November 2015 Edition Volume 7 Number 3 - nwffc.org.au · November 2015 Edition Volume 7 Number 3 ....

Cover : the LaPerouse Mountain area from Recherche Bay Photo Brian Cameron

November 2015 Edition Volume 7 Number 3

2015 / 2016 Committee

- Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania Inc.

Patron Max Wood

President : Chris Young

Phone 6433 0046

Email [email protected]

Life Members Ron Henry (1982) | Hilton Charles (1982) |

Ken McKercher (1985) Will Eygelshein (1985) | Max Wood (1987) |

Harry Nicholson (1987) | David Aldridge (1987) | Frank Lawes (1988) |

Maurice Dawes (1990) | Doug Stephenson (1995) | Cliff Riggs (1995) |

Neil Thorne (1997) | Brian Viney (1997) | Ian Ainslie (2001) |

Keith Credland (2001) | Kerry Innes (2009) |

Chris Young (2012) | Robert French (2012)

Deceased

Senior Vice John Scatchard [email protected] 6432 4789

Junior Vice

President Ricky Bowden [email protected] 6432 1865

Secretary

Librarian Robert Fifield

Robert.Fifield

@stategrowth.tas.gov.au 6431 4289

Treasurer John Scatchard [email protected] 6432 4789

Committee David Kirkham [email protected] 0487354527

Committee Deryk Dennis [email protected] 6435 4546

Committee Lionel White [email protected] 6435 4646

Membership

Officer Bob French [email protected] 6431 4005

Shack Warden John Scatchard [email protected] 6431 6500

TFFA Delegate Adrian Hope [email protected] 0417 136 959

2015/16 Committee List

Contents / Upcoming Events

Page 4 Editorial

Page 5 President’s Report Chris Young

Page 6-10 Camerons’ Rule of Southern Estuary Fishing

Page 11-14 Waratah Yabby Feeders Rob Fifield

Page 14-16 The Committee Meeting Briefs Rob Fifield

Page 17-18 Blue Swimmer Crabbing Ian Pickford

Page 19 Fishing Report

WEBSITE: www.nwffc.org.au

Mailing Address: PO Box 306 Burnie 7320

Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania Inc. - Page 3

Contents

November 10th General Meeting

November 24th Fly Tying Grasshoppers

November 27-29 Talbots Challenge


The Editor’s Desk

Jassid Magazine Editor: Brian Cameron

Mobile: 0459 269 512

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: The opinions or views expressed in this newsletter, are those of the respective authors, and not necessarily those of the Editor or the North West Fly Fishers Club. The Editor

takes no responsibility for the factual content of this publication.

Yes, the editorial title has reverted back from ‘the Editors Line’ to the ‘Editors Desk’ No, the editor has not been sacked, but the picture reflects events at the desk that often occur as the Editor grapples with piecing together items in ‘Publisher’ each month.

As far as I’m concerned it has been great to recently have an enthusiastic female Jassid editor and a number of females along who are interested in fly fishing.

I’m equally enthused by the support and assistance of our partners and girlfriends who do not fish, but recognise the value of fly fishing to us (or encourage us to go away for a while perhaps– absence makes the heart grow fonder and all of that!). As ‘best mates’ they listen to our stories (or pretend to do so), provide sustenance and support for our journeys, allow us to syphon an amount from the collective budget, attend club functions with us and provide practical support for club activities.

Who can forget the many fish bags made by Mary Credland, curtains sewed for the shack, phone messages passed on etc. I thought it fitting to reflect the current situation with our editor being more of a newsletter flounderer to use a fishing term. Thanks Lois and thanks Ladies!

Thanks also to Robert for providing interesting Jassid articles once again. If contributions could come to me before the fourth Tuesday of the month (fly tying night) that would make my job easier, and be most appreciated. It was great to get an article of interest on Crabbing. Whilst my preference is for fly fishing reports and articles, I thinks most of us are interested in other forms of fishing. I have become less ‘exclusive’ over time (shame alert! - you will notice a spinning rod in my boat in this very edition!). Deryks’ recent article on balloon fishing in WA whetted my appetite for a taste of the exotic and so I must give Ian Pickford a big word of thanks for the Blue Swimmer Crabbing report.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT Chris Young

Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania Inc. -

I recently had my first trip for the season to the Club shack and wasn’t very impressed with the way that it had been left. The fridge doors had been left shut (it still smelt when I left! ) the kitchen sink was full of dirty washing up water,. The drainer had plates, cups, knifes and forks left to drain. The whole place was in need of a very good clean.

