Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Johnny Mitchell on December 09, 2010, 11:41:29 AM
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Lake Awoonga, As at 09/12/2010 06:00 -0.69m 'til 100%.
For the first time in over a decade Awoonga's wall is set to flood over.
The addition of 10 m of extra wall, from 2002 has since allowed the lake to reach record high levels.
Awoonga has risen around 45cm in the space of about a week. Currently it's sitting at about 39.31m out of it's holding capacity of 40m.
The lake is a bonza waterway. Creeping in on the 14th barra stocking year celebration, (started 1996), it's looking like an overflow will beat that birthday.
Eyes will be on many waterways this Christmas, 2010.
Johnny
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Yep, just got back from a drive out there (needed to put bub to sleep) and the road at the area where the skiers gather has dissappeared. Many are backing January for the spill but i reckon it will be this year.
Cheers Shaun
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Ground is saturated and will only take a couple more goods down pours.
Itching to get out Friday night, 5 days of hot weather should liven things up
Regards
Earl
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yeah john
i will predict that the dam will go over on the 20th dec, it wont make the new year. stocking of the fingerlings will take place around the similar time. talking to the hydrologist today and 80mm will have the job done, and with the up and coming poor weather predicted for the next week it may go close by next wed.
cheers
kurt
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Keeping an eye on several impoundments Johnny!
Interesting times ahead. I haven't been to Mondy for about 5 weeks, but it too is looking likely of reaching it's full capacity in the very near future from reports. I don't think it has really settled from the last rise.
Good reports are coming from Kinchant and Tinaroo at the moment which is great to see.
Have your charters on Awoonga slowed a bit with clients scared off with all the rain we've had or are they keen to rip into 'em still, hoping the later??? :youbeauty
Dave
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As seen elsewhere, a dam that over tops can & will see some fish go downstream. This can have anglers with mixed thoughts, however even in a major flood event, only a small percentage of fish will go "over the top" or "through the gates". But those few can trigger a massive boost to the fishing downstream with little or no impact on the lake upstream.
I'll bet you start seeing alot of kayaks & canoes in the Boyne River around Pikes Crossing down to the Bruce Highway & right down to Boyne Is & upto South Trees Inlet within weeks of the overflow & a few fish get caught.....closed season not with standing.
Thanks for the updates Johhny & co....
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Its amazing to see just how far the bass got washed out of NPD. I heard they have never open the # of gates as they did a month or so ago. The damage I saw down at the lilly pond was amazing. An absolute torrent of water it must have been. Some of those fish are probably making their way up into creeks all the way up and down the coast or so I have been told.
Are there any crocs up that way. Would would have thought a yak might be a little scary wouldn't it ?
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Brissybass,
yeah there are a couple, i would not be too concerned over it. below the dam wall there is swimming hole about 3 km down stream, havent heard of any kids been taken, so that should help the confidence. we electrofished below the wall last month and found again a massive amount of recruit fish, couple of jacks and a few tarpon. you can get the yak in at pikes crossing (as fitz said in the above post). there has been a massive explosion of the creekies at the moment around the area, the calliope is full of 500-600mm fish. i suppose its a waiting game, not a great deal we can do about fish going over the wall. i will get some photo's as i will be going below the wall today.
JM,
took a run to 12 mile lagoon saturday, pretty muddy, but lest say it was worth it. the natural recruitment is massive from last year, 3 tagged fish out of 22. got this little fellow in 45 foot of water on a lipless crank, hopping it through the school i found in the basin.
cheers
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Good to see you got a couple of Jacks recruited for your brood stock Kurt. Might replace the ones that went missing a while ago. :thumbsup
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Thanks Kurt. The barra recruits over the last two seasons in the CQ coast region have been very bloody good haven't they!?, (esp. 2010.) 12 mile is in good form, thanks for sharing that.
500-600mm fish are a good sign. Imagine what else lies in all those quiet waters rarely fished or visited. Apparently the flood plains half way to Stanage were alive with juv. barra after the wet this year. I poked into a local 'google waterhole' last week on the springs, when the sun showed itself again- and the action in that pool was exciting. Mullet didn't want to be there, but the small barra had a field day. I didn't wanna be there either- 9 gazillion mozzies, but enough evidence was seen to tell a story. Recruits far and wide. The last 24 months in the narrows and local has shared way more small 50-75cm barra than I can remember for over a decade, so things are looking good which is refreshing news for the species. I found a good patch of adults in October, in an area where they don't normally hang out- but I suppose this season aint normal and the fish mimic the season and go where conditions take them- but atleast the scenery was awesome, it felt like you were remote in your own mangrove forrest in an untouched world. When are you going to do some acoustic tagging on narrows barra? That data will blow a lot of people's minds on barra patterns.
