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.
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Greg French takes a look at the trout fishing opportunities as the season comes to a close.
The Lakes
The most significant thing about the trout fishing in April is that the brown trout at many highland waters are well and truly geared up for spawning. In March there may well have been males gathering in bays fed by major spawning streams, but by now plenty of females will have coloured-up and there should be intense congregations of both sexes.
Phil Ellerton takes a look at a member of the Cephalopod family - the squid.
Tasmania has two main squid - calamari and arrowhead. The tubes of both of these are excellent fare when eaten fresh, while the tentacles can be frozen for bait. As bait there is little better to entice many saltwater species.
Ron McBain takes a look at Surf fishing.
Because Tasmania has many excellent surf fishing beaches that are easily accessible; it is no surprise that this form of angling is one of the fastest growing. It doesn't have to be expensive and it's a form of fishing that can involve the whole family.
You've don't it! You've landed what you were after and a good size fish it is too! Finally, you can take home something for the table. You can't wait to show off your catch and then enjoy a tasty and nutritious meal. You've done the hard work! Or have you?
Michael Bok tells where, how and why.
At times gathering bait is almost as much fun as fishing itself and the rewards from catching better fish on fresh caught bait are great. A bait pump is a great help if you fish out coastal or estuary environments. What is a bait pump?
Robert Gott explains how the minute caenid mayfly and Lake Meadowbank combine to create a special fishing experience.
Some years ago it was my good fortune to fish with a very colourful Irishman. This fellow was a highly skilled practitioner at the craft and passionate about his fishing in a way that only the Irish can be. I clearly remember two things about him. He was a master fly tier and his creations, minor works of art.
Trout guide, Peter Hayes explains some of the techniques he uses that will help improve your catch rate.
As I stand at the door of my Great Lake shack the eleventh day of February is just four hours old. The morning is black and remarkably quiet. Around me the trees seem hypnotised by the stillness in the air. This is a rare and beautiful moment in the highlands of Tasmania and you need to rise early to witness it.
Great Lake rainbow trout in excellent condition
Despite the low lake level at Great Lake rainbow trout arrived at the Liawenee fish trap in good numbers this year.
The fish were stripped of eggs and milt for grow out of the fertilised eggs at the IFS hatchery at New Norfolk. While this has been the practise for some time, this is the first year in recent times that eggs from wild rainbow trout have been treated at Liawenee to produce triploid fish.
Once fertilised, the eggs are treated in a pressure vessel to produce offspring that are sterile (triploid) in the sense that they do not produce gonads (sex organs). The consequence of this process is that the fish do not stop feeding in winter and do not put any energy into reproduction. The end result that the fish have the potential to grow larger in a shorter amount of time.
Parachute flies are hot on everybody's lips at the moment and they certainly do sit nicely on the water. Next time you are on the water fishing and there is a dun or two around, have a good long look at how they sit. Very nicely, belly down on the water.
Careful rigging is one of the keys that open the door to success in fishing. It is no coincidence that those who know and understand, and are skilled in how to rig - whether for fishing with baits or lures, consistently bring in the fish.
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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.
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Mike Fry doesn’t only live on the Wild Side of Tasmania, but also goes fishing in probably the wildest boat ever to troll for trout—certainly in Tasmania.
When your mate says ‘What are you doing tomorrow, want to come up the Gordon for the night?’ it would be pretty hard to say anything else except “you bet” and start checking out your tackle box and packing your overnight bag. But if your mate was Troy Grining and he wanted to give his new 52ft, high speed cruiser a run across Macquarie Harbour, test the new onboard dory with a chance of landing a nice Gordon River Brown you would have to feel privileged. I didn’t say anything about getting on my hands and knees and kissing his feet…just having a lend of ya’ but I did feel very appreciative.