There are also to many food items left on the shelves, nobody knows how old these items are so I doubt that they will be used.

If anything is left behind PLEASE DATE IT!

I know that the place looks untidy because it is half finished but that is no excuse. It should still be kept clean and tidy.

WHEN MEMBERS DEPART the shack they must LEAVE

fridge doors open

Sink and benches clean

Everything put back in the cupboards

Floors swept / washed

Toilet cleaned

Bathroom sink and shower wiped out

Closed curtains

Power off

Empty water pipes

November weekend at Talbots

Our first club trip for the year to Talbots lagoon is coming up on the 27th, 28th and the 29th of November. The more members that we can get attending this event, the more reason to justify the access issues that we have at the moment. If you haven’t been before the evenings around the fire are worth going for without the fishing.

I reckon that we must be due for a weekend of good weather so let’s hope that the weather gods are with us for a change.

Just a reminder that you don’t have to fish Talbots. The other waters close by are Lake Lea, Waratah Dams, Plimsoll , Mackintosh , Lake Rosebery etc.

There will more info in the newsletter, and coming by email so see you all up there.

Guest Speakers

We need input from the members so we know what you all would like and what you expect from guest speakers so we can chase some good quality guests to entertain us for the evening.

So please have your say. Come along to the meetings and voice your wishes to one of the committee members. We need to know what you want .

At the time of writing this report John Diggle had been invited to be guest at the November meeting to answer questions on access to Talbots. It was very short notice and he couldn’t attend so hopefully he will be able to attend early in the new year.

Good Fishing To You All .

Chris

- Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmanian Inc.

Camerons’ Rule of Southern Estuary Fishing

Following on from my sometimes accomplice Robert Fifields’ article entitled “You never know what will happen” in last months’ Jassid I have to report on my trip to the southern Tasmanian estuaries which provided a few somewhat ‘unexpected’ events.

Firstly I have never caught or seen a bream in these estuaries despite affirmation of their inhabitation provided by reputable sources on a website I frequent.

Secondly I hear reports that oyster racks provide habitat for Atlantic salmon and large flathead (in the Circular Head area in particular). My efforts to land one of these or even find evidence of their existence similarly have registered a blank.

My gear was packed and I and set off on the long drive south on Monday 12th October, driving to Police Point area to camp the first night after stocking up on supplies in Huonville. The next morning after purchasing a few last minute supplies at Dover, I journeyed gingerly over the oyster strewn shallows of the Esperance Bay area towards the river mouth. This is as area where we have enjoyed success targeting Atlantic salmon and catching the odd seatrout. I had tied up a few flamboyant looking large flies for the salmon that Liberace would have been proud and presented them on a fast sinking line. I had a number of large trout inspect as I hovered the fly in the water at the end of my retrieve, but no takers. Recently I have been paying more attention to observing these follows and enjoyed some hook-ups on successive recasts. This is an aspect of observation skill I feel I have previously neglected instead being content to ‘live in the moment’and enjoy the experience without pushing myself too hard.

There was not much whitebait to be seen being sprayed at the river’s edge. I was a

Adamsons’ Peak from the Esperance Narrows


Article and Photos by Brian Cameron

tad despondent as the evening drew nigh. My previous successes have been with flies cast toward the deep banks and suddenly on one such cast my retrieve was halted. I was not sure what I had hooked as the fight was somewhat different to the trout and Atlantics I was targeting. Welcome aboard Mr Bream- my first bream ever caught, but how he got that big grotesque fly into his little mouth I will never know? Accomplishment number 1! I haven’t eaten bream since I was a young teenager so elected to put him into the bag as a trip down memory lane. The taste was ok but not much meat on a fillet and I think next time I will return a bream. They take decades to reach maturity.

