Wild River Tours

Head For The Hills

April 9, 2021April 10, 2021 By WRTLeave a comment

With few options regarding rivers to fish due to the never-ending bloody rain, we decided to head as far up as we could go to try and find some clean water. Easter is so busy on the rivers that we were pleased to find that we had the place to ourselves and hoped it stayed that way for the next few days. Quick set up of camp and a feed and the canoe and Kayak was slid into the water and off we paddled. Within minutes I was onto a fish that kited up the river and we soon realised that in our hurry to get on the water we had forgotten the landing net. The fish rolled by the side of the canoe and we all started flapping as we could see it was a big Bass. We beached the canoe, unhooked, and measured the fish and she was a comfortable 50cm. A quick picture and off she swam, bloody marvellous.

Just as Andy & I sorted ourselves out, and Andy was just about to cast into a nice-looking snag Pic shouted from behind a line of trees “Big Bass,”. We paddled around the corner to see him paddling back up with a big grin on his face. The Bass was as thick as you will ever see and had a distinctive black stripe down its flank that we think was maybe an old war wound from a Cod or some other hungry predator. He did well to land the fish as it was right in a section of river that shallows, and then bottlenecks with each side guarded by fish losing snags. We fished on and pushed up the river and before long I was onto another fish. A few tense moments and some big powerful runs concluded in the fish being landed safely into the canoe. Same routine, measure (49cm), picture, and release, and then we realise that we are into some serious fishing that dreams are made of.

We paddle slowly flicking at anything and everything and only minutes from my last fish I have hooked up again. Just as Andy murmurs “what the F” a bow wave heads for his lure and he is into a big Bass. It is fair to say that we were in a bit of a pickle as both fish darted under the Canoe and within seconds it was clear we were now tangled. Landing one big Bass without a net is a challenge but landing two is just crazy. Pic came to our rescue and after a few scary moments, he had both fish gripped by the lips. My fish was the smaller of the two at 48 and Andy’s was a big thick 49cm. Unfortunately, just as Andy washed the fish off for the photo it made its escape, photo denied. We fished on for a while, but the light was fading, and we headed back to camp for a cold beer and some food.

Over the next days, we missed & dropped a few fish, drunk a suitable amount of beer, ate giant T-Bone steaks, explored some serious 4×4 country, accessed some new water, ripped more bits off my car, and basically had a good old time. However, it seemed that the Bass gods had decided we had had our fair share and no more fish were landed. A bag made up of 50,49,49,48,46 cm Bass is something that you do not see very often, and we accepted the outcome as the rain set in and we decided to get out whilst we still could.

We made our 3-hour drive home retelling stories of fish and other adventures. The rivers are in the best condition they have been in since 2015. In the last few trips when the heights have allowed, I have seen big Bass, and I think this coming season is going to be bloody awesome!

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In Cod We Trust

July 12, 2020July 12, 2020 By WRTLeave a comment

Winter fishing continued…

Winter Bass fishing can be tough and you never know if your efforts will be rewarded. I just need to be on the river so the fishing takes a second place from the paddling and camping. I had been promising my mate Dave a trip and as we paddled under the first bridge there was the usual feel of excitement that I sense with every trip.

We paddled for a hour flicking as we went when we settled into a nice pool. I flicked my favourite Atomic Slapper just on the edge of the flow, as I cranked the handle I was woken up by a giant boof that sounded like a shotgun going off. Nooooooo, the fish had missed the lure, I kept cranking and a few turns later the water exploded and I was towed around the pool for the next 5 minutes. I know I go on about it, but the Eastern Cod is truly a remarkable creature. They have been brought back from the edge of extinction and now inhabit nearly all of the rivers I fish. They grow to over a meter and eat nearly everything, including Bass lures. You are not allowed to target them, but frankly its now impossible to fish the river without meeting a few of them.

As we made our way down the river Dave managed a couple of nice Bass as he targeted the pools and moving water. Dave has owned the iconic Bass Lodge for many years and has done plenty of fishing in the stunning Macleay River, but was new to this system.

I however, seemed to be tuned into the Cod. I did managed to finally catch a good Bass that slurped my surface lure down like a oyster, but then went on a mad rampage around the shallows, such good fun.

When we arrived at camp Dave was a little sad as he was keen to be introduced to a Cod, as I mentioned they are a protected species so you can not target them. It would be fairly easy to catch one if you threw the usual Cod lures, but with hefty fines and a moral code you just have to hope the Cod god`s shine on you. When we woke in the morning it was spitting with rain and the weather had taken a turn. Being a Pom the rain shouldn’t bother me but it bloody does, not as much as the wind though. I was still getting Cod and would have landed maybe 10-12 when Dave said “what the F`is going on, we are throwing the same lures but I’ve not even had a Cod hit my lure”?

