NSW Riverina Report - 19 December

[Member]

From the Fishers Mouth
19th December 2010

The floodwaters are starting to recede and the water quality of the river is improving by the day, but with so much silt and mud on the water’s edge, we need hot conditions to dry the bank out before boats can be launched.

A concrete boat ramp would solve the issue of boat launching and retrieval in wet weather, but the nearest ramp to Wagga Wagga is at Narrandera. There is a concrete ramp at Sandy Beach, Wantabadgery built by Junee Shire, but you need to cross a section of flood plain in order to access the ramp.

The concept of a boat ramp into the river at Wagga Wagga has been floating about for some years. The City of Wagga needs a boat ramp to attract tourists and increase accessibility for locals who want to safely access the Murrumbidgee in all weather conditions, but I don’t think we should stop at one ramp.

Berembed Weir is an asset within Wagga City limits that can only be publicly accessed from riverside reserves at Pipers and the weir itself. The river is backed up for kilometres behind the wall creating deep navigable water. In this weir pool we should have ramps at both Pipers and the Weir as this is where many people access the river.

Closer to Wagga, Jones, Kohlhagens, 17 Mile, Currawarna, and Oura are all river access points where people launch boats from sloping dirt banks. Concrete ramps at these locations would open the river for people with 2WD vehicles and also those who may be physically incapable of negotiating a slippery bank. In addition, the ramps will allow access for emergency services such as SES and Rural Fire Services in times of flood and fire.

On the fishing front, the Hume Weir, Blowering and Burrinjuck are fishing steadily. You will work hard for a fish in Blowering in particular but it has the drawcard of such large fish. The chances of a golden perch over 60cm are high and some of the cod are truly monstrous.

The golden perch are schooled up along the wall end of Blowering with some of the fish milling about in the shallows well over twenty pounds in the old scale. These fish are reluctant to eat through the day, and your best chance is at first and last light. Small redfin are schooling up and the cod will be snacking on these fish in deeper water.

Have patience when using boat ramps over the busy Christmas holiday period and offer help when needed.


Picture - Dave Carter landing a golden perch from the Hume Weir

[Member]

Thanks for the report Jamin, not much jot up here in Far North NSW, all our creeks and rivers are very dirty and running hard. Once it settles down tho we should get some good Bass fishing. I like the idea of those huge Cod at Blowering mate, I'd heard about them before apparently they like to hang around the Dam wall. That correct?
Cheers mate,
JD