Caught out as river rises..
- meppstas
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Caught out as river rises..
I got caught out when the river rose by 150 mms (6") in reasonably quick time this morning.. I checked the river level before I left home and found it was running at 55 cms, perfect wading height for fishing the upper fast waters of the Meander River. The spin session started off fine with five trout caught and released from nine hooks, then it all went backwards when they let water out of Huntsman's Lake. The river rose and I was caught out with the rise, too make it worse I was on the left side of the river where there was no way out due to it being natural thick scrub. The right hand side was deep water with ten feet high river banks so couldn't get out there either. Thankfully I know this river like the back of my hand, I had to continue upstream sticking to the left hand side of the river for around 120 meters or so, then slowly make my way across to the opposite river bank where I knew I could get out. Once I reached the opposite river bank I wondered what the outcome may have been had I not known this river like I did or been a inexperience river fisher. A six inch rise in water level doesn't sound much, bit I can tell you now, when fishing fast water like the upper reaches, it's quite a lot especially when I is knee deep in some areas and just below the waist in others.
** PS: ** video of the spin session below..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkoSBxqktPg&t=288s
cheers
Adrian
** PS: ** video of the spin session below..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkoSBxqktPg&t=288s
cheers
Adrian
'' Brand Ambassador for Mepps Lures in Australia '' Tackle Tactics, Okuma, Mepps & Platypus lines Pro Team Member
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- hornet
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Re: Caught out as river rises..
An inflatable life jacket may be a wise investment...could be the difference between coming home or not.
He who has the most fishing rods WINS !
- Sebb
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Re: Caught out as river rises..
Oh wow, thank God you're okay. Sounds like it could be very dangerous.
Is it normal for them to open the gate so quickly like that? And assuming during day time, where very possible people can get caught.
Is it normal for them to open the gate so quickly like that? And assuming during day time, where very possible people can get caught.
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A fish is a fish
No fish is worth a life, stay safe
A fish is a fish
No fish is worth a life, stay safe
- Tim399
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Re: Caught out as river rises..
Glad you’re ok Adrian, and lucky you had the knowledge to quickly make an exit plan. That would’ve had the heart going for sure. I was fishing, wading the north esk briefly on Tuesday when the showers started, but stuck close to the entry point since I didn’t know how the rivers in the area react to rainfall. Decided to make a safety call and not to fish yesterday with the consistent showers all day, not knowing the rivers and being solo. You Tasmanian’s have amazing waters to fish that’s for sure!meppstas wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 8:44 pmI got caught out when the river rose by 150 mms (6") in reasonably quick time this morning.. I checked the river level before I left home and found it was running at 55 cms, perfect wading height for fishing the upper fast waters of the Meander River. The spin session started off fine with five trout caught and released from nine hooks, then it all went backwards when they let water out of Huntsman's Lake. The river rose and I was caught out with the rise, too make it worse I was on the left side of the river where there was no way out due to it being natural thick scrub. The right hand side was deep water with ten feet high river banks so couldn't get out there either. Thankfully I know this river like the back of my hand, I had to continue upstream sticking to the left hand side of the river for around 120 meters or so, then slowly make my way across to the opposite river bank where I knew I could get out. Once I reached the opposite river bank I wondered what the outcome may have been had I not known this river like I did or been a inexperience river fisher. A six inch rise in water level doesn't sound much, bit I can tell you now, when fishing fast water like the upper reaches, it's quite a lot especially when I is knee deep in some areas and just below the waist in others.
** PS: ** video of the spin session below..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkoSBxqktPg&t=288s
cheers
Adrian
- meppstas
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Re: Caught out as river rises..
Thanks guys, I'm taking this further with the Inland Fisheries seeing as they have Anglers Access entry points on this river & many other rivers across the state. I went through the IFS angler access brochures and there's really no warning about rising water from Hydro or irrigation dams. There's no warning signs at all on this river. I know the upper reaches of the Mersey River below lake Parangana used to have a couple of warning signs below the dam wall. I knew I would be okay here as I fish this river on a regular basis, the upper reaches I fish are the closest to the Huntmans Dam so the first lot of water that's released is always the worst. Once you're down a kilometre or so it's not all that bad and there's plenty of open area to get out. I'm more concerned about what may happen to those who don't have the experience of fast water fishing the rivers that have a regulated flow on them.
Tim399, it's a good thing you didn't head back to the South Esk as it rises very fast from heavy rainfall, the Sth Esk at Fingal hit the 6 meter mark & over 5 meters at Avoca.
cheers
Adrian..
Tim399, it's a good thing you didn't head back to the South Esk as it rises very fast from heavy rainfall, the Sth Esk at Fingal hit the 6 meter mark & over 5 meters at Avoca.
cheers
Adrian..
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- Tim399
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Re: Caught out as river rises..
You are onto something good with the signage, it could save the life of anyone that is not familiar with the water system. It seems to be human nature (or at least the culture of recent generations), to be too excited to fish the water in front of them rather than read a sign, but a simple warning at a car park/entry point could be the difference between someone returning home or not.
- meppstas
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Re: Caught out as river rises..
All good Sebb, I'm not ready to float away yet, still have a few more years left in me.. This river has a small Hydro Turbine on it but the lake mainly used for irrigation purposes, they can open it at any time of the day or night..It's all remotely done from Taswater as far as I know.. Had I been there the day before it would have been fine as the river sat on 55 cms all day. I fish the lower reaches of fast water when it's running at 70 cms and it's not a problem, one still has to take it slow and easy at that height, it's just this long two kilometre rocky stretch of water below the dam that one can get caught out.. the picture below is cut out of the Angler Access brochure where the IFS have added a new access to the river below the dam..
I still think a 10-15 minute warning siren should be installed..
cheers
Adrian..
'' Brand Ambassador for Mepps Lures in Australia '' Tackle Tactics, Okuma, Mepps & Platypus lines Pro Team Member
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- Bluefin
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Re: Caught out as river rises..
Glad you’re ok mate!
Like you said, lucky you knew the river very well.
Like you said, lucky you knew the river very well.
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Re: Caught out as river rises..
This isn't a danger I'd ever associated with fishing before. Being a pretty weak swimmer I would've been very, very nervous if I were in your position.
- Sebb
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Re: Caught out as river rises..
Goulburn river below the dam here in Vic constantly opening and closing. A lot of peoppe wading and fishing there. I too have been there many times and never thought of that.
Imagine in the drink in fast water, wader full of water, etc.
Imagine in the drink in fast water, wader full of water, etc.
------------------------------
A fish is a fish
No fish is worth a life, stay safe
A fish is a fish
No fish is worth a life, stay safe