I paddled over and inspected Dave`s lure. The wings had been slightly bent and needed to be more pronounced so that you could retrieve it slower, but with the same water displacement and noise as when you do it fast. This is really important when it’s a tougher bite as you want to give the fish enough time to think, so it looks like a easy feed “I’m gonna eat that”. He had also tied the leader direct to the lure without a loop knot. This stops the lure working freely and when you retrieve it, it pulls the lure down in the water instead of on top of it where it can displace the water. I retied the lure with a loop and bent the wing stems out and gave the rod back to Dave. Now this may seem like a fisherman’s tale but Dave cast the lure into a spot he had thrown at many times previously, as he started to retrieve the lure a bow wave came up behind it, and then disappeared, he kept winding and then again a second wave, and it also disappeared, and then BOOM!

Being a guide has some really special experiences but this one was right at the top, Dave was so happy, it was a very special moment to have a man that truly is a great all round fisherman thank you from the heart. Here is the nice message he also sent when he got home.

Hey Dave, Thanks for a terrific “Wild River Adventure”! The sequence of events (recounted below), leading to my PB 850 mm eastern cod is an experience that I won’t forget any time soon. The fact that I was getting utterly “towelled up” watching you catch several fish (including your 950 mm giant eastern cod) which then led me to seriously question my lure techniques, thence to our quite remarkable conversation (with you making very subtle changes to the lure presentation), thence to watching that fish’s bow wave on the VERY next cast (with modified and tuned Atomic surface lure), then to catch and release a fish of that quality is truly unforgettable. Totally appreciate it. Dave T

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Dust off the boots and pack an extra jumper!

June 29, 2020July 12, 2020 By WRTLeave a comment

It doesn’t take a lot to get me to go fishing. To be honest all it takes is a message or phone call and I`m your man. Since the drought hit and then it was the fires and then floods and finally to top it off, something they call COVID-19 it’s been a struggle to get some decent fishing time in.
My mate Frank and I had chatted on the phone and made plans for once the COVID-19 had settled down and a few weeks later, Frank was at my house and the canoes were loaded.
YEAH!

We arrived at the launch point and said “good bye” to Jo and the Dog and we paddled off down the river. If you have never been lucky enough to paddle a river for more than 1-2 days, you are missing out. There is something awesome about paddling and knowing that you have nothing but the river ahead of you, and all you have to worry about is enjoying yourself.

We were not expecting much, winter Bass fishing is a fickle thing and you can have some very slow days. We worked our way down the river throwing surface and divers when we picked up our first fish, a small Cod that I put back with no photo. This spurred us on to focus and try a little harder. However, It was soon obvious that this was going to be a long hard slog and the fish were going to be grumpy. I was starting to regret not getting a picture with the Cod.

We kept at it and after a few hours, just before camp I managed a good mid 40’s Bass once again our spirits were high.
We set up camp and organised tackle and rods for the evening.
As we paddled around in the dark throwing surface lures I was just starting to think this trip was a mistake when a shotgun went off next to me as a giant Cod attacked my lure. As I set the hooks, I heard Frank shout
” You On?” and before I could answer, the fish was gone, hook pulled. “F**cK. S***T” and some other words were said.
Moments later I could hear a massive BOOOOF! and then Frank shout “Yep, No” as he missed a fish, and then just a few minutes later the same again. That was 3 fish in only minutes we had missed.
I threw my Atomic slapper out and no sooner had it landed it was smashed from the surface, this time I was ON!

Frank paddled over and watched as I was towed around the river. After a while the fish started to give up and I put my grips in her mouth and the fight was over. The Eastern Cod is a stunning creature, but a giant one is really something to see. A few quick pics and a gentle release, she swam away a little grumpy but no worse for the experience.

The next couple of days were a real bloody struggle. Frank managed to steal the show with a cracker Bass taken out from a gnarly snag in the afternoon sun.

This trip I had been throwing some new lures around and I sneaked a nice 46 Bass out from a log on a new feathered lure my mate Dave Partridge from DVP Lures had made for me.

The good thing about fishing with good mates is its not all about the fishing…….

So all in all, not a bad trip even if the fish were a little shy.
I just can’t wait till spring and the river starts to wake up.
DC

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No one wants to be “That Guy”

October 29, 2018 By WRTLeave a comment

Day 1

I never sleep well the night before a big trip as my mind goes over all the little and big things such as have I packed everything and what will be the best camp spots. This trip was no different, but I had a little more anxiety than normal as the river I was intending to fish I did not know as well as some of my usual haunts. I woke Joanne who just grunted in disgust as she looked at the clock. No one likes getting up in the middle of the night even more so when it’s not your adventure and you are just the Taxi driver. That said, she got up as she knew we had a long drive ahead and she didn’t complain just gave me a few dirty looks from time to time, bless her.

We had seen plenty of rain in the North Coast and most of the rivers were high and running dirty but I was still fairly confident this system would be fishable. After a quick chat thanking the farmer for letting me drive through his property, we were at the river’s edge. The river was up and had a hint of tea tree color but looked more than OK to me. I loaded up my gear said goodbye to Jo and the Dog and paddled out into the river.

