This week on The Travelling Fisherman,

We talk about winter trout fishing options. With trout fishing in Australia closed during the spawning run (most of winter) some tout anglers are getting withdrawal symptoms by August. There's only so much fly tying you can do, or fishing DVD's and books you can endure, before you crack and grab the fluff chucking wand. But where can you go when the streams are all closed for another month or so?

Well you could jump on a plane to the northern hemisphere, but that's not only expensive, it's also downright dangerous!. If you manage to fish a great stream without being mauled by a Grizzly bear, there's still the terrorist risk on the long flight home.

The cheapest and safest option is Fishing an Australian Lake. There are lakes in all Australian trout regions containing great trout during winter, and can legally be fished all year round. Some of these lakes allow boats, and others can be fished easily from the shore. Not all trout leave the lakes to spawn and both fly and lure fishing is on offer. Steve Williamson enjoys great success fishing Lake Jindabyne during winter and so much so that his guiding business is just as popular in winter as it is in Summer.

Some monster trout have been taken by Steve and his clients during the winter months in the lake, both by deep water trolling and Polaroiding the shoreline in the mornings.

A lake that isn't as well known or as large as Jindabyne is Lake Kanchoban, a beautiful lake nestled in the Western side of the Snowy Mountains Just over the NSW border. Long and narrow lake Kanchoban sits North - South, with the Dam wall to the North and the feeder stream on the South Eastern end. Built as a surge pond for the extensive Snowy hydro system, the cold oxygenated water from Murray One Power station plunges down the Mountain through a pipe, straight into the lake. This is the Eastern side and the boat ramp area, here deep water runs along the shore from the outlet channel past the recreation area, then shallows towards the dam wall. Deeper water is also found along the heavily vegetated Western shore.

This channel follows the old river bed up to the feeder stream, and has old tree remnants as structure along the flooded river bed. From the River Mouth heading back around to the Murray One Water outlet is all shallow sand with reedy islands and deeper pools interspersed. This shallow area can be accessed with a good walk or a canoe. We managed to get up into this area and fish from the comfort of our Polycraft 4.1 Challenger. The shallow draft allowed the boat to glide up over shallow water that no tinny has ventured, and the Electronic controls on our Deathly quiet Suzuki DF50 made the adventure effortless, all we had to do was press the tilt button as we approached each sand flat and lift up the motor, The poly glided over and as we drifted into deeper water we lowered the prop again.

In this episode of the show, we chat to Laurie "Mudeye" Moretti, about the lakes winter options after returning to shore. Laurie loves his Mudeye fishing and i can see why, the lake has a very weedy bottom, (so be careful with deep lures) every stick or reed that reaches out of the water is encrusted in Mudeye shells (nymph casings). Drifting live mudeyes under a float in Kanchoban is a deadly effective method. The stream feeding into Kanchoban holds great fish, and below the dam is the famous fluff chucking Swampy Plains, which eventually flows into the Murray River, but these waters are closed in winter. There is a tidy well appointed yet basic and friendly tourist/camp park on the shore adjacent to the dam wall. Kanchoban Tourist Park also has cabins, some with a spa. The town has a pub which is walking distance from the camp and basic shops. Snow chains can be hired from the Kanchoban tourist park Cafe and Kiosk.

Late winter At Kanchoban is beautiful, rainfall is higher during winter, so the farms are lush and are green and the back drop of the snow covered mountains over the crystal clear lake almost has you singing songs from the sound of Music. ( I said almost!) days are warm and nights are cold. To get there, you can fly or train to Albury and hire a car, from Albury it's about a 2 hour drive. There is a road over from Canberra and Tumut / Gundagai area, and there's a beautiful drive over from Threadbo /Jindabyne but be careful on this one, falling rocks and trees are just some of the hazards, it's a very steep long winding road with ice and snow in parts. Snow chains are needed in winter and i wouldn't attempt it with a large boat or caravan.

For more information on all year trout dams, trout waters and closed seasons go to the following DPI website pages in each state.

NSW click here

Vic click here

We catch up with the proprietors of Salem Boating in Bendigo and find out what it's like to sell boats next to a lake that has no water in it!

Lake Eppaloch has been though a pretty rough drought over the past 6 years, whith the dam level down to lesss than 10% . As the main recreational lake for the central Victorian towns of Bendigo and Heathcote, the local recreation industry, tourism and buisness in general have been suffering. But The Barkers of lake Eppaloch marine battle on and keep a positive outlook for the future. Kevin and Elizabeth Barker are the local Polycraft dealers and also manufacture one of the best water ski boats in the world, Salem ski boats.

