taloyoak

Nice red Goretex jacket mate!- you deserved it!. 3m rise in the Cox's over last 2 days- HOLY COW!!!! the camp spot must be a swamp! Bring on winter I say!

Don't see no fly rods??????- Cheatin'!!!!!

Gus you Rock! I think a Matt n Gus Tassie trip is in order. Great pics and report- I better get my act together! Big Love, Nan

Royce can you email me your info on the Hollanders please! Cheers, Matt

what a combo- broken arm and trout- Pwned the lake!

Mercurial...............lol, waiting for some recipe! or a flyby from Voyageur 1 or 2

Gotta get me one of those "Chris Chew" rods- they reckon they are awesome! Nice one Chris, hopefully in next few weeks I will be free to head up to mountains every Friday night for the weekend Are you listening Angus?!

If only I had the disposable income!

Check out the 1metre rise in th Cox's- glad we are not there! My link

You should really save those Lyrebird feathers so you have a quill for work. Nothing would beat signing documents than with a massive Lyrebird quill and a little bottle of ink!

You are killing me Geoff! I sooooooooooooo wish I could have joined you but the boss keeps informing me that unless I work and bring home the bacon we can't build our house in Tasmania......so I will just have to pretend I was there with you, however we will definately do a Kowmung mission with you, me,Irongus,Luddy and hopefully Mr Chew!. Great report and nice fish and good to see a BIG smile on a fellow Wandman! M

JESUS! CHRIS!............ WOW- one of the best reports of the year, and man what awesome photos. The best ( OF COURSE ) BEING THE tHOMAS AND tHOMAS WRITING AGAINST THE BOW!. I just want to pack up and move to NZ now- just leave. Thanks for an awesome post- your photos are great- real great- like I said, you have taken the time to think about your photos, and holy toledo, some absolute Narwals you caught! GREAT buddy!

Oh imagine on fly!........................... Well done mate- some top fish and great photos!.

Chris, Awesome report and photos- wow some nice beastly beasts there!. I could so easily pack up and leave and move to NZ. Very jealous, and happy for you for getting in some great fishing. And more so - SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glasd you are a Thomas & Thomas man- cause that was my first rod in an 8wt!. I love T&T, their bamboo looks incredible. Can't get enuff of T&T- matched with an Abel SS in either Dolly Varden or Brown Trout!. We seriously need to get together and fish soon ( with Irongustavius)! Thanks for the reply on my post- I know the fly gang here is thin, but I am sure there are more fly fisherman here, just not everyone is motivated ( or has the time) to sit down and write long reports. This site is great- what makes it great is the diversity and the reports- so whether or not others can't be bothered - I will always make the effort and so will any of us here that want to share with others. So when you go fishing- always take tonnes, and tonnes of pics- make the time, give the camera to others, and also make the time to "set up " good shots- that is what I believe most members want- a report with great and many photos! Cheers, matt

All you need to do is ask/PM/email and make the time- we will all take you out!

Thanks Hunter, actually this trip we both just took our little point and shoots, so not the best quality like my SLR or Angus's 5D. Fly fishing is awesome. It isn't for everyone- you need motivation, commitment, vison and patience. You need to go out and cast in crap conditions, lose $100 worth of flies in 10 mins, see fish and the 1st cast you cast into a tree or bank etc and get super pissed- but like anything in your life that is worth getting- do the apprenticeship, go and practice, get atleast 2-3 professional lessons, and have the attitude about that it doesn't matter if you don't catch anything- if you manage to make some good casts/loops - it is fantastic!. I love Kanangra not for the fish, but the beauty, the solitude and the adventure, even after going there more than 30 times- everytime brings new things and experiences. I know that most of the fly-guys here on the forum would be more than happy to teach you, advise you etc on fly fishing. If you want to learn etc- just ask, I know we are more than willing to help- all you need to do is ask!

