Lake St Clare
By Len Verrenkamp
Why oh why do I do this to myself!!
Lake St Claire or Glennie's Creek Dam has to be one of the most inviting fresh water fisheries within two hrs drive of the Central Coast. The undulating countryside and clear country air always refreshes the mind and in August the westerlies and brisk temperatures remind you that Winter has not quite finished for the year. I probably should mention the fact that the lake holds some stonking bass as well, which is also another slight attraction for the traveling fisherperson.
Heading up there on the Saturday afternoon with the boat in tow a plan needed to be hatched to break my duck on bass on fly and to erase the memory of the blank I drew on a quick trip a couple of weeks previously. This time I had the goto fly which is Singleton Greg's buzzer, my casting has improved drastically since last years trip and the westerly wind, although ever present was not endangering any brown dogs on chains. With Murray and Richard both catching good fish a couple of weeks earlier confidence was high.
The Plan
The plan at hand was pretty simple, sound up some fish in a fly fishable depth of water, use a sinking line to get the fly down deep and strip back through the fish and wait for the hits. Probably not the most eloquent method, however this was my third trip and the thoughts of 50cm bass smashing my surface fly were a distant memory, I just needed to catch a bloody fish!
Saturday Afternoon
Arriving at around 3.00pm I found Col Breeze who had just returned from a long session and had had no success using a variety of methods. After a quick chat I headed to the ramp thinking, I have a plan, I have a plan! First point of call was straight across and slightly down the lake from the ramp to an area that has a shallow entry and then opens up nicely to some deeper water, sounding around there was evidence of fish in a couple of areas so out with the fly rod and into the fish. Two hours later and numerous moves around the lake and that bloody duck was still quacking!
Heading out to the camp with the boat back on the trailer Murray, Richard, Mick and Terry are already set up and off fishing. About 30min later Malcolm turned up and with it quite dark now we lit the camp fire and settled in with some refreshments to wait for the others to return and to discuss tactics for tomorrow's club fish. The boys returned with some success stories of better than a fish each which was welcome news for tomorrow's session.
Sunday - Club Outing Day
John Roberts and Col "Bags" Hession arrived early and we departed camp at 7.00am with our return and lunch booked in for 12.30pm. Most of the guys headed out to fish the shore whilst I drove back to the ramp and launched the boat again (I have a plan you know)! Heading up into the Carrowbrook arm this time I headed for some deep timber looking for fish on the sounder, again the fish are there, again I deploy my deep fishing tactics, again not a touch or tap, flies changed numerous times, down sized to a 6lb leader, varied retrieves and even harled under electric power and all to no avail! Cruised up into a couple of protected bays with natural, albeit dry water courses leading into them with rock walls and good structure and still not a sign of a fish to be seen.
With time marching on and lunch looking like being the highlight of the day for me I headed back to camp to find a few of the guys back and Malcolm Holden grinning like a Cheshire Cat after nailing his first bass on fly, and a 45 cm version at that. You might as well give up now Mal as anything else you catch bass wise will be a disappointment, LOL. John "the mini bus" Roberts arrived shortly after with a few anglers loaded in his ute and Richard and Murray looking quite comfortable in the back, although maybe for short distances only!
With the new club barby hot and ready to be christened we were instructed by Murray not to help as he's a little possessive when he has a bar-b-mate in his hand so we resorted to just offering verbal assistance until he relented and generously allowed us to slice the onions! Lunch was a winner and with Mal's Bass being the only fish for the day and now 54cm and growing we packed up and headed for home.
The Wrap Up
No fish for me
It's a great place but a tough fishery
The company was terrific as always
Will I go back, you betcha! I'm going to pluck that duck eventually..
It's a great place but a tough fishery
The company was terrific as always
Will I go back, you betcha! I'm going to pluck that duck eventually..
