Fishing in the high country

[Strange1]

Hey Guys,

This happened in a very remote part of the high country between Rawson and Aberfeldy.

I was working in Erica at the time and it was a month or so into spring as the last of the snow had just melted and the road's into my favourite fishing spots where accessible again. So one afternoon the weather was looking good and I decided to go and try out a new spot I came across the year before. After an hour of driving I finely got to the spot where I had to leave the 4WD. The rest of the way was a 20 min walk on foot down an old disused logging track over grown with thick scrub and trees about the width of a footpath.

It was around 4:30pm by the time I got down there and one of the first thing I did was get the fire going and enough wood to last me well into the night. I was finally setup for a good nights fishing and at the start everything was going well. I had caught a couple of nice trout and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was get really dark and the fish had gone of the bit so I put one of the fish on the hot Coles and started cooking. About half an hour or so had gone by and the smell of the trout was so good I couldn't wait any longer, so I pulled it out of the coles and sat down to eat.

As I sat there, I noticed how quiet everything had gotten around me and how unusual it was, the usual things in the distance, but around me every thing had gone dead silent. I finished my meal and was back into the fishing when the smell started. It didn't smell like a dead animal or anything and it wasn't strong at first but, it was there. I kept fishing at the time ignoring the smell and admiring the stars waiting for the next bit, when this fear came over me. Something I had never felt before, I mean it was pure fear right there and then. I remember trying to convince my self it was nothing only my imagination but Instinct took over and I knew I had to get out of there.

I quickly packed my gear up and put the fire out and as the fire went out that's when it started. The most horrible noise I ever heard and it was close, no more than 20 meters away and it was coming in my direction, branches snapping and the smell had gotten really thick in the air. I started with a quick paced walk trying to convince my self it's just a Koala or a Roo but I knew it wasn't. I have lived long enough in the bush to no what makes what noises. At first I thought I had left it behind but it wasn't long before I realised I hadn't and it was coming up behind me, not close at that stage maybe 30 meters or so. I picked up the pace again and as I did the screaming started (well screaming is the only way I can describe it) and this time it was coming branches where braking and I could hear each step it took, it had picked its pace up and it was hot on my tail. I remember thinking to my self I'm not going to make it out of here and with that thought I turn around a started yelling as loud as I could back at it and that's when I spotted what was stalking me. It was about 10 meters or so away coming up the track it was pitch black but I could still make out what it was and it was big, well over 7 feet. I took one look at it and ran like hell until I got to the 4WD jumped in started it up and that's when I caught sight of it again, just standing their on the track. I put the car into gear and took off, glanced back once in disbelief in what had just happened.

To this day I still think about that night. I don't know if it was just being territorial like you guys describe them to be or what...?

Anyway now that I have that of my chest ...

[Dion]

Hey Strange1

Thanks for such a detailed report sounds like you had one hell of an experience, I enjoyed the read.

Can you possibly give us a visual understanding of what you thought the creature looked like? If you where able to see it that is?

And You said something about screaming can you also give an indication of the sounds made? did it kinda sound like a woman screaming? or something else?

Cheers

[Yowielover1]

Nice story strange1,

Isnt it typical for that to happen alone, and have nobody to back you up on your story, to always dwell on it and wonder what the hell could have gone wrong. Glad you had the presence on mind to get out of there before anything really bad happened. (mental note - don't go out into the bush alone ever again)

At least with 2 people, in the panic one can try getting pictures

That was a great story. We could learn from it in order to have an encounter too. Find a nice spot for a yowie and look like you want to spend some time there. Territorial instincts will kick in and it will come and get you out of its house.

[Dean Harrison]

I don't know about anyone else, but I had goose bumps reading that one. I've lived and breathed that situation and know exactly how it must have been. It's the worst feeling in the World, especially being alone and so far away from your car.

You were obviously issued an eviction notice and were escorted out of his house. Regardless, it was a dangerous situation to find yourself in.

Nice to hear another Victorian encounter. I have heard rumours of sightings in that area before.

Can you provide a more accurate date?

I would like head out there.

DMH

[iwanttobelieve]

Thanks Strange1.

Great report.

If you still live down that way maybe you should hook up with Dean and re-visit the site?

