Lake Fyans in the Victorian Wimmera

Lake Fyans is a small off stream reservoir with a small natural catchment that supplies water to Ararat and Stawell. The lake is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the region and is currently 98% full. I takes up about 5 square kilometres and is over 6 metres deep in parts but mostly from 3 to 4.5 metres deep.

There are two main swimming beaches at Lake Fyans, both with gently sloping, sandy shorelines and light tea coloured water. No camping or dogs are allowed outside the caravan park and it gets crazy busy in summer and during school holidays but mid week winter you can get it almost all to yourself.

Fyans is known for its stocked brown and rainbows trout as well as having redfin. None of which were evident today :-( But a great day to take the kayak for a run and do some exploring of this spot.

Parking is easy.

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Preparing to launch.

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Looking for fish.

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Great vista.

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Typical death.

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Launch area.

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Trolling some hard body lures through the timber.

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A couple of cranky no voters.

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High Country Stag Hunt September

Hunting in the Mount Beauty area I bumped a large stag which I managed to stalk to within 50 metres of. I could see him clearly and he was looking straight at me, I raised my rifle but he then moved behind some tees so I did not have a clear shot and he ran off. It was exhilarating to get so close to this large and elusive animal. All in all a great day out in the bush and nothing was harmed in the making of this adventure, so no free range organic venison, this time.

The relatively flat and easy going topography.

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Deer footprints.

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Deer poo.

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Antler shed.

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A very large coronet, must have been a from a real bruiser.

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A rub tree.

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A clearing, few and far between these.

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A stag wallow.

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Spring 2023 Bendigo

Up to the Goulburn River in Victoria to try our luck

Last Thursday was a perfect spring day in northern Victoria so Helen and I dashed up to the the Goulburn River for a quick fishing trip. No fish but a very relaxing few hours drowning worms.

New PLB

My GME MT410 Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) battery was marked for expiry so after 7 years of service it was time to replace it.

A PLB is an emergency beacon that, once activated, sends a signal to search and rescue agencies, alerting them of your location and the fact you’re in dire need of their help. You register with Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). A PLB is a last resort, only to be turned on in life threatening situations and when no other direct communication is available.

Used by campers, hunters, fishermen, bushwalkers, 4WD drivers, overlanders or other people venturing into remote areas.

A registered beacon provides AMSA with useful information to contact you in the event of an emergency when your beacon has been activated. This information is critical in assisting search and rescue. Once a PLB is activated, the beacon transmits a distress signal that is received by the international search and rescue satellite system. The satellite then notifies the nearest ground station and, through a series of connections, the Rescue Coordination Centre responsible for the specific region will be notified and begin organising a response. A personal locator beacon can be activated anywhere in the world, including land, air and sea.

The replacement was an Australian Made 406MHz GPS Personal Locator Beacon from GME, the MT610G. The new one was Half the size of the old MT410, lightweight and compact it can fit easily in a backpack or clip onto the shoulder straps.

GME MT610

IP68 Ingress Protection 

Integrated 72Ch GPS Receiver 

7 Year Battery Life 

121.5MHz Homing Transmitter

Cospas-Sarsat Certified (Class 2)

Easily Deployed in an Emergency 

Buoyant

Lake William Hovell in Winter

I last visited this area in detail in autumn 2012, see blog posts here:

http://wfrblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/king-river-valley.html

http://wfrblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/king-river-valley-ii.html

I thought I'd try to catch some winter trout here as most rivers are closed but impoundments are fishable all year round. Currently in August 2023 the lake is 100% full with the spillway flowing. No luck with the fishing but it was an exceptional day relaxing by the tranquil lake shore and taking Helen for a bush bash and exploring around the lake. We saw two people all day and the temp was around 15 Deg c  and sunny periods after a cool 2 degree c start.

Tranquil shore

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The setting.

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My view.

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The fun patrol is in charge.

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Looking East.

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Helen tests the water.

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Hound dog sniffing for deer.

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The dam wall, Lake William Hovell, King River Valley.

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The spillway.

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