People started to turn up at the Avoca car park just before dawn, an indication of how keenly anticipated this outing was. It was a good turn out with a dozen or so members moving off as soon as there was enough light to see. It was the usual trek in; part slippery, part life threatening, part strenuous, all scenic. The weather gods were smiling with blue skies and mild temperatures making for a very pleasant winter’s day. The swell wasn’t overly large but big enough to make the north facing ledges the safer to fish.

The members split into 2 groups without any discussion. The newer members with some of the mature gentlemen took up possies on the quieter ledge with the young Turks heading off ‘round the bend. The main focus of the previous weeks fly tying had been directed towards this trip and multitudes of bread flies prepared. The target species was drummer but any thing is possible with lots of bread berly in the water so bream or black fish were not out of the question. So it was out with the large buckets and soon clouds of white berly mixed with the swell and drifted down. Any minute now!

The minutes stretched out but for some the novelty of rock fishing with fly gear coupled with the sparkling morning made the time just slide by. The water was amazingly clear and it was easy to see Fairy Penguins hunting the small bait fish that had been attracted by our berly. The new guys found out how hard it was to get their flies down deep enough. The swell combined with floating lines kept everything almost on the surface. We now know what a sink tip is but at the time it was frustrating. Watching out for waves and dancing backwards are par for the course on the stones. Even so every one got wet, Ken and John more than most, with their impromptu wet tshirt contest judged to be a tie.

As previously mentioned the day was almost perfect. If only some one had told the fish. ‘Round the bend the rest weren’t fairing much better. Much berly but no fish. Actually no fish except for Jim Hyatt, who picked “the” spot and found 5 drummer right at his feet. That we still spoke to him speaks volumes for our member’s character. Well done Jimmy. The decision was made to pull the pin towards mid day and we straggled back to the car park to dry off and enjoy good company and a great Barbie. Jim showed off his latest invention, a minimalist stripping “basket” made from of all things a garden hose holder and whipper snipper cord. Light, functional and cheap as chips! It made it a lot easier to forgive his poor form in hogging all the fish. The only sour note was when Pete Frere left his rod leaning up against his car while attending the Barbie from where it was stolen. May you only catch grief you thief. Apart from that it was another great day, shame about the fish.