Blue Mountains fly fishing

[cc118]

Hi Raiders,

The rivers and streams around the Blue Mountains are under constant pressure from fisherman, and my last couple of trips to the Coxs River produced donuts. So this time I decided to call my farmer friend to organize access to his private land. There has been a long debate over who actually owns the river and if fisherman have the right of passage. Some farmers will tell you they own the land on both sides of the river and therefore claim they own the river. However according to NSW Fisheries, “the public has a right to fish despite the private ownership of the bed of the river or creek”. Please feel free to share your comments???

Well I spoke to the farmer the night before and obtained his approval to access his property. I was accompanied by my friend John during this trip and picked him up at 7am for the long journey to the farm. After passing through half a dozen gates, we arrived at the river, parked the car and geared up.

John was ready first and was onto a fish with his first cast. Unfortunately he dropped it. But it wasn’t long before we were onto the next fish.

John and I split up, and I proceeded upstream to give him plenty of space.

There is approximately 3-4 km of easy accessible river and the farmers have done a fantastic job clearing blackberry bush and willows along the river bed.

Black spinner hatch.

By the time lunch time rolled in, I had brought to hand nearly a dozen fish. I stopped counting after my 4th fish.

John caught up to me and just before lunch, I hooked a big brown. When I first hooked him, I felt this dead weight like a branch was caught on the line, but this branch moved up stream. He came to the surface, and I caught a glimpse of the fish. He was at least 3 pounds, possibly more. The fish suddenly woke up and with one power run took off downstream. He was unstoppable and in just a few seconds, he was 30 meters downstream and the hooked pulled.

At lunch, I eagerly explained to John that I lost count how many fish I had caught, while he told me he was yet to catch his first fish. Luckily for me, I was driving. After lunch, I let John fish upstream, while I worked back downstream.

I hooked another good brown, but as I went to net the fish, it darted between my legs and the line caught on my boots. The fish made a power run and broke the line.

I also lost a big rainbow as it leaped out of the water and throw the hook. But I did manage to catch a few more as well.

The clouds moved in and the thought of being caught in the middle of nowhere in a thunder storm didn’t really appeal to me, so I made my way back to the car. When I met John back at the car, he told me he had caught a few fish including one brown of about 42cm.

At the car, I wanted to try my luck at the pool where John hooked the first fish. As I worked the dry fly, I saw a rise in the pool ahead, and we both made our way to check it out. On John’s second cast, the indicator went down and he was on.

And a great brown to finish the day.

Regards Caddis

Edited January 8, 2012 by Caddis

[outdoordan]

Great read.

Looks like a truely magnificant place to fish.

[Guest hawkesbass]

Awesome scenery nature at its best

Top healthy looking fish makes you wonder why more people dont fish and enjoy the great outdoors thanks for sharing And well done

[Centrepin]

Hey Caddis,

You certainly had a great day.

As regards to access it depends on the title on the property. Some titles stop at high water mark. Some titles extend accross the river.

Either way it is not worth pressing the issue. If you don't have access and it doesn't seem OK don't go.

I understnd the farmers side and don't blame them. When you hear their horror stories you can understand.

I know how hard it is to get access, especially the Fish and Duclamoi Rivers.

Great to see the river in good shape. I used to fish a lot before the drought and it was so soul destroying to see fish in distress and dying,I havn't been back in probably 8 years. The black Spinner hatch is especially encouraging and the fish are in good condition. I hadly ever saw a spinner hatch.

Thanks so much for your report, You might inspire me to do a reccy,

Appreciated,

Geoff

[GregL]

Awesome!

Great pix and nice looking bit of land there!

Nice adventure boys!

Greg

[ddaniel]

nice way to spend the day walkin the coxs, plenty of klm's covered scouring different pools, great exercise.makes it even more rewarding when you finally hook up, thats a really good day you blokes had, a lot of fish came from lake lyell, a lot of the bigger fish i think are ex dam fish.

[dean]

Great report Caddis. Nice stretch of water and healthy fish. Thanks for posting.