If there is one month on the entire fishing calendar that promises so much, it is November.

In normal seasons the beetles are on the wing, caddis are popping nicely on grassy shores, the first of the mayfly are driving us mad on Penstock and the world is a happy place.

November is always a transition month on Arthurs, my old guiding diary tells me that it can be the best of months and the worst of months, often on the same day!

Gum beetles are often the focus for surface anglers, especially on warm days at the northern end of the lake or where the wind draws off the bottom of the islands. It can take a decent fall or two to get the fish properly looking for beetles, as I’m convinced that if there is a better feed on offer then trout will take it in preference to a beetle.

With the continued high levels on Arthurs, I highly recommend getting out of the boat and walking the shallow shores. This is polaroiding heaven – the water has a tinge to it where you can get a bit closer to the fish than in crystal water.

Don’t be lulled into the popular bays either, some of the best shore based fishing is in places that you would often drive straight past. The entire eastern shore of Brazendale Island is awesome, but it is patchy. You can fish for 100m and see noting, nut then catch 10 without moving!

November sees the beginning of the surface sport on this big lake. With an increase in the elevation of the sun and a general increase in surface food, trout will start to stay on the surface in the hunt for a feed. If we get a warm spring with plenty of sun, the big lake can be as good as in mid summer, but it is a leap of faith. The shore based polaroiding is fantastic, and while there will be plenty of competition for a spot out west, you will have kilometres of shore to yourself on Great Lake with better results.

The Pine is pretty darn fine in November – early mornings see the tailing near it’s peak, rough days see a continuation of the marvellous boat based wet fly fishing and any calm, warm and overcast days will, just maybe, see a sprinkle of mayflies, especially in the northern bays and around the island in front of the shack.

This is pretty much the last month I fish the Nineteen Lagoons, as I get frustrated by the numbers of anglers ‘out west’ once December starts. The dry fly fishing is superb in November as the shallow water warms quickly on sunny days – getting trout active and on the fin.

Lake Ada is vastly under-rated as a shore based fishery, especially on the eastern side and southern banks. Many see this water as a spot of last resort, but it is always my first choice.

Levels will be dropping out west, so many of the flooded backwaters on the James River between the two Lake Augusta water bodies will be either dry or drying, but this does mean that there are more fish in the main lakes.