Valehouse

[PaulR]

Does anyone fish this venue. Have you fished it recently?

[Lollipop]

I have fished it a few times but not recently. In fact it's probably nearly 2 years since. I didn't used to see others there either - and you thought the George was poorly supported!

I caught chub, perch and trout but I would have to say that I have never seen such skinny fish before; the water holds very little natural food. It is also very exposed and you can feel like you are fishing in the sea unless it's a very calm day. I didn't have much luck float fishing, the tip was much more productive.

If you go along the side, not on the dam, you will come to a car parking area where there is a jetty into the water that was built for disabled anglers when it was a trout fishery. I fished from the bank around there, the jetty was usually too far out of the water anyway. The bottom is mainly clear there, more so on the far side from the dam and shelves gradually. At the dam the depth is up to 50 feet and can be rather daunting. I fished with maggots with a maggot feeder and took reasonable numbers of fish, worms should produce too but beyond that I wouldn't be so confident.

[PaulR]

Thanks for the info. I think I'll take the trout rod and see if I can catch on the fly. The place has always looked bleak when I've driven past it.

[LeeB]

Are you allowed to park down near the bridge at the bottom of Valehouse?
Lee.

[Lollipop]

Not sure where you mean. The club book says park along the dam wall but, as I said in my previous post, I have always gone along the near side about half way up where there is a parking area. I think that you can probably go just about anywhere as long as you leave enough space for possible traffic - though there is very rarely any. It is too far to walk with a load of gear from the dam.