That tradition has gone by the wayside - indeed, the act of fishing on the season-opening weekend has gone by the wayside, but that won't stop OTAS from gearing up for another season of hitting the lakes and dams of the region.

President Barry Darley said club life member Glen Cumberland is as good a fishing caster as he's seen and as good a teacher as he knows - with Mr Cumberland a former Australian fly fishing champion.

"He could land it on a 20-cent piece," Mr Darley said watching Mr Cumberland cast a line.

For Mr Cumberland, a former Canowindra native whose family had farms near Goolagong along the river, and he said the family "lived on cod" back in the day.

He joined OTAS way back in in 1960, and has a scrapbook with newspaper clippings recounting the group's history since he joined.

"When you went fishing on the first weekend of the season you always had to get two trout to give to the mayor," he said.

In terms of changes, the drying of the continent has been one thing he's noticed, the floods of 60 years ago which meant "you couldn't get out the front gate" are long-gone, to the point where dam and creek levels drop significantly - like in the last few years - but this season should be a good one.

"Sometimes it runs dry but it comes through again, but it always fishes well [out here]," he said.

"Give it a few weeks and we'll be ringing each other up saying 'come on, who's going out?'."

OTAS doesn't charge fees for members, and Mr Darley said the club was very welcoming for all those interested in fly casting and fly fishing, with monthly meetings on the third Thursday of the month at the Gladstone Hotel.

There's also a come-and-try day at the dam at Wentworth Golf Club on October 18 from 9am to 11am which he encouraged anyone with any interest to come along to.

"There's no need to register, just turn up," he said.