Weather Situation
A high pressure system is moving slowly over the Tasman Sea. A weak low pressure trough will enter southwestern Victoria later on Friday before meandering through southern Victoria on Saturday. A low pressure system looks likely to develop south of the Bight on Sunday, with an associated cold front expected to move through western and central areas of Victoria on Monday.
Forecast for the rest of Friday
Cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms developing during the morning, becoming more widespread this afternoon. Winds north to northwesterly averaging 25 km/h, reaching 35 km/h at times, tending north to northeasterly up to 25 km/h by early evening. Temperatures in the mid 20s during the day.
Seymour
Chance of storms. Showers.
Max
28
Forest Fire Danger: Moderate [5-11]
UV Alert from 9:30 am to 4:40 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]
Forecast for Saturday
Partly cloudy with isolated showers until evening. Isolated thunderstorms from the late morning until evening. Winds north to northwesterly averaging 15 to 20 km/h, reaching 30 km/h at times. Overnight temperatures falling to around 16 with daytime temperatures reaching 25 to 31.
Seymour
Shower or two then storms.
Min
18
Max
30
Forecast for Sunday
Cloudy. Isolated showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Light winds tending south to southwesterly up to 20 km/h by early evening. Overnight temperatures falling to around 13 with daytime temperatures reaching 24 to 30.
Seymour
Storms and shower or two.
Min
14
Max
30
Forecast for Monday
Cloudy with isolated showers. Isolated thunderstorms from midday. Winds northeasterly averaging 20 to 30 km/h, reaching 50 km/h at times, tending west to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h by early evening. Overnight temperatures falling to around 12 with daytime temperatures reaching 24 to 29.
Seymour
Shower or two then storms.
Min
13
Max
30
Latest Updates
To those of you not using the blog to get the latest reports; what’s stopping you? I am able to quickly and simply update it, so it is getting my attention much more than this page. Use any of the links on this page to access it or click on Antony’s Blog on the left side of the page. To those whinging that these reports on this site are not being done often enough all I can say is this; all you have to do is click the Blog link. If you are unable or unwilling to do this then it will be you that misses out. I simply just don't have the time to be updating both constantly.
Introduction
The fishing has continued to be good with low water levels and increasing water temperatures in the Goulburn. The fish are becoming pickier after two months of low water and a lot of angler pressure. The best thing that could happen right now is the river coming up over 1000 Meg. Forecasts are of for humid and hot conditions each day this long weekend, building to thunderstorm activity in the afternoon. I strongly urge those of you heading up for a fish to stop and return to the car once the weather gets to this point. It is just too big a gamble to take.
Caddis are still the main fare throughout the day, but termites are the most important bug at the moment. Venture anywhere across the north east part of the state in the coming days and weeks at your peril.
The smaller rivers have not been worth fishing but this warm burst could signal the start of the better fishing opportunities. While still early on considering the rainfall we received in the past 6-8 weeks, I am betting that a lot of those heading into the hills will have enough success to have warranted the effort.
It is also worth noting that there seems to be a lot of snakes around at the moment. I am hearing this from fisherman the state over. This warm weather has meant that they are all well and truly active and the humid, warm nights (like last night) will often have them out hunting all night. Watch out for them, don't put your hands where you can't see them, stomp the ground when walking grass covered trails and if you see some numb nut in shorts and thongs, tell them you just saw two big brown snakes nearby.
Great sales pitch for the long weekend eh?
The Goulburn
Been brilliant every night except yesterday! Thing's didn't click last night and although there were good numbers of fish rising, each one seemed to be picking off a different bug to the exclusion of all others. I was wiped out after a lack of sleep in the preceding nights and so left early rather than playing mind games with a bunch of petulant salmonids.
Prior to that it has been the same most days. Caenids from first light peaking from 7am - 9.30 am. They only hatch when we get a cold, clear, star filled night. Caddis overlap the back end of this hatch and go all day in little starts and stops. If thunderstorms build in the afternoon the ants/termites make an appearance and the entire river gets up for a couple of hours. If there is no thunder activity we just get caddis followed by duns at last light.
Willow grubs are not far away now and we have a heap of patterns in stock to match this event when it starts. You also need to make sure that you have some green copper john nymphs as the fish are gorging themselves on caddis pupa. While I know this based on what is hatching, it has been proven by two old locals that take the odd fish for the table. It's ok they are REALLY old and wont be doing it much longer! *BOOM BOOM*. They both inform me that the fish are full from gullet to gut with small pupa. As a result the copper john is the fly of choice for blind searching.
The Rubicon
Is on the cusp of fishing but is not quite right just yet. STOP PRESS STOP PRESS.
THE GOULBURN RIVER LEVEL PHONE LINE 03 5770 8128 has just been updated - the river is coming up to 1000 meg today! Hallelujah..back to the rubi.
At the moment it is only getting a cursory look from anglers but as this is a long weekend and most visitors know jack about it, I expect it will get hit hard every day. We should start to hear more on it in the coming days.
Conclusion
The Goulburn has been brilliant but has got tougher. this increase in level signals the beginning of the 'irrigation season proper' and we will not likely see 130MLD again this year. This will improve the fishing out of sight. Watch out for snakes and be aware that thunderstorms are forecast for each afternoon. There is one brewing now.
The smaller rivers are worth a look and while they will be tough, I would suggest that a few fish will be caught. Expect to hear a lot more in the next fortnight on these streams.
Travel safely wherever you are going and hope to see you all sometime this season.
Cheers
Antony
See the blog for more information by clicking here.
|