I fished hard, throwing all the traditional lures such as my Zipping Ziggy, Mazzy Popper, Pompadour, Crank Bait and I even put on a Spinnerbait in desperation but couldn’t tempt a fish. As I made my way down through rapids and pools I had to be on top of my game a little more than usual as I was paddling my new Pelican Canoe on what was her maiden voyage. She was tracking differently to my other Canoes (Colemans) and I kept finding myself scuppered on rocks or taking a bit of water as I rode the bigger rapids. I was unaware that later on in the trip this was to become a very big problem, but we will get to that later.

I had been through my tackle box and thrown everything at the fish, but nothing was working in the slightest. Anyone that fishes would know the frustration this can cause. I started rummaging and still in the packet was a lure I was sent by Chasebaits called the “Drunken Mullet”. What the hell I thought, let’s see how this bad boy swims. On my second cast when I had almost finished retrieving the lure (a little too quick) a Bass boiled just below right at the side of the Canoe. After hours of inactivity, it doesn’t take much to get excited and I was back in the game all pumped up. 10 minutes later I finally managed to break the drought and landed a golden Bass in the mid 40`s on my new favorite lure. Now let’s get the bit that sounds like an advert out the way early in this story. I fished with that lure for pretty much the rest of the trip and the Bass really wouldn’t look at anything else. I have to tell you that not only was it deadly, but it was so much fun to fish with. Prop-baits are so visual and there is nothing more satisfying than watching a surface hit on one so go check them out. Ok so back to the story.

I came into a new pool and I could hear some commotion at the end of the pool, it was wild Dogs and I could see maybe 4 or 5 milling around at the end of the pool. I sat and listened to them carrying on and I soon noticed that they had spotted me. Normally they would slip away into the bush but what I presume would have been the Alpha Dog started making his way towards me. He was more Dingo than I first thought and looked awesome with a big Boofhead, he was a brave little bugger and was really vocal and was clearly telling me he was the main man in these parts. I was filming at this point and you can watch the full encounter here……

As I made it to camp I could see a storm was building so I had to decide to either carry on fishing and get hammered in the storm or set up camp, I set up camp. By the time I had set up everything and messaged Jo the storm was on me and for the next 4 hours, I sat under my tarp as storm after storm rolled through until I finally fell asleep.

Day 2

Up with the birds (you have very little choice as they are so noisy) and onto the water right away taking a coffee with me. With my Drunken Mullet, the Bass were active right from the start and I spent a few hours paddling the lower pools and taking good-sized fish.

Late morning and I was on my way down the river and the weather was perfect. By midafternoon I had landed around 20 fish with a couple of Eastern Cod thrown in and I was enjoying myself thoroughly. As I approached a reasonable set of rapids I prepared the boat locking my rod in and making sure everything was clipped in as I always do. Just as I crest the top of the rapid I clipped a rock and the boat was held up pivoting precariously, the boat starts to spin, and I could see exactly what was about to happen but was powerless to stop it. As the boat tipped I jumped out but at this point, she had taken on about 40% water and I was now stuck at the top of a rapid with a water-laden boat. The only option was to try and walk her down but about halfway down the current grabbed her and off we went. We didn’t get far before she wedged her nose in between 2 rocks and then the back was pushed sideways. Soon as water breached the side I knew I was in trouble. She was pinned and pinned well.

I have been doing this for enough time to have had some boats stuck but considering the small amount of water I was in this boat was wedged so tight, I couldn’t move it more than 2 inches. I collected all of my gear out of her and set to work trying to get her out. I opened up my rescue barrel and cursed as I did not have my rescue rope.

I did have 3 good lengths of rescue webbing, some pulleys and other things to get a mechanical advantage to hopefully pull her out. However, 2 hours later I gave up as the light was fading and I was exhausted. It was at this point that I thought I had better get on the Satellite and warn the right people that I may need some help. Now I often joke about not wanting to be “That Guy” who gets rescued, but the fact is the more you play the higher the risk of something going wrong. I was getting messages back and there was the talk of “Helicopters”, and “let us know early so we can get to you in daylight”. So with this in my head, I had a restless night.

Day 3

I was up very early, and I had decided that today I was not being rescued, coffee, food and with a new plan I set off back to the river. The plan involved using a brace and a pulley to lift the side enough to stop the water pushing over the top and then allowing me to bail her out. The river had also dropped 20cm and with the words “Helicopter, Rescue, Newspaper” in my head and the years of ribbing my mates would give me I was a man on a mission. It took about 2 hours to get that bloody Canoe out and as I sat on the bank catching my breath and licking my wounds I came to realise how important keeping your calm is and not panicking. A flurry of messages back and forth giving people the good news that they didn’t have to give up their weekend for me and I was back in the Canoe paddling down the river.

Now it was clear that my 2-night 3-day trip had now become a 3-night trip. I always take enough food for an extra day and I use a water purifier bottle so I can drink the river water. Now I feel the Canoe may look like the villain in this story and for the next few hours it did feel that way and we had a shaky relationship at each rapid. You see I was paddling her the same way I do my Coleman Canoes and as the day went on I realised that she was too heavy on the nose and dropping to my knees made the stability worse than if I stayed in my seat. With this new-found information she was much more responsive when I had to turn her fast, so it was user error, not the poor Canoe and we are now good friends again.

