The Goulburn has changed dramatically since my last report, and unfortunately not for the better, at least from a fishing perspective.

We knew the river was due to rise, but yesterday’s increase was substantial. The morning began with releases reported around 5,000–5,500 ML/day, and as the higher water arrived, we were dealing with something closer to 8,000–8,500 ML/day. That is an enormous change in a relatively short period, particularly after the lower flows we had been fishing earlier in the month.

The increased volume has brought a great deal of material into the river. Leaves, seed pods, twigs and branches were moving downstream almost continuously. There were much larger pieces of timber too, including entire trees that appeared to have travelled considerable distances. Some had been dislodged as the rising water reached new ground; others may have been lying along the banks since earlier storms, waiting for enough water to carry them away.

More concerning was the current itself. Several corners were carrying exceptionally heavy, pushy water, with strong boils, reversing currents and whirlpools in places where the river had been considerably more manageable only days earlier. We were extremely cautious, and still managed to do what we had set out to do, but there were several reminders of how easily an inattentive boat operator could get into trouble. This is not the time for anyone unfamiliar with the Goulburn to be experimenting with a drift boat or attempting any ambitious wading.

Interestingly, the water was still reasonably clear, particularly upstream of Breakaway. It carried some of that familiar colour associated with a substantial rise, but visibility was not the main problem. The volume, velocity and floating debris were much more significant. Even when we found fish, keeping a fly visible and getting a clean drift through all the material on the surface was difficult.

Finding fish in newly flooded ground

The encouraging thing yesterday was seeing trout move into water that had only recently become available to them.

We entered a couple of bays I hadn’t been able to fish properly for several seasons. In one, we quietly moved onto a shallow weed bed, perhaps eighteen inches deep, and settled down to watch a shaded corner that looked particularly promising.

We had been sitting there for about ten minutes when something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I looked down and found a trout almost directly beside the boat, moving slowly across the weed. We were so close that all we could do was remain still and allow it to pass.

Another fish appeared and moved into the shaded water we had been watching. It was a small area, perhaps the size of a billiard table, but it offered shelter from the main current. A few minutes later a larger rainbow arrived and pushed the brown out of position. Both fish moved away from the boat and disappeared towards the river.

It was fascinating to watch. Trout establish themselves around the water available to them, with larger or more assertive fish occupying preferred positions. When the river rises this dramatically, much of that arrangement has to begin again. New water becomes available, familiar lies change and fish start moving about in search of somewhere comfortable.

We quietly rowed back about ten metres, anchored on the shallow weed out of the main flow and began watching the area again. Eventually the fish returned. Over the next forty-five minutes we had several opportunities, but could never quite get everything to line up. Sometimes the cast wasn’t right. On one occasion we made a good presentation, only for the trout to swim a foot to the wrong side of the fly without seeing it.

After another long spell without a sighting, we decided to move into the shaded water for a better viewing angle. It’s a last-chance move but getting yourself into the same light as the fish, allows the eyes to adjust more acutely and often this makes all the difference. It seemed a sensible idea until we rowed almost directly over the fish. That was the end of that.

We had another good opportunity in a large reversing bubble line, where a trout was feeding well away from the main current in deep water. We initially tried a larger dry fly without success, then moved the boat away and rebuilt the leader with fresh 5X tippet and a much smaller pattern. The fish ate it on the first drift.

It was a lovely brown, safely netted and released, and a good reminder that even when the river is difficult, a feeding trout can still be caught if you can find it and make a suitable presentation. To add insult to injury, we were rowing into the little bay containing the take-out ramp when we passed almost directly over another trout of around three pounds, sitting quietly in the sheltered water. We had spent the entire day searching, and there was another fish virtually beneath us.

Very little happening in the main river

What we did not see yesterday was equally important. We didn’t find a single trout rising in the main runs, or feeding along the grassy edges where we would ordinarily expect fish to begin looking for terrestrials. We saw a few caddis and mayfly spinners, along with some adult dobsonflies involved in egg-laying activity, but there was very little meaningful hatch activity.

I also heard a few cicadas late in the day, which is encouraging for what lies ahead, but we are not yet seeing the numbers of larger terrestrials that can make high-water fishing so productive. At more suitable times of year, heavy flows can create wonderful opportunities along newly flooded banks. Grasshoppers, beetles, cicadas and other land-based insects can bring large trout into remarkably shallow water. At present, however, much of that food supply has yet to develop.

My advice for the next few days is straightforward: if you’re travelling to the district specifically to fish, don’t plan your trip around the Goulburn.

The smaller streams are the better option at present, provided conditions are suitable. I won’t name particular locations in a public report. Some of these fisheries are small, relatively fragile places that cannot absorb large numbers of visiting anglers, especially when the main river becomes difficult. I’m happy to discuss general options privately with people planning a visit. But this belt of hot weather should make the smaller rivers fish very well.

For those looking to fish the Goulburn itself on foot, I would regroup and reassess from Monday onwards. Even though GMW forecasts a reduction in releases from Thursday, five or six thousand megalitres a day will still be moving through the system. A lower number on the release forecast does not automatically mean good fishing or safe wading. The fish need time to establish themselves in the new conditions and we need enough suitable water to fish effectively. There is no sense pretending the fishing is better than it is simply because the weather looks pleasant.

Tight lines,
Anthony

GMW published releases + forecast

Upper Goulburn · Eildon flow and releases

Lake Eildon releases reported for 8–9 November and GMW’s published outlook through Friday 13 November.

GMW reports a rise from 5,500 to 8,000 ML/day between Sunday and Monday, with 8,500 ML/day forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday. The forecast then eases towards 6,500 ML/day by Friday. Values are releases from Lake Eildon, not measured flows at downstream locations.