The Buckland is a trout river in north-east Victoria, and the reason to drive to it is its many kilometres of clear water for brown and rainbow trout. A road follows it from the town of Porepunkah, near the Ovens River junction, up towards the East Branch.
Start low and early in the season, near Porepunkah, when FlyLife's writers say flows are higher and cooler. Move up the valley as the season goes on, where the mid and upper river suit dry flies.
Come in late summer and early autumn for hoppers. Read the current Victorian Fisheries Authority guide before you set a date.
Water and habitat
The Buckland offers many kilometres of clear water suited to brown and rainbow trout. The valley road follows the river from Porepunkah, near the Ovens junction, up to the East Branch near Beveridges Station, so you can drive the length and choose where to fish.
In our experience on any trout river, fish hold where the current tips into deeper water and where a seam runs beside slower flow. Read the water for those places first and cover them properly.
Fish and forage
Brown trout and rainbow trout are the fish to plan for, and records also list smaller native fish in the river.
Grasshoppers are the standout food. FlyLife's writers describe grasshopper activity as a highlight of late summer and early autumn, which is when a Hopper earns its place in the box.
When to fish it
Take the season from the current Victorian Fisheries Authority guide first. Within it, FlyLife's writers say the lower river near Porepunkah fishes well early in the season, when flows are higher and cooler. As the season moves on, they describe the mid and upper river as ideal for dry flies.
Late summer and early autumn bring the grasshopper fishing. Plan a trip for then if surface fishing is what you want.
How to fish it
The river suits both deep nymphing and dry-fly fishing, so carry both and let the day decide.
For dries, FlyLife's writers list a Royal Wulff in sizes 12 to 14 and a Hopper in sizes 10 to 14 for rainbows and browns. As the season moves on, they suggest a Stimulator as a good starting pattern on the mid and upper river.
Access and safety
Treat named entry points as locations, not a statement of permission, and respect any fence or sign on the ground. FlyLife's writers describe access as easy all along Buckland Valley Road after the bridge, with Buckland Bridge and Ah Youngs Campsite named as entry points.
Buckland Bridge and Buckland Junction Bridge are described as reachable in a 2WD. Campflat is more remote and needs a 4WD and some hiking, so plan that trip with more time and care.
As on any bush river, tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, carry water and a first-aid kit, and watch your footing on wet rock.
Regulations
Victorian seasons, closures, bag and size limits and licence requirements change, so read the current State of Victoria (Victorian Fisheries Authority) guide, including its closed-waters information, before you fish, and take them from it.
