Cold and rainy late season day on the Mitta
Winter is truly here in south-eastern Australia, with another half-metre snowfall across the Snowy Mountains and the Victorian Alps to follow on from the blizzard in late April. I managed a mid-May trip to the Mitta River system for one last crack at the mountain streams. It was great fun, with plenty of fish caught (even on dries) but as you might expect, the action had slowed considerably from just a few weeks earlier.
I knew it was time to say goodbye to the mountain streams for winter when I noticed ice on a shady edge of the Victoria River (the final stream we fished) and measured the water temperature at just 3.5°.
The dilemma of just how long to persevere with the streams is now decided, with all the Victorian and New South Wales streams (bar a handful of sea trout rivers in coastal Victoria) closed to trout fishing from Queens Birthday until Spring. But as one door shuts…
Purrumbete rainbow on Muz's Stick Caddis
The lakes in western Victoria have produced some good, if not outstanding fishing lately. I had an entertaining day with Muz Wilson at Purrumbete recently, catching rainbows of around 1 ½ pounds on stick caddis and the faithful BMS. There were some bigger browns and salmon around too, though these eluded us—this time.
Grey day action at Lake Wartook
The Grampians lakes have also been easing the pain of the stream closed season, particularly Wartook. These drought-stricken lakes are enjoying the best early winter rain for years. Since the start of May, Lake Bellfield’s risen from 11340 megalitres to 12980, Lake Fyans from 2760 to 3480, and Wartook from 6910 to 9580.