On to the Lune River and I spent a day and a half there. This is the water where we have previously enjoyed catching many sweet little cocky salmon. I paid more attention to what was happening with my retrieve and saw a number of fish which I believe were bream. Paying closer attention to the river floor I spotted weed beds and a drop off a few meters in from the edge of the tussocks that flank the river. I noted a structure in the water near the last bend as the river opens out to the bay. A number of sizable bream could be seen circling it, none of which I

could catch. Some cockies were caught and I pricked couple of trout working bait. The enjoyable thing for me was noticing the structure and bream. I have been to this river on 4 other occasions without such revelations.

A message was left on my bus from the local fire warden informing of a total fire ban the next day. I cooked my roast chicken in the camp oven that night due to limited refrigeration capacity and went for a run as part of my Burnie 10 training.

The Lune River is very wide in its’ lower reaches


- Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmanian Inc.

It was off to see Meg from Ida Bay railway next day where I was again allowed to recharge my electric outboard battery (and caffeine levels while I waited). I plodded on to my favourite spot the Catamaran River camp ground where I launched my boat and worked the structure near the river mouth. A few big eyed slimy mackerel obliged just on dusk.

Previous trout in this area have contained up to a dozen crabs so I decided to tie up some imitations before setting out the next day. The crab colour in my memory was a blueish brown so I hunted through the fly box and the best I could come up with in small crab size and shape were the pheasant feathers on top

of a Mrs Simpson cape which don’t really get used for anything. I sandwiched a tail on them of orange as crabs often have some lighter colouration on the bottom of their claw for example. “It might be a good fly for bream” I told myself (they were tied on a much smaller hook than the stainless steel “Liberace” fly).

A brief flick on the Catamaran River headed rapidly towards disaster. As I attempted to retrieve a fly from a bush my sinking line wrapped around the electric motor propeller. Not wanting

it to be shredded by the unwrapping process I struck upon the “good” idea of undoing the nut so as to remove the propeller. In a resting position my motor sits at the edge of the gunwales so I was attentive to ensuring the nut did not fall into the water. So attentive was I that I snatched as it came off and knocked it over the side into the 1.2m plus water. Thankfully clear as the tide was incoming. My motor was useless without that nut which I told myself Minn Kota would doubtless charge an extortionists price to replace…. I had to act quickly and decisively. So with the hand not holding on to the bush, I grabbed my net and in a frantic fury raked it along the bottom. The nut could be seen balanced precariously on a couple of logs which were part of structure from a bygone jetty. No success….. I leant further into the water and submerged my arm to the shoulder in a last ditch attempt, pressing my chest hard against the gunwale to maximise my reach……Success with a final swoop!…..alas my mobile phone located in my chest pocket

No additional lighting required for my fly tying office

Mrs Simpson gets a crabby make-over


Article and Photos by Brian Cameron

now has a cracked screen, won’t operate and is now being repaired/replaced!

Elated with restoration of fishing potential, I headed over toward my favourite spot the d’Enrecasteaux River where we have landed some larger trout and Atlantics over the years. I was a bit early for the preferred outgoing tide so I dallied about at the oyster racks before the mouth of the river. I cast the crab fly on a fast sinking fly line between the rack ends and just when I was about to move on…Bang! I hooked in to a reasonable size flathead. New accomplishment number 2– my only previous fly caught flathead were definitely undersize. I persisted to land several more keepers over the new 32cm requirement and a nice blackback salmon of 1 ½ lb. Something appreciably bigger hooked up only to spit out after a good fight? The tide was now running out, the wind had gotten up so I pushed upstream to find a few small trout chasing bait along the edge. After a couple of small fish plucks I finally landed a poorly conditioned 3-4 lb river resident trout which I released. The previous resident 6lb fish I caught there was wonderful looking but tasted like eel, which may not be a coincidence. I had celebrated by making a cup of

coffee out of salty water so this time I headed well upstream to find fresh water. I parked my dingy running on a log jam where I enjoyed the spectacle of a sequence of small trout chasing bait schools over 100m of river upstream.

