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.
Please check all relevant authorities before fishing - www.ifs.tas.gov.au and dpipwe.tas.gov.au . Don't forget issuu.com/stevenspublishing for years of back issues !
Well at last I had a day when I managed to be on the water by 9.00am in what was absolutely beautiful conditions. The Mersey River was much lower up at Weegena than my last trip four days ago, it was also crystal clear. There were quite a few large browns surface feeding in several slow flowing sections of the river too. These fish were all in the 1.5kg – 2.5kg range which was nice to see as there's been plenty of little browns around of late. I started of flicking the black fury (1.5gm) into the shaded areas along the opposite river bank and managed to get a few follows from some decent sized browns, but not one hit to go with it. It's always going to be tough getting into a few browns when you see others surface feeding, this is when I will often pick them up in the fast water runs.
Read more: A Day Of Frustration and Disappointment 2015-10-27
The latest news is that a second Liberal Member of Parliament has publicly demanded a ban on all Super Trawlers!
Image: Bob Baldwin, who has come out for a Super Trawler ban, chatting to our new PM Malcolm Turnbull. Let's jump on this chance to boot the monster boats!
Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin, has joined Corangamite’s Sarah Henderson and demanded that we boot out the monster boats.
This is a big deal. It was Abbott and Colebeck that opened the door to foreign Super Trawlers. But now the tides have turned. With a new Prime Minister and a federal election looming, we have a unique opportunity to get rid of the monster trawlers for good. This is our chance to end the dolphin deaths and plundering of local fish stock.
Can you chip in a few dollars a month to kick destructive Super Trawlers out of Australia?
Read more: Can you chip in a few dollars a month to kick destructive Super Trawlers out of Australia
I left home at 12.30pm in overcast and coolish conditions in what I thought were perfect for being in a river today. I was on my way to fish the Mersey River on a friends property and now with the river being lower it was going to be wade-able in every stretch of river. Well, once there the clouds had all but disappeared and it was nice and bright. Not what I was hoping for at all. Any way it was on with the gear and off on a two kilometre walk to where I'll start fishing. The river was now in full sun which was going to make the fishing interesting today that's for sure, especially in low clear water. I could see that the rocky river bottom was covered in a brown algae and that's going to make wading very tough too. Fishing the Mersey River is always hard on the body, the algae covered rocks just makes it that much harder. With the river being low and clear means I'll be starting the session off with the little black fury (black blade) again today.
Read more: Browns & Rainbows As The Mersey River Fires Up 19/10/2015
Monday 19 October 2015 Conservation and recreational fishing groups are extremely concerned by the new AFMA arrangements to consult stakeholders on the Small Pelagic Fishery. This fishery is the target of the massive factory trawler Geelong Star and an issue of great public outrage.
“The Small Pelagic Fishery is now the only major federal government-managed fishery which does not have its own Resource Assessment Group, despite the huge level of public concern around it’s operations and impacts. AFMA have systematically reduced meaningful stakeholder engagement in this fishery. Recreational fishers and conservationists are being increasingly sidelined from fisheries management processes,” said Jon Bryan from the Tasmanian Conservation Trust and former conservation representative on the Small Pelagic Fishery Resource Assessment Group.
Read more: AFMA Locks Community Out Of Super Trawler Decision-Making Processes
I headed on over to Mersylea this afternoon in what was beautiful weather conditions with just a light breeze and clear skies. I didn't arrive there until 3.00pm and then had a chat with a couple of young fella's having a spin from the river bank. They hadn't caught anything up to then, but had managed a couple of follows for the time they'd been there spinning. The river was clear and much lower today and was also in full sun. I recommended that they spin the shaded areas as that's more than likely the best place to pick up a trout in the bright conditions. I had to use my old Horne waist waders today as my breathables are down in Hobart at Fly & Dry having new stocking feet put on them as I've worn the other's out. Still they've lasted just over three years of some pretty heavy fishing days and months of continual river fishing. So today it was back to the old way of how I waded the rivers and fished for trout for quite a lot of years in the heavy rubber waders and boots.
On behalf of the team that will be competing at the 36th World Fly Fishing Championships in Vail , Colorado in September 2016, we would like to invite you to participate in the future success of the team through one of our Fly Fishing Weekends. These will be held at Peter Hayes’ Lodge in Tasmania, Hayes on Brumbies on three different weekends. December 11th to 13th 2015, February 19th to 21st and March 18th to 20th 2016 . Each weekend commencing with a meet and greet dinner on the Friday night and your departure will be late Sunday afternoon after your fishing activities. (Click here for the offical Flyer)
Following a major review and extensive consultation, a new Scalefish Fishery Management Plan, the Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2015 will be implemented in Tasmania from 1 November.
The rule changes aim to improve fishing practices and the sustainability of fish stocks
The scalefish fishery encompasses both the recreational and commercial sectors fishing in State waters, covering all gear types associated with the taking of scalefish species, size and catch limits and licensing requirements.
This information is from the Tasmanian Government web site Sea Fishing & Aquaculture Scalefish Management Plan Amendments
Summary of Changes
Midland, MI — Building on the success of its longstanding GPX taper, Scientific Anglers introduces the all-new MPX taper, a half-size heavy line built for all-around fly-fishing pursuits.
Using the GPX as a blueprint, Scientific Anglers has spent the past year refining, fishing, and casting the MPX in order to perfect every aspect of the taper. From head lengths to tip diameters, the MPX takes its cues from the GPX, but differs where the mass is distributed.
Another top day weather wise today had me heading on up to Weegena to give the Mersey River a fish. The wind was switching from the Sth.West to the Nth West and back again so this wasn't going to be a problem either as where I was fishing it's reasonably sheltered in most places on the river. The area I'm fishing is on private property and there's a 2.0km walk before I get to my starting point in the river, but it's always worth the walk. The fishing here is normally quite good most times and there's rarely a trip here that I don't miss on catching a few browns & rainbows.
The Devonport Fly Fishing Club (Inc) will once again be holding their annual Fly Fishing School at Bronte Lagoon in the Tasmanian Central Highlands from the 10th to the 15th of January 2016.
In existence now for over 20 years the School has been acknowledged as an excellent forum for the beginner or total novice to learn Fly Fishing.
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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.
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.