Trout Bums Tassie Style

Gavin Hicks turns Trout Bum, film extra, and assistant in producing The Source - a film by Gin Clear.

I never thought one of my regular visits to Big Fin in East Devonport for a chat with Leroy would end in such a great week's fishing. But that is exactly what happened towards the end of 2008.

Hayes on Mayflies

Peter Hayes
It is no surprise to me that as a trout fishing guide my December and January book out well before the other months. The repeat clients come primarily for the opportunity to fish the Highlands tremendous dun hatches.

Mega Trout

by Mason Paull
All my adult life I have pursed big fish. With my trout fishing I really only got serious when a mate showed me a monster from Lake Crescent. From then on it became an annual trip to Crescent, for 5 days at a time. We would fish hard for the days were there using bait and spin gear. My biggest fish from the Crescent was a neat 10lb.

North West Trout

Daniel Paull
Introduction:
I have fished for trout along the north west coast with the old man for many years now and  have only just started to get some results of my own from fishing from some of my favourite rivers and dams. My most productive place to fish has been the Cam River and the Pet Dam, both being close to my home town, Burnie. Fishing from about 6 in the morning till 5 in the evening I usually get a result or get my behind kicked by a friend or a  concentrating father!

Trolling for Trout

Leroy Tirant
Trolling for Trout is undoubtedly the most popular and challenging form of fishing in Tasmania. It can be as easy as tying on a lure and towing it behind the boat, but believe me there is so much more to trolling, as it can be much more rewarding and enjoyable.

Fishing the Night Shift

Craig Rist

Trout fishing at night can be a very productive time to go fishing. A lot of big fish have been caught after dark using many different fishing techniques. For a trout, there is no safer time to venture into the shallower margins in search of food. All of the aerial predators such as cormorants and sea eagles are roosting at this time. Along with the birds, most of the anglers are also tucked up in bed at this time. There are, however, those very keen anglers who have experienced the rewards of fishing after dark. For many, it's a time to squeeze in a few more hours of trout fishing through the week and the chance to target the bigger fish that are so illusive during the day.

The Opening

Shane Flude

August 2, 2008 sees the opening of the brown trout season in Tasmanian waters. All rivers and most lakes reopen for fishing after the closed winter spawning time. So just what awaits the early season angler for 2008? Shane Flude gives a rundown on some early season waters and examines what's new on the inland water scene. There has also been a number of new regulations introduced which are summarised at the end of this article, anglers should read their code thoroughly before heading out this season.

Lighten up

Craig Rist
Tightening up onto a big fish in a river is a great feeling with those first few seconds of uncertainty, as to what the fish might do, as it powers off after setting the hook. Will it head straight for the nearest submerged tree or swim out into open water. Instinctively you lay the rod on its side to lead the fish away from the submerged tree, the rod nearly bends in half under the shear weight and power of this fish as it now races downstream with the flow of the river. You turn the fish just before it reaches rapids; it then slogs it out deep in the middle of the pool, each beat of the tail getting slower and slower. Finally you land a fish of around 4 pounds, what a feeling.

It's Grasshopper Time

This summer, the riverbanks have come alive with grasshoppers, making it an ideal time to use a hopper or a fly imitation. Fishing rivers and creeks with a grasshopper is a very easy and effective way of catching a few fish and an ideal introduction for anyone new to trout fishing. Fly fishing is also productive at this time, with trout responding well to a grasshopper fly that is laid out with a splat. For that reason, trout are very forgiving to anyone who is still in the process of learning to cast a fly.

Size isn't everything

Joe Riley
As the drought that grips Australia continues towards 2008, Tasmania is fast becoming one of only a handful of viable trout fisheries available to anglers who pursue trout. With Victorian lakes still hovering in the low teens percentage wise, with many rivers already at summer levels and   irrigation demands obviously high, a good percentage of the fishing pressure from the big island is being transferred to Tasmania.

West Coast Wonderland

Leroy Tirant
Late last year I was lucky enough to be involved in the capture of a wild trout that weighed over 17 pounds. I've caught some big fish over the years but I had never seen a fish of such huge proportions with massive golden flanks, thick powerful tail and broad backed.

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