Tinaroo Dam

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Tony left us at Blencoe to head home and back to work, we trekked further inland through Mt Garnett to Milanda, the dairying centre of the area. We were headed for Lake Tinaroo, a large manmade lake which is kept stocked with Barramundi, and it just happened we arrived on the weekend of the ‘Barra Bash’ - a fishing competition which attracted 800 adult and 300 children entrants!
There were heaps of spot prizes just for entering including the main prize of $10,000! I cast lures for several hours to no avail, but there were only 80 barra caught by 800 fisherman. According to most people the barra are no good for eating as they have been digesting mud for years and the muddy taste goes into the flesh. The breeders who stock the dam organise the comp to cull the larger barra as they eat newly introduced fingerlings. The kids were encouraged to catch as many Tilapia as possible - these are a pest fish killing off all the natives, as well as the freshwater crayfish called a ‘Redclaw’ which is caught by using potatoes as bait! We met a nice couple from Perth who had moved to Cairns with the defence force, they took me out in a boat significant larger and faster than our little inflatable =). We stayed at the dam for a few days and visited some of the surrounding attractions, the Coffee Works in Mareeba with its delicious local grown coffee and chocolate, and the Golden Drop winery - the largest commercial mango producer in Aust who’s side products are mango wine, mango port and mango cello’s(a liqueur like fortified wine). We sampled some of the product which was delightfully different.
From Tinaroo dam we headed down the winding Gillies highway into Cairns for a few supplies, and were promptly stopped by another Ultimate owner and invited to stay with them when we return through Cairns! Our next destination is our friends Steve and Sharon who run a croc spotting business in the Daintree, we cant wait!

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Photos

Weighing station
All catches were gutted and gilled by the comp organisers

Sundays Catch
Most of this goes in the bin or used for pet food!

Collecting the fish
After the presentation.

Barra Country
There were a lot of pockets like this in the dam.

Tilapia
Pest fish!

Comments

[Mum]

This is soooooo good reading your story. I can even feel the mud between my toes. Don't forget the sunscreen!! :-) Loads of love and hugs and pats for the two four legged girls.

[barb]

Big Fish
Let us know when you catch your first big one. Mum xx

[Seth]

Tinaroo Dam
Hi Andrew Yup - been there - loved it So glad you've started your travels.......so jealous! Keep up the stories so we can live vicariously through you :)