The lake won't take much to go over, I'm with you there, if it came up 45cm in about a week from no major rain/flood event and just common falls. A couple of good storms, or heavy showers in the right spot will see it push its limits. There has been some heavy rogue showers that dump a good bit of water for the short time they hang about. We had one in town here last night- intense, but short, enough to fill a boat up for a big mullet to stay alive in.
It's only been the last few years where good numbers of 40-50cm barra haven't turned up on angler's lines in the lake. The smallest we have landed in the last 22 months has been 82 or 84cm.(one or the other)
They did show themselves at those (40ish) small sizes from each stocking for the decade before, but man, look at the size of the lake now. This is the first season where the task for 1 guide to fully grasp one waterway on their own has stepped up 3 fold. I poked up a side alley a month ago, then into a side stream off that alley, then off into a creek bed, then onto a large side flat. There was like 4 systems in one, and all of this was out of eye shot from main travel routes- low and behold, guess what was way up the back of it in the shallows- yea, barra. Miles from anywhere typical. Given how dynamics change quickly, it is impossible to watch it all develop. The lake has met it's glory level. At the very least it's depth shouldn't change too much from here on in, allowing anglers to nut out its new secrets.
Johnny
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Is that the wrong pic or are my eyes playing tricks; it looks like the water hasn't met the tree line in the rear background?
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behind kens, where the boat is anchored it was dry in september last year. friggin weird..... i have been casting from the shallow into the deep, massive deep school over there at the moment. havent fished it for over 6 months, but the late arvo boofing action is amazing out there at the moment. hopefully i will get some more time out there soon to enjoy some fushin.
cheers
kh
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with 100mm predicted for the weekend, i will be out there to see the first dribble from pole position (got a pass for the wall whilst its is flowing). 0.65 to go as of this morning, excited to see this happen, the dam needs a good flush. anyone from the rockhampton area? keen to see some pics from the barrage in the next couple of days. i have organised a media release for the next couple of days for when it goes over. ofr further info go to the gawb website.
cheers
kurt
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As at 4pm Friday afternoon less than 0.5m to go, plus had 24mm rain over night.
Predicting 36-65mm rain over next 4 days, if that’s correct Awoonga will be over within the week.
More up to date Awoonga spillway heights
http://www-cluster.bom.gov.au/fwo/IDQ65392/IDQ65392.539086.tbl.shtml (http://www-cluster.bom.gov.au/fwo/IDQ65392/IDQ65392.539086.tbl.shtml)
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2850;image)
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2852;image)
http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2854;image
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Thanks for the update Earl. :youbeauty
Man Oh Man, What a sight it's going to be when it does spill over!
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with the 78mm of rain out at the dam in the last hour. i would say tomorrow sometime she will be over (wont take long).
keen to see it...
cheers
kurt
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with the 78mm of rain out at the dam in the last hour. i would say tomorrow sometime she will be over (wont take long).
keen to see it...
cheers
kurt
Bloody hell....
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Been a while since the Boyne has seen a flush like it's going to get soon. :OMG
Five days on the Boyne & Awonga are my plan for the new year, might have to check the leader on the whiting rod ::)
Cheers Andrew
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...the tide is high and I'm holding on (Blondie)
Sat Dec 11 1740Zulu
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ok.... time to set the polls for the witching hour for the dam.... im going to say 2pm tomorrow morning, remember i can call for opening the valves on demand. :P :P :P
cheers
kurt
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anyone from the rockhampton area? keen to see some pics from the barrage in the next couple of days.
cheers
kurt
G'day Kurt
A few snaps of The Mighty Fitzroy River for ya mate (as at 5pm Sat 11/12/10). Still got about a meter to go yet............. at least.
