The Rubicon is a freestone river. The upper water is fast, with boulders and pocket water. Below that the river leaves the forest and crosses farmland before it meets the Goulburn.

Wild brown trout are the fish to plan for, with some rainbows alongside them. Brook trout have established in recent years after escapes from the trout farm on the upper river, so a brook trout is possible, though browns carry the fishing.

Early in the season, high flows fish well for nymph anglers. As the water drops and warms through spring, trout look up and dry-fly fishing is very good. FlyLife’s writers describe the river as well suited to both dry-fly fishing and nymph-below-dry, which is why it is popular.

Start with a nymph while the river is high. When fish begin to rise as the flow settles, switch to a dry, or fish a nymph below a dry so one cast covers both.

The lower Rubicon through farmland is far more difficult to access than the upper river. Allow extra time to get to it, and read the signs and fences on the ground. As on any bush river, tell someone where you are going and watch the water level, especially after rain.

Take season, bag and size limits from the current Victorian Fisheries Authority recreational fishing guide, including its trout-waters and closed-waters lists, before you fish.