March 2021 Burley Line (Newsletter Issue 165)

Correction: I’ve just been told that the Anaconda Trout Challenge at Buckenderra has been postponed to Dec. The organisers tell me they are hoping to include an extra prize, a very special prize for fly fishing only. I’ll fix in next Burley Line

American writer Henry David Thoreau said, possibly after a day’s angling, “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.”

Important news is that, for those still using Australia Post, our PO Box has changed.  Please take note.

The February club event proved successful for Peter – I understand employing the Charlie patented technique.  Well done to him but also for his generosity in explaining the technique and evening donating one of the special, essential pieces of tackle to some potential members.  We hope they join now.

We have a new section in our blog which will also appear here – Shaun has volunteered to provide a series of book reviews from his extensive library.  I understand he is also amenable to his borrowing a book from you to read and write up – saving you the effort!  I’ve promised to do some also from my less extensive library … maybe next month?

I was fortunate enough to be invited up to a region that I’d not explored – the Barrington Tops.  Notionally it was for deploying some water temperature loggers as part of ‘citizen science’ in support of trout research (though we also got to do some research with fly rod in hand).  I’m also set to do similar with Monaro Acclimatisation Society locally too.  A short report, including some of my drone photography, is here.

Some of our eagle eyed members pointed me to two interesting web articles.

Some activities outside the CAA schedule are coming out of COVID hibernation – check them out.

Grahame Wicks, 1999, Trout Stream and Fly Rod – Review by Shaun

The book follows a familiar pattern, a series of stories based on a series of fishing trips. It’s no less interesting as a result though – the main selling point for us is that it’s very local. Grahame fishes the Cotter, Point Hut, Angle Crossing, Frying Pan. The stories are from his very early fishing career in the 70s, so there’s a nice local history aspect here as well. The book is a local pressing and might be a little hard to find. I’m happy to lend my copy if this is the case.

Phillip Weigall, 2009 & 2011, Fishing Season and Fishing Sense (Two Volumes) – Review by Shaun

Phil’s prose style is pretty clear and straightforward, not remotely flowery. He still manages to capture the reasons why we fish, and the feelings that go along with it. The local content is appealing, and Phil peppers his stories with advice and technique that make me want to get the highlighter pens out. If you can find a copy of Trout Stories from 2004, it’s also written in a similar vein. (Editor: – I’ve got that in my library J)

F Fly Fly Tying 24 Feb 2021 –

Claude led the way.

Recipe:

Hook: Hanak 130BL #14-20

Thread: 8/0-16/0 Black

Tail: Nothing or Pearl Crystal Flash

Body: CDC or Possum Fur or any other fine dubbing you have

Wing: 4-6  CDC feathers

Details:

The F Fly is one of the simplest and deadliest fly patterns. It is a Great all round Trout  fly pattern. Tied in a range of sizes and colours it imitates a range of  insects the CDC wing silhouette can be used to represent many caddis, olives and midge species.

The F fly is very effective in both rivers and still waters. 

keyword dryfly

Ginninderry and Bidgee Access

From BJ:

This is a couple of years old but I ran into a “ranger” when I walked down from Shephards Lookout entrance with rod in hand a few weeks ago.

They are restricting access while reforming the land use, but informally tolerating fisherman. However land use negotiations with Corkhills next door mean that the fence lines might become harder than they were on the north side of the river.

They’ll be building a water “park” access for the Gininderry residents.

https://ginninderry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Attach-A-Ginninderry-Corridor-POM-1.pdf