Cox's last bash

[Mr Rob]

Last weekend i thought i had better give the Cox’s one last bash for the season. Fishing the upper reaches via private access this area is hardly touched and never lets me down.

With an early start (3am) from Sydney i arrived on day brake to a drizzly day.

As i went alone and having the river to myself i set of armed with fly and spin rod. I do struggle to use the fly as the spin gear is so affective. The plan was to fish the rises with fly and spin or plastic the rest. The first few ponds had me scratching my head with no signs of life at all.

The next pool i almost stood on a good brown right in the shallows, he wasn’t spooked but he was not interested in anything. Following that the river came to life resulting in a good fish in every section. I did observe a few sporning couples and most of the fish seemed to be in the gravel runs. I didn’t count but would have caught no less than 15 fish of size on spin and lost the 2 biggest on the plastics. (Won’t use them again.)

I really only used the fly in the open pools and managed a hand full of little ones. Still great fun to watch them take the dry as it hits the water though.

I kept some for the smoker and headed home for a 5pm homecoming.

[deanoski]

some really nice fish there cant wait to get up the coxs on the weekend well done

[J Hooked]

Well done on your catch! I haven't been to the coxs in over 5 years, nor fished in fresh water in that time as well. I must plan a trip.

[luderick -angler]

Very nice I think I may know thta stretch of the river!!! Heading up the Turon in a week for closing weekend to camp shes going to be cold but worth it and this bit of rain should get a few spawners running for the upper reaches.

[shred]

beautiful. might have to head up there one day this week

[arpie]

AWESOM session!! How lucky are YOU to have access to such pristine waters!! Bad luck, dropping the biggies! Ne'er mind, they are territorial & you know where they live!!

Funny about that big brown not interested in anything ..... I was in NZ fishing Lake Tarawera & right in the shallows, there were a couple of good sized fish, doing (I now assume) a mating dance! They weren't interested in anything either!! Other than what they were doing!!

Is that the Cox's that runs into the Lake Lyell? I haven't fished that in 12 years!! A couple of young lads with a 4wd took me to a section that you could almost jump across, yet we caught some whopper trout there - all rainbows!

cheerio & well done - a fantastic day, fishing

Roberta

[daniel944]

I find it interesting how some people on this board take fish and get slammed for it and we have an example here where 4 fish are taken from a river that has fish spawning in it and not a word... Not trying to start WW3, just an observation.

Either way, top catch!

[luderick -angler]

Mate there varied schools of thought on trout the take at costs for a kill, the take a couple for the pan and the c&r guy! I practise 90 percent of time the latter occasionally I'll take a maiden fish for the pan and it depends on the river and the population if its a low population river I tend to release if its a spawning river and if I'm right the angler was below Lake Lyell then go for it as that is an unimpeded stretch to Warragamba andtheres many more runs to come up the river given the forecast weather events and dam level! If its a high population river and the taking of a few fish is done within reason by the majority of anglers it actually creates a healthier population as there a few less fish and more food meaning better than average size trout what you then have to understand is that the angler (not referring to anyone here to clarify using the term to refer to humans) doe not take and kill these at all costs! Hence the I like the New Zealand system of a a two fish per day minimum size eg 300mm max size 550mm on some rivers and once you have your two fish you must leave the river and stop fishing encourages a lot of c&r but also allows for a feed and a very good system.

I hope this helps put in perspective why people do and do not take trout.

Also have to add Mr Rob is well within his catch qouta for that river. People get slammed for taking what is seen as excess fish but on the flip side even so as long as they are within a bag and size limit who are we to judge???? Maybe the yare feeding extendedfamily who knows if I do take and have done so at times and posted a big bag I usually clarify I am feeding Mum, myself, the neighbour and then theres my fishing buddy doing the same so a bag of a dozen fish really does get spread around!

Edited June 5, 2012 by luderick -angler

[Blood Knot]

Mate there varied schools of thought on trout the take at costs for a kill, the take a couple for the pan and the c&r guy! I practise 90 percent of time the latter occasionally I'll take a maiden fish for the pan and it depends on the river and the population if its a low population river I tend to release if its a spawning river and if I'm right the angler was below Lake Lyell then go for it as that is an unimpeded stretch to Warragamba andtheres many more runs to come up the river given the forecast weather events and dam level! If its a high population river and the taking of a few fish is done within reason by the majority of anglers it actually creates a healthier population as there a few less fish and more food meaning better than average size trout what you then have to understand is that the angler (not referring to anyone here to clarify using the term to refer to humans) doe not take and kill these at all costs! Hence the I like the New Zealand system of a a two fish per day minimum size eg 300mm max size 550mm on some rivers and once you have your two fish you must leave the river and stop fishing encourages a lot of c&r but also allows for a feed and a very good system.

I hope this helps put in perspective why people do and do not take trout.

Also have to add Mr Rob is well within his catch qouta for that river. People get slammed for taking what is seen as excess fish but on the flip side even so as long as they are within a bag and size limit who are we to judge???? Maybe the yare feeding extendedfamily who knows if I do take and have done so at times and posted a big bag I usually clarify I am feeding Mum, myself, the neighbour and then theres my fishing buddy doing the same so a bag of a dozen fish really does get spread around!

Nicely answered Luderick angler

Hope this is the end of this subject.

Blood Knot

[shak4g63]

Wow, now that's a post! Goes to show you can catch your fish and eat it too! Or was that cake I think it's bed time for me! Nice trout by the way.

[Mr Rob]

I find it interesting how some people on this board take fish and get slammed for it and we have an example here where 4 fish are taken from a river that has fish spawning in it and not a word... Not trying to start WW3, just an observation.

Either way, top catch!

Hi Dan

I understand your frustrations with some aspects of this site but please post them elsewhere.

In my defence, this was my first take this season. Spawning or not it is within my rights at this time of year to keep the number of fish you question. (No wrong doing here)

Normally i return most of my fish to the water however on this occasion i wished to keep some for a party i was having the next day. I can assure you there was no wastage.

Given the 100 or so fish i could have removed from the river this year i don’t think 4 will cause to much harm. And on that note, the Cox’s is in the best shape that i have seen for the past 20 years. Me of all people have the upmost respect for this system and would do nothing to harm it.

No offence taken but thought i might clear this up.

Rob

[Catchin Jack]

Nice photos and some great looking fish mate.

I think you deserve that feed haha.

[Bald one]

Well within his bag limit

responsible fishman i say.

[luderick -angler]

i'd also have to agree with MR ROB this river has never looked so good since late 90's early 2000's the four to five wet years we've had has encouraged recruitment into this system via wild fish from Warragamaba, Lyell and Wallace in the respective stretches between these impoundments, to understand trout particuarly Californian steelhead bows which these are one should look at the Taupo fishery they use the lakes as the ocean and the whe nit rains and the water temp drops it triggers a spawn run given the huge numbers in Warragamba and the recent rains over the years this river has really recovered a few of these spawners will become resident with the rest recovering pre early season and returningto the dams deeper waters as summer encroaches to fed and put on weight, its worth reading Brendan Matthews volcanic trout and keeping up to date wit hthe comments from the boys at Sporting Life Turangi as this gives a great insight into trout behaviour, another aspect of knocking a few on the head it allows for the recovery of the endangered river blackfish and macquarie perch in this stretch! MR ROB any eggs or milk in the fish and did you check the stomach contents out of curiosity

Edited June 5, 2012 by luderick -angler

[daniel944]

Hi Rob

I have no problem at all with you taking those fish, I would have also.

Daniel