Hey Grant, Never fished it believe that or not!, but have been past it 3 times, during my stupid and epic "alternative" walkouts- one which saw me walk from Kanangra creek through to the Six Foot Track junction along the Megalong Rd, which took me something like 18hr's, with no food, little water and destroyed feet- hahahaha. Just today Angus ( Irongustavius ) - asked me when we are doing a pre-Xmas Jenolan trip!. Seeing as Jenolan is so close to Packsaddlers- I know it won't be as good as K ck. But I know FOR SURE - that those upper reaches of the Kowmung and it's offshoots are like another world, and I am prepared to do the miles and be in the trenches to get to those awesome runs where there are huge fish. Cheers, Matt

It ate your arm!

So got to the “DOUBLE HOOK UP” pool, and sad to say ( Angus) it only had a few fish. Well we worked the runs and pool up from it, and nailed some great fish, then worked the pool I have dubbed “ MARIANA’S TRENCH” – as it is a very deep pool. Just looks like the best producing pool ever- and I caught a few nice fish, but nothing outstanding. I actually must have made at least 30 casts into it, targeting every inch of it, caught some nice fish and a nice little brown, but lost 1 huge fish- never saw it but it pulled hard enough for me to know it was a good specimen. Dean continued on upstream, and after about 30 mins I joined him. From this point, the creek turns tight, heavily wooded around the shore and much more suited to lure than fly. We caught a few more, but then, walking upstream, the creek divides into two, we took the left hand option, and this one maybe 40 meter run non-descript part, maybe 1.5ft deep at most, I would not have even considered casting, but the Sniper who I might add is the ever optimist, threw 2 casts into it. One the second cast- the water EXPLODED with a Polaris Missile. OMFG!!!!!!!! – I almost felt incapacitated for 20 seconds, then hearing Dean’s reel screaming away and the almost ghost like pale face on him- literally shaking like all his DNA was instantly taken away from his body, I knew this was a fish of a lifetime. I stood there in ankle deep water, seeing this old Krusty Burragorang Elder fighting for his turf……. Trying to net this beast, without a doubt more terrifying than having to propose to my wife……all I could do was shake and try to put the net in front of this giant!. Once I netted it, it was like the day the Earth stood still. I looked at Dean in bewilderment!- sure nothing like a 500lb Tuna, or Greg L nailing massive Jew’s in the Hawkesbury et al, but those of you that have experienced this stream, will know that this fish was a trophy bar none!. And to top it off, it was caught in this ankle deep water. For the time that I have been fishing this stream, this is the biggest fish by far that I have seen caught. Actually the fish that Angus caught, was huge, then Kyuss ( Scott) asked me if Angus’s fish was bigger than the Dolphin I caught the previous year ( I was by myself and caught a monster male Bow in the spawning pool) the photo as you remember wasn’t the best but it was a beast, but I reckon bar none this fish Dean caught was the biggest, however, not the biggest fish we saw. I cannot begin to imagine the size of the fish that make their way up from Lake Burragorrang ( aka Warragamba Dam), well this old warrior gave us the opportunity to revel in his wake. He wasn’t too keen on being held and photographed, but Dean held this Goliath like it was his newborn baby, and I managed to nab a few decent pics, I think Dean even smiled?!. He slowly got himself back into the rhythm and sauntered back into the shallow water and we both were about as happy as any two fishermen could be!. It was starting to get late in the day, but we wanted to make it up to the Wilhannia junction so we hauled ass up there with a few more small catches but nothing to really mention. The best part further up along the last stretch to the junction we heard a Wild Dog barking aggressively, and it was really close, however we couldn’t see it. Damn, I reckon this was one of the closest we have ever been to one, and actually ( sorry Dean)- he was continually looking around, thinking “Cujo” was going to attack…lol, really it was funny. I desperately wanted to see it, but Dean was a bit unsure!. We got to the junction and caught a few at the pool there, then in the fading light I managed to coax Dean to go and do a quick “5 mins” trip to Wilhannia- was after 1630hrs and so we needed to get back to camp. But………………. We went up and WOW what a beautiful little stream!- all dark and eerie, ferns and like inside a canyon, tannin stained water and lots of nice fish. Dean nailed a nice Brown- fired out of the water like being launched off the USS Nimitz, and de-hooked itself, and only by mm’s didn’t land on the ban. We were laughing in unison. Another 20 mins and we decided to head back reluctantly. On the way back there is a huge open high cleared area at the junction- we found a massive yellow drybag with loads of gear in it- tent, bag, clothes, stove,food,fuel etc- but all wet, mouldy and ruined. Why someone left it there???????? Another K ck mystery. We got back to camp in the dark- just exhausted from the adrenalin and beautiful time we had. Truly a great trip. We lost count after over 60 fish caught in 2 days….not bad! I won’t bore you with the walk out…..Dean is way fitter than me this year, so I sucked and he revelled this year…LOL!. Perfect trip, I reckon would be hard to beat, but then there is always next year and then there is the Kowmung!- Oh man that is like another world, and a very big world indeed!

