Greg French
Since the big wet of 1996-97 Tasmania, like the rest of south-eastern Australia, has suffered from a severe lack of rain. The Midlands, East Coast and eastern fringes of the Central Plateau have been especially hard hit in the last three years, with disastrous consequences for high-profile trout fisheries like Tooms Lake, Craigbourne Dam and the Coal River. Whether this can be attributed to normal drought cycles is moot: the trend to generally drier conditions has been evident since at least the mid-1980s and may well be the result of irreversible climate change.
Read more: Early Prospects for 2009 2010 Trout Fishing Season
Jan Spencer
It's that time of year when everybody's optimism is running very high. Most are contemplating what the new trout season will bring. One thing is for sure - it will be cold. The rivers will be brownish in colour as we have had some good recent rain which has made for some swollen streams, this is wonderful as the trout will be foraging for food washed into backwaters by the excess water and they will be in prime condition when the weather warms up.
The highland lakes are another story. Both Great Lake and Arthurs are rising with good flows of water from recent rain. As normal, this time of the year the surrounding shore lines will be icy if not iced all over. It takes a little while for the lakes to get rid of the winter blues, but the fishing can be good if you can put up with the cold. So if you are fishing in the highland areas, be prepared for extreme weather.
Todd Lambert
Early season
The new season is on us and with it comes the anticipation of another year's fishing. Will it be as good as last year - or maybe better?
Kayaker, Craig Vertigan takes us to his favourite spot. It is a great place to catch fish all year around.
Tassie has many great spots to take your kayak. One of my favourite spots is the Tasman Peninsula. Hundreds of kilometres of shoreline start at Dunalley Bay and finish opposite at Blackmans Bay. Norfolk and Frederick Henry are the most friendly for kayakers offering protection in many small bays and coves.
Hadley Deegan has been boating for virtually all of his (almost 40) years. From a toddler to taking over the Family Business (Deegan Marine) Hadley has spent thousands of hours in boats. From fishing and racing to selling boats he has done it all. So TFBN thought who better to ask about advice on buying a boat than Hadley.
Whilst this is skewed a little in regard to new boats it applies equally to used boats.
Thomas Crawford
In Tasmania Art is not commonly used when referring to bait fishing, but this form of fishing really is an artform. Recently I was lucky enough to spend some time in the England in a district called Worchester. Here I was privileged to fish with one of England's leading tournament fisherman, Graham Clarke. I was to learn about and appreciate a style of fishing that has unfortunately been seemingly forgotten in this state. Bait fishing is the way many of "us" start out on our fishing journey, so it was exciting to revisit this style.
Handy information and links to fisheries,weather etc
Fishing books
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When you have finished for the day, why not have a brag about the ones that didn't get away! Send Mike an article on your fishing (Click here for contact details), and we'll get it published here. Have fun fishing - tasfish.com
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Hello everyone, I thought it would be a good time to introduce myself.
My name is Stephen Smith and I have been managing the website tasfish.com since May 2009.
It has been an epic journey of learning and discovery and I am indebted to Mike Stevens for his help, support and patience.
I am developing a new venture Rubicon Web and Technology Training ( www.rwtt.com.au ). The focus is two part, to develop websites for individuals and small business and to train people to effectively use technology in their everyday lives.
Please contact me via www.rwtt.com.au/contact-me/ for further information - Stephen Smith.
Mike Fry doesn’t only live on the Wild Side of Tasmania, but also goes fishing in probably the wildest boat ever to troll for trout—certainly in Tasmania.
When your mate says ‘What are you doing tomorrow, want to come up the Gordon for the night?’ it would be pretty hard to say anything else except “you bet” and start checking out your tackle box and packing your overnight bag. But if your mate was Troy Grining and he wanted to give his new 52ft, high speed cruiser a run across Macquarie Harbour, test the new onboard dory with a chance of landing a nice Gordon River Brown you would have to feel privileged. I didn’t say anything about getting on my hands and knees and kissing his feet…just having a lend of ya’ but I did feel very appreciative.