1st things 1st. A big thanks to Angry (Al) and his mate Tony B for the opportunity to learn about fishing in a southern dam. This is something I have not done before. Al extended the invitation to me when he heard I was down in NSW watching the rugby league test in Newcastle. I jumped at the chance to fish Burrinjuck Dam.

I have said this before, and I say it again, this forum has some great people on board and it is probably one of the only forums I know of that provides an opportunity to actually meet the face behind the name. I hope I can return the favour to these guys.

I met Al at the turn off to Burrinjuck on the Hume Highway at 7am after driving from Canberra. Formalities out of the way we headed off down the road. Al wanted to make sure I bought the Shiraz with me before leaving the highway though. I’m sure he would have sent me back to Wagga or somewhere if I had forgotten the body fuel. The drive in is very scenic but the road is fairly narrow as you drive down the hills into the dam. Al warned me about oncoming vehicles and I now know why.

The Gundagai fishing club has accommodation in Burrinjuck State Park so somewhere out of the cold was guaranteed. The club accommodation is the old original construction camp that they have renovated.

After settling in we launched the boats and headed off to some previous hot spots the lads had fished. We got on to a few redfin fairly early in the day and after a bit of searching around Al put me on to a nice Golden Perch. A few more yella’s and reddies finished off the afternoon. We pulled up at the ramp in the evening after a sunset flicking session in the trees. The other boat with us picked up a few yella’s but we did not get any connected up.

We spent the rest of the evening refuelling our bodies with a massive mixed grill and some fine wine. I had the chance to catch up with some other people who came down to fish with us.

The next day saw my alarm go off at 5am (3.30 NT time) after four hours sleep. Yep, I forgot to turn the phone alarm off from the previous day. I did apologise profusely but as I soon found out Al’s zed’s where a bit louder than my wakeup call anyway. We opted for breakfast on the dam to maximise fishing time. We had another good day playing with reddies and I managed another yella. Not to be outdone, Al picked up a nice colourful Murray Cod. After a quick photo it was released (closed season). We played around again until dusk for a few more fish and then back to the ramp on dusk. We had another good feed and a couple of refreshments and went to bed fairly tired.

Last Monday morning saw us back on the water for a bank side breakfast and more fishing. We got a few more fish but the wind really picked up so we opted to call it a day by lunchtime.

For my 1st fish in a freshwater dam I was stoked. I caught a couple of species I had not seen before and best of all got to see a murray cod in the flesh. Thanks Angry. I did try to catch a mud shark (carp) but they must of know I was targeting them. There were literally hundreds of them finning the surface in some parts of the dam. I hear they are used for flathead bait on the NSW south coast.

All in all it was a good learning curve and I now know some new language. Fish by the name of Yella’s, reddies and mud sharks and lures called AC’s, Stuckeys , slims, invaders and others I can’t recall.

nice yarn rossco some good pics there as well...I see everyone is wearing pfd's...is that compulsory even on an impoundment in NSW?

_________________

Hi Rossco,

These little perch remind me of being a kid.
This is the type of fish we were learning to fish with lures on.
At the time with some very small spinner, and in my memory, they tasted real good.

Did you try the Stuckey's lures?

Have a good day,
Pecheur

Yes it is compulsory in Dams in NSW. The inflatable PFD's are fairly comfortable to wear in the cooler weather and they weren't too bad when it got hotter through the day. The temp was 8 to 28 at the dam last weekend.

Yes we used the Stuckey's a lot of the time. They are a good lure but difficult to get.

The Redfin are now a pest list and they should be dispatched on capture. I did not try them but I believe they are okay to eat. The lads kept the bigger ones for a feed for friends.

Some more photos

Great read, top country down there relaxing fishing compared to up north this time year i bet. Well done guys

great post and pix

_________________

Been emailin for a while, thought he sounded like he could be trusted ....Invited for a fish..must say he behaved himself & definatley invited back

Met at the turn off, told me he had bought plenty of Shiraz...... & food ..

Looked forward to fishin in the fresh with an NT boy, ..not sure those Yellas pulled as hard as Bazzas though..

Great trip trip great comany, great shiraz choice. ...good cook too.

Rossco you bugger you done everything right .......even outfished the Captain !

We had great weather , a few more fish would have been great...good time had by all.

Stanging invitiation to come back

As from November 2010 Life Jackets are compulsory on all Alpine Dams in NSW, this means Eucumbene, Jindabyne, Tantangra, also believe it or not includes our tow nearest dams Burrinjuck, Blowering

_________________

Top stuff boys

That reminds me Pony, are you heading down the Murray way over Xmas. If so we should tee up for an attack on the yellas and cod.




Top Post Rossco and Angry sounds like a good host. Some good yellas he got you onto as well. Your right about being a good place to meet up with some people, I know I have met some good lads of the Forum.

Top post and pics, the dam looks nice and full