Terrigal Lagoon - June 2013

Terrigal Lagoon

by Len Verrenkamp

Date: 16 June 2013

LE GOONS ! YEP, THAT'S US! Back at Terrigal lagoon by default - swell and wind prevented the planned rock hopping trip to chase Drummer. 6.30 am start, nice sou'wester to keep us company, waders and wetsuits donned, kayaks launched, banks waded.

A Flathead for Stickerman, Sole for Mal (fish, not personal attributes), bastards had the BBQ early (obviously because I had to duck off for a couple of hours), and bugger all else caught.

I reckon the blackfish were lining up to be caught at The Entrance!!!

NOTE: Rumours that a huge kingfish was caught in the lagoon by Mal are completely unfounded!

Farquar Park - May 2013

Farquar Park by Len Verrenkamp

Date: 18-19 May 2013

Ahh the Serenity! In my opinion that famous Aussie phrase describes Farquar Park to a tee. With access only by boat or 4wd it takes a bit of organisation and effort to get there, however the rewards are worth it. It's rarely crowded (provided you avoid holiday times), you camp on the waters edge and the sunsets across the sand flats and Charleys Island will keep you coming back for more. Unfortunately with quite a few members pulling out at the last minute we were in no danger of crowding the place out and it was up to Col Breeze, Jim Hollett and myself to represent the club for the weekend. Along with us were Jim 's wife Suzanne and a mate of mine Brett from Newcastle who has taken up fly fishing with gusto. Jim and Suzanne travelled down from Bohnock by boat while Col had an eventful trip towing his tinny down the beach with few issues in the soft sand on the Friday - he was helped out by some fellow campers from Raymond Terrace. Brett and myself arrived about lunch time on Saturday and did our usual shuttles to get both the boats and vehicles down to the camp site after a wait on the beach for the tide to recede enough to get through a narrow section. With camp set up and the sun setting it was time to light the fire and settle in for a chat and a drink to discuss tomorrows fishing tactics. After a good night’s sleep in the Taj Ma-ute we awoke to a brisk westerly blowing straight of the Barringtons collecting razor blades on it's way to the coast making 7°C feel like about 2°C. A cuppa to warm up and a quick brekky then onto the water we went. With a run out tide and the wind pushing down river it made for a quick drift and I think I spent more time steering the electric than fishing so we headed up river into Oyster creek to find virtually no wind and smooth conditions. After a few more casts with the Crazy Charlie I started the day with, I changed to an orange and white Clouser and using a cast and wait, strip and wait technique it was snaffled off the bottom by a nice bream in between strips. My first bream on fly went 28cm and to say I was happy was an understatement. A few photos for the record books and it was released to fight another day. With Col deciding to drive out at low tide without the boat on the trailer we took a slight detour and picked him up from the ramp and delivered him back to his boat at the camp ground so he could continue fishing. With the tide now on the make it was time to hit the oyster racks in search of some more bream. Scott's creek is lined with racks of all descriptions and has some of the fishiest looking water in the river, not to mention protection from the wind as well. I also find casting at racks does wonders for your accuracy as the results of a poor cast will mean you are nowhere near the fish or your fly and leader is now wrapped around a nice piece of timber or PVC pipe. Not that it seemed to make any difference today, an hour of prowling the racks resulted in no fish, however there were plenty of signs that fish were there. With time getting away we headed back to camp for some well earned egg and bacon rolls cooked on the camp fire for lunch and a lengthy chat about the ones that got away. Jim and Col both had hits, however no hook ups were forthcoming. Although it was probably one of the smallest club outings ever, the great company and location made up for the lack of numbers. My first bream on fly made my weekend a winner and will be back up there as soon as the weather and water warms up again.

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!!!

