Presented from Issue 105, August 2013
We did a bit of a runaround Tasmania’s tackle stores to see what their tips for the first month or so of the tackle season were. We asked what the top three places to fish were, plus lures, flies, baits and a few other things.
Here is a rundown on their answers Whenever, and wherever you fish - anywhere, or for any fish in the world - ask the locals and especially ask at the local tackle store. They know what was caught today, yesterday and on what.
Craig Rist
Tightening up onto a big fish in a river is a great feeling with those first few seconds of uncertainty, as to what the fish might do, as it powers off after setting the hook. Will it head straight for the nearest submerged tree or swim out into open water. Instinctively you lay the rod on its side to lead the fish away from the submerged tree, the rod nearly bends in half under the shear weight and power of this fish as it now races downstream with the flow of the river. You turn the fish just before it reaches rapids; it then slogs it out deep in the middle of the pool, each beat of the tail getting slower and slower. Finally you land a fish of around 4 pounds, what a feeling.
This summer, the riverbanks have come alive with grasshoppers, making it an ideal time to use a hopper or a fly imitation. Fishing rivers and creeks with a grasshopper is a very easy and effective way of catching a few fish and an ideal introduction for anyone new to trout fishing. Fly fishing is also productive at this time, with trout responding well to a grasshopper fly that is laid out with a splat. For that reason, trout are very forgiving to anyone who is still in the process of learning to cast a fly.
Joe Riley
As the drought that grips Australia continues towards 2008, Tasmania is fast becoming one of only a handful of viable trout fisheries available to anglers who pursue trout. With Victorian lakes still hovering in the low teens percentage wise, with many rivers already at summer levels and irrigation demands obviously high, a good percentage of the fishing pressure from the big island is being transferred to Tasmania.
Leroy Tirant
Late last year I was lucky enough to be involved in the capture of a wild trout that weighed over 17 pounds. I've caught some big fish over the years but I had never seen a fish of such huge proportions with massive golden flanks, thick powerful tail and broad backed.
Quenton Higgs
It doesn't happen a lot, but occasionally I encounter someone on the track and you get the remark "gee, you're carrying a big heavy pack there". I guess this can be interpreted as one of two things:Shane Flude
Well it's that time of year again, the opening of the brown trout season, time to check your old gear and stock up on some new. Now the only problem is deciding which location to hear for.
Here is a list of places that may help to narrow down your choice for the first few months of the season.
Craig Rist
Don't scoff and think this story is a bit lightweight and simple. Craig Rist is a skilful and diverse angler and he revisits his fishing with this delightful piece.
The important lesson here is the importance of catching fish when you are young. Many beginning anglers lose interest because they don't catch fish. Enjoy this story for what it is - a lesson in diversity.
You might remember Craig's last story was about fishing Weipa - the next might be mako shark on fly. (Ed)
Joe Riley
Competition fly fishing has been one of the driving forces in the advancement of fly fishing techniques in Australia over the past couple of decades. Loch Style fly fishing was largely brought to Tasmania by visiting competition anglers and has been widely accepted as a deadly way to fish by locals keen to improve their catch rates. Changes of fishing regulations in Tasmania to allow the use of 3 flies on a leader came about largely as a result of the international competitions also allowing the use of 3 flies.
Dan Clifton
As the open season on trout waters arrives there will many keen anglers heading to the highlands to catch the first of the hungry, post spawn, browns.
With the winter well underway and some heavy frosts often covering the ground, I find myself keeping my trout fishing close to home. It is great to get home to a warm house, shower, warm meal and I really like my own bed.
Mark Salisbury
Tassie fly fishers and regular "blow-ins" like myself will remember the 2006-7 Tasmanian trout season for the late season dry fly bonanza that took place on the lowland rivers in the northern midlands. The only thing preventing the fish from rising every day was inclement weather and even then a few fish could usually be picked up by visiting notorious insect hatching "hot spots'.
Some of the hatches were immense and the dry fly fishing was outstanding. Every single fish we caught during March and April was stalked, seen or ambushed. On certain days the fish were working themselves into a feeding frenzy likened to the spectacle of bronze whalers rounding up pilchards in the surf. We couldn't even reel in our fly lines without fish slashing and smashing dry flies as they skidded and waked across the surface. The late season fly fishing in northern Tasmania completely eclipsed the early and mid-season's sport.
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Recently Atlantic salmon seems to be a very hot topic amongst local anglers, especially those in the south of the state in the D'Entrecasteaux area. Northern anglers should take a close look at the Tamar as there are opportunities here as well.
The recent "great escape" has provided a perfect opportunity for fresh and saltwater anglers alike to experience some truly memorable sport. Tasmania's pristine, clean and cool waters are the perfect nursery for the Atlantic Salmon and as our local fish farms produce more and more fresh quality seafood it is a fact that there are going to be tangible consequences.