Shades Fishing News

I’m back again after a trip to Europe, and then up north to Queensland.

News and updates should continue again!

Thanks for your patience.

Shade

The Murray River may have a reasonable flow after summer rain but some of the wetlands in the basin are struggling after years of drought.

Scientists are facing a new challenge as a native plant takes over one of the major waterways, upstream of Echuca on the Victoria-New South Wales border.

Not only is it strangling the system, but it is spreading to adjoining wetlands and is now threatening to play havoc with the river flow.

It is called Barmah Lake and not only is it surrounded by the biggest area of river red gums in Australia, it is also a major wetland in the Murray-Darling Basin and a crucial breeding site for thousands of native water birds.

But after years of drought the most common native here is what’s called the giant rush - it is a reed-like plant that is taking over.

Keith Ward, an ecologist working with the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, says it has taken over at least 70 per cent of the lake system and some adjoining wetlands over the last number of years.

“It’s actually starting to dominate a lot of the wetlands,” he said.

“Now these systems are very rich in flora and also a number of waterbirds that feed amongst it.

“The threat is once it’s dominated by giant rush, it dominates to the exclusion of just about all other plants and there is a lot of waterbirds that can no longer feed in those type of areas.”

Fast growing

Wading through the lake, the water is still shallow - about knee deep - but that is exactly the conditions this weed-like native loves.

The rushes now surround the outskirts of the wetlands and have spread right across the system.

Even on the flood plains where there is no water, they are about two metres in height and scientists are having trouble keeping up.

Mr Ward said the problem is that it grows very quickly.

“We’ve been monitoring growth rates of 11 millimetres per day,” he said.

Scientists are also trying to establish which fish have survived the drought conditions here in the lake.

They are using what is called electro fishing, sending a charge into the water, temporarily stunning the fish, and bringing them to the surface.

Big job ahead

Zeb Tonkin, a member of the team from Arthur Rylah Institute based in Melbourne, says a majority of these habitats have dried up.

“It’s come down to a few key refuge pools where these species are hanging out and waiting for some water to come down. We’ve been able to identify these,” he said.

The challenge now is to try and create a balance and find a way of slowing its spread.

They have trialled a system of burning the clumps of rushes on the flood plains.

But Mr Ward, who has been working in this wetland for almost 20 years, acknowledges they have a big job ahead.

“It can attain a height of three metres in its adult form so you need very deep floods to get rid of it when it’s an adult,” he said.

“Already it’s half adult size so if we don’t get flooding this winter, it’s going to be there for good.”

Source: ABC News

JOSHUA MacFarlane was enjoying a typical outdoor Australian summer fishing with his mates before a quick swim across a river turned to tragedy.

The 15-year-old drowned after he was washed over a weir in the Macquarie River at Dubbo, in the state’s Central West, in a torrent of water released from a dam upstream.

His devastated family yesterday spoke out to warn other youngsters who use rivers as their holiday playground of the hidden dangers of weirs - which are almost invisible at water level.

Joshua (pictured), who was a popular teenager with a love of motorbikes and fishing, vanished during what was supposed to be a short swim on Tuesday about 2pm.

A massive search involving police, SES and Volunteer Rescue Association personnel and local council officers was launched after his friends and several witnesses reported him missing.

Volunteer rescue workers found his body yesterday. His devastated family was yesterday seeking solace in the knowledge he was doing something he enjoyed.

“He was actually down at the river doing something he loved, he was fishing with his mates,” his devastated mother Janelle MacFarlane said yesterday. “It is every mother’s worst nightmare and unfortunately now it has happened to me.”

Mrs MacFarlane said Joshua adored his brothers, aged nine and 10, and his three-year-old sister.

Joshua’s family was on the banks of the Macquarie River when police found his body at 10am yesterday, 20 hours after he went missing.

A police spokeswoman said the discovery was made 20m downstream from the South Dubbo weir.

Joshua’s father said the river had risen after water was released from nearby Burrendong dam on Saturday.

“They released 1.5m of water from the dam,” he said.

“We have had a long night and this morning was the worst moment.”

Mrs MacFarlane yesterday warned other children to be wary of swimming near weirs.

“(They) are very dangerous places . . . I just want to get the message across and to get his picture out,” Mrs MacFarlane said.

The police spokeswoman said it appeared Joshua, a Dubbo High School south campus student, had been trying to swim across the river.

Police said local volunteer rescue association personnel and state emergency volunteers had been involved in the search for Joshua.

The spokeswoman said the MacFarlane family was cared for by ambulance workers at the river’s edge after their son’s body was recovered.

Many of Joshua’s shocked school friends were at his home yesterday comforting his grieving family.

By Gemma Jones in Dubbo

Source: The Daily Telegraph

SCHOOL students across the state will be encouraged to “Get Hooked” on fishing as part of a State Government program to teach students the art of angling.

Lessons will begin in the classroom before students - armed with rods and bait - hit beaches, lakes and rivers to put into practice what they have been taught.

Acting Primary Industries Minister Linda Burney said the two-year program will be trialled at 100 schools across NSW.

“This program will introduce young anglers to the basics of recreational fishing,” Ms Burney said.

“The interactive and discovery- based program will help NSW primary school students and teachers to enjoy learning about saltwater and freshwater fishing, fish habitats and the importance of sustainable recreational fishing.”

Ms Burney said the program aims to foster a love of fishing in the next generation with the hope it will turn young children into life-long fishermen and women.

During “Get Hooked” week, excursions to waterways will be organised.

A recent survey found NSW had the most anglers in Australia, with almost one million people enjoying the pastime. A NSW recreational fishing licence is required, costing anglers between $6 for a three-day pass to $75 for three-year licence.

Mark McGrath has fished since he was three and is now passing on his skills to his two young daughters.

“I started teaching my eldest when she was about five and I’ve been fishing since I was three - it’s in the blood,” the 40-year-old said.

“When I was younger, I liked being able to catch a feed of fish for the family - I found that a real achievement,” he said.

Mr McGrath, from Botany, said his daughters Lauren, 10, and Jennifer, 7, now love the sport and he takes them out as often as he can.

“I think introducing fishing into schools is a good thing because if you can get them interested early on, it keeps them interested, whereas if it’s introduced later, kids can find it boring,” he said.

New laws introduced late last year have made it harder for anglers hoping for a catch.

Freshwater fishers can no longer leave a line unattended and those hoping to snag a Murray cod must ensure it is longer than the 55cm - the legal length.

Saltwater anglers also face new rules, including increased legal lengths for a variery of fish including pearl perch, yellowtail kingfish, mahi-mahi and blue gropers.

The State Government has also announced a new survey will investigate the importance of recreational and charter boat fishing as well as gauge the economic impact of the popular sport.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Shades Fishing News is back to business after what extended into a longer break than first thought

Happy New Year, and I hope all the best for you and yours.

I’ve been fishing the salt water at Lakes Entrance, and with the algae bloom occuring on the lakes, it’s been one of riding the tides and working near the entrance. Barrier Landing has been the most productive area of the Lakes for me on lure, taking salmon and flathead and bream.

Will be interesting to see how the lakes pull up, as on leaving, the bloom was still in full swing, with bright green water on Lake Victoria and Lake King, extending all the way to the mouth.

Anyway, back to the news, and for me, back to the freshwater greenbacks!