arthurs lake
The brown trout in the
Arthurs Lake spawning
run were in good
condition this year 

The fishing at Arthurs Lake is a good news story. Fishing has steadily improved over the past five years. The number of fish in the 2021 spawning run was our largest in many years with over 14 500 brown trout being counted through the three Arthurs Lake fish traps and allowed to travel on upstream to spawn. The spawning fish were in good condition. Anglers reported some good catches in the past season.

Winter rain kept the lake at a good level and it is still rising. This will give shore-based anglers plenty of options. The shallow areas around Hydro Bay, Cowpaddock Bay and Jonah Bay will be productive for bait fishermen. In September, it is hard to look past an earth worm fished close to the edge. The colder it is, the further out your worm should be cast. There is no need to try and get fancy with different baits. Steady and rising water levels will bring worms into the lake.

These shallow areas are also the best and most popular spots for shore based fly and lure anglers. Carefully wading in knee deep water and fishing slowly into depressions and around structure will be productive. More and more fish will move on shore as the weather and water warms.

Trollers, lure casters and fly fishermen will do well fishing around 3m – 4m below the surface over deep weed beds. This depth is productive in September and anglers should be fishing slowly with large, dark coloured lures and flies. Fish are wanting to put weight back on after spawning and will eat bigger offerings than they will at other times. The water is often warmer at this depth which attracts large quantities of fish. If spring is mild and the water warms quickly, the shallows will then become more productive.

 green tag
The brown trout
in the study have
green tags 

In late July, 400 tagged wild adult brown trout were released into the River Derwent in the Dromedary area. Each of the trout have a single green coloured tag with a four digit number. This release of fish is part of a study to investigate the movements, growth and population of brown trout in the River Derwent. It will also tell us how easy the trout are to catch. The study will run for the next two years. We would like anglers to report the capture of these tagged fish, noting the tag number, location captured and if possible the length and weight of the fish. We are also keen to know how many other untagged trout are caught. There is no requirement to release these fish, we just want to know if you catch one, along with the tag number and location.

So far there have been 12 tagged trout re-caught, ranging from the Dromedary area up to 5km upstream of the New Norfolk bridge.

Please do not confuse these tagged fish with the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion (three have been released in the River Derwent), of which the tags are orange. These fish are worth $2000 each to the lucky angler. One of these has been caught and two still remain so keep an eye out!

Report tagged fish via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR phone 6165 3808

For each green tag that is returned, your name will go into the draw for a Shimano graphite fishing rod and reel combo at the end of the season.

If you fish the River Derwent for trout, please contact us and we will send you a free IFS Tasmanian Inland Recreational Anglers Logbook so that you can record your catch. We are interested in both tagged and untagged brown trout, so even if you haven’t caught a tagged trout, your fishing information is important for managing this wonderful fishery!

Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2021/sep/06/river-derwent-trout-study-update

Salmon into craigbourneToday we stocked 130 Atlantic salmon in Craigbourne Dam. The fish averaged 1.2 kg. The dam is full and fishing well with the adult brown trout and smaller rainbows it has received over the past few months providing lots of action.

There is also, of course, one remaining $2 000 tagged brown trout after the other was caught last week. For more information go to Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion.

More salmon stocking is planned in the coming week in other waters. Keep an eye out on www.ifs.tas.gov.au for up to date information.

We would like to thank Tassal for supporting anglers with the donation of Atlantic salmon.

 

Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2021/sep/03/salmon-craigbourne

derbyWhile in Derby, David Fraser, decided to take a young family friend, 8 year old Kaiden, for a quick fishing lesson at Briseis Mine Hole close to the centre of town. Before they started David looked Kaiden in the eye and said “if we catch the tagged fish we are going halves”. Kaiden looked David back in the eye and shook his hand.

David and Kaiden were casting green and gold Ashley spinners along the back shore not to far from the floating sauna. They were starting to get a bit cold but David encouraged Kaiden to stick with it have a have few more casts. That’s when David hooked a good fish. After a strong fight the fish was near the bank where Kaiden, like a pro, shot out the extension handle on the landing net, ducked down the bank and the big brown trout was soon landed. They could see that the trout had an orange tag and was one of the $2 000 fish released as part of the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion.

