Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 142 2020 August by Tasmanian Fishing

August – October 2020

TASMANIAN FISHING and BOATING NEWS — ISSUE 142

World Champion’s Techniques Sinking Fly Lines Techniques Bream Secrets - Fly and Lure Lake Techniques $10,000 Trout

Print Post approved 100003074

Great Lake Tuna on Fly Surface SBT on Lures Lure Tactics for Trout

$5.95 Close - but not in yet........... See Great Lake story page 17

World Champion’s Winning Techniques – Penstock Lagoon — Howard Croston

The Old Masters — Hilary Burden

Lake Techniques — Casey Pfeiffer

Recreational Bag Limits — Todd Lambert

Great Lake in Winter — Shaun Cooper

Bream – Gangsters of the Estuary — James Sinnamon

Lure Tactics for Trout — Colby Lesko

Bluefin Tuna on Fly — Tim Johnson

Tom Jones – The Real Version — Peter Hayes

Bluefin Tuna on surface lures - Scott Gray

Rivers in Crisis – Who Cares — Howard Jones

Trout Season Outlook — IFS

Winter Bream — Nathan Huizing

Early Trout Season Lure Fishing Setup — Matt Sherriff

Recreational Marine Fishing News

t is fantastic to be able to run a story written by World Fly Fishing Champion, Howard Croston. There were many emails between us and once I got the story, he told me he had no photos he could send me. Norm Cribbin from Hobart was his controller and a quick email to him secured the photos. Read his article carefully and follow his thought process. The way he talks about analysing the immediate situation is food for thought. It signals to me that most anglers do not think their fishing through as much as they should. There is a lovely article by a journalist I really admire — Hilary Burden, on three wise old fishermen. One is very well known to northern anglers, Terry Charlton. Terry started Charltons Sports Store in Launceston. It was here I bought my first fly rod — a Hardy JET. It was a blank and I built it up. I also remember buying a Fenwick Graphite rod in the mid 1970s from memory. Charltons was an institution — sadly, like many other sports store — now gone. Hilary’s story on the three wise fishers from Swansea is a terrific example of how fishing can keep you active – physically and mentally.

Our Field Editor, Lubin has also come up with some great stories on bream, trout and tuna by new writers Nathan Huizing, Colby Lesko and Scott Gray. We also have a couple of stories that are a little more in depth and raise questions regarding riverine water management and marine bag limits. I urge you to read these stories closely as there are good messages within — maybe we you can help with suggestions and/or solutions. The authors are happy for their contacts to be shared. The elephant in the room: Covid–19/Corona Virus has devastated the World, and at the moment Victoria is copping a second and catastrophic wave. Tasmania has been fortunate, due to hard work by Government, health workers and vigilant public, to have, at the moment, escaped the worst of it - and a second wave. Tasmanians can fish and travel and stay within our lovely island with the big moat around it. Indications are the opening was very well patronised, but the five $10,000 trout IFS has planted in waters around Tasmania have survived.

It seems to me Covid 19 has galvanised anglers and participation has been a great isolation and escape mechanism. Gamefishing has continued on like rarely before and the trout season started with a boom in licence sales that has neot been seen for many years. IFS reported very good participation over opening weekend and a cold few days following that will alows water to settle again. All that is needed now is some good top up rain and the trout season will be a cracker. IFS has placed five tagged trout into the following waters: Arthurs Lake, Lake Burbury, yingina / Great Lake, Lake Pedder and Lake Rowallan. You will find more details on page 39. Sherriff Outdoor Agencies have, with the endorsement of IFS also put some tagged trout in Huntsman Lake. There are good prizes for these fish, so check them out on their Facebook page. Whilst many talk of print media diminishing this issue is the biggest we have ever published. It has a broad range of stories that are educational and informative. Thank you everyone for your support, Mike Stevens

Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Published by Mike Stevens: PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250. Mike Stevens – P: 0418 129 949 or E: mike@tasfish.com 0r Field Editor Lubin Pfieffer - editor@tasfish.com Stevens Publishing, ABN 79 095 217 299 All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Print Post approved; 100003074

Fishing News - Page 2

Mike Stevens talks fishing ABC Statewide Saturday mornings 6.40 a.m. Subscriptions go to www.tasfish.com, phone Mike 0418 129 949 with your C/C handy or by Paypal to mike@tasfish.com - Two years $48

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Howard and Stefan getting ready to fish the first session on Penstock Lagoon. Photos courtesy Norm Cibbin.

