Put Yourself in This Picture
Bass season begins in September which is the very best time to fish for Australian Bass. Book your fishing trip today with Northern Rivers Sportfishing.
Freezy Peazy
YOU KNOW IT’S FREEZING when you have to chisel the ice from the kayak before heading out fishing!! Despite our frozen toes and our frozen tackle we fished our way through some magnificent Aussie countryside. Big thanks to Harry for showing me around. Glad we didn’t have to amputate any of your toes mate!
#shimanofish #northernriverssportfishing #ozfishunlimited #dahlbergdiverfly #flyfishing
Fish Kill at Clarrie Hall Dam
ON July 5, reports came in of hundreds of dead bass floating belly up at Clarrie Hall Dam. The next day Tweed Shire Council workers confirmed that about 500 Australian bass were found dead. Many keen bass anglers are asking how this ‘fish kill’ happened? And how will it affect the fishing in the dam?
How did it happen?
‘Fish kills’ as the name suggests is just a general term used for the events where a large number of fish have simply died. Many things can cause fish kills such as pollution and temperature spikes, but the most common cause is de-oxygenation of the water.
Dissolved oxygen is naturally stripped from the water during the process of decomposition, which is carried out by millions of microorganisms. These little guys have what’s known as a high oxygen demand, which they need in order to break down organic matter such as dead aquatic vegetation and leaves.
This decomposed matter can accumulate on the lake bed and can become very acidic and the surrounding water can become anoxic (depleted of dissolved oxygen). Many lakes including Clarrie Hall experience a seasonal ‘turn over’ of the different layers of temperature within the water column. During winter, as the water at the surface of a lake cools, it sinks to the bottom of the water column, displacing and overturning the warmer layers below. It is likely this anoxic water has been disturbed and caused the fish kill at Clarrie Hall Dam.
How will it affect the fishing?
These turn over events typically happen in deeper water. So, fortunately, it appears this fish kill has been isolated to a small area in the deepest part of the dam, near the dam wall. The area where the dead fish were found makes up a very small percentage of the dam. But the death of 500 bass is certainly concerning. So, the question is; what percentage of the population has just died?
Clarrie has had some impressive stocking figures over the years. For example, between 2001 and 2009 more than 180,000 bass have been stocked. Even when taking into consideration mortality rates from predators such as birds, other fish and even fisherman, there should be a considerable population of bass left in the dam. So aside from predators, what other factors could affect the survival and therefore the abundance of the stocked bass?
It could be said that the population of any organism is limited by the ‘carrying capacity’ of the environment. In other words, the amount of resources available (food and habitat) that an organism needs to survive, is a limiting factor of the abundance of a species.
At Clarrie Hall Dam I believe the main food source for the bass are firetail gudgeon. These little baitfish are found in nearly every square meter under the lily pads that line the margins of the lake. The lily pads provide the bass with an excess of shelter and endless opportunities to ambush their prey. With no shortage of food and shelter, the bass in Clarrie Hall are fat, fit and healthy.
In these ideal conditions, the likelihood of stocked bass growing out to maturity is better than average. With its plentiful resources, Clarrie Hall has and will continue to support a high stocking density of bass. As such, the recent fish kill is most likely to be a small dent in the overall population of bass at Clarrie Hall Dam.
Click here to read the article on Fishing World.
Read the local news story here https://m.tweeddailynews.com.au/news/fish-kill-raises-stink/3460811/
The Copeton Castathon
Copeton Dam is surely on the bucket list of any serious fisho that targets the big green fish. But like many dams Copeton can be very hard work. Donuts (zero fish) are an all too often story that I hear from anglers. I have certainly had my fair share. Cod are temperamental critters, so they aren’t always willing to eat everything that swims by. So you simply have to be willing to put in the hours. Casting again and again, through the day and into the night. My recent trip to Copeton was very hard work. Three of us fished for as many days and I was the only one to land a fish. But it’s not only about the fishing. Copeton is a magic place full of beauty. And the company was great too. Can’t wait to return.
