about us

A social group of dedicated fly fishers who are passionate about fly fishing in the tropical north of Australia and equally as passionate about the close camaraderie this sport brings. This passion and dedication led to the creation of the NT Flyfishers Social Mob blog site; an interactive and creative outlet where everyone can share our wonderful fly fishing adventures and link into the “after fishing” social events we enjoy in this incredible part of the world.

Wednesday 10 October 2018

CATHERINE IN KATHERINE

We have always loved going to degustation dinners with matching wine added,  truth is we love any dinner and wine, but the specially organised ones can really open your eyes to a whole new adventure, like a new fly fishing ground.

For that reason when I saw an advert for a special degustation weekend with specially picked wines at the Nitmiluk (Cicada) Lodge in Katherine (aptly titled "Journey of the Palate" - The Spirited Traveller) I just had to go.  What an absoutley marvelous adventure it was too, best ever.  Magnificent food from Seona Moss a Six star chef (over and above the five star rating), matched with specialy selected wines by one of Australia's foremost wine writers and presenters, Jeremy Oliver.  To top all that off, sharing tables with like minded sparkling people and staying at a magnificent lodge with the lovable and adorable staff.

...Sounds like an incredible weekend?  Well, it certainly was. This was our room for the weekend, which included a welcoming foodie gift pack from the legendary Parap Fine Foods here in Darwin.                             

The first evening started with some amazing and delicious canapes served at sunset by the fabulous staff on the deck.  We were also welcomed by Nitmiluk Tours Chief Executive officer, Jane Runyu.
In 40 degree heat, cool watermelon canapes...just perfect!

The deck....with pool


The beautiful Seona Moss 
The amazing Jeremy Oliver















Photos of Seona and Jeremy courtesy of Cicada Lodge

Just some of the fabulous staff.  As you can see, multi award winning lodge.  They just added the 2018 NT Hospitality Award for best restaurant, hotel.  Congratulations to you all.
As you can see the tables were decorated just beautifully

Photo thanks to Fay Miller
Our divine dinner menu the first night.....

Here are photos of the entree, main and dessert...are you salivating yet?

Hervey Bay scallops in shell, sea urchin butter, lavender, lemon with Rochford Premium chardonnay 2017 Yarra Valley Vic

Black angus eye fillet, geranium scented beetroot, buttered kale, black garlic with Anrew Thomas Kiss shiraz Hunter Valley NSW

Gingernut trifle, fresh figs, brandy syrup, smoked almonds, jersey cream with Felsino Vin Santo 2006, Tuscany Italy
Saturday morning started with more beautiful food.....my continental breakfast...what more can I say.

We were then treated to a 2 hour Nitmiluk Gorge cruise...simply amazing and beautiful...you never tire of this magnificent ancient place.
Back to the lodge for, guess what...thats absolutely correct...more beautiful food.  This time a spectacular lunch of steamed barra.....

After lunch some people decided to "rest" I opted for more food.  A masterclass with Seona Moss, chef extraordinaire.  This talented young chef demonstrated three, simply stunning canapes....and we got to taste all three of them.

Gorgonzola tartlets with truffle honey (Photo Fay Miller)
Cucumber ribbons, toasted almonds, dill cashew cheese (Photo Fay Miller)
Scallops in shell with bacon butter and rye crisps (Photo Fay Miller)
Okay .........now it was time for a rest......
Saturday evening once again started with sunset drinks and canapes on the deck.













The piece de resistance...our 6 course degustation dinner with matching wines travelling through 6 countries......what can I say..... enjoy the photos.  I can still taste all of these spectacular dishes... 
Bintjie potatoe gnocchi, wild stinging nettle, truffle parmesan, lemon with Tyrrells Vat 1 Semillion 2007 (Photo Fay Miller)

Petite pickled vegetables foraged andgrown herbs with Edenflo Old Vine Riesling Gewurztraminer 2018 (Photo Fay Miller)
Almond gazpacho, crispy Iberian ham, black gzrlic with Descendients de J Palacios Moncerbal single vineyard Mencia 2015 Spain and Corymbia Tempranillo Malbec Cabernet 2017 Aust