My Flies — My Techniques World Champion, Howard Croston explains his tips, flies and techniques he used to win the World Fly Fishing Championships in Tasmania 2019. Session One: Penstock Lagoon

he 39th Fips Mouche World Fly Fishing Championships were held in Tasmania - an island state of Australia. Blessed with countless bodies of water and connecting rivers and streams, Tasmania is a wild Trout fishers paradise. The Trout in Tasmania are predominantly wild brown trout stock reared from eggs imported from England in 1864, but with a few rainbows here and there which are now also effectively wild. There is a unique combination of shallow food rich lakes, low rod pressure and active fisheries management equals one thing – simply unbelievable wild trout fishing in a unique and inspiring wildliferich landscape. ‘Team England this year comprised of myself as Captain, Manager, Competitor and chief cook and

bottle washer with Tony Baldwin, Lee Bartlett, Steve Cullen and Mike Dixon fishing five sessions each and Bernie Maher as acting Captain and reserve. It would take a small novel for me to recount each day from a Team perspective so here is my 2019 championships session by session in what turned out to be the most memorable week of my fishing life to date.

Day One ‘The first draw for me was Penstock Lagoon. Penstock was the most sheltered venue and offered the best chance of the legendary ‘dun hatch’ making an appearance. As we decanted from the coach the strong wind was cold and the lake, although well fishable, was still rough with ‘lumpy’ waves crashing into the

downwind shore making it quite frankly looking a long way away from producing any kind of dun hatch in the unseasonably late spring weather that persisted for the whole event. ‘My boat partner for the session was Stefan from the Slovakian Team and, after a brief discussion in broken English we decided that as he had control of the boat for the first two hours he would fish from the bow (a decision that suited me) but I would control where we fished, as I was a more experienced boat angler. This is actually quite a common occurrence as usually the home nations have far more boat fishing experience. Visiting teams are often happy to relinquish a lot of the decision making. Our boatman was Norm Cribbin – a local angler and fly tier of some repute.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 3

Hardy Zephrus FWS FIRE AND FORGET FOR THE FLY ANGLER Zephrus, with SINTRIX® 440 technology, combines the featherweight touch and line feel required to fool a midge feeder under the rod tip, with the power to hit a slab rainbow at full range. Thanks to advanced design and industry leading materials, all you need do is fire and don’t forget to strike.

Available now; 9’ #5 and 10’ #6

www.hardyfishing.com

Fishing News - Page 4

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

‘As the signal was given for us to push off we headed towards the top of the wind motoring slowly to burn some of the 15 mins of traveling time as well as to prevent chopping up the shallow lying weed that is a popular feature of this shallow, food rich lakes. ‘We set the drift on a line to cut across the lake drifting from a shallow weeded area, over the top of the slightly deeper boating channel that runs down the centre of the lake and then into a large bay to the right-hand side of ‘Crisps’ point or ‘Shack’ point as it’s also known. We had a large amount of info on Penstock both from internet research as well as first hand info from our guides and, based on the maps I had assembled for the Team as well as the wind direction on the day, it looked like the best option for me to hit a number of known marks and water depths was one long drift. Our information also pointed to the fact that Penstock was an unpredictable water with hot drifts frequently changing day to day and even hour to hour. It also tended to fish well at one end and not the other for no discernible reason. ‘As most of the boats had stayed close to the boat dock at Beginners Bay and as only four boats had headed to our end of the lake it did cross my mind if I’d made the right call. As we sat waiting for the start, I mused that as we were fishing for predominantly wild browns with a splattering of well naturalised rainbows thrown in, covering fresh water, combined with low boat pressure was probably a good thing. ‘Initially I had set up with a Di5 sweep in the carpark due to the wind strength but once on the water it looked more Di3 sweep so I quickly changed. My leader was 8lb Fluorocarbon with a copper headed damsel pattern (called a Magoo) on the point, a hares ear dabbler in the middle and a second damsel imitation in the way of a copper beaded Shrek on the top dropper. Both the damsels were slimly dressed – far slimmer than we fish in the UK. This was something that had been identified as important in practice, as well as both possessing tungsten beads to exaggerate the tail action of the fly rather than lighter brass beads. I also wondered if the impact of tungsten pulled the territorial browns to the fly better when fishing close to the weed and structure that they seemed to prefer. My research concluded I would use no brass beads at all during the event. ‘As the match started my boat partner quickly hooked and landed a fish on an intermediate, making me wonder if the Di3 had indeed been a good choice but, as Norm recorded his fish, I stroked my flies up into the hang and my first fish of the session went airborne with the top dropper firmly in its scissors. ‘With one on the card and a long drift ahead I started to fish every cast with more and more confidence. One crucial point in practice was not to cast too far – fishing for territorial browns. It seemed most of the takes came on the first few pulls, after the initial drop of the flies or on the hang. A short fast pull retrieve with an odd stop mixed in seemed to be the best so I pulled 12-15 yards of line from my reel and turned the drag up to stop me over casting and forced myself to work the angles in front of the boat. As the drift progressed, we both

The weather competition anglers endured in the World Championships was challenging. Howard’s back is covered in ice and there is plenty of snow.

