by Sarah Graham
Many anglers are preparing for the opening of the new angling season on Saturday 7 August and it's shaping up to be another good one with the fishery in excellent health as a result of last year’s drought breaking rains. There are many great fishing locations around the State from which to choose for the opening weekend and early season fishing but here are a few suggestions.
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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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.
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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
Today 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
While 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).
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Presented from Issue 100
Considering the world class quality of our sea trout fishery, these fish are not sought after by enough anglers. Sea runners live in the salt water and run up our estuaries and rivers from the start of August to the middle of November. At this time of the year, they are here to eat the many species of fish that are either running up the rivers to spawn or are living in and around the estuary systems. Trout, both sea run and resident (Slob Trout) feed heavily on these small fish which darken in colouration as they move further into fresh water reaches.
The majority of these predatory fish are brown trout with rainbows making up a very small percentage of the catch. They can be found all around the state but it would be fair to say that the east coast is the least prolific of all the areas. They still run up such rivers as the Georges (and many others) but their numbers along with the quality of the fishing elsewhere make it difficult to recommend the area above the larger northern, southern and western rivers.
Read more ...