Over the rest of the day, the fishing was nothing short of spectacular. Aerial surface hits from hungry greedy Bass and then all of a sudden with the change in weather the Cod woke up!

I hooked into a low 40cm Bass and as I have seen happen many times before just as I got it near the boat a 1m Cod came up and smacked it. It didn’t get the Bass but was now lip hooked on the lower set of hooks, now I had a Bass and a 1m Cod hooked on the same lure (go the Drunken Mullet). Just as I thought Christ get the camera another Cod of about 70cm came up and grabbed my poor Bass and ripped it off the hooks and swam down to the darkness taking my Bass with it. Now I had only the 1m Cod on the line I took my time and just as I tried to lift its head the hooks pulled out, Bugger!

Just after lunch I came into some tighter water and put a cast under some dark trees. The second the lure hit, the water exploded. I knew it was a good fish as it kited across the stream and I know there is always a debate about Bream Vs Bass and what fights harder but I can assure you that until you catch a big mountain Bass you can be excused for thinking a Bream does.

As I gripped her lip I could see she was a cracker and on the truth detector she went 52cm. The picture of her isn’t fantastic but It was stinking hot with no shade and she was exhausted so I didn’t spend much time getting a decent camera shot as I was worried she would die on me.

I made camp on a stunning little hole and tried to work out numbers and I think I was around 35-40 fish for the trip. Not too shabby.

Day 4

Up early and the last bit before heading home is normally average fishing as it sees a few people but not today…. it was going nuts again.

Bass after Bass with Cod thrown in goes to show you can never assume stretches of river as things change so often.

So in summary, with 50+ fish landed, near rescue, bruises and dented ego I’d say it was a bloody great trip but probably not for everyone.

As my mate so eloquently said… “That’s why it’s not called “Calm River Tours”.

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Bass, Snakes & Strawberry Shakes

October 1, 2018 By WRTLeave a comment

Dave landed at the Airport and on the way back to my place we chatted about options and tied up the loose ends for the trip he had booked over the next 4 days. This being Daves second trip with us he had a fair idea of what to expect and we had chatted about the fact that the rivers were really low and although I was confident we could find some fish this was going to be hard work.

The next morning we awoke but for a change, it was Gentlemens hours and not 3am as I am used to for most trips I do. We had decided that due to the big moon and Daves flight arriving late we would aim to get on the water around 11am. We loaded the Car and put our Canoes onto the trailer and headed West to see what we could find.

Day 1

When we reached the river it was just a trickle under the bridge but I still had a good feeling and was confident we would see some Bass. A quick picture at the launch spot so the rescue squad would know what we looked like and off we paddled down the river. I had the usual feeling of excitement that I always have had since I was a young boy fishing for Carp, Roach, and various other fish that lived in the UK rivers and ponds.

It was only 10 minutes before Dave shouted “Yep” but when I looked over Dave was already being dragged into the snags and it was looking like he was in all sorts of trouble. “You bricked” I called out to him but I could see the answer. The fish had taken him down to a big snag and as I paddled over the top I could see the large tail of a really nice Bass. I pushed Daves Canoe over the snag so he could get a different angle for leverage and instantly the fish was free and screamed off pulling line until it found a new home in an adjoining snag. No matter how we tried we eventually had to admit defeat and the fish had won.

Dave shrugged it off and said, “Tell me, it was a big Bass wasn’t it?” I just nodded and off we paddled not mentioning it again.

A short while later as I tweaked my Skinny Dog lure away from a snag a nice Eastern Cod decided to attack it and after a few minutes of messing around it was subdued and with a quick picture he/she was returned safely. This was 1 of only 2 Cod for the whole trip which is surprising as the river is full of the stupid things (I say that with love).

We fished for the rest of the day picking up a few Bass, some on the surface and as we made camp spirits were high and we quickly set up looking to put a few hours in once it got dark. The thing is with fishing is that you can never tell what’s going to happen, and as we paddled out into the darkness I was really certain we were going to clean up. An hour later and with not one hit between us we decided to head back to camp for a drink and an early night.

Day 2

We were up early and Dave didn’t waste any time and was harassing the Bass from the getgo. The Beetlespin with a Motor Oil Paddle Tail was doing the damage and after spending some time trying to rescue a Cow (second one in as many days) we went back to camp and packed up as we had some serious country to cover and I was worried about the extra time we would need from the low water and the dragging we were clearly going to encounter.

After a half hour ride using the 2hp motor, we entered into the skinny section of the river and it was just as I expected, Dave didn’t complain as we spent the next few hours dragging through the trickle of a river and over the grabbing volcanic rocks. There was not much fishing to this part of the river and the only excitement was when we found a small section that held some fish. Dave introduced himself to them using a Spinnerbait whilst I managed to get numerous short strikes.

After setting up Camp we headed out but could only snag a solitary Bass off the surface just on last light.

