Donnelly's Creek Victoria, Australia

[spod]

Much of Donnelly's Creek runs through a restricted access water catchment area but I was lucky yesterday to gain permission to fish a section of the creek that runs through private property. I've rarely been knocked back when I've politely asked for permission to fish private property and usually the landowner has a legitimate reason for refusing access. Most of the time it's because some dill has left farm gates open, left rubbish behind or lit fires when they shouldn't. I usually drop off a loaf of bread and a few cakes from where I work to say "Thank you."
This section of Donnelly's Creek has farmland on one side and scrubby forest on the other bank. The water was crystal clear and while there were a number of relatively easy to access pools and runs, the undergrowth restricted casting a little. I'm glad I had my short 6'6" 3/4wt rod but even with that I got caught up a few times. Most of my casts were bow and arrow, daps and get the fly on the water any way I could casts.I began fishing with a Stimulator with a bead head nymph on a short dropper. On the first drift through the first slow run, I had a brown come up and take the Dry fly but I was too trigger happy and missed him. Must remember to say "God Save The Queen" before striking! That's the advice old timers used to give. I was able wade and scramble through the bush for about half a mile upstream to the point where the creek winds back into the catchment area.. I didn't see any surface activity but I caught and released a small brown trout. I'd like to try this creek again, maybe when it's a little warmer and a few more insects around. Still, a very enjoyable couple of hours in a pretty section of local creek.
Cheers,
Steve.

Small brown from Donnelly's Creek


Donnelly's Creek Victoria Australia


PS A "Dill" is OZ slang for a foolish or stupid person