But record breaking floods in that region meant roads had been cut and streams in full, raging flood. The caravan park where we were to stay had been evacuated and emergency services advised against travel in those areas. Great disappointment...
Time for plan B.
We decided to head west and explore areas that we'd heard and read about as well as drop into some known spots.
Day one saw us pull out of Melbourne's city limits and with the Woo-Hoo Mobile pointed west, our journey began.
Great way to spend the day!
Day Two was full of surprises. We strung up our 6wts, the orginal two rods that we made as prototypes a few years ago before we launched HCE. Man, have they done some serious work and wow, they are still going strong - the cork looks tired but water, sun, salt and a million casts will eventually take its toll.
Tony was first to get a fish on the board with a nice, gloriously marked brown.
Then we started to hook bream and even some small Australian Salmon!
Solid blue-nose! |
But when we finally won our passage,
that first glimpse of water was both very pleasing and gratifying.
Perfect, pristine twig water...
Choosing the next dry... |
Really? |
Great looking stream, a few fish about too. Low water again meant spooky fish but the scenery again made everything worthwhile.
Tony was driving the Retro Spec 3wt & was roll casting 30' with unerring accuracy and again it's delicate casting and gentle, refined action made it a joy to use. This is, simply, and I know I've said this before, the best light stream rod ever. Full stop. Regardless, I was loving the Evo Spec 3wt - a great point & shoot twig that excels when conditions get too tough.
Twiggy pocket water |
Snake? Nope, eel! |
Day Four we hit the Aire below the highway bridge and got into a few nice bream before we moved off to catch up with good friend and customer, JJ.
We hiked into a secret, ultra twiggy spot that was populated with very wary, small mountain browns - they wore dainty spots that could have been air brushed on with a template.
No room to cast, bow and arrow with the occasional roll cast was the order of the afternoon.
Tight country: bow and arrow casts only! |
teasing the trout |
We looked at another little meadow stream which had a few trout which interested us but another called...
As the tide turned to flow out in the late afternoon, the tannin stained river water slid out the mouth. We fished over the weed beds near a drop off and had a great afternoon session off the sand.
Some shots from today...