▲TopFishing the Mudgee Region

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The first frosts of the winter have arrived but the fishing has remained surprisingly good. There are still natives to be had, and the trout are out and feeding throughout the day.

▲TopWindamere Dam

I have had a few people speak to me out at Camping World who say the fishing is still good at Windamere. One out of towner reports a day’s catch of 5 yella’s, 3 catties and a cod. Another local chap reported 2 yella’s on worms in 20 minutes.

▲TopDunn’s Swamp

The cod are still on at Dunn’s Swamp. Trolling lures in the late afternoon seems to be producing the best result. Jackalls, Stumpjumpers, Mann’s, Oar-Gees, McGraths and Codzilla’s are all producing good results. In the last week of the month two anglers from Wellington reported catching 10 cod over two days all caught casting spinnerbaits around the rocky points. ‘Jim from Mudgee’ also reported getting a couple on Oar-Gee lures after reading the were the go last week.

▲TopMiddle Cudgegong

The trout fishing is really starting to pick up again with the cold snap in weather. Being originally from North America, the rainbow trout is a cold water fish. With less daylight hours, cooler water and outside temps fish actively feed during the day. Included with the article is a photo of Steve Bennett, the day before his wedding in Mudgee with a superb 5 pound trout caught on a bead head nymph fished under a royal wulf . If you want to fill your bag full of Cudgegong River Trout you’d better hop to it as there are only 12 days left of the 06/07 trout season. After this time the river between Lawson Park Weir and Windamere Dam Wall will be closed to all fishing! With such a great fishing season this year and the river looking well Matt from DPI Fisheries in Bathurst said there will be regular weekly patrols to catch poachers fishing out of season.

▲TopLower Cudgegong

The Lower Cudgegong produced one real ripper of a catch during May. Jayden Morrow caught a thumping big rainbow trout on the 11th of this month. Using a lure, 5 year old Jayden managed to pull up a 52cm Rainbow Trout from…. Belinfante Bridge! Well done Jayden!

▲TopOther Locations

The trout fishing lakes around Lithgow; Thompson Creek Dam, Lake Lyell and Lake Wallace have all been fishing really well with both lures and flies of late and are the best bet for local anglers wishing to fill out a bag. Lake Wallace and TCD are only around an hours drive from town and well worth a look.

Redbank Dam: Went for a walk the other day up in Avisford Nature Reserve around Redbank Dam. Although it has been dry for a long time now, it used to be a good fishing hole close to town. I remember catching redfin, yellowbelly, catties and cod out of there as well as hundreds of yabbies. Let’s hope they get that wall sorted out and fixed. It would be a great project for local anglers to fix up the area around the dam and once the wall is fixed and to re-stock the waterway.

It amazes me that even when Campbell’s Creek is barely even flowing (and in some places bone dry) the notorious Campbell’s Creek trout can be sighted in so many different locations. I mean take last month for example, I heard reports of the fish taking baits at The Meroo Creek junction, stealing a lamb drinking by the waters edge up around the Bocoble Road Bridge and last week it was reported to have taken a dry fly fished upstream near the distillery.

▲TopOther News

Not only would it be good for those on the land if we got some more rain, but the fish, rivers and dams are in desperate need of the water. The age old reasoning of less water = more fish isn’t always true. We need the rain to start the food chain again.

Tales from down the Cudgegong: I’m still searching for stories, jokes, artwork, photos, poems, tall tales etc for the book I’m putting together on fishing around Mudgee. I know there are still plenty of stories out there, I’ve been told most of them. So it’s time for those who have a tale to tell to pen them and have them put in print.

▲TopFunny Story

Peter Orr stories keep coming in thick and fast. This one was emailed to me from one of his Sydney mates:

“Last weekend Orry invited myself and the family up to Armidale (where Peter is currently at uni) to see the sights for the weekend from Sydney. This was our first mistake. The hospitality was great, it was just the itinerary that almost got us in strife. Sunday arvo'. "Lets go have a barby at the trout hatchery about 50km's about of town, take the rods and have a fish in the river. It'll be great."

So off we trot, three toddlers and an esky full of meat. Oh, mums too. We get there 70km's later at 4pm, having to drive back to Sydney that night mind you. We see a sign, 5.00PM CLOSE. GREAT. We pay our three bucks each and rush around the outback fish zoo. "Ory, lets go we've seen enough and we are all hungry". Out we all go to cook the food on their barbeques, as we are told at 4.40pm, we have to be out at 5.00pm on dot. "Don't worry, under control, Scooter and I will cook the food in a jiffy and you girls take the kids outside the gate there and we'll bring you a feast in no time".

As Orry is firing up the barby next to the creek I ask, "hey mate are you sure we can fish in here, I can see some big trout down there". "No worries". Cool, so I grab his best rod and threw the first cast while he's busy. Second cast S.........t Orry I'm on! He comes running! "Go Scoot it's huuuuge!" I'm onto a three kg trout at least. Out the corner of our eyes we see some one else running. It's the ranger dude, jumping in to the "rangermobile" churning up some serious dust, across the bridge in our direction." Hey Orry, we CAN fish here, can't we?" Ory: "Errr ... You better go talk to him Scoot he looks mad" Great. I walk over to the guy, tail wedged firmly between my legs. "we can't fish here can we mate?" Ranger" Oh .. Well .. you can it'll just cost about $2000 per fish" Me: "Sorry mate I didn't know, we will throw it back in "

Ranger: "Don't worry it's probably dead anyway just keep it but don't fish anymore". “Thanks buddy“

I rush to Ory who is unhooking the 3kg fish from the line, "He said we can keep it, lets throw it on the Barby!" Orry

"Sorry mate, already thrown it back in" "NOOOOOOOO!"

Just another chapter in the big thick book of "Orys Craaazy Tours!" Scooter

I have received so many Peter Orr stories now we are considering devoting a whole chapter in the book to Peter. Here is another one from last week:

“I’m working at his brother’s shop and Peter is there. “So Bluey, let’s go fishing, come one, take me fishing, before I have to go back to Armidale”. “Yeah no worries Orry when do you wanna go?” ….after much deliberation by Peter: “Let’s go Friday, pick me up in the afternoon”. To which his brother Rob chirps up “Hey Peter, isn’t your wife’s baby due on Friday?”…. Orry: “Oh s#*t yeah… we better go Thursday”.

When you all see him to laugh at him at least congratulate him on his new baby boy….. which came Thursday.

▲TopFishing Maps

The first edition of “Bluey’s Secret Fishing Spots – A Map of Mudgee and Surrounds” has arrived. The maps are double sided and feature a map to locations on one side and a description of each location, access, best baits lures and flies, times to fish and species is on the other as well as a wealth of other information. The maps will be on sale through my website www.fishntrips.com.au , At Mudgee Camping World and through various other local businesses and accommodation providers. If you are an occasional fisherman or a tourist traveling through this map is absolutely essential. Pick one up today.

Bluey