Definately not useless fishing the nepean at this time of year, The trout would be there still. Be a few bass too, bit on the slow side because of the water temp and most of the fish are well downstream in the salt breeding, but there's still a few that'll be up there. And it's not a closed season in the fresh, or anywhere for that matter, it's just a no take period, which most people fishing for bass practice year round anyway.