NT Fly Fishers : 2 Mile Hole

Three dry seasons ago, in the good old days of shift work and time off, I fished 2 mile hole for four days where an old fella camped next to me caught 2 or 3 Barra every day in the 90’s, saw the evidence of his spoils. I could only come up with 60’s and 70’s. On the last night around the campfire and finishing off the last couple of reds his wife told me the secret of where they were fishing – another Billabong!! Evidently there is another Bong downstream of 2 mile so went out this weekend to try it, if I can find it.

Arrived late Friday night with two creek crossings in the dark, more later on about this. Campfire, few cold ones the swag for an early morning start. I must have slept in because I was last up, the million and one mossie were up before me, be warned if you go.

2 Mile Hole Sunrise

On the water before light with no wind and proceeded to fish the edges. Found Archer fish in almost plague proportions with the odd Sootie thrown in for good measure. Barra and Togas were hard to find early on. Once the sun got up Toga action heated up with the odd Barra thrown in however fishing deep into the undergrowth the odds were their favour with bust offs frequent.

2 Mile Hole at first light

Having got scales in the boat time to find that other Billabong. Spent an hour trying to find where an entrance could be without any obvious access. Got out of the boat and scrubbed bashed and found the other billabong on foot so knew it was not a story about that. Back in the boat I eventually sighted water behind a Pandanus Stand and forced my boat through a small gap to find a small creek with flowing water towards the other billabong but after about 100 metres it just became too tight to manoeuvre around the snags. Access found but “gotta get a smaller boat”.

Roggie Dodgie with Jim's weed guard attached

Back at my camp found another vehicle with the bonnet up. A southerner on a bird watching trip of the North had made the second creek crossing without wading it, went through the deepest part, over bonnet, and stalled it. Climbed out of window and walked 6 km back towards highway where someone came to his rescue and came and pulled his ute and camp trailer out of the crossing and onto the campsite. Damage was being assessed but did not look good, hydraulic lock a possibility. “Walk before you wade!!!”. When I drove out investigated the crossing and if you keep to one side water depth was 0.2 metres at most. Walk and all is revealed.

Called into Shady Camp fresh on way back to Darwin. If anyone wishes to catch a 100 plus Barra in a day this is a place to be able to do it at the moment. Small Barra in plague numbers in the 20-40cms size with the odd legal one thrown in. Great fun for the kids.