Mayflies and gum beetles have been the theme of December so far, along with sub-tropical low pressure systems and lots of easterlies! This has meant lots of rain in the east, and really good flows (sometimes too high!) down the two Esk rivers, and the granite streams. Snowflake caddis falls have been brilliant. The Mersey has also seen big rises most weeks, and has fished best on rising-levels and featured morning and late afternoon hatches. Brumbys on the otherhand has had great levels, but was slow for Simone and I the other day, with little insect or fish movement during a short drift (once again this can be common during periods of lower pressure troughs). Our highlight has been the creeks, with some great fish coming to the dry fly (modified Coachman and Bruisers Bugs).
Peter and I spent a morning in the Western Lakes chasing tails this week, and found fish tailing for tadpoles, and more than happy to take a dry. The gum beetles from earlier in the month have slowed down, but there are plenty of duns and still the odd stonefly. We’d say that water levels in the back lakes are slightly higher than normal for early Summer, and the fish condition is great with an excellent mix of younger and older prime fish; Most of the older, potentially slabby fish have died off during the last winter which had harsher than normal spawning conditions so we are set for a good few seasons of fish size.
On the hydro lakes Little Pine and Woods are producing consistently with good hatches and great fish, while Pine Tier and Penstock have been popular on the windy days. Great Lake has been tough in the easterly weather, but fish condition and levels are good. Arthurs has even been producing fish in patches, all in excellent condition.
A big thanks to all of our customers new and old, and have a very happy Christmas and New Year. Dan, Simone and the RiverFly team.
Looking for rises, Brumbys Creek