A lovely orange trout was landed on a whitebait pattern near the island on the way out. Oyster

workers were harvesting the river mouth lease so next I peppered some other racks in the cove where French ships Esperance and Recherche sheltered for some weeks prior to English colonisation and had planted a vegie garden. This

At last! A de-cent flathead on the fly!

This poorly conditioned river fish was taken from the first log jam of the d’Entrecateuax River



time I landed a 1 ½ lb yellow eye mullet. That’s 5 species in less than 24 hours I said to myself.. Then, I had a thought. Unintentionally I left my spinning rod at home, but last time I boated a few nice calamari in the late afternoon. So I rigged a squid jig onto my sinking fly line with the thought of keeping the guys guessing about the 6th species should I have success. Technically I was using a fly rod and a squid jig does have feathers. I did not have success, however and the membership has been spared some form of tedious torture at the next meeting.

I went for another Burnie 10 training run to Cockle Creek that evening and had to hurry back the next day as the race was on Sunday. In my haste to return I did manage to sideswipe the side of my bus on a boat trailer parked beside the ramp as I backed to collect Dwight (the name of my boat- it’s the white Purdon dingy in the photos).

Oh well, in physics Newton talks about a force having an opposite but equal force, maybe the same applies to my fishing career…. Hence, Camerons’ Rule of Fishing might state; Each fishing achievement is likely to be accompanied by some sort of negative event …. 2 achievements accompanied by 2 disasters!

Perched on a log upstream on the d’Entrasteaux River

Mullet are usually hard to catch on fly

Waratah Yabby Feeders Robert Fifield


In Waratah Airport dam over the years I have been fishing there, an increasing

population of Yabbies of the Cherax Genus have developed. Todd Walsh, the

lobster man identified one I found a few years ago and stated they are

introduced. When I first fished the lake I only used the dry fly, as the trout

would seemingly rise to just about anything. I fish from a boat or canoe and

target the rising trout.

Fly fishing from a boat is easier than from the shore as there is no vegetation

to push your way through just to get close enough to the water. However in the

boat you have to maneuver around standing, fallen and cut timber still in the

lake. I guess it is hard to get around by either shore or water craft, but I prefer

water craft. Fishing from a boat or canoe is way easier with two people in the

boat but I can manage by myself. I have to make my way round carefully and

even then, getting round the more timber choked areas, I spook many trout

because I cannot concentrate on both the boat and the fishing 100 % at the

same time. I look for the trout and crash into underwater stuff all the time. I

look for the underwater snags and I run straight over the top of a cruising trout.

It is a trade-off of fishing verses boating (or swimming? - Editor). Having two

people in the boat will not guarantee success. They must work as a team!

Rising trout are best as you can mark the position of the rise and they often

hold to a spot. You can set a trap with the boat positioned a nice short cast

from a rise. Fishing to cruisers is trickier as I motor the boat around in reverse

and the trout are often less than a cast away when spotted. More often than not

they are moving towards the boat thus spooked unless you are quick. The boat

is moving anyway and you just cannot stop without massive under water

disturbance from the motor. My best technique for these trout if they do not

take when I first see them, is to come back next week remembering where I

have seen them. I approach very carefully, fishing my way with fore

knowledge into the general area. This gives a better than 50-75% chance of

getting the trout to take.

When I first fished in the lake years ago the trout rose well. Not so at the

moment. Perhaps you need the right conditions for rising. If they are not

rising, you would swear there were no trout in the lake at all, unless you have

seen them in locations around the lake and then target these locations. Having

been there a few times, I have a fair idea of the locations where the trout might

be lurking. I don’t often go to the lake in perfect conditions. Talbots attracts



me in good weather. Maybe they still rise when conditions are good.

When there are no rises and I am between spots I consider to be fish habitat, I

tend to tow the wobblers around behind the boat or tie up in center of the biggest

snag and spin. I also tow flies around behind the boat as despite what I say, I do

prefer the fly gear and it is way easier on the body than spinning gear. Big Andy

once told me that he never uses dry flies in the lake and prefers little wets. This

was borne out one day when I took my dad there and he caught a few. Some on

the dries and some on wets. I was constantly having to go back over water

because he had one on that had taken the sunken fly and then managed to get

back to its place of refuge. I motored the boat around and he cast all over the

place into every log pile he could find.