There was much excitement from the two anglers, so much so that people came out of the sauna to see what was happening.

The two are going to share the prize and David noted that Kaiden’s casting had greatly improved. He is hooked for life!

Fifty tagged brown trout have been released into waters around Tasmania for the 2021-22 Angling Season. Each tag is worth $2,000* to the angler that returns the fish to the Inland Fisheries Service (*conditions apply).

brothers 

Len and Hilton Howard enjoy their time fishing together. Len is 82 and Hilton is 68. On Wednesday they headed to Craigbourne Dam on the word that the fish were biting. They launched their boat and were trolling lures around the lake. In the deep water off the dam Len hooked a good fish and after a fight Hilton netted it for him. Hilton said “Len is a bit unsteady on his feet in the boat, so I helped him net it. We didn’t see that it had an orange tag until I was cleaning it at the ramp. Len did let out a holler when I told him ”.

The fish has been confirmed as one of the two tagged trout released into Craigbourne Dam. The brothers are going to share the prize money and will use it for a trip to Adelaide as they like travelling.

Fifty tagged brown trout have been released into waters around Tasmania for the 2021-22 Angling Season. Each tag is worth $2,000* to the angler that returns the fish to the Inland Fisheries Service (*conditions apply).

 rex
Rex Meikle and
one of the $2 000
tagged trout from
Lake Leake 

Rex Meikle loves fishing Lake Leake so much he has a shack there. On Tuesday afternoon, just on dark, he was fishing from a drifting boat with his mate Barry in the area where the Snowy River enters. Using a wet Woolley Bugger fly, fishing in shallow water, Rex hooked and landed the catch of the day. A $2 000 brown trout was in the boat.

Rex doesn’t have a mobile phone so he had his mate Harvey contact IFS and the fish was confirmed as one of the three fish released into Lake Leake as part of the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion. While speaking to Rex’s wife Robin, to get details, she asked us to remind Rex that their 50th wedding anniversary was coming up and that the prize money was timely!

The brown trout fishing season is now well underway and there has been lots of great fishing reported. With recent rain and more forecast the major rivers are in flood.

This makes for great bait fishing conditions. Trout have just returned from spawning and are hungry to put condition back on after the winter. They will seek out newly flooded river margins in search of worms and other food that has been washed down in the flood.

Side pockets of slack water off to the side of the main current are the best spot to try. Especially in spots where farm drains or small creeks enter the main river. Trout will move to these spots and search for food.

Use the smallest sinker possible to cast, or even better no sinker. Fish your bait inert with an open bail on your reel and wait for the tell-tale movement of the line! It is important to give the trout a bit of time to swallow the bait properly and hook itself.

The Mersey River around Kimberley, the Leven River at Gunns Plains, the Meander River, the mid to lower reaches of the South Esk River and the Macquarie River are all worth a visit and will provide good fishing. Tight lines.

Source:  https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2021/aug/20/flooded-rivers-good-fishing

Lake Echo is likely to reach a good water level in spring due to the power station being shut for refurbishment, winter rains and snow melt. Currently at 6.5 m below full supply level the water will soon exceed the highest level of last season (- 6.0 m). When the lake fills further the shallow edges in Brocks and Teal bays along with the Surveyors Marsh area will provide good visual fishing to tailing fish and flooded terrestrial feeders. The water level needs to get to about - 4 m below full supply level for the action to start happening in close. To monitor water levels go to https://www.hydro.com.au/water/lake-levels

In the mean time there have been reports of good fishing along the deeper western shore amongst the dead trees. This area is ideal for lure and bait fishing from the shore and floating a dry fly as the weather warms.

All three boat ramps at Lake Echo (Dam wall, Middle Echo and Large Bay) are now usable. Boat ramp locations and other information for anglers can be found in the Anglers Access brochure or the Infish app.

Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2021/aug/20/lake-echo-predicted-fire-spring

lake leakeLast season, Lake Leake was one of our standout waters. Good numbers of large fish were caught using all methods. The lake has been spilling over winter and level is still be high.

