The ART of bait fishing

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.

 

The season that was

Todd Lambert, President of the Longford Anglers Club, takes a look at the past trout season for both himself and his club members.

Monster Arthurs Lake fish

Arthurs big fish

Highly skilled, well lucky really, Devonport angler and international celebrity John Lyons nearly had heart failure when he caught the first glimpse of this fish. Stripping a Black Woolly Bugger at Arthurs Lake on Saturday 16 October John thought he had just hooked another nice Arthurs Lake brownie. How wrong he was though as he spent a very tense and nervous time getting this 11.5 pound fish to the net.

Although John rarely goes fishing without a camera, but this time he did. A quick call to some mates had the cameras rolling and after an hour at the boat ramp showing off it was back to his shack for a few celebratory bevies.

Although big fish are uncommon at Arthurs a few are caught each year. Fish of four pounds are at the top end of what can be expected at Arthurs, six pounds is a very large fish, so 11.5 pounds is a fish of a lifetime. It is most likely the biggest Arthurs fish on fly for many years if not ever.      

Bream from a kayak

Craig Vertigan loves chasing all sorts from his "yak, but one of his favourites is Tassie's bream. Take some tips from him, get your "yak and go looking.

Yak Fishing Kit - How to keep safe and warm on a Tassie Yak

John Pollard
Kayaks have boomed in Tasmania-especially over the last year, but with our fickle weather we do need to keep comfortable in a variety of conditions. John Pollard looks at what you need.

Autumn on the Lakes

Joe Riley looks at the tail end of the trout season and encourages anglers to make the best of it. You can be sure he will.

As daylight savings comes to pass and the days grow cooler through autumn, winter approaches and the brown trout season draws to a close. All is not despair though as there are still fish to be caught, even the prospect of specimen dry fly fishing in the highland lakes on the warmer days. It's the last surge to make the most out of a season which has been challenged by water draw downs, blustery weather and controversy over one of the world's finest brown trout lakes coming under threat from irrigation schemes.

Cherry Popping Mega fontinalis

Chris Reygaert on capturing one of the world's most beautiful trout. The world record for a brook trout is just over 10 pounds and anything from the wild at three pound or more is a real trophy. So maybe you should take a trip and try for one of these fabulous fish.

Jan's Flies

Jan Spencer
Nearly every fly fisher has to, at some time, use a heavy line and large sinking flies. Nobody more than I likes to fish dry fly or semi dry, but this does not always catch fish and when it's all said and done that's what we fish for-to catch fish.

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.

Chasing Records

Craig Rist is one of our regular writers. He has a burning desire to capture a World Record, but for the time being he is looking at Australian Records as a way forward. The following account is generally about Australian GFAA records.
Two fish that have potential as World Record captures in Tasmania are mako shark and southern bluefin tuna.

Bluefin time again

John Orchard takes a look at the lures you need to catch one of the toughest fish around - and without doubt the most highly regarded fish for sashimi in the world.

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