BORN in the central western town of Dubbo in 1968, Swano was encouraged from an early age to participate in all kinds of outdoor activities least of all freshwater fishing.

It was inevitable that he would take to this pastime with vigor as there was a history of dedicated anglers in the family.
His grandfather founded the family business Swanson’s Gift And Garden Center that incorporated one of Dubbo’s only retail fishing supply outlets and he would always give customers “the good oil" on the what, where and when of freshwater fishing in and around the western waterways. His father later inherited the business until he was forced to close it due to the relentless commercial pressures exerted by the ever expanding multinational chain stores that had a far greater buying power than a sole trader could obtain.

Some of Swano’s earliest memories are of fishing on the banks of the mighty Darling River from Walgett to Wilcannia with his family and friends, from times of the deepest drought to fishing the flooded plains. He also recalls the rapid expansion of the introduced European Carp numbers with the landed pest being thrown up the tops of the river banks for the feral pigs and foxes to devour at night as well as the local wedge tail eagles and goannas to dine on with delight.

It wasn’t till his late teens that he discovered the art of lure fishing with several annual pilgrimages to the wild rivers of the Northern Territory in pursuit of the newly fancied sport fish the mighty Barramundi and the many species of by catch that one encounters in these parts of the world. This technique that was new to him soon evolved into his fishing of local NSW waterways with the capture of Murray cod, Trout cod, Golden perch, Silver perch and eel tailed catfish to name a few soon being added to his lure caught species list.

He met his wife Linda in his late twenties and after a motorcycle accident in which he broke his back and spent a fair bit of time laid up in hospital, they decided it was the right time to move their two children to a “Better part of the world” and relocated to Scarborough just north of Brisbane on the Redcliffe peninsula where he continues to operate his own carpentry business. Since the move in 2005 he has met and made many great friends some of which are involved in various sectors of the fishing scene and has jumped head first into the saltwater estuary and blue water fishing that is readily available literally at his door step.
Living in QLD has also made it possible to keep the passion going for the love of the freshwater barra that dwell in many impoundments within an easy days drive of his new home as well as chase some new varities of freshwater fish that make coastal streams their home.

He hopes to bring his children up in the best possible atmosphere and surroundings that he can offer and would like to further his knowledge in all aspects of fishing both fresh and salt and maybe have a more involved role in the fishing industry further down the track.

Some of Swano's writting

Fishing Guide to Lake Burrendong

Fishing the Sleepy Waterways of Central Western NSW

You can email him at swano[at]sweetwaterfishing.com.au