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Day 3

I awoke to a clap of thunder just on daybreak, I woke Dave as he had not heard anything due to having to use earplugs as the frogs were on operatic form all night. We packed up in a hasty fashion and set off down the river keeping an eye on the storms that were missing us by only a few miles. The Bass were slow to take a lure with lots of short strikes and many misses. We were adding numbers but it wasn’t the most exciting fishing and by the time we sat down for lunch we were both knackered from the humidity and heat. Just as I was munching on my Cheese and Ham cracker Dave shouted “SNAKE”, he wasn’t fibbing as the biggest Brown Snake I have ever seen was swimming right at us with his head held high out of the water. This snake was an easy 7ft, maybe more. I jumped up and down whilst shouting “Yaaaaaa YAAAA” and as it got about 10ft from us it veered off and entered the bush just next to us. I really, really do not like Snakes.

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We pushed on and as we reached camp Dave was looking forward to his Strawberry Milkshake (this is a continuing joke from a previous trip). We didn’t bother to head out that night as the wind was howling and to be honest, I think we were both a bit exhausted from the day.

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Day 4
We awoke to rain and as I lay on my stretcher listening to the rain on my tarp I had time to appreciate how lucky I am to be able to share these experiences with people. It’s bloody brilliant and I absolutely love it.

It stopped raining and we tucked into a big breakfast, as we set off for the last morning of fishing within a few minutes we had to put on the wet weather gear. It didn’t matter though as the Bass were ON! Both Dave and I started to land fish from either side of the bank as we meticulously made our way down the hole. Just as Dave shouted Yep I`m on, I had a decent bass woof my Mazzy popper off the surface, who doesn’t love a double hookup? I paddled over and helped Dave unhook his mid 40`s fish and we had a quick picture and wasted no time in getting back into the fishing.

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By the time we arrived at the bridge to find Joanne waiting for us, we had 34 fish landed with an average of over 40cm. Not bad for a River that is in terrible shape and desperately needs a flush.

The Trip highlights were the Snakes, jeez there are so many up there this season we even had one try and get into Daves Canoe on the first day. We had Echidnas and amazing Yellow Frogs, Eagles, Kites and when you are awoken by the loudest morning chorus of what seems to be every bird in NSW its hard not to be in awe. The fishing was typical Bass fishing with patches of excitement followed by long periods of nothing.

Did Dave enjoy himself? Well, he had already committed to booking again for a Bass trip later this season and also next years FNQ Jungle Perch trip so I think he was happy with the fishing or maybe it’s the Milkshakes.

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“You do not simply catch Jungle Perch, you bloody earn them”

July 7, 2018July 7, 2018 By WRT2 Comments

A few years back before I was guiding I went on a holiday with a couple of blokes up to FNQ chasing Jungle Perch and Sooty`s. It was an exploration trip and we spent the week driving, hiking and bush bashing.

It was so good that last year I decided I was going back and thought I would take a couple of “select” clients with me. Chad & Cris were both old WRT customers/mates and I knew them well. Gavin however, was the only person that I did not know but he was so passionate from the first contact that it was impossible not to let him join us and I was confident he would fit the group dynamics.

Sunday

We all flew up and met at the Airport on a warm and humid Sunday morning. After a few logistical things were taken care of we were soon on the road pumped up and sharing Fishing tales and life story’s to pass the time.

With no time to waste we dropped the gear off at the rental house and geared up, jumped in the car and headed for the river to try and get a couple of hours in before dark. The boys didn’t really know what to expect but I did, it was going to be awesome.

There were a few “Jesus”, “wow, check that out” and “F` Me” comments as we headed up the road and passed the river. The “Achtung Crocodiles” signs made things a little more real for the boys and I think the reality of the situation started to sink in. This was Croc country and we would need to be careful.

We headed down the tracks that judging by the mud and footprints had clearly seen some activity recently. It was raining, raining hard and as it’s the rainforest and the wettest place in Australia I guess that’s no surprise.

The boys wasted no time and started throwing soft plastics and jackal blades. It wasn’t long before the first shout was heard and Cris had lost his first fish in the fast water. Over the next Two hours, Nine Fish were landed and we head back for a cold beer excited for the next day.

Monday

In the morning we set off to the local tackle shop. The guys were friendly and very curious about the fact that some “outsiders” were smashing through the local jungle. After parting with a few Dollars for more lures and other fishing bits one of the staff mentioned that the river had come up considerably overnight and this was due to the unseasonable rain they had just before we arrived (brilliant). He told us to be careful and suggested we check out some other rivers if we found the fishing tough (oddly he didn’t give us the GPS coordinates for his secret Spot X and Honey Hole).

We headed back up the river and on arrival, you did not need to be a local to see it was up and running dirty.
Bugger!

We only managed a few fish over the next hours, we had a quick chat decided to pack up and head to some small creeks and see if we could rescue the day. We drove around for a couple of hours and finally found a small river that we could access.

We hiked up the river and found some JP`s fairly quickly. After a few hours and some reasonable numbers, we headed back somewhat happy that we had seen some fish.

