Land of the long rainbow trout
COLOSSAL trout are to be caught from the Twizel and Tekapo canals on New Zealand’s South Island, their size being attributed to easy pickings on the feed overflow from salmon farms within these same waters.
Naturally, these locations have attracted anglers from far and wide, including Geelong, and from where — under the expert guidance of Graham Edridge — local anglers Trevor Holmes, Michael Evans and Bjorn Mair have just returned with numerous photos of the fish they caught.
Arriving at Tekapo last Tuesday on dark, they began fishing immediately, continuing for the next couple of days for a total of 44 fish, some over 10kg — the highlight being Trevor’s 12.2kg rainbow that led him on a merry dance for over an hour before it was released to fight another day.
FRESHWATER
Kevin Wild of Maryborough took a run out to Lake Tullaroop on Sunday where his friend Trevor Perry, who was fishing nearby, caught a brown trout measuring 60cm.
Although there were fish rising everywhere in the calm water, most were out of casting range, a difficulty that wasn’t encountered by several fly fishermen who’d caught several from a daybreak rise near the bank that morning.
In Western Victoria, John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that good-sized brown trout are still on offer at Lake Purrumbete with Charlie Farrugia of Oaklands Junction catching one of 2.3kg on a bibbed, minnowtype lure.
Rainbow trout in a variety of sizes have also been caught, said John, with Trevor Brown among the many catching fish to a kilogram or so on mudeyes fished beneath a float.
PORTLAND
Bob McPherson reports that while tuna are still present offshore, most are juveniles.
But on Wednesday, Bruce Robertson, Colin McLoughlin and Adrian Jenkins caught one of 120kg from 65 metres of water south of Lawrence Rock. The lure used was a small purple Jet-head, undoubtedly more suited to the smaller fish most anglers currently expect to catch.
However, more big fish have been caught since, on Saturday in particular when several tuna to 114kg were taken, the most productive area being in around 50 metres of water off Cape Bridgewater
CONRAD ASKS:
Geoff, do you know if anything is to be done about the state of the boat ramp and associated pontoons at Lake Bullen Merri? They have been stormdamaged to the extent they are beyond any measure of safe use.
Conrad, among others, I wrote to Jaala Pulford, State Member for Western Victoria, about this matter and can now quote the following portion of a June 28 media release:
“Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford today announced up to $15,000 through the Labor Government’s Target One Million plan to repair the storm-damaged boat ramp at Lake Bullen Merri.
“The Lake Bullen Merri South Beach Foreshore Committee of Management will oversee the repairs to ensure the ramp remains safe and open for recreational anglers.
“The funding is on top of $10,000 already provided for the development of a new boat launching facility to cater for growing use.”