We worked further upstream, but I think we didn’t get much further up until we called it a day, and headed back to camp. Total for the day was about 25 fish, maybe 30…. Every pool was just loaded with fish, even though the stream was about a third lower or more than this time last year!. Got to camp, got stuck into the fine liquid and prepared dinner- Epic Meal Time Kanangra style!. Of course Garlic Bread is now “mandatory” for trips- at $1.89 at Aldi for 2 loaves, and it tastes so good. Dinner was a sort of Pad Thai burritos, which went down well!. Dean forgot that I had mentioned to him on the phone that I would provide the food. He was admittedly pensive as the last trip I made a boo-boo with dessert, namingly a horrid custard that was like cement and probably tasted worse!. We watched some movies and Dean of course made a kick-ass fire. It was pretty cool that night, totally clear and the moon and stars were amazing. I think we hit the sack around 9pm….LOLZ, must be getting old. Deja vu for Sunday morning, awesome breakky, and this time I was up earlier and once I had sweet black coffee surging through my veins I was good to go!. We made our way upstream, going past our last point for the day before, and it took us about 45 mins to get to near where we left off the previous day. Along the way. Walking along the well-trodden pig trails, we saw and heard some Red Tailed Black Cockatoos – what magnificent birds, and not seen often in the burbs, was a real treat- that almost blood curdling screech they make. But what was even better was when maybe 5 mins further a silly but astute male Superb Lyrebird was chortling away doing his Karaoke rendition just maybe 10 meters down slope from us. We stopped and listened for over 5 mins and he did a cacophony of calls from Whip Birds, Black Cockatoos, jays, and 3 other calls- and the whole time he never knew we were there!- LOLZ, of course he freaked out once he saw us. What a magnificent bird!. Dean and I got to a pool, from now on it will be called the “HOT GLUE EGG” pool. We spent maybe 40 mins, casting into this small pool that was to the left of a fast flow run, maybe 2 meters deep, and typical of most Kanangra pools, and what started the action was that in the inch deep gravel runs, loads of fish- males chasing big females were pairing up and basically just a gang situation, then we spooked them, but they moved into the pool, and we were able to cast for around 40 mins using hot glue eggs and dumbbell eggs, plus Deans lures, and we caught maybe `10 good fish, but lost at least the same if not more to hook ups then lost fish. Even Deano got into the fly action with my Loomis- after I got him to slow down his timing, he nabbed a few gems. This guy- enough that he is a Sniper, but catching on my fly rod just made me even more respectful to him.

