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Fly Fishing Report - Falls Creek Great New Years Fishing at Falls
| (Updated Tuesday 30 December 2008)
| Reports indicate that many of the fish taken during the day are around 450-500 grams in weight, with larger trout, usually rainbows, feeding closer to dusk.
|  Rocky Valley & Pretty Valley reservoirs near Falls Creek, Lake Guy, the Kiewa River (declared one of hottest places in Victoria to cast a line by fishing guru Steve Cooper), Ovens, Bundara, Cobungra, Victoria and Mitta Mitta (upper and lower) rivers, plus numerous mountain streams are fishing well.
Despite the rain fishing conditions remain excellent, with many keeper size trout being caught by all fishing methods.
Bogong High Plains: Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley reservoirs at Falls Creek are producing many rainbow trout and some browns for anglers fishing around the shoreline with live drifted and suspended baits, such as worms and mudeyes.
Reports indicate that many of the fish taken during the day are around 450-500 grams in weight, with larger trout, usually rainbows, feeding closer to dusk.
Clover Flat: The inflow stream to Clover Dam on the Bogong High Plains Road has backed up nicely with all the rain and is producing brown trout to 400grams, some larger, this week for bait anglers.
Kiewa River: The Kiewa River from Mount Beauty to Mongans Bridge is fishing well and producing lots of pan sized trout this week.
There have been a few fish reaching weights of 1.5 to 1.75 kilograms taken in recent weeks but most of these have been caught well after dark, according to reports.
Upper Mitta Mitta River: The upper Mitta Mitta River from Glen Wills and down through Anglers Rest is fishing well and producing lots of brown trout and rainbow trout although sizes tend to be small, with only a few weighing over 750 grams, according to reports.
Bundara River: The Bundarra River at Anglers Rest is a running a bit high this week with moderately strong flow rates on account of the recent rain.
However, fishing remains very good, especially for bait and lure anglers who are finding rainbow trout in fair numbers.
Cobungra River: The Cobungra River has been producing some nice trout in the fairly remote middle sections in recent weeks although one needs to have a reasonable knowledge of the access tracks to avoid becoming lost.
There have been constant reports of trout to around 450-500 grams seen feeding in more easily accessible parts of the river close to the Blue Duck Hotel in recent
weeks.
Mitta Mitta River: The lower Mitta Mitta River is low as water from Dartmouth is held back this week. Fishing conditions are excellent, with many rainbow trout and browns being caught on bait, lures and flies, according to reports.
More next week from Tawonga-based fly-fishing guide Geoff Lacey.
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| The Rivers are Awash With Trout
| (Updated Monday 15 December 2008)
| Average trout sizes and numbers are quite reasonable for these natural rivers. There’s lots of big trout to be found in many of the rivers with both brown and rainbow trout reaching up to 1.75 kilograms and more.
| Waters covered in this report include Rocky Valley & Pretty Valley reservoirs, Lake Guy and Lake Catani. Also the Kiewa, Ovens, Bundara, Cobungra, Victoria and Mitta Mitta (upper and lower) rivers, plus numerous mountain streams.
Geoff Lacey, a local fly-fishing guide says "The rivers here are absolutely awash with trout at the moment, but many are a bit on the smaller side, averaging around 400-450 grams in weight.
"Mother Nature determines the way these rivers develop, as the trout are wild-bred and the rivers are relatively pristine and untamed.
"As a result, trout sizes and weights fluctuate from year to year because of natural events affecting the natural food chain, such as droughts, bush fires and floods, all of which these rivers have endured in recent years.
"Average trout sizes and numbers are quite reasonable for these natural rivers. There’s lots of big trout to be found in many of the rivers with both brown and rainbow trout reaching up to 1.75 kilograms and more.
“These large trout are never easy to fool and perhaps some anglers need to refine their fishing skills if they want to catch them."
Kiewa River: The Kiewa River at Tawonga is running a bit hard but dropping quickly following some good rain over last weekend. There have been some excellent caddis hatches recently and tea tree beetles are also abundant. Combined this week with ideal weather , these developments are encouraging trout to rise freely throughout the day, which is in turn attracting many anglers to the area.
Upper Mitta Mitta River: The upper Mitta is producing lots (and lots) of brown and mostly rainbow trout in all sections of the river this week. Many fish caught during the day are around 400-450 grams in weight, with larger specimens feeding just on and after dark.
Bundara River: After a personal fishing trip and following encouraging reports from contributors to this report, the Bundara River at Anglers Rest has risen slightly following rain and is producing pan-sized rainbow trout and a few browns on lures and dry flies throughout the day.
