Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- 194602 [2016/04/21 13:33] – tyreless
+++ 194602 [2016/04/21 14:23] – tyreless
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 And so do I.
-FISHING AND THE BUSHWALKER
+=====Fishing and the Bushwalker.=====
 A.L. Wyborn.
-My introduction to the art of angling was at the ago of four. But in my youth I became an ardent follower of the game. Father brought me up in the hardest school - that is, rock fishing along the ocean front, where great care was needed to prevent being washed off the rocks by rough seas. The
-high cliffs between Bronte and Clovelly gave plenty of scope for rockclimbing; and rockhopping (which has been of use in bushwalking) became easy as I explored among the rock pools getting crabs or cuajovoi for bait,
+My introduction to the art of angling was at the age of four. But in my youth I became an ardent follower of the game. Father brought me up in the hardest school - that is, rock fishing along the ocean front, where great care was needed to prevent being washed off the rocks by rough seas. The high cliffs between Bronte and Clovelly gave plenty of scope for rockclimbing; and rockhopping (which has been of use in bushwalking) became easy as I explored among the rock pools getting crabs or cunjevoi for bait.
-Leaving fishing in salt water out as an entirely separate subject, there remains of course the fresh water, and the large number of creeks and rivers in New South Wales givesgreat scope for fish:=.ag. The great majority of bushwalkers are not aware of the pleasure they Eq.:re missing, perhaps they think that the trouble and extra gear is too much4 in any case, they say there is,no time on a walk, forgetting they are often camped from dusk to well after dawn beside some suitable stream.
-A bushwalkerfs gear of necessity must be light - "count every quarter of an ounce" - and what follows is my own personal experience of fishing with this in view. Improvisation takes the place of high class equipment and yet there la still the thrill of pulling in the catch with some practical object in view.
+Leaving fishing in salt water out as an entirely separate subject, there remains of course the fresh water, and the large number of creeks and rivers in New South Wales gives great scope for fishing. The great majority of bushwalkers are not aware of the pleasure they are missing, perhaps they think that the trouble and extra gear is too much; in any case, they say there is no time on a walk, forgetting they are often camped from dusk to well after dawn beside some suitable stream.
-The trout without question offers the best fun.. They have been placed in all our cold, swift running streams, such as the Snowy, Murrumbidgee, Goobarraganda and Goodradigbee in the Southern Alps; and the New England streams in the North, but certain regulations have to be observed. Trout may be taken only with rod and line (no tickling) and must be over twelve inches long. A rod license is required and the open season usually is October to April. The prohibition of the taking of more than ten in any one day is not likely to worry any bushwalker. A five foot length of dead acacia may be used for a rod, with about fifteen feet of trout line tied to the end, and the wet type of artificial fly for a lure.
-Early morning or late afternoon is considered the beet time. Take up a secluded position, and get the fly bobbing about near the top of the water, preferably where a small cascade ends and the still water starts, for here the trout face upstream on the lookout for insects. Do not be anxious to land the fish once on, but play him till he tires, and bring near the bank by pulling on the line, grasping the trout through the gills, while still in the water if possible. Then comes the cooking. One way without utensils is just to remove thq inside, and place the trout on not too hot ashes, about ten minutes each side. The scales and shin make a protective layer on the coals, keeping the natural juices in, and are afterwards easily peeled off. Ahl how delicious are these salmonidae. -
+A bushwalker's gear of necessity must be light - "count every quarter of an ounce" - and what follows is my own personal experience of fishing with this in view. Improvisation takes the place of high class equipment and yet there is still the thrill of pulling in the catch with some practical object in view.
-Closely allied to trout fishing is the quest of the eastern freshwater perch or Australian bass with larger artificial flies or sPinner, a number 3 hook being used. I have also used small frogs or grasshoppers with success,the frogs being easily found under small river stones. All-:streams flowing east from the Great aride contain perch. In the summer they are surface feeders. They lie in the shade cif overhanging banks or bushes and dart like lightning at a nicely presented fly. When hooked they dive straight for the nearest nest of snags, and the necessity for a strong line will be apparent. During the winter they hunt the bottom and feed on smaller fish, worms and frogs.
