My fly rod is a magic wand to me because it takes me to magical places and here is a report on a recent trip in to the Jagungal Wilderness over the Australia Day long weekend.
Warnsey turned up as pre-arranged at Bradleys Hut whilst I was drying off my fishing gear late in the afternoon after 4 days solo exploring the closer creeks in the area in which I had some fantastic fishing.After our greetings we looked at the sun and decided to head down to the Tumut along the Farm Ridge trail to get a few KM's in to our trip and camp for the night on the river which I had checked out over the past few days.Because it was only a quick stroll down to the river we packed a few extra treats to have that night including fresh cream and custard to have with the Christmas pudding and an extra couple of beers to have with our steak.
Whilst the beers were chilling in the creek we fished the evening rise with a few fish about but they were too good for us so we prepared and enjoyed a feast in a wonderful campsite.
The next morning I witnessed the mist rising and falling in the valley creating a wonderful show until Warnsey finally alighted from his tent and the sun came out burning away the fog almost immediately with a fantastic blue sky day ahead of us.More treats with bacon,hash browns and a capaccino for breakfast.
We finally hit the trail with the slog up to Farm Ridge very visible from our campsite and had been haunting me all morning.Once up to the ridge it was pleasant walking and was quickly at the Grey Mare Junction.Then it was off to O'Keefes to set up camp and have lunch.
After lunch we decided to try a couple of creeks in the area with mixed success in some very tight technical water.
The next day saw us heading off to Mackeys crossing some nice creeks on the way and trying with no success to find Farm Ridge ruins.We did stop for lunch under the shade of a lovely old snow gum unaffected by the fires overlooking a magnificent creek with me salivating to wet a line in the pristine water.But alas Warnsey discovered there was only galaxids in the creek on his first cast whilst I was still setting up.I tried in vain also for a couple of minutes as the creek looked great.There was obviously a barrier downstream but that would have to wait for another trip.
It was off to Mackeys to set up camp and make the calzone dough before exploring another creek in the area.It was a tough cross country bush bash to find the creek but this one was worth it after the disappointment earlier in the day.
Back to the hut for calzones and creek chilled beer followed by capaccino and chocolate chip cake(Thanks Sonya for the recipe out of a BushwalkAustralia EMag)There was another bushwalker camped nearby and we bored him of tales of the one that got way whilst sharing the cake with Mike.
The next day saw us venturing further east past Crooks Racecourse but they must not have been on this Saturday
as nobody was about.So we ventured further on in search of more creeks and trout.We did find one eventually which was another lovely high plains creek.The highlight and fish of the trip was caught by Warnsey out of Warnes" Tarn(I don't think it is on the map but it should be as there is more action there than at Crooks Racecourse.)It was a lovely little backwater separated from the main creek due to the drop in the river flow about the size of a large living room in which there was only one occupant.
It was then back to camp at Mackeys and we had more guests to enthrall with our fishing tales
who were getting towards the end of their AAWT adventure.We educated them on some of the finer points of flyfishing and I still don't think they believed half the crap I told them
The next day dawned and after a lovely sunrise and brekky it was time to hit the trail back to the car which was fairly non eventful apart from the slog up to Round Mountain hut out of the Tumut Valley.
Pictures to come tomorrow night.