LITTLE MOUNTAIN STREAMS

The Beauty of Little Mountain Streams

by

Mick Hall

Sitting in my office doing those things that are necessary and tedious, it is difficult not to think of Spring and walking the banks of many of the little streams that surround the charming little village of Eildon in North Central Victoria where I live.

The steep-sided valleys that abound in this district hold some of the most picturesque mountain streams and to my mind, they are unequalled and stand alone. Their bubbling waters are home to both Brown and Rainbow Trout. Rarely larger than 500 grams, these magical little fish feed freely and often take the artificial fly with gusto.

Countless hours can be lost strolling their banks, watching the bird life and other animals going about their daily business. Flicking a fly so that it drifts around a partially submerged boulder or along the edge of some overhanging tussock just seems a pleasant thing to do. It does not seem to matter if you attract the attention of a trout or not, the beauty of just being there makes life worth living.

I personally have a very close affiliation with a little river not far from my home. Over the years I have become aware of its moods and how the seasons can change its character. Newly fallen trees will change the course of its flow. Pools that were once highly productive become dormant, and vice versa.

Pic by my close friend Don Wilson

To fish these water continuously as I do, I somehow feel I have developed a special relationship that I tend to believe is mutually shared. There are many fish that I have caught in this stream more than once; these trout have become like friends and when they are taken or die, there seems to be a loss of balance that takes some time to repair. I am a great believer in that old saying of the great Lee Wulff that a good fish is worth catching more than once. In today’s world, where it seems there are as many fishermen as fish, it is easy to believe in the philosophy of catch and release.

Pic Don Wilson

There are many firsts in life and most we cherish. To a fly fisher the first trout that actually takes your fly is one first that stays deeply embedded in your soul. It is not just the fish, but it is also the feeling of achievement, knowing that you can do it and that it’s a first stepping-stone to a lifetimes journey.

My Grandson's first trout on a fly (so proud).