West Coast
WA
Dry, hot summer punishes winter freshwater fish FRESHWATER
Peter Fragomeni
The west coast of Australia experienced one of the driest summers on record and, although the coastal areas remained quite cool, the inland areas were hotter than normal. This is not
of the smallest over there at 366GL. Having said that, it seems that judging by the reports coming in, the fishing has not been that bad with both trout and redfin showing up in a few locations. AUSSIE NATIVES Not too many reports coming through of late. The cooler water has the opposite
secure a meal. You had to be quick on the fly as they were so fast. The lazy anglers would often find it difficult to hook one of these superb conditioned rainbows. I find on occasions this still occurs if you happen to be there at the right time. The planned small trout stocking should improve things in winter.
Brown trout are being stocked in increasing numbers throughout the dams. Wendy Jane caught this little one while trolling in 8m of water using a yellow winged Tassie Devil.
A well-conditioned rainbow caught by the author fly fishing as the moon rose after midnight at Wellington Dam. an ideal situation when it comes to trout fishing our freshwater locations. Warm dry summers normally result in excessive use of water by the irrigators with our dams having reflected this by being quite
effect to trout as all these species except Murray cod seem to be less active this time of the year. Still there’s plenty around if you know where to look. Don’t expect big expanses of water as most are caught
Predicted Dam Levels for South West WA Overall storage in our dams that allow public access and recreational activities are currently 50.7% at the end of March compared to 58.9% as of the same time last year. Perth and the South West has experienced a record dry period, placing a huge strain on irrigation needs. Some very heavy rains fell in late March with mainly inland areas receiving the better falls. Our dams are very low and good rains are needed this winter. WAROONA DAM DRAKESBROOK WEIR LOGUE BROOK DAM HARVEY DAM WELLINGTON DAM GLEN MERVYN DAM BIG BROOK DAM low from the lack of rain we experienced. The rivers have also suffered with most being very low as well. Late March heavy rains hit throughout the inland parts with widespread falls from 50-130mm. This was followed up by falls from 10-50mm only a week later, which fell in the same area, and also closer to the coast where our dams are located. A recent trip to the East Coast fishing a number of their dams reinforced just how little water we have here in the South West. Our irrigation dams only hold around 300GL when full, so a comparison would be Windemere Dam near Mudgee NSW being one 104 MAY 2023
43% 86% 62% 57% 54% 35% 58% in small lakes and dams throughout the South West. DAMS Waroona Dam It is very low at the moment with large exposed banks not offering any incentive for trout to come to the edges. The exception being when they are chasing gambusia in very shallow water. I remember back in the early 1980s at this very dam when we would look forward to the exciting fly-fishing in autumn. Trout that averaged around a kilo would chase schools of these little invasive species, and in some cases would nearly beach themselves in the attempt to
Drakesbrook Weir I haven’t fished this little water for some time, however local angler Jonah Chiera has been keeping a close eye on the place. He reported that the water level has been fluctuating recently and apart from a few rises in the late afternoon the fishing has been quiet. He hasn’t been able to get his kayak out to the deeper areas where most of the bigger redfin tend to hold. This water needs a decent stocking and although trout stocks are limited this year (due to a revamp at the Hatchery) there will be enough to provide limited sport. Harvey Dam A few good trout have
Most West Australians are happy to go camping, but adding a session of fishing improves the experience. This photo tells it all. been caught around Quarry Bay, Nicholson Point and Winter Creek Bay. The trick is to move around until
you find where they are holding. I have most of my success when fly-fishing of an evening by first locating
Some of the author’s favourite flies he uses in WA waters. Start with the smaller ones then change up sizes as it gets dark.
the schools of rainbows and trolling during the day. Then I come back at sunset to fish the adjacent bank, as the trout come in closer when it darkens. I tend to favour a small killer pattern like a Mrs Simpson or Hamils Killer but change to a larger Craig’s Night Time or Woolly Bugger when it gets dark. Redfin are being caught with the better sizes falling victim to the ever more popular technique of dropshotting. This is one of my favourite techniques I mastered around 10 years ago and boated over 60 redfin when I was spot-locked on a school in 15m of water in this very dam. Wellington Dam I am planning a 4-day trip to this dam so will report in the next issue. Meanwhile the reports are that trout are being caught from the Yabberup arm, as well as Farm Bay and Hamilton River arm. The new