Dutton Trout Hatchery
I recently visited the Dutton Trout Hatchery in Ebor NSW. Perched among some magnificent country side, Ebor sits about 1,350m above sea level, providing a cool climate all year round that is suitable for trout. The hatchery produces many thousands of brown and rainbow trout each year, all for the purpose of recreational fishing. All trout produced are stocked in rivers and dams across the state. A big thanks to Paul and the crew for showing us around and being the perfect hosts. A special thanks for letting us wet a line in the ponds which are not always open to the public.
Simon Fitzpatrick
From X-Boxes to Tackle Boxes
Fly fishing for Murray cod in skinny waters with good mates, is at the very top of my list of favorite things to do. Although the big fish alluded us this weekend, we had an absolute ball tussling with some feisty little river cod. The Game Changer from Ammo Flies and a T-bone Musky fly were the flavor of the trip. The following day we spent serving the community with some very important work. My first day serving as a Fish Care Volunteer, I had the privilege of teaching 40 kids how to fish!! I have never seen so many smiling faces, tangled lines and enthusiasm all happening at once. Introducing kids to fishing is certainly important work in these times where I hope to see tackle boxes replace X-Boxes. What a great weekend 🙂 – Simon Fitzpatrick
#shimanofishing, #squidgies, #ammoflies, #gamechanger, #tbonefly, #northernriverssportfishing, ##nativewatercraft, #dpifisheries, #fishcare, #murraycodonfly
Trollin, trollin, trollin.
Larry, Logan and Jacob spent some quality time on the water today chasing Australian Bass. The boys persisted throughout the morning casting all types of lures to the edges of the lilies, without so much as a touch. It wasn’t until we switched to trolling that they found some good fish. Bass often only respond to a hand full of techniques on any given day. Cycling through the tackle box using a variety of techniques is key to ‘cracking a pattern’ for that day. Today, the lure of the day was a Jackal Derabreak with a Plazo yellow core paddle tail grub.
Fishing for Canna-bass
Marijuana trees flying through the air are the last thing you expect to see when bass fishing. But when the police find a cannabis crop growing in the forest near the lake, they send in the helicopter to confiscate the hooch.
My fishing companion Harry and I, were enjoying a nice quiet day on the water when the police chopper rudely interrupted our serenity. The aircraft made several trips too and from the crop, carrying its valuable load to police waiting on the other side of the lake. During one of the flights we witnessed a particularly large plant in full bloom tied underneath the chopper. We laughed as we marveled at the ingenuity of the police for creating such an effective cannabis seed sowing machine. Throughout the comedy show we caught plenty of bass. The noise of the chopper didn’t appear to deter the fish from feeding. Perhaps they had the munchies?
Lake Fishing Charter 1st Feb, 2018
The “pressure is on” when one fishing guide hires another fishing guide to go fishing. Especially when the customer is an expert guide such as Rohan Soulsby from Top End Barra Fishing. Rohan operates his charters from Darwin targeting iconic species such as the mighty Barramundi, GT’s, Queenfish and Golden Snapper. So it was fantastic to see Rohan’s enthusiasm and appreciation for our southern native species. Out on the water this morning Rohan connected with plenty of bass, three of which were around the 40cm mark. I felt the pressure easing with each fish that hit the net. Clarrie Hall had done me proud again.
Thanks for a great trip Rohan. I look forward to visiting up your way for a fishing trip soon……no pressure mate 😉
Bass Fishing Trip January 27, 2018
The bass fishing was consistent today with plenty of fish moving around and feeding on the surface. Popping sounds could be heard throughout the morning as the bass inhaled small bait-fish at the surface under the lily pads. Robs small diving minnow lure was certainly the flavor of the morning, drawing at least a dozen strikes from some aggressive fish. Rob managed to stay connected to at least half of them, finishing the morning with a very respectable tally. Thanks Rob for a great bass fishing session!
Clarrie Charter January 8, 2018
Under a cloudless sky and with barely a breath of wind we ventured out onto the mirrored lake. It was hot and still but Feizul and Shane managed to rustle up a few fish. I was surprised to see an Eel Tailed Catfish Tandanus tandanus take a spinnerbait today. Only the second one I have seen at Clarrie Hall to take a lure. The boys also landed a couple of Australian Bass Macquaria novemaculeata. A little different to the Small and Large Mouth Bass they are used to catching back home, but no doubt 2 welcome editions to their new species lists. Thanks for a great day!
