Wild trout are those that reproduce each year on their own, without any outside help. Because of pollution and excessive use there are only a few waters in Victoria still producing wild trout. The lakes at Falls Creek in northeast Victoria are two of the very best available.
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 The Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley lakes contain both brown trout and rainbow trout and each provides excellent fishing in summer for shore-based anglers.
Most evenings in the summer you’ll find Falls Creek locals relaxing in their tinnies, taking in the sunset across the mountains and catching a couple of trout. They cast their baits and lures into the deeper pools, with many such places just an easy toss of the line away.
The lakes hold trout that grow to in excess of four kilograms, or eight pounds in the old scale, which many seasoned anglers prefer to use. Because of their peerless reputation, the lakes have been used as a venue for the state and national fly-fishing championships.
Many of the trout that are taken during the day are around the one-kilogram in weight mark, although larger trout begin feeding after 6.00pm, as the sun is sinking and the day becomes cooler.
Bait and Tackle hire is available from Falls Creek Information Centre. Hire includes fishing rod and tackle box with spare hooks, sinkers, swivels and Power bait for $20.
Extra bait can be bought, and lures (Celta and Tassie Devils) are also available. Call 1800-2-FALLS for more information.
Learn how to fly fish like an expert in a half, whole or multi day trip. Contact Angling Expeditions Victoria on 03 5754 1466 for details.
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Weekly Fishing Report - Victorian Alpine Region
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For week to Thursday 8th March, 2008
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Bogong High Plains:Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley lakes at falls Creek are at near full capacity and fishing is excellent this week, with many reports to hand of rainbow trout being caught by fly fishers at dusk as fish rise within an easy casting distance from the shoreline. Many of the fish caught are better than pan-sized, with weights of 600 to 850 grams being common. Lure anglers are also getting their share according to reports, with Lofty 100’s, tassie devils and rapalas in trout patterns being the most popular lures used.
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Fiona Pond: The pondage is currently full, although fishing is at best fair to middling this week, with anglers reporting not being able to find many fish despite their best efforts. There is no apparent reason for a shortage of trout numbers as the water is in excellent condition and the situation has many locals mystified.
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Kiewa River:The pondage is currently full, although fishing is at best fair to middling this week, with anglers reporting not being able to find many fish despite their best efforts. There is no apparent reason for a shortage of trout numbers as the water is in excellent condition and the situation has many locals mystified.
Kiewa River: The Kiewa River is flowing well this week and continues to produce mostly brown trout on a variety of size 16 to 18 dry flies during the day. Trout are rising easily to the artificial flies despite there being no apparent surface feeding on natural moths or insects taking place. Lures are also doing well, with Lofty 100’s in a variety of patterns one of the most successful, according to reports. Black crickets are beginning to make an appearance this week and bait enthusiasts will do well drifting crickets down the runs by attaching same lightly under the wing case collar on a size 14 fly hook and line of no more than 4 pounds breaking strain, with rod and reel to match.
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Cobungra River:The Cobungra River is also running a bit low but cold and clear and fishing is somewhat spotty this week. However, things should improve as autumn settles down to those dreamy Indian summer days we anglers so love.
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Upper Mitta Mitta River: The upper Mitta Mitta River from Mount Wills to Anglers Rest experienced a bit of a lull in productive fishing recently due to a particularly nasty but brief cold snap taking place, but things have now picked up, with one angler this week reporting the capture of three brown trout that weighed in excess of two pounds (one kilogram) each. He caught them all on drifted hoppers.
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Snowy Creek: The Snowy Creek is running a bit low and clear this week, with trout becoming more challenging to catch than in previous weeks, according to reports. Many pan-sized and better brown trout and a few rainbows are on offer, but one needs to be very cautious when approaching feeding fish to avoid spooking them. Wading can be quite difficult at times like this, as the pressure waves created will alert fish to one’s presence.
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info@anglingvic.com.au Web: www.anglingvic.com.au
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National Fly Fishing Championships
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The National Fly Fishing Championships were held at Falls Creek at the start of December 2007. Some of the best fly-fishers in the country competed. To qualify for this event anglers must have competed in relevant State level competition.
The organisers previously held the annual fly-fishing titles at Falls Creek in 2000 and 2003, and were very pleased to announce they will be once again be using one of the few wild, self-sustaining fisheries (Rocky Valley Dam) on Australia’s mainland.
A spokesman for Fly-Fishing Australia, Vern Barby said: "The lake at Falls Creek and a stretch of the Mitta Mitta River near the infamous Blue Duck Hotel, are just perfect for us.
"We select two Oceania teams from the 2007 Australia Fly-Fishing Championships to compete across the Tasman, and from the ten best competing at the Falls Creek-based fly-fishing competition, we select a team of five to compete at the world titles in 2009 hosted by Scotland.
A spokesman for Fly-Fishing Australia, Vern Barby said: "We pegged out 30 beats upstream from the Blue Duck at Anglers Rest on the Mitta Mitta River and 15 boats (with two anglers in each boat) participated in Friday and Saturday's loch-style fishing sessions on Rocky Valley Lake.
Sunshine-based angler Steve Varga's prowess with a fly rod was evident when he caught a 42cm wily Brown trout (with what he called a Spider, the fish equivalent of caviar) and a third place in the first session of the first day.
On the second day of this year's 2007 Fly Fishing Australia Championships Varga achieved a credible second place in the first session of the final day but 'blanked' (couldn't land a trout) in the last session.
While he wasn't a contender for a major place in the national titles at Falls Creek his ability to compete against the best fly-fishers in Australia has put him in good stead. He will be considered for a place in an Oceania team.
Varga said: "There was fish rising all around us and it was nice when the 42cm Brown trout came up and took the fly. It was my first cast and bang!
"Whilst it was hard it was awesome - what a place (Rocky Valley Lake), you can smell the fresh air."
The overall winner, which was a surprise result, was Scott Tucker a Canberra-based vet. Tucker upstaged some of the tournament's favourites such as Jim Davis, Royce Baxter, Max Verashaka, Craig Coltman (who was leading until the last session), Stuart Rees and Craig Carey.
After participating in what was a highly competitive fly-fishing event the fly-fishing enthusiasts from virtually every state in Australia have returned home with a very positive impression of the Mitta Mitta River and one of the few wild, self-sustaining fisheries (Rocky Valley Reservoir) on Australia's mainland.
Footnote: the largest fish caught (by Blair Scott) was a 53cm Brown trout in the Mitta Mitta River.
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