Well this is about 7 weeks late- sorry part laziness and part just being plain old busy. Dean (DWAG90) had called me a few weeks previously, mentioning that we were due for our trip to K ck, it took almost a year for our second trip!. But with a house move, a baby, and a 6 week 4WD trip to the top of Cape York, I was thankful that he was “allowed” to go on another trip. So we had planned on going in on Sat morning early, however I convinced him that we leave on Friday night and walk in which would maximize our time on stream. Met Dean around 530pm at Penrith stn, drove the trip out to Packsaddlers in the Megalong Valley, I think we ended up getting there around 8pm, after going and filling out a trip intention form with Katoomba Police, then Dean had his take-away Burger and chips. Dean’s looking super fit ( he says it is due to him hauling full wheelbarrows around at work- he is an orchid grower), but I am looking decidedly worse for wear- due to laziness and too much good food!. You’d think I would be much fitter after doing 9 trips to Kanangra this year!. So we walked up to Medlow Gap in the moonlight- it was a clear and very “crisp” evening, and we made it there in great time!. Unlike the last few trips, I have made an effort to cache food and water along the way, which makes a MASSIVE difference for the walk out. So we hid supplies at Mobbs Soak and also Mt Yellow Dog. When we got to Mt YD – Dean got on the iPhone and checked the weather on the BoM – it said 1.6c ( well that is Mt Boyce), but it was just a sensational night- the moon illuminated everything, and just beautiful and quiet. I took a pic of Dean and he emailed it to his wife- lolz, under the thumb I reckon!. By the time we got to the campsite and recovered my hidden gear and got to sleep it was around 4-430am. I had also brought in a 2nd tent, even though I have a 2-3 person tent down there- I said to Dean we’d share a tent, but then rescinded that offer because I snore like an A-380, and so Dean got the little 1.5 man Wal-Mart tent- which I know was the right decision. I “promised” him I’d be up at a reasonable hour, but sure enough by the time I arose from my slumber Dean had fished the entire lower section of the stream and caught a tonne of fish. This guy!....this guy!..... Of all the people I have fished with, I can say with conviction that he is the true “Sniper”. He can flick any lure onto a 5 cent piece in any pool and never makes a mistake. By now after fishing with the cheaters (Dean,Scott,Angus) – I have finally come to grips that fly will never beat lure….. it hurts like a divorce. Finally Dean returned to the campsite, albeit only so I could feed him!. I cooked up some bacon and egg rolls with fresh brewed coffee – as usual we ate like Kings!. I got my act together and we left for the day, somewhere around 10am I think. This time Dean got to wear my spare set of Gore-Tex waders and “borrowed” Angus’s wading shoes that he kindly left there – thanks Gus!. So where do I begin?.................. The stream was just teeming with fish!. I knew from my obsessive clicking on the Cox’s river height on the internet at least 10 times a day and seeing the 30cm rise about 4 days pre trip that the fish would get up into Kanangra. The first good pool ( I have named most of the pools on the stream for reference) – the SPAWNING pool was full of fish. We nabbed quite a few, then moved up to the “OLYMPIC” pool. This pool is really difficult to fish on fly due to the cross current casts, and the high rate of snags in the flow which flows right through lots of tree roots etc. Dean and I both caught a couple of nice fish, then kept heading upstream. Next pool, the “ BLACK PERCH POOL”, well to be specific the adjacent pool, we saw a humongous Rainbow- double digit for sure, but we spooked it, WOW!. Then Dean cast up into the rapids and nailed a nice male. Kept working upstream, slowly cause Dean was catching almost every big fish in the creek!, and got to the picturesque “ ORANGE CLIFF” pool. You need to wade to the left side of the water next to the cliff up by a tree branch/root, and sitting right next to the water was a nice big Red Belly Black. Good to see them out and about- nice and healthy looking. I don’t particularly like snakes, but any wildlife that is healthy looking and active always puts a smile on my face. The pool only produced 1 nice specimen, but the next run, which I have dubbed the “AQUARIUM”- because it reminds me of an aquarium landscaped like a natural Takashi Amano aquarium. I cast up a few times to the bend and the big tree root, and nailed a nice male Bow. From there, a few non-descript pools, then got to the “TWIN TOWERS” pool, which was loaded with massive fish. There was a school of around 20 fish, mostly huge and of course I cast and Dean forgot to inform me that we were fishing for fish and not trees!- darn, what’s wrong with him!. We caught a few nice fish, but not those U-Boats that were lurking there.

why don't you just go on a date already you two!

Ummmmmmmmmm yep............ but it involves a long walk and a 3 day commitment!

NICE ONE MATE, THANKS FOR SHARING!

that hat and t-shirt are out of the 80's............................