EILDON Report - 27TH SEPTEMBER 2006

The Goulburn is still running at 4000 megs and is still grass green in colour and very difficult to fish, although it's a little better than 5500 a few days ago. Let's hope they hold it at 4000 or less for the weekend.

Not much in the way of hatches as yet. The midge are still coming off in good numbers. The big news is that this season there seems to be an explosion of stoneflies. All the small streams are featuring good hatches and that includes the Yarra.

To be honest, if you are coming up this way, I would head up to the Big River out of Marysville as it is fishing the best it will this side of summer. The Rubicon is still producing but it is getting a hammering, as is the Steavenson but I suppose you would expect it, being so close to Melbourne.

The best flies at the moment are Gold Bead-head Nymphs and the Prince Nymph to imitate the Stonefly nymphs.

SPECIAL NOTICE Tomorrow night we are holding that special slide night featuring the Mayflies of North East Victoria. The slide show is new and features around 200 shots of various species found around Eildon and districts. Over the last three years I have been able to separate nine species of Baetids and five species of Leptophlebiidae. With most I have been fortunate to be able to capture highly detailed shots of the male and female Dun and Spinner of most of the species separated.

On top of that I have developed a whole range of dubbing formulas to match most of the Mayflies featured. The dubbing formula is simple and allows for colour adjustment.

What this means is that for the first time we will be able to make up representations of our own Australian Mayflies featuring body colouration close to the original.

It is a free night so get down to Hook Up around 7pm or call Fay or Milton on 9758 4332 to confirm your seat.

PUSH FOR THE BUSH Dear Hunting and Fishing Representatives (we are contacting a representative sample of hunting and fishing groups as it is not feasible to contact everyone).

Push for the Bush is creating a website. We wish to include a section on the loss of access to fishing and hunting. We propose the following words to explain your issue. Please add or change our words to assist your cause.

We wish to keep things short and punchy as we can, given there are many issues to cover.

Can you get back to us in 24 hours? We are keen to get the website up and running!

We will contact you when the website is up with the address and hope for your support and permission to put links to your websites.

Regards Bob Richardson

HUNTING AND TROUT FISHING Hunting and trout fishing are recreational activities enjoyed by thousands of Victorians.

It is vital that people's rights to engage in these activities are protected. Both sports generate significant income for small rural Victorian towns and hunting provides a service to Public land and Parks by reducing feral pests and managing game species such a deer.

There is a huge issue with trout and Government policy. Trout numbers in many of our once premium streams have dwindled due to fishing pressure, drought and bushfires.

In some rivers such as the Upper Goulburn, Howqua and Jamieson it is difficult to catch a good size trout for dinner. These rivers once abounded with good size trout. Fishermen tell, that one could look up river and see trout rising in every pool as far as you could see - not any more.

It is Government policy not to encourage trout and it will not restock key headwater rivers with trout. Your fishing licence dues are being used in part to breed and distribute native fish which some cases you then are not allowed to catch!

The Industry has varying opinions on this difficult issue, but all agree trout are important.

A few professional trout fishing guides say they are not concerned about the lack of trout re stocking, we point out that the average punter has voted with his feet and many no longer try their luck to catch a trout in our former premium trout streams. This has affected the economy of towns like Jamieson, Mansfield and Bright.

The Government spins by saying it has a good trout restocking program. This is true, but it only stocks impoundments (lakes and dams) with almost no trout going where the keen fly fishers want them. So what do they do? They travel to New Zealand and Tasmania where trout fishing is a staple tourist attraction - and streams are stocked.

If you read the fine print of the Greens policies, and the anti- trout reports put out by DSE you will have grave fears for the future of trout in our rivers. Beware and be vigilant.

Go to the Australian [[Species:37094900 (www.atf-online.org)] Foundation]

So, the trend is there and the pressure is on hunting and trout fishing

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The Rex Hunt Futurefish Foundation is proud to host "A Big Night of Fishing with Rex Hunt and Friends"

Rex Hunt, Paul Worsteling, Matthew Hunt and Lee Rayner Waterfront City, Docklands Wednesday 18th October 2006, 7.00pm

Four of the biggest names in Fishing will be on stage together for a night to remember; Major announcements will be made on the night that will change recreational fishing forever; The who's who of fishing will be in attendance including all the major fishing radio show hosts and print media personalities.

Pre-book your tickets now to go into the draw for a chance to win $1000 worth of fishing tackle.

Tickets can be purchased for just $35 from the following venues:

Call the Rex Hunt Futurefish Foundation office on 9725 2291 or download the ticket order form from the website www.futurefish.com.au and fax your order to 9725 2293;

Paul Worsteling's Cranbourne Fishing Tackle store located at 270 South Gippsland Highway Cranbourne; Launching Way, Patterson River Boat Ramp located in Carrum

"BE QUICK - SEATS ARE LIMITED"

Check our website at www.futurefish.com.au for more detailed information.

General Angling Report The Lake is still quiet but a couple of weeks back a group from Albury trolled from the entrance of the Big River arm all the way down to the Goulburn Arm. They were flat-lining using White pink tipped Tassies and the three best Brown trout taken were 7.5, 4.5 and 3.5 pounds cleaned. They reported that the trout were sitting around the fifteen foot mark.

The Pondage has been slow with only small fish around the 1.5-pound mark being weighed this week. Most of what has been caught has been Brown trout with the Rainbows a little on the quiet side. The best baits have been dough and or scrubbies.

The only big fish report comes from Zoran Cikovea who tells me he caught 4 nice trout, mostly browns, from under the centre bridge. Two went close to four pounds, another touched 6 pounds and the biggest went 8 pound.

The River is producing small plate size trout, mostly browns, on maggots. With the colour of the river being as it is, smelly baits would have to be the most effective.

If you want an update on lure or bait fishing, contact Gazza on 5774 2348 or Vicki on 5772 2662. Also, if you want to know the lake level or flow release into the Goulburn, ring Goulburn-Murray Water's info line, 5770 8128, which is updated daily.

Mick & Alaine Hall
Blackridge Flyfishing School
EILDON (03) 5774 2825
www.flyflickers.com (www.flyflickers.com)

Updates of this report by Mick Hall can be heard on Sports927AM Saturday morning, SEN1116 with Glenn Knight 7:30am Saturday morning, 3SER 97.7FM Friday morning between 7am and 9am and on UGFM 106.9FM Wednesday morning at 7:30am.