Apologies, I’ve just been reminded that our Events page (and our membership card) is showing the incorrect date for Lyle Knowles. Subsequent to the printing a decision was taken to shift from the one day event on Saturday and instead the event will be held Sun 22 Oct.

There was also some discussion about the determination of the winner given that in the past it was ‘best bag’. Committee has confirmed that the winner will be the longest (nose to tail) individual fish.

We had earlier posted much of this information but now here is the official report.

Gaden Trout Hatchery Report June-oct 2017
For those unaware, Gaden Hatchery is generally the single source for DPI and MAS stocking of trout in this region. The situation last year was pretty parlous with few fishing running up from Lake Jindabyne. Gaden used to provide monthly reports, but to reduce administrative workload, they are now less frequent. The latest report passed to us by Steve Samuels is very positive. Not only were the runs, especially the browns, larger (Gaden was able to remove the fish trap much earlier allowing fish to run up the river and spawn naturally), but the number of stocked fish detected was very low meaning the ‘naturally bred’ fish were very much in the preponderance. The inclusion of Eucumbene fish into the Gaden stock sounds like a good idea for genetic diversity. Keep your eye out for the tagged ex-brood stock fish in Jindabyne.

All unwanted 2+ 3+ rainbow trout broodstock (230 individuals) have been released into Lake Jindabyne with an elastomer implant (pink) inserted near the left eye.

Waterwatch and the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre are trying to enlist the public to locate carp breeding grounds now that spring has warmed up the water. You can then log your sightings at the Feral Fish Scan website

More info in the Canberra Times article here.

The AGM in August discussed the anomaly that fish caught on an official CAA event held outside the defined trophy regions (NSW CFA Regions 3 and 4) could not be considered for trophies under the extant rules. This was further discussed at the Bondi Forest executive ‘retreat’ and revised rules were developed. These were endorsed at the September CAA meeting. Also endorsed was an expansion of the number of trophies to include trophies for cod, golden perch (named the Charlie Diedo trophy), bass and English Perch (redfin).

The revised rules (including, in due course, a ‘worked example’ of the slightly complicated trout trophies) are now on the web.

The 2017 MEJ BIG Burley Bash is being held at Lake Burley Griffin over 10 weeks, every Thursday evening starting 5th October. This event will see anglers target the yellow belly species – the BIGGER the better.  Fishing will take place from 6:30pm to 9:30pm each Thursday, and points will be accumulated over the 8 weeks, with one week of finals.

Planning is underway getting flyers and registration forms organised.  Once completed they should be available from Burley Line or direct from fishing@my2hooks.net

Those who read the August newsletter will be aware, but there is some more information here.

Late in Jul an alarm was raised that the ACT Govt was looking to lock permanently the southern gate to the Googong foreshores (down near London Bridge and Burra).  There was a quick response from the angling community, especially ACTFF, and through them the Environment Department was called to explain the situation on the ABC Local Radio (666) Drive program on Wed 26 Jul. Go to:

http://www.abc.net.au/radio/canberra/programs/drive/drive/8725826

The interview with Matt Kendall was at 4:07PM but the recording starts at 3:00PM. If you fast forward about a third of the way through you’ll hear it.  The key outcome is that the Department is looking to install an automatically locking gate in lieu of sending rangers down to lock the gate each evening

The key complaint is the opaque manner that this had been considered by the Environment Department. From here on our energies should be focussed on ensuring the Govt consults with the public as the performance of the gate is examined – probably through their Recreational User Group. Also to ensure irresponsible damage to the gate doesn’t give the Govt an excuse to take the option to permanently lock the gate in the future.

Readers might consider signing a petition started by Andrew Wall MLA.

Received this encouraging message from the ever energetic Steve Samuels. Members might wish to be a part of this experiment – it involves catching trout folks!

We’ve now learnt that fish were over 20cm when stocked.  The tag is the same as the yellow tags we’ve seen on ex-brood stock released into Jindabyne so will be easy to identify.  Don’t forget to phone in the number to receive the promised lure.  Hopefully anglers will carefully release any caught to continue the experiment.  While they are under legal size, they ought to be big enough to compete against redfin predation.

This is shaping up to be a very useful experiment.  I will keenly await advice on the results if I can’t get up there myself. (Shame that Oberon is outside NSW CFA Region 3 and 4 so any trout we caught would be ineligible for a CAA trophy … unless we have an official event there – now that’s an idea we can discuss 😁).

Dear Supporters

As you may know, as President of the Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc, I have been campaigning for a better approach to fixing our problems with many of our trout dams in NSW.  Most of you will be aware that redfin have become a serious pest, and where they have colonised in trout waters, the rainbow trout have virtually disappeared.  Earlier this year I was successful in gaining support for the development of a NSW Trout Strategy to try and get better trout fishing in the dams that now have redfin.

Yesterday (Monday 17^th July) a small but significant experiment was launched at Oberon Dam.  NSW Fisheries have released 500 tagged yearling trout into the dam and the hope is that anglers will fish for them over the next season and report their captures.  One of the significant approaches will be to see that if stocking bigger rainbows will allow them to survive the redfin.

Below is a short statement from Cameron Westaway on this stocking and I hope that all of you who fish here will support the experiment as it will inform us for future stockings.

We have a long way to go to bring back many of our once famous trout lakes, but it seems that this first small step signals a new approach to support our trout fisheries.

Regards

Steve Samuels

President

Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc

Dear Trout strategy working group members.

As a dummy run for a possible trout strategy action we are stocking 500 tagged yearling rainbow trout from the Dutton Trout Hatchery at the “reef” in Oberon dam (which has been the subject of redfin degradation) next Monday at 11:30am  with the Member for Bathurst and Minister for Lands & Forestry the Hon.  Paul Toole.

People who ring in details of recaptured tagged fish will be sent a free little ripper oar gee lure.

Cameron Westaway,

Senior Fisheries Manager Inland 

Message from Steve Samuels, Pres MAS

Dear Supporters

Please find the attached photo and advice from Charles Litchfield from Snowy Hydro and the work being done at Tantangara Dam launching site.  I hope those of you who fish here will enjoy the improvement.

Steve Samuels

President

Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc

Hi Steve

Below is a photo of the boat launch area at Tantangara (stage 1) after work this week. You will see that it has been graded and more turning area provided and will allow people to launch while we are carrying out work at Tantangara. 

There is an area further along which we are using for the project. Once the project is finished, that area too will be available for launching (stage 2). We think this is already a reasonable improvement and should be further improved once the work is done, 

Our colleague (amongst many other hats, Vice President for our region on the NSW CFA) Steve Samuels has disseminated the minutes.

The minutes from the Advisory Council has been popped up on our blog.  Some of the more interesting points are:

• The Trout Strategy is being progressed and the working group is awaiting the appointment of a scientist – great to hear some real science is coming to this effort.
• Recall that Jason M has spoken about the concept of a ‘social licence’ – ie public acceptance of an activity. The council is in the process of pursuing of a social licence strategy.
• The council is seeking advice from Snowy Hydro on the potential for reopening these waters for water activities including fishing.
• The potential issue of redfin translocation coming out of Snowy Hydro 2.0. The Chair will seek NSW Govt to raise the issue with the Commonwealth.
• Council concerns about the Travelling Stock Reserves review will be taken to the Minister

RFNSW_outcomes_meeting_5_2nd_June_2017