02-22-2008, 06:10 PM
Local orchardists are not the only group benefiting from the recent rainfall with reports of 'cricket score' catches of fish being landed at local angling spots.
However whether your score is in the double figures, or a duck, depends on the species you are angling for.
Lake Canobolas is proving popular with those with young children with catches of Redfin, with the occasional Yellowbelly, being recorded.
"Lake Canobolas has been fishing extremely well this year." Said Andrew Pulbrook from Canobolas Marine.
"Around the region, in places like Lake Burrendong, and Lake Windemere it has been the best fishing for 20 years."
Native fish have reacted well to the fresh falls of water in the catchments, encouraging the fish to feed and breed and hopefully make their way into the local streams.
Unfortunately the effect of the drought has meant that the creeks in the region are not enjoying the resurgence in fish stocks.
"The effects of the drought and the effluent going to the mine has meant that the streams have been badly hit by the drought and it will take a year or so for trout numbers to increase." Said the President of the Orange Trout Acclimatisation Society, Reg Harris.
"We have been releasing Trout fingerlings in Lake Canobolas and Gosling Creek but it will be at least a year before they are a decent size." Mr Harris said. "If we release into the streams at the moment they will simply die."
Not all the local dams are enjoying the abundance of water and fish though. Carcoar Dam is at only 10% of capacity, due to the releases of water to Cadia mine and properties on the Belubula River, the masses of large Redfin caught in the past are now nothing but a memory.
"At Carcoar they used to bring in Redfin up to half a metre in length," Mr Pulbrook said. "But now they are adapting to the low water levels and not biting."
The cold snaps are also affecting the techniques employed by local anglers.
"Fish are like us, " Said Mr Pulbrook. "When it's cold they like to be where it is warm and vica versa. Anglers need to adapt their techniques to suit the conditions."
However whether your score is in the double figures, or a duck, depends on the species you are angling for.
Lake Canobolas is proving popular with those with young children with catches of Redfin, with the occasional Yellowbelly, being recorded.
"Lake Canobolas has been fishing extremely well this year." Said Andrew Pulbrook from Canobolas Marine.
"Around the region, in places like Lake Burrendong, and Lake Windemere it has been the best fishing for 20 years."
Native fish have reacted well to the fresh falls of water in the catchments, encouraging the fish to feed and breed and hopefully make their way into the local streams.
Unfortunately the effect of the drought has meant that the creeks in the region are not enjoying the resurgence in fish stocks.
"The effects of the drought and the effluent going to the mine has meant that the streams have been badly hit by the drought and it will take a year or so for trout numbers to increase." Said the President of the Orange Trout Acclimatisation Society, Reg Harris.
"We have been releasing Trout fingerlings in Lake Canobolas and Gosling Creek but it will be at least a year before they are a decent size." Mr Harris said. "If we release into the streams at the moment they will simply die."
Not all the local dams are enjoying the abundance of water and fish though. Carcoar Dam is at only 10% of capacity, due to the releases of water to Cadia mine and properties on the Belubula River, the masses of large Redfin caught in the past are now nothing but a memory.
"At Carcoar they used to bring in Redfin up to half a metre in length," Mr Pulbrook said. "But now they are adapting to the low water levels and not biting."
The cold snaps are also affecting the techniques employed by local anglers.
"Fish are like us, " Said Mr Pulbrook. "When it's cold they like to be where it is warm and vica versa. Anglers need to adapt their techniques to suit the conditions."