Cobungra River: Clients fly fishing the Cobungra River recently experienced some of the best action seen for some time, with rainbow trout rising to tea tree beetles and caddis moths, especially before 11am. Many trout caught and released were small, around 450 grams in weight, but they were plentiful.
Lower Mitta Mitta River: The lower Mitta Mitta River from Mitta Mitta to Eskdale is in excellent condition and producing pan-sized rainbow trout in good numbers, according to reports. Best bait is mudeyes drifted under an almost full bubble float, Unweighted drifted scrub worms are still getting a few this week. Take your own bait as in summer it is impossible to obtain any locally.
Snowy Creek: The Snowy Creek at Granite Flat is running slightly high but dropping and producing rainbow trout to around 450 grams, with many smaller, according to reports.
Lacey offers expert tuition and claims you'll be will be casting tiny dry flies with delicate precision and catching trout within 90 minutes, no worries. He'll also provide, at no cost, all the fly fishing gear you will need, including fly rod, reel, flies, waders, polarising fishing glasses (for sight fishing), landing net, etc. You just need to bring a hat, some sun block and a pair of socks for wearing under waders.
From Geoff Lacey - www.anglingvic.com.au
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| Local Rivers & Lakes in Great Shape
| (Updated Thursday 4 December 2008)
| Local anglers are excited, having not seen the rivers in such fantastic shape for many years, and especially now, at the beginning of summer.
|  Bogong High Plains: Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley reservoirs at Falls Creek are in perfect condition at the moment, with mostly rainbow trout responding to live bait fishing around the shoreline. Anglers fishing Pretty Valley’s small outflow creek are also getting lots of brown trout on tiny dry flies.
Mt Beauty Pondage: The pondage is 100% full this week, thanks to the recent rain. Few anglers have been fishing this water in recent days but that will change once holidaymakers get here at Christmas.The pondage is stocked with yearling rainbow and brown trout that grow very quickly on account of an excellent natural food supply. Most locals can tell you they cannot remember anybody catching a trout of less than 500 grams (that’s one imperial pound) in weight from the pondage, although many fish are much heavier.
In summer, fishing with mudeyes or worms under a bubble float is one of the most productive methods to use, but be sure to keep the bait off the bottom. If you don’t, long weeds will encase it and the fish won’t be able to find it. Half fill with water a small plastic bubble float and place about a metre above the bottom rig, then gently cast the lot out and await events. Ensure that the bubble float can slide up or down the line for best results. Lures such as medium sized Celtas are also productive now.
Kiewa River: The Kiewa River from Tawonga to Mongans Bridge is in absolutely excellent condition, with a moderately strong flow rate a feature this week. The outflow channel from the Mt Beauty pondage is currently running at an ideal rate and creating many holding and feeding grounds for large trout further downstream.
Upper Mitta Mitta River: Before anything is said about the upper Mitta Mitta River this week, perhaps some news concerning the Blue Duck Hotel would be in order. The hotel changed hands recently, and Lana Antony and Michael Mullins are the new owners. Details are sketchy at the moment but next week’s report will include photos and lots of information, including their plans to further develop the pub’s services to the public.
The Upper Mitta River is still flowing a bit fast after last week’s rain and the trout just love it, responding well this week to a variety of dry flies from late afternoon into dusk. Nymphs are still taking a few, with a number of brown trout found at mid-depth or deeper.
Lures are also doing well, with many reports of trout to 450 grams taking medium sized Tassie devils and Celta spinners at the moment.
Bundara and Cobungra rivers: Both of these rivers at Anglers Rest are in great condition this week and fishing should be good although there are no recent reports to hand.
There are tracks that lead into the middle sections of these rivers that are rarely ever fished but local knowledge is needed to find and follow most of them, as they can be hard to see.
Fly fishers will be about on this prime trout water now that summer is here and they always enjoy good fishing at this time, just before Christmas. The river upstream of the road bridge on Walsh’s Road holds fish that hide out under the many grassy overhangs in the glides. They usually respond hard and fast to almost any delicately presented dry fly or small drifted bait cast well upstream that they see as the angler moves silently upstream.
Professional fishing guide, Geoff Lacey has a thorough working knowledge of these tracks and waters and he can be contacted on mobile 0409 241 762 (sometimes he’s with clients well out of mobile range).
More next week from Geoff Lacey.