Salem Ski Boats website

For our secret spot this week we head off to the Bundaberg Area to Mon Repo beach. Mon Repo is a beautiful beach which is a protected rookery for a number of turtle species. Every year thousand of tourists visit the beach to watch the nightly procession of turtles dragging themselves up the beach to lay their eggs. Besides turtles, Mon Repo has a great surf break, and excellent fishing on offer. The area has rock fishing with some great looking spinning ledges, deep gutter beach fishing and sneaky little tidal jack infested creeks!

If you think you have a dream life, then check out the life of Riley enjoyed by the parks operators, two young brothers take it in turn running the park for 12 months, while the other travels the world backpacking and surfing. We speak to the One of the brothers, Nick, and find out that although it's a very casual laid back park with casual laid back operators, Nick and his brother are witched on when it comes to providing a park without all the excess trappings.

Turtle sands tourist park has basic but clean amenities, cabins and powered/non powered sites, and that's about it. There's no mini golf or big play park with a pool and cabana. So what do they have you might ask?

Well lots of nothing! and that's the best thing about it. Just a huge grassy camping park with tropical gardens and a beach 5 meters from your tent or cabin door, sheer bliss!

Don't forget the scrabble set and a box of your favorite books. For the kids there's the turtles, fishing, enough space to play cricket and footy, and there's the beach and the surf. Parents are happy that shade trees line the border of the campsite and the beach so you can sit in the shade of a tree or even your caravan annex and watch the kids play on the beach. If you get bored with all that, it's only 10 minutes to the major town of Bundaberg.

Off peak times are popular with the 'greynads' and some have been coming for over 20 years.

oh and by the way, if the sound of the odd gecko, crashing surf and a gentle breeze blowing though trees on a warm tropical night keeps you awake, go to Brisbane and stay in a 5 star hotel.

Turtle Sands Tourist Park

Finally on the program we announce the second winner of our Evakool "win a Fridge-Mate" competition.

Canberra local Adrian Fryatt from the suburb of Scullin, has won the second draw of the Competition

Click here for more on this weeks Evakool "win a Fridge-Mate winner"

This week on The Travelling Fisherman

We talk about travelling the tropics of northern Australia during the Wet season. for this information we go to Cairns and speak to a seasoned top end traveller and travel supplier.

Then for a different fishing perspective we cross to WA and the Mandurah region.

Ever wondered if there is an easier, safer way to fillet a fish?

Nick Georgerous from Nicholas Seafoods has "literally filleted umptillians of fish!" in his life as a 3rd generation fish monger.

We visit Nick at his Retail / Wholesale outlet at Sydney Fish Market to find out how to fillet a whiting. Click this link for the photo's and text

To find a radio station near you Click this link and go to our station listing page.

Click the 'Listen to the show' link above to hear this weekends show.

This week on The Travelling Fisherman

We talk to Stephen Compain about fishing the Darwin area.

Originally from Fiji, Stephen has made his life in the Darwin area as a successfully fishing tackle retailer, boat dealer and charter operator. Top End Tackle is a busy tackle camping and boat retail store but somehow Stephen manages to find fishing time. A keen and competitive angler, Stephen fishes every chance he gets and regularly competes in tournaments.

Through his charter business, Arafura Blue water charters, Stephen has an opportunity to fish extensive reefs from Darwin Harbour to more remote locations in the west. Despite having a brand new WA cray style, custom built charter boat from Tasmania, Stephen still loves to sneak up the local creeks and rivers in his 4.1 m Polycraft Challenger. The boat is a side console powered by a Suzuki DF50 HP 4stroke. An electric is fitted to the bow and Stephen claims this is the ultimate outfit for the top end. It's certainly the most affordable, and given that Stephen has access to bigger boats, and can afford any of the big fibre glass and aluminum bass/ barra style boats, we ask Stephen just why the Polycraft is his choice. We also rack Stephens brains for locations and tackle to bring and find that Stephen is wrapped in the range of quality reels and off the rack rods from Daiwa.

I'm surprised to find just how well Darwin Harbour fishes for reef and sport species, and pelagics are even close enough for shore based spinners. Apparently the 4.1 Polycraft does the harbour fine and Stephen isn't the only one wrapped in the Poly/Suzuki combo's. Stephen's son has just fitted out a 4.1 meter Polycraft tiller steer 4.1 meter Polycraft tiller steer for the local rivers and creeks. His son has gone for an open boat, fitted with a Suzuki DT30hp 2 stoke.

