The Swampy is one of Australia's best trout rivers and we conduct drifts there on set dates or by arrangement from November through until April. Drive up and fish this river with us.

Taking bookings now.

Where and When

As the Swampy is a five hour drive from Melbourne, we base ourselves up there for 7-10 days at peak times each season. We stay locally and meet clients at the dam wall each morning or pick them up from local accommodation on arrangement.

For those with a few days up their sleeve we also offer packages with guiding on other rivers in the region including our wilderness hikes for those wishing to make the most of their time in the mountains. Many clients fish some days in the boat and some on our rivers in the area with us. Some also choose to add a float trip to the beginning or end of a longer stay in the Snowy Mountains.

The Swamp Plains River

In our opinion, the Swampy Plain River at Khancoban N.S.W is one of Australia's best trout rivers. We have been drifting it now since the mid 1990's and we can confidently say that it is one of the best rivers to drift/float.

Huge gravel bars that seem to run for miles are typical, with many of the best drop offs only accessible from the boat. Excellent indicator nymphing can be expected with a dry/nymph combination the most popular method used. However having stated the way most people fish it, the Swampy also offers a lot of opportunities to fish dry flies to rising fish that many people are unaware of.

Occasionally the need to work gravel bars across and down will arise during times of high flow, but most of the time we will pull in behind the bar with the raft and employ upstream nymphing techniques. Some very large fish have been taken this way. 

Browns average between 1-2 lb with a good chance at fish between 3-4lb. Rainbows are caught at a lesser rate but are usually also of a good size and in great condition. Browns are most often found behind shallow gravel bars and also tucked in close to the edge seeking shelter from the main currents. Rainbows are more often found out in the open and are prone to attacking the surface fly in any depth. Suffice to say that the fishing is simply as good as you fill find on an Australian river.

Hatches of Kosciusko duns and caddisflies are also often superb. Evening rises can be a huge event with every fish in the river up and rising. The best evening rise sessions in Australia that we have ever experienced have been on this river with numerous fish big fish rising until dark.

The special techniques we have developed for fishing from the raft have come from the experience gained by being Australia's longest established drift boat operators. We drift the Swampy regularly and the Goulburn everyday and have developed an array of techniques to enable us to cope with any situation that arises.

One of the special attractions of this river is the excitement of fishing with large grasshopper patterns. Geoff Hall spent a number of years teaching in Corryong and it was here that he developed many of his hopper patterns while tempting fish after school each afternoon. The 'splat' of a large terrestrial can, at times, draw Swampy fish from great distances.
This makes a visit outside of the scheduled times well worth it with January, February and March often offering fishing of the highest calibre. Fishing with large size 8 rubber legged hopper patterns in the heat of the day can be outstanding. These trips are done on arrangement. Call for more information or keep an eye on the website for dates.

Details

Drifts start at Khancoban Pondage at 9am and finish just before or just on dark (about 9pm) at Bringenbrong Bridge. We can finish earlier if you need to get off the water before dark. Flyfishers can book on their own at the one person rate ($500) or bring a friend along for an additional $200. ($500 for one angler, $700 for two). A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking as is a valid credit card. For more information on prices click here.

There is a maximum of two anglers per drift (if you bring a friend; if you don't you will be on your own). The price includes all flies and any terminal tackle needed, drinks, snacks, lunch and a full day guided float fishing on one of the best rivers in the country.

Dates

Swampy Plains raft trips are run at scheduled times each season but this is not the only time they are available. Phone us to discuss the options as we can pretty much do them anytime based on having two participants do two days minimum. As such we can arrange weekend trips for people or customise trips of any duration, at any time of the season. Combinations including drifiting the Goulburn or Mitta Mitta River are available.

Please phone/email for more information or to book.

To book or for more information phone us on Free Call 1800 458 111