Our angling has slowed down but it was a morale boost to get a number of articles from regular contributors.  Thanks Jason and Claude for submitting some interesting articles – even if the results of your expeditions did not include fish (we are an Angling association after all), the information obtained will stand us all in good stead.  As ever, I’m impressed by how keen young Luke has become – rewarded here with ‘photo of the month’ plus another photo in his article.  Ever vigilant Jaime spotted one item – make sure you click through to the link in respect to the huge cod landed in LBG.  There is hope still for all of us to land a lunker locally.  Lyall has put in two promotions – for our free casting lessons and for Peter Morse’s classes coming up here in Canberra.  Lots of other news from near and far in this edition.

Our new Facebook editor had a reassuring incident this month.  I’d put up in the CAA (website) News Blog a promotion for our annual fly casting lessons.  Someone following the blog (everyone should think about subscribing) was sufficiently enthused that they then announced the event on the CAA Facebook page just ahead of Shaun doing it himself.  We’ve got 47 folk subscribing to the CAA blog for emailed alerts (some are not CAA members).  By contrast we have 424 followers on Facebook (almost none are CAA members) and more every day.  I wonder if CAA should get onto Instagram and Twitter with the way this newfangled social media is being embraced.

Many thanks to Rod for his notes.  I’m conscious that some people actually work for a living and I appreciate folks such as him spending the time to contribute to Burley Line.

End of season for trout stream fishing and some members report here on their experiences – some interesting reading from Evan, Claude&BJ and Peter.  What a beauty from Jaime – and then he backed up with a good string of Cod (the man is a veritable angling machine).  Things are relaxing a bit with initial recommencement of CAA angling events with the June Chill at Black Mountain Peninsula – as you’ll see, the President led from the front – but unfortunately our Saltwater event has had to be cancelled, and our meetings will continue to be virtual for the time being.  The unique value of Zoom was demonstrated by the June meeting where, all that way from NZ, Declan Wong spoke on ‘What you should do prior to, and what to expect when, fly fishing in NZ – A guides perspective’.  An enjoyable question/answer session – Claude has provided a summary here.  Finally, another early member of CAA has passed away.

We are getting close to our July meeting … remember, that’s when Lyall closes the ‘little green book’ and the registration of fish for possible trophy consideration closes.  If you have fish to register, you best contact Lyall  and book in a physical meeting or other arrangement in case our club meeting has to continue with Zoom.  My quick glance earlier this month revealed very few entries.

Some good news on the Facebook front – Shaun has volunteered to be the lead Editor.  If you are registered on Facebook, you should consider “liking and following” the CAA Facebook page.  Shaun has lots of contacts and so, while much will align with stuff you’ll see in the Newsletter or CAA Website News Blog, you may well see it on FB first.  I’m adding a column here in Burley Line as a ‘catch up’ for those of you who don’t want to sign up for Facebook.

The social distancing and isolation continues but some folk have managed to get away fishing.  With the gradual relaxation I look forward to more reports from you guys.

Some very interesting news in here from our ‘peak recreational freshwater fishing’ body – NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers.  CAA has an increasing engagement so please raise with your delegate (Stefan) any issues that you believe need to be raised at state level.

While CAA is not a member, the other key representational body in this region, the Monaro Acclimatisation Society, reports here on their pursuit of the ‘recreational fishing offset’ with Snowy Hydro 2.0 and are hoping for improved engagement with NSW DPI Fisheries.  In practical terms, MAS are looking for a facility where larger fish can be grown out for stocking into Tantangara in the event that redfin are translocated by the pumped hydro.  Some promising news on the issue of money coming out of Snowy Hydro.

In light of the lack of fishing, I very much appreciate the submission from Anthony Heiser – nice to see some good looking trout grace our pages.  Apologies, no such fish photos from the trip Peter and I took.

Good news also from Lyall – our Events Program is set to restart in June given some of the relaxations on social gathering.  Mustn’t forget social distancing, but at least we can gather and gab. Meanwhile JQ continues to tease us with photos of warm weather and feisty fish.  Our eyes are green with envy.

I thought this was going to be a thin edition given the COVID shutdown but … many thanks to Luke M for his cartoon, Lyall, Claude, BJ and Steve Samuels for their contributions but especial appreciation (and envy) goes out to our Cairns chapter of CAA with Jason Q giving us a comprehensive rundown on life up there.  Everyone who reads it will be beating a track, when the Queensland authorities open the border!

Well, what a situation we find ourselves in now.  Restrictions on gatherings have impacted on our program, while many of our members have either found themselves in: self-isolation due to international travel (our thoughts go out to Ian and Stuart … anyone else?) and now being asked to keep travel away from home to essential.  Not clear if going fishing would fit within the rules.  As a consequence, this issue is quite light on with club news with wrapping up from events from ‘before the virus really hit’ and a report on our first toe in the water of virtual connection.  My aim with Burley Line will be continue each month as a means of staying connected in this new, socially isolated world.  Any contributions or suggestions for topics will be appreciated.

