Mitchell River

Queensland Fishing Reports
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Truedogz
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Mitchell River

Post by Truedogz » Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:32 pm

I've been on a quick trip north to catch up with my mum in Cairns. I went away for a few days camping and fishing with a close friend who is being treated for Melanoma. We camped on the Mitchell River about 3 hrs drive north west of Cairns on private property. In this part of the Mitchell river there are no barra or saltwater crocs due to waterfalls further downstream.

The river resembles a trout stream, having rock and gravel beds with a bit of sand. The main fish present are sooty grunter, rifle fish (archer fish) and catfish. The pics provide a good idea of the country:
Mitchell River camp.jpg
rapids.jpg
We didn't fish too seriously, going out in the canoe a few times. We did manage to catch plenty of rifle fish and some sooties on surface lures. The boofs were not as spectacular as those of cod but the rifle fish in particular were heaps of fun. Sooties are great as they are one of the hardest pullers of all our freshwater fish for their size. No pics as my camera is not water proof and having already wrecked one this season I didn't want to risk it.

Nice part of the world at this time of year.

Best Wishes

Truedogz

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Kimtown
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Re: Mitchell River

Post by Kimtown » Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:44 pm

Here I was thinking this was a boring old east gippy report.... Good stuff mate

Also, funny you mention the thing about the falls and no crocs. Someone told me a while back they seen a croc far inland in a creek where there were falls??? May have been freshwater croc though

Lightningx
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Re: Mitchell River

Post by Lightningx » Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:59 pm

Sounds like a great few days camping mate!
Great pics :)
Cheers :thumbsup:

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Re: Mitchell River

Post by rb85 » Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:04 pm

Looks picturesque would have been a relaxing couple of days.

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Re: Mitchell River

Post by purple5ive » Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:15 pm

great stuff mate, the archer fish are awesome to watch hunting, were they big in size at all?

Texas
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Re: Mitchell River

Post by Texas » Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:49 pm

What about me ??, I would have been your caddie, Just to warm up
Although I thought you were going to mention a stream about 2kms from you
I'm gunna fish the Major Mitchell in the warmer weather
Cheers Gra

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Sinsemilla
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Re: Mitchell River

Post by Sinsemilla » Tue Aug 13, 2019 9:27 pm

Nice getaway and scenery to clear the mind Will. Wishing your mate all the best

Cheers, Anth

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Queasy
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Re: Mitchell River

Post by Queasy » Tue Aug 13, 2019 10:40 pm

Kimtown wrote:
Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:44 pm
Also, funny you mention the thing about the falls and no crocs. Someone told me a while back they seen a croc far inland in a creek where there were falls??? May have been freshwater croc though
Yep, you'll get crocs (both freshies and salties) far inland, but only freshies above the falls.

I really love the Sooty country, and damn they hit hard.

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Re: Mitchell River

Post by smile0784 » Wed Aug 14, 2019 12:23 am

Nice time away
Good report

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Truedogz
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Re: Mitchell River

Post by Truedogz » Thu Aug 15, 2019 10:10 am

purple5ive wrote:
Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:15 pm
the archer fish are awesome to watch hunting, were they big in size at all?
The rifle fish (thats what the locals call them) weren't huge, the biggest about 25 cm. I have caught them a lot bigger though. There are huge ones in Tinaroo dam and I caught one in the Norman River on the cape in 2007 that would have been well over a kilo.

As for crocs the freshies do live in the area, but didn't see any this trip. Five years ago we camped in the same area and saw a big freshie. This roughly the area we camped at:

-16.613334, 144.540723

Best Wishes

Truedogz

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