Well after a short break from fresh water fly fishing {about 10 years} I had decided it was time to get back out there. So after a pre season walk along the shores of the cox's the passion was re-ignited.
So on Monday I made my way to Hampton state forest and started what I was hoping to be a short walk down to the Duckmaloi river. This short walk turned out to be a tough hike through dense bushland with bindo creek and the surroundings infested with blackberry, willow and other annoying scrub
When I eventually reached the Duckmaloi, the story was much the same. Fighting my way upstream to the first run I found a decent fish but with no chance of a cast and after wasting 5 minutes trying to wave a nymph round off the rod tip, the fish spooked
A few pools up I came to the first run which had the possibility of any sort of cast. Straight into stealth mode I snuck down to the bank, all was looking good. As I made my way onto some reeds I was lucky enough to get introduced to MR tiger snake {who I would also run into on my way back down stream} He was having a sun bake in the reeds awaiting my arrival. A hastey reatreat with some cursing involved and it was onto to the next run. It seemed that the further up stream I got the more over grown and unpassable it became.
By this time I was getting a bit detered and half the day had passed so I decided it was time to head back to where the creek met the river and try my luck in the pool below the creek where it seemed like a cast would be possible.
After a few casts and a fly change I had a follow from a small fish that turned away at the last second only a few meters away. A few more cast and I hooked this little fella
By this time I was in the pool at the junction of the creek and was happy enough to call it day and begin my hike back. It was a mixture of emotions throughout the day. The joy of getting out on the river surrounded by no one, the announce of the thick thorney scrub and willows that have infested this beautiful waterway and the sight of wild fish doing their thing. Of course the day wouldn’t be finished without another visit from MR tiger snake thankfully he was a friendly one.
