Author Archives: bill

July 2023 Burley Line (Issue 192)

Apologies for being a little late – have been travelling (a 9,700km road trip!).

Read on for an excellent story from Stefan – who knew that we had trout cod in the Cotter.  Many thanks also for Greg S.  He’s been assiduous in trawling the Internet for interesting stuff – has helped to provide some excellent content – click on his links and be blown away.  Finally, Claude has reported on a final session on the streams before the closure – much appreciate the yarn and photos from Travis.

Ryan has been hard at work experimenting with new ideas (see our cover photo).  One will be the subject of our next flytying session – material list below, more detail soon … many thanks Ryan.

At the risk of being a bit ‘political’, the New Zealand Fish and Game Council (they manage freshwater fishing on behalf of the government) has been caught up in some tricky legislation.  Seems the government is being swayed to formally recognise the value of salmonids, alongside natives.

Just remember, the July meeting is the last time you can register your catch for consideration for trophies.  If you haven’t already done so, make sure you bring in your trophies so that they can go to the engravers.  I don’t think I’m up for any trophies this year, but I have advised Lyall that I don’t want a mini-trophy for retention (they aren’t a small cost to the club) but I have asked for the little shield – I can put any I’m awarded on the mini-trophies on my shelf.

‘Useful Links’ Page Revised

In these days of ChatGPT and ever more powerful search engines, ‘Useful Links’ pages have become a bit passe but good practice still behoves us to keep ours up to date.

I saw someone had followed the link to a NSW Government link, but when investigated I found the link was broken. This has prompted me to reconfirm and fix all the links.

Our ‘Useful Links’ page could do with an entire revamp, but I’ll leave it to another day. Meantime, if you identify something that would be an ongoing resource to members, please send them to the Burley Line address on our home page.

Fly tying Wed 26 Jul 2023 – Wiggly Damsel

Ryan has been experimenting with a number of patterns. For July’s flytying he’ll lead us tying a wiggly damsel. A good choice for the Bondi Forest trip?

Hooks- main body- #14-16 wet/nymph hook (Tiemco 3769 for example).

Articulated shank- any hook of the same size with a straight eye will do, as the bend will be cut off it doesn’t need to be a good quality one, but a hook that works well is a Tiemco 101 #14-16.

Tail and body- olive marabou.

Ribbing (optional)- copper wire.

Eyes- black or gold bead chain. Extra small.

And finally some mono line. 3x tippet works well.

Zoom details will be provided closer to the event.

Keyword wetfly nymphfly

RFANSW Newsletter June 2023

Available here. Key points:

  • RFA’s meeting with Minister Moriarty
  • NSW Trout Strategy – some notes from a brief on the current draft
  • 2023 Winburndale Trout Muster – relocate several hundred brown and rainbow rrout from the Winburndale Dam and the stream above, to the Mill Pond at Portland

Bondi Forest Lodge 4-6 Aug

BJ has confirmation that we are booked in at Bondi Forest Lodge 4-6 Aug. He has a placeholder for 10 people but could go higher if greater interest arises.

Check out  http://www.bondiforestlodge.com.au/contactus.html
Single and double rooms avail, depending on numbers. Full facility kitchen and fridges. Fireplace and stocked pond. Two person boat will be available for rotational use

We are hoping to run the 120 minute challenge (tie a fly with supplied material then go catch a fish).

Contact BJ …. details will come in email from Lyall

If the link doesn’t work, download these files

Federal Senate Investigation into Feral Horses

Report due 29 Sep

MAS has made a submission to the Federal Senate committee study into feral horses. Background to the study and access to the submissions including MAS’ are accessible via

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/FeralHorses47

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/FeralHorses47/Submissions

June 2023 Burley Line (Issue 191)

Many thanks to Claude for completing this edition in my absence, cheers, Bill

Great photo of the month from life member Stuart. Rivals the photos provided by one of our new members, Paul, in his talk last month – in our ‘Tips’ blog. Many thanks to contributors, but especially to Claude for his efforts finishing off this edition in my absence. BJ has responded to suggestions of a Bondi Forest Lodge event very soon after our August Annual General Meeting. Indeed the tentative date is immediately after the 9 Aug AGM … Bondi dates 11-13 Aug. BJ is contemplating bringing down the drift boat to take folk in turns. Also looking about another 120 minute fly tying/fishing competition. Hold on for more info. Lyall has been to New Zealand recently, but more significantly helping out a mutual mate, Barry Perkins, with a fly casting event in Gore – Lyall provides some more complete with photos. Greg S has spotted another Landline article of interest. Mark S has also popped some stuff into my in-box. A bit been happening on our News Blog – eg you heard it first there about the Tantangara trip rescheduling. We have added some member profiles so you can learn a little more about our new and existing club members. We’ll be in contact soon to get your profile….start thinking about your ‘desired fishing superpower.’