Camp Fire Chat # 1

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Picture #1

Picture #2

Picture #3

Picture #4

Picture #5

Picture #6

Picture #7

Arthur’s Lake is my favourite lake (Picture #1). As I said in my book, to survive, fish need oxygen, shelter and food and all three are available here. Waves hitting the trees and rocky shore ensure good oxygenation of the water, which is not always the case in big shallow bays. Shelter from sun and predatory birds like cormorants are guarantied here, cormorants simply have no ‘take-off and landing strip here. Food is available in the weed beds, between rocks and around the tree bases.

However, fishing between the trees (Picture #2) is not for the faint hearted or for those who pay big bucks for their flies unless you boast above average tree climbing ability, it demands the highest of casting skills.

There is not much room for repeated false casting; (Picture #3) there is not much room for long aerialisaton and not much room for long leaders either. Short line, minimum leader and lots of line speed and accurate delivery is the key and yet at times gentle presentation to boot. Best achieved with forward weighted lines, which shoot easily.

And then of course after you hook a decent fish, he will guide you to all the logs you haven’t noticed yet. If you have a weakness in your knots you can kiss him and your flies’ ‘auf wiedersehn’, unless you also have good diving qualification.

Remember my advice? If not, revisit chapter II and III and think about how to obtain those casting skills.

Pictures #4 and #5 - Fishing the sunset and the calm of the day, when the night prowlers come alive.

Pictures #6 and #7 - The Trout Whisperer coming back to the ramp. Driving light allow safe passage through the trees and onto the trailer.

If you would like to contact me for comments or contributions click here: thetroutwhisperer@bigpond.com