The Mitta Mitta is one of Australia's best known trout rivers yet it has fallen from the magazines and spotlight in recent years. Reconnaissance trips to this waterway in the past couple of seasons have revealed excellent fishing and with the recent willow removals by Catchment Management Authority we now have infinitely more water to fish. Join us for a raft trip down this river this season. Keep reading for more info.

The River

The lower Mitta Mitta is a classic tail water that begins its journey from the base of Lake Dartmouth. Water is captured in the lake and dropped into the pondage and then out to the Mitta Mitta River. The same scenario as the Goulburn. This means cold clear water is continuously released year round with conditions perfect for rafting from October to March each year.

The Mitta valley is a cross between the Goulburn and the Swampy in that the fall is not as steep as the latter but much faster than the former. This results in a stream form of long continuous riffles between pools that have strong bubble lines and a gravel bed for the vast majority of its length.

The flow through the pools moves at a fair pace, much faster than the Goulburn and the overall depth is much shallower as well. This means that fish often have to make split decisions to rise and often they will to larger terrestrials and attractors fished blind through likely lies. Most of the river is made up of swift flowing water over fist sized gravel beds; the ideal habitat for Mayfly, Caddis and Stoneflies. It is also home to Australia's largest and most romanticised Mayfly; the Kosciusko Dun or Kossie Dun. Evening rises are world class when this large critter is hatching.

The Mitta Mitta flows down river into Lake Hume near Albury and is therefore the main spawning stream for fish from this large impoundment. As a result there are always a few large resident fish that stay on after spawning and remain in the river over the summer. This river always holds the possibility of a big, brown trout inhaling your fly.

The Fishing

Drifting on our rafts allows access to all the banks and pools and in particular, the long reaches beautiful riffles. In some sections the river cuts close to the hillsides providing banks for fishing terrestrials like grasshoppers and cicadas.

As mentioned earlier large dry flies will often bring the fish up in the fast water when blind fishing. As most of the water is from 3-5 feet, takes are often aggressive and slashy, really keeping the fly fisher on their toes for most of the day. There is nothing like losing your concentration looking at the mountain panorama or watching an eagle only to be brought crashing back to reality by a large fish smashing your size 8 fly from the surface.

The river is also the perfect environment for fishing a nymph beneath a dry. The Mitta is alive with caddis and mayfly which are peaking at about the time we visit it each spring. Small beadheads, both brass and tungsten will be provided in the correct patterns to ensure the greatest chance of tempting these wild fish.

Hatches can and do happen at any time of day in spring. Caddis will trickle off from mid-morning with the mayfly often a little slower to get started. Small imitative patterns are a must and just as well we have been perfecting ours for more than the last 15 years. If one of these hatches of small insects comes off, you can rest assured we have the specific ties to match it.

Evenings herald the possibility of a hatch of large Kossie duns. Flies in the #8-12 are used at this time although hard to believe if you have never experienced a coloburiscoides hatch. Our north american clients will be familiar with a similar event in their neck of the woods with the Hexagenia about a size bigger than our kossie. This is often a last light event but it brings out a much better class of fish that mostly sit on the bottom during the hours of daylight.

New Raft

At the end of last season we picked up the raft featured in Flylife Issue 55 and it has been a welcome addition to the 'fleet'! It has high seats and is perfect for sighting fish and casting for two people but most importantly it is great for faster rivers like the Mitta and Swampy. With a few modifications we have it set up perfectly and it is a brilliant craft for two anglers fishing big attractor/hopper or nymph indicator rigs at the same time. If you have fished from our other rafts and think that you have seen and done it all, its time to think again! This is a totally different experience. Join us for a drift today.

The Trips

Raft trips are available on a daily basis as per the dates below. For those interested in going to the Mitta at another time, packages can be designed on request. Phone us to discuss the options.

Because we fish until dark the package includes and evening meal and breakfast in the morning as well as lunch, snacks and drinks on the boat. We also provide terminal tackle like all the flies and tippets. Last but not least there is the experience of full time professional drift boat guides that have been doing this since 1994. All are members of the Professional Fishing Instructors and Guides Association and hold all the relevant rafting certifications.

Dates

Mitta Mitta raft trips are run at scheduled times each season but this is not the only time they are available. Phone us to discuss the options as we can pretty much do them anytime based on having two participants do two days minimum. As such we can arrange weekend trips for people or customise trips of any duration, at any time of the season. Combinations including drifiting the Goulburn or Swampy Plains River are available. For information on prices click here.

Please phone/email for more information or to book.

To book or for more information phone us on Free Call 1800 458 111

October 2010		Booked
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