TROUT SEASON 2018-19 John Diggle - Director of Inland Fisheries
T
he brown trout season starts on Saturday 4 August and the outlook is fantastic. We expect most lakes and rivers to perform well right from the start. This follows on from a solid 2017-18 season. For anglers chasing a trophy trout, try Lake Crescent early in the season. The water level has risen steadily through winter and further rain in spring should bring the marshes into play. Another trophy trout chance is Blackmans Lagoon. Over winter, we stocked Blackmans Lagoon with adult brown trout. These fish will grow quickly in this productive water. Talbots Lagoon and South Riana Dam are also waters worth a look for a bigger than average trout. Angling in Tasmania is not all about trophy trout. It is about the amazing fishing experience. It is impossible to list all the fisheries expected to perform well going into the 2018-19 season. Here is just a few we think will be worth a look: yingina/Great Lake, Woods Lake, Lake Echo, Bronte Lagoon, Little Pine Lagoon, Penstock Lagoon, Four Springs Lake and the Bradys Chain. If its numbers of fish you are after look no further than lakes Pedder, King William and Burbury. These
are reliable but be prepared for some rough weather particularly early in the season. For a more sheltered option with good numbers of fish, try Huntsman Lake. Rivers will provide great fishing in the coming season. Just how good they are will depend on the rainfall for the rest of winter and spring. If the major rivers aren’t in flood, the sea run trout will be about in the estuaries and lower reaches from the start of August. This can provide exciting fishing right through to Christmas. Look to the River Derwent, Huon River, Pieman River, Mersey River, Inglis River and many more right around the State. Great river fishing is often available close to home. We have been busy over the closed season transferring brown trout. Over 24 000 wild adult fish were relocated from spawning traps in the Central Highlands. Fisheries that have benefited include: The Bradys Chain with (almost) 10 000, Four Springs Lake with just over 4 000, Penstock Lagoon with a fish or two over 3 000, Lake Crescent with an even 2 000, Lake Leake with1 100 Craigbourne Dam gained 1 100, Tooms Lake, 1 000, Blackmans Lagoon got 600 Curries River Reservoir, 600, Pet Reservoir also 600, Nineteen Lagoons received 400, South Riana Dam, 400, and Lake Dulverton, 115.
In June, our Minister, Sarah Courtney, released the Tasmanian Inland Recreational Fishery Management Plan 201828 (the Plan). The Plan will ensure Tasmania’s trout fishery performs to its best. A strong trout fishery creates flow-on benefits to businesses and communities. The Plan will guide the management of our worldclass trout fishery for the next decade. It will help grow and develop recreational trout fishing by;
providing better opportunities for anglers, assessing fishery performance, and managing fish stocks as a recreational resource for future generations.
www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.
Fishing News - Page 15
