Paterson River Bass
March 2002
Saturday 17 March saw ten members on the CCFR meet for a fish at the Paterson River near Paterson. The weather was fantastic for Bass fishing. 32 degrees, sunny and a light breeze blowing to keep things a little cooler.
We launched the boats at the makeshift ramp and headed off in different directions in search of some likely looking snags to cast at.
Steven Call and I headed up towards the railway bridge and drifted back casting along the banks at anything from weed beds to fallen timber without a look or a hit. We soon met up with Bob Williams and Chris Bannerman and the story was much the same.
We decided to head down closer to the mouth of the river and passed Jimmy Hyatt and Roy Browne, who reported that they had one fish take the fly but no hook up. Bob Beamish and Brett Aley also reported no hits. Warren Yuile and Tom Ferguson the same. MMMMM tough going!!!
We continued to fish along the banks, getting the flies in as close to the cover as you possibly could, you can tell if you are in the zone by the number of time you have to pull your fly off a tree or out of the long grass along the banks.
The sun started to set and as yet we had not had a hit let alone landed one! Bob Beamish and Brett reported on bass caught by Brett as well as a herring, so at least there was something to talk about. The rest of us got zilch except for some good casting practice and a chance to have a chat!
Back to the ramp, loaded the boats up and headed off for the 90 minute drive home. Great weather, great company, great casting (some of the time!) but no fish. There were a few lure chuckers leaving the river as we arrived who said they had caught a few bass, the biggest going 47cm, a great fish for a wild river bass.
We'll do it again soonish.......