The Entrance at Night - February 2013

The Entrance at Night by Chris Bannerman

Date: 16 February 2013

Well our traditional evening fish at The Entrance was on again. A few of the usual suspects were missing, preferring the cooler waters of the Snowies to the warm brine offered at this month's club outing. Still, we ended up with plenty of starters - myself and John Roberts, Ken and Mac, Richard and Murray, Stickerman, and Bob and Dave De Luca (otherwise know as "The Caterers"). With threatening rain (like that's something new) we headed out from the boat ramp and up towards the bridge. John and I started in the usual position just west of the bridge on the edge of the channel and with the water murky and still running out, decided to berly bread and have some sport with the local mullet population. Sticker was closer to the bridge and already having fun with the mullet. After putting out a nice trail of bread in the water and plenty of surface activity we cast out bread flies with expectations of quick takes and great fun. But the takes were there but not the hookups and we wiled away the afternoon in mild frustration. Occaisionally we'd hook a small bream, and John managed a whiting and one mullet but nothing spectacular. That was until John hooked a decent bream and we both rejoiced in the fact that was more down there than little buggers. It wasn't long after that I managed one of a similar size. John didn't want to stop at just one decent fish, so while the caterers arrived with boatside dinner he continued to cast while I berlied with chicken skin and bone. But the larger fish were still elusive and we managed nothing more than tiddlers. A change of tact was required once the sun disappered in a spectaular sunset. We changed to intermediate lines and attached clousers for some flathead action. After watching Sticker land a nice lizard we were keen but the flatties weren't so we moved over to the pylons and tried our luck there. Meanwhile we could hear cheers as Mac and Ken were amongst the EPs on the other side of the channel. Mac managed 8 EPs - a new species for him and done in style. Good on ya mate. The pylons provided some activity with an EP and a few other nibbles but far from the usual activity and by 10pm we joined the others in departing for the boat ramp. With an outgoing tide in full swing and dirty water, I'm not suprised that the fishing was mediocre, but the company and view more than made up for the lack of fish. Many thanks to the caterers for a scrumptious dinner, it also made the evening a great success.

Christmas Outing - December 2012

Trip Reports

Christmas Outing by Len Verrenkamp

Date: 16 December 2012

Brisbane Water, the last hurrah for 2012 As my first year as a fly fisherman and club member draws to a close I can attest to the steep learning curve required to attempt to conquer the arts of casting, presentation, tying etc. My progress along this curve has been a series of challenges that are still presenting themselves, often at times when I think just maybe I am beginning to acquire a small part of the skill set required to actually look like a Fly Rodder it all falls apart and a favourite quote often springs to mind that applies just as much to fly fishing as it does to life in general, being; All movement is not progress, just as all progress is not forward! (Anon). Anyway, with this trip being the last for 2012 and my first in a couple of months due to another project that was occupying large chunks of my spare time meant I was as keen for a fish as can possibly be. Arriving at the Koolewong ramp I met up with Chris, Rodger, John, Bob and Dave with Trent, Sticker and Sebastian due, just not there as yet (seems to be a familiar theme Sticker).

Needing a crew and with John Roberts happy to provide his services and both of us keen to get a line wet we absconded from the ramp post haste and headed straight for Box Head and started looking for signs of fish in conditions that were near perfect for humans with a clear sky, no breeze and a lazy swell. With nothing obvious happening on the surface we harled across Broken Bay along with a pod of dolphins following some well defined tide lines all to no avail. With a change of spot, change your luck agreed upon we headed into the "general vicinity" of Pitt Water to find a small patch of fish working the surface with some birds picking up the leftovers. Within a few casts I was onto a nice fish, John said make the call, Tailor I guessed which proved to be correct as the first time I sighted the fish it buggered off with my fly in it's gob and left me with a shredded leader! I must say at this point the profound and sincere heartfelt symapthy that John showed after I lost my first tailor on fly was totally non bloody existent, all I received was a "gee that was a shame and you lost a great looking fly!".

After the school sounded and surfaced a few more times and we had had numerous follows John switched to a surface popper and was immediately hammered by a nice salmon. A shortish fight on his 9# soon had a 45cm salmon in the net, photographed and released in quick time. Obviously I was full of praise for John's effort! Bob and Dave then cruised up in their boat, said G'day and parked right between us and the school of fish and started casting. This little move has been stored in the memory bank gentlemen and just let me say notice has been given!!!! I did see Bob catch a chopper Tailor and I heard a small kingy was caught earlier also. After another hour chasing this school of fish and having numerous follows and a few hits without hooking up we left them to their own devices.

