into our “Places” blog for visibility.  A copy is included in this issue also.  Claude has reported back on some time he had on Eucumbene plus a couple of mystery photos from Luke.  JQ has been competition fishing and he explains a little about how it works.  Maybe the rest of you have been too busy fishing to report in but, as always, I truly appreciate my reliable correspondents coming through.

Breaking news: This updated version has Luke’s full report PLUS Claude submitted some up-to-date intel on his trip on 5 May to the Tumut – essential reading for those going up with Stefan later this month.

Claude remarked to me the other day that our ‘photo of the month’ and cover shots are perhaps dominated by “fish grab” – yep, guilty as charged.  Accordingly this month has a more scenic cover image courtesy of Claude – thanks mate.

0143

Out Adaminaby Way


The April 2019 High Country trip was originally planned by JQ for ‘the other side of the mountain’ but circumstances got in the way.  Fly Fish Australia competitions, Man From Snowy River celebrations, Easter … so much conspired against the original plan.  The locale was changed to camping out at 3 Mile Dam, but attendee numbers dwindled (Peter, Ian and I were in NZ so we had a legitimate excuse).  In the end a dynamic duo of JQ and (big) Luke stayed in a cottage at Adaminaby and ventured forth into the back country.  Their story is below – I remain envious of how well it all went.  JQ still refuses to give me the precise location, but it inspires me to look more closely.

Out_Adaminaby_way

Gear Review – Koldkutter Studs

Mark has been raving to me for ages about how screws for ice-racing motorcycles can be used for studs in wading boots. Shaun has taken the plunge and bought some, his review is here – many thanks mate.

Especially if you go to another supplier, Mark tells me that the coarse or self tapping thread is the one you want. The fine thread has to be screwed into a nut or threaded hole.

“These are the ones I use (image from here). A couple of tips:

  • Shoe must have a VERY hard sole. Soft sole and they will fall out after a while.
  • When screwing them in put some glue (aqua seal or shoe goo) on the thread.