WFFC Summer 2014 Newsletter

WANGARATTA FLY FISHING CLUB inc
NEWSLETTER
PRESIDENT
Steve Sherratt
VICE PRESIDENT
Dave Townsend
SECRETARY
Ray Beavis
TREASURER
Chris Beilby
EDITOR
Greg Wood
LIFE MEMBERS
Vern Deprada (dec.)
Dig Lazarotto (dec.)
Enid McKenzie
Ray Beavis
CLUB MEETINGS
First Wednesday of the Month
The Log Cabin, 28 Chisholm St, Wangaratta 7-30pm
EMAIL
Email the Club
ray.beavis@roads.vic.gov.au
Editorial
Welcome to the summer edition of the 2014 Wangaratta Fly Fishing Club newsletter. It appears that
the fishing around the North East of Victoria and Southern New South Wales has started this season
how it finished last season – tough. It takes a little bit more mental justification to put off the chores
and family commitments to go fishing for the day, when expectations of catching reasonable
numbers of fish are low. I still go fishing as it doesn’t take me much persuasion to convince myself
that a day on the water is better than chores around the house.
The fires at Harriettville this year have had a detrimental effect on the fish population in the Ovens
River. The river ran black after the rains with all the ash being washed into the river and continued to
be heavily discoloured for months. Whatever numbers of trout survived the commorants were
finished off by the ash laden water. The Ovens River will take a few years to recover and the fish to
return before it will be an angling option.
Our President Steve Sherratt had a medical set back a couple of months ago. This has limited his
involvement in some club activities recently. I know Steve has his recovery target set on fishing in
New Zealand in February 2014 with three other club miscreants. Best wishes on a speedy recovery.
The breweries in NZ are depending on your attendance for their yearly profits.
One of the club stalwarts in Darren Asquith has ventured into sales of fly fishing equipment, flies and
paraphernalia. This is to compliment his guiding operation he runs in conjunction with Dave and
Dion. I encourage all members to discuss your needs with Darren and compare his prices and level of
service with your usual suppliers. If we want to have items stocked locally then we must support the
local agents. This also applies to the local and “in country” businesses that support the club every
year at the Annual Dinner. Ray you must remember to hit Darren up for a donation at the annual
dinner next year now for both the newsagency and the tackle sales business!!!
So far this season the club has conducted a few events.
We successfully ran another Introduction to Fly Fishing course at the Centre with eleven course
participants. It was pleasing to see a good mix of females amongst the participant numbers this year.
At the conclusion of the course we offered the club services of “one on one” on the water tuition.
We had the Annual Dinner at the Wangaratta RSL in October which was well attended where I am
sure a few tall tales were told and retold. We received donations from many companies and
individuals that are listed in the report on the dinner. A big thank you goes to donors whom help
make the night a success. Please support the companies that support us.
The club held a trip to the Buckland River where the fishing was hard but was a great trip socially.
The fires at Harrietville earlier in the year also burnt into the head waters of the Buckland which
may have affected the fish numbers like they have on the Ovens River. A couple more ventures on
the Buckland will determine the viability of fishing this water this season.
The annual trip to the snowy mountains in NSW was held in November. The club booked a two
storey house at East Jindabyne that slept 14 comfortably. The views over the lake were spectacular
each morning, even if the eyes were a bit weary from the nights beforehand. Early mornings and late
nights were the norm, with all options exhausted to catch a fish. Mike took on the catering duties
solo this year with the absence of his helper Gary and Chris relishing on past glories. Plenty of
delicious food was dished up at every meal which included roast lamb, homemade lasagna, rolled
pork, fattening sweets as well as the usual breakfasts of hash browns, mushrooms, bacon and eggs.
The height of the catering bar is being raised every year with the pressure now on for next year’s
catering officer.
The club continues to run the Bunnings BBQ when we have the opportunity. This raises funds so that
we can subsidise the annual snowy mountains trips. It is important that we all help out manning the
bbq’s to share the load and not rely on the same few every time. Remember we all benefit from
these fundraisers.