Stephen gives us a wrap up of the post wet run off and his predictions for the coming months as we head into spring. Stephen loves the Darwin area and it shows. If your headed to Darwin you will find some valuable info in this interview and if you want more advise on fishing the region, book a charter or would like to get hold of the right gear fro the area at competitive prices, stephen and his wife would love you to contact them.

Top End Fishing
Contact:
Stephen Compain

Shop 1-5,
11 Mile, Stuart Hwy
Darwin
NT 0831

Phone: 08 8932 3006
Fax: 08 8932 6533
Email
Top End Fishing website

Also this week we give away our first prize in the Evakool 'Win a FridgeMate' competition. Our first prize draw is for an Evakool IceMate. Congratulations to our prize winner Justin Duggan from Sydney FlyFishing tours. As Justin and listeners will find out, Rod Miles from Evakool has one more surprise up his sleeve for Justin. Click this link for more on Justin's prize win.

There's still two more draws to go including the 55ltr FridgeMate so if You havn't entered the draw yet, click this link

To find a radio station near you Click this link and go to our station listing page.

This week on The Travelling Fisherman

In Fluff Chuckers we bring you the final episode of a series we recorded with Scott Macpherson from Indulgence Fly Fishing tours. On a warm and sunny afternoon in March, Scott and waded up Snowy creek for some afternoon trout on fly. Snowy creek is as beautiful as any creek i have fished and the snowy mountain backdrop completes to create breathtaking panoramic scenery.

Nestled in the foot hills of the Snowy Mountains sits the North Eastern Victoria town of Mitta Mitta. Mitta Mitta was settled on the banks of the junction of two rivers. Snowy creek drops from the forests of the South Western Snowy Mountains and roughly following the Omeo Highway, flows through the CBD of Mitta Mitta before flowing into the Mitta Mitta River which in turn flows into the Murray River at what is now Lake Hume.

Only an hour drive from Albury / Wodonga The town of Mitta Mitta is a great base for some of Victoria's best stream fishing. Devastating bush fires and prolonged drought in the region have not had a major impact on Snowy Creek, on the contrary, Snowy Creek is a superb fishery and breeding stream for small to medium trout. Both rainbow and brown trout are present and the stream is easily accessible in moderate flows. A dirt road runs parallel for much of the fishing water, which allows an easy stroll back to camp after a quick traverse up the steep banks. The track back allows anglers to fish right up to dark and a safe walk back with a torch. Plenty of camp sites adorn the river banks, There's large grassy serviced camping area which is suitable for caravans, this is great for families and the more social anglers, and further upstream there are plenty of smaller non serviced campsites for those who want more privacy.

In just 3 hours fishing, mainly with a Royal Humpy, Scottie had constant takes from hungry trout, and by sunset we had managed 5 fish caught and released and had only fished about 300m of stream adjacent to our campsite. According to Scottie, it was a pity we didn't have more time because the bigger fish are usually found in the next pool up! i must admit it looked bigger and deeper, next time i'm staying for at least 3 days.

Returning to camp at sunset, Scottie opened up our Evakool RF 60 fridge and began removing the ingredients for this weeks 'Cook Your Catch'. All the small trout were released, but scottie anticipated this and had an alternative recipe, it's not a fish recipe but it's a great pasta recipe for a quick feed on a camp fire or gas cooker.

Weather your an experienced fly fisher or a beginner Scott Macpherson is an excellent guide, I'm not sure if it's the quality of the stream, the fly fishing, Scotties patient tuition, the wide angle lens scenery, the gourmet tucker catering, or the outstanding service that has me coming back to fish with Scottie regularly, perhaps it's the whole package and scotties laid back attitude and love of wine food and fishing. To book a trip and contact Scottie go to the Indulgence Flyfishing website http://www.indulgenceflyfishing.com/.

For our 'On the Water' segment we head back to Springwood marine in brisbane for some tips on breaking in a new 4stroke outboard motor. Springwood Marine are one of Queenslands largest boat dealers. Located next to the Gold coast Highway they are a Suzuki Outboard Motor dealership, a chandlery, tackle shop and stock a range of Evakool Ice Box's.

