Lots of stuff here including a report on that impressive barra on our photo of the month. Seems there has been a number of our members up north enjoying the warmth and testing themselves against the local species. This one cheekily including “Presidents of CAA” in the title. BJ and Jason M have submitted reports – BJ’s respect to our first outing of the new season and JM just trying to make me envious of his wanderings north of the Tweed. Thanks also to Mark S and Owen for slipping me two notes.

Some very impressive and colourful flies tied last month – the output from our bunch of merry tiers are on show here. I look forward to hearing how they performed. Thanks again to Boss Outdoors for packaging up taster packs of the material.

Don’t forget our annual fly casting is coming up this month. A slight change in location but pretty close by. Going to be good to see how the new rods perform.

We have a report on our AGM including positions appointed and trophies awarded. Congratulations to the ‘new’ committee and much appreciation for all the good work last year. The official program is here plus on our website.

The AGM also marks the time that members should pony up their annual fees – unchanged from last year. You can choose to come to a meeting of casting day with the cash – or even card now that BJ has set us up for tap and go. Also the time honoured Electronic Funds transfer (BSB 032727, A/C Number 233821. Please ensure your name is included in the transfer comment information). If you have changed contact details, then you can use the webform here.

As always, would appreciate any and all contributions – many thanks to those who prepared articles this month. Copy to me by 22 Sep would be appreciated.

I got an email the other day that reassured me that my efforts here in Burley Line have some value, but perhaps that some other aspects of the CAA communications might need revisiting: “the Burley Line is the most touched aspect of the club….I’ve never been to the beginner part of the website…but I read every BL.” Burley Line comes out monthly but our on-line presence is much more than that. Our website hosts a number of resources – much of it is embodied in our Blog …. hmm, that’s just a fancy name for a collection of snippets (posts) which we’ve uploaded onto the Internet (you’ve seen ‘posts’ before when you went to download Burley Line, but we post up lots more informative material). The ‘Beginner’ section referred to is one, though it has now been renamed ‘Tips’, but there a number of different segments that you can browse or search (Places to Fish and Cooking are two in particular that I reckon are well worth cruising through). The posts idea also offer you an opportunity to upload comments and questions. Plus, you can (like around 50 have done already) register to get an email notification when new posts are uploaded. Read about how to use our blog here.

For this issue, thank to Claude for his EuroNymphing tip. Not sure I’ll be using it mate, 🙂 but I’m sure many in the club will benefit. Jason continues to have us jealously looking north, this time some fish photos. Talking about fish – Stuart seems to travel even more than Lyall, currently in the USA. Nathan and Compleat Angler may have been re-branded but his support for CAA and fly fishing generally is unchanged. I’ve put in two articles in relation to two organisations that CAA are affiliated with.

Here we are in August, which means our AGM is just around the corner. This is a ‘must-come’ event. Get along and acknowledge those folk who have earnt the various trophies. Of course an AGM also means hearing how the club has fared over the year and the election of a new Committee. Don’t be worried that you’d be shanghaied for a job, I’m sure the Committee have identified at least one person for each job, but everyone is encouraged to put their hand up for a position. Being on the Committee is a rewarding experience and new ideas are always welcome.

I had thought this would be a rather thin edition – how wrong I was. Seems there’s a number of us who have been out and about even Al getting into trout down south (report held over from last month). Many thanks to our contributors. I would welcome articles from everyone for our next edition – can you get the stuff to me by 25 July please?

So … inside we’ve got a report on some Victorian trout river fishing (Al exploring his new domain), Roger provides a report based on his presentation to the June meeting (the start of his round the world bike ride), Ian giving us a feel about his regular winter sojourn at Burrum Heads, a short report from JM on long service leave up north (forgot his go-pro so no fish imagery), finally, yours truly and JQ test out some swaffing in Cairns.

Got an interesting article come into my in-box on sharpening up your casting. Be interesting to see Lyall’s opinion, but I’m going to try the “Slip-Lift” Pick-up. In due course I’ll put an item in our Beginners blog … indeed the newsletter used to have a small, irregular, segment on ‘tips’ provided by members for members. I’ll slowly upload those into the Beginners blog too – note that the title perhaps is misleading, there’s a lot there for everyone of every skill level.

Everyone would have seen the email from Lyall about next year’s program. Still a work in progress it seems though I’ve already seen that one more event has been confirmed. So folks please step up and propose an event, and hopefully offer to lead (it is not an onerous task if we spread it around).

Reports here from our recent trip to Tumut – many thanks John for organising. Disparate reports here also from a very wet Lyle Knowles.

Jason M has headed north on long service leave, but managed to depart with one article submitted, plus a much appreciated effort organising enamel badges. Thanks Peter for spotting an interesting podcast and to Al McH (recently departed for points south of the border) for two reports – he has promised to keep us apprised of activities in Victoria, and also to possibly lead a CAA trip south. I’ve also included some fishing regulatory items.

The July meeting fast approaches where the ‘little green book’ closes and registration of catches for trophy consideration ceases. Those who were successful in earning a trophy last season have been asked to return the perpetual trophy. With Lyall away for a while, John is filling in. See him at the June (and July) meeting. Those who think they are in contention (probably not me this year) might think about, if they should win, whether they would wish to receive the small replica trophy presented for keeping. I chose not to last year (the mini-trophies are not inexpensive, and also present a dusting task back at home).

Have you got some stuff to share with other members via Burley Line? Not looking for War and Peace folks, just a couple of paragraphs and hopefully some pictures. If you are up for it, can you email to me before 23 June please? (The burley-line email address link is on our webpage www.canberra-anglers.asn.au).