Our next big innovation is shaping up to be our first effort at conducting a CAA meeting, complete with slide show, over Internet video conferencing.  This proved quite successful at our test run with fly tying last month.  The technology is relatively simple so please give it a try – one hint, keep your microphone muted unless you are actually talking to the meeting; background noise can be quite disruptive to the audience

Stop Press – Newsletter has been updated due to Khancoban trip cancellation

It seems a number of us headed across the ditch this past month.  Two reports here.  Many thanks Jaime for his submission and to Peter and Claude for accompanying me and helping with the report.  The final major item is one from Jason M completing his postcards from his earlier trip to Tasmania – much appreciated mate.  Still looking for others to come forward with their stories – too many modest folk in our club?

Many of us have been closely watching the situation in Kosciuszko National Park.  Our News blog has provided some updates (thanks Lyall) and the latest one is quite positive – the authoritative link has been provided.  The fires have also raised the profile of our problem with brumbies and there has been some movement by the NSW Govt.

Well it has been a challenging period.  The smoke around Canberra reminded us of the disaster that has been around us in NSW (and now on our doorstep).  My family has been personally impacted with members living at the coast being threatened with destruction of their houses or worse.  We’ve hosted 7 evacuees in our house – having them here has been quite entertaining but with the concern about those staying back uppermost in our minds.  The Fires Near Me app was in constant use – currently showing that our old haunt at Brogo perhaps having a near escape.

In amongst this, Charlie ran into an old friend of the club – Randy.  He had moved down from Canberra to Malua Bay some years ago (2013?).  Tragically, Randy lost his house and many of his possessions in the New Year’s Eve firestorm.  I have conveyed to Randy the sympathy of CAA. Our thoughts go out to him and Lindsay.

Many members will remember Randy for his knife sharpening stall operating at Moruya Markets.  Randy was the contact who got CAA access to the CSIRO Ski Club lodge at East Jindabyne for which we continue to be grateful.

I hadn’t thought we’d publish a February edition, but the ever reliable Jason M has filled my in-box with material about the previous trip to Brogo and ‘postcards’ from his fishing/kayaking/camping expedition in Tasmania – I’ve saved a couple for our next edition.  Thanks also to Claude for some images of his latest flytying creations – his ‘secret flies’ for our forthcoming NZ trip remain under wraps.  I’ve also popped in some information about the sculpture that long time member Charlie assisted with.

One final snippet that I just learnt of yesterday.  President of MAS and local angling guru Steve Samuels has been reappointed to the Recreational Fishing NSW Advisory Council – giving a voice to recreational anglers directly to the Minister.  Congratulations Steve.

This turned out to be a surprisingly large edition.

This month we have both a story from the President (thanks mate) but also one about him – Lost and Found.

Many thanks to Lyall for his comprehensive report on the World Championship – reads like a thriller except with pictures.  Thanks also for Stefan’s very thoughtful piece on the recent Brogo trip – more and more this proves to be very worthwhile event, but watercraft seem to be the go.

This will be the last edition that Jason Q is involved with.  Can I publicly acknowledge all the assistance he has given me, not least is picking up entire editions when I thoughtlessly make myself absent.  He has been a great asset to Burley Line and will be sorely missed.  If anyone would like to step into that void, discuss with him what it involves and drop an email to the burley-line address

Meantime, don’t be surprised if I ply you with a beverage in advance of asking you to volunteer to help.

Congratulations to those who stepped up to help out at the sausage sizzle at the Compleat Anglers First Birthday celebrations.  Unfortunately I was interstate and fully committed.

Finally, the story of ‘Stumpy’, our cover photo this month.  I was lucky enough to be invited for a few sessions fishing with local angling legend Steve Samuels.  His skills extend past fly fishing to soft plastics.  There we were on Mallacoota’s bottom lake, Steve calls the fish a good size looking at its head shaking, but when netted, it was revealed to be undersized!  Clearly some pelagic likes flathead tails as much as me. I should have noted in the edition, Stumpy went back into the water to fight another day.

The issue is a little light on for local news.  I had to publish early as I’ll be away in the last week of Nov (no, not fishing unfortunately) so our special Christmas edition could be a bumper issue with reports on the BugBlitz from Jaime (conducted last weekend), the Brogo trip led by Stefan this weekend, Jindabyne led by me and maybe some stuff from Claude on a recent trip to the upper Snowy.  Fingers crossed.

Meantime, our President has offered up some notes and pictures from his trip across the ditch, and ever-reliable Lyall has submitted an intriguing take on his most recent backcountry trip in NZ.  Peter sent in some notes encouraging us to pay more attention to our flylines (guilty as charged mate – that photo could be one of mine)

Jason

The emails have been few and far between in the Editors Inbox, so I can only assume everyone is out living the dream!

This is a great edition; we have more great articles even a special one from around the globe and spectacular pics of the most recent outing- Lyle Knowles on  the Cotter River.  Thank you for the contributions, I hope you enjoy the content.

Bill

Many thanks to Jason for largely putting this together in my absence.  Thanks also from both of us to Greg for his report on Scottish fishing.

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