+The trout without question offers the best fun. They have been placed in all our cold, swift running streams, such as the Snowy, Murrumbidgee, Goobarraganda and Goodradigbee in the Southern Alps; and the New England streams in the North, but certain regulations have to be observed. Trout may be taken only with rod and line (no tickling) and must be over twelve inches long. A rod license is required and the open season usually is October to April. The prohibition of the taking of more than ten in any one day is not likely to worry any bushwalker. A five foot length of dead acacia may be used for a rod, with about fifteen feet of trout line tied to the end, and the wet type of artificial fly for a lure.
-. Murray cod frequent nal the largewestern flowing rivers where, there Are
-. .
+Early morning or late afternoon is considered the best time. Take up a secluded position, and get the fly bobbing about near the top of the water, preferably where a small cascade ends and the still water starts, for here the trout face upstream on the lookout for insects. Do not be anxious to land the fish once on, but play him till he tires, and bring near the bank by pulling on the line, grasping the trout through the gills, while still in the water if possible. Then comes the cooking. One way without utensils is just to remove the inside, and place the trout on not too hot ashes, about ten minutes each side. The scales and shin make a protective layer on the coals, keeping the natural juices in, and are afterwards easily peeled off. Ah! how delicious are these salmonidae.
-deep stretches of Water. For places frequanted by walkers,- I- have in, mind; Murrumbidgee near Canberra and the Upper Murray. at To Ciroggin. A strong hand" line is necessary, for these fish have 'great 'strength ikrid the ifumber 7/0 hook should be baited with a large frog, inussa-s-,Parts- of bilLds rrAtits4-ii fac any kihd of flesh. night fishlIng briAss best - results *nd't vet line- Overnight's takes Up very little of -on0,s time.- One warning do not lift the fish through the gills as there are sh%ilo edges itside Which can cause A nasty gash;-ot co-urse, we could not lift the hundred pouridor at all. October And November i81.the GlOg season,
-wh4n, ,spawna_n-g ,va-kas _
+Closely allied to trout fishing is the quest of the eastern freshwater perch or Australian bass with larger artificial flies or spinner, a number 3 hook being used. I have also used small frogs or grasshoppers with success, the frogs being easily found under small river stones. All streams flowing east from the Great Divide contain perch. In the summer they are surface feeders. They lie in the shade of overhanging banks or bushes and dart like lightning at a nicely presented fly. When hooked they dive straight for the nearest nest of snags, and the necessity for a strong line will be apparent. During the winter they hunt the bottom and feed on smaller fish, worms and frogs.
-Next to trout. 1;11111.1; I h-ayik had-, mory tun with eels than any other inh-ab itant of our streams; prz bab2..ry they are -so- easy to catch And so abunchlt tvary pool in small ca.-eek,tr river seem il to. have its eel, or perhaps I should say every eel seems to have its part of a pool. Eels are found on both side0 of the Divide;tazt comparatively-little is known of their habits. Theo- females grow much
-larger,. th ant:the andAnake extretie:trlong journeys -Cdverland if necessary) to the oceans to spawn,- J while- the male remains away upstream.
+Murray cod frequent all the large western flowing rivers where there are deep stretches of water. For places frequanted by walkers, I have in mind the Murrumbidgee near Canberra and the Upper Murray at Tom Groggin. A strong hand line is necessary, for these fish have great strength and the number 7/0 hook should be baited with a large frog, mussels, parts of birds or rabbits, in fact any kihd of flesh. Night fishing brings best results and a set line overnight takes up very little of one's time. One warning - do not lift the fish through the gills as there are sharp edges itside which can cause a nasty gash; of course, we could not lift the hundred pounder at all. October and November is the closed season, when spawning takes place.
-Y.Ou 0/11-1- 6,ay ,"fazr(*. eating those slizny thinge'll but once prej4 dice
-is overa.Onlle'':'3314ii
+Next to trout I think I have had more fun with eels than any other inhabitant of our streams; probably because they are so easy to catch and so abundant. Every pool in small creek or river seems to have its eel, or perhaps I should say every eel seems to have its part of a pool. Eels are found on both sides of the Divide but comparatively little is known of their habits. The females grow much larger than the males and make extremely long journeys (overland if necessary) to the oceans to spawn, while the male remains away upstream.
