Trip Reports
Patonga
Date:
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Forecast:
Mostly sunny, Wind, SE @14kts, gusting to 38; Temp, Air 14-28, Water 18; Tide, High 6.40 Low 12.01 Moon, New on the 16th.
For our last trip of the year we couldn't have picked a prettier spot. Patonga is just across the water from Palm Beach & a million miles from care. The scenery is such that you could be anywhere on the east coast of Australia yet it's barely an hour from Sydney. It was also close to Christmas, traditionally a hard time to get starters yet Damian Webber, Gary Kent, Bob Williams, Andrew Stickerman Waters & Rob Harwood dragged their boats up hill & down dale to be there. By doing so they made sure that John Roberts, Steve Tizard, Dave Miller, Steve Bunney & yours truly also got a chance to see if "Fishing Santa" would leave something under the tree or in this case, on the end of our lines.

Damo arrived early, launching at 6.00am onto a mill pond he said. He cruised around the mouth of the Hawkesbury hoping for sign of Salmon & while he saw one school on top he arrived on the scene too late to cast at anything. He wasn't forgotten by you know who because he soon saw splashes which indicated feeding Tailor. Before he knew it he was handing out presents of his own as sharp teeth shredded both flies & line. He bagged a few but with his Salmon Fly ammo A.K.A Tailor Bling looking a bit depleted he decided it was a good time to head back to the ramp & pick up Dave Miller. Bob & JR were catching a fish a cast. So voracious were these fish John feared for his fingers when washing blood of a fly. Steve Tizzard was of a similar opinion, saying if they were bigger & you fell out of the boat you would last long enough to climb back in.

By then everyone else was out there flinging away. Except for me. I stayed behind to make sure there were no stragglers & Rob had assured me he would return after he checked out the other side of the river. However Gary Kent & Steve Tizzard wouldn't hear of me waiting while the Tailor were in feeding mode & insisted I catch some fish with them until Mr Harwood returned. This I did, a couple of 30cm fish which were the average size that morning. Then Rob turned up & I transshipped to the dauntless 'Dora D'. We explored the bay & managed to find some more Tailor but due to Dora the explorer's draught we gave the creek a miss as the tide was falling. Rob had been busted off earlier just across the river but he thought with the change of tide the action would have moved towards Lion Island. So off we steamed hoping for Salmon. Meanwhile Sticker & Bugs had scooted up the creek as had Gary & Steve. Bob & John Roberts elected to head up-river hoping for something different & eventually reached the Railway bridge. Alas their trek proved fruitless. They didn't escape the Tailor. JR reckoned they got smaller as the day got hotter. Damo & Dave also nosed around the river but after the early burst of Tailor action found the going very quiet.

Meanwhile up the creek things were getting a bit crowded. Along with those mentioned earlier Brownie & his son Jackson were chasing flatties in his punt. Max Gear took his trusty canoe & his boy Jared & were also after 'Duskies'. They weren't disappointed with both Jackson & Jared showing their dads just how it's done, When asked later how big the fish they caught were both lads held their hands as far apart as they could but both ran out of arms. Well done boys, them's mighty big Flathead. That's not to say that the dads caught nought, they did. Their fish were just not in the same league. Stickerman & Bugs pushed on right up the creek before drifting back. Gary & Sticker did good but both Bugs & Steve found the elusive Flathead er, elusive.Rob & I arrived at Lion Island about the same time as the wind. Even in the lee of the island the wind was strong & generally not conducive to casting flies. We faffed about for a while then cruised back, having a peek at Flint & Steel on the way. After rumours of Mulloway the squid-soaking brigade were out in force so we kept right on cruising. By now it was getting close to lunch & as it was still to be ordered we headed back to the ramp.

The local Fish & Chip shop is famous for it's quality & they didn't let us down although the lass who served us thought it was hilarious that a fishing club had to buy fish for lunch. Back at the lunch site Steve Tizard proved what an asset he is to our club. He produced a table, 2 benches, 2 Eskies of soft drinks as well as a huge bag of mixed lollies for the kids. His attention to detail turned our usual male bonding session into something both welcoming & inclusive for Cathy, Joe & Jazz Waters & Maree, Jared & Byron Gear as well as Brownie's boy Jackson. Take a bow, mate. Anyway after doing a number on our take away that a flock of ravenous seagulls would be proud of it was time to clean up & head off. Everyone had a smile that only comes from good times & good friends & no doubt our Christmas trip will be bigger next year once the word of how good this one was gets out. Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to one & all & see you next year