A river somewhere

[Tony]

Some pictures from my Walking/fly fishing trip last Friday/Saturday



A river somewhere in the Bimberi wilderness west of Canberra

Dave on the track

Wading the river

A nice fish

The river in the sun

The gorge ahead we had to go around

A wet Breakfast Contrail Tent behind

Pea flowers in bloom

A snake

Some snow at the end

[frank_in_oz]

Hi Tony,
Great stuff.

You just have to love Tassie. Pics of a 2 day trip, tiger snake one day, snow the next!!!

[Son of a Beach]

Looks like a great location, Tony. I've done very little walking outside of Tassie, but that's inspiring. Are you a Rob Sitch fan then? I'm not a fisherman, particularly, but have a good friend who loves the series and has often had it screening while I've been at his house (and I was a D-Generation fan).

You just have to love Tassie.

...and the island to our North.

[frank_in_oz]

You just have to love Tassie.

...and the island to our North.

Oops, read the post Frank, read the post ........

[Tony]

Hi Frank and Nik,

You just have to love Tassie. Pics of a 2 day trip, tiger snake one day, snow the next!!!

Thanks for the comments, not all of the tough walking and conditions in Australia are in our main Island to the south the snow picture was taken in alpine country at around 1750m. The river at where we started fishing was at 800m only 4k away as the crow fly's through some very tough steep country.

The snake I think is a Copper Head.

Looks like a great location, Tony. I've done very little walking outside of Tassie, but that's inspiring. Are you a Rob Sitch fan then? I'm not a fisherman, particularly, but have a good friend who loves the series and has often had it screening while I've been at his house (and I was a D-Generation fan).

I do have the River Somewhere series and often watch it and dream. This is our special River Somewhere, you have to go through some very tough country to get there and it is lucky if it is fished once per year or two. My walking mate is a very keen fisherman that likes to do some bushwalking and I am very keen bushwalker that likes to do some fishing, a perfect combination, we went lightweight, both our packs weighed in at 9.5kg each at the start with food, fishing gear, camera gear and water, Dave is doing a story for a fishing mag on lightweight wilderness fishing.

Tony

Some more pictures


Me casting a fly

Dave fighting a fish

Dave at start of walk, note size of his pack

[delphin]

OK!!!!
great to hear people going light weight - can you tell us more?
I'm planning a trip on the week end and want to go light weight but need help in planning that.
what size pack did you use? (in litres?)

[flyfisher]

Just love those pics. Thats the type of red tag water (or royal wulff)that I have a real soft spot for. Beats lake fishing hands down I reckon.
Nice conditioned fish you've got there too . Well done.

FF

[Son of a Beach]

OK!!!!
great to hear people going light weight - can you tell us more?
I'm planning a trip on the week end and want to go light weight but need help in planning that.
what size pack did you use? (in litres?)

There's a lot of info scattered around the forums on this, although many of the topics get a little heated, due to the differences of opinions (ie, is the light weight stuff as durable, is it too expensive, blah blah).

There's also http://www.backpackinglight.com/ which has forums, etc dedicated to just this topic, from light weight enthusiasts, so lots of info there too.

[Tony]

Hi Michael

OK!!!!
great to hear people going light weight - can you tell us more?
I'm planning a trip on the week end and want to go light weight but need help in planning that.
what size pack did you use? (in litres?)

Later today I will post the list of what gear and weights that I had in my pack on the equipment forum.

Tony

[Tony]

Hi Flyfisher,

Just love those pics. Thats the type of red tag water (or royal wulff)that I have a real soft spot for. Beats lake fishing hands down I reckon.
Nice conditioned fish you've got there too . Well done.

FF

You picked the fly, I got twenty in a few hours on a royal wulff, we also got some on a beaded nymph in deeper water, our total for the trip was 65 fish, we had to cut the trip short as the weather was going off and I wanted to get my car out before it was snowed in. The previous trip to our special "river somewhere totaled" 130 fish in an afternoon and mornings fishing.

