Recruiting OzFishers on the fly
Harry and Simon succeeded in ensuring Brian hooked a green and gold on the fly, but probably more importantly, succeeded in converting another keen angler to become a custodian of their waterway.
Brian is a passionate fly fisher who escapes the big smoke of Sydney in pursuit of fish on the fly and some fresh air. This love has taken him around the globe but like many Australians, twenty-twenty has ensured many anglers stay home and fish in their backyard, and Brian was no exception to these circumstances.
This summer, Brian packed his fly rod and headed up to Northern NSW to brush up on his casting skills and tick off a few new species. During his journey, Brian met Simon, fishing guide and OzFish Tweed Chapter President who would share his local knowledge and help him hunt down the wild bass that frequent the skinny waters of the Tweed hinterland.
On the water, the two got along well, as most anglers tend to. Simon saw in Brian a keen thirst for knowledge, passion for the environment and an appetite for new fishing experiences. He recommended Brian head over the Great Dividing Range to meet his mate Harry, fishing guide and OzFisher just like Simon. Harry helps recreational fishers navigate the Granite Belt in search of the iconic green and gold Murray cod, and with cod season opening December 1st, there was no better opportunity to get Brian hooked.
Brian wasted no time and on the first day of the season, was alongside Harry at the crack of dawn to ensure their lines were perfectly positioned alongside a good snag on the picturesque Dumaresq.
Freshwater fishers know all too well that Murray cod are notoriously moody fish to catch and even harder on the fly. This, compounded with a scorching 44°C summer’s day is enough to deter some anglers from heading out entirely, but Brian was happy enough to be out until dusk to make the most of this long summer’s day.
Between hits, the two anglers conversed and made observations about their environment. They both agreed that the success of fishing was closely related to the health of the rivers – particularly with Murray cod. Cod use snags to ambush smaller fish and frogs passing by. Their prey relies heavily on the insects and vegetation residing along the riverbanks for food.
Anglers often find themselves hiking along heavily vegetated riverbanks searching for the perfect snag to raise its ugly head from the water’s surface to serve as a suitable target. When anglers are honing-in on new skillsets on the water’s edge is usually when these conversations about the big issues affecting the environment are raised.
On this occasion, Harry took the opportunity to pick up where Simon left off and talk about OzFish. Sharing a few stories about his tree planting days, fish relocations and workshops, Harry urged Brian to get involved in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Chapter in Sydney. Not only is it run by a fly-fisher like Brian, but the non-government organisation is part of a bigger movement to help recreational fishers become stewards of their waterways.
Brian nodded and cast his surface lure across the water, noting the importance of going back through the basics is important to get anything achieved. He went on to emphasise the importance of this lesson learnt, not just in fishing, but in dealing with the overall pandemic. As the two were theorising, his lure popping along got struck by a cod.
Brushing up on the basics just paid off for Brian.
Harry and Brian were ecstatic. The two made sure the fish was landed with great care, keeping it in the water until ‘Mr. Cameraman’ was ready, lifting it out with wet gloves, snap, then released straight back in the water. Off it went, in good health, for the next eager angler to wrestle with.
Having only seen them in pictures before, Brian was overcome by the fact that he was able to land three decent-sized Murray cod, and was in awe of the colours and markings that can only be experienced seeing these beautiful natives in the flesh.
Hot, buggered but happy, Brian went home with a smile and expressed his delight at the day and confirmed he would become an OzFisher as soon as he got home. Not only did Harry and Simon succeed in ensuring Brian hooked a green and gold on the fly but hopefully succeeded in converting another keen angler to become a custodian of their waterway.