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| The Final November Fly Fishing Report
| (Updated Friday 28 November 2008)
| Until warmer weather returns the trout will be found closer to the bottom and should respond to drifted scrubworms or medium sized lures.
| Kiewa River: The Kiewa River is running a bit harder this week, due to lots of steady rain that fell all over the northeast last week. Heavy snow also fell at Falls Creek and the snowmelt has been causing many rivers, including the Kiewa, to rise slightly, resulting in changed fishing conditions.
Upper Mitta Mitta River: Before the rain began falling last week, anglers who fly fished the Upper Mitta Mitta River from Glen Wills to near the Blue Duck Hotel at Anglers Rest reported taking a number of brown trout to 750 grams rising to dry flies.
The situation has changed and for the rest of this week at least, nymphs and wet flies such as various mudeye patterns in size 14, also black beetle, red tag, woolly worm and similar should be used.
Bundara River: The Bundara River at Anglers Rest is running hard at the moment but should ease off by the weekend. Anglers are enjoying lots of action along the Bundara with good numbers of brown trout to 500 grams feeding throughout the day. Rising trout are responding to a variety of size 16 to 18 dry flies at the moment. Small mayfly, beetle and moth pattern imitations should prevail in the coming weeks, at least until the grasshoppers arrive.
Cobungra River: the Cobungra River at Anglers Rest is producing numbers of brown trout, some rainbows, to 400 grams on average, with bait and lure anglers doing very well this week.
Fly fishers are getting brown trout that are rising mostly from mid-afternoon to dusk, with some action also during the morning. Minimum wading, small flies and long leaders are required as the fish are easily spooked.
Lower Mitta Mitta River: This week Ted Barber of the Magorra Caravan Park in Mitta Mitta has been extolling the virtues of the Lower Mitta Mitta River which is running at a “perfect” level and good numbers rainbow trout are being taken by fly fishers, many on green rabbit fur nymphs.
Bait and lure anglers are also doing well in water that is running medium high and very clear.
Trout caught in the Lower Mitta Mitta River recently have been of medium size, with many ranging in weight from 900 grams to around 400 grams. Reports indicate that larger trout are noticeably harder to find and more challenging to catch than they were a few weeks ago.
More next week from Geoff Lacey.
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| Kiewa River Flowing Full of Trout
| (Updated Thursday 20 November 2008)
| The river is flowing at a good level for fishing and is expected to remain that way for the rest of the year and into January.
| Kiewa River: The Kiewa River from around Tawonga to Mongans Bridge is dropping slowly and producing lots of trout, with many in the pan-sized range, or 400-450 grams in weight. The river is flowing at a good level for fishing and is expected to remain that way for the rest of the year and into January.
Ovens River: The upper reaches of the Ovens River above Germantown continues to fall this week and is producing brown trout and some rainbows during the day. Trout to 450 grams, many a bit smaller, are rising to sizes 14 to 18 dry flies like royal wulff, red humpy, Greenwell’s glory, blue dun, black beetle and Bogong moth patterns.
Upper Mitta Mitta River: The Upper Mitta Mitta River at Anglers Rest has fallen slightly and is at perfect height for fishing this week. Anglers fishing upstream of the bridge at Glen Wills report plenty of action with small lures and dry flies in small sizes the most successful.
Bundara River: A group of anglers from Melbourne fished the Bundara River at Anglers Rest recently and report catching three brown trout on dry flies, with at least 10 strikes but no fish caught in one particular short stretch. The Bundara River flow rate is falling slowly which will continue if there is no rain soon. The heavy rain that fell closer to Melbourne over the last few days did not reach the alpine region, which remains green but is in need of a good downpour at present.
Cobungra River: The Cobungra River at Anglers Rest is also slowly falling and producing pan-sized trout during the day. Some good caddis hatches occurred recently in the late afternoon along the Cobungra which resulted in a flurry of action as feeding trout took almost any small moth pattern dry fly while the hatch was on.
Lures are also good to use now, with Tassie Devils, Lofty’s Lures, Rapalas, Celtas and similar reported as being the most popular among anglers.
Lower Mitta Mitta River: The Lower Mitta Mitta River is a tailrace river that flows out of Dartmouth, much like the Goulburn River flows out of Eildon. It holds good stocks of wild-bred brown trout and rainbow trout and anglers come from all parts of Australia and overseas to fish it in summer.
The lower Mitta Mitta River offers a good variety of wild-bred trout fishing conditions, with long shallow runs for evening fly fishing and deep pools that are ideal for lure fishing. The best fishing is from Mitta Mitta to Eskdale, a distance of around 15 kilometres.
