If you’ve performed the above steps with care, it shouldn’t need too long at all to regain its senses and swim off strongly – but if it’s looking a little stressed or exhausted, support it for as long as it needs before it can move freely under its own steam.Above all else, get out there and keep on trying. Anyway, wishing you the best and thanks again. And it goes without saying – if you ever feel like wetting a line, just say the word!I live up in the wills north of Traralgon, and i suppose i’m a little spoilt for choice with the Thompson, Tyers and Morwell rivers very close by. It was my first really “successful” outing. Lighter leaders and tippets are much less visible to trout, and since we’re only targeting small fish, we don’t need to worry too much about their breaking strength. $499.95. Awesome stuff and fingers crossed, will help over the next few months.Cheers Shaun, and best of luck – make sure you let us know how you go!I agree, mate – I’m considering learning this hobby and your article has helped a lot.I’ve lure fish for trout in a number of the rivers you mentioned and love exploring new water.Thanks for the kind words, Andrew – and best of luck exploring. That being said, if you venture out over summer, then wet-wading is often the more comfortable, less sweltering choice – in which case a pair of boardshorts and some beaten-up old Dunlop Volleys will be more than sufficient.The flies which tend to work best for our style of small-stream fishing are almost always In my experience, some of the more effective attractors for Australian water include:That’s by no means an exhaustive list, and you can (and should) experiment with other patterns; but I’d definitely be confident of catching a trout on any or all of the above flies. There’s no need to rock the trout back and forth in the current, in fact doing so may actually be harmful.
As for lakes around Melbourne, I’m not much of a lake aficionado myself either – still very much learning that side of things. Furthermore, I’ve noticed no real difference in retention rates on barbed hooks as opposed to barbless hooks. I must admit, there hadn’t been too many sessions but I finally got time to hit the Steavenson river and as I explained to my mate, it may have cost many hours and money on new equipment but a 20cm trout has never made me happier!
... Melbourne, VIC, 3000 ... AUSTRALIA'S PREMIER FLY SHOP SINCE 1967. I have been a bumbling beginner fly fisher for much longer than I care to admit, settling in to just enjoying my time in gorgeous locations rather than endeavouring to actually catch anything……However your site changed my approach in the last few weeks, and in just my second trip out this season (yesterday) I caught the most beautiful brown trout, my very first!!! The Steavenson River provides arguably the best fly fishing within two hours' drive of Melbourne.
Also hope there’s still some water flowing come the new year… everything’s looking worryingly low right now.Great stuff Tim, I’ve only just found your site tonight – great articles, advice and images – Thanks.G’day Josh, and thank you for reading! Only two or three in total, I think, but I must have missed half a dozen more little browns who were too quick for me on the strike.