and an art worth your learning.."
Presented from Issue 112, October 2014
So said Izaak Walton in the 1600s. It seems that Burnie’s Hannah Ledger has combined angling with art rather well. Hannah is a fish fanatic, outdoor enthusiast and budding, self-taught artist. From as young as she can remember, she has always had crayon in hand, colouring book under arm and as she’s grown as a painter, jars full of paintbrushes and cupboards full of ready-to-go blank canvas’.
A country girl at heart, Hannah was schooled at Yolla District High School, a small ‘farm’ school in the states North West, then went on to Hellyer College where she was given the opportunity to really grow her art skills; And by grow, that meant skipping the classes that would probably have more an impact of getting her somewhere in life, like English and Math to spend every spare minute with the art teacher, painting or drawing.
As typical teenagers do, they make poor decisions- and after being accepted in to one of the countries top art schools, turned down the offer and decided to move to the big island, where she lived for 5 years working in what seemed ‘dead end’ retail.
Read more ... |
Tony Robertson with the tagged trout |
Keen angler, Tony Robertson, showed that the tagged fish are out there to be caught.
While drift spinning from his boat in yingina / Great Lake, near Reynolds Island, with small hard body lures he hooked and landed a brown trout. He noticed that it had blue tag. On closer inspection Tony realised it was the tagged fish from the 2020-21 Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion. The fish also had fishing line trailing from it where it had been hooked by another angler and lost.
Unfortunately for Tony, the 2020-21 competition finished at the end of April making the catch ineligible for the $10 000 prize. Tony has been given a consolation prize and is now on the hunt for one of this years tagged fish.
There are 45 tagged trout out there, waiting to be caught,
Each tag is worth $2,000* to the angler that returns the fish to the Inland Fisheries Service (*conditions apply). There are still five tagged fish swimming around in yingina / Great Lake and Tony has shown that these fish can be caught. Five of the fifty tagged brown trout in the 2021-22 Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion have been caught. There are lots more tagged fish in waters near you.
The waters and number of tagged trout still to be caught are:
Designated water |
Number remaining |
Arthurs Lake |
5 |
Briseis Mine Hole |
Was 2 now 1 |
Bronte Lagoon |
2 |
Craigbourne Dam |
Was 2 now 1 |
Curries River Reservoir |
2 |
Huntsman Lake |
Was 2 now 1 |
Lake Burbury |
5 |
Lake Leake |
Was 3 now 2 |
Lake Mackintosh |
5 |
Lake Parangana |
2 |
Lake Pedder |
5 |
Lake Rosebery |
5 |
Lake Rowallan |
2 |
River Derwent |
Was 3 now 2 |
yingina / Great Lake |
5 |
Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2021/nov/17/tagged-trout-can-be-caught
SFAC Minutes |
Calamari 2018 Analysis of Management Tools |
Calamari Discussion Paper Oct 2021 |
Calamari spawning in Northern Tas |
TARFish response to calamari management |
The Tasmanian and Australian Liberal Governments are inviting Tasmanian Councils to apply for the second round of the Recreational Fishing and Camping Facilities Program (the Program) which opens today.
The Program, funded by the Australian Government and administered by the Tasmanian Government, provides grants to local government for the purpose of new or renewed:
boat ramps;
marine rescue facilities;
toilet blocks;
fish cleaning stations;
camping facilities; or
other infrastructure or facilities directly associated with recreational fishing, boating, or camping.
Following the success of the first round of the Program, the second round is seeking to fund larger projects with the potential of receiving council co-funding, which will benefit Tasmanians and visitors participating in camping, fishing, and boating activities across the State.
Read more: Securing recreational boating, camping, and fishing facilities across Tasmania
Tasmania’s world-leading carp eradication program is achieving very encouraging results.
In the past year, only three carp were captured in Lake Sorell by the Inland Fisheries Service and it appears that few, if any, now remain.
Extensive fishing efforts were undertaken during spring and summer 2020-21 and three carp were removed – one female and two males which were infected with the jelly gonad condition.
This year’s Carp Management Program annual report says there does not appear to be any fertile males left in Lake Sorell and juvenile carp surveys during and after the normal spawning season did not find any sign of recruitment.
All water released from Lake Sorell is still being screened as a precautionary measure and no carp were found in Lake Crescent or the River Clyde surveys.
A total of 41,499 carp have now been removed from Lake Sorell which is a 53 square kilometre body of water, and carp fishing will continue in 2021-22 focusing on specific times like key weather events and potential spawning times.
