Riparian restoration]]> Lure fishing]]>
Jason Simpson and his boss Doug Jamaeson have been rehabilitating the banks of the river, planting trees, grasses and shrubs where Doug’s farms have frontage.]]> CC-BY]]> Floods]]> Siltation]]> Riparian restoration]]> Fish stocking]]> Camping]]> Irrigation]]> Introduced fishes]]> Lure fishing]]> Bait fishing]]> Family life]]> Weeds]]> Billabongs]]> Fishes--Breeding]]> Tournament fishing]]> Fishes--Identification]]>
In the interview, Jason covers the changes in the river including silting, the declining frequency of floods, his work in land care and regeneration with the Catchment Management Authority (CMA), the fishing techniques he employs, occurrences of illegal fishing and the continually changing laws, issues with Carp, and the interesting prevalence of Cod over Yellowbelly. He also discusses: the impact of irrigation on water levels, fish migration and breeding; translocating Catfish into dams and the hardiness of the species; a 'red carp' and 'mirror carp' species, the latter with large scales.]]> CC-BY]]> Fishing--Australia]]> Fly casting]]> Fund raisers (Persons)]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Weirs]]> Dams]]> Fish stocking]]> Introduced fishes]]> Siltation]]> Cotton]]> Overfishing]]> Bait fishing]]> Fishery depredation--Prevention]]> Predatory animals--Behavior]]> Fishes--Cannibalism]]>
Don 'Spider' Cunningham is a recreational fisher who is part of the Narrabri Fishing Club and has resided in Narrabri (NSW) his entire life. He has strong ties with the area with his father also from Narrabri and his mother from nearby Wee Waa (NSW).

In this interview Spider discusses his childhood and youth around the Namoi River and also how the onset of maturity saw his views change toward the river to those of conservation and sustainability. He talks about his involvement with the fishing club and how they have been working for the past 25 years on the river. He discusses the fishing restrictions placed upon fishers, restocking efforts, fish feeding habits, the changes of the fish population and the predatory and cannibal nature of the Murray Cod.

Mentioned: Turtle, bream, trout, sparrow, starling, willow tree, azolla. ]]> CC-BY]]> Livestock]]> Irrigation]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Bait fishing]]> Introduced fishes]]> Water quality]]> Communities]]>
Born in 1957, Gavin has lived all his life at Picola on the Murray River, at the edge of the Barmah Forest. Gavin‘s family property was used predominantly for sheep farming, with the occasional crop for fodder and hay.

Gavin talks about: irrigation channels through the family property; fish species, their locations, and tricks to finding them; types of bait; fishing equipment; tethering fish; impact of European carp e.g. water quality; changes in people over time in the area.]]> CC-BY]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Tournament fishing]]> Water quality]]> Water temperature]]> Erosion]]> Fish stocking]]>
Merrylin and Kelli are members of the Corowa Angling Club, Merrylin a champion women's fisher. Kelli is manager of the Corowa Motor Inn and grew up fishing around the Menindee Lakes. They meet with a group of women in Pomona every year for a week long fishing trip.

Merrylin and Kelli talk about: fishing places and trips; fishing and baiting techniques; mammals, snakes, lizards, birds; changes in water quality and temperature; river bank erosion; restocking activities (fundraising).]]> CC-BY]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Lagoons]]> Billabongs]]> Plants--Identification]]> Family histories]]> Tourism]]> Boats]]> Weirs]]> Fishes--Migration]]> Environmental flows]]> Siltation]]> Introduced fishes]]> Fishes--Diseases]]>
Born in 1943, Dennis Lean is a third generation shop owner in Yarrawonga. His grandfather came to the area in 1917 and opened a barber shop. The shop was predominantly for hairdressing, but Dennis's father started selling fishing tackle and other items. Dennis expanded this aspect of the business, both as a result of his own interest in recreational fishing, and due to the increase in fishing related tourism. Dennis was also president of the Cobram Fowl and Game Club.

Dennis talks about: learning to fish on Lake Mulwala; fishing methods; different types of boats; draining of the lake for weir maintenance; movement of Murray Cod and Yellowbelly; fish preservation; relationship between Ovens River, Murray River, and Hume Weir; siltation in the Ovens River; displacement of Catfish by European Carp; a virus carried by European Carp; important differences between silver and black species of Willow tree; impact of Willow removal on platypus.

Other fish mentioned: 'silver bream' (species unspecified).]]> CC-BY]]> Wetlands]]> Fishes--Breeding]]> Fisheries]]> Communities]]> Fieldwork]]> Environmental flows]]> Water temperature]]>
Born in 1960, John grew up in Melbourne, visiting with extended family around the Mildura area. He worked at Snobs Creek as a technician, becoming an expert in breeding Murray Cod. When the research side of Snobs Creek was relocated he took a job with Fisheries Department of Primary Industries to stay in the Alexandra area. He discusses in depth cultural changes in fishing and recreational activities from his perspective as a field naturalist.

John talks about: memories growing up fishing; fishing techniques; changes in fish species around Myall and Mildura; fishing techniques; types of bait; changes in the Murray’s flows and depths; changes in Murray Cod numbers; his work with Fisheries; environmental flows; de-snagging at Hume; anabranches between Hume and Mulwala; changes in water temperature; bush tucker. Mention of Bardi grub, turtle, platypus.
]]> CC-BY]]> Lure fishing]]> Tournament fishing]]> Fishes--Identification]]> Communities]]> Environmental flows]]> Floods]]> Fish stocking]]> Licenses]]> Lure fishing]]> Fish habitat improvement]]> Water temperature]]> Boats]]> Water sports]]> Erosion]]> Fieldwork]]>
Graham, Ken and Peter are members of the Corowa Angling Club, and have lived in the Corowa area since the 1970s. Graham has worked as a water bailiff, a law enforcement officer responsible for the policing of bodies of water. They are concerned about restricted access to the river as time goes on.

The group talk about: Corugan Pumps (Hans’ Creek), an anabranch of the Murray River; changes in the Murray’s course as a result of floods, early 1980s; fishing at Jerilderie and Deniliquin; increases in Yellowbelly species since restocking; decline in Redfin species since 1980s; club travels; fishing licences; lure fishing; changes in fishing equipment; snags and fish habitat; types of bait; river health; collecting data for Arthur Rylah Institute; restocking activities, since 1988; changes in fishing culture, ‘catch and release’; changes in vegetation from boating activities; use of pylons and stones to stop river bank erosion; changes in width and depth of the river; mammals, birds, reptiles, snakes; blue-green algae and pollution; temperature differences.]]> CC-BY]]>