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Click for full size image:.
Photo 1:The area of
river being worked on; just downstream of Gilmore's
Bridge
Photo 2: Another view
before the work started
Photo 3: This photo
shows the work area looking downstream at ground
level
Photo 4: Same area
as in photo 3 after the work has commenced
Photo 5: Placement
of instream structure will provide prime cover
for trout
Photo 6: Strategic
placement of rock walls will provide fish habitat
as well as direct water flows away from high erosion
areas
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River Improvements @ Gilmore's
Bridge
Those
of you who regularly visit our site will no doubt remember the
clearing of willows at the Breakaway that we featured in a previous
news report. Now we look at the latest development in this river
improvement project. The
river improvement works are now very near to complete with
many sections of river that were previously willow choked
and inaccessible now open for all to fish. This amounts to
several kilometres of 'new' water and we are all excited about
the prospects for new fish lies over the coming season.
The section directly downstream
of Gilmore's Bridge you see in the accompanying photographs
is the final area in this phase of the project and is probably
the one most noticeable as far as the general angling community
is concerned. Those who know this section of river will remember
that the entire north bank was largely unfishable due to infestation
by willow trees. The majority of which have been removed.
As can be seen this has opened
up a lot more water and will allow greater flow through the
offshoot to the right hand side of the 'island'. This will
create a large number of fish lies and the shallow nature
of the offshoot will see extensive weedbeds establish very
quickly. In the bottom of this run a massive backwater will
form allowing excellent stalking of fish cruising the edges
and with high banks polaroiding will be first rate.
At the moment there is plenty
of heavy machinery in the river bed (river is still low) and
placement of various items of structure for fish habitat is
underway. Large boulders, logs and rocks walls make up the
bulk of the insertions. The boulders will provide shelter
for fish mid river and create interesting current seams and
pockets in which fish will seek shelter from the current.
The logs will also have effects on the current at certian
levels and will provide the fish with plenty of shelter from
predators and the bright light. The rock wall you can see
in Photo 6 will deflect the current away from the back of
the new 'island' and save the downstream end of it from eroding
away.
We should all support such undertakings
to improve our trout fishery. Not much has been done in the
past in regards to trout fishing with a 'let it sort itself
out' mentality firmly entrenched in the various Government
Departments responsible for our slamonid fisheries. However
there are changes in the wind which will see trout become
much more prominent in the state of Victoria and we should
all embrace these new initiatives. While this improvement
work is not directly related to the changes we have mentioned
it is nevertheless a step forward for trout.
We suggest that sometime this
season that you all come up and take a look at what has been
done as it is quite a large undertaking. The fact that monies
are being returned from anglers licences into our fishery
should give us cause for celebration. Also we should tell
you that more money is being sought for further works next
season. Keep an eye on our Home Page for updates regarding
this project.
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