Inspired by Keith's Miracle Mile report I drove over the mountains west of Sydney for the first trout trip of our new stream season.
We've had almost no rain this spring, things are looking a bit iffy. I hope we are not descending into drought yet again.
Not a good start to the trip. Went to pack the car to discover my first flat tire in years. And the spare was almost flat. Two and a half hours after I was meant to leave and a trip to the tire repairers and I was finally on my way.
The wild river's water was low and slow, but, as usual, see-through clear. Only had a few hours on the water because I got there late, and it was a frustrating few hours. Some fish in the pools, but they were doing that most frustrating of trout antics: following the jig to my feet, their noses just a few inches from the lure. Time and again.
A good night's sleep and back beside the river. Five hours of follows and frustration as the trout kept their follow but don't eat thing, and I tried all manner of jig styles and sizes, retrieves and casting targets.
So I changed to a bibbed minnow:dodgy:. Spotted a male and female in a shallow run, the first I'd seen which weren't in a pool. Cast ahead of the fish that appeared most active, and watched as it spied the minnow, charged it, and hammered it. Stunning fight, with many leaps and drag screaming runs.
View attachment 4
17 inch jack and beautiful condition.
An hour later I came across a fish working the tail of a small pool. Cast the same minnow and was walloped. The rainbow again went crazy with leaps and lunges, then kicked into fifth gear and took a dead straight run straight to the only tiny snag in the pool. Through the snag and then started jumping again. Flipped the bail arm over but no good. The leader eventually broke. Not happy at leaving a minnow with treble hooks in its mouth. Was a big fish.
This river has small slender olive backed baitfish in it and the few other minnow lures I had with me just didn't match them or were deeper divers which collected bottom junk on every cast.
As usual didn't see a human all day. The only other creatures on two legs beside the river were roos. Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Lots of em.
This fella was happy to watch for five minutes, I suspect he was the dominant male of his mob, just keeping an eye on me.
View attachment 5
The next morning I had intended on a quick fish before leaving. Ten miles of bush-bashing the day before left me aching all over, the only lure which appeared to be working was stuck in a fish's mouth, and I had lost my confidence. So packed up and drove off. But as I was crossing a tiny wooden single lane bridge on the dirt road on the way out I thought why not a few casts? Why not just a ten minute stroll along a section of the river which is slightly less rugged than my usual haunts to warm up my stiff legs. All that awaited me was a long drive back to a noisy city.
What to use? Damn, I'm a jig maker, gotta keep the faith.
So tied on a 1/32nd minnow styled rabbit tail. Immediately spotted fish. Again they just followed a few inches behind the jig. Watching one fish as I tried to get in position for an "intercept cast" I tripped, and fell straight into a stinging nettle. Yowzer!!!! Started wondering what bad karma crimes I was guilty of.....
Decided the one fish the day before was enough, and thinking what small hassles next lay in wait, started to walk back to the car. But, my hands and face throbbing from the nettle stings, could not resist literally one last cat in a small pool just twenty yards from the bridge. A solid rainbow appeared from no-where, paused and accelerated to light speed. She smashed the jig in full view like the other two fish.
Again, huge leaps and lunges. Then, I swear, she swivelled her head looking for a snag, and saw one at the other side of the pool in that crystal clear water. The run had the drag screaming and she was heading straight for the snag. Not this time, I'd learned my lesson. Rod in full arc and tilted for side pressure, hand on spool. Was using three pound Crystal Fireline and four pound flouro leader over a 7'6" ultralight rod. Stop or pop! She stopped.
The fish then came relatively easily, until she was at my feet. Then she saw the thin log laying parallel to the bank below me and decided to hide under it. No waders on as I was driving home. Didn't want wet shoes and jeans for the three hours in the car (what a wimp!), so started taking my shoes off with one hand with rod in the other. Got shoes off, starting on socks and she emerges from the log, takes one last run and was mine!
Just shy of 21 inches and magnificently thick shouldered muscular hen which is my PB rainbow (PB trout of any kind to be honest!). Sorry for average pic, my camera decided then and there to play silly buggers.
View attachment 6
Faith in jigs rewarded!