Reminder also that the committee are looking for your ideas for events … bring your suggestions forward so that the program better reflects what you want to happen. Even better if you volunteer to co-ordinate it, the task is not onerous – see this guidance. As Claude said, one big bonus for you is that you’d be able to set the date.

Well, the days are drawing in, some of the high water has eased a bit and it appears the fishing is excellent. Augurs well for the forthcoming club event up at Tumut being led by John. I hope to see lot of you up there and a fulsome report in due course.

Meanwhile, the April trip to the Goodradigbee is reported here, along with two articles from Tristan and JM – much appreciate the effort guys. Greg S has been spotting interesting snippets on the web and Owen, travelling this month, has some unusual photos to share.

Just a reminder folks, your contributions to the newsletter are encouraged. For the next issue could you get it to me before 25 May?

Been an interesting start to the year, with more rain than we’ve seen in a while. So much so that Claude took the big step of cancelling the Tantangara trip – well, he thought he had whereas two of the club decided to go up anyway. Claude did reply to a message with photo of fish “I thought you’d go up :-)”. Report inside of a successful though short trip.

On the admin front, news about our affiliation with ANSA, along with what that actually means in respect to benefits which can accrue. We’ll see how this relationship evolves. Also from the committee, a call for trip and other activity organisers to step forward to identify themselves along with ideas for our program – get your thinking caps on folks.

I want to thank Tristan for words and photos here. He’s a relatively new member but is clearly getting well engaged in the club.

Plenty of fishing reports from far and wide inside (look at the photo of the month folks) and an informative TV report that folk will find interesting. A few of us were involved in stocking of fingerlings down on the lower Monaro – but a highlight was seeing some of the tiger trout that Gaden are breeding.

A strong level of interest in Greg W’s Goodradigbee trip has meant it was filled quite early, though a late withdrawal created a chance opportunity two weeks out. Anyway, we look forward to the report next issue.

So, the club has recommenced meetings with a great ZOOM talk by Neil Nelson from Illawarra FlyFishers on his adventures in New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay area – hitting some spectacular rivers. Fly tying has recommenced with two new instructors coming forward with Claude and Lyall being unavailable – well done guys. Finally our first club event in an age down to Jindabyne – a perennial well received event staying at CSIRO Ski Club lodge. Many thanks have been passed to the club from ours.

Also, people have been getting out on their own. Some reported here, others only via the grapevine. Don’t forget folks, reports on your successes are always welcome for the newsletter.

BJ has done it again with a cracking brown achieving cover pic status.

Don’t forget that Claude is running the Tantangara trip in just a few weeks. He would like people to RSVP by Fri 25 Feb. More information is here.

Well I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year celebrations – seems some people even managed to get out fishing. Well done to Al, big walk turned out to be quite successful as folk will read here. I’ve heard whispers about others using midge pupas but can’t confirm. The rivers seemed to be blown out to a significant extent, so it is fortunate that I get some good reports about the Snowy Lakes.

The Carp Day was to be a relaxed affair, but it seems to condition of rivers has deterred anglers – maybe some folk went into the spirit of the affair chasing the fish on local lakes – meantime, recall that our carp trophy is not linked to a specific event. Report in your catches to the Secretary (and for info Burley Line Editor) for inclusion in consideration.

Reminder about the need to register interest in the Jindabyne trip – has always been a most enjoyable trip and hopefully the change in date will get us onto some good dry fly opportunities. Jason M was good enough to head down to East Jindy and provided a brief recce report on the accommodation.

Speaking about Jasons – JQ reported in about the latest arrival in his family.

I’ve included a very interesting article, previously published elsewhere, analysing rainfall and temperatures in the Kydra/Kybeyan – many thanks to Freddy von Reibnitz for this work.

Also here are some other interesting snippets and, as usual, pointers to items that have been posted on-line in our News blog and Facebook page.

BJ’s joy shows the local trout fishing can rival other more famous locations – congratulations mate and thanks for the notes, even if the specific site remains super secret.

As always, Jason has stood up and helped with some interesting content, and thanks also to Randy (stuck down the coast and I’m aware a recent injury is preventing access to the water).

Claude continues to make space in his busy work schedule to run the Zoom fly tying – a pretty simple but effective variant of a well-known fly was November’s topic.  His flies certainly look the part.  Thanks for some notes here Claude.

Also here, some important news from our associates in MAS and NSWCFA – great work being done there.

Following on from the ‘photo of the month’, we’ve got a story about trout season opening on the Cotter from Luke and Nathan – just missed getting in last month, thanks guys.  Seems you’ve been up there with success again since that report – shame I can’t emulate unlike my guru Peter – story and photo here.  With the relaxation of restrictions on us traveling into the ‘border bubble’, I’m hoping to get more stories from all of you arriving on my desk for next Burley Line.

Held over from last month, we have the segment taking a bit of a “Retrospective” of CAA for the past 17 years.  Thanks JM for this suggestion.

With my Membership Officer hat on – yet another reminder that fees are due – go to ‘join us’ to update your contact details via the webform or simply email me.  Please note our new bank account numbers (these were changed last year), they are given on the “join us” page.  So far 30 of you have signed up including one new member (welcome Travis) – means 17 from last year remain to renew.  Amongst other benefits, CAA has again acquired a Public Liability Insurance policy.  This will support financial members in the event of a member of the public seeking compensation due to an incident during an official CAA club event.  This coverage commences in November before our first event for the season.  Life Members are covered automatically even without payment of fees.