Batlow

Going deep in the heat

HUNTER VALLEY Nick Price

January is a month where the fish are still hitting surface and reaction lures, but as the water heats up the fish go deep and the deep gulp bite comes into its own. This month I will and often larger than the school fish found out deep.

When fishing for these darker weed-dwelling fish, I like to fish a weedless plastic that can be thrown into the weed and worked slowly. When rigged properly, fishing weedless is all but snag-proof. Use a soft plastic that is easily squashed such the fish are in the cover and shadow of the weed they are often near the surface and not worried about the sunlight. Surface can be fished all day! I like to use a Soft Shell Cicada. I find the subtle fall of the Soft Shell spooks fewer fish during the day. A dry fly does the same job.

After a slow start, we

A typical Barrington rainbow.

discuss deep fishing over the summer.

Lake St Clair has been fishing consistently well. As the water warms up the fish go deep, but with all the freshwater weed in Lake St Clair the bass can still be found on the edge in amongst the abundant weed. These fish are great fun to catch as a Keitech. This type of plastic will improve the hook-up rate because the bass are less likely to foul the plastic on the hook. If you’re unsure how to rig weedless, drop into the shop and I can show you how.

Fishing surface also works when you’re targeting the shallow fish. Because are now having hot days and warm nights, which has seen more consistent fishing in Glenbawn. The abundant weed that is found at Lake St Clair is not found at Glenbawn and, other than early mornings and night time, the fish are found deep. When locating deep fish, a decent sounder is

FISHING NEWS

Citizen science in action

An innovative citizen science monitoring project for Wagonga Inlet Living Shorelines (WILS) has been launched, to help determine how well the restored reef is improving marine biodiversity.

NSW DPI Fisheries Deputy Director General Sean Sloan said the recently constructed intertidal Sydney Rock Oyster Reef on Wagonga Inlet’s sandflats in Narooma has been the focus of monitoring efforts by both local citizen scientists and DPI researchers.

“The local community in Narooma is playing a critical role in helping us understand and monitor the changes the new reef will create,” Mr Sloan said. “The citizen scientists are assisting DPI researchers with monitoring the growth and recruitment of oysters to the new intertidal reef.

“We had 21 keen Narooma locals take part in the training day this month and the first citizen science monitoring event for the project, which shows how interested the community are in this work.”

This part of the WILS project is delivered by Nature Coast Marine Group (NCMG) and OzFish Unlimited, with funding from DPI.

Nature Coast Marine Group (NCMG) Vice President, James Caffery said residents of Narooma have been great supporters of this project.

“The local citizen scientists are playing a critical role in helping us understand and monitor the ecological improvements the new reefs will create, as well as helping to record the shorebirds which are already using the restored reef as habitat,” Mr Caffery said.

OzFish Program Manager for the NSW Coast, A brace of deep bass.

a must. Start looking for fish off points and around timber edges. Stop near these locations and generally fish will move under the boat, being attracted to the shadow.

Once located, slowly roll a Gulp through the school, remembering not to strike if a fish takes an interest. Next month I will go into detail about this technique and a few tricks as well!

With all the rain and cool temperatures the trout fishing has been very good over the last couple of months. However, with the onset of the school holidays there have been more anglers than fish, and the fishing has started to slow considerably. Those fish remaining have been lure shy and flighty.

To be successful on the educated trout I suggest a stealthy approach when moving upstream. Watch your shadow and silhouette, and begin to ‘hunt’ the trout. The fish found in the more remote areas of the Barrington Tops see less pressure and are less educated, so for the enthusiastic it is worth the walk. There are plenty of maps and Google Earth to help with this.

The insects are in full swing in January, and fly fishing at this time of year is great fun and very productive. Both dries and wets have been catching their share of Barrington trout.

February is a month where the water is hot and the fish go deep, and the deep gulp bite comes into its own. Next month I will continue to discuss deep fishing over the summer.

Remember, if you’re heading up to the Barrington, Glenbawn or St Clair, drop into the shop at the turn-off to Glenbawn in Aberdeen and ask about the different techniques and what they are biting on. We stock all the quality tackle that you need.

Ryan Lungu said he was thrilled when the volunteers discovered the first Sydney Rock Oyster recruit on the reef at the training day.

“Shellfish reefs are one of Australia’s most imperiled ecosystems, so it’s great to see the oysters taking to the reef so quickly,” Mr Lungu said.

DPI researchers have also started carrying out more detailed monitoring of the intertidal reef for the first time since its construction.

“Our team are counting the species, number and size of fish and invertebrates using the new reef with visual census, baited underwater video, and collecting sediment cores of invertebrates,” Mr Sloan said.

“WILS is showcasing how nature-based solutions to coastal management can deliver multiple benefits including protecting foreshores, enhancing passive recreational opportunities, integrating cultural values, engaging coastal communities, and building habitat resilience.”

The WILS project is a collaboration between Eurobodalla Shire Council, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) through the Marine Estate Management Strategy (MEMS), The Nature Conservancy Australia, and the Australian Government through its Reef Builder initiative. – NSW DPI