These flies were kindly tied by Michael Porte. They may not be identical to those used by Howard Croston.

Croston Magoo (Point fly) Tail: Slim olive marabou and one strand red/ green tinsel Body: Peacock herl Rib: Red wire Palmer: Dark olive Bead: Copper tungsten 2.5-3.5

caught a mix of browns and rainbows, keeping within a fish of each other for most of the drift. As we hit the downwind shore my boat partner quickly hit two fish to put him ahead and again made me question the Di3 as he seemed to be generating more interest than I was. ‘We pulled out wide for a second shot and I hit a fish first cast, again on the hang on the Di3 – quickly netting it in the few seconds of disorientation after hooking. This fish actually jumped out of the measuring trough before being recorded. In this instance you are awarded the average size for your session so not a disaster and, as it happened actually a blessing in disguise as the quick turnaround of a fumbled fish (much faster than carefully measuring and recording a fish) allowed me to get fishing again whilst in a good area and my last two casts on this short drift both saw fish hit the measuring trough. ‘As we motored back upwind, I looked around and could see a few boats on the move from the far end

Shrek (Top dropper) Tail: Slim olive marabou and two strands soft gold tinsel Body: Green holographis tinsel Rib: Red wire Palmer: Dark olive Bead: Copper tungsten 2.5-3.5

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Dabbler This is a style of fly that can be tied many different ways. This is just an example, similar to, but not identical to Howard’s. Tail: Bronze Mallard Body: Dark claret seals fur Hackle: Claret Cloak: Bronze Mallard Fishing News - Page 5

of the lake – a sign maybe that the far end of the lake wasn’t producing. We quickly pulled in again for a short drift in the top left-hand corner of the lake over the shallow weed beds and the lighter wind allowed me to see a long way out from the boat in the clear water. Keeping this in mind I pulled up onto the hang with much more line out to keep the flies further away from the boat and first cast a rainbow obliged again on the top dropper. The next cast quickly produced another of the same size. As we approached the end of the drift and after a period of inactivity, I checked my watch and with only 35 mins left I looked around for our next move. Almost instantly a strong gust of wind hit the boat followed by a total white out from a random snow blizzard that obscured everything in sight! ‘As we motored up towards the top right-hand side of the lake looking for our next drift whilst being pelted in the face with snow, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. Not only did it stop but the wind dropped, the air temp suddenly warmed and within seconds I saw a dun hatch! By the time we had turned the boat onto the drift it had started to happen – first one or two then ten or twenty duns quickly followed by yet more and then the fish appeared and appeared in numbers, aggressively smashing at the hatching duns. I made one short cast with my Di3 over a moving fish with no response. My boat partner’s first cast produced two

chances on the intermediate so as quick as I could I wound the di3 up until the top dropper hit the tip ring, changed to a slow glass and replaced the top dropper with a second dabbler. I made one decent length cast across two moving fish again with no response so with no time to make another change I halved my cast length to no more than five yards of line and started to dibble the dabblers traditional loch style across the front of the boat using the tungsten beaded damsel on the point to anchor the cast. First cast and a large dark head engulfed the top dropper, a few minutes Marine and Safety Tasmania set up a later as Norm slipped it back, I covered temporary pontoon for the Championships. another rise and again instantly dibbled the flies for a carbon copy of the first fish again a solid ‘As we motored back to the dock and the inviting 3lb Brown. With that one measured Norm called ‘one warmth of the lunch tent to learn our fate, I was minute to go’ just as my third fish in three casts again pleased with my 11 fish and quickly after landing was engulfed my top dropper in front of the boat. This collared by another competitor who quickly told me fish didn’t cooperate, and I used almost every second Rene Coops of the Netherlands had won the session of the ten minutes allowed playing time to get it to with 10 fish, whilst 2nd had 8 fish! My 1 minute to go net. When it finally went over the rim the 51cm brown last fish had secured me 1st place on Penstock ahead made fish number 11 on the score card. Thinking I of Rene and a one place point finish which was later had pipped my boat partner by no more than a fish proven to be one of the two most important fish I have or two I was shocked when he revealed I actually had ever caught competitively.’ a four fish margin. Howard Croston

