Illawarra Flyfishers Club

June 2003  

Lake Illawarra

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It was June this year when I was busting to catch a bream on fly in Lake Illawarra. I got the chance on a nice afternoon to head down to Berkeley Harbour with the boat and my two eldest sons, James (10) and Thomas (7), who are still learning how to fish. I only had the time to go straight to Berkeley reef which is a top spot to catch Bream on lures or fly. The reef is deadly when it comes to losing tackle, but it's due to this rugged structure that lots of Bream of all sizes live there. Often the Bream bite will come on suddenly between sunset and just after dusk.  

Whilst mucking around helping the kids with their lure casting, I was fly casting a size 6 Crazy Charlie (similar to the one on our website). I had found the speed with which to strip the fly without getting snagged yet keeping it sub-surface when YES! I'm on! A 27cm Bream of nice condition hit the fly only just below the surface. It was just on dusk when the fish struck. See the photo attached taken by James...not a bad shot by a 10 year old! The fish was released to fight another day.

Chris Harding