I try with the wet flies a bit if there by myself. It is hard to motor the boat, cast

and retrieve with either the wets or the spinning gear. Yabbie feeders take

sunken flies and big Pegron lures with gusto at times. You need two hands to

work wobblers and wets, unless you tow them round.

I was reading an internet article about yabbie feeders and it was written that: In

both Lake Jindabyne and Lake Eucumbene, many anglers suggest that the

Yabbie has been responsible for changing the feeding habits of trout in the

lakes as the populations of Yabbies have increased. In fact in both Lake

Jindabyne and Lake Eucumbene you seldom catch a trout with a full stomach

when the contents doesn’t include yabbies’.

This nice 4lb Waratah brown was a prime example of a fish feeding mostly on

yabbies. I was able to count 4 of around 5 cm in length.

The article states that Yabbies live around the margins of the lake with the

preferred habitat being muddy banks and shallows. They live in holes that

Note the lovely orange flesh of this Yabby feeder Photo: Robert Fifield



they burrow into the soft bank and bottom and move from hole to hole as the

water levels change. They move out of their holes to relocate, to forage for

food and to find mates. All of these activities make them vulnerable to trout.

Water levels in Waratah Airport Lake are fairly static so they do not have to

relocate much. However they must forage and look for mates. The trout target

them during these times. When Trout are ‘on the fang’ as it were, they will

strike, miss, and then be back to the lure up to 5m away in an instant.

The article goes on that: The Yabbies vary in colour shades of olive sometimes

with blue highlights, red or almost black. A range of flies fished in those

sorts of colours can be used to represent yabbies. More important than the

actual selection of the fly is the form and function of the fly in combination

with the retrieve. I find slow retrieves with the occasional pause and

occasional faster strip serves me well, but it’s worth experimenting.

When my dad caught a few or at least had a few on and lost them, he stated

that he used “a jersey herd”. I remembered this but did not take much notice at

the time. Since then, I have tied a number of flies to represent the yabbies’ in

the lake.

These are on

size 4 keel

hooks. I used

hooks that swim

upside down in

order to fish in

amongst the logs

yet not get

snagged. I have

tied floating

flies to use on

full sinking

lines. The fly

then stays above

the line tip hopefully passing over logs. I have varied the colours, mostly green

and orange. Only limited success with them, but not used much.

Over the last few years I have been developing another pattern for Waratah. I

have caught one trout and had the point broken off by another. Flies with

broken points do not tend to hook very well. The fly is a work in progress.

Photo: Robert Fifield



Robs Waratah Wet

The Dressing

Hook – L/S 6, 8 or 10 Thread – Black Tail Marabou Olive with orange over

the top Body – olive micro chenille Palmer hackle orange dyed hen cape Ribbing copper pot scrubber

Remembering the Jersey Herd Fly, I found the picture and dressing below on

the internet recently.

The Jersey Herd was created for reservoir fishing in the early 1970s . It derived

its name because the early pattern’s body was made from the gold colour foil on

the milk bottles known as gold tops. At that time the Jersey cows were the ones

milked to give the best full cream milk, hence the name Jersey Herd.

It is still a useful pattern to have in your box. Materials have changed over the

years and the body is now usually made of copper lurex ribbed with copper

wire, or goldfingering. I have used a material called new body Czech which I

prefer. This fly like so many others from that era still catches a lot of fish and is

well worth giving a try.

The Dressing

Hook – L/S 6, 8 or 10 Thread – Black Tail Back & Head – Peacock Herl Body – Either Copper Lurex ribbed with copper wire, Goldfingering or

New Body Czech.

The fly has colours that I have been using and looks a bit like a woolly bugger.

Maybe my developed fly is on the right track. I will keep on experimenting.

