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Fishing Russell River

     
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Fishing the Russell or the Abbot and Costello Show.

 After wrecking Chris Jones canoe I decided that further freshwater fishing would be done from the bank or in a small punt. To that end I mentioned to mate Dave ”Lumpy” Milson that I was in the market for a punt and a small motor” no worry’s” says Lumpy “I have just the thing, pay for the motor and you can have the punt thrown in”! Sounded all right to me as the motor had only done about 10 or so hrs. But I was a bit worried about the punt as it came with a baling bucket!

Lumpy suggested I meet him at Miriwinni, we would drop my Ute of at the Brampston Beach Rd Bridge, and then both drive up to the Highway Bridge and fish back down with the current.

That was the easy part, getting the punt down to the Russell was a different matter, as the track was washed out and the Hamill grass was about 3m high! We duly put all our gear, camera’s rod etc etc and the baling bucket in the punt. To say the punt was a bit knocked about was an understatement, it was positively falling apart, I think it was only the silicone holding it together!

We duly started dragging it through the grass with a “The rivers over there somewhere!” We’d gone about half way when I disappeared in to the undergrowth having fallen over hidden log. No sooner had the words “stop playing about, you silly old fool” came out of Lumpys mouth, when he’s fallen head over heels into the Hamill grass, rolling down to the river at an astonishing rate! Laugh, I’m trying to right myself, laughing my head off, Lumpy is rolling around like a beached whale, laughing his head off as well. Anybody looking down from the highway must have thought it was some weird pre-fishing ritual, anyway after Lumpy had finished his rolling about we had no trouble dragging the punt to the river. But I think that set the tone for the days fishing!

I must say that the Russell is one of the prettiest rivers I’ve seen, clear, sweet water and plenty of snags. We pushed off into the current using the paddles to steer, we’d left the motor behind as the river was fast flowing and wasn’t required.

I started of using my 4kg outfit but found it wanting, as the lures we were using were smaller than I use for the “Sooty’s” in the creeks and lagoons around the Kennedy valley. I soon switched to a small spinning reel and a lighter rod plus some tiny poppers out of Lumpys tackle box. I was also having trouble adjusting to the fast current, not only did you have to cast ahead but the line had to be kept out of the water, other wise it was picked up by the flow. I think Lumpy’s words were “You can teach an old dog new tricks but its not much fun watching”!

Lumpy soon had a couple of “Sooty’s” in the boat whilst I was still working it out, but work it out I did, but couldn’t manage to hook one. At one stage there must have been ten fish all bobbling the lure but not hooking up. This was to be the story for most of the trip as we saw plenty of fish but would they get fair dinkum, no way. I knew it wasn’t only me as the “Maestro” wasn’t hooking up either, this from the man who promised me heaps of “Sooty’s, Jungle Perch and Tarpon” He even went so far as to later send me an email with a pic of a nice Tarpon, I believe you, mate! We should have been their yesterday!

We worked our way down stream enjoying the day; great shouts when lures were attacked followed by plenty of “Bugger’s” when they failed to hook up. The trip down was mostly uneventful, except for periodic stops to bail out and once when Lumpy decided to stand up throwing me out of the boat! Luckily it was in the shallow part and I’d managed to jump out, but I was back in that boat quick as, we’d seen one or two large croc’s on our way down!

At this stage Lumpy had two or three fish including one about 50mm long and I was fishless but to my credit had worked the stream out and was fishing with more confidence. It had almost looked as if I had left my run to late before a nice “Sooty” finally grabbed my well-placed lure; they really are fun on light gear. A Bronx cheer from Lumpy and it wasn’t long before it was at the boat, photo’d and released. That was to be the last fish of the day as we’d reach the Brampton Beach Rd Bridge and access point to my Ute. Getting the punt out and up the hill to the Ute wasn’t to hard but the big-fella was puffing and blowing by the time we got to the top!

In summary, the fishing was a bit slow, three or four fish for about 4hrs drifting down stream but what a nice day.

 Good company, a great river to fish and as a plus I learnt something, time to get some lighter gear and some smaller lures! For me fishing is about getting on the water, have an enjoyable day and if you catch fish that’s a bonus. Now to get the punt welded up! I reckon it will be a little ripper pushed along by my electric.

Jim (Jimbo) Lee  -  www.un-reel-sportsfishing-adventures.com.au