Kayak Fishing Charter, January 2, 2018
Despite our early start, our surface lures were not enticing enough to elicit a strike this morning. However we did notice that there were plenty of fish sounding up in certain areas of the dam. It was just a matter of cycling through a variety of baits and presentations to see what would work. Today the bass responded to both hard bodies and soft plastics. Tony did a fantastic job and managed to net 6 nice bass all between 38-42cm. Great stuff!
Bass Fishing Charter, December 22, 2017
An early start saw Conrad and I loading up the kayaks with tackle and disappear onto the lake covered in mist. As usual the bass were feeding early under the cover of the low light conditions. It wasn’t long before Conrad opened his account when a small bass snaffled his shallow running minnow. His very next cast connected with a much bigger specimen. It never ceases to amaze me how hard these fish fight for their size, and the protest this fish put up was no exception to the rule. Once netted the bass measured 42cm to the fork, which is about as big as they grow in this waterway.
Conrad managed to land another bass for the morning before the sun burnt through the mist and penetrated the cool clear water. With no cloud and no wind, conditions were hot and the water was glassy calm. Ideal conditions would include cloud cover and some wind, which tends to bring the fish out from under the security of the lily pads and into the open where they feed in the current. Today, the still conditions provided some truly awe inspiring scenery, but the fish went off the bite. None the less, it was another great morning out on Clarrie Hall.
Clarrie is Looking Good!
The water at Clarrie Hall has now cleared and the dam is now looking fantastic. Much of the cabomba weed is gone which makes the fishing much easier. You can now work your lures right along the edges of the lilies without fear of having the lure covered in weed. The bass could be heard feeding on the surface which makes surface luring around the pads a great option. Today I caught bass hopping a mumbler across the bottom and also found bass by retrieving lipless crankbaits. It is great to see Clarrie firing once again!
The Pink Thing Fly
The pink thing is probably the most famous and successful barramundi fly. But it is also very effective on a host of other species such as pelagics and even Australian bass. For the most part this fly is tied in the original way its inventor Graham White first tied it, with the exception of the Fish Mask head and weedless wire. Graham recognized that by building a thick body of buck tail and a thick pink ‘webby’ collar, the fly will ‘push water.’ This means that fish can better locate the fly in discolored water. Grahams’ pink thing was tied with bead chain eyes but tying with modern materials such as the Fish Mask will surely add more ‘push’ than ever. The wire weed guard means it can be fished right in among the mangrove roots.
Simon Fitzpatrick
Tweed River Charter, October 17, 2017
Patrick and I arrived at the river at 6am just in time to see the first rays of sunlight hit a very coffee coloured looking Tweed River. As is often the case, after a period of 12 weeks without rain the heavens opened up just a few days prior to the trip. The much needed rain had certainly stirred things up and visibility must have been 6 inches at best. Undeterred Patrick worked his fly at all likely looking snags and eventually found a hungry bass that took a liking to his Donny Brasco fly.
Judging by the colour of the water and the amount of rain we received it may take another couple of weeks before things clear up.
Simon
Gone Fishing Day 2017
This year I spent Gone Fishing Day with OzFish Tenterfield who organized a ripper of a day with a tonne of activities. Here is a quick clip I made showing the highlights of the day.
Tweed River Fishing Charter, October 9, 2017
Andrew and I enjoyed a great days fishing the Tweed River for bass. Andrew had never caught a bass before and it wasn’t long before he nailed his first on a cicada surface lure. His second fell for the same trap soon after. As the sun rose we switched to deeper divers and the bass continued to bite. Another 4 or 5 fish were netted before the sun made an appearance from behind the clouds and the bite slowed down. Andrew still managed another couple of bass before we called it a day. Andrew finished the morning with about 8 nice bass and a smile from ear to ear. Thanks for a great day!
Tweed River Charter. Sept 28, 2017
What a great session we had this morning with Ben and Evo landing 3 fat bass each on surface lures and diving minnows. Well done boys!
