Located within two hours drive northeast of Melbourne in the Great Dividing Range, the Marysville and Rubicon Valley regions are home to some outstanding fly fishing, from October through to April each year.
This area is ideal for beginner to intermediate fly fishermen, in a picturesque sub-alpine setting, including famous rivers such as the Steavenson, Acheron, Howqua, Jamieson, Taggerty, Narbethong and Rubicon rivers which are ideal for single day or short stay visits.
With prolific numbers of Brown trout in small to medium-sized rivers and streams, the terrain available ranges from classic freestone rivers with slow deep pools to pristine mountain streams with endless runs and riffles. Perfect for light 2 to 3 weight rods fishing small pocket water, overhangs, snags and riffles, casting accuracy here is paramount to success.
And with great lodging and expert guiding available, it’s a great destination.
For short stays in the region, there are a number of lodging options in Marysville, including Bed and Breakfast cottages and the stunning Wilderness Lodge which opened in 2020.
Catering up-to four anglers this modern lodging has all the amenities you need for a great stay, fully self-contained with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. With an outdoor deck and views down the river valley, indoors the wood fire and lounge area provide a relaxing stay.
Guided day trips with private transfers from Melbourne are available including all fly fishing gear, tackle, waders, packed lunch and tuition.
The rivers and streams in the Marysville and Rubicon Valley regions are ideal for refining casting accuracy, fishing small twig-waters with #2-3 weight outfits and prolific numbers of small brown and rainbow trout available.
September through June are the best months with a variety of methods successful including Czech nymphing, small dry flies and standard nymphing techniques.
Stimulator or Hopper patterns work well in the summer months, including Elk Hair Caddis and Royal Wulff patterns when moth species are present. Generalist nymphs such as pheasant tails and flashbacks under a dry fly when searching for fish also works well.
Floating lines with 9-foot tapered leaders are ideal, while short casts are only required, making this area ideal for beginner fly fishermen.
As per all Fly Odyssey bookings, we will provide you with a comprehensive and detailed pre-trip fly fishing guide before your departure.
Numerous flights are available to Melbourne Tullamarine airport, via Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide or Perth. Overnighting in Melbourne, your departure time to the Victorian Highlands will be around 7 am.
Marysville is two hours from Melbourne via Healesville. Guided private transfers from Melbourne are available for day trips or Wilderness lodge stays.
To get the most out of your guided fly fishing days, packages can include accommodation both before and after each days guiding to fit in with your preferences.
Alternatively, Fly Odyssey can facilitate private airport transfers, accommodation or self-drive itineraries in Victoria including the Great Ocean Road, Grampians, Goldfields, Mornington Peninsula or Gippsland if you wish to extend your stay, or as part of a multi-destination itinerary throughout Australia.
A minimum of six months validity on all passports from date of arrival is required. An Electronic Travel Authority or Tourist Visa Stream is required by residents of eligible countries to enter Australia (excluding New Zealand).
If arriving into the Melbourne domestic or international airports, transfers can also be arranged to suit your schedule with travel times to the CBD approximately twenty minutes.
Let us do the groundwork for you.
Our tailored fly fishing and accommodation itineraries are designed with you in mind to suit your preferences. They are also quoted in your local currency with very favourable exchange rates.
Fly Odyssey has access to the best guiding and lodging rates, suitable tides and updated availability to this destination which can vary throughout the season.
This includes flight bookings, transit accommodation, transfers and a host of non-angling activities and experiences.
We specialise in group stays to the region, and our long involvement with our partners on the ground in Victoria will ensure you are well looked after both on and off the water.
This includes extended stays in Melbourne, Ballarat, Gippsland or the Great Ocean Road.
Please enquire for the latest rates and availability, including information on any applicable special offers.
CONTACT OUR AUSTRALIAN OFFICE
Creating and sharing memorable travel experiences with our clients and friends provides us with genuine satisfaction. All of our trips are bespoke, tailored to your needs, and we always love hearing all about the adventure on your return.
Our knowledge of travel logistics saves you time, and our highly experienced team is here to ensure it’s spent on the water and not at the desk or on a long flight connection that you didn’t require. Since 2006 we have developed a valued client-base that has travelled to all corners of the globe.
We are a fully-accredited travel agency, where all of our flights, accommodation and associated travel bookings are made in-house, which means that you pay less. We have access to a huge range of specials, deals, great volume pricing and excellent currency exchange rates which allows us to pass these benefits directly onto you.
On the fishing front, our extensive expertise and experience around prime seasons, species, moon-phases, tides and personalised customer service is centred around one principal – preparation. This includes detailed gear and equipment lists, the fly patterns, transfer details, up-to-date fishing reports and some of the finer aspects that can often be overlooked.
We travel extensively and understand that your free-time is important. Just as we all understand from experience, that the key to a successful trip is pre-trip preparation.
Our highly experienced team has fly fished the world for the last 25 years, and we understand the considerations and gear needed to turn a good fly fishing trip into a great one.
Fly fishing and travel is our passion.
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