Ballarat Fly Fishers Club

09/06/2026

🎣 Ballarat Fly Fishers Club – Weekly Update
We’ve got another busy and exciting week ahead at the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club, with plenty happening both on and off the water.
🧣 June Members Meeting – Thursday 11 June at 7:30pm
Our June Members Meeting will be held Thursday 11 June 2026 at the Clubrooms from 7:30pm. The heaters will be on, and all members are invited to come along and enjoy the warm hospitality of the Club.
Guest Speaker: Shane Stevens, presenting on his recent cod on the fly fishing expedition.
🌊 Nelson Trip – Friday 12 June to Monday (optional) 15 June 2026
The annual Nelson trip kicks off Friday 12 June and runs through to Monday 15 June (optional). Accommodation is available at Kywong Caravan Park, Nelson.
Expect great fishing in the Nelson estuary and the Glenelg River targeting:
• Bream
• Estuary Perch
• Mulloway (with the potential for some very large fish)
A highlight of the trip is always the group dinner at the Nelson Hotel.
For details, see the flyer or contact Noel – 0419 376 197.
🏆 Len Walker Trophy – Leaderboard Update
Congratulations to Max Stevens, who has moved onto the leaderboard after landing a couple of lovely browns last Sunday — including a 52cm fish, which currently sits on top.
With plenty of Sundays still ahead, the competition remains wide open.
🏔️ Wartook Trophy – Friday 17 to Sunday 19 July 2026
Join fellow members for the annual Wartook trip at Wartook Reservoir, high in the Grampians National Park.
This trip is always a favourite, with:
• Great trout fishing
• A roaring fire to keep the evening chill away
• A relaxed, social atmosphere
Accommodation options:
• Horsham Anglers Lodge, or
• Camping under the stars
Contact Shane Stevens if you’re keen to attend.
🔨 Gear Auction – Friday 28 August 2026
The Club will be holding its annual Gear Auction on Friday 28 August.
This is a fantastic opportunity to turn surplus fly fishing gear into cash — which can then be reinvested into more fly fishing gear.
Members wishing to list items are asked to contact:
• Shane Stevens – 0408 179 927, or
• Will – 0419 376 197
This helps us prepare the auction schedule for the night.
📅 This Week at the Club
🍻 Friday – Happy Hour
4:30pm–6:30pm | Clubrooms A great way to unwind at the end of the week. All members and friends welcome.
🎣 Sunday – Len Walker Competition
Fished every Sunday from early April to late September on Lake Wendouree. Good luck to all competing this weekend.
📘 Upcoming Club Trips – Mark Your Diaries
• June Members Meeting – 11 June 2026, 7:30pm
• Nelson Trip – 12–15 June 2026
• Wartook Trip – 17–19 July 2026
• Annual General Meeting – 13 August 2026 (followed by August Members Meeting)
• Cod on the Fly Trip – 21–24 August 2026
• Gear Auction – 28 August 2026
• Rise Film Festival – Friday 11 September 2026, 7:30pm at the Clubrooms
👋 Interested in Joining?
If you’re not yet a member and would like to learn more about fly fishing or the Club, visit our website or send us an email for more information.

02/06/2026

The June edition of Mallard & Claret has arrived!

Winter is here, the mornings are colder, but there's still plenty happening around the club. Inside this month's edition you'll find club news, fishing stories, reports, and more to keep the fly fishing spirit alive through the colder months.

Pour yourself a warm drink, settle in, and enjoy the June edition of Mallard & Claret.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:ap:8ede2709-7124-479f-902a-3b12ff8016f6

