Three months between trips to NE Victoria is way too long. Our expectations were high, perhaps too high. Realistically it is late February, hot and for at least the last two weeks, there’s been little rain in this region. Fortunately despite the low, slow levels the rivers are reasonably cool and in very good shape. The country side is surprisingly green. We thought that despite the challenging time of the year the hoppers would save us.

We fantasised about trout positioned hard along the banks, waiting for masses of grasshoppers – trout candy – falling into their open jaws. But it wasn’t to be unfortunately. In the upper Mitta region at least, I suspect the fantastic rain events over January and early February, replenished the land and rivers but cruelly for us, culled the hopper populations.

With no significant hatches and terrestrials not really helping, coupled with low clear streams, we were up against it. We fished the upper Mitta Mitta (the Big) at our usual productive stretches and way, way up high. The trout were not cooperative although one session later in the afternoon did produce some action including a lovely 14 incher.

The Mitta tributaries were a different story; also very low and clear but with healthy trout populations evident! Too evident in fact as sighting was relatively easy, the catching not so much. We caught some lovely fish on small Stimulators and on hopper patterns. The hopper feeders did eventually reveal their spots and their chunky 3 lb  frames as they spooked or broke us off! These bigger fish were certainly the agony and ecstasy of the trip.

On our last day we ventured to the Mitta tailwater below Dartmouth. The flows had been reduced substantially from virtual summer flood level and are still dropping as I write. A quick session delighted us with a huge fish jumping out of the water on the other side, a polaroided  3 pounder and a healthy 2 pounder in the net. We were back on the road to Melbourne by 2 pm. I wonder what the evening session may have gifted us?

All in all the fishing was probably below par but not untypical for this time of the year. We should have fished harder early and late but sometimes fishing trips are also about recovering from hectic lives and working long long hours. Of course we always take out a little insurance in the form of exquisite wine, crafted beer, Matt’s phenomenal Duck Ragu, Chorizo Eggs & Avocado breakfasts, Rum Babas, ancient Scotch and great conversation in front of a roaring fire (yes it still does get very cold at night).

Autumn is just around the corner, the high unforgiving sun will soon become timid and shadows will lengthen earlier, transforming what seems like water devoid of trout into dark mysterious stretches of river that sometimes yield what our imaginations manifest.