Tying The Dahlberg Diver Fly
The Dahlberg Diver would have to be my all time favorite fly. Anything that swims and feeds off the surface of the water will be tempted by the Dahlberg. Murray cod, bass, golden perch, saratoga, barrumundi, even turtles and water dragons love this fly.
There are a number of pattern variations of this fly and so it can be tied to imitate a frog, insect, lizard, fish or even a mouse struggling on the water. Retrieving with short sharp strips causes the fly to bloop, leaving a bubble trail in it’s wake. Another retrieve that works well with bass is to just leave the fly sit in one place. Every now and then a little shake of the rod tip causes the fly to vibrate like a cicada caught in the surface tension of the water.
The Dahlberg also has a very good hook up rate. When fish strike surface flies tied with foam, the fly will often bounce away from the fish and fails to hook up. The Dahlberg is made of deer hair which tends to stick to the water and is less buoyant than foam. I believe this helps ensure the fly enters the fishes mouth.
Simon Fitzpatrick
Tying The Donnie Brasco Fly
If you love fly fishing for Australian native fish and are looking for a good fly this spring, look no further than the Donnie Brasco Fly. This is a great all rounder fly for species such as golden perch that school up in our impoundments over springtime. Also with bass season now open, this fly is bound to tempt a bass or two.
This fly can be tied in a variety of sizes. A good starting point for bass and golden perch would be to tie on a 1/0 hook. Larger hooks up to 4/0 would be ideal for Murray cod when summer rolls around. Both the body and tail of the Donnie Brasco Fly consist of rabbit fur. This material is well known for its fish enticing action. When retrieving the fly with short sharp strips, rabbit fur tends to pulsate in the water, closely resembling the movement of a fishes fins.
Black and purple are proven colours when it comes to attracting Australian native fish. By tying on a purple tail and a black body you have a very versatile fly for both clear and turbid water. More often that not I tie in a weed guard too. By tying a double loop weed guard you can work the fly right in among the structure without snagging up too often. The weed guard shown in the video offers good snag resistance whilst collapsing easily when a fish bites.
Tight lines
Simon Fitzpatrick
The Bass Season Has begun!
The bass have started to return to the fresh after their spawning session over winter in the brackish water. I managed to land 4 solid bass and dropped another 3. All on the fly. Book your charter now. Happy days.
August 14 Tweed River Charter
A few bass continue to show up through the month of August. Today Melle and Kim worked their lures diligently along the edges of the snags and were rewarded for their efforts. Another couple of weeks and this freshwater section of the Tweed River will be absolutely teaming with bass as they return from their spawning run. September is the best month for bass fishing by far!!! Now is the time to book your charter.
Clarrie Hall and Tweed River Update
It has now been 4 months since the floods in March and Clarrie Hall Dam is still undergoing some change. The water is still coffee coloured but this will likely have a positive effect on the lake. It could be said that impoundments are in a constant cycle consisting of boom and bust phases. Clarrie Hall is probably in the latter phase now. My theory is that the elevated water levels and turbidity during the floods has cut off the cabomba weeds light source. Subsequently there has been a major die back of this invasive weed. The die off of the weed probably led to more turbidity which in turn caused more weeds to die. A kind of positive feedback loop. Hence 4 months later the dam is still turbid.
The good news is that much of the cabomba weed is now dead. This has exposed the edge of the lily pads making lure fishing a much easier proposition. The die back of the cabomba has also made access easier in a number of places including the boat ramp area which was previously choked with weed. The lily pads have had a bit of a shake up too and now there are gaps between the pads where anglers can swim a bait.
The Tweed River has also undergone some change. There has been some extensive erosion on the river bank where riparian vegetation has been removed for farming…..no surprises there. (River bank planting in these areas is desperately needed to stop erosion and siltation of the river.) However I was very pleased to see numerous new snags in the river. Some of these snags are absolute rippers and will no doubt hold good numbers of bass. On a charter yesterday Dan had some success fishing these snags with a Donny Brasco fly. On a number of occasions the bass appeared to be only sideswiping the fly but Dan managed to connect with a couple of nice fish. When the bass return from their spawning run in September there should be plenty of action to look forward too around these new snags!