Tony

[flyfisher]

The previous trip to our special "river somewhere totaled" 130 fish in an afternoon and mornings fishing.

Now you've really got me jealous. Good on ya!! Keep it a secret

FF

[red tag]

Its sort of comforting , knowing that a few places are still unmolested ... If you published the name of that stream, and its location... would it stay in that pristine state for long ? 4WD's and those mobile chainsaws on wheels ( trail bikes ) are gathering .. watch out they are coming .

It could be a tributary of the Goodradigbee or it could be the goodi itself. Can I go next time ? My flies are moth eaten .. damn .

Rainbow trout are a native species of Western USA , from memory . Some people reckon they are water rabbits .. a invasive species .

Mike

[Tony]

Hi Mike,

Its sort of comforting , knowing that a few places are still unmolested ... If you published the name of that stream, and its location... would it stay in that pristine state for long ? 4WD's and those mobile chainsaws on wheels ( trail bikes ) are gathering .. watch out they are coming .

It could be a tributary of the Goodradigbee or it could be the goodi itself. Can I go next time ? My flies are moth eaten .. damn .

Rainbow trout are a native species of Western USA , from memory . Some people reckon they are water rabbits .. a invasive species .

Mike

Even if I did devolve the location of my River Somewhere, there are no roads going into the area which counts out 99% of fisher people and to get to the river it has some of the toughest walking around these parts and then once down you have to walking in the river itself which is very hard going and that would count out 0.9% of the rest.

You would be welcome to join us sometime.

Tony

[flyfisher]

Even if I did devolve the location of my River Somewhere,

Keep it to yourself Tony,not for the "dog in the manger "attitude, but because then the rest of us can just dream and imagine how good it is.
It's nice to have a private place or two where the fishing is above average.
Years ago in the midlands I had a couple of creeks where there were quite a few fish, with a number of 4 and 5 pounders, and hardly another
angler ever trod the banks. Here I taught my son to flyfish and with the grace of the landowner we spent many happy hours and days chasing mr. speckles. I didn't tell too many about it except 2 fairly regular fishing mates .Some places are best kept (almost) secret or the fishing can be lost. In the case of my creeks it has been the drought which brought about their demise, and I am waiting (probably in vain) for more normal seasons to bring them back, but alas as the years roll by I think time (or lack of years) may be my worst enemy,but I live in hope.
I'll let you know if it happens.

Flyfisher

[red tag]

Even if I did devolve the location of my River Somewhere,

Keep it to yourself Tony,not for the "dog in the manger "attitude, but because then the rest of us can just dream and imagine how good it is.
It's nice to have a private place or two where the fishing is above average.
Years ago in the midlands I had a couple of creeks where there were quite a few fish, with a number of 4 and 5 pounders, and hardly another
angler ever trod the banks. Here I taught my son to flyfish and with the grace of the landowner we spent many happy hours and days chasing mr. speckles. I didn't tell too many about it except 2 fairly regular fishing mates .Some places are best kept (almost) secret or the fishing can be lost. In the case of my creeks it has been the drought which brought about their demise, and I am waiting (probably in vain) for more normal seasons to bring them back, but alas as the years roll by I think time (or lack of years) may be my worst enemy,but I live in hope.
I'll let you know if it happens.

Flyfisher

Dont give up fly fisher ...

Another possible hinderence nowadays is: the land owners are far less likely to allow strangers onto their property to fish .. I ALWAYS asked at the nearest house before wandering down to the stream... I was never refused in the 1970's.. but by the late 80's people were more wary and less relaxed about it ... some of the land owners think you should pay for access..as they do in Europe ... outrageous sums of money for a 200 yard beat of a stream. There may be legal ramifications too...if you fall over or something like that . I know that I cannot fish my favourite section of the Liffey any more ... access is forbidden ... the old house I lived in was demolished years ago. David S. appeared on the ABC Land Line TV show a few years ago ..he said at the time, willows are a major threat and paying the landowners a fee would go towards clearing willows from clogged waterways....

