Victoria’s Otway Ranges have long been regarded by the state’s freshwater fishermen as nature’s ultimate playground – Daniel Kent explains.
Entwined with what seems like countless rivers and creeks this lush rainforest offers even the most adventurous angler myriad of opportunities for catching wild brown trout. Right in the heart of the Otway’s is a little-known rise called Websters Hill which sits at a smidge over 500 m above sea level. Split down the middle by Beech Forest-Mount Sabine Road it is this ridge that gives birth to two of the Otway’s finest rivers. The northern edge drains into thick vegetation filled valleys and gives rise to the Gellibrand River while the shaded southern slopes trickle together to mark the beginning of life for the iconic Aire River. These rivers take two very different routes on their journey to the southern ocean but both offer an amazing and diverse fishery for wild brown trout.
Gellibrand River
The Gellibrand River heads north until it meets the small town of its name sake from where it slows and meanders its way through low lying farmland. This is mostly open paddocks although one side of the river is usually fringed by thick bush land. The river offers dark tannin stained water with a silt substrate and in time of high flow can discolour very easily. I find fishing the Gellibrand to be a peaceful and relaxing outing. The river doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to go anywhere as it takes a wide berth around the Otway Ranges drawing squiggly lines across the country side as it goes. Cows casually graze in the open paddocks while platypuses and ducks play in the gentle waters.
The river is choked with fallen timber which breaks the river into pools and offers plenty of cover for the trout, native river blackfish and eels to call home. In these deep pools I prefer to cast small hardbodied lures around the log jams or undercut banks to try and lure the trout out from their hiding places. The trout can often be seen emerging from behind logs and slowly tracking your lure before deciding on whether to attack or return back to the safety of their lair. It can be frustrating on days when the fish just aren’t switched on but a whole lot of fun when they are in the mood and chasing down your lure from every conceivable hidey hole in the river. My best results from the Gelli have come from using minnow style hardbodied lures from 5 to 6 cm in length. EcoGear MW62f or the ever-reliable Rapala 5 cm Floating Original are must-haves for your lure box but don’t be afraid to experiment with other lures in varying diving depths. The Gellibrand trout can reach impressive sizes of 3 kg but an average fish from these waters is usually less than 1 kg in weight. The big fish in here look old and wild, taking on a yellow colouration from living in the deep silt filled holes. Seeing one of these monsters following your lure will leave your heart pounding, legs shaking and mind spinning as you try to come to grips with such a big fish from such a placid river.
Aire River
The Aire River oozes a totally different vibe to that of the Gellibrand. There is no messing around with the Aire – it’s just straight down the line, get out of my way, I’m heading for the southern ocean. Leaping over cliffs in a series of waterfalls and quick flowing rapids, it cuts its way through tough rocky gorges; smashing, crashing and bush bashing its way out of the hills. It’s action packed and so is the fishing.
This is a very picturesque stream as most of the river features a hard rocky substrate which keeps a clear flow even after periods of extended rain. I love getting off the beaten track and exploring new spots and I generally follow the rule: the more remote the area of river you can find, the more trout you will catch. This is one of those rivers where you can’t stop walking and when it’s time to go home you will find yourself thinking… ‘but I wonder what’s up around the next bend?’
The trout here may not be as big on average as the Gellibrand fish but larger numbers and a suicidal tendency make these some of the most exhilarating to catch in the whole country. Soft plastics are my go-to lure in this region as they offer a versatility not found with hardbodies. The river is forever changing and within a short stroll you can find yourself fishing anything from 2 inch deep fast flowing rapids or 2 m deep slow flowing pools. A lightly weighted soft plastic can cover every inch of the water column, where hardbodied minnows need to be constantly changed to fish the various depths and situations. Berkley 3 inch Bass Minnows or Yep Tassie Tackle 3 inch minnows are right on the money and don’t break the bank balance if you happen to snag a few up. I fish them on a 0.9 g (1/32 oz) jighead using a constant slow roll with twitches. If the lure is pulled over a log or rock I will drop the rod tip to allow the lure to sink in the water column but I always try and keep the lure moving. Trout rarely grab a stationary lure but will often attack a lure that suddenly changes in speed or direction.
Estuaries
You can’t write about these two rivers without mentioning the estuary systems. The Aire and Gellibrand River both have long estuaries which hold good numbers of brown trout and other estuarine species. In fact it is not uncommon in these waters to catch a trout, bream and salmon all within a few casts.
Both of these rivers have reputations for producing big cannibalistic brown trout and it is the estuary systems where these trophy fish reside; gorging on baitfish and shrimp. In spring, large numbers of tiny whitebait enter the river from the ocean to spawn in the fresh flowing water. This really fires up the free swimming estuary trout, concentrating them to the areas of the largest whitebait congregations. Lures such as Rapala Husky Jerk (6 cm) or Smith Panish (5.5 cm) are great whitebait imitations and will often fool these larger trout if presented properly. I’ve found fishing them close and parallel to the bank is a good option when the whitebait feeders are out and about. Every now and then trout of 4 kg plus are taken from these estuarine waters and reports of even bigger fish being lost or sighted are all too common.
No Excuses
Well there you go – a couple of rivers to think about next time you’re looking for a trout to catch. There’s no excuse for not visiting as they offer something for whatever mood you may be in.
If you’re feeling like a relaxing stroll then fish the open paddocks along the Gellibrand River. If you’re feeling adventurous, tackle a steep rocky gorge in the Aire Valley, or if you’re feeling lucky maybe the estuary holds a trophy with your name on it.