LI G H TE R & FASTE R

New Sector Saltwater Salty, and Sweet

%(67 2) 6+2:

)/< 52' 6$/7:$7(5

'(19(5 &2

THE MOST ADVANCED DESIGN IN A FLY REEL TO DATE

Imagine a rod that casts tight high line speed loops effortlessly and turns over your leader straight into the wind; a rod that delivers the fly on target with just one release of line on the back cast and can pick it back up and redirect if the fish changes course; a rod that is intuitive and gives you constant feedback; a rod that feels light and alive in your hand and has the touch and feel needed to make short quick shots or float the fly in quietly. All that, plus a rod hand crafted with the very best components ever to grace a fly rod.

NEW S PEED S T ER S

GET BUSY TYING

Ergo tools designed for a purpose. To make you the best fly tyer possible Fishing News - Page 6

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

M I D NI G H T B LU E

THE ONLY COMPANY THAT KNOWS FLY FISHING LIKE YOU DO WWW.MANICTACKLEPROJECT.COM

Max Hall and Mike Gray are ready to go.

The Old Masters Some fishing masters are either born, or get away from it all, on Great Oyster Bay. Hilary Burden meets three of Swansea’s legendary ‘ancient mariners’

hat old people don’t know, those who’ve lived 80 summers or more. You wonder about a sixth sense. But famed 20th century Tasmanian-born ‘prince of navigators’ Harold Gatty, would have none of that. He reckoned some people, especially those born before modern methods of navigation, are just better at tuning into the natural things happening around them. In his classic book Finding Your Way Without A Map or Compass, Gatty called it “natural navigation”. The kind of navigation you won’t find in a textbook, it’s the ability to observe, to see little things that may seem trivial. A keen sense of observation in the outside world adds up, improving with age – like vintage wine. Great Oyster Bay offers shelter and protection of the maritime kind, nestled between the pink granite cliffs of Freycinet and Schouten Island, and the east coast’s frequently placid coves, beaches and bays that run down to Little Swanport, with Nine Mile Beach connecting the two sides at the Swan River mouth.

The whole bay – roughly 20 kms in all directions, to a depth of 13m – is sand, long known for being one of the best places to fish for flathead; and the Swan River, for bream. Swansea’s ancient mariners sit and watch the weather on the water from their front rooms. ax Hall, 88 in August, has a view of the whole bay – 50 kms south to Maria and about the same north to Bicheno. While his livelihood was formerly made on the roads, running the east coast freight then bus services, he knows the trip across the bay from Swansea to Schouten to Coles Bay and back is a triangle, roughly equi-distant. With that, you can tell the size of the bay, and where you are in it. Max moved here with his Swansea born wife, Helen (née Cook), in the 1950s. He says you’re a pretty poor fisher if you can’t go out and get a feed of flathead from the bay. He remembers fishing for cray on the reef with Helen’s father, when the crays had coral on their backs. If he’s on his own Max goes out in a smaller boat from the Swansea boat ramp, or else he’s in the Expo. Mainly in the morning when it’s calm enough and warm enough, never in an easterly. He

knows the weather by heart. “You don’t get many in the afternoons, not when it’s blowing because you are moving too fast and you can’t keep your line on the bottom. In summertime you get the nor’easters after lunch, so it’s not much chop.” You won’t find him checking his mobile for the weather. Instead, Max takes his cue from the old weather glass he won playing footie for Swansea. Best and fairest. If it sits on 30 or above, it’s pretty fine. “If the glass drops back, she’s coming off the land, so watch out! Off the land is a westerly, and they’re blowing out to sea, and if you miss Schouten Island you’re buggered! Next stop is New Zealand. We learned the hard way. If you made a blue you had to put up with it. Most people who look at Willy Weather don’t learn for themselves.” Round the back of Schouten Island there are some beautiful fish, he says. “But it’s hard to get ‘round there when there’s no roll or slop, or no wind. You don’t get many chances at doing that.” He catches them on a bit of meat or chop, or he’ll use squid cut up into little squares. He’ll have a hook on one end, then a sinker, then a lure, then another hook, “so when they get there, they think it’s a smorgasboard”.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 7

