The fishing must be good enough in the south west of WA to lure in the Ifish film crew! Next week Paul Worsteling, and the IFish TV crew are taking time out to try out a spot of trout fishing around the rivers and lakes of the Pemberton and Manjimup area, as well as Clover Cottage Country Retreat’s trout lakes.
Fishing
Ifish Visit To Clover Cottage Trout Lakes
Thursday, November 15th, 2012Ready for Trout fishing in Western Australia?
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012The trout season is open and our trout lakes are ‘leaping and ‘jumping with Western Australia grown trout! Our Balbarrup fly fishing trophy lake is well stocked with mature browns and rainbows that have been in the natural environment for over 12 months and offer the fisherman a challenge!
Contact Paul, if you are looking for a freshwater fishing weekend or just some time out in the country with a fishing rod in hand!!!
Trout Farm on the Horizon
Monday, January 30th, 2012
Exciting times at the Balbarrup Lake! Several trial tanks have been set up at the dam to grow on trout juveniles. All is looking good and next week building will commence on the holding dam just below the 15 acre Balbarrup Lake. The project will based on the aquaponics model, which is considered the world’s most efficient use of water ( Wilson 2006). Water from the lake will go through the trout tanks, then onto a hydroponically grown vegetable crop where the nutrients from the trout will ensure the crop is organic. After returning into the holding dam, the water will then be used on the property’s nectarine orchard.
The good news for trout fishing is that there will plenty of trout for Clover Cottage guests to fish!
Site for New Holding DamJuvenile trout
Western Angler Feature
Sunday, December 4th, 2011
Scott Coglan, managing editor of Western Angler and mad keen fisherman and fly fisherman took time out recently with a few fishing mates to enjoy a spot of fly fishing on the new Balbarrup fishing lake, which Paul has stocked with mature Browns and Rainbows. As a result of a “superb fly fishing experience” Scott wrote an article about the new trout lake and fly fishing experience.
Check out the latest Oct/ Nov 2011 issue of Western Angler Magazine to read up about Scott’s fishing experience. You can also download PDF copy of the article from the link below.
Western Angler Article
(Right-click ‘Save as’ to download)
Fly Fishing WA
Saturday, March 26th, 2011We are all hoping that the warm to HOT weather is finally coming to an end in the southwest of WA! As the mornings and evenings begin to cool and the mist begins to rise on the lakes, trout at Clover Cottage begin to rise once again!!!
Fly fishing enthusiasts are now checking on the conditions at Clover Cottage’s exclusive flyfishing lake . Under the watchful eye of Paul Thomsett, trout farmer with 27 years experience and owner of Clover Cottage, the trout are surviving and thriving in the 15 hectacre lake!
Check out the article http://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/cottage-will-provide-perfect-fly-fishing-experience/story-e6frg3sl-1225885606228 for more information about Balbarrup Lake.
The lake is available only to our guests at Clover Cottage and can be hired for a full day fishing or half day. Email or phone Paul for more details and costs. Fly fishing tuition at Clover Cottage is available with prior notice and availability of an instructor.
Consider booking your flyfishing or freshwater fishing experience from May onwards during the cool to colder months of the year.
Anglers Rolling in Clover
Monday, January 3rd, 2011
Scott Coglan, the Fishing columist for the Sunday Times has been a keen fly fisherman for a long while. A few months ago Scott and Matt Lilly took time out to fly fish on Paul’s new trophy lake. Scott’s recent article in the Sunday Times (dated Jan2 2011) speaks very postively about the experience.
This was Scott’s second visit to the lake and Paul had since introduced more Rainbows and a batch of Brown Trout to the waters.
“The improvement in the fishing in the dam over such a short period is nothing short of phenomenal and Thomsett is well on the track to his goal of creating a top class fishery, such is its potential”, quotes Scott. (Sunday Times 2 Jan2011)
Over the two nights fishing plenty of trout were hooked or caught by the fishermen and in good condition.
“The first night we hooked 20 trout and caught about six……four big trout being around 2 kg….offering a fine tassle. .. The fish we caught were in superb condition …evidenced by the the fact one fish took me to the backing, almost unheard of in all my trout fishing experiences in WA.”" quotes Scott.
There is no shortage of natural food for the trout in the dam with plenty of tadpoles and minnows in the water and insect life around the shore line. This has helped fatten the trout and encouraged them to adapt well to the natural habitat.
Matt Lilly took advantage of the feeding frenzy when the insects were swarming and landed the biggest rainbow Scott believes he had ever seen. A black woolly bugger fly was used to snag the big one!
People staying at Clover Cottage can fish the trophy dam at a cost of $40 per 1/2 dayand there are also special accommodation and fishing packages available.
The best time for trout fishing is in the cooler months, which is usually April through to October.
Fishing for Terrific Trout
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010Trout For the Taking!
Fishermen staying at Clover Cottage Country Retreat will enjoy seeing plenty of trout rising in the lakes and hopefully be able to land a few.
3kg rainbow for the Fly fishing lake
Paul from Clover Cottage has just restocked the lakes and dams around Clover Cottage ready for the freshwater anglers to try their luck with landing the perfect trout for the barbeque. And nothing could be better than a fresh trout with a glass of wine from one of the local Pemberton and Manjimup wineries, some of the best in Western Australia (Click here to explore the southern forest region).
For the serious fly fisherman the exclusive fly fishing lake has also been restocked with the prize size rainbows and brown trout. Check out our new trophy fly fishing lake above!
Our Exclusive Fly Fishing Lake
To read a bit more about fishing and the many more activities at Clover Cottage Country Retreat click here.
The Western Angler
Saturday, September 18th, 2010The Western Angler visit Clover Cottage
Recently we were paid a visit from Scott Coghlan and Mark Halse from one of WA’s most popular fishing magazines, the Western Angler.
They came down to check out our new exclusive Trophy Lake for a bit Fly Fishing for Rainbow and Brown trout. Check out the article that was in the Sunday Times about the guys’ trip to Clover Cottage: ‘Dam good trout fishing’ .
While they were down they also took a few videos of fishing for Red Fin Perch along the Warren River that adjoins our property:
Landing a Redfin Perch
Kayaking up the Warren River
A big thanks to the guys!
If you’d like the opportunity to try your hand at fishing our new Throphy Lake drop us a line. A fly fishing guide can also be arranged.