Eighteen years on these rivers. One client at a time.
My name is Tom Alcott. I run a one-man guiding business out of Mansfield, working the Ovens downstream of Bright and the Howqua upstream of Jamieson. I hold a current Victorian Fishing Authority (VFA) Guide Licence, and I deliberately keep the roster small. Most days I'm out with a single angler or a pair of mates.
I learned to cast on the King River as a sixteen-year-old, spent my twenties working seasonal jobs across New Zealand and Patagonia, then came home to the high country to put down a permanent set of wading boots. The way I guide is conservation-first: barbless-only, catch-and-release on wild trout, low-impact approaches on spawning redds, and a strict leave-no-trace ethic on every riverbank.
You'll fish water I know by heart, with flies I've tied myself and tackle I've broken in over a decade. I don't run big groups, I don't promise trophy fish, and I won't move you to a stocked pond if the wild river is quiet. If that sounds like your kind of day, we'll get on well.
- Current VFA Guide Licence GL-24819
- First Aid & CPR certified (HLTAID011)
- Member, VRFish & Fly Life Vic
- Public liability insured to $20M
All-inclusive. All on the water.
Every trip includes waders, boots, rods, reels, leaders, flies, terminal tackle, a riverside lunch and cold drinks. You bring a licence, sunglasses and a willingness to learn. No hidden fuel levies, no gear hire line items.
Half-Day
- Waders, boots, rod, reel
- Flies & terminal tackle
- Tea, coffee, snacks
- Casting & reading-water coaching
Best for: a quick taste, a half-day meeting in Bright or Mansfield.
Full-Day
- Everything in Half-Day
- Hot riverside lunch
- Two beats, morning & evening
- Spooled backup rod if needed
Best for: a full alpine day, cover more water, fish the evening rise.
Private Group
- Dedicated guide, sole attention
- All gear, all flies
- Lunch & non-alcoholic drinks
- Pick-up from Mansfield available
Best for: mates' trips, father-and-son days, visiting anglers.
Prices in AUD, inclusive of GST. A 30% deposit secures the date; balance due 7 days before the trip.
Check AvailabilityOne full-day, hour by hour.
A typical full-day runs from first light to mid-afternoon. Here's the rough arc — we adjust to conditions, water temperature and how the fish are moving.
Meet at the shed
Mansfield pickup or meet at my place on High Street. Coffee on, gear fitted, plan reviewed. I'm usually rodding up the 4WD by 5:30.
Drive to the river
Forty minutes to an hour depending on beat. I talk through access, the plan for the morning pool, and what hatches we're expecting.
Wade in
First casts in low light. I'll coach your approach from behind, point out lies, and step you through the drift on the first few fish.
Riverside lunch
Hot soup, fresh bread, charcuterie, fruit and a thermos. We rest the water for forty minutes and talk through the afternoon.
Move to the afternoon beat
Often a different pool or a switch to dries if the mayfly hatch comes on. This is when the bigger fish tend to show.
Debrief & pack out
Camera check, fish counts, photos of any holdovers. I drop you back in Mansfield by 5:30, rods cleaned and flies returned.
"If I move a fish once, I'll move it for you. If I have to move it twice, I pick a different lie."
— A standing rule on the HowquaTwo rivers, two trout, one calendar.
The Ovens and Howqua run wild browns and rainbows in healthy numbers. Both streams fish year-round, but conditions vary widely by month. The calendar below shows when each species is at its most cooperative.
What I bring, what you bring.
You turn up with the right layers and a current licence. I bring the rest — fitted, broken-in, and well-maintained. The kit list below covers a typical Victorian alpine day.
What I Provide
- Waders & stocking-foot boots (Simms, Patagonia)
- 9ft 4–6wt rod & matching reel, spare spooled up
- Floating & sinking lines, leaders, tippet
- Hand-tied dries, nymphs & streamers
- Polarised sunglasses, net & weighing sling
- First-aid kit, river-side emergency comms
- Hot lunch, tea, coffee, cold drinks, snacks
What You Bring
- Current Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence
- Warm layers (merino base, fleece mid, rain shell)
- Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, lip balm
- Camera or phone (waterproof case helpful)
- Wading staff if you have one — I have spares
- Alcohol is not appropriate on the river
- Closed-toe boots for the drive; thongs no good
What anglers say after a day on the river.
Tell me when, and I'll come back within 24 hours.
Use the form to request a date. I confirm bookings personally by phone or email, then send a short gear & conditions note a few days before we meet.
- 0400 000 000 (9am–6pm)
- tom@tomalcottflyfishing.com.au
- Based in Mansfield, service area includes Bright, Myrtleford, Mount Buller & Jamieson