The club’s new website is http://wangflyfishingclub.weebly.com/ and the facebook page is
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wangaratta-Fly-Fishing-Club/519396824802778
Remember that the more you put into the club the more you will get out of it. Watching others,
discussing techniques and hearing about what is new can help you become a better angler, just as
much as casting practice in the park.
Have a merry and safe Christmas break and see you all next year.
Cheers
Ed.
A Nariel brown with a penchant for a North East Special
BUCKLAND OCTOBER 2013 TRIP REPORT
By
Gary Scholz
The Friday of this weekend saw Greg Wood and Chris Beilby get the drop on all of us, by going up to
the camp site on the Friday, thanks for taking the club trailer lads. Their efforts did not yield a fish
that I am aware of, I didn’t get the chance to talk to them on the Saturday as Ray and I fished part of
the Buffalo river in the morning and then went to meet with our two new lady members, Penny and
Seona. We separated at a reasonable part of the river, Ray coaching Seona and myself with Penny.
After a while Penny was casting quite well and her roll casting was something to be seen after just a
short tuition period, well done to both ladies. Just keep practising girls. Ray and I didn’t see a fish in
the session before we caught up with the girls. Later we fished the top section of the Buckland at the
creek and again I only saw one fish. It was about sixteen inches long, and Ray was casting to a very
difficult piece of water. Just as he was lifting the line to recast, I saw the fish and was too slow to call
out, as the fish had seen the nymph and was heading towards it. The fish then saw the nymph
disappear into the sky above. The fish was in an unusual lie with its tail at ninety degrees to the
bank. When we arrived at the camp the total all round was zero caught. The trip saw Blair Webb ,
Mark Webb, and Blairs guest Darren Smith, attend as well as the aforementioned, all enjoyed a few
quiet ales as we waited for dinner to be ready. Tonight’s feast was roast chicken and vegetables
consisting of roast beetroot (a first for some), potatoes, sweet potato, fennel, and followed by apple
pie and cream, and a few more refreshments.
Breakfast was the usual feast of eggs, bacon, sausages and toast (strange some people only eat
bread from the third slice onwards in the loaf, a new phenomenon for me )
Disappointing from the fishing front but very entertaining from the deer hunting perspective. We
encountered some fairly maverick hunters from my and a few others standard of the sport. They
were equipped with radios and a very voluptuous gun bearer, came roaring into camp in the trusty
Toyota, bounded out the driver’s seat rifle in hand and cocked ready to fire, and asked did we see
the deer? Yes I replied there was a stag and a doe. Was he a thirty incher? Absolutely I replied, and
off they scurried, they did get the doe but not the thirty incher. The area was fairly heavily populated
with people, and I felt a little more due care in regard to firearms would have been in order. With
the number of people there camping, I don’t think that had any major bearing on the lack of fish.
The cormorant cloud that Ray and I saw on the way home, when we fished the river at Boynton’s
winery, had a greater impact to my mind regarding fish numbers. But great to get away for a
weekend of camaraderie.
WFFC 2013 ANNUAL DINNER REPORT
By
Ray Beavis
A change of venue for 2013 due to the unfortunate fire at the King River Cafe, saw members and
guests of the Wangaratta Fly Fishing Club gather at the Wangaratta RSL. Seated amongst the
memorabilia from past wars somehow didn’t feel out of place for a club formed in the late 1940’s by
keen fly fishers, many of whom served in the Services. MC Dave Townsend kicked off the night
welcoming members and guests, including members of Greenwells Club who had travelled down to
Wangaratta for the dinner. This was followed by Steve Sherratt’s President’s report. Steve thanked
the Committee for their efforts, and spoke about the highlights of the past twelve months and a
vision for the Club into the future.
The night is a good opportunity to catch up with members and partners, and reminisce about the
past season (with the digital “photo display” reminding diners of some memorable moments). But
the Dinner has some formal awards to be made and after desserts, Steve announced that Darren
Asquith was the 2013 recipient of the Vern Deprada award for his outstanding efforts in bringing the
Club into the 21st century, with the launching of both the Club’s new website and Facebook page.