About 500m from the car Chad started to carry on a little bit and after a few “yelps” Cris shouted “RUN”. You see Cris had seen the massive swarm of Wasp`s around Chad`s head that was now stinging him, we all ran the best we could whilst laughing like little kids. Poor Chad copped a few but laughed along with us.

Tuesday

That morning we drove back to the main river, the water looked a little lower and clearer but was still pumping. We had decided to try and cross the river to a creek after some Intel Gav had got from a mate. We dropped into the jungle and it wasn’t long before I was stuck and had to be roped out by the boys (they found this amusing). Plan B found a better route and when we reached the river it was one of those moments you face from time to time when you had put so much effort in that you didn’t want to accept the reality. The water was pumping and I waded out to test a few spots but no matter what I did it was clear that the risk was real and if someone slipped there would be no coming back from the raging rapids below us. The boys looked gutted but no fish is worth drowning for. I had noticed a decent back eddy further down the river and suggested we walk down for a fish.

It wasn’t long before they all had a fish on and Gav had a cracking 47cm Sooty that was almost lost at the bank if it wasn’t for Chad diving in (there is a great video of this). We spent the rest of the day walking down the river and fish were being taken by everyone and spirits were high with loads of laughs along the way. What a Brilliant day.

Wednesday

We headed out West to hike into a Gorge that I had visited on my last trip. It’s a 2.2km drop over about 250m and takes about 30 minutes to walk in and 3 times that (for me) to walk out.

The river looked amazing and Gav snagged a Sooty on his second cast so hopes were high. After a few hours, we had only managed a couple of fish and we started to doubt the amazing water. One thing about FNQ even if you are not catching fish you are surrounded by the most amazing scenery so it’s hard to be grumpy. Cris flew the Drone up the creeks and River to see if we could cross but again it was running too fast.

We decided to head out and prep for the next day as we were trying to access the creek we had failed to get to a couple of days before. So another day with low numbers but we did have cold beers.

Thursday

The Creek.

We hiked down further up the river anticipating that we would not be able to walk across the river again. The fishing was slow at first but we could see that the river had dropped. When we arrived at the creek it looked a lot more promising than before. After a bit of chat and debate, Cris stepped up and walked out into the current. The difference today was that if you did make a mistake the pressure waves had gone and it didn’t look like certain death below. We all headed out with wading staffs and by the time we reached the far bank we were all a little giddy from the experience.

The Creek was something from Jurassic Park. It was truly phenomenal in every way. The fish though were seriously spooky as the water was so clear and on reflection 1 or 2 people would have been the most you would take up there. We pushed up and put 100% effort into the hike and by the time we decided to turn back we had had some decent JP`s and my legs were jelly.

We crossed the river and decided to fish for the last 2 hours up on the main river and the boys smashed them in the failing light. When I arrived back to the car Cris told me that Gav` had tried to lip grab a JP (biggest of the trip) and the fish had shook its head and put the treble through Gav` thumb. Now those that have fished with me will attest that I go on and on about crushed barbs. They are good for the Fish, they are good for the bloke with the hook in his hand but more importantly, they are good for the poor bugger that has to rip the treble out of your hand. This honor befell Cris and he performed the surgery nicely. There is some video of this but boy does it have some swearing in it.

It was a great last day and the final numbers were just shy of 100 for the trip. If we had not had the rain it would have been a 200+ fish trip but that’s the way it goes. The big Sooty went 47cm and we also had a few nice Jp`s in the mid 30`s but couldn’t find a big girl.

Dave

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When it rains it pours….

March 25, 2018March 25, 2018 By WRTLeave a comment

The weeks leading up to the trip, the activity in the group chat from Neil, James, and Miles, AKA Rewind (he earnt this nickname as he spent so much time going backward in the Canoe) started to increase significantly. Ignoring the constant banter about who was going to catch the most fish or who was going to capsize and so on, the real topic was the weather.

The trip was booked for the weekend starting the 16th but weather reports and the news were talking of a Cyclone.

With a week to go, we decided it was better to be safe than sorry and we would delay the trip for another week. Ironically the weekend of the 16th was bathed in glorious sunshine and low winds with a high pressure sitting over the state that would have surely made for great fishing.

Nice work BOM.

Three days before the boys were due to arrive the weather reports were now talking about significant rain on Thursday and Friday. Now depending on what Weather site you use this would vary by 10-30mm (that’s a lot). I don’t mind a bit of rain (I am English) but if you get 20-30mm up the mountains that can lift the water and affect the fishing (admittedly sometimes in a positive way). However, if you get 50-100mm slow fishing is the least of your worries.

The day before the boys were due there Willyweather was showing 100mm at Dorrigo on Friday. As we were keen to fish the big river this was more than enough of a risk for us to either cancel or find somewhere different.

So I decided we would head North and aim to launch at the top of a system and even though it looked like rain for Friday and the water would be dirty from a flood 2 weeks ago, I thought we had a good chance of finding some Bass.

Day 1

We awoke to torrential rain at 4am so the boys sat at my kitchen table nervously drinking coffee as I checked the Radar and every website prediction I could find. Finally, I looked at them and said: “Its on”.