Another interesting gadget has been featured in 'Show Us Ya Tackle', it's only a small gadget but it made a big impact at the last few capital city 4x4 fishing and outdoor expo's. The product in the terminal tackle category and it's called Bugz. Bugz is the brainchild of a Kiwi fisherman who wanted a fast hook to line connector for reef fishing. made out of a strong poly material, Bugz eliminate the use of knots and act as an attractor at the same time. With different colors to chose from including a glow in the dark lumo, Bugz reduce the line to hook connection time to about 3 seconds. I can see charter operators going for these.

Still on the subject of terminal connections, our 'Casting Couch' guest this week is fishing writer and film maker Phil Atkinson, a keen sport fisherman from beach and rock to bass and barra, we spoke to Phil a while back and asked him his preferences for connecting leaders to lures, loop knot or stainless steel snap?

'Feral Correspondent' has us chatting with Heath Folppe from NSW DPI Fisheries about FADs. Fish Aggregation Device as they are correctly named or Fish Attracting Device as they are often called. Both names give a good description of what they do but what are they? and why are they a magnate for pelagic sportfish?

For more information on Fads and FAD locations in NSW, check out the NSW DPI Fisheries Fad Page

To find a radio station near you Click this link and go to our station listing page.

This week on The Travelling Fisherman:

We all dream of fishing new and exotic locations, for some lucky anglers it's a regular trip away.

But for many it's a once a year or even once in a lifetime adventure. Most of us like to consider ourselves an expert on fishing, and we all love to save a buck, but a budget fishing trip can be an expensive dud if we can't find fish or book a bad guide. In Some locations it pays to know a local or if not, book a local guide for the first day or so to get the fishing wired. They will get you onto locations and hot spots and what bait' lures and techniques are working. This investment at the start of a trip can make the whole week a success.

Trips into exotic locations, far way in very unfamiliar terrain, dealing with local language and culture can be difficult enough let alone finding fish. Here a local guide is essential, however not all guides are good guides, and a once in a lifetime trip can fast become a total disaster for yourself and embarrassingly for your friends that you have dragged along.

Thankfully a bunch of anglers have trotted the globe for 20 years, enduring the bad trips, disorganized guides with ancient and sometimes dangerous tackle and boats. They have slept in filthy mosquito ridden tents and bravely eaten catering that looks like leftovers from the local footy club end of year drinkathon. They have fished both great and bad locations, and through all this they have managed to find some gems, great fishing locations with equipped customer focused guides who now how to catch fish. As a result these dedicated Travelling Fishermen have the fishing travel scene sussed and have accumulated a selection of locations, species and guides all over the world. from the airline to the sun cream they have it all organized for you.

The business is called Angling Adventures, they are an Australian company and they join us on the Casting Couch this week.

check out the Angling adventures website for all the pics and locations

In Fluff Chuckers we continue our fly fishing adventure with Scott Macpherson from Indulgence Fly fishing. This is part of a series we put together after spending a day on the water with Scottie. It's hard to think that we managed to put together a 10 part series from 3 hours fishing but that's how great Snowy Creek is, a testament to the quality of the trout fishing in The Region East of Albury Wodonga. it also showcases how experienced Scottie is at locating trout and his in depth knowledge of fly fishing. This is a great series for both beginners and experienced Fluff Chuckers.

Click here for the Indulgence Fly Fishing website

To find a radio station near you Click this link and go to our station listing page.

Hear this weeks episode of The Travelling Fisherman -Episode 164. The Program went to air May 28th-29th on radio stations around Australia. Click the link to hear the show.

To find a radio station near you Click this link and go to our station listing page.

This week on The Travelling Fisherman in Fluff Chuckers, international fly fishing guide Rod Barford joins us to share some of his knowledge.

We talk to Mr Willoughby about being on the Wallaby and discuss the latest in camping and travel gear.

And our secret spot this week is the South east Queensland Bass impoundment, Lake Boondooma

To find a radio station near you Click this link and go to our station listing page.

A few weeks ago we came across a CD by a Guy called Errol Gray. Full of great Aussie songs and bush ballads, we found one song on their that summed up our baby boomer listeners who are getting close to chucking it all in, loading up the fishing gear, hitching the caravan and heading off around Australia with a tinny on the roof. We played the song and found that many of our listeners loved it too, so we decided to track down Errol to his home at Sawtell on the coast, just south of Coffs Harbour NSW, and get his story on the show.