Barrage Area
(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/9771/pc113963large.jpg) (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/pc113963large.jpg/)
(http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/4879/pc113962large.jpg) (http://img72.imageshack.us/i/pc113962large.jpg/)
(http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/9914/pc113968large.jpg) (http://img697.imageshack.us/i/pc113968large.jpg/)
(http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/4783/pc113974large.jpg) (http://img573.imageshack.us/i/pc113974large.jpg/)
(http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1728/pc113975large.jpg) (http://img253.imageshack.us/i/pc113975large.jpg/)
Riverside Park, Quay Street
(http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/6300/pc113989large.jpg) (http://img691.imageshack.us/i/pc113989large.jpg/)
(http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9319/pc113990large.jpg) (http://img263.imageshack.us/i/pc113990large.jpg/)
(http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3113/pc114002large.jpg) (http://img337.imageshack.us/i/pc114002large.jpg/)
(http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/7271/pc113977large.jpg) (http://img547.imageshack.us/i/pc113977large.jpg/)
The new boat ramp & Pontoon, Quay Street
(http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6167/pc113986large.jpg) (http://img210.imageshack.us/i/pc113986large.jpg/)
I'll get some better photos on Monday as it reaches its peak.
Cheers
Jono
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Bracey,
The Christmas lead-up and the weather from the last month or so has quietened the client and angler numbers at the lake in the last two weeks. Yesterdays charter resulted in more timid strikes than fully commited fish, but eventually we made a few fish make mistakes and strike rather than just look. The trip before that scored a couple around 100cm and the trip before that about the same. 95cm, 105cm type class. The trip before that we landed just one with another breaking the leader loop knot, boatside. The new water rise is good in my train of thought. I have some plans.
If anyone is interested, now would be a good time to come- why, because every lead up to Christmas leaves a car park and caravan park empty- the lake to yourself.
Johnny
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the first time the dam wall on the boyne side has ever been wet at the new dam hieght as of 12:30pm.
cheers
kh
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Do they close awonga and monduran to recreational use when they are in flood. Would be a bugger to drive all that way only to find it closed to fishing
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at this stage the dam will be on watch, as we will be closing the boat ramp and the white pearly gates if the flow rates become a danger to the public. as it stands i will be keeping the ramp access available until further assessment of debris and other obstacles. to all members wishing to venture out there, please dont hammer up the dam flat biscuit and keep well clear of the dam wall boundaries.
cheers
kut
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ok.... time to set the polls for the witching hour for the dam.... im going to say 2pm tomorrow morning, remember i can call for opening the valves on demand. :P :P :P
cheers
kurt
Kurt, I'm sure even you couldn't make it happen at 2.00pm tomorrow morning. 2.00am in the morning I could believe. :)
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dale
2pm is what i meant. little off, but not too much. been long days.
cheers
kurt
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Just after the flow started . And as the sun sets on the ramp. A day in history has been created
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Is the GAWB going to let water out like the SEQ dams are doing?
There is going to be plenty more rain over the summer for a top up or 2.
15 years worth of stocking could take a fair hit if they don't release any water.
Cheers Lyndon.
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I doubt any water release could equal the rates of inflow. Nature holds the remote control.
Here's another sneaky one-
Kolan R at Fred Haigh Dam Hw * 6.00am Mon -0.45 steady 0.45 below spillway (Monduran).
The next few weeks will be interesting.
Johnny
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yeah john
the moondy dam will get a fair bit more. spoke to billy out the back of mondy this morning and he said he cant get out of his joint due to the runoof and all ends up in mondy. by the looks of it, it has come up 1 metre in the last 5 days.
just got back from the wall and there are a few mullet going over still but that is all i could see. from reports a lot of barra at the top of the dam, and a heap aparently up the iveragh arm.
cheers
kh
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hi all,
Last report this morning, Monduran 30cm below spillway. I have someone up there checking it out now, It will go over for sure...We had 170mm here in town yesterday, Gaeta (catchment area) had about the same..Lots of water to go in.
I spent half of yesterday locating people sitting on the roofs of allegedly invincible mitsubishi magna's that double as boats ;D
Cheers Steve
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170mm GEEEZZZZ
How much more of this are we gonna get ???. :o
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stevie
bad luck about the dam mate going over in the next couple days. if you are in my boots, and watching my barra going over the wall (and surviving) you can feel my pain. the dam needs a flush but there has been approximately 2500 go over. spoke to finns today he is a little hesitant to stock at the moment, but all will be discussed in the meeting in the next couple of nights.
cheers
kurt
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Mondy spillway at 5 pm today.