At present the river is flowing at 200 megalitres a day, making it ideal for all types of fishing. Many anglers stay at the Magorra Caravan Park in Mitta Mitta in summer (For bookings phone Ted Barber on [02] 6072 3568) which has about 2 kilometres of prime trout water flowing through it.
Snowy Creek: The Snowy Creek is low this week and fishing is becoming more challenging. Many trout are now more likely to stop feeding should an angler approach the stream or wade carelessly.
When fly fishing a 5 metre long leader and 3 metre tippet on a 5 weight rod and fly line is recommended as being ideal when fishing these sorts of clear and low streams in summer.
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| Icy Cold Creeks Abundant with Wild Trout
| (Updated Thursday 13 November 2008)
| Conditions for trout fishing are ideal right now and should remain that way until mid-January, when falling stream levels usually make fishing a bit more challenging.
| The Kiewa Valley is awash with green pastures full of contented milking cows wherever one looks. Equally, the rivers and streams run crystal clear and icy cold – and every one of them is full of wild trout!
The Rocky Valley reservoir above Falls Creek continues to produce rainbow trout to around 600 grams on average for anglers fishing around the shoreline. Pretty Valley reservoir is 100% full and holds good stocks of wild-bred rainbow trout and brown trout.
Lake Guy at Bogong Village is almost empty this week but the two inflow streams are producing well, with reports of brown trout to 500 grams in weight being caught on bladed lures and drifted worms worked through the pools and down the runs.
The Mt Beauty pondage has fallen slightly since last week and few, if any, anglers have been about, so there are no fishing results to report. The best location for bait fishing during the day is along the high bank on the northern side, where the water is deepest close to the bank.
With warmer days, and importantly warmer nights, caddis hatch numbers are increasing this week on the Kiewa River bringing trout to the surface to feed during the day.
The upper Mitta Mitta River at Anglers Rest is producing brown and rainbow trout on drifted earthworms and live mudeyes rigged about a metre below a bubble float, also medium sized Tassie devils and celtas, especially in red and gold colours.
Trout in the stretch above the bridge at Glen Valley are responding well to dry flies in sizes 14 to 16 during the day even when fish are not rising. The long, bumpy water runs are the best place to fish at the moment, with special attention given to the many deeper glides beneath overhanging ti-trees that line the banks.
The Cobungra River near the Blue Duck Hotel at Anglers Rest is flowing nicely this week, with many brown trout and about equal numbers of rainbows on offer. Small lures and dry flies are proving to be the more productive to use in this pristine mountain stream that flows icy cold and crystal clear with mostly shallow water.
The lower Mitta Mitta River from Mitta Mitta to Eskdale is about normal for this time of year, with excellent stream flows and fair numbers of mostly brown trout being taken this week according to reports.
Many of the trout are being caught on drifted bait rigs. Anglers need to bring live bait with them when fishing in this area, as it is unavailable in shops.
Fly Fishing Trips: Join us this summer on a weekend fly-fishing trip and learn how to cast a dry fly to alight on the water as delicately as a feather. Ring Geoff on (03) 5754 1466 or email glacey@anglingvic.com.au
More next week from Geoff Lacey.
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| The Fly Fishing Has Absolutely Exploded!
| (Updated Friday 31 October 2008)
| "WOW! You've just GOTTA get up here, and soon! The fishing action has absolutely exploded this week, with good hatches of caddis moths occurring around sundown, resulting in better than pan-sized rainbow and brown trout being caught on dry fly, with lure and bait specialists doing well also," said a very excited local fishing guide Geoff Lacey
|  Lacey added:"Bogong High Plains: Both Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley reservoirs are in fantastic condition this week, with many rainbows to 650 grams on offer around the shoreline.
"Although it is grossly under-used, Rocky Valley reservoir is perfect for trolling enthusiasts who bring their boats up here over the Christmas-New Year holidays. Rainbow trout to in excess of 4 kilograms (that's eight pounds!) are on offer and boaties usually get most of them.
"Good affordable accommodation for families, couples and individuals is available right next to the alpine lakes at Falls Creek Ski Resort and also in Mt Beauty, which is adjacent to the Kiewa River. Check out www.fallscreek.com.au
"Bogong Village: The inflow streams to Lake Guy are fishing well, with brown trout to 400 grams responding to dry flies and lures. There's been some good caddis hatches here this week as well.
"Mt Beauty Pondage: The pondage is 75% full this week and in excellent condition. During the day worms and Tassie devil lures are king, according to reports, with fly fishers having a go at rainbows rising around the reeds in the shallows just before sundown with moderate success.