18/05/2026

18/05/2026

🎣 Ballarat Fly Fishers Club – Weekly Update
We’ve got another busy and exciting week ahead at the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club, with plenty happening both on and off the water.
🏆 Weekend Results
Goldfields Trophy – Lake Fyans A huge congratulations to Brian Hughes, who claimed the Goldfields Trophy last weekend against the Bendigo Fly Fishers Club. Fishing conditions were extremely tough, with only three trout landed across the entire weekend. Brian secured the “Hub Cap” with a superb 42cm rainbow trout, one of two fish he caught on consecutive casts. A fantastic result and another great year of friendly rivalry — we’ll be aiming to bring it home again next year.
Len Walker Trophy – Leaderboard Update Well done to Max Stevens, who has moved onto the leaderboard after landing a couple of lovely browns last Sunday, including a 52cm fish that currently sits on top. With plenty of Sundays still ahead, the competition remains wide open.
📅 This Week at the Club
☕ Tuesday Morning – Coffee Club 9.30am | Clubrooms, Boatshed No. 12, Lake Wendouree A relaxed morning catch up. Open to members and non members — everyone is welcome.
🪱 Tuesday Night – Fly Tying 7.00pm | Clubrooms This week’s session is led by Craig Coltman, who will be teaching the Polar Minnow in preparation for the upcoming Nelson trip in June. See attached flyer for details.
🍻 Friday – Happy Hour 4.30pm–6.30pm | Clubrooms A great way to unwind at the end of the week. All members and friends welcome.
🎣 Sunday – Len Walker Competition Fished every Sunday from early April to late September on Lake Wendouree. Good luck to all competing this weekend.
📘 Upcoming Club Trips – Mark Your Diaries
• Nelson Club Trip – 12–15/16 June See flyer attached
• Wartook Trophy – 17–19 July, Lake Wartook See flyer attached
• Murray Cod Trip – 7–9 August, Lake Mulwala
👋 Interested in Joining?
If you’re not yet a member and would like to learn more about fly fishing or the club, visit our website or send us an email for more information.
www.ballaratflyfishers.org
[email protected]" rel="ugc" target="_blank">[email protected]

14/05/2026

Life Membership Presentation – Doug Kimberley
Ballarat Fly Fishers Club
Members and friends,
As President of the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club, there is no greater honour than to present a Life Membership to one of our own. It is the highest recognition our club can bestow, reserved for those whose service, commitment, and passion have shaped the very fabric of this organisation.
Tonight, it gives me great pleasure to award Life Membership to Douglas (Doug) Kimberley—a stalwart of our club since joining in 1999, and a man whose contribution has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Doug has served our club with distinction in a wide range of leadership roles:
• President
• Senior Vice President
• Committee Member
• Assistant Secretary
In each of these positions, Doug has demonstrated unwavering professionalism, fairness, and diligence. Under his stewardship, our club has prospered. His leadership has ensured that the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club conducts itself with integrity and competence—qualities that have earned us respect not only within the fly fishing community, but also among local government, state departments, and business organisations. Our strong reputation is, in no small part, a reflection of Doug’s influence.
Doug’s advice, financial diligence, mediation skills, and commitment to good governance have been instrumental in guiding the club safely through challenges that often trouble voluntary organisations. His work in policy development and organisational oversight has ensured that our club remains strong, stable, and future focused.
Doug’s willingness to serve has been remarkable. Since 2004, he has held positions within club management almost continuously. Beyond our own walls, he has represented the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club with distinction through VRFish, the BDAA, and other bodies—always advocating for our members and for the broader angling community.
One of Doug’s most significant achievements was his leadership in the amalgamation of the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club and the Horsham Fly Fishers Club. This complex process required careful management of assets, incorporation, and the modification of our model rules to meet the requirements of Consumer Affairs Victoria. Doug handled this with the professionalism and attention to detail that have become his trademarks.
Doug has also played a pivotal role in elevating the Tasmanian Great Lake Tie In to a nationally recognised event. Through his efforts, our club has become a respected and valued participant on the national stage, strengthening our connections and enhancing our reputation across Australia.
On a personal level, Doug continues to give generously of his time and knowledge. He mentors members in the art of trout fishing in Tasmania’s Central Highlands and shares his fly tying skills with patience and enthusiasm. His willingness to teach, guide, and support others reflects the very best of what our club stands for.
Such is the breadth of Doug’s service that it is impossible to capture every contribution in a single speech. But what is clear—beyond any doubt—is that Doug is an outstanding member of the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club and meets every measure of what Life Membership represents.
It is with deep gratitude and immense pride that we recognise Doug’s tireless dedication, his leadership, and his unwavering commitment to our club.
Life Membership is not only deserved—it is the fitting and rightful honour for a man who has given so much.
Please join me in congratulating Doug Kimberley, Life Member of the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club.

