Fly Fishing Expo - Thredbo April 2013

Fly Fishing Expo, Thredbo by Chris Bannerman

Date: 12 - 14 April 2013

While not an official club trip I though I'd share our visit to the first annual Fly Fishing Expo in Thredbo. Malcolm Holden and myself decided to head down for a 3-day weekend to check out the Expo. My main reason for visiting were the words "Spey Casting demonstration" in the brochure and considering my failing attempts to spey cast I figured any help I could get would be most useful. I don't really need a reason to visit the Snowies but I had one anyway. Departing the coast mid morning we headed south, arriving at Thredbo around 5pm. We hadn't stopped on the way at the traditional homes of fly fishing (Alpine Angler and High Country Outfitters) as there was a pre-expo drink at 6 and we didn't want to miss it (and posibbly a free beer). Besides, we wanted to see how many would turn up - maybe we'd be the only ones. To our relief we weren't the only ones - about 20 people turned up in the bar at the Alpine Hotel for a meet-and-greet - and we enjoyed a beer (yes it was free) and a yarn with the hotel manager and Craig Daly the local guide who organised the event. The next morning we were up early to check out the river above the resort. There's a handy little walking trail along the river for a kilometre or two and we followed it's path checking the river for fish as we went. The water was low and clear and we didn't spot or spook many fish so headed back for a cooked brekky (part of the accommodation deal at the hotel) before checking out the morning casting demonstrations in the park in front of the hotel. There were about 40 people out there listening to Craig give an intro to fly casting. It was pretty basic stuff but many were obviously new to fly fishing and were taking it all in. We decided to head down to Jindabyne to do some fly shop shopping and grab a coffee before checking out the river to pick a likely location for a fish in the afternoon. Then it was back to the Expo for a streamcraft talk around noon. The auditorium had some product stands and a fly tying demo was going on so we perused the products spending some coin on a leather fly wallet and a 27 foot leader (you can never have too many of those) and heckled (or hackled) the fly tyer before sitting down to an informative talk on streamcraft. I think it's always good to hear how experts fish their streams, if only to confirm I'm doing the right thing. After the talk we were off to put into practice the streamcraft ideas. Down on the river the wind was gusting to strong winds making casting a challenge. The water was gorgeous and there HAD to be fish there, but we didn't see or spook a single specimen. By the time the sun went down we had fished for a couple of hours and decided to call it a day. Up again early the next morning we decided to try the river above the resort, fishing the little plunge pools and glides out of them. Malcolm spotted a couple of fish in a larger pool but we couldn't entice them take a nymph but later on I managed to trick a small rainbow into taking a midge pupa pattern I'd tied the week before. At least we weren't going home empty handed. Back at the hotel we headed out to the spey casting demonstration. Craig gave us a quick talk on spey before were able to get our hands dirty and have a go at casting. Immediately Craig was able to pick what I was doing wrong and had it corrected. I was a happy camper and wiled away the next couple of hours hogging Craig's 11 foot switch rod. The Expo ended with a fly casting competition (in which I came second and won a 2 hour casting session with Craig) and a BBQ lunch put on by the hotel. In all we had a great time and met some great people. The Expo itself was free and the accommodation was pretty good value. This was the first year and as such it was a bit of a trial to see if there was enough of a response. I believe the organisers considered it a success so it looks like it'll be on again next year. I'm already looking forward to heading down in 2014 for a bigger and improved version. You'd do well to come along.

Swansea - April 2013

Swansea by Len Verrenkamp

Date: 21 April 2013

The pre dawn light, the stiff sou west breeze, the pounding of the surf, the grey skies, the 10 blokes standing around shivering with hands in pockets kicking the loose gravel around the car park; yep sounds like CCFR has an outing on today! Departing Bateau Bay with Scott Chaney at 5.00 am for a 6.00am tee time at Swansea we headed up the Old Pacific Hwy anxiously watching the sky as dawn ever so slowly bought the day to life. To our surprise we were heading towards clear skies and a somewhat calmer day than the rubbish that Huey had dished us up the day before with some 90mm of rain at home and 30 knot winds. Arriving earlier than expected at 5.40am we found Bob and Dave already there which from what I have heard was a little unusual to say the least. Mick from Cessnock was the next to arrive along with Mac which completed the flotilla for the day. After much discussion and the wind abating as the sun rose we launched at about 6.30am and headed west, no one was going east today! Scotty and I headed straight to Wangi and working on the theory there should be some shelter in the lee of the hill and the rain from the Saturday should have muddied the water a little, we should be hooked up in no time. Ha, so much for that idea, although we had protection, the water was crystal clear and all we could see were razor clams and an occie! We spent about an hour flogging a dead horse and high tailed it back into the channel to do a few drifts over the sand flats. This time we sighted fish in a couple of deep holes hard in against a grassy bank and proceeded to throw everything we had at them and all to no avail. It was shaping up as a day that was not going to provide much in the line of fish and after a couple of hours drifting and casting the sand banks and drop offs for only a couple of half hearted taps and a few silver flashes as fish sped across the sand bars, we headed back under the bridge and into Half Moon Bay to find both Bob and Dave, Cessnock Mick and Steve Bunney also trying their luck around the moored boats. After half an hour or so getting in each other’s way we called it quits and headed for the ramp and the lunch time BBQ to find a few others had arrived over the course of the morning and had about as much success as Scott and I! So the only fish caught for the day was a tailor by Bob, at least is was of legal size, the rest of us just ended up being cold and hungry. Thankfully the BBQ and post mortem chat is always a highlight and makes the early morning start worth it. I just keep telling myself it’s good for the character and catching fish is a bonus! No photos sorry, it was one of those days!!!