As we paddled down the river we knew it was going to be a tough day but spirits were high and the lads were just happy to be on the water doing what they love.

The rain came in small waves and between the showers we managed a couple of Bass and just as we thought we may be OK, we noticed the big black cloud. Then it rained, I mean really, really rained and it didn’t let up for ages. My new waterproof coat eventually gave up and it started leaking. The fellas informed me that they were also in the same predicament and by lunch, we were all shivering and feeling a bit over it. We pulled over and I got the billy on, a cup of soup with some cheese and ham wraps was all that was needed and as we paddled off we all felt much better.

By the time we hit camp there were only Six fish on the board and as we sat and had a quick beer we all decided to have an early night and put an end to the day.

Day 2

We awoke to no rain and the chaps wasted no time in getting out on the water. Miles took the first fish and it was a cracking 45cm Bass in mint condition. Neil missed a big hit from a Bass way up under a tree near where a small stream joined the river. Undeterred he jumped out the Yak and stalked the fish from the bank tea-bagging his lure through the reeds. Wallop, it was all too much for the Bass and after a few brief runs Neil had landed this beauty.

As the morning went on there was a definite change in the weather and as we progressed the fish started to come on the bite. By lunchtime, everyone had had a decent fish and we started to get some really good numbers with Neil also managing a nice Cod out of the dirty water on his Ballista Trance proving they work well in the murky stuff just like it says on the packet.About an hour before we hit camp it looked like a storm was brewing and the Bass started to really turn it on with acrobatic takes and aggression that only a rapid change in a weather system can bring.

After we set up camp we all went out again for a paddle and Neil managed another nice high 40`s fish but other than that it was fairly quiet with only the odd surface hit from time to time. We headed back and all sat around the fire for some food, cold beers, and numerous fishing stories.

Day 3

The boys headed out about an hour before light (I stayed in bed) and as they threw large surface lures into the darkness they just couldn’t tempt a fish. They managed a couple more Bass as the light came up in the fast water and Just before returning to camp Miles lost a big Bass that the other boys said peeled line right across the water.We packed up and paddled our way down the river only managing 2 more fish before the trip was over.

With over 30 fish landed and plenty of missed opportunities, I think the boys did brilliantly. I know they enjoyed themselves as I can’t recall fishing with a bunch of blokes that laughed so much.

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The Big River

February 1, 2018February 25, 2018 By WRT1 Comment

Glen had booked this trip looking for a mix of fish and some amazing camping in the hope that he and his boy Mitch could spend some time on the water before the school term started.
The weather looked great except for a bit of wind. The moon, pressure, river height and all the other factors were as good as they could be.

I picked up the 2 of them at 4.30am from the Motel and we set off having decided to paddle the big river even though the Bass have been on a slow bite lately. They had gone for a walk the night before after we had met up for a beer and Mitch managed a good Bass off the surface on our local river.

After arriving at the launch point we set off down through the first rapid and I smiled as Glen and Mitch managed to hit every rock on the way. Canoes can take a little time to get used to and Glen confessed he may have only been in One or maybe Two in his life and he was excited to learn some new skills. He was not to know at this point that by the end of the trip he would look like he had been doing it for years.

We navigated a few smaller rapids and as we entered a slower pool Mitch`s Pompadour was smashed off the surface by a nice Cod.

The young fella was stoked and after a few pictures, we were on our way.

As the day went on Glen picked up a couple of good Cod and a 1mtr+ Eel but Mitch was the top rod at the end of the day landing another 3 fish.

We set up camp and everyone was knackered so after a quick flick and me missing an opportunity of a Bass we decided to have an easy night around the fire and a few beers.

Next day was a big paddle and for some reason, the fish had shut down even more. Things became really tough, Glen managed a couple more Cod and I eventually hooked a fish but poor Mitch didn’t see a fish all day. I don’t think he cared too much though and we enjoyed the river and Mitch loved the rapids.
Once camp was set up we headed out for a walk up the banks in the dark and I managed to lose a big Cod right at the bank (idiot). After a couple of hours fishing and no fish, we headed back and had a quick drink then bed.Morning came and after some Eggs and Bacon we set off for the last part of the trip. Just as we were about to stow our rods away Mitch had a Cod smash his lure in full aerial strike. There is nothing better than a hungry Cod hit surface strike.
This trip didn’t really deliver the numbers this guide likes to show but his clients had a great time.

The river was in perfect condition and Glen and Mitch were the most awesome guests.

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Lucky Escape

January 17, 2018 By WRT1 Comment

David had booked a trip with us back in spring and we had been exchanging emails and photos of tackle boxes for weeks and weeks.

He was flying up from Melbourne, and when I collected him from the Airport it was clear on meeting him that the trip was going to be easy at least as far as the companionship would go. We headed back to my place to start to load Canoes and prep our gear.

The next morning we arrived at the launch point, parked up and unpacked our gear. I spent some time with Dave loading his canoe as it was his first experience with one and then went and loaded my gear. By the time I had set up my rod and checked everything I noticed something really odd. The river was now up to the tyres of my Ute.

