Spring is well underway now.
A few weeks prior to the trip I’ve just returned from, there was snow on the nearby mountains, and most rivers were running a banker; too high to contemplate wading from one side to the other. Even the Goulburn tailwater, often flow-moderated that early in spring, was flowing at 8500 ML/d, thanks to a wholly appropriate (if selfishly inconvenient) environmental water release.
The theme for that trip was early season as it should be: lots of cold water, cold fingers, and every trout a victory.
The upper Goulburn River above Lake Eildon just a few weeks ago - very big and very cold.
The last two days, however, spring has definitely been in the air: trees in blossom, jackets off mid-afternoon, and lots of bug splatter on the car. Still early season certainly, but with on-water expectations up a few notches.
Insects like stoneflies were much more abundant this time.
In this context, it was an enjoyable if unremarkable afternoon yesterday on one of a number of streams JD and I fished in the Goulburn catchment, including the Steavo, Acheron, Rubicon, and of course the big girl herself. We caught a few everywhere we stopped, including on grey mayfly patterns and the ever-reliable green caddis grub.
We had regular success with the dry over the last couple of days.
JD had just landed a nice brown on the dry and missed another, so I suggested I ‘pop down for a look’ at the bend below while he finished his riffle. I was watching a small but appealing pool on the apex of the bend, plotting the best approach through the willow and tea-tree, when a huge trout levitated for a dragonfly right on the boundary between the main current and a small backwater on the opposite bank. It looked like a rainbow to my colour-compromised vision, with a distinctly blueish tinge. Okay, maybe it was a semi-artificial ‘stonker’, but if so, it was a long way from where it was stocked.
I changed to a Living Damsel, crept into position, and pulled it quickly through the zone of the big leaper three times. (Although a wet fly, I find the skinny profile of this pattern can bring a reactive strike from dragonfly leapers on faster streams and backwaters – as good if not better than an imitative dry on these difficult fish.) But nothing. Worried I might have blown my chance, I nevertheless changed back to the moderately successful dry/ dropper (dun/ grub) rig I’d been using earlier.
Some beautiful water earlier in the day.
Fishing with the care and thoroughness – if fading hope – of someone who’s just seen a monster, I worked every inch of water. Just as I got to the very top of the inflowing run, the grey dun dipped, I lifted, and heavy weight thumped back. But not the rainbow! Instead, the unmistakable gold flash of a big brown. The powerful fish briefly played fair by moving steadily upstream, then it suddenly turned and made a beeline for a big willow which blocked half the river below me.
I applied side strain as smoothly as I could, and temporarily slowed the trout as JD (who had recently appeared in response to my excited commentary) pulled out his camera for a possibly award-winning action shot. And then the caddis grub pulled out. Bugger.
Sure, the odds of landing such a fish in such a spot were slim. But hey, I’m only human and I was disappointed. Still am.
Hoping for a second chance on the Goulburn tailwater towards evening.
There was some consolation in a light and patchy Goulburn evening rise (a much more agreeable 3300 ML/d this time).
Something to ease the loss.
And then again today, with a chance at another couple of dragonfly leapers, one of which was a 3 pound brown. This time, the stripped Living Damsel got a great response, except the only one of four trout which stuck was an 11 incher. Redemption will have to wait.
