Most members of the Mallard Flyfishers syndicate enjoyed another good season at Mallard Lake although the fishing became extremely challenging in the latter part of our season. The average weekly attendance during 2011 was 26 rods. Some members noted damage to a few fish which we attribute to the increasing numbers of cormorants at the lake. We stocked a total of 1,700 rainbow trout with a total weight of 3,471 lb., supplied by Hooke Springs, in eight deliveries spread over the season. The average weight of stocked fish was 2 lb. over the total number stocked within a range of weights from 1.25 to about 2.5 lb. As in previous years we stocked the smaller trout in June as a precaution against water temperatures rising unduly in the summer months. 

The largest fish taken was one of 3lb. 10oz. on the 23rd April but a number of large specimens were returned to the water without being weighed. There were 106 trout of 2.5 lb. or more recorded in the Fishing Returns, with 14 of these being 3 lb. or heavier. We believe there are still some brown trout in the lake from young stock we introduced in the first couple of years at Mallard Lake, but none were recorded in the Fishing Returns for 2011.

The catch returns summarised for the season, with comparison from the previous year:- 

	2011	2010	Notes
Rod Visits	1,016	908	12% more rod visits
Trout landed	1,841	1,598	15% increase on previous season
Trout taken	896	790	13% increase
Number of trout stocked	1,700	1,600	6% increase with average weight maintained at 2lb.
Weight of fish stocked	3,471lb	3,141lb	10% increase over 2010
Average catch per rod	1.8	1.8	No change
Heaviest fish killed	3lb10oz	4lb08oz	Captor - Gary M. 23/4/2011
Number of 3+ lb trout taken  Fish over 2.5 lb	14 106	43	A number of large fish were caught and released without being weighed.

 

 We have long suspected that the rate of predation at Mallard Lake is high, and with two very large pike being found dead at the fishery during 2010, a 16 lb specimen taken on a trout fly in 2011, an increase in numbers of cormorants visiting the lake, and the fact that otters frequent the nature reserve, our stocking plan includes a predation rate of about 45%. The very dry autumn has resulted in low water levels for the time of year, still 20 to 25 cm. below the normal winter level.

The trout for the 2012 season have been ordered with the first planned stocking in March 2012. There are also a number of winter tasks including some felling of dangerous trees and pruning others that cause problems for fly fishermen in various parts of the fishery. We plan to commence our next trout fishing season at Mallard Lake on 31st March 2012.  

Hooke Springs delivered 500 Rainbow Trout weighing 1,102 lb. as our first stocking for 2011 which took place during the week beginning 21st March. 

 ..what a glorious day for this task.

   Catch Returns Summary 2011....

	April	May	June	July	August
Trout landed	469	361	350	196	78
Number of rods	185	173	153	123	89
Average per rod	2.5	2.1	2.3	1.6	0.9
Trout taken	204	160	142	109	54
Heaviest fish taken	3lb  10oz	3lb  8oz	3lb  0oz	3lb  6oz	2lb  8oz

Results from last season

   Catch Returns Summary 2010....

	April	May	June	July	August
Trout landed	477	338	281	115	48
Number of rods	155	163	158	106	73
Average per rod	3.1	2.1	1.8	1.1	0.7
Trout taken	183	148	138	74	35
Heaviest fish taken	4lb 8oz	3lb 10oz	3lb 9oz	3lb 5oz	3lb 1oz

	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total YTD
Trout landed	149	111	79	0	1,598
Number of rods	101	96	55	0	908
Average per rod	1.5	1.2	1.4	0	1.8
Trout taken	96	75	41	0	790
Heaviest fish taken	2lb 9oz	2lb 10oz	3lb 6oz	Nil	4lb 8oz R

The series of noughts under the "Dec" column is the result of the lake being frozen over from the last week in November until well into January 2011. It has had a second freeze-up but that was of much shorter duration early in February.