It was now getting to the feature of the Dinner, the annual raffle. Once again donors to the Club had
been generous, and the range of prizes was great. As a consequence the ticket sellers had no
problem off loading a large number of tickets. While the tickets were being sold, John Hawkins and
Brian Clyde from Greenwell’s were invited to judge the flies for the fly tying competition. Five entries
of a high calibre tested the judges but there can only be one winner. Darren’s version of a para
adams, hares ear nymph and mudeye were judged to be the best overall and was awarded the
perpetual fly tying trophy (straight to the “Pool Room” for twelve months).
Dave and Steve conducted an entertaining raffle with some members being particularly lucky but
overall a good spread of prizes around the room. The Greenwell’s guys got a reasonable load of
“booty” to take back across the border, including the much coveted “Mystery Prize”, still in its
original silver wrapping - Brian Clyde amazingly had the winning ticket - some guys have all the
“luck”.
With the “formalities” over, members and guests continued to socialise and enjoy the night. The
2013 Dinner was another memorable night and is a Club event that shouldn’t be missed in 2014.
Raffle Table Donors: Adventure Camping & Fishing, Wangaratta; Newspower, Benalla Newsagency (Darren &
Vikki Asquith); Flylife Publishing; Greenwells Fly Fishing Club; J.K Importers; Wangaratta Engineering (Chris
& Kath Beilby); Ray & Bev Beavis; Graham Gibb; Gary Scholz; Steve Sherratt; Arthur Spink; Dave & Bronwyn
Townsend; Blair & Michelle Webb; (and apologies if I’ve missed any donors).
John Hawkins judging the fly tying competition.
MC Dave Townsend awarding Darren Asquith
the perpetual fly tying trophy for 2013.
JINDABYNE NOVEMBER 2013 TRIP REPORT
By
Mike Glenister
Friday November 16, 2013. On the way up toward Jindabyne ……Weather overcast with a threat of
rain. Ray and Chris had a look at the Thredbo below the bridge… nothing doing. Greg showed Mike
the Thredbo at “The Diggings”. Lovely spot, just a couple of people camping and a stores drop for a
Melbourne Grammar hiking group. No fish caught but one pricked. We went down a bit and waded
up the Thredbo again just downstream of the Ski Tube rail bridge. Lovely water, but no interest from
the trout. Frank on the other hand had a look at the Eucumbene River behind Sawyer’s hut, and then
again at Providence flats, landed a 1 1/2lb brown. The team’s duck was broken !!!! We all got
together at the spacious accommodation, and enjoyed a lovely lasagna with salad for dinner. The
rain set in just on dusk, and kept going. One report said 40mm overnight.
Saturday was again overcast. Some of the gang tried for the early morning rise on the lake, but no
real showing. Chris and Ray set off for the National Park, and fished the Snowy on the way to
Guthega pondage. The pondage was very low… again no bites. They tried trekking to Illawong
Bridge… slow going and a long way back to the car. Mike and Frank went with Greg to the
Moonbah.. Up 3 cattle grids from the Moonbah church. We dropped Frank to work his way
upstream, and we drove further and worked up from the car. Lovely open snowgrass country, but
the rain had brought the streams well up. Good looking water, but no fish. No cormorants, either.
After lunch we packed up our gear and headed up into the park and ran into the others at Guthega.
Greg and Frank tried their luck in the Snowy at the back of Island Bend pondage. Snowy by name and
icy by nature!!!! After a cleansing ale back at the house late afternoon, we went down to the lake in
the hour before sunset. Small rise of mayflies just on dusk right in front of where Ray was casting,
and right on dark reliable Ray hooked one. Reached for his net only to find it wasn’t there! Oops.
Nevertheless he managed to land it!!! 2 in the hand in 2 days!!! The spirits were low!!!! Dinner of
roast butterflied lamb with lots of roast veggies followed by cheesecake and ice-cream helped to
sooth our battered egos
!!!
Ray with a Jindabyne brown
Waiting for the rise
Sunday dawned quite clear and bright.
Chris and Ray headed off to try the Thredbo below Ngarigo camping ground then above the village.
