Goulburn Valley Fly Fishing / Victoria
The Goulburn
River Journey
Four days. Four sections. One river.
Most fly fishers know the Goulburn by the places they can get to from the road. In four days afloat, you get to fish the water in between: the narrows near Eildon, the gravel pit below Thornton and the long bends beyond Alexandra, where the river heads away from the road as it snakes its way towards Molesworth.
There’s a little overlap most days, and we like it that way. A run can look quite different in the morning light, especially if someone in your boat remembers exactly where a trout rose the afternoon before.
From Eildon to Molesworth
The four days on the river
These are the usual sections, not a fixed set of launches. Water releases, wind and where the fish are feeding help us decide where to put in, where to linger and where to finish.
The drift boat offers unrivalled access on the Goulburn River tailwater.Eildon Pondage to Thornton
We put in below Eildon Pondage, where cold water runs past willows and steep banks. On a clear day there’s a good deal to see from the boat. A brown tucked against a branch is one thing; a rainbow just off a gravel drop-off can be much harder to pick out.
It’s a good stretch to settle into the trip. Your guide has time to find out how you like to fish, and you get a look at every type of water imaginable.
Point Hill to McMartins Lane
Out of Point Hill the river flattens. Shallow gravel runs give way to the meandering horseshoe section, the old gravel pit, Geoff’s Corner and the Whirlpool, where the Rubicon comes in. By the time we reach McMartins Lane we’ve fished past rock walls, deep pools, hopper banks and the mouths of lagoons.
It’s a stretch where the two boats can try quite different things. One pair might search a run with big dry flies while the other takes its time over a fish feeding in a bubble line beside a rock wall.
Thornton to Alexandra
Launching at Thornton puts us back on some of yesterday’s pools before we reach the shallow gravel of the Breakaway. The river changed course here in the floods of the early twentieth century. Farther down, the banks close in on the stretch we call the Canyon. On a windy day, you appreciate the shelter.
By Alexandra Bridge it feels like a different river again. The high banks give way to islands, divided channels and long glides.
Alexandra to Molesworth
Below Alexandra the road and the river part company for long stretches. Gravel shallows lead into deep outside bends, then into side channels where the current divides. Towards Cathkin, hills come right down to the water before the valley opens out again.
At the right height, this is lovely water for fishing a grasshopper pattern along the bank. It’s also the part of the trip that many anglers who know the upper Goulburn have never had a chance to fish.
Two boats on the same river
A fishing trip with your own people
How we fish together
Four friends, two drift boats and a guide on the oars of each. Both anglers can fish, one at either end. Sometimes the boats take opposite banks. On a good bend, one guide might hold out over the deeper current and fishing into the shallow edge leaving the willows for the boat behind. That gives all four anglers a first go at water of their own.
We’ve guided the Goulburn since 1994. Knowing when to row past a bank matters as much as knowing when to pull in. The boats can stay together or work apart and meet up again during the day.
How you share the boats
Stay with the same mate for the trip or trade seats the next morning. With several days ahead, there’s time to fish with everyone. A newer angler can work on their cast with a guide; an experienced pair can spend their time on a particular riser.
For six or eight anglers we arrange extra guides and boats, subject to availability. We keep the same limit of two anglers per guide.
From the boats
Guests on fishing the Goulburn
“Anthony was incredibly patient with us and worked tirelessly all day pointing out likely spots to cast our flies while expertly positioning the drift boat safely.”
Chris P, two-day Goulburn drift trip
“We have dealt with GVFFC for more than a decade, and will remain clients as long as we can wield a fly rod.”
Rupert Sherwood, returning client
Before you settle on dates
Planning your time on the water
Three days or four?
For the whole run towards Molesworth, we recommend four. You can spend longer on a stretch that’s fishing well and return to some of the middle water the next day. Three days makes a good shorter trip. We choose the sections with you, rather than squeeze four days of rowing into three.
When to come
Our preferred window for the complete journey is 1 November to 30 April. Unlike many trout rivers, the Goulburn can carry more water in summer: irrigation releases from Lake Eildon help us float the longer reaches below Alexandra. The lower section still needs suitable flows. Let us know whether your dates are fixed or whether there’s room to choose around the fishing.
Will it suit our group?
Most of the fishing is from the boats. You needn’t be an expert or cast all day, but these are full days outside and getting in and out takes some balance. Tell us about anyone who is new to fly fishing, or has a concern about mobility, so we can talk through the practicalities before you book.
Off the river
Where you stay is up to you
We take the boats out each evening. Some groups want a room each and dinner at the local pub. Others would rather share a country house, put the rods away and cook together. Tell us which sounds more like your group, and what you’d like to spend.
We can help find and coordinate a property, including somewhere with river frontage when available. The proposal names the accommodation and room arrangements you’ve asked for. Speak with us before settling on flights or the number of nights, particularly if you’re coming from interstate.
Your proposal
What’s included and how we quote
On each fishing day
Your own GVFFC guide and purpose-built fibreglass drift boat for each pair, flies and drinking water, and rods and reels if you need them. We plan the day’s fishing and organise the boats and vehicle shuttles.
What to arrange
Bring lunch, clothes for the weather and a current Victorian recreational fishing licence unless you’re exempt. Accommodation is included in the proposal when requested. We set out transport and any other arrangements in the quote.
There’s no fixed package price. We quote for the anglers, boats, days and accommodation your group needs. We’ll confirm what’s included and the total before you book.
Private group enquiries
Plan your Goulburn River Journey
Start with the number of anglers, a month or a few dates, and whether you’d prefer three days or four. You don’t need to have found a house or lined up every last mate before you ring. We can work through the options together.
Anthony Boliancu · gvflyfishing@gmail.com