The Inland Fisheries Service has transferred 1 200 adult wild brown trout and stocked 2 000 yearling rainbow trout into Lake Leake since early May. These will have settled in well and be eating the stick caddis, scud and snails that are commonly on the menu for trout in this lake.

Shore based angling options are reduced when the lake is spilling but even fishing from the pontoon near the dam wall was productive last season.

Water temperatures are low in August which can force fish to feed on deep weed beds. Anglers trolling on the outside of submerged timber will have success. The eastern side of the island and up into Snowy River Bay is a good area. Rainbow trout are common when trolling ‘wide’ but running along any drop off will increase your chances of catching a large brown trout.

In mild weather, brown trout will move into shallow water. Fly anglers should fish around structure with large woolly bugger patterns. Lure fishermen will do well with shallow running hardbodies and lightly weighted soft plastics. Casting from a drifting boat is the best tactic.

During cold weather, lures and flies will need to be fished more slowly and fewer fish will be found in the shallows. In this case, both fly and lure anglers need to get down to the top of the prolific weed beds that are abundant in the lake.

The 2021/ 2022 season is likely to be another good one for those fishing Lake Leake. The lake always fishes at its best before Christmas and August is the perfect time to get to know it. Those who spend a good deal of time on the lake will surely be there on opening weekend and during the months that follow.

There have also been three brown trout released into Lake Leake as part of the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion. Each trout is worth $2 000.

Source : https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2021/aug/12/fishing-lake-leake

tagged trout

Michael Deppeler decided to take his kids, Lucy and Liam, for a fish on Sunday afternoon out on the River Derwent. They launched their boat near New Norfolk, and began to troll lures as they headed down the river. It wasn't long and Lucy saw one of the rods bend. When they reeled in the brown trout they noticed a orange tag below the fin. Michael contacted IFS and the fish was confirmed as one of the three fish released in the River Derwent as part of the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion.

Fifty tagged brown trout have been released into waters around Tasmania for the 2021-22 Angling Season. Each tag is worth $2,000* to the angler that returns the fish to the Inland Fisheries Service (*conditions apply).

The waters and number of tagged trout released are:

Designated water

Number of tagged trout released

Arthurs Lake

5

Briseis Mine Hole

2

Bronte Lagoon

2

Craigbourne Dam

2

Curries River Reservoir

2

Huntsman Lake

2

Lake Burbury

5

Lake Leake

3

Lake Mackintosh

5

Lake Parangana

2

Lake Pedder

5

Lake Rosebery

5

Lake Rowallan

2

River Derwent

3

yingina / Great Lake

5

The tags are orange and have unique identifying details.

For more information and full Terms and Conditions go to www.ifs.tas.gov.au

Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2021/aug/11/angler-reels-2-000-tagged-trout-derwent

 trout opening 2021

Marcus Collins (11 yrs) and
Jaxson Collins (8 yrs)
proudly showing their opening
weekend catch from
the Huon River at Judbury

Brown trout season 2021-22 kicked off over the weekend and what a weekend it was! The weather good (considering it is the Tasmanian Winter!) and the fish were biting well. Strong winter rains have ensured that our inland waterways are all at good high levels and this was reflected in the quality of the fishing.

Officers from the Inland Fisheries Service, Tasmania Police, Parks and Wildlife and Marine and Safety Tasmania teamed up state-wide. This was one of the largest multi-agency operations ever run over a Brown trout season opening weekend, culminating with a traffic operation in the Central Highlands organised by Tasmania Police.

Results from the patrols over the weekend include

Catch data from 51 inland waters was collected
821 anglers were interviewed about their fishing experience
479 Brown trout, 205 rainbow trout and 3 Atlantic salmon inspected
350 vehicles were stopped and checked
Multiple camps were visited on Parks, Hydro and Council managed land
Over the weekend offences were detected and dealt with under Inland Fisheries, Marine and Safety, Parks, Road Safety, Transport and Firearms Legislation. This represents a very successful multi agency approach to the opening of the brown trout season and Inland Fisheries would like to thank the other agencies for their support.

Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2021/aug/09/another-amazing-brown-trout-opening-weekend-behind-us

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