[flyfisher]

I was told by a notable flytier from Cressy that back in the early 60's a group of notable flyfishers from Launy wanted to privatise Stewarton on the Macquarie.The Inland Fisheries Commissioner of the day said if it happened that section of the river would be closed to all anglers. Things are much different now as can be seen in several fishing forums regarding the attempted privatisation of Lake Fergus.
I consider myself very fortunate to have excellent access to properties on the Macquarie,Elizabeth, Blackman and others, but I always ask permission, and on some which I frequent, a bottle or two of red or white help to give something back.
A sign of the times is being asked to sign a disclaimer form, but some of these people are worth a lot of money and don't want to be liable for some @#$%&^$## castrating themselves on a barbed wire fence etc.
My experience of landowners where I go has been very good.

FF

[climberman]

Tony, lovely fish and country from last year.. that weekend I was on a working bee at my folks' place at Eucumbene, digging trenches in the snow ! I am desperate to ask you where it is but love the idea that I don't know..... it would be more fun to try and find it and succeed (or fail !) of my own accord. Hard-won places (and fish) are always more special.

[BarryJ]

I was told by a notable flytier from Cressy that back in the early 60's a group of notable flyfishers from Launy wanted to privatise Stewarton on the Macquarie.The Inland Fisheries Commissioner of the day said if it happened that section of the river would be closed to all anglers. Things are much different now as can be seen in several fishing forums regarding the attempted privatisation of Lake Fergus...................................

At this point in time, foot access to Lake Fergus is still permitted along the river track; however, vehicles are no longer allowed. I understand the IFS and the World Heritage Committee are watching the situation.

I also understand that when an attempt was made to privatise much of the land around Little Pine Lagoon in the early eighties the govt. stepped in on behalf of the then IFC and established a Crown Reserve around the lagoon to maintain public access.

[flyfisher]

I also understand that when an attempt was made to privatise much of the land around Little Pine Lagoon in the early eighties the govt. stepped in on behalf of the then IFC and established a Crown Reserve around the lagoon to maintain public access.

I think the main reason for this was $$$$$$$$$$$.
The land owner was made an unreasonable offer fo the land which he owned, apparently the whole lake bed.
He was only trying to force the hand of government to get more $$

The plan for Lake Fergus is unclear but looks a bit sinister. He apparently put signs on the forestry road below Little pine dam but had to take them down.
I was told by a local that he has put many trespassers prosecuted signs on the fences of his property adjacent to the forestry road .
Twould seem he doesn't want the unwashed masses crossing his land to fish in a public water.
Lake fergus has a public reserve between the private land and the water so access to the foreshore can't be stopped, but it can be made difficult to get to the water.
The whole of the back shore is crown land but access would have to be through Flora and Odells

FF

[BarryJ]

It is only vehicles he has banned. He has a sign (I can't find a pic - thought I had one) at the Little Pine River crossing on the track into Fergus from the top of Little Pine Lagoon which quite clearly states that foot access is still permitted. He got sick of 4WD's tearing up the track etc and also people defecating on his land willy nilly so he has built toilets in there for public use.

I will admit that he has placed a visitors book in one of the toilets and may use the lack of signatures in it as an indication that no one uses the lake to justify closing it at some future date. I urge any users of this forum who fish the lake to make an effort to sign the book.

Edit: Found the pic:

[Tony]

Hi cilmberman,

Tony, lovely fish and country from last year.. that weekend I was on a working bee at my folks' place at Eucumbene, digging trenches in the snow ! I am desperate to ask you where it is but love the idea that I don't know..... it would be more fun to try and find it and succeed (or fail !) of my own accord. Hard-won places (and fish) are always more special.

The above spot is a special place and it is hard to get to, which makes it even more special. I would say it is one of the best fishing spots on the mainland

here are some pictures of some fish from last weekend from a spot somewhere on a river which is a bit closer to your folks place near Eucumbene.