[lil foot]

thanks strange1
its awesome to hear of some action in vic, been a bit quiet for a few years. gives us a bit of hope, and stangely enough, what you experienced is what we actually go out to also try and experience, are we nuts?
me and my bait, oops i mean mate, did a fishing/yowie weekend a couple weeks ago in the noojee state forest, besides the whining two stroke bikes, blaring radios and fireworks it was pretty quiet. next time we will head out a bit further and deeper into the bush, out of reach of the gen y tossers.
can i ask you mate what river you were on? i respect if its a secret spot.
also mate, did you believe in yowies before this?
as dean said there has been a fair few reports from this area a while ago, so might be worth a captain cook.
keep on fishin man!

[topender]

It doesn't surprise me, that area is comparable to the blue mountains, it is vast and rugged, when i lived down that way as a kid i often felt the heeby jeebies from the bush, i am suspecting there will be a lot more reports coming out of there, a top report though....cool

[mikka]

Very interesting Strange1.

Thanks for sharing

[Strange1]

Hey Strange1

Can you possibly give us a visual understanding of what you thought the creature looked like? If you where able to see it that is?

The first time it was way to dark for a clear view. I could only make out the shape and size and I suppose at that stage I still didn't know what it was. It was only when I was in the 4WD with the headlights on I got a better look of this creature. It was well over 7 feet tall, covered in dark Brown to Black hair, extremely long arms and very broad across the chest the only part I didn't get a clear view of was the head

And You said something about screaming can you also give an indication of the sounds made? did it kinda sound like a woman screaming? or something else?

It still sends shivers up my spine just thinking about it. I tried to put it into words last night when writing this but could find the words to describe it. It wasn't like a girl screaming or even a man for that matter, it was more a screaming gurgling noise, as I said I just don't have the words to describe it, or anything I could compare it to.

can i ask you mate what river you were on? i respect if its a secret spot.

I wont post it but Dean has the exact location.

also mate, did you believe in yowies before this?

No...lol
I knew this old timer who used to log in that region since he was 17. He used to tell me stories about Yowie's and other similar things out there. I just thought they where tall tails from an old block trying to put the wind up me but, he swore black and blue... After that night, I soon believed in every thing he said.

[Dion]

Thanks for those answers strange1

Much appreciated

[Lasso]

Great read strange1!

[lil foot]

I don't know about anyone else, but I had goose bumps reading that one. I've lived and breathed that situation and know exactly how it must have been. It's the worst feeling in the World, especially being alone and so far away from your car.

You were obviously issued an eviction notice and were escorted out of his house. Regardless, it was a dangerous situation to find yourself in.

Nice to hear another Victorian encounter. I have heard rumours of sightings in that area before.

Can you provide a more accurate date?

I would like head out there.

DMH

Hey dean, just wondering if you had done some follow up work on this report and got out there amongst the leaches.
would love to hear what you find.

[iwanttobelieve]

Can you provide a more accurate date?

I would like head out there.

DMH

Maybe you should edit that last line Dean...

Strange1 could have more than Yowies to worry about.

[lil foot]

Can you provide a more accurate date?

I would like head out there.

DMH

Maybe you should edit that last line Dean...

Strange1 could have more than Yowies to worry about.

ha ha, good pick up iwtb, i totally missed that one. no wonder dean has stayed quiet on this topic.

[Strange1]

I missed it to

[Glenn39]

That is for sure one night you would not soon forget, thanks for sharing.

[topender]

Did anyone follow up on this story, i ask as i met a lady recently who was from Walhalla, who said she had heard many stories as she was growing up from the Erica district area about Hairy beasts roaming the scrub and stalking people, i told her about this article and she wasnt surprised.

cheers

[lycans]

One awesome read. I think that is a place that NO one should go in alone. This Yowie sound and is acting very dangerous, where some one might get hurt. But saying that it could of been a lot faster getting to you and not hang back just screaming at you.

[TWMcCallum]

Hi All

I think Strange did the right thing in getting out of there, maybe if he had hung around the yowie would have escalated his attack to a more physical level. As it was the creature just used enough threat to move Strange out, I think that is all it wanted, may be the most that Strange could of done was left it his other fish, but who could think with that sort of clarity given the situation Strange found himself in. If the creature wanted to catch Strange I am sure that he would not be able to outrun it, how many stries have we heard where people try in vane to pursue these things through the bush, only to catch a glimpse of the quarry disappearing over the next ridge. No Strange definately did the right thing in my book.
Good report Srange, thanks for sharing that with us, it somewhat gives us a glimpse into how these creatures act and think.