Australian anglers battle with authorities for a viable trout fishery.

Any one of us who has met an overseas tourist angler, and today this is a common occurrence, will have heard how lucky we Kiwi anglers are. Perhaps in the past we did take our excellent trout and salmon fishery for granted, but today, with the many challenges which threaten them we are more vigilant more vocal and suspicious of any one or any thing which may threaten a resource we value highly.

While we dislike their rugby cricket league and netball teams the Aussie anglers are generally a good bunch who I suspect value our fishery more so than we do ourselves.

The following letter arrived via the Email and makes appalling reading.

“Please pass on my thanks to Graeme Hughes for his weekly reports and for providing some reality/sanity to an Aussie fly fisher who is now resigned to the fact that the trout fishing in the state of Victoria is now absolutely stuffed.  Nobody is remotely interested in doing anything to improve the matter either.
 
I have not caught, what could be considered, a reasonable trout for a couple of years now.  Plenty of 15cm to a max of 25cm fish but nothing comparable to what we catch and release every Nov/Dec around Twizel with Steve Carey.  We cannot totally blame the drought either.  Bait and spin fishos are the main cause with our freshwater fisheries dept coming a close second.  Yesterday I fished Eildon Pondage and the Acheron River for a total catch of zero and we (3 experienced fly fishos) didn't see anything over 15cm in length either apart from a large black snake.
 
I have tried to instigate a campaign to improve one small stream fishery (half the size of the Haka) not far from Melbourne.  Four separate departments are responsible.  Evironmental Protection Agency for water quality, Goulburn Broken Water for the amount of water sold for fish farms and orchards/farms, Freshwater Fisheries Dept for control of the fishery (trout are now not artificially stocked in Victorian rivers as they are an import and not "greenie" friendly) and the Aquaculture Dept of Vic Fisheries.  Guess what?  None of these departments seem to co-operate with each other to achieve anything.
 
My campaign started 12 months ago mainly because a small fish farm (rainbow trout) was diverting 98% of the river flow and returning it in an unfishable vile condition.  Didn't get anywhere with any of the above responsible departments and the same problem still exists.  See photo.  This farm lost total stock in Feb 07 due to drought and water temperatures but has now expanded facilities and continues to operate this year in the same conditions.
 
I enjoy reading the weekly/monthly reports of the management of your rivers by some very dedicated people with some good fish stories thrown in. 

Please continue with your good work in trying to control water wastage, pollution and the dreaded rock snot.  I do not at all begrudge my extensive annual contribution to the Sth Island economy and hope that I will continue to be welcome for my 3 weeks in fly fishing heaven.
 
Regards from Dave Cook”.

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