Swan river milkfish

[Brad Yates]

Had a wade this evening for a GH which wasn’t successful but the size and numbers of mullet were impressive. I noticed quite a few schools coming through within casting range and all feeding like a school of milkfish, their mouths bubbling out of the surface. Has anyone tried to create a floating weed or river scum type fly to catch them or is this more along the lines of just bash yourself in the head with a house brick until the idea has gone sort of thing?

[Stephen Bradbury]

I think you answered your own question beautifully with that last sentence Brad. There's always a lot of impressive sized sea mullet in the river, maybe try a 'Turd' fly I've never had any real success at catching them at all. If you find a fly that works with any sort of consistency clone it because it would be the equivalent of the holy grail ! the fight is awesome I hear Andre had some success a while ago in the Peel system I think casting tiny unweighted nyph/scud sort of flies with an indicator above to detect the take ?

[Brad Yates]

Haha a late night up watching videos of Wayne haselau tying his milk magic flies has given me inspiration. But the housebrick does sound a lot more suitable.

[Bruce Flint]

Brad I feel your pain. Years ago i was chasing carp in a dam that was frequented by ducks and "duck feeders"... ie lumps of bread being thrown in the water. The carp where abundant under the ducks .... and big carp ! I headed home that evening to tie a bread fly. I spent the evening stuffing around with various materials to no avail. Later that evening while standing in the kitchen I spotted the cleaning sponge lying next to the bread. Same texture ! Similar color ! BOOM ! I strapped a piece of sponge on a hook and headed down to the dam. While my partner distracted the ducks to the other side of the lake. (Bloody things would not leave my "bread fly" alone) I presented the sponge with the stealth of Lefty Cray. I had a fantastic time getting tugged around by many fish in that dam. My point ??? I have seen people catching mullet with bread. Good luck with that !