Peringa farm lamb, baby leeks,yoghurt, sunflower shoots, rosemary flowers with Te Mata Bullnose syrah 2016 Hawkes Bay New Zealand and Yeringberg shiraz 2015, Yarra Valley Vic

Aerated chocolate mousse, hazelnut snow, milk tuilles with Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr riesling Auslese 2014, Weheln, Mosel Germany
Petite fours, kaju katli, coconut ladoo, rose lassi ice cream, indian style coffee with Chambers Rosewood Grane Muscadelle NV, Rutherglen Vic


Sunday morning started with another beautiful breakfast....
Simply stunning coddled eggs,  cured salmon
Then to top it all off a truly magnificent helicopter ride with Nitmiluk Heli Touring
Cicada Lodge from the air (Photo Fay Miller)

The magnificent Nitmiluk Gorge (Photo Fay Miller)
On driving back home to Darwin, Roger and I reflected on our weekend.  Amazing food, unbelievable wine, fantastic people and it certainly was one hell of a "Journey of the Palate".  Many many thanks to you all.


Thursday 13 September 2018

BYNOE REVISITED

 When a very close friend, Graeme Williams, who also happens to be a guide (Heritage listed some say) says that he wants to go fishing on his days off because the tides are good, and asks if we would like to come along for a couple of days you don't tell him, "I'll think about it!".  Yes please, is the only answer.

The last time that we fished Bynoe ( click 2016) was also one of Graeme's days off nearly two years ago now, so even though we were to be picked up at 3pm, I was packed and ready at 8am and sooooo excited.

After 'First night' madness with gin and tonics then a couple of reds we were up before dawn to get on the water early.  Roggie was a bit seedy but he made it to the boat.
Just before dawn and ready to go.
We were lucky because there was little or no wind so even though the tides were neapish and only coming down to 3.2m which meant the barra would stay up in the trees more, it allowed us to get onto spots that you can only fish every now and then.
Sun up, no wind and glassy water.
We ran along in one spot on the electric for a 9am low and initially it looked pretty bare, then we saw schools of small barra under the  submerged branches of the trees with a mixture of other fish.   The challenge was not only to get the fly to the fish under the branches, but you have the added challenge of getting under the over hanging branches as well, the getting the fish out of the snags.  Great fun.
You have to get your cast in under those branches to the fish
Theres a lot of big fish out there, but according to Roggie, the most important fish of any trip is the first fish in the boat  because it breaks a spell of 'No Fish'.
The Most Important first fish for the trip, just after sunrise
A lot of this size around
The first fish was around 50cm and there were a heap of fish this size under the
branches.  Had double hooks ups on this size over the days we were out there,
esecially as the tides got lower and later in the day.  On one flat on the second day we estimated we saw over a hundred of these fish in schools of twenty plus, it was amazing.  Other flats had twenty or thirty on them too, and now and then the bigger fish (70cm+?) in twos and threes along with a couple of inquitive lone ones that were 90cm plus that would come up and seem to take a look at us then swim off and ignore us.  Frustrating!!

About to net another small barra 
There were some flats where we fished the run in tide on the colour changes and on one the barra were non stop boofing on the small bait as they tried to get up the drains.  Sounded like the OK Corral gunfight.   But we were not invited, because no matter how many flies we put into the boofing fish they ignored us and then as quickly as they started they just stopped.
The OK Corral after the gunfight!
There were some monster queenies out there too that gave me heart failure a few times as they monstered the flies.  Trevally around 40cm gave us a good time, they fight like mad, the 3 x10 fish as Graeme calls them.  Weight 3lb but fight like 10lb.

There is never a dull moment fishing with the 'Jurrasic Duo', Roggie and Graeme, they are either sledging or trying to sing songs from the fifties and sixties, and in between times they caught fish, and in Graemes case some muddies as well.
Crab on fly, one of six
Bringing another crab in
By midday they both wanted to go in to have lunch and then a nap before going out again later in the afternoon to catch a few Jack and Snapper for the freezer with the barra fillets.

The Jurassic Duo  below....


We used bird fur clousers in black/orange/gold, white and red, white and pink, as well as fibre ones in all white/silver, white pink and my favourite the brown/white. They were tied on 1/0 C70SD hooks.   All caught fish.