Scott McDonald
The first Atlantic salmon eggs used to begin Tasmania's Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry were introduced into Tasmania in 1984. From these humble beginnings a valuable Tasmanian industry has evolved with a worldwide reputation for having a premium disease free product. This industry provides a spin off to all anglers in the form of regular escapes of salmon from the farms.
After August the 6ths wet conditions with some 44mms of rain in and around the Kentish area I thought another trip was worthwhile to the Mersey River once again. Left home in cool and sunny conditions and arrived at my ever reliable hole on the Mersey and had both worm baited rigs in the water in no time at all. The river was at least 350mm higher this morning than on Monday and I was a little unsure of how my little fishing hole would go as there was a fair flow of water pushing through it. I could see that it had been much higher too as there were the signs of flattened grass along the river bank and I could see the high water mark that it had reached. The Mersey had already dropped around 400mm from that mark which was good for me. Had it been at that height this morning I would be looking elsewhere to drop a worm.
Here is something that has really made me angry, and it is the destruction of the large grassed area along side of the Minnow River near Beaulah, plus the destruction of river banks from Off Road vehicles such as bikes, Atv's & 4wd's. These Morons and that's what they are do not give a dam of the damage they cause, not to mention the bottles, cans, car parts and rubbish that they also leave behind. This little river has struggled over the past few years from below average rainfalls to keep it in top condition and now it has to put up with this type of destruction.
BRIGHT AND WINDY CONDITIONS, BUT STILL MANAGED A FEW 20/3/2013
After spending a few days on the East Coast and having a spin session in the Upper Scamander River without even spotting a fish over a kilometer of working the river, it was back to Sheffield a day earlier than originally planned. The wife and I left Scamander around 8.30 am and headed for home and once home the car unpacked, then it was a bit of a rest, some lunch and off to the Mersey River.
I shot off to Merseylea late this afternoon for a spin in mainly overcast conditions and light winds, hoping to finally get a few fish and break my dry spell. Arrived around 5.00 PM and found the river to be low and very clear and it was clear of the green cotton like algae that I experienced at Weegena a while back. The river bottom was still covered in a brown slime and there was a lot of water weeds in.
After 32mm of rain in the Sheffield area yesterday I thought the Mersey River was worth a go this morning in humid and foggy conditions. Headed over to Weegena to have a fish upstream from the bridge. When I arrived there the river was like a mill pond as there was not a bit of wind about, and it looked perfect too. Looking upstream and downstream from the bridge I noticed the river had risen by a couple of inches plus there was not a sign of a fish on the rise either. This was a good sign for me as I thought it's going to be a top day for the spinner. I was wrong, as it was to be the opposite. Once in the water that was crystal clear and had a nice flow to it, and then after my first cast and retrieve the anti kink and the # 00 Black Aglia were fouled by the dreaded green cotton like algae that has been in the majority of the Mersey of late.
Another 3 hours were spent on the Meander River this afternoon fishing in sunshine and a north easterly for most of it, not my favourite type of condition to fish in. Still there were several areas that had shade on it thanks to the many Eucalypts along the river and this was where the fish were holding. The river seemed a little higher today which was a good sign, because the last trip here it was way too low. Hydro must be releasing more water for irrigation purposes and I was hoping this may give the river a much needed lift for fishing.
Kevin Blackwell recently discovered this oarfish washed ashore under the Tasman Bridge. It weighed 20 kilos and measured 2.2 metres in length. Kevin donated it to CSIRO in Hobart. Below are the details from John Pogonoski to Kevin.
I fished on of the toughest stretches of the Meander River this afternoon from 2.45pm to 6.15pm in mainly overcast conditions and low, clear water. This stretch of river that I fished is around 1.5 kms in length and always gives up a few fish, but it's tough going and you earn every fish that one catches. It's full of every size rock and boulder that can trip you up at any time if your mind's not on the job. Take time and make sure you have good footing under you before taking the next step forward. It varies from water depth below the knees to waist deep in many sections in fast and slow sections of it and one slip and could be a few bruises or a wet backside. This stretch of river has many fast water areas along it which I love to fish especially at this time of year and it does give up some nice medium browns that usually average around 360 gms.
Cloud cover this afternoon made for me to head off to the Meander River for a session of spinning the fast water once more. Arrived around 3.15 PM and once again as soon as I put my waders on, Bingo! Out came the sun again. Not deterred I still hit the river full of confidence and it wasn't too long before I had my first fish on the line and it was a small solid brown of some 240 gms.
Read more: Meander still gives up a few fish in low water 2013-01-22
Well I went and had a fish today when there were winds from the East to North East and it's some thing I knew would be a waste of time too! I have always known you never fish when there are winds from an Easterly direction. Started off from the bridge at Weegena and fished my way up stream of the Mersey River for around 800 mtrs or there about in water that was reasonably clear and very low.
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Presented from Issue 105, August 2013
Christopher Bassano fishes over 250 days a year. This interview was recorded just before he headed off to fish for Australia in the World Fly Fishing Championships in Norway 14-17 August 2013.
I live on a small stream and at the start of the season I like to go off on a bit of a discovery mission and fish the headwaters of the creeks and rivers I feel an affinity with.
These small rivers include the St Pats, Meander, Forester, Little Forester and others. The further up you go on these rivers the clearer and lower the levels. They are often less affected by the rain and runoff and you get some good opportunities. Get as close to the source as you can and you will find some good dry fly fishing. Don’t limit yourself to those I have mentioned. Most headwaters will hold trout.
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