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Another year been and gone, that makes 5 years online.
Hard to believe that back in 2006 this place began as more of a simplified blog, spin forward to 2011 and it's the same blog only a little more glorified. After the huge spells of rain throughout the land in December 2010 this year began kind of turbidly. Local lakes and rivers had more water than many of our man made impoundments had ever seen. Googong Dam was suddenly at 100% and overflowing, the same can be said for Wyangla/Burrinjuck (And many others Australia wide).
When the murkiness subsided the fishing was either hit and miss or full on from dusk to dawn. The Snowy Mountains Scheme probably didn't know what to make of all the additional water with Jindabyne hitting high 80% capacity (Maybe even more) and anglers licking their lips till they fell off their faces. Plenty of fish around but it took a few trips to suss out where the weed beds had shifted to (Or how deep the old ones remained) and which dreaded bank was free of that annoying drowned scrub.
Coastal estuaries like Durras and Burril opened once again either by force or mother nature. Whilst closed I never felt like Durras could fire like the days of old but it really depended on what species I was fishing for (Flathead and Bream aplenty, where were the Whiting?). Areas like Shallow Crossing and the upper anabranches of the Clyde received shed loads of water with debris in trees over 10 metres up banks. Yadboro Flat got a good flushing out and is now, according to all reports, more than just some Bass anglers bygone dream.
Victorian waters also flooded around March with the Snowy River bursting its banks on more than one occasion. The ABT competition at Marlo was a great example of how a system can outflow such murky water with tidal force, yet still hold forces of three bag limits breaking all records. This is only one example that I experienced in this region, can only imagine what happened at the 'Coota and Bemm, not to mention the rest of the Gippsland lakes.
The tournament scene this year was as popular as ever, and the schedule for 2012 is chockablock. I attended as many tournaments as I could his year including Forster, Bemm, Sydney Harbour, Marlo, St Georges Basin amongst others. To be honest I really struggled to find the fish this year which puts a dampener on enthusiasm levels (Hence the 'One trick Pony' articles). Having recently returned to work after 10 months looking after my daughter I will miss out on the first few rounds of both the ABT and SSBS and try and concentrate on the rounds a little closer to home later in the year.
Our crazy Canadian Tim Allard returned home after a year rocking it with the Canberra Massive. Tim and his wife Sue had a blast living a relocated life in Canberra and I know apart from missing friends and family they really didn't want to leave. Tim's book 'Ice Fishing - The Ultimate Guide' was released whilst he was here and many of the final editing touches were added from his Canberra abode. He was a real influence on my way of life and journalistic ways (http://www.timallard.ca), a really top bloke with a down to earth way of life. If your reading this Tim all the best for you and Sue for 2012 mate, it was a real pleasure.
With so much time off in 2011 you would think I would have fished everyday and written a few novels by now, unfortunately being a home dad really sapped my ability and spare time to really venture away. With dashed goals ranging from visiting Tasmania in February to hitting the Bass and Barra trail north I succumbed to struggling locally. My own published offerings for Yak Fisher magazine included some heavily researched offerings on being water wise. With the culmination of the release of the 'Kayak Fishing Manual' I can modestly say the more I write the more I feel like I am contributing to the sport of Kayak Fishing (On an international scale) in a positive and endearing manner.
Our website went through a bit of a lull period with contributions and timely received a small redesign and outlook. Some new features were added using social media intuition and overall its appeal has become a much smarter thanks to an easier to navigate environment. Don't get me wrong, a full design rework is on the cards so nothing is ever polished/finished as it could be (But what blog is?). At the time of writing we have had 84,000 hits/visits and are ranked on page 1 of Google under the search term 'Kayak Fishing' (A vast improvement from last year), not bad for a website based from the 'Berra.
None of this would be possible without the readers, contributors and site supporters helping along the way. Your participation in viewing, promoting and otherwise acknowledging us has made http://www.kfa.net.au one of Australia's leading online kayak fishing resources. We never planned on reinventing the wheel (Scupper cart pun) and only ever hoped to harmonise ourselves amongst similar environments and online communities by offering our viewpoint from which is often termed on many forums as 'The Hub'. Thanks to Hobie, Ugly Fish and Yak Fisher/AFN for the ongoing support and individual sponsorships throughout the years current, pre and post 2011.
Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New years to all...
Derek 'Paffoh' Steele