-:ii 01an,wilite" flesh is tasted, no further persuasion will be necessary-; htht Wa must catchour eel,. and one up to about three to four feet
-weighing four to eighty pounds is beet for eating. A strong hand line is needed-, using a nutter 6/0 hook or number 9/0 hook for large eels. The hook being preferably. attached by four inches of wire trace to prevent cutting by the many row's of teeth or rather serrations, 14 the eel's mouth. Frogs, grubs or any kind of meat can be used for bait. They will take even a piece of salami sauea ge being, 1 think, the only living creatures to do this, not counting bushwalkers.
+"Ugh!" you will say, "fancy eating those slizny things", but once prejudice is overcome and the clean white flesh is tasted, no further persuasion will be necessary. First we must catch our eel, and one up to about three to four feet weighing four to eight pounds is best for eating. A strong hand line is needed, using a number 6/0 hook or number 9/0 hook for large eels. The hook being preferably attached by four inches of wire trace to prevent cutting by the many row's of teeth or rather serrations, in the eel's mouth. Frogs, grubs or any kind of meat can be used for bait. They will take even a piece of salami sausage being, I think, the only living creatures to do this, not counting bushwalkers.
-eels can be caught any ;time, but easiest at night when they always venture fromtheir rocky homos. Again the zet line may be used tied to a tree perhaps - and the eel picked up next morning - it s so simple. If you were to wait for the demise- of an-eel after taking it out of water, you would die of starvation, so the best Way-is to dispatch it quickly by knife through the brain. Then comes the job of skinning before cleaning. Cut a hole in the lower jaw and hook the eel by this 'to a broken twig on a tree. Then cut the skin right round the body close to the ,head and use two hands, with sand if necessary for a grip, to peel the skin right back and off, the tail. The -eel may be boiled, fried or wound round a stick and grilled d'Ia'barbiocue, but very large eels require boiling first to ramove the fattimiss.
--ca,,ayfish rasp provide a limited amount of meat but should be caught only fo-od 3-6 urgently needed, as they are the scavengers which help to keep our creeks clean. When brought to the surface hanging to the bait, a walker would have to tip them .by hand. Quickness is neede_d here to grasp them by the back of the headIfor the large nippers on. some of these crustaceans could damage a man's finger.
+eels can be caught any time, but easiest at night when they always venture from their rocky homes. Again the set line may be used - tied to a tree perhaps - and the eel picked up next morning - it is so simple. If you were to wait for the demise of an eel after taking it out of water, you would die of starvation, so the best way is to dispatch it quickly by knife through the brain. Then comes the job of skinning before cleaning. Cut a hole in the lower jaw and hook the eel by this to a broken twig on a tree. Then cut the skin right round the body close to the head and use two hands, with sand if necessary for a grip, to peel the skin right back and off the tail. The eel may be boiled, fried or wound round a stick and grilled a la barbecue, but very large eels require boiling first to remove the fattiness.
- This idea of combining a little fishing with bushwalking can give consi4- erableplpasure, especially on long trips, where a little time can be' allowed on the itinerary., and A rest is gainedat ths same time. Then,toot freslz. meat is very often welcome-and lendS liarietY td titt;i "taele we are forced to oarry.
-The weight of fishing gear is negligible, just a few well chosen hooks, artificial flies and a piece of line, yet in an emergency, such ag getting lost, these few extras could mean sustenance for a considerable time.
+Crayfish also provide a limited amount of meat but should be caught only if food is urgently needed, as they are the scavengers which help to keep our creeks clean. When brought to the surface hanging to the bait, a walker would have to take them by hand. Quickness is needed here to grasp them by the back of the head for the large nippers on some of these crustaceans could damage a man's finger.
+This idea of combining a little fishing with bushwalking can give considerable pleasure, especially on long trips, where a little time can be allowed on the itinerary, and a rest is gained at ths same time. Then, too, fresh meat is very often welcome and lends variety to the dried "tack" we are forced to carry.
+The weight of fishing gear is negligible, just a few well chosen hooks, artificial flies and a piece of line, yet in an emergency, such as getting lost, these few extras could mean sustenance for a considerable time.
 THERMOSTATS FOR BUSHWALKES (PART 11) By "Bush Chemist"
 Man, though he may be cold-hearted, is warm-blooded, and his body temperature normally remains amazingly constant at 98.4 degrees F. Most folk 0 know that the body is cooled by the evaporation of sweat from the sebaceous