Native Fish Australia East Gippsland Incorporated. PO Box 742. Orbost , Victoria, 3888 Email: nfafeg@nativefish.asn.au Tele 03 5154 3079

NFA Victoria - Function dates. 1. Ray White Native fish Challenge. Murray R…Yarrawonga Feb18/19th 2001. 2. Pilkington Native Fish Competition.. Murray R … Yarrawonga .April 7th&8th. 2001 3. Goulburn River trout cod survey. Date be determined. March?? On the grapevine. NSW function - A basscatch on the Brogo Dam near Bega is being proposed for lateNov/early Dec. Details to be confirmed

Mitchell River Basscatch. April 1st/2nd Report. Thirteen of our members in attended this function camping on open farmland beside the River some twenty km north of Bairnsdale. Despite some initial poor weather all anglers were successful catching some 15 bass ranging from 25cm up to 42 and 47cm. Also present were Richard Gaznoir and Michael Kirwin from MAFRI (Marine and Freshwater Research Institute )who took back 21 broodstock from the area. These fish are now located at Snobs Creek and it is anticipated that the resultant fingerlings will eventually be released back into the Mitchell system. New water quality manager Rob Melville and son Andrew managed fish on both outings whilst Nicholson member Max Hancock released four good bass within a stones throw of the camp in his "rubber ducky". Thanks must go to John Stephenson for organizing the venue, and BBQ on the Sunday. Also to Cookie for camp organization and local farmer Jeff Johnstone for permission to camp on his property.

Fishing tips. (Courtesy Johnno) During winter it's time to service your gear to make sure it's ready for the coming season. List of things to do should include: · Service reel. If reel is hard to turn: Check for moisture inside unit. Lightly grease main gears. 2 drops of engine oil on main ossillating shaft. A complete strip down may be required. · Change line if reel has been used last season. · Check lures and replace rusty hooks and rings if necessary. Sharpen hooks. Winter Fishing? Although fish may be slow at this time of year they still have to eat. Lure selection and accurate presentation is all important as the quarry may not want to move far from its cover. Also think about spawning habits and likely location of fish in the river system at this time of year.

Membership 2000 Current Membership Fees. - Single and Family Member - $20 Concession Members - $10 Affiliate Member - $30. Corporate - $500. Juniors (non-family) -under 18 - No charge. Fees payable now for year 2000. To -NFA East Gippsland, P.O. Box 742 Orbost 3888. All fees/names in by 1st June 2000 go into ballot for Member Prize.The prize this year is a one burner portable gas camp stove RRP $40 (to be drawn at our next meeting, June 19th at Bairnsdale)

Personal news Congratulations - To Matt Wilson and Jacqueline Thomas on their April marriage. - To George Collis for surviving a serious illness after his visit to the Melbourne aquarium. George was really crook for two weeks.

Restocking program In our last Newsletter we omitted to mention the work done by Marlo member Howard Fegent who transported fingerlings up the Snowy to Jacksons Crossing. Thanks Howard! Acquittal Statement (Thanks to George Collis for finalizing the documentation of the program.) The concept of our project was to capture wild Australian Bass, breed from them, and place the juveniles in the upper Snowy River beyond the degraded section caused by reduced water flows. We have partially achieved the aim over three years. 1997-1998 NFA arranged with North Coast Aquaculture to visit Orbost, capture the brood stock , breed the stock, and return the juveniles the next year. The stock were captured but failed to survive at the North Coast hatchery. The 1997-8 Year was a failure. 1998-1999 Members captured more brood stock and entered in a agreement with OS-Bass to produce the juveniles. Over 60,000 embryo were hatched. These were transported to the MAFRI facilities at Snobs Creek. Unfortunately less than 100 survived. The 1998-1999 year did not produce stock but we gained significant knowledge of the required procedures. The brood stock captured could be used again next year. 1999-2000 Large numbers of embryo were again hatched at OS-Bass. The larvae were transferred to MAFRI facility at Snobs Creek and maintained to a size where the small fish could be transported to Wartook Hatchery. Wartook Hatchery maintained the small fish until they could be placed in the Snowy River. 2000 were released in February and another 2000 will be released in May. Our grant funds are now exhausted. George Collis - Thank You. Special thanks to members Craig Ingram, Luke Dwyer, George Collis, John Johnstone and Ryan Mumford for their assistance in the capture of the brood fish, the breeding program and care of the prodigy. We will be using these fish in future breeding programs.

Items For Sale or wanted? Nothing as yet. Contact the editors Ted or George if you have or want a pre loved product to advertise. 51543079, 51543001 (No charge to members.) Fishing Reports. Not many reports to hand. (fishing reports to editors before mid July) Matt Wilson has recently thinned out the trout population in the Brodribb landing two good ones. Brian Mathews went back almost got the big one that broke Johnno off at the Mitchell Basscatch.

National Annual General Meeting, This meeting was held on May 4& 5th at Burrunjuck. We were represented at the meeting by Craig Ingram, John Stephenson, Howard Fegent and Ted Potter. NFA groups represented included Bass Sydney, Hunter Native Fish, Members at Large and NFA Victoria. A new SA NFA has been formed. Another affiliated member is the Big Rivers Bass Fly Fishing Club. Each NFA branch reported on '99 club activities ranging from restocking programs to construction of fish ladders and signage. National NFA president Craig Ingram, Secretary Alan Folkes and Treasurer Alf Wessels, and Vice president Graham Pyke all reported to the meeting. Significant issues discussed included the establishment of an independent Murray-Darling-Snowy Basin Management Group,( this proposal gained the full support of the meeting) the formation of a National Strategy on carp control and Macquarie Perch research. Kevin Goss, representing the existing Murray -Darling Basin Authority spoke on salinity problems also adding that there was no magic solution to our widespread carp infestations . Each NFA branch was urged to discuss national issues locally and to maintain communication with the National body and other NFA branches during the coming year. Craig made the most of fishing time and with his children landed 4 yellowbelly to 6lb. The lake has great Autumn fishing and camping possibilities as there were few boats out, the water was still warm and a choice of target species including Murray cod, catfish redfin and trout was available. Next years AGM will be held in the Sydney area. Date and location to be advised.

New Members Out group welcomes new members Madeline and Peter Thornhill from Sale. Peter has a solid background in fishing and fish management and has specialized in breeding and raising freshwater tropical fish. Peter and Madeline, also a keen fisher, are keen to make contributions, amongst other things, to the area of native fish husbandry.

Next Committee Meeting 19th June. Bairnsdale Venue - John Stephenson's house 39 Rupert St , Bairnsdale. 7.00 PM.

NEWSLETTER EDITORS -Ted Potter & George Collis. News items / Fishing Reports to - NFA, Box 742 by July 15th please.

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