We did promise to have him on last week but i was a bit crook when we recorded with Eddy Studman, I knew i shouldn't have gone fishing with eddy when i was sick but this was our last chance to chase bream together before the season ended and given that i missed out for the last 2 seasons just had to do it.The next morning i was punished! So two weeks later and a few visits to the doctor with a severe ear infection i finally was dosed up on enough painkillers to catch up with Errol.

On a rainy subtropical afternoon i arrived at a nice north coast home overlooking a small rainforest, Errol's piece of paradise that he calls home these days. Just a short drive from the beach and the Sawtell Hotel where Errol and his old band, The Sons of Sole have performed countless gigs over the past 20 years, we sat out on the back verandah for a cuppa with the backdrop setting of a chook yard, above ground pool and a mango tree!

During the interview i asked Errol how much of him is in his songs, he replied that there was a tad but he's never admit to it! when i later listened to his song "Verandah Man" i realized that there is a hell of a lot of Errol Gray in his lyrics. So where does the rest come from?

Life and the world around him i guess. Errol has travelled through a few phases and places in life, each situation, location and character form material for his ballads. Errol started life in Grafton and joined the public service working for the court as a Clerk of Petty Sessions, (the guy who types what is said in court) after a few years in that job and a few stints in different towns, Errol's part time obsession with song writing got the better of him. He chucked it all in and headed for Adelaide for a full time music career, much to the horror of his parents!

From there, Errol travelled Australia trying to become a rock star, but over time, country and Australian folk music began to infiltrate his writing and he found himself writing classic Aussie bush ballads. The fact that he toured for 8 years as John Williamson's stage manager helped, so much so that you can't help noticing a similarity in the sound. Although Errol loves to take the piss out of people, life and situations in his songs, with some tasteful humor and aussie Larkin, there is a more serious side that writes about struggle and injustice. The sort of song that raises the hairs on the back of your neck and makes you really think about it, and you can't help wondering why none of these songs where major hits for Errol or other artists. In fact most of Errol's Music passes unnoticed my the mainstream media, but that's the nature of the record industry and commercial radio these days. Errol's a bit to old for Australian idol so he has recorded as a self funded independent and doesn't expect much airplay. Most of the songs are recorded live at his local Pub to give the songs their true story telling impact.

Errol loves his fishing in nearby Bonville Creek and is a bait man, just like his dad was. Catching whiting from his tinny with his lady, a bucket of nippers and a cold one in his hand is Errol's way to relax. No fancy lure fishing and top shelf tackle in Errol's boat, he's a Verandah Man!

If you see Errol's name on a Pub billboard in your travels, stop over and catch his gig, you'll be glad you did, Errol's got a few more songs and albums in him yet, in fact i believe he's gust getting started on his next life chapter as a songwriter, and i can't help thinking that even though Errol can bring his songs to life with a rare talent, like Paul Kelly and other great Australian song writers, his songs are good enough to be recorded and made hits by other bands and artists for years to come.

Old fart is the new Gray Nomad theme song we have been playing from Errol and it's from his latest album Bugger me Dead. If you would like to buy a copy of hiss album or any of his previous albums you can go to Errol's website and order one, find out about upcoming gigs and read his BIO.

here's the link

Errol doesn't take credit cards so if you want to pay by credit card we'll take the order for him,The cost is $25.00 including postage, send us an email or phone 02 6568 7365

If your looking to book Errol for a gig, just go to Errol's website for his number and email.

Click the link above to hear the program which went to air around Australia February 19-20.

DPI Vic - Fisheries - Website link for North East Fishery Management Plan

Dates for Public Meetings are:

1. Corryong on 22 February 2006 at 7:00pm, the Shire Council Chambers, Hanson Street;
2. Wangaratta on 23 February 2006 at 7:00pm, The Centre, Chisholm Street;
3. Wodonga on 24 February 2006 at 7:00pm, Civic Hall, Hovell Street;
4. Melbourne on 28 February 2006 at 7:00pm, the Hughes Room, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. 240 Spring St (Cnr Lonsdale St), Royal College of Surgeons Gardens. Enter through the columns facing Parliament Underground Station at the top of Lonsdale St and Spring St. Melway 43K5

Submissions close March 7 2005

Be in it or be angry when it's too late!

Broadcast Date - February 11-12 2005

Episode 143 - Broadcast dates - December 31 2005 - January 1 2006

Episode 142 - Broadcast dates - December 24-25 2005

Episode 141 - Broadcast dates - December 17-18 2005

Episode 140 - Broadcast dates - December 10-11 2005