Thanks Kurt for the info about stocking. I have been meaning to call John this week. its sad seeing all the fish go over anywhere. If they all survived it would be awesome...but?? Hope they do.
Cheers Steve
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steve,
i sat there watching all arvo yesterday and all day today at the pump station, and counted the number that went over. 2 guys further down stream counting mort's. 7 were found from head injuries (but i think in your profession they refer to it as cranial trauma or a ding in the head). around 2,500 went over since the overflow has started, so the percentage is pretty good that have survived the initial stages of the drop. many rumours going around about thousands dead below the wall, but they were not encountered at pikes and further towards the dam wall. thanx to the rumour starters as it was my day off and had nothing better to do...... >:( :thanks. again, monduran has a much different spillway design so steve, you guys will experience similar hopefully to us guys. limited numbers going over and limited mortality rates.
good luck brother
cheers
kh
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Man... I am astounded at the number going over the wall at these types of events. Do the fish sense this and congregate because of some urge (spawning or something like that). I know this happens in the winter months especially with Bass. I spoke to the ranger at Baroon Pocket a while back and he told me about the time some years back when it went over during the winter months. That spillway is not very friendly for fish so thousands died being pummelled on the concrete below.
A shame they go out but give I guess it gives the wild stocks a boost. That is if they make it pasts the pillagers below the wall.
Cheer geoff
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One major thing gurgles in my head- watching hundreds go over the wall puts into reality how many bloody fish there are in these dams. I pushed upstream a few miles from the wall today having a look about. We saw barra on the sounder- as per usual, we spooked barra off the surface, as is typical, and we landed two and missed a third in under an hour- just normal. How many are in these massive waterways? My mind is racing, today. A small percentage over the wall of a massive stock equals a lot of escapees, but it leaves a big portion still swimming about.
Johnny
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The attached picture was email through of Awoonga Overflowing.
Ed.
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john is right. to put more in to perspective, 2.7 million fingerlings since 1996 have been stocked, 25% has been quoted by the dpi as a survival rate to legal length = 650,000 (i think that the dpi arent really accurate on this one, more like 35%), 10% of these fish are killed through angler impact = 585,000, 10% to winter mortality and natural attrition = 526,500, and lets run a ball park figure of 5% over the wall (nowhere near it) = 500,175. thats what is predicted in there, any other attributes to be considered would be deemed insignificant. that is still a heap of fish left in there, so im with johnny on this one, sad to see them leave, but there is still good numbers available.
cheers
kurt
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Man... I am astounded at the number going over the wall at these types of events. Do the fish sense this and congregate because of some urge (spawning or something like that). I know this happens in the winter months especially with Bass. I spoke to the ranger at Baroon Pocket a while back and he told me about the time some years back when it went over during the winter months. That spillway is not very friendly for fish so thousands died being pummelled on the concrete below.
A shame they go out but give I guess it gives the wild stocks a boost. That is if they make it pasts the pillagers below the wall.
Cheer geoff
I think Johnny touched on this elsewhere, but the effect of 2500+ big Barra hitting a small system like the Boyne, could wipe out what is currently a good system. Big barra need to eat regularly, they could easily wipe out the mullet population in the river, which could have a roll on effect up and down the food chain. My idea would be to promote the taking of these escapees, however, it's closed season now so nobody can fish for them. The Boyne may be fun to fish for a little while, but it could then be dead for years.
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Yeah noticed effect of this a while back when the PRFMA and DPI did an electrofish in the stretch below NPD.
Heaps of fish(bass yella's and lungies) recaptured and taken back up to the dam. By the time we got them, they had definitely lost a lot of condition. I have noticed this also in more recent flushes too. Initially the bass where hitting so hard, well above their weight I thought, but now they have been in the system for a bit they aren't as feisty. Less food more competition tougher for them to survive so they suffer a bit.
Cheers
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Spent the last 4 days flooded in at Agnes, couldn’t think of a better place to be stuck.
Dropped into Awoonga on the way home this morning to see the Great Escape, quiet a spectacle to watch. :OMG
Awoonga Spillway
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2925;image)
Level 40.4m
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2927;image)
Pikes Crossing
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2929;image)
Over the top
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2931;image)
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2933;image)
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2935;image)
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2937;image)
(http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1504.0;attach=2939;image)
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3 photos are courteously of GAWB on Monday