It is planned that Lake Sorell will remain open for public recreational use and angling.
Read the Carp Management Program Annual Report 2020-21
This Sunday, 10 October, is an angling licence free day! An angling licence will not be required for anyone wanting to fish inland waters in Tasmania on this day. It is a great time to try trout fishing.
It is also national Gone Fishing Day with junior angling events happening across Tasmania, it is a great opportunity for those 17 years and under to catch a truly wild, wily trout.
Anglers Alliance Tasmania (AAT) and the Inland Fisheries Service, with the co-operation of local angling clubs, are co-ordinating free junior angling events on Sunday 10 October 2021 as part of national Gone Fishing Day. In preparation, AAT have stocked junior angling venues across Tasmania.
Anglers seemed undeterred with the easterly rain experienced last weekend, which also heralded the opening of the 2021-22 rainbow waters on Saturday 2 October. Reports of good catches were received throughout the State, with mild temperatures and increased water flows providing ideal conditions. Good sized sea-runners and lake trout were on the chew after the snow melted from the peaks.
Tasmania’s rainbow trout waters are:
Read more: Easterly weather didn't affect rainbow waters opening
With junior angling events happening across Tasmania, Gone Fishing Day a great opportunity for those 17 years and under to catch a truly wild, wily trout.
Plus – Gone Fishing Day is an angling licence free day! An angling licence will not be required for anyone wanting to fish inland waters in Tasmania on this day.
Anglers Alliance Tasmania (AAT) and the Inland Fisheries Service, with the co-operation of local angling clubs, are co-ordinating free junior angling events on Sunday 10 October 2021 as part of national Gone Fishing Day. In preparation, AAT have stocked junior angling venues across Tasmania.
Gone Fishing Day is a national event created to encourage people to get outdoors, drop a line, enjoy time with family and friends by or on the water, and hopefully catch a fish or two.
Getting outdoors is beneficial to both your physical and mental health. All anglers can agree that there is no such thing as a bad days fishing when you’re surrounded by those close to you and the glorious areas fishing takes you. So why not have a day that recognises and promotes all of these things!
Venues for junior angling events
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Talk trout Tasmania, 7pm on Friday 15 October at the Great Lake Community Centre., Miena |
Join us at the Great Lake Community Centre on Friday 15 October for Talk Trout Tasmania 2021.
This is an opportunity to meet some of our inland fisheries staff.
Hear about fisheries management and ask your questions of the panel.
Our team will present information and strategies about the management of the recreational fishery.
On the eve of the Great Lake Tie In, Talk Trout Tasmania is the perfect way to start this exciting weekend.
Great Lake Community Centre, Miena. 7 to 9 pm. Supper and refreshments provided.
Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2021/sep/23/talk-trout-tasmania-2021
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Peter Skeels proudly holding one of the Brown trout he caught and released on Saturday |
Over the weekend, anglers of all ages and abilities ventured out to their favourite water to try and catch one of the prized trout or salmon Tasmania is famous for!
Peter Skeels was one of those anglers. He has a little spot on the River Derwent he likes to fish, using baitfish under a float. Within five minutes he landed two brown trout in great condition. One of the fish was sporting the green tag of the River Derwent trout study, with both fish released unharmed to fight another day.
Not to be confused with the orange tags for the very popular Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion, details of the trout study can be found here.
If you catch a tagged trout, contact the Inland Fisheries Service on 1300 IN FISH (1300 463 474) between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., provide your name, contact details, tag number, waterway, location the fish was caught and overall length. Orange tags are worth $2000 (subject to terms and conditions) and if you capture a green tag, your name will go into the draw for a Shimano graphite fishing rod and reel combo at the end of the season.
Recent rainfalls and climate outlook are combining with the IFS stocking and transfers program, to set up what is shaping up to be one of the best trout seasons in recent history.
So why not buy a licence and catch a trout? You may get more than you bargained for!
Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2021/sep/12/river-derwent-delivering-goods
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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
Here is a list of all of the Article Categories. The number in Brackets, eg (13) is the number of articles. Click on Derwent River and all articles relating to the Derwent will be displayed in the central area.
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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.
Sea-run trout fishing this year got off to a cracking start in most areas, with the majority of anglers employing nearly every trout fishing technique to secure fish in local estuaries statewide.
Even those anglers fishing the "off-season" lower down in our estuaries for sea-trout commented on the number of fish moving in early August.