We're back in North East Victoria for another early-season fly fishing adventure, but this time we're swapping the usual walk-in approach for inflatable rafts. With boats loaded up with fishing gear, camping equipment and everything we need for two days on the river, we're setting off to explore some beautiful water that's difficult to access on foot.
Fishing from a raft brings a whole new set of challenges. Controlling the boat, setting up drifts and making accurate casts while moving downstream takes some getting used to, but the ability to cover kilometres of river and access otherwise hard-to-reach water makes it a seriously rewarding way to fish. Day one gets off to a promising start with a couple of beautiful brown trout, although capsize, drowned camera, tricky portages and a broken rod tip add their own challenges along the way.
After an evening around the campfire beside the river, we're back on the water for day two. Unfortunately, the fishing proves much tougher, with changing water clarity, overhanging trees and plenty of obstacles making things difficult. With the raft fishing failing to deliver, we head back to the car and finish the trip on foot, hoping to salvage the day with one last trout.
It might not have been a fishing bonanza, but with stunning High Country scenery, remote river camping, a few hard-earned brown trout and plenty of lessons learned along the way, it was an adventure worth having.
Join us for two days of rafting, camping and fly fishing in Victoria's gorgeous trout country.