I scratched my head and tried to work out why I had parked so close to the water and then it hit me, I had not, the water was coming up and bloody FAST!

I jumped on the Satcom and asked Curto to check the heights for me and he came back that it was already 1.4m and rising.

So that was that. You can run the big river at 1.54m+ but not with fishing gear and no helmets etc. We packed all the gear away and I thanked our lucky stars that we were running an hour late as we would have already set off and we would have had a problem. Dave, of course, was completely oblivious to how lucky we had been. On the way back he did make a random demand that he wanted a Strawberry Milkshake and I put this down to him being from Melbourne. I drove into town and as all good guides should, I delivered what the client wanted.

By midday, we were now at an alternative launch point. The one I had previously decided not to use as it was still running a little dirty. However, you gotta do what you gotta do.

After a few hours on the water it was just as I had feard the bite was really tough and unless you put the lure right on the fish’s nose they were not interested.

Dave was going to take a day to get to grips with the Canoe and tune into the situation whilst I picked up a couple of nice Bass with the biggest going 47cm. By the time we hit the first camp he had not had a fish.

We set up camp and went out for a night paddle but with no hits and the fact it was 35c and humid as Hell we decided to head back and get an early night.

The next morning we made an early start after some Eggs and Bacon and paddled our way down the river. Dave just didn’t seem to get a hit and I managed a couple more fish from putting my lure deep into the cover. I was really starting to worry and felt bad as he had come so far and now it looked like it was going to be a rubbish trip for him.

In the late afternoon about an hour away from the next camp I heard “YEP” and was relieved to see Dave getting towed into the bushes by a decent Bass. By the time I made it to him he had subdued the fish and I slid the net under it (thank God).

A quick measure and photo and Daves first-ever Aussie Bass came in at 46cm, not bad hey?

We made it to camp and followed the usual routine of setting up and headed out for a fish. A few hours later and we were back at camp with nothing to show for our efforts. The wind had started to really blow and the weed floating in the water was seriously becoming a pain in the backside.

Jo had sent us a message saying that there was a weather change coming and I hoped this would be the catalyst for a better bite but sadly I was wrong.

I awoke in the night to find myself freezing. It was really cold and I didn’t have much more than a light sleeping bag and a small blanket or “Blanky” as Dave called it. Brilliant.

Next morning the Fish were totally shut down and we paddled the river hoping things would pick up. I cycled through my usual lures and tried some other wacky stuff but it was of no use and we just had to keep flicking.

We found a few more fish as the day wore on and over the next 2 days it was truly a hard slog. We did have some fun on the last night as I paddled Dave around a decent hole. We witnessed a Bass smash something off the top just in front of us and then Dave managed his first Bass at night.He also managed to have an Eel boof his lure off the surface (horrible things) that I had great fun with.

I think Dave had a great trip and even though we had a few things against us he came away wanting more as he had rebooked for spring next year.

Incidentally, amongst the 20+ fish we also managed a couple of deformed Bass that only a mother would love….

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Close but no Cigar (Hat)

December 18, 2017December 18, 2017 By WRT1 Comment

Owens wife had secretly organised a trip for his birthday back in August so when we collected Owen from the airport he was as keen as they come.

With the Rivers still running a little dirty, we set off in the late afternoon and headed for our first nights camp. We fished what would normally be productive water but worryingly the fish were completely shut down. After setting up camp we headed out for a night session but after a couple of hours called it quits and paddled back without one hit.

This was not looking good.

Next morning we were up early and fished for a couple of hours and Owen managed a couple of Boofs off the surface but they didn’t result in a fish.

We set off and made our way to some lower pools. Finally, we found a few small Bass here and there falling to our Spinnerbaits, then a small Cod. We had Lunch and talked about how we hoped things would pick up but the reality is sometimes it just doesn’t happen.

As we neared the end of a smaller hole I hooked a decent Cod and this perked us up a little so we pushed on.

We set up camp and headed out for an afternoon session hoping that the storm we could see building would get things moving.

Wasnt long before Owen was onto a big Bass and after a bit of excitement (mostly from me), it was safely in the Net.

49cm of Bass is a great fish but being 1cm off the magic 50 left Owen without a “Wild River Tours” hat (50cm Bass or 1m Cod wins a hat) but I don’t think he was that bothered and we paddled back to camp feeling victorious.

Next morning we were up early and within a few casts, a monster Cod had smashed my Pompadour off the surface. She was a cracker of a fish going 90cm and it took Owen 2 seconds to change his lure from a spinnerbait to see if we could fool another fish.

With Owen sitting up the front of the canoe, I paddled him up the river and in no time his Lure was destroyed by another monster.

For the next 2 hours, Owen was in Cod heaven.

With 5 cod over 70cm (90, 87, 84, 80 and 70) we headed back to camp for breakfast and to talk about what had just happened.

I have had some sessions with Cod but never had only Big Fish hitting the lure like that.

Great stuff.