13/05/2026

Congratulations
Vern Barby
Life Membership
Ballarat Fly Fishers Club
As President of the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club, there is no greater honour than to present a Life Membership to one of our own. It is the highest recognition our club can bestow, and it is reserved for those whose service, commitment, and passion have shaped the very fabric of this club.
Tonight, we recognise a member whose contribution spans decades—quite literally—because he has been a member not once, not twice, but three separate times. Across more than 30 years of involvement, Vern has left an indelible mark on the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club.
Vern has served in almost every role imaginable:
• President
• Senior Vice President
• Committee member
• Organising force behind countless club events and trips
• And, of course, our current kitchen manager, a role he carries out with the same dedication he brings to everything he does.
But Vern’s service to the club is only part of the story. His passion for fly fishing has taken him across Australia and around the world—Tasmania, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and many more destinations. Wherever there are fish to be caught and knowledge to be gained, Vern has been there.
His fishing ability is nothing short of exceptional. Vern has won almost every club trophy available, including the highly sought after Wastell Trophy. But what sets him apart is not just his skill—it’s his generosity. He has shared his knowledge freely with new and experienced members alike, at Come & Try Days, intermediate days, and on the water. Many of our members have become better anglers because of Vern’s guidance, patience, and willingness to teach.
Vern’s achievements extend far beyond Ballarat. Since 1995, he has represented both our club and Australia on the international fly fishing stage. He is recognised locally and abroad as one of the finest lake fishers in the country. Among his many accomplishments, two stand out:
• Australian Fly Fishing Champion – 2002
• Australian Fly Fishing Champion – 2006
• Oceanic Fly Fishing Championship’s Bronze Medallist -2026
Vern is also a master fly tyer. From delicate midge patterns to the iconic Magoo Fly, which he created in honour of his great mate and mentor, the late Alan “Mr Magoo” Howlett, his flies are used and recognised across the fly fishing community.
For many years, Vern served as the club’s Casting Instructor and was an integral part of our fly casting team. His influence on the skills and confidence of our members is immeasurable.
And yet, even with all these achievements, what we see tonight is only a small snapshot of what Vern has contributed to this club. His passion, his leadership, his humour, his craftsmanship, and his unwavering commitment have helped shape the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club into what it is today.
It is with immense pride and deep gratitude that we award Life Membership to Vern—a remarkable angler, a dedicated clubman, and a treasured member of our community.

11/05/2026

🎣 Ballarat Fly Fishers Club – Weekly Update

It’s another busy and exciting week at the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club, with plenty happening for members and friends.

☕ Tuesday – Coffee Club
9.30am | Clubrooms, Boatshed No. 12, Lake Wendouree
Join us for a relaxed morning catch‑up. Open to members and non‑members — everyone is welcome.

📅 Thursday – Monthly Meeting
7.30pm | Clubrooms
This month’s guest speaker is Vern Barby, club member and life member, who has just returned from New Zealand after competing in the Oceania Fly Fishing Championships — where he won the Individual Bronze Medal. Come along and hear about his experience.

🍻 Friday – Happy Hour
4.30pm–6.30pm | Clubrooms
A great way to unwind at the end of the week. All welcome to drop in for a chat and a drink.

🎣 Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 – Goldfields Trophy (“Hub Cap”)
Our annual fly‑fishing competition against the Bendigo Fly Fishers Club will be held at Lake Fyans. Good luck to all competing.

🎣 Sunday 17 – Len Walker Competition
For those not heading to Lake Fyans, the Len Walker will be fished on Lake Wendouree. This event runs every Sunday from early April to late September.

If you’re not yet a member and would like to join or learn more about fly fishing, visit the club’s website www.ballaratflyfishers.org or email us for more information [email protected]" rel="ugc" target="_blank">[email protected]