The jig which worked is second from the right.
View attachment 7
We've had almost no rain this spring, things are looking a bit iffy. I hope we are not descending into drought yet again.
Not a good start to the trip. Went to pack the car to discover my first flat tire in years. And the spare was almost flat. Two and a half hours after I was meant to leave and a trip to the tire repairers and I was finally on my way.
The wild river's water was low and slow, but, as usual, see-through clear. Only had a few hours on the water because I got there late, and it was a frustrating few hours. Some fish in the pools, but they were doing that most frustrating of trout antics: following the jig to my feet, their noses just a few inches from the lure. Time and again.
A good night's sleep and back beside the river. Five hours of follows and frustration as the trout kept their follow but don't eat thing, and I tried all manner of jig styles and sizes, retrieves and casting targets.
So I changed to a bibbed minnow:dodgy:. Spotted a male and female in a shallow run, the first I'd seen which weren't in a pool. Cast ahead of the fish that appeared most active, and watched as it spied the minnow, charged it, and hammered it. Stunning fight, with many leaps and drag screaming runs.
View attachment 4
17 inch jack and beautiful condition.
An hour later I came across a fish working the tail of a small pool. Cast the same minnow and was walloped. The rainbow again went crazy with leaps and lunges, then kicked into fifth gear and took a dead straight run straight to the only tiny snag in the pool. Through the snag and then started jumping again. Flipped the bail arm over but no good. The leader eventually broke. Not happy at leaving a minnow with treble hooks in its mouth. Was a big fish.
This river has small slender olive backed baitfish in it and the few other minnow lures I had with me just didn't match them or were deeper divers which collected bottom junk on every cast.
As usual didn't see a human all day. The only other creatures on two legs beside the river were roos. Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Lots of em.
This fella was happy to watch for five minutes, I suspect he was the dominant male of his mob, just keeping an eye on me.
View attachment 5
The next morning I had intended on a quick fish before leaving. Ten miles of bush-bashing the day before left me aching all over, the only lure which appeared to be working was stuck in a fish's mouth, and I had lost my confidence. So packed up and drove off. But as I was crossing a tiny wooden single lane bridge on the dirt road on the way out I thought why not a few casts? Why not just a ten minute stroll along a section of the river which is slightly less rugged than my usual haunts to warm up my stiff legs. All that awaited me was a long drive back to a noisy city.
What to use? Damn, I'm a jig maker, gotta keep the faith.
So tied on a 1/32nd minnow styled rabbit tail. Immediately spotted fish. Again they just followed a few inches behind the jig. Watching one fish as I tried to get in position for an "intercept cast" I tripped, and fell straight into a stinging nettle. Yowzer!!!! Started wondering what bad karma crimes I was guilty of.....
Decided the one fish the day before was enough, and thinking what small hassles next lay in wait, started to walk back to the car. But, my hands and face throbbing from the nettle stings, could not resist literally one last cat in a small pool just twenty yards from the bridge. A solid rainbow appeared from no-where, paused and accelerated to light speed. She smashed the jig in full view like the other two fish.
Again, huge leaps and lunges. Then, I swear, she swivelled her head looking for a snag, and saw one at the other side of the pool in that crystal clear water. The run had the drag screaming and she was heading straight for the snag. Not this time, I'd learned my lesson. Rod in full arc and tilted for side pressure, hand on spool. Was using three pound Crystal Fireline and four pound flouro leader over a 7'6" ultralight rod. Stop or pop! She stopped.
The fish then came relatively easily, until she was at my feet. Then she saw the thin log laying parallel to the bank below me and decided to hide under it. No waders on as I was driving home. Didn't want wet shoes and jeans for the three hours in the car (what a wimp!), so started taking my shoes off with one hand with rod in the other. Got shoes off, starting on socks and she emerges from the log, takes one last run and was mine!
Just shy of 21 inches and magnificently thick shouldered muscular hen which is my PB rainbow (PB trout of any kind to be honest!). Sorry for average pic, my camera decided then and there to play silly buggers.
View attachment 6
Faith in jigs rewarded!
The jig which worked is second from the right.
View attachment 7
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