Source - https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/publications/quarterly-reports-anglers
Hot topics
The start of 2019
The Christmas and New Year period saw anglers flocking to the Central Highlands to enjoy some great fishing. Our Officers were on patrol throughout the period, and they saw some fantastic catches. The standout waters were:
Arthurs Lake – After some tough times, we were pleased with how well this water fished. Both lure and fly anglers were catching fish that were in fantastic condition.
Four Springs Lake – There were less anglers, but some impressive bags caught. Fly anglers did well from the shore.
Nineteen Lagoons – Anglers reported plenty of cruising fish from Lake Botsford, Lake Augusta and Lake Ada. Tailing fish were reported at Howes Bay Lagoon and Double Lagoon.
Woods Lake – Saw great catches with one very impressive fish weighing in excess of two kilograms. yingina/Great Lake – Swan Bay, Haddens Bay and Cramps Bay were the hotspots. One bait angler in Swan Bay caught four good fish ranging between 420 mm and 480 mm in an afternoon session.
Bushfires
The Great Pine Tier fire that started on Tuesday 15 January threatened large areas of the Central Plateau. The fire resulted in multiple emergency warnings being issued for Miena, Liawenee, Shannon, Steppes and surrounding areas. Popular fisheries such as Little Pine and Penstock lagoons, Lake Fergus and parts of the Nineteen Lagoons were impacted by fire with access roads closed. Neil Morrow, Manager Anglers Access has been out to the fire affected areas, assessing damage to anglers access infrastructure and starting the repairs.
There has been no problems reported with fisheries performance but there are large blackened areas. Depending on rainfall in the coming months, there could be increased nutrients and sediment making the lagoons cloudy and at risk of algal blooms. An aerial photo of the fire still burning in early February 2019.
The year of the World Fly Fishing Championship
This year, on behalf of Australia, Tasmania will host the 39th World Fly Fishing Championship. From 2 to 6 December competitors from up to 30 countries will experience fishing for Tasmania's wild brown trout.
This will be the second time Tasmania has hosted the championship. In 1988, competing anglers fished three venues, Little Pine and Bronte lagoons and London Lakes. The competition was shore based with anglers wading set beats. The local angling community who volunteered their support still talk about the friendships made and the camaraderie of the event.
Now the event is held across five venues.
Competing anglers will fish from boats on Little Pine and Penstock lagoons and Wood Lake and wade beats on the Meander and Mersey rivers. Again, the Championship will be a great opportunity for local volunteers to see the best fly fishers in the world and make lifelong friendships.
Temporary changes to support the World Fly Fishing Championship
In support of the World Fly Fishing Championship, there will be some temporary regulation changes for the competition waters that aim to keep any disruption to a minimum. The lake venues of Little Pine Lagoon, Penstock Lagoon and Woods Lake, will be closed to recreational fishing for the duration of the event from midnight on Sunday I December to midnight on Friday 6 December 2019 inclusive. The competition sections of the river venues will be closed to recreational fishing, from midnight on Sunday 24 November to midnight on Friday 6 December 2019 inclusive.
The Mersey River downstream of the Olivers Road (on the C 138) bridge to Hoggs Bridge ( on the C 153).
The Meander River downstream from the Huntsman Lake dam to Barretts Bridge, Long Ridge Road (on the C 166).
You can read more information about the temporary regulations on the IFS website (www.ifs.tas.gov.au) or phone us on 1300 INFISH (463474).
If you are interested in supporting the event yourself, head to the World Fly Fishing Championship 2019 website (www.wffc2019.com) and contact a member of the organising committee.
Carp Management Program update on Lake Sorell
There has been great progress over the past 12 months. Winter 2018 created good inflows, flooding the wetlands in Lake Sorell. These high and rising levels provided perfect spawning cues for carp as the temperature increased through late spring and early summer 2018.
Even with the ideal conditions recent surveys did not find juvenile carp and only 39 adults have been caught for the 2018-19 season.
We now estimate there are less than 20 carp left. Eradication remains likely within the next 18 months.
Due to ongoing carp eradication activities, we have decided that Lake Sorell will remain closed below its high water mark until at least early 2020.
Trout Weekend 2019
Trout Weekend is back for 2019. From 10 am until 3pm over Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May at the Liawenee field Station, yingina/Great Lake Come with your family, enjoy displays, demonstrations, the ever-popular junior angling pond, and see the hundreds of wild brown trout on their annual spawning run. There is something for everyone at Trout Weekend. Keep your eye on www.ifs.tas.gov.au for more information.
The IFS Photo Competition is back
We want your best Tasmanian trout fishing photos.
Entries for the Tasmanian Trout Fishing
Photography Competition 2018-19 are accepted until 5pm on Tuesday 30 April 2019.
We are looking for photos of trout, families, kids, female anglers and scenery shots.
There are cash and gear prizes on offer
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: 1 x pair Neoprene waders (Fly 'n Dry)
3rd Place: 10 x Lures (Hueys Lures) 4th place 10 x Lures (Huey Lures).
You can submit up to six images with a maximum size of 5 MB each.
Images will be showcased and the winner announced at Trout Weekend 2019.
Download the entry form from www.ifs.tas.gov.au
