Presented from Issue 113, December 2014
Many lure fishers started their fishing at Arthurs and consider it one of the most reliable fisheries in Tasmania. Professional lure maker Justin Causby gives his tips.

Trolling on Arthurs can be broken down into three areas. Open water, structure and the Morass. I’m personally not one for trolling open water very often. The fish are out there, and they show in very good numbers in early mornings as they feed on midges from the evening and night before. But once the sun hits the water or the fog clears they go down, usually deep. You see very little sign of them on sounders despite seeing many scores of tell-tale rises all over the calm water at dawn.

Written by Stephen Smith - Rubicon Web and Technology Training

Category: Arthurs Lake

Published: 30 March 2018

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• Tackle, Boats and other Equipment

Read more: Arthurs - Awesome on lures - Justin Causby

Tasmania’s best all round trout fishery

Presented from Issue 113, December 2014
The season seemed to start a bit slowly on Arthurs Lake. The reports from the camp ground at Jonah Bay was that very few fish were caught on the opening weekend. The quiet word from inland fisheries was that there had been a good run of big fish, in the 4lb to 6lb in the first run of trout into Tumbledown Creek. None of these fish were in the 20,000 trout transferred to other waters; they finished their mating and returned to the lake to begin to put on condition for the coming season.

Since the quiet start, the action has steadily improved; the continued high water levels have dropped somewhat but at the time of writing Arthurs is 1.1 metres from full and steady. The slightly lower level has sent trout out from the submerged kerosene bush into the weedy shallows, making them more accessible. Fish are easily seen chasing frogs in the shallows at low light and the caddis are thickening up and being regularly nipped off the surface. Mayflies are now hatching in good numbers.

Written by Stephen Smith - Rubicon Web and Technology Training

Category: Arthurs Lake

Published: 30 March 2018

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Read more: Awesome Arthurs - Joe Riley

Presented from Issue 113, December 2014
25 years experience chasing poachers, trout and carp....

Chris Wisniewski has spent the past 25 years working for IFS – much of it in the Central Highlands based at Tarraleah, Liawenee and Lake Crescent Chris is known to many, simply as Wiz and as well as being the face of the carp eradication program, he is also a passionate angler. Here are some tips, suggestions and observations on some lesser known waters that he believes are under fished.

Written by Stephen Smith - Rubicon Web and Technology Training

Category: Trout Fishing

Published: 29 March 2018

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Read more: Wizzing around the southern Highlands

Have you thought about going fishing? Fancy a feed of trout or salmon?

Easter is a great time to get back to nature and drop a line in the water. Recharge and enjoy the natural beauty that Tasmania has to offer.

With only a month of the brown trout open season to go – get out there and make the most of it.

The recent rain falling at Bronte Lagoon should see some water filling the mash creating a smorgasbord of drowned terrestrials for tailing fish.

Written by Stephen Smith - Rubicon Web and Technology Training

Category: IFS, DPIPWE, MAST and Peak Bodies

Published: 28 March 2018

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• IFS, DPIPWE, MAST and Peak Bodies

Read more: Wondering what to do this Easter?

Scallop season is here

Who needs Easter eggs when there are scallops to be caught? The recreational season is now open except for the D'Entrecasteaux Channel.
Measuring gauges are available from Service Tasmania outlets.
Remember to measure and count scallops underwater as you dive. Highgrading your catch is not allowed, that is, you can't bring more than your daily bag limit of 50 scallops back to your boat and sort them there.

Scallop rules reminder

Flathead catch limits

Written by Stephen Smith - Rubicon Web and Technology Training

Category: IFS, DPIPWE, MAST and Peak Bodies

Published: 28 March 2018

Hits: 1091

• Saltwater and Estuary Fishing
• IFS, DPIPWE, MAST and Peak Bodies

Read more: Going fishing at Easter?

I headed back to the Meander River again this morning to fish a stretch of river I haven't fished for quite some time mainly because it's pretty tough on the body. Seeing as the fishing has been reasonably good over the past few trips to this river I thought this area is probably worth putting up with a bit of pain. The weather was ideal again with hardly any breeze and a cloud scattered sky, couldn't have asked for better conditions.

I was in the river by 8:00 am and started off from the shallow LHS of the river and cast the little ghost brown up and across the river with a slow to medium retrieve. It didn't take very long before I had my first strike, one that I missed. A little further up I had a small brown take the lure, it was gone as quick as it took the lure. The only good thing about not catching both of those fish was that at least the trout are here, it's only a matter of time before I'd have one in the net. Well, it wasn't all that long (8:40 am) when I picked up my first brown a little further up the river, this solid fish was taken from under overhanging foliage in the shallows on the LHS of the river.

Written by Stephen Smith - Rubicon Web and Technology Training

Category: Meander River

Published: 28 March 2018

Hits: 760

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• Adrian

Read more: An even dozen makes for a good session - 11/3/2018

Can anyone help with any information regarding Tasy Cobra Wobblers, attached is a list I have so far with the blanks to fill in.

Cheers, Terry Radford This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please click here or on the image for a full size form

Written by Stephen Smith - Rubicon Web and Technology Training

Category: Tackle, Boats and other Equipment

Published: 27 March 2018

Hits: 1080

• Tackle, Boats and other Equipment

Highlands - and Arthurs Lake tips, tactics and secrets

Presented from Issue 113, December 2014
I am probably the most frustrating angler someone could get stuck with. Why? because my very strong view is it is better to get four hours of good fishing in, rather than eight hours of poor fishing. I am a weather tragic and can spend hours in the mornings dawdling around my shack, serving coffee, drinking coffee, and holding court about where to go and what to do. Mostly everyone gets frustrated about not fishing and off they go.

The weather in Tasmania can take time to settle during the day and what is happening at 7am is often completely different to the settling weather at 11am. Many anglers drive forty five minutes only to find, as the weather settles, the location is far from ideal. However, I try to make no such mistake, and I head out when I’m reasonably sure the fishing will be good.

Photos are at the end of the article.

Written by Stephen Smith - Rubicon Web and Technology Training

Category: Trout Fishing

Published: 26 March 2018

Hits: 1038

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• Trout Fishing

Read more: Fishing with Jim - as told to Mike Stevens

Presented from Issue 113, December 2014
Lake Gordon is truly one of Tasmania’s forgotten waters. Visitation here would be one of the lowest in the state from our 20,000 plus licensed anglers. But given you hit this place at the right time it can turn on some very memorable fishing.

Lake Gordon History

Lake Gordon itself is an impressive piece of water. A 140m high concrete arch dam holding back a body of water with a surface area of 272 km 2 and an astonishing 11.9 cubic million litres of water. At the time of completition, despite a strongly led and backed protest from environmental groups, the Stage 1 Gordon River Development produced the single largest water storage and hydro electric scheme of its kind in Australia, dwarfing Lake Eucumbene threefold.

Please note: there are lots of pictures at the end of the article.

Written by Stephen Smith - Rubicon Web and Technology Training

Category: Lake Pedder and Gordon

Published: 25 March 2018

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• Lake Pedder and Gordon

Read more: A Look at Lake Gordon - Justin Causby