Transition

Transition

Glenda | Tuesday, 31 March 2015

I started my fishing escapades as a salt water bait fisherman when I was just 6 years old. My uncle, father and I would get up early and go out in either my uncles or my fathers boat and fish off Caloundra in Queensland. My first fish was a king George whiting and it was the biggest thrill of my life in those days. The toy washing machine I had received for my sixth birthday earlier that week paled immensely by comparison. I was the only sibling out of four (all female) who would join my father in the boat on cabbage tree creek in the small hours of morning as we fished and laid out crab pots. Our most success was in crabbing much to the delight of my father who loves these crustaceans. Strangely I have never taken a liking to the taste of fish nor crabs but can eat lobsters and crayfish, none of which we ever caught.

My fly fishing days did not start until I was in my thirties when I met a man in Canberra whilst I was living in Melbourne (btw long distance relationships never work) and I have been hooked ever since.
 
I started out being guided by Dash from Millbrook Lakes - a fly fishing and guiding entity that had access to numerous farm dams that had been stocked with trout.  I continued to fish Millbrook dams with Dash long after my relationship in Canberra was over and must say it was one of the happiest times in my life.  Dash is still a great mate today. 
 
Some memories that stand out is 1) catching two six-pound trout one after the other on dry flies (black spinners) close into shore on the same dam....took patience for the first one but, with adrenalin pumping and confidence at a high, soon the second one came along using the same method - pissed the ex off no end who caught nothing; 2) hooking a huge fish in the dark of night and having it take the line on my rod through to a lot of the backing before breaking off.  I don't know who was more excited, me or Dash; 3) catching a 10lb brown on dusk.  A bit of a let down in the fight but still exciting although I don't consider it a "trophy" because it wasn't really in the wild.
 
I have fished in Tasmania quite a lot and caught some good trout, one especially comes to mind - a very nice 8lb rainbow taken on a red tag on Great Lake.  On the same day we fished Lake Arthur where I caught several nice rainbows and a couple of smaller Browns, all on nymphs - all in all a great days fishing for me.  The highlands in Tasmania is very beautiful, if not a little barren, but it was amazing to see it snow in the middle of summer up there.
 
Now, I am in Queensland and there is very little freshwater trout fishing up here so I must transition to saltwater fly fishing and different species' of freshwater fish that require a whole new set of skills and, for me, strength.
 
So far it has been a daunting task and has required me to purchase heavier rods (thanks Paul), heavier lines and flies.  I have already been on a freshwater trip where I fished for bass on a sinking line, with flies that were the largest and heaviest, for the first time in my life.  My arm was sore for days after - did not catch any bass either.
 
Soon I will be going tuna fishing out on Moreton bay (13 April, weather permitting). This will require a 10wt rod and line with, I am sure, even bigger flies than I have cast to date. I am scared of being pulled in, letting go of the rod or my rod coming apart at a crucial point in the fight but feeling excited at the prospect of catching, and hopefully landing, one of the largest fish ever caught in my life. 
 
I think I will need to lift some weights to prepare for an impending hookup but if I haven't started now, perhaps I am too late.  And what of my casting?  Hell, I haven't even received my 10wt reel as yet so practice may be out of the question there.  Hopefully the adrenalin will keep any tiredness at bay until the end of the fishing session (only a 4-hour trip). 
 
Regardless, I am looking forward to learning another set of skills that come with fly fishing in a different setting with different species and different waters.

Glenda