Robert Fifield

Photo: Robert Fifield

The Committee Briefs October


Present Chris Young, John Scatchard, David Kirkham, Robert Fifield, Deryk Dennis, Lionel White & Rick Bowden Apology Brian Cameron

A copy of the Club insurance is to be forwarded to Forico by John The framed flies need to be taken up to the shack to be displayed on the walls there. Chris will collect them from Keith. The club banner is to be stored where it can be accessed easily. John has offered to look after it. The General Committee vacancy created by Chris offering to take on the presidential role, has been filled at the General Meeting in September by Deryk Quamby Open Day: follow up - ideas for our own promotional event

Deryk considered that for our club to run a similar successful event, the location has to be close to town to pick up passing traffic near the population centre.

The event needs a driver to make it work. The game fishing club has all juniors sponsored. John considers that we

really need to encourage junior members. The building surveyor has been contacted to do a final Jassid shack inspection for occupancy.

The building inspector has been there. Apparently our building permit has expired.

Secretary to find out about the permit. The calendar is a go and all members need to get behind the project. Photo’s required and advertising is required. Hopeful to get calendar out earlier this year. We have few flies, sponsors or photos.

Talbots fishing methods: As per the General Meeting September a copy of the recommendations

from NWFFC was sent out to NWFA. Talbots Challenge: David Kirkham is to be coordinator. There are two access carparks and it will be foot traffic from these

points. Robert has contacted/invited the Tasmanian Fly Fishers Club,

Devonport and Quamby clubs.



Correspondence Inward From

Email: Thank you for Talbots invitation and request for details of the event

Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania

Email: Thank you for Letter responding to Invitation for input into the future management of Talbots Lagoon and the access arrangements

Inland Fisheries Service

Email: Thank you for letter invitation to Talbots and confirmation of dates when the Fergus weekend is on


Email: Brief notes of meeting with Forico ‘James Dick’ and details of potential changes to access. Request for follow up with Inland Fisheries Service to clarify access

David Kirkham and Talbots Sub committee

Donated sponsorship items for the Talbots Challenge Libby Sloane. Fly Life Magazine

Email: Thank you for Letter responding to Invitation for input into the future management of Talbots Lagoon and the access arrangements.

North West Fisheries Association

Email: Thank you for your request on the access to Talbots Lagoon. Assurance that we will be advised when discussions have been finalized


Confirmation of sponsorship for the Club Calendar Lyn Southon Stornoway P/L

Email: Confirmation of numbers allowed to go to Fergus with Fly Club of Tasmania. Details of travelling and camping and times.


Correspondence Outward To

Email With : Letter of Invitation to Talbots Challenge s Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania

Email With : Letter responding to Invitation for input into the future management of Talbots Lagoon and the access arrangements


Email: Request for sponsorship for Talbots Challenge Libby Sloane. Fly Life Magazine

Email With : Corrected Letter of Invitation to Talbots Challenge s Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania

Email: Details of Talbots Challenge and request for Numbers going to Talbots and numbers invited to Fergus


Email With : Letter responding to Invitation for input into the future management of Talbots Lagoon and the access arrangements

North West fisheries Association

Email: Requesting clarification of Talbots Lagoon Access, Whether there will be driving access along with lodge hire. Where the car parks may be relocated to?




A letter of invitation to be sent to the IFS to attend the November meeting to discuss Talbots issues.

Treasurer’s Report Report Tabled. $5425.209 balance at end of September.

General business Fly Life Sponsorship of Talbots Challenge: Letter to be sent to Libby Slone. Acknowledging receipt and thanking FlyLife. Bronte (Shack) a free night for members each year has been suggested . Deryk feels the idea should be reviewed. Subject is to be kept alive and resolved before next AGM. Lionel or Deryk will bring a proposal to the next meetings

Blue Swimmer Crabbing the Western Australian Way.

By Ian Pickford

On a recent trip to Western Australia (this year) the opportunity to

go Blue Swimmer Crabbing presented its self.

Heading 40kms south of Carnarvon in our slip-on camper a pleasant beach campsite presented its self at Bush Bay. We decided we’d gone far enough, lets’ stay here for the night.

