Fishing & Exploring & River, Vic with Trevor Stow

This little gem The Fishing In the top end of the lake be seen chomping through There are all the usual and up the river estuary the bait schools at all times of an inlet is saltwater estuary species of perch are to be found. These of the day. They can readily fish in Wingan; including fish lie close to the many be caught on a lure such as situated in Far tailor, garfish, snags in the river and in the a silver Wonder Wobbler leatherjackets, mullet, ribbon reed in the lake. The cast into the bait fish school East , estuary perch, bass, silver perch are terrific sporting or by a fly such as a south of bream and flathead but by fish and very good to eat. Clouser. far the most sought after Whilst estuary perch can As this waterway is Mallacoota and species in this waterway is be caught on bait, they are a almost totally surrounded by the black bream. Anglers great species to pursue native forest and vegetation, north of Marlo. travel miles to catch this using lures, soft plastics or there is very little scope for It is a small, great sporting fish. flies. Motoring up the river shore fishing, except a small There is no professional using an electric motor and area at the jetty, so a boat is picturesque fishing in this system and casting into the snags can be essential. the bream have bred and very rewarding. waterway that prospered. The average The flathead fishing can Bait offers some bream is about 35 to 38 cm vary considerably from year Baits that work in other in length, 700-900 gms if to year. Over the past 2 estuaries in very good you like. A good bream is years the flathead fishing also work well here. The 38 to 42 cm and weighs has been very good and number 1 bait in Wingan is estuary fishing. 900-1200 gms. In our there is presently a good prawn. Prawn can be experience there are not population of flatties present collected locally in the Trevor Stow many bream over this in the lake. The best summer months but it is report & figure. Most anglers are flathead fishing is usually advisable to grab a few pretty happy to catch bream up the river more so than in packets in one of the bait photographs. of around 800 gms- that’s the lake. shops on the way to the just under 2 pounds in Tailor are a common inlet. Frozen prawn works fisherman’s language. species in the lake and can quite well but local prawn 28 Fisherman & Boatowner Copyright SEA Media Pty Ltd (F&B#109 - 5/2005) from www.seamedia.com.au (ie East Gippsland prawn) their boat. These are used to normally slid off the trailers get back in the boat further seems to work better than anchor the boat at both ends into just a few centimetres up the lake. interstate prawn. It is a good and therefore provide a of water. This is not This is a shallow idea to peel the heads off the steady fishing platform that normally a problem as Parks waterway and Polaroid prawns after you buy them allows the angler to see any require that boats are glasses are a must so that as they will keep longer. movement in their rod or powered by no more than 20 the skipper can pick out the Sandworm catches its line. A boat swinging free hp motors so therefore this deep water and channels. In share of fish although it on an anchor makes lake is virtually restricted to the lake itself there are tends to attract smaller fish. detecting a bite quite small tinnies. many shallow areas that will Sandworm is not as easy to difficult. Also the bottom of Boating within the lake cause even a small tinny to come by as it once was. It Wingan is quite weedy and and river is fairly run aground. can be purchased at a swinging boat will drag straightforward although Up the river it is mostly Johnsonville Store, the bait back into the weed there are a few obstacles to clear sailing except about 2 Nicholson Store or one of where the fish are less likely watch out for. At low tide km upstream from the lake the bait and tackle shops in to pick it up. the channel to the entrance where there is a submerged Lakes Entrance. A major can be quite shallow even rock that needs to be disadvantage of sandworm Boating for a small tinny. Also the avoided and also the last is that it will not last more This is a small waterway tide can be very strong in few hundred metres before than a day or two. with no boat ramps. Near the vicinity of the entrance the falls where there are Other popular baits the camping area there is a so boaters should beware. many large rocks just under include live mullet, in fact small jetty and small sandy On a recent trip one of our the water. A forward scout any small live fish, shrimp, beach and this is the only group had to jettison his up the pointy end of the crab and fresh fish flesh area that boats can be crew member as his 15 hp boat, again wearing Polaroid such as tuna or tailor. launched as there is no other motor was not strong glasses, is a great asset. Shrimp are readily available road access and the lake is enough to propel the boat in the week beds. almost entirely surrounded against the outgoing tide Getting There Most of the successful by native vegetation. This with 2 on board. Fortunately To reach Wingan, take the fishermen in this shallow launching area is quite the crew member was able Princess Highway east past inlet carry 2 long poles in shallow and boats are to walk along the shore and and look for the

Copyright SEA Media Pty Ltd (F&B#109 - 5/2005) from www.seamedia.com.au Fisherman & Boatowner 29 Look, it’s a pretty tough, fast-paced way of life down there at Wingan, so we were kind of glad when Trevor Stow volunteered to file this report for F&B readers. Just hope he didn’t over cook the sausages . . .

smaller cleared areas set aside for camping. These smaller areas are not grassed and most only accommodate 1 or 2 tents. Fresh stream water has cleverly been collected and channeled into a pipe in the camping area, which spills it into a hollowed out log and eventually the unused water trickles back into the inlet. This water has quite a tannin color. It is suitable for drinking however we make it a habit of taking our own drinking water and use this water for washing the dishes etc. Camp sites can be booked with the Conservation & Environment office at Cann River or you can take your chances on getting a site on arrival and pay at the honesty box at the camp park. Parks officers regularly patrol the area. West Wingan Road turnoff. A good quality bush pit This is a gravel road of toilet has been constructed approximately 34 kms. The in a central location to the road can be closed camp sites. Small hot plate seasonally during wet BBQ’s are scattered around weather and can become for use by the campers. quite slippery following rain Parks request that but generally the surface is all fires be restricted to in fairly good condition these BBQ structures and although pot holes are that only gas cooking be always present to some done elsewhere. This is a extent. high risk fire area and care The road is normally quite needs to be taken to ensure Ok for the family sedan everybody’s safety. although a 4WD does make This is a trap for new there is a small supermarket This is a wonderful little life a little easier. Caravans players as it does not go to and petrol stations. estuary system in absolutely are advised not to use this the lake and is usually A bush camp park has pristine condition. With road. blocked by a locked gate been constructed at the anglers limiting their catch It is approximately one lake’s edge. The park it should continue to provide hour’s drive from the Facilities consists of a grassy area cut great fishing for everyone Princess Highway into the There are no shops at into the local bush only a for many years to come. lake. Wingan. The nearest shop is few metres from the water’s Oh! Did I mention the A few kilometres further at the small town of Cann edge. This area is capable of oysters and abalone readily east is another road with River which is over one accommodating 8 to 10 available around . . . Wingan marked on the sign. hour’s drive away where tents. Higher up the hill are F&B 30 Fisherman & Boatowner Copyright SEA Media Pty Ltd (F&B#109 - 5/2005) from www.seamedia.com.au