President's Notes - June 2009

Since the last issue of the Flyrodder there has been another club expedition to the Snowy Mountains. This trip was to a ski lodge in Adaminaby arranged by Ann Skarratt. Again the fish gods smiled on us and a good number of fish were caught, some of a very respectable size. In the main the fish were browns on a spawning run in the Eucumbene River. Details and photographs will be found elsewhere in the Flyrodder.

Your President distinguished himself by catching no fish and loosing his car keys. The outing was judged such a success by those who attended that it will become an annual event on our calendar. The club owes a debt of gratitude to Ann Skarratt who suggested and organised the trip. I would like to remind you that the success of the club depends on members participating in events and in the management of the club. This year has been a particularly successful with plenty of activities.
Equally, I can say that the committee has worked harmoniously to put those events in place and generally provide for the welfare of our members. On that basis I would like to invite members to offer themselves to serve on the committee and as office bearers of the club. I can say that it is a rewarding task and introduces one to a different perspective of angling.

Anyone who would like to assist in this way is welcome to discuss the matter with me. At the end of August 2009 the Council of Fresh Water Anglers proposes to hold a forum in Sydney to discuss access to freshwater fishing spots. This is a topic that is dear to our hearts as it has the potential to make the difference between a great day's fishing and a not-so-good one. Anyone who has been thrown off a property for trespassing (like me) will feel strongly of the subject. The right to enter private property to fish is a tricky one and as a trout fisherman and lawyer for half a century I ought to know the answer. Unfortunately I don't. I learnt my property law from lectures given by Mr R. M. Hope QC (later a Justice of the NSW Court of Appeal). As I recollect, if a river flowed through a person's property then the landowner owned the river bed and his or her permission was required even if the angler remained in the stream. Where the river was the boundary between two properties, each landowner owned the riverbed to the centre. I suppose that in this situation, an angler when challenged could move to the other side of the riverbed.

It would be bad luck if both landowners were present. I understand that in some circumstances riverbeds have been excised from landowners' titles. This is not of great comfort as it would be necessary to make a search at the Land Titles Office before going fishing. At the forum there will be representatives of anglers, landholders and the Department of Primary Industries. It is hoped that these discussions can lead to some useful outcomes. Whist the English system of separate ownership of the land and the access to the water
(so called riparian rights) has something to commend, I think it
goes against the Australian egalitarian spirit. Perhaps there is some way landholders could be compensated for more generous access to good fishing spots. Needless to say the Sydney Fly Rodders' Club will be well represented.

Reverting to my being unceremoniously turned off land - it has happened to me twice. The first time was on the Duckmaloi where I was tempted to cross a fence after a rising fish. When I finally persuaded the landowner that I was a worthwhile citizen he treated me to an hour-long discourse of the state of
the rural economy. I remember the day for another reason because a small brown I hooked jumped and the line caught an overhanging branch causing the fish to fall off. Not many anglers encounter tree climbing fish! The second was on the Guy Fawkes River fishing an unfenced part of the river that looked like and extension of the common.

Here I was accused of being unable to read as there is a warning about trespassing printed on the back of our licenses.
In conclusion I would like to remind members that our next club meeting is on Monday 15 June. This is the 15th anniversary of the formation of the club and it promises to be and exciting night. If you propose to have dinner at the Golf Club that night please let us know so that catering arrangements can be made.

John Twyford
President

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