"Because all the rivers are in excellent condition and producing good numbers of brown and rainbow trout this week I have put them all together. Waters including the Kiewa River, the Ovens River, the Victoria River, the upper Mitta Mitta River and the lower Mitta Mitta River are all flowing well and producing many pan-sized to medium-sized trout.
"The best bait to use continues to be scrub worms, although mudeyes are making their appearance about now. Tassie devils and rapalas are the most popular lures, with plastics getting a poor review. Dry flies in s izes 12-16, including blue dun, red humpy. royal wulf, red tag and Greenwell's glory among others are getting good results this week.
"Bundara River: The Bundara River is flowing crystal clear and cold, with good reports of pan-sized brown trout being taken throughout the day on a variety of small dry flies, lures and to a lesser extent, with bait.
"Cobungra River: The Cobungra River is a typically pristine sub-alpine cold water mountain stream. It runs from the Hotham High Plains and down through the old Cobungra Station, which was broken up years ago into a series of farms and land holdings.
"It then joins the upper Mitta Mitta River near the iconic Blue Duck Hotel at Anglers Rest. The Cobungra actually flows through the grounds of the hotel and many a big fat brown trout has been caught in high summer by determined hotel patrons.
"Snowy Creek: Ah, the Snowy Creek! This is one of my favourite streams, and there are many to choose from. At present the Snowy is flowing with crystal clear cold water and boasts an excellent natural trout food chain."
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| The Bogong High Plains Road between Falls Creek Alpine Resort and the iconic Blue Duck, a decent cast from the hotel's verandah to the Bundara River, has reopened providing access to numerous alpine rivers and lakes.
| Local fly-fishing guide Geoff Lacy is quite excited about the prospects of catching wily brown or rainbow trout.
Lacey said: "The crystal-clear rivers in the region are at an ideal depth for wading and are flowing extremely well and have dropped to their early summer flow levels.
Whilst there's still snow around preventing access to Pretty Valley Pondage there is no problem fishing the Rocky Valley Reservoir. In fact it is firing well!
Banana-shaped Tassie Devils, worms and mud eyes are recommended for fly-fishing at present until we get warmer nights (late October or early November) when a proliferation of snow fly caddis or stick caddis occur.
I'm getting good feedback from anglers who are catching (and releasing) rainbow trout to 650 grams in the mile-high Rocky Valley Reservoir near Falls Creek.
The Bundara River at Anglers Rest is running crystal clear and has dropped somewhat over the last few days. It is producing brown trout to 400 grams on bait and lures.
The Cobungra River at Anglers Rest is in excellent condition and producing brown trout and a few rainbows to 450 grams. Many of the trout have been caught just behind the Blue Duck Hotel, at the head of pools before 8.30am and in the deeper runs throughout the day, according to reports.
The Kiewa River from Mt Beauty through Tawonga to Mongans Bridge is in perfect condition for summer, with good stream flows and plenty of brown and rainbow trout on offer.
Many browns of around 750 to 1000 grams in weight have been caught in recent weeks on both live bait and lures, in about equal numbers.
Nice rainbows to 550 grams on average are being caught in the Mt Beauty Pondage which usually receives 1000-2000 yearlings in November, resulting in good fishing over the Christmas-New Year school holidays.
The upper Mitta Mitta River from above Anglers Rest to Taylors Crossing near Benambra is running clear and a bit fast and producing many brown trout to over a kilogram on bait and lures this week.
Like the Bundara River, a few localised and very short snowflake caddis hatches have occurred in the last few days, exciting trout into taking size 16 to 18 imitation dry flies.
The lower Mitta Mitta River between the townships of Mitta Mitta and Eskdale is running low and clear this week, making it ideal for every sort of fishing style. The river holds good stocks of wild-bred brown trout and rainbow trout.
Bogong High Plains Road: A 37 kilometres section of the Bogong High Plains Road between Falls Creek and Anglers Rest is currently being sealed for the first time ever.
Large trucks, with trailers attached, are on the road between Bogong Village and Anglers Rest every day so please be careful when driving. When the road is sealed anglers will be able to enjoy a quick trip between rivers, with no rough roads to worry about. The sealing of the road is due for completion in July 2009."
Lacey's weekly fishing report, a recent incentive from the resident professional fishing guide, is provided free of charge and sent out to almost 500 subscribers.
He guides on the waters mentioned on a daily basis and people who use the weekly report when fishing say it is accurate. If you know someone who might like to receive the report please advise him via an email to: glacey@anglingvic.com.au
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