Below the reservoir the river is a tailwater on its way to Port Phillip Bay. Around Warburton it runs over freestone, gravel and bedrock, with fallen timber for fish to sit in. Environmental water can be released from the Upper Yarra, Maroondah and O’Shannassy reservoirs to support downstream river reaches.

Brown trout are the fish to plan around, and FlyLife describes a good head of wild browns. The Yarra also holds Australian grayling, which will take a fly, and the wider river carries a long list of natives and introduced fish. Macquarie perch support one of Victoria’s largest and most significant populations here; treat them as a fish to know about and check the Victorian Fisheries Authority guide before you target one.

Your best day is a moderate, clear river. Check levels and recent rainfall before you go, as you would on any river. In our experience, when it drops and clears, it is worth the drive.

A dry fly and a nymph are the two tools FlyLife points to, and either works when the river is at moderate height and clear. Work the timber and the bedrock lies with a careful approach, and give each likely spot a few drifts before you move.

FlyLife’s writers say walking and bike trails along the river make access easy. Treat that as description, not permission, and respect any fence or sign. As on any bush river, tell someone where you are going, and watch your footing on wet rock and around fallen timber.

No water-specific rule was found. Before you fish, read the current Victorian Fisheries Authority (State of Victoria) inland angling guide, including its closed-waters list, and take any season, bag and size limits and licence requirements from it.