Fishing the Blackwood River Fishing the Blackwood

Fishing the Blackwood River

or
A Tour of Some Bridges in the South-West

Fish for bream in the lower reaches of the river (Warner Glen, Alexandra Bridge) and then try for trout upriver (Darradup, Jalbarragup, Nannup, Wrights Bridge).

The wild storms predicted for the south-west corner of Australia for the first weekend in November 2019 didn’t eventuate. Sure, it rained heavily on Friday night but nothing a well-prepared camper couldn’t handle.

Chapman Pool

The Warner Glen campsite is actually at Chapman Pool, only a few metres upstream from where the Chapman Brook enters the Blackwood.

: Chapman Pool campsite.

: Grass trees at the Chapman Pool campsite.

The Blackwood is the longest river in the South-West. Its source is near Kukerin more than 500 river kilometres from where it enters the Southern Ocean at Augusta. More about the Blackwood River.

We gave Chapman Pool a good try early on Saturday. Nothing. Not even a knock.

Warner Glen Bridge

We moved a short distance to Warner Glen Bridge, cannily calculating that the bridge would serve as a shelter if it rained. A feature of the Blackwood is the steep banks and it was no different here. A bit of a scramble to get to the water’s edge.

Cast near the pylons. Cast near the snags, logs and other hiding places. Not a bite.

: Warner Glen Bridge, 40 kilometres upriver from the mouth.

Alexandra Bridge

We moved downriver to Alexandra Bridge 25 kilometres from the mouth at Augusta. Ah, success! Any amount of undersize bream. But where are the adults? Our theory is that the water is still too fresh for large numbers of bream.

: Alexandra Bridge.

: John at Alexandra Bridge.

: Lots of fish this size. Where are the adults?

Lower Reaches of the Blackwood

The lower reaches of the Blackwood are tidal. In effect it is a long, narrow estuary. The effects of the moon reach all the way to Schroeders Weir, 52 kilometres from the mouth of the river at Augusta.

Time out for a coffee at Karridale Store, a trip into Hamelin Bay to see the rays, re-stock at Karridale Tavern and a visit to Hamelin Bay Wines for a tasting.

We are ready for another session at Alexandra Bridge. We cast close to the snag-lined bank from the platform below the bridge. We cast to the bridge pylons. We cast into the open river. Bored with not catching fish we moved back to Warner Glen – this time we fish (cast out hopefully) about 100 metres upstream from the bridge. Nothing.

: Warner Glen Bridge

: A cleared area 100 metres upriver from the bridge from where we fished.

: The Blackwood River just upriver from Warner Glen Bridge.

Hypothesing that this part of the river is not suitable for Bream

Disappointed with our fishing forays we collected firewood outside the National Park and went back to our campsite to relax, prepare dinner and sit around a comforting campfire. We are hypothesising that this part of the Blackwood River is not heavily populated with black bream.

: Stephen and John at our Chapman Pool campsite.

: Despite the sodden, rotting wood on offer we managed a great fire.

Darradup for Trout

It was an early start on Sunday. We drove straight to Darradup in search of trout.

: The steep banks at Darradup Bridge make fishing difficult.

Jalbarragup

Onward to Jalbarragup. This spot should be perfect for trout as the waters of the river spill out of the pool over a narrow, pebbly race.

: The small, shallow, ‘rapid’ at Jalbarragup.

: Jalbarragup Bridge

We gave it a good shot but not even a knock. On to Nannup for a coffee. We checked out the rocks at the Riverbend Caravan Park. Nothing. Our new hypothesis is that floods wash the fish away. There is nowhere for them to take refuge.

: Rock outcrop at the Riverbend Caravan Park, Nannup. No trout.

Well Developed Hypotheses

By this time our hypotheses on ‘fishing the Blackwood’ are fairly well developed.

: John was talking with a guy who caught a trout here 20 years ago.

: Flood level tree.

: Disused railway bridge at Nannup.

Nannup-Balingup Road – A Great Drive

The road from Nannup to Balingup is one of the great drives in Western Australia. Every sweeping bend offers a wonderful view of forests or farmland. The river on one side, tall lush slopes on the other. Popular with motorcycle and driving enthusiasts alike, the 41 kilometres between the two towns has 90 bends. Do yourself a favour and make the drive – but be aware of the high centre of gravity of your 4WD as you push into those bends.

Wrights Bridge

We stopped at Wrights Bridge, 29 kilometres upriver from Nannup.

: Wrights Bridge (obscured).

: The pool at Wrights Bridge.

Wrights Bridge is an important crossing of the Blackwood River.

Although we had heard reports of trout being caught here the waters did not look promising and we chose not to wet the line.

The Blackwood Valley is always beautiful and worthy of a weekend away, fish or no fish.

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