By now it was around 10am, the sun was making its presence felt and along with the calm conditions it was nice to be motoring along and have some air flow past the face as we headed back into BW to chase some Flathead. We did a few drifts over the sand flats around Brooker Bay for nil result and then headed into Woy Woy Bay to find Chris (viper tongue) Bannerman, Rodger and Sebastian baking in the sun high up in the bay and Chris having some success with a few bream. With time rolling on and a Xmas party to organize Chris and Rodger headed back to the park after a mid water transfer of Sebastion to my boat who unfortunately broke the tip off his rod before making another cast. John and I then proceeded to have a clouser v vampire competition for the next 45 minutes or so before we called it a day and headed for home. Back in the park quite a few other members had arrived with families in tow for a chat and a feed of fish and chips after another enjoyable morning on the water, although only a few fish were caught the chance to get out there, try a few new or different things and enjoy the company of like minded people is a great incentive to come along to as many club days as you can. Happy New Year to all and here's to an ever increasing species list in 2013.

Lake St Clair - November 2012

Lake St Clair by Chris Bannnerman

Date: 18-19 November 2012

Having not been to St Clair for a few seasons now I was happy to accept El Presidente's offer to tag along with him for the weekend. With fishing and camping gear packed into the Royal Kluger we headed up the freeway just after midday. Our first destination was Lake Liddell to test some new rods and reels Dave had recently received. The conditions weren't the best with a brisk breeze making all but the eastern shore fishable so that's where we headed - beggars can't be choosers. Drifting along the shoreline we saw a few fish but only one seemed to like Dav's fly and it behaved more like a pelagic than a carp. The 5wt line nearly sung through the water as the fish headed deeper then taking a sharp left turn headed parallel to the bank. Dave was down to the backing in no time and a desire not to break the 5 weight meant that he had to let the fish have its head for the time being. Eventually he worked it back to the boat with care and we netted a nice (roughly) 10lb fish.

With our time up at Liddell we headed back to the ramp, trailered the boat and headed down the highway to SIngleton and up to St Clair. The guys had avoided the madness at the camp ground and pitched their camp up the road in a council culvert. After setting up Dave and I headed back down to the camp ground to launch the boat while the rest of the group headed off on foot to fish the banks. With the boat launched Dave bought it around to the camp while I returned with car and joined him. A few minutes later we were at the mouth of the river checking with the guys on the bank as to their succes and casting amongst the snags. It was a popular location with a number of trollers, lure and bait chuckers. The odd thing was that no one was having much success, but in true Fly Rodders fashion we persevered and just on dusk Dave felt a solid weight on his line. It wasn't the usual mad dash for cover of a bass but it was heavy. Eventually we got some colour and the fish revealed itself as a silver perch - and a big one at that. Boated it measured in at 54cm. Needless to say, Dave was pretty pleased with himself.

We fished on into dark amongst the drowned trees along the river's edge. Suddenly Dave's line went tight and his rod bent over. With a grunt he put some quick pressure on the fish but it had already reached the safety of the snags and the line came up slack minus his fly. A cast or two later and I felt a similar weight on my line but I managed to keep this one out of the snags and we soon boated a nice bass around th 30cm mark. A few casts later and another hit then a hookup and I landed my second fish for the evening. By the time we had landed the second fish it was nearing 8pm and after a half hour or so of unremarkable fishing we decided to call it a night and head back to camp for dinner. Mooring the boat below the camp site we clambered up the rocky hillside to find everyone else back at camp and preparing for dinner. With dinner taken care of we settled back around the camp fire for a chat and a laugh before retiring for the evening around midnight.

After a restless night's sleep I awoke to the sound of rain drops on the tent. Poking my head out I could see storm clouds to north and decided it was time to pack up before things got any wetter. Luckily the storms didn't eventuate and after a cuppa and a quick breakfast we headed out again to see what we could tempt out of the depths of the lake. Drifting along some likely looking egdes we felt some small taps on the lines but nothing hooked up and we soon moved onto another fishy looking location. By now the sun was appearing and we were greeted with a magnificent looking morning.

Following not far behind us along a bank of drowned trees we soon heard a cheer of success as Brook lifted into a nice bass. We tried all sorts of flies with little success and soon decided to pull the pin as we both had to be back on the Coast by lunch. Back at the camp we picked up the car and headed back to the camp grounds to retrieve the boat before heading back down the freeway to the Central Coast. We all had an enjoyable weekend even though the bass weren't as cooperative as we'd hoped. But that's fishing and there's always next time.