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. Fishing licences are required and can be purchased from the Falls Creek Supermarket. For opening hours click here.
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Extra bait can be bought, and lures (Celta and Tassie Devils) are also available. Call 1800-2-FALLS for more information.
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Alpine Waters Fly Fishing
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 Fly Fish the local High Country with Alpine Waters Fly Fishing.
Join local guide Peter Hull to explore some of the amazing fly fishing lakes and streams that the Victorian High Country has to offer. Whether you’re a novice fisherman wanting to learn the art
of fly fishing, a regular visitor struggling for the edge needed to get onto the fish, an experienced fly fisher visiting the region for the first time or a couple of mates wanting your next fishing trip organized for you, Alpine Waters Fly Fishing can offer a package to suit you.
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Click here to download information on packages available with Alpine Waters Fly Fishing (PDF - 100k).
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For great prices on a Fly Fishing Instruction or a Guiding package contact Pete on 0429 440 222, or p_hull@bigpond.com
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Angling Expeditions Victoria
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Learn how to fly fish like an expert in a half, whole or multi day trip. Contact Angling Expeditions Victoria for more detail on 03 5754 1466 orinfo@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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