The fire was stoked, smoke struggled out of the chimney and hung there, yes it would be a calm morning. John and Stephen “Snake” Russell clattered down the driveway, the frost old boat would soon be on trolling duty down the lake.

Andrew and Ben would do the same and why not!

Phill and I decided to venture to Rushy Plain Bay, a shallow bay of rich pasture and good weed beds.

We would spin then change to flyfishing on dusk.

The receding water would ensure a long walk before making a cast.

The wind had picked up pushing a bank of grey winter cloud from the west, the sun strained to peek through only at times producing a “stairway to heaven.”

I sat on a broken snow gum at the water’s edge, a victim of wind and time. Alone, enjoying a piece of fruitcake I watched Mother Nature at work.

The wind sent waves crashing on the grey granite boulders and washed the sandy shoreline before withdrawing in a white foamy slick only to be tossed again.

Everyone needs solitude sometimes.

Whether it be a snowy lake, an outback river bank or a day on an impoundment, its quality time.

We spun for a while without producing a fish, the western sky flushed pink, the last of the orange rays shot straight up into the sky, Anzac style.

Before the dark shadow moon with Venus in company told me to try a fly.

Luck was with me and I bagged four health rainbows with 15 casts. They really wanted that fly. We left soon after as a mate from Maitland was soon to arrive.

The night would prove to be a long one.

John and Stephen had good results trolling as did Andrew and Ben releasing a few fish also in poor condition.

A few fine samples of red were taken as tomorrow’s tactics went under revision.

Russ Humble declared the white rocks area would be first on his calling list as the west wind had persisted during the night hours and the area should be ideal for spinning.

No one would rise early, I visited Homeleigh Bay and walked through a row of now skeleton pines, all that remains of a homestead driveway.

A rusty old rake buried in the mud and the scattered foundations of a once modest dwelling.

I stripped some line and heard a boat motor cut out on the lake, now in total silence. Looking up I observed John and Stephen landing another fish.

Down the lake the turbulent waters of Rushy and White Rocks Bays had produced some magnificent fish!

Andrew and Ben had spun some of the best water and proved it with three browns up to 2 kilograms, one of 2.7 kilograms and Andrew’s superbly conditioned lake Brown of nearly four kilograms!

What a fish!

Russ had three as well, the best being 2.4 kilograms.

Back at Homeleigh the weak sun fadedbehind the Hill, mostly covered by heavy cloud now I cast over the mirrored water.

A cold blustery wind nipped at my bare fingers but luckily two more rainbows were bagged.

We left at 6.30pm for Phill’s apricot chicken was on tonight’s menu.

Rain began to fall as the indicators picked up seven good fish trolling on that grey afternoon as well.

The fish stories flowed long into the evening as outside the rain dumped on the tin roof ensuring there would be no temptation to fish the dark.

The following morning some of the boys ventured out.

The day was cold with passing showers swept over the ranges clearing only to reappear and dump a bucket load on a poor unsuspecting fisherman caught miles from his car.

Phill, however, managed to score a nice rainbow before lunch.

Then the snow came.

Wind driven it swirled around the carports before settling on the back table and dusting the cars, a white strip caught by their windscreen wipers.

Patches began to gather on the surrounding ground.

Anywhere the wind chose to stack it.

The kangaroos seemed to be enjoying it with a scratch and a shake of their floppy ears.

Their sodden coats dripping with moisture while they pawed and boxed with each other before moving off down the driveway as Russ arrived home.

Snake’s 4x4 scattering the last of them as it growled up the steep drive.

Opening the firebox I threw two more logs inside, shut the door and opened up the flue.

The trip had been one of the best ever with good company to share it.

Mario would soon arrive with photos of his son’s seven kilogram brown caught the week before and a great time was had by all.

The snow fell freely as we left Kiandra and the next trip’s tactics were already in the pipeline as we discuss a return adventure in the near future.

It is great to at last see some decent rain in our local area!

The impoundments were crying for it with summer not too far away.

Lake Burrendong is now over 50 per cent, Wyangala is near 20 per cent and even the long suffering Windermere rose nearly a metre.

Local anglers have in the past year done very well at Lake Burrendong with great catches of golden perch on lures and bait bagging out many times.

I had a couple of trips but only turned up one golden on a twin spin.

I think Fishos like Brian Cassidy, Yogi Fenemore and Loomsy would probably catch a golden in their bath tub, obviously you have got to know what you are doing, better stick to trout!

A reduced stocking will occur this year again but maybe New South Wales fisheries should be thinking natives for our two rivers here.

I never thought I would see our Belubula flood again.

Just goes to show, never say never.