Nothing doing, so they pushed on to Dead Horse Gap. In the afternoon they came back to the lake
and polaroided around Hatchery Bay. Saw some nice fish patrolling the weed bed edges, but no
takes, despite lots of fly changes. Greg, Frank and Mike drove out the to the Gungarlin River camping
area. Lots of Roos and black wallabies in the bush beside the track which runs under the power lines.
We worked our way a few Kms upstream, open country changing from low ti-tree to snowgrass
plains. Beautiful water, but flowing a bit hard. Back at the bridge there were a few mayflies visible on
the water, and a couple of very small trout were starting to rise to them. No interest in our
offerings!!!! We drove out, and did a tourist run to look at the Eucumbene dam wall. Back at the
house, there was just time for a few more ales to build our spirits. Down to the lake just before dark.
Magnificent sunset, lovely reflections on the water, but no evening rise!!!! Dinner was roast pork
with apple sauce and fried rice. Tried to clean up the rest of the ice-cream with tinned apricots for
sweets, but we just weren’t in the mood. Long faces all round.
Monday woke to a bright day with a long white cloud sitting on the water… nearly NZ !!!! We
packed up and headed down the mountain. Greg and Mike went well up the Nariel to get away from
other anglers. FISH AT LAST !!!!!! Greg ended up with 6 in hand taken on the old reliable North east
Special.… all returned to the stream to be bigger for next year!!! Chris and Ray also fished the Nariel
lower down and got 4 between them. As we picked up signal, we got a text from Frank who had
turned off up the Thowgla, …….indicting that his Mojo was back as well ……with 5 10-12” trout ,taken
on a stimulator and a Webby Special. All got home safely after a lovely time away. We certainly saw
lots of lovely country on the roof of Australia. Final count seems to have been 18 fish landed, a few
more pricked or lost ….
This time the fish were clearly in front, but there’s always another day……And another trip……………
……… to a river somewhere……
Fly Tying
Some flies for Summer to cast around in the hot weather.
Parachute Adams
Hook: Size 12 – 14 Dry fly hook
Thread: Black 6/0
Tail: Hackle fibres or micro fibbets
Post: White antron, calf tail or foam
Body: Grey dubbing
Hackle: Grizzly/brown parachute style
Elk Hair Caddis
Hook: Size 12 – 14 Dry fly hook
Thread: Black or Green 6/0
Body: Green superfine dubbing
Wing: Elk hair bleached or natural
Hackle: Ginger palmered
A Few Rivers Somewhere
By Greg Wood
Some photos of rivers and streams that have been fished this season with varying success by club
members. Still a little early for the alpine waters to gauge how well they will fish this season.
Buckland River
Snowy River
Upper Snowy River
Moonbah River
Thredbo River
Gungarlin River
West Branch King River
Nariel river
Wangaratta Fly Fishing Club
Club Planner 2014
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
18th & 19th
5th
22nd & 23rd
5th
22nd & 23rd
2nd
12th & 13th
7th
24th & 25th
4th
21st
2nd
6th
9th & 10th
3rd
6th
10th, 17th &
24th
1st
11th & 12th
24th
5th
28th to 1st
3rd
Jamieson Trip
General Meeting – Banks of Ovens River @ Whorouly
High Country fishing trip
General Meeting – Log Cabin
Family trip to Porepunkah
General Meeting – Log Cabin
Trip to Mitta Mitta River
General Meeting – Log Cabin
Trip to Tumut River with Greenwells Fly Fishing Club
General Meeting – Log Cabin
Day Trip to Eildon Pondage
General Meeting – Log Cabin
Annual General Meeting – Log Cabin
Winter Fly Fishing Trip
General Meeting – Log Cabin
Opening Weekend
Introduction to Fly Fishing Course
Casting day on 14th at 10am
General Meeting – Log Cabin
Trip to Buckland River
WFFC Annual Dinner
General Meeting – Log Cabin
Trip to Lake Eucumbene
Christmas BBQ and Meeting
Bunnings BBQ November
Wangaratta Fly Fishing Club Annual Dinner Sponsors
Members are reminded to support the businesses that support our club. Below is a list of businesses
that donated prizes to our 2013 Annual Dinner. Our appreciation and thanks goes to