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Description   Fly Fishing Australia wilderness streams horseback

Description of Active Adventure

GOULBURN RIVER
Fly fish the magnificent Goulburn River and its tributaries! The Goulburn Valley is like a giant hand, complete with its five fingers - the palm of hand is Lake Eildon, into which flow its five major rivers - the Howqua, Delatite, Jaimeson, Upper Goulburn and Big Rivers. These rivers are all significant fly fishing waters, and their combined waters are impounded behind the worlds largest earth-fill dam, creating Lake Eildon, also a trout fishery.
The water is released down the mid-Goulburn River, creating a tail-water which produces excellent fly fishing for Brown and Rainbow Trout.
In our summer (Dec-Feb), the river flows at maximum level for irrigation purposes, and the water is very cold, making the fish highly energized. A two-pound trout pulls like a 6-lber from any lake!
The angler can stalk the banks, looking into the countless willows, flooded ditches and weedy hollows for large trout that hug the banks during these periods of high flow. They can be polaroided and ambushed with a dry or nymph. Grasshoppers also keep the fish close to the banks, and a well-placed hopper is often the key to bringing a large Brown to the net.
When the water is lower, almost the entire river is wadeable. Good hatches of mayfly and caddis keep the fish on the surface at all times from October through to April. A wide variety of insects include some 7 species, and 6 caddis species.

Anglers can also drift this magnificent water in our 14' raft, enjoying a great day on the water, stopping at one of the islands for lunch break.

A typical fish in this river ranges from 12" to 18", with good numbers of larger fish up to 26". Natural recruitment keeps the numbers at an optimum level.

Although this can be challenging water, anglers of all skill levels can enjoy this river, especially during summer when the largest numbers of insects are available to the fish.
Early and late season wet-fly fishing can also yield some excellent fish - our browns spawn in April/May, rainbows in July/August.

HIGH COUNTRY
Escape the to the pristine wilderness that is Victoria's high country - fishing above the snow line in spring, summer and autumn. Choose from either 4x4 based or horseback based fly fishing adventures in some of the most beautiful stream country found anywhere.
Good insect hatches, lack of crowds, great food at riverside accommodation, great hospitality, wildlife, trout, clean air, clean water.

DEER HUNTING
Enquire about our deer hunting opportunities. Hunt for the elusive Sambar, known worldwide as one of the top 5 huntable deer species in the world. A big Sambar stag can weigh in at 800lbs and score 220+ Douglas points. Stalking only.

Typical Day

A typical day (Oct/Nov) starts at 9am, parking at one of the bridges and inspecting the water right there. One of the great things about fishing here is that angler numbers are nothing like in the US! Expect to see no more anglers than you have fingers, usually a lot less, despite being only 2.5 hours from Melbourne.
I have frequently had my clients engage great fishing right by the bridge and not have had to move all morning! Same some evenings.
The river is lined with a mix of willows and native eucalypts and shrubs, offering plenty of cover. Start polaroiding immediately, looking in every close-in place where a fish could laze or drift - usually a fish is found straight off.
This water often challenges the most competent anglers, so don't expect the fishing to be too easy. On the other hand, sometimes a trophy can literally fall into your lap. That's the beauty of fishing, worldwide.
Start walking downstream, keeping back from the water, looking for bank huggers, noting location and activity. Stop after 500 yds and work back over the ones you located. By now it's lunchtime, and you've released four good fish between 12" and 16", and maybe missed a lunker of 20" or more - but he'll keep til after lunch.

After a relaxing bankside lunch of fresh filled rolls (prime aussie pasture-fed beef and chicken), great coffee or cold drink, and some sweet nibbly's, it's back to business.

Straight back to the one you missed - maybe you win, maybe he does ....

But on further downstream, this time wading across a thigh-deep riffle where the guide spotted some subtle surface sippers, indicating a likely Olive hatch. On with a #18 BWO or Pale Watery Dun, and into a frenetic hour of catch & release with mostly rainbows that average 12", but there was one lovely fish that took you way downstream and tied you up in some weed til the leader gave way - looked maybe 17" or better. You'll be back.

Back on the bank and peeking in among the willows your guide locates a fabulous opportunity - a fat brown that might go 3lb or more - sitting in the mottled sunlight, probably digesting a gutful of mayflies or nymphs. The guide sets you up to ambush this porky little guy, and you spend almost an hour on this fish before he finally slurps your emerging dun pattern, and the next ten minutes expand into a lifetime as he thrashes and runs in and out of a tangle of willow branches and roots, but finally there you are - grinning like an ape, holding your prize aloft, knowing your friends back home aren't going to take your word that you netted a 4.5 lb brown from this river, so you almost x-ray the fish with photos before the guide insists you put it back in the river before it expires! What a rush!
This calls for a short break while you have a fruit juice and re-live the moment and get your breath back. The guide used a digital camera, so you also spend some time going through the photos your friends will see, and one stands out as a real beaut - this will be framed for home display. Prime spot in the den.

The rest of the afternoon seems to drag as the hatch slows, and you wonder where the fish have gone. The guide isn't concerned, although he would rather the fish kept feeding on top - he knows they are regrouping for the evening rise.

You head back to the vehicle to do the same thing, as the evening rise will keep you busy for at least two intense hours.
Eventually the sun disappears behind the hills, and the river comes alive with swooping and dipping insects, laying eggs, mating, flying ....
The trout respond, rising rhythmically.
You also respond, casting at what appears to be the largest fish. Suddenly the guide is tugging at your vest - "C'mon, let's head home - it's 9 o'clock, and I gotta do this again tomorrow".
You are unaware that you have just finished one of the most intense evening rises of your life, and that it lasted almost three hours. Three hours during which you caught and released over twenty fish, dropped a dozen others that short-took, and probably made over 200 casts.
The actual fishing is over, but you have the walk back to the car, then the drive back to the lodge ....

Age range, type of group

All group sizes accommodated - no limit, although we prefer smaller groups for the sake of good fishing.
All age groups, Seniors, families accommodated.

Sleeping and meals

Local accommodation - motel, lodge, cabins available.
Self contained or Meals available.

Restrictions

No smoking in accommodation or guides vehicle.
Kids under 13 need to be accompanied by an adult.

Rates

Guding rates -
1 angler $500
2 anglers $350 ea.
3 anglers $275 ea.
4 anglers $240 ea.
Rates include lunch & refreshments.
Tackle & waders supplied if needed.
Tour rates POA

Other Information

Amateur Fishing Licence required $25 per person.Available locally.

Discounts Offered

Book 5 days or longer and receive 5% off all fishing bookings, except for horseback tours.

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Listing Address

Listing Name & Address
Fly Fishing Australia wilderness streams horseback
Flytrek Australia
Goulburn River
Goulburn Valley
Alexandra, Australia 3714
Australia

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