Max says some people just fish with lures and no bait at all, just drag it along the bottom. “Flathead’ll chase, if they’re there and they’re hungry, they’ll grab anything.” He caught his first flathead in the bay 70 years ago in Helen’s Uncle Perce’s old dinghy. Just as well you didn’t have to go out far for flathead in those days because once Max put a hole in the dinghy just giving it a lick of paint. “It had a little mast in the boat, and we used to take a blanket with us so when it blew southerly you could sail home. The only way you could steer it was to tie a paddle on the back and use that as a tiller.” When Perce told him he’d got an outboard it turned out to be a new set of paddles. Max’ll tell you there’s no season for flathead, that you can catch them all year round. In the winter it’s harder because there’s no small feed in the bay. “When the small feed comes in the bay, when you see the birds diving and carrying on, the flathead get excited and start feeding off the small spoils left by sea birds diving for salmon. “When they catch ‘em they chop it up and the flathead feed on the leftovers. That’s how it works. In the wintertime you don’t see any of that because the birds aren’t there.” “Around the beach the flathead are mostly bigger. They like it round there because they catch a lot of crabs from Nine Mile Beach. Like us, they have a diet. But you’ve got to be able to fish there when there’s no roll at all because the flathead can’t breathe properly when the water’s all stirred up so they make out to the deeper water. When the roll has quietened down for two or three days, they’ll head back.” Max knows when the roll’s on because he sees the surfies turn up at the point break at Waterloo Point. And when you see the surfies, you don’t go fishing round the beach. That’s when you’ll find Max in the river fishing for bream. “The weather don’t matter too much when you’re on the river.” He says it’s the best bream fishing in Australia, but the river is tricky. “The best time to go up is at low tide, you know where all

the mudbanks are.” The Old Swansea locals will tell you there’s few better at fishing for bream in the Swan River than Max Hall. How do you like your flathead? I fillet them off so there’s no bone at all. Usually I put them in a plastic bag with a bit of flour. Put a little bit of oil in the pan, not a lot, then just brown them on both sides.

ike Gray is an Eastcoaster, originally from Rheban, who’s lived in Swansea for nearly 50 of his 80 years. His farm on the riverbank overlooks Mike Gray with his view above Swan River boat ramp, the Swan River boat ramp, the across Moulting Lagoon to the Hazards. old hand-dug, 1.5 km cut across Kings Bay, Moulting Lagoon and Freycinet on the Mike loves best the days when he used to take a little horizon. He’s never far from farm or fish. From the 8-footer plywood dinghy, slip down off the point in age of 14 he’s free dived for scallops, crays and abalone Swansea and go out, “with me, the oars and a fishing when you didn’t have to work for it. He knows you rod”. Later, he’d take the family in their Bertram 20 never fish for bream in the river when the nor’easter over to Bryans Corner, where the water was so clear is blowing. And that the bream turn brown and taste you could see the flathead coming up two at a time. of mud in winter, how they’re not worth eating until “We got sick of that, so we took a hook off. Two at a a good rain comes and cleans out the river and they’re time are a damn nuisance.” good and silvery again. He knows the flounder used to These days, his boat is a Quintex Ocean Sport, be good near the Swan River mouth at Pelican Point, 6.3m with two motors. He jokes how Max Hall is his and that trout – sea runners – used to come up a bit weather forecast. Maybe it’s not such a joke. “Willy in spawning season when the locals would troll up weather doesn’t catch fish. If there are any fish around and down. somewhere Max’ll be there. If they’re getting them All good reasons why Swansea held the Tasmanian around the sands, Nine Mile Beach, that’s quick so Bream Fishing Championships every November. For we’ll slip around there first, if there’s nothing there, years, people used to travel from all over the place, then we’ll head across below the oyster leases in the bay. camping in paddocks along the river. Mike’s glad that We’ve got a couple of spots there, and then head down era has ended: “You’d see people come in and dump the passage if we hadn’t done any good, and stay this garbage cans of fish at the tip. They’d only want to take side of the passage, to Black Reef. When we get really away the biggest”. adventurous, we might go out through the Hen and Locals used to moor their Chickens (Rocks) and look for stripeys.” boats down here, too, when He says the fishing’s not like it used to be. The main boating picnics were popular pressure comes from flathead fishers. “A lot of em do and everybody in Swansea had the right thing but a lot of ‘em don’t.” a boat, raced dinghies, and You’ll still see Mike go out when the weather is warm. kids learnt to water ski on the And on Saturday morning’s they’ll be swapping fishy Swan. But the modern world stories at the Swansea RSL. Have you heard the saying, with its’ different pasttimes “You can’t catch fish on a shirt tail?” asks Mike. “We and pilfering put a stop to that. used to though. If we forgot the bait, we’d cut a bit off Mike first learned to fish in the shirt bottom and stick it on a hook.” the Browns River, visiting his How do you like your flathead? They’re the nