Presented from Issue 105, August 2013
We did a bit of a runaround Tasmania’s tackle stores to see what their tips for the first month or so of the tackle season were. We asked what the top three places to fish were, plus lures, flies, baits and a few other things.
Here is a rundown on their answers Whenever, and wherever you fish - anywhere, or for any fish in the world - ask the locals and especially ask at the local tackle store. They know what was caught today, yesterday and on what.
Please check all relevant authorities before fishing - www.ifs.tas.gov.au and dpipwe.tas.gov.au . Don't forget issuu.com/stevenspublishing for years of back issues !
Starting this week many large oversize, over mass, very long and heavy vehicles are moving components to the Cattle Hill (Waddamana) Wind Farm site.
These movements will use
the Midlands Highway;
the Highland Lakes Road from Melton Mowbray through Bothwell; and
The Northern Waddamana Road to the wind farm site.
It is likely the convoys will move through between 6am and 12 noon, Mondays to Saturdays for the next 6 months. There might be some extra movements needed outside of these times.
Many of the loads will be under the control of Escort and Pilot vehicles.
Read more: Traffic disruption alert affecting Penstock Lagoon anglers
Hydro Tasmania will be upgrading the Tungatinah Lagoon boat ramp. The water levels in the Bradys chain of lakes (Bradys Lake, Lake Binney and Tungatinah Lagoon) will be drawn down to 3.5 metres below full over 4 - 8 March. Water levels should be back to normal by the Labour Day long weekend.
The boat ramp at Bradys Lake next to Woodswards Canal will be open so you will still be able to get out on the water.
For further information, contact Hydro Tasmania via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Item sourced from https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2019/mar/04/upgrades-tungatinah-lagoon-boat-ramp
I though a trip back to the Leven River may be worthwhile now the river level has dropped backed to a safe wading height after some heavy rainfall a couple of weeks ago. My last trip there was a good one with nineteen trout being caught & released, today the water level is lower than that trip was. When I arrived it was very foggy and the conditions were great, cool and not a breath of wind, just perfect for chasing trout. There were a few campers set up on the property where I started off the spin session, good thing was I had arrived at 6:00 am and they were still in their beds.
Took another trip over to the Meander River again to day to see if there was to be any improvement in the trout fishing. The forecast was good with light winds & a temp of around 21 degrees, I was in the river by 7:00 am & the air was damn cold as was the water temp. It was also running at 70 cms which is on the high side for wading but still safe enough when you know the river. I started off with the lure that's been working the best in the rivers & that was the Mepps #1 Aglia Furia. I had a trout take it in the first five minutes and I thought I was in for a good day.
Hydro Tasmania have advised that all sites at Penstock lagoon including the below are now open after completion of vegetation fire damage works;
Penstock Lagoon boat ramp and campground
Penstock Lagoon Lady’s Walk campground
With a pleasant weekend forecast the fish should be rising. Tight lines.
https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2019/feb/22/penstock-lagoon-reopened
Lake Augusta Road is now open to regular traffic for day use only. Lakes and tracks north of Lake Augusta Road are open to visitors and fishers for day use only. Pillans Track remains closed and overnight camping within the 19 Lagoons area is not permitted at this stage. Lakes and tracks south of Lake Augusta Road from Thousand Lakes Lodge through to the Pine River remain closed due to continuing fire-fighting operations. Please drive to the conditions and be aware that fire fighters are still actively using Lake Augusta Road for fire fighting operations.
https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2019/feb/15/nineteen-lagoons-open
Central Plateau Conservation Area
– tracks/lakes north of Lake Augusta Road, including Pillans Track Road, Julians Crossing, Pillans Lake–Lake Field remain closed for overnight camping
– tracks/lakes south of Lake Augusta from Thousand Lakes Lodge to the Pine River, including 19 Lagoons (O’Dell Lagoon / Lake Flora, Lake Kay Road, Lake Botsford, Double Lagoon Road, First Lagoon, Second Lagoon), remain closed
– tracks/lakes west of Lake Augusta, including Talinah Track Road (closed to vehicles), Lake Fanny beyond Talleh Lagoons, Lake Antimony, Lake Fergus, Higgs Track (closed past Lake Nameless), Ritters Track, Explorer Creek Track, Blue Peaks Track, and all remote walking routes east of the central Walls of Jerusalem area remain closed.
