Well after driving 2 1/2hrs on highway and rough dirt roads we arrived at our campsite approx 1km downstream from the infamous Clarence Gorge. Quickly setting up our campsite we packed our kayaks and began our paddle upstream, fishing along the way. As dusk began to devour us Dad called out for the net as he had a 'spotted bass', so I rushed over and helped him net the accidentally hooked Eastern Cod of 10cm (please not that this species is totally protected under NSW Fishery law and was not targeted), a quick photo and he was off back into his snag.
We fished until 9pm that evening and retired after a hearty meal of heated chilli and pasta to the deluxe accomodation only a tent and sleeping bag can provide.
Arising at 5:30am the next morning, the air was chilly though a warm breeze from the Northwest had rolled in, a sure sign of some fish to be landed that day. The aim for this session was to reach the very top of the Gorge, which require us to kayak to the furthest navigable section of river and hop out and hike the rest. We fished our way along the Western bank of the river and passed 2 waterfalls before reaching the shallow and complex section above the Gorge for no fish so far, so we turned around and made our way back. The Clarence River breaks into separate streams here and we crossed the shallow river where they rejoin just downstream of the falls to gain access to the 'island' between the two parts. It had began to rain now and the majority of the stone around these parts is granite so with tedious steps we scaled the small cliffs to gain access to ledges just above the waters surface to fish.
Within accessing one ledge, Dad had hooked into a big fish and it was my job to climb (slide really) down the cliff face to net the fish with my hat! The fish went 48cm total length and was very skinny from its upstream migration from the estuarine spawning areas around Yamba/Iluka.
It was my turn next with a reasonable 36cm bass, my first decent fish from the Gorge. Meanwhile Dad was on again with another 45cm fish which was also very skinny in body shape.
All of these fish came from the same rocky point that acted as a trap for the foam created by the upstream waterfalls.
The fish seemed to go off the chew then, and we moved further upstream to discover another waterfall we couldnt cross to move upstream again, so we decided to head for camp and fish along the way into some holes that provided hits beforehand.
Landing another 4 bass with the largest at 20cm, we jumped into the kayaks and pulled up into camp for some breakfast/lunch/dinner and a sleep.
A late start to the next day at 6am saw us back in the kayaks for another fish, but we did not venture any further than the first set of rapids due to time constraints. Only luck for this day was a large eeltail catfish that dad caught on a live shrimp.
So there was our 2010 Clarence Gorge trip and now we have an idea on how to tackle it next time as Im actually going again later this year.
what lures did you use
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