Well, it’s been three weeks now since 2017 trout season opened up and the weather goods have thrown just about everything at us. For those of you looking for easy water to fish, the options are few and far between at the moment, and they have been since opening. That said, it doesn’t mean there hasn’t been good fishing on the go, you just have to work for it.

For opening weekend a group of us converged on the Lodge in Eskdale where Scott from Indulgence Flyfishing ensured that opening weekend was well catered for with both good food and good conversation. Not to mention the wine. With myself, Scott and Ian landing in Albury for the Rise Film Festival on Friday night, we were later joined by Dave and Adam on opening morning to prepare our gear, team up and head out for waters that we had decided should be worthwhile with the varying conditions.

Scott, Adam and myself started our 2017 trout season by heading to a lovely hidden valley with picturesque views and a great creek running through it that presented a range of options. From open paddocks right up to tight rain-forest situations, it was all on offer. Of course, the fish were not too forthcoming to begin with. Hard going with a few dropped early but none readily showing themselves. With the threat of two of us ending up on donuts after lunch, things too a turn for the better as the three of us all landed good fish within ten minutes of each other. Scott and Adam hitting double-ups on a split in the creek, with the fish being found in the deeper, slower water.

2017 Trout Season Opening Victoria Australia Troutlore

I managed a couple buried deep in some slow pools under the still bare willows, just moments after the suggestion came through on the UHF radio that I might be blanking for the day. This sort of fishing seemed to be the norm for the weekend, and has continued into the last few weeks. High, fast water in the smaller streams means the fish a tucked into the slower pockets, but not really in steady feeding patterns, yet.

Rivers like the Mitta and the Goulburn are both proving interesting too early on with flows being controlled by water releases from their weirs. For those looking for riffles and gravel bars on the Goulburn, it is tough going at the moment with high flows early one washing plenty of muck off the banks, keeping the water murky, and the surface covered with plenty of detritus. Not ideal conditions, but the fish are there if you put the time in.

It shouldn’t be long now until the rivers all steady up and the fish start regularly feeding on the surface. 2017 trout season promises to be a good one. For those fishing early it may be tough, but the rivers are all in excellent condition, so ti can only improve as the weeks go on and as the weather warms up.