Tony

[kanangra]

Great fish. I'm envious. But I'm pretty sure I recognise your "river somewhere". Beautiful area. And not that far from our nation's capital if I'm not mistaken? As I recall the river runs pretty much due north in this region. Did you access from the old steep trail from the range to the east? Looks to me as if you went upstream from the flat? Much left of the old farm down there now?

[Tony]

Hi Kanangra,

Great fish. I'm envious. But I'm pretty sure I recognise your "river somewhere". Beautiful area. And not that far from our nation's capital if I'm not mistaken? As I recall the river runs pretty much due north in this region. Did you access from the old steep trail from the range to the east? Looks to me as if you went upstream from the flat? Much left of the old farm down there now?

I think you are right as the the location and we did access from the old steep trail, but we dropped of the trail about half way down heading north down stream and walked back the the flat in the river, it was easier going than walking on the trail or through the bush. The whole area was hit very hard by the 2003 fires and the flat is very badly overgrown with very thick scrub. The flat campsite is still a bit overgrown.

I was not aware that there was an old farm down on the flat, thankyou for that information, it must have been a long time ago. I first went down to the Flat about 15 years ago when the scrub was not so thick and saw no sign of a farm then.

I would be interested in any more history that you know on that area.

Thanks

Tony

[climberman]

Hi tony, resurrecting this excellent thread of yours now that thoughts are turning again to the streams (current snowfalls notwithstanding!).

You mention walking around the gorge - floatable on a packraft ?

BTW, there is a recently published book on the history of the Canberra Region snow area, which you might enjoy:

Rugged Beyond Imagination: stories from an Australian mountain region. Matthew Higgins.
http://www.nma.gov.au/audio/historical_ ... agination/ has some info and a podcast.

I saw the book recently at a bookshop in Bungendore when passing through.

TIA, jules

[Tony]

Hi climberman,

Hi tony, resurrecting this excellent thread of yours now that thoughts are turning again to the streams (current snowfalls notwithstanding!).

You mention walking around the gorge - floatable on a packraft ?


TIA, jules

The gorge is narrow at one place and the water was flowing fairly fast, but I do not have any experience in pack rafting or floating down a river so I am unable to give you any advice if it can be done. There is a water fall just down stream from Dunns Flat which it is easy to walk to the bottom.

BTW, there is a recently published book on the history of the Canberra Region snow area, which you might enjoy:

: stories from an Australian mountain region. Matthew Higgins.
http://www.nma.gov.au/audio/historical_ ... agination/ has some info and a podcast.

I saw the book recently at a bookshop in Bungendore when passing through.

Thanks for the information Rugged Beyond Imagination book, I recently went to a talk by Matthew Higgins about the book at the CBC club night, he is a very good speaker, I must get the book as I enjoy reading about the local history, I think it is published by the National Museum of Australia and I work very close to the NMA shop.

I used to own a book by Matthew called the Skis on the Brindabellas but I loaned it out and never saw it again.

Tony

[climberman]

Thanks Tony. I thought his name was familiar - I know of skis on the brindies. He would be good to hear speak, the podcast I linked to was very entertaining and chock full of anecdotes. Great stuff. Hopefulyy the current snowfalls will lead to some good runoff in six weeks or so !

[north-north-west]

The snake I think is a Copper Head.

The snake, I think, is a Yellow-Bellied Black.
And I know your lovely little river. Quite right, it can be a sod to get at. Worth the effort, though.

[oldpiscator]

It is only vehicles he has banned. He has a sign (I can't find a pic - thought I had one) at the Little Pine River crossing on the track into Fergus from the top of Little Pine Lagoon which quite clearly states that foot access is still permitted. He got sick of 4WD's tearing up the track etc and also people defecating on his land willy nilly so he has built toilets in there for public use.

I will admit that he has placed a visitors book in one of the toilets and may use the lack of signatures in it as an indication that no one uses the lake to justify closing it at some future date. I urge any users of this forum who fish the lake to make an effort to sign the book.

Edit: Found the pic:

Barry do you think that it would be necessary to carry waders into Fergus for an early March overnight trip or would you just wet wade?