Oberon Land Owners Dinner and Field Trip March 2010

 The latest members’ weekend at "Billabong Cottage", on Fish River Creek in the Oberon district, coincided with the Society’s annual Landholders Dinner (held on Saturday 13rd March 2010) and was therefore well attended. Expectations concerning the fishing were high, as the Oberon district had received good rainfalls in the preceding weeks. As it turned out, the landscape was Irish – green, but the rain was obviously not sufficient to generate extra run-off in the local streams. Fish River Creek and the Duckmaloi River were flowing low but reasonably clear, providing good sight-fishing conditions. From late morning to late afternoon, fish could be spotted cruising along the margins of the larger pools in both Fish River Creek and the Duckmaloi, making for exciting polaroiding!

The crew at "Billabong" caught and released a dozen good fish over the weekend – both browns and rainbows up to 4 pounds, all well conditioned and full of fight. As the creek on "Redbank" (the property on which Billabong Cottage is situated) is largely willow – infested, we had lots of opportunities to hone our "bow-and-arrow" casting skills there. Fishing conditions were marginally better on the Duckmaloi at "Chatham Valley" – no willows there, but some strategically placed eucalypts in which to get entangled on the backcast!

Gerhard Benz