Having set up camp in no time & being welcomed by ½ dozen WA locals we became intrigued as to what a lot of people (men & women) were doing walking around in ankle to knee deep water. When I asked the question the answer was that they were “Crabbing”.

The tide was on the way out with “Crabbing” in full swing by the camp community. I chummed up with John(?) from Busselton who eagerly took me under his wing, offering to show me how crabbing was executed.

Blue Swimmer Crabbing by Ian Pickford


Walking in ankle to knee deep water on a sandy bottom we were looking for dark patches where ‘Blue Swimmer” Crabs lay just beneath the surface of the sand. Carrying a long handled broom stick with a 30cm steel rod poking out one end & (wire hanging type basket) a net fixed to the other end, you walk along & prod the dark sandy patch hoping to disturb a crab which will immediately pop up ready to attack & its at this stage you use the net end of the broomstick handle to scoop up the crab. Minimum size is 127mms across the back of its shell (the carapace) with an average all up width (with claws extended) being about 30cms.

In an hour’s crabbing we walked 1-2kms & caught 5 sized crabs (enough for a meal for 2 people) throwing back 20-30 undersize blighters. The bag limit is 20 / person / day & no licence is required.

At low tide you could walk out 2kms before getting up to your waist in water.

We were given the crabs already cooked for our evening meal & they were delicious-(very sweet & similar to Tasmanian crayfish).

So there was another interesting form of fishing one has been introduced to.

Fishing Reports

Henty River I wrote a despondent article a about three years ago bemoaning the decline of fishing in the Henty River and the numbers of cormorants in large flocks (of up to 50). My son Angus and I headed in that direction on 4th, 5th and 6th of November

and were delighted to see plenty of whitebait, plenty of fish (some of good size), few cormorants, a selection of sea eagles and wedge tails we have not noted there before. Early next morning Angus received a couple of nice birthday

It was too late for Jenny Craig for this fatso who's stomach and mouth were stuffed full of whitebait

Angus manoeuvres the boat towards trout busting-up bait

presents, managing to trick a couple of whitebait smashers in an adrenaline charged session in the shallows. The fussy, spooky trout were catchable from boat or shore. Many were stuffed full with whitebait. Many were small but there was a good number of

sizable fish seen, pricked, lost and caught for the trip. Yes, the rivers do come back and yes they can be a fickle prospect. So numerus were the bait when we cleaned trout we might have had an entrée of whitebait emptied from their gobs!

What’s Happening When 10th November General Meeting Stop Press Neil Morrow (IFS) Talbots 24th November Fly Tying Grass Hoppers 27th-29th November Talbots Challenge Contact David Kirkham Phone number on page 2

Henty Report by Brian Cameron


A Henty Evening, Photo Brian Cameron

Shack Hiring Charges

Member - $10.00 per night

Family - $20.00 per night

Guest of a Member $20.00 per night

(Children under 18 yrs. stay free)

Maximum duration of booking is 4 nights at any one time.

REMEMBER: Your online booking is not

confirmed until the booking dates change colour

Shack Booking Procedure

Booking is by current financial members only;

Persons booking shack are to leave their contact details (a telephone number for sharing purposes)

The Shack may only be booked by a member attending the shack Advance booking for a maximum of four consecutive nights only. Members may use a second four night block when the shack is available. People sleeping in vehicles and using shack

facilities pay full rate

Members must either pay in advance or make full payment within 7 days of vacating the shack. Remember to confirm your booking by telephoning John Scatchard on 0400 254 725 or email

[email protected]

The booking is not confirmed until the webpage dates change colour. The password to book can be obtained by contacting and the current shack door lock

combination will also be available from John .

Members are advised not to disclose the combination unnecessarily and problems incurred by doing so will result in suspension of privileges.

You can still pay cash at the shop, but if paying by electronic transfer put your name and ‘Shack

Hire’ in space provided and send treasurer an email advising him of the payment at [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

November 2015 Edition Volume 7 Number 3 - nwffc.org.au · November 2015 Edition Volume 7 Number 3 ....

Documents

Transcript of November 2015 Edition Volume 7 Number 3 - nwffc.org.au · November 2015 Edition Volume 7 Number 3 ....