The bass have schooled up at Clarrie but they have other things on their minds. But there’s always a few around the edges looking for a feed.

Fly fishing is great for the mind, body & spirit so no wonder more & more folks are giving it a go! The shores of Clarrie Hall Dam offer the perfect platform to learn to cast a fly and the scenery makes for a pretty special day.

Gisella & Clayton joined us today to learn the art of fly casting. After a bit of practice waving the ‘wand’ it wasn’t long before they were casting tight loops into the winter air. With their new skills in hand, we headed out onto the lake in the boat. We soon found some nice weed beds where the sun had warmed the water. The sounder lit up with bass milling around the edges of the weed.

The couple took turns on the casting platform and were successful in presenting the fly to a number of cruising bass. A twitch in the line indicated that a fish took a liking to Gisella’s fly, but the fish spat the hook before the strike set home. Clarrie bass can be challenging at the best of times when using conventional fishing gear, but with fly gear the challenges are multiplied.

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Anyone can catch fish by drowning a bunch of worms or a pilchard, but lure and fly fishing adds a challenge to the hunt that makes the rewards much more special. Especially when you’re fishing in the beautiful Northern Rivers. Although the fish eluded us today, a great day was had by all.

If you would like to learn the art of fly fishing, contact Simon on 0409 760 380