Walls of Jerusalem National Park – Little Fisher River Track is closed and routes east of Mt Jerusalem remain are closed
Liawenee Conservation Area – the reserve is closed
Rainbow Point Conservation Area – the reserve is closed
Remarkable Rock Conservation Area – the reserve is closed
Five Mile Pinnacles Conservation Area – the reserve is closed
Little Pine Lagoon Conservation Area – the reserve is closed
Top Marshes Conservation Area – the reserve is closed
Steppes Homestead State Reserve – the reserve is closed
Hit the Mersey River just on 7:00 am in what was cool foggy conditions to start with, but a good mild 19 degree day was forecast. My last trip here was back on the 5th December when I had a tough spin session chasing trout in similar conditions. As soon as I hit the water I could see plenty of trout on the rise in a wide long slow flowing flat water which meant I was in for another tough spin session. I fished a short fast water to start with just like I did on the last trip with the same result, no fish. As I headed into the wide long stretch of river with the fog slowly lifting there was a line of trout rising ahead of me which was quite good to watch. Trout were rising everywhere,
Read more: Another tough day chasing wild brown trout 2/2/2019
I Headed over to the Mersey River and walked down through several paddocks for a good kilometre or so below the Union Bridge then started fishing my way back upstream. I haven't fished here for quite some time due to the lack of trout being in the river, today I mainly wanted to see if it has improved with trout stocks. The river was running at a nice wading height and a dark tanning colour. I started off with a Mepps #1 gold black fury working it in several fast water and medium flowing runs without a sign of a trout over the first two hundred meters of river. I changed over to the #1 Aglia Furia and the first stretch of water I used it in I had a couple of follows from brown trout that were mainly out of interest, not a sign of aggression from either fish. Then decided to try hard body lures in that same stretch of water, all to no avail as I never had a follow on any of the five different hard body lures I tried.
Read more: Union Bridge area, very low on trout stocks 1/2/2019
Presented from Issue 117, August 2015
Where to go and what to do?
Just how lucky are we to live in a naturally beautiful and safe place like Tasmania?
It is school holiday time and I am lucky that I have been able to schedule a full week off my work to take the kids on an adventure somewhere. So where should we go? Just a relatively short drive in any direction can take you to some terrific places. Should we go back to Wynyard where we caught bucketfuls of magnificent squid at this time last year. But then again, maybe we should take the camper with the dingy on the roof back to Bruny Island where we had such fun catching tuck loads of Salmon the last time we were there? Then again there is always Strahan and that magnificent wild ocean beach to explore !
My daughter suggested we sneak around the east coast and maybe we could work out a win/win deal where all our needs could be met. My son is mad about fishing a nd my daughter is mad about surfing. Let’s go to St Helens I said.
Presented from Issue 117, August 2015
The editor Mike Stevens has asked me to write a short article about an underutilised fishery that we has recently become more accessible.
Opening out onto the waters of Bass Strait, the Weymouth area has long been acknowledged by those in the know (the locals) as one that produces quality recreational angling opportunities.
Up until recently and given the unpredictability of the predominate NW winds many avoided launching from here. The main obstacle was the substandard boat ramp and this troublesome facility often resulted in damage to expensive boats when launching or retrieving. Weymouth ramp upgrade
Thanks to a recent MAST upgrade the Trevor Street launching facilities are a huge improvement. Finished in early April 2015, these issues have to a large degree been addressed and this area now offers much safer accessibility for those who wish enjoy a day with family or mates.
Read more: Weymouth wows - A new boat ramp opens up a great bread and butter fishery - Todd Lambert
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Christopher Bassano
Fishing guide Christopher Bassano explores his favourite fishing-and shares a few tips that will help you discover the world of trout near the sea.