Georges Bay going OFF

We had a call Wednesday "The Bay is going OFF', was the statement. Georges Bay he was talking about and the fishing is looking really good for Summer. Big Australian salmon and silver trevally to 48 cm are a couple of the premium catches. There are still a few bigger garfish being caught, but these are unlikely to last much longer. Sounds like St Helens might be the place to go for the long weekend. Mike Stevens.

 

Western Lakes red-letter session

Fished a nice little western lake last week. The water was still well up and brownies were laying just a metre from the shore in less than 200 mm of water waiting for frogs. Polaroiding was a cinch with blue sky and good sun. A slowly twitched Mrs Simpson did the trick and ten fish up to a kilo and a half were hooked and released before lunch.

Then the weather turned and lunch was taken. Well satisfied with the morning session it was pack up and head home. Mike Stevens.

 

Tasmanian Fly-fishing Championships

The Fly Fish Australia, Tasmanian Fly Fishing Lake Championships were held 25 and 26 October with a large field of 38 anglers. Venues were Little Pine and Penstock with four three hour sessions over two days. Despite windy conditions on the Sunday all anglers caught fish including 14 year old Launceston angler Rob Strong.

While duns are not yet on either water, stripping wets was the order of the day with 270 trout caught and released or an average of 7 per angler. Lines used ranged from sink tips to Di5s with the best colour flies being black and green marabou and some flashy wee wets.

Most anglers used two or three fly rigs. A number of thumping browns and rainbows were caught over 60 cm with many break-offs, especially on "the hang" at the boat.

Moving around, finding fish and working an area was the order of the day.

A guest angler was 19 year old Lisa Isles of Poulton in the UK. Lisa fishes for the English youth team and she caught 6 fish.

Winner of the individual competition was Ian Donnachy with 16 fish, a consistent four in each session. Garry Donaghy and Craig Carey were 2nd and 3rd. Tim Urbanc, Peter Barrow and Brett Fazackerley finished 4th to 6th.

In the teams event Van Diemen Two came first comprising Ian Donnachy, Craig Carey, Peter Geddes and Mark Youngman .

First time anglers had a great experience and benefitted from the expertise of fishing with the 12 former and current Australian world team members in the field.

The second part of the championships is in early February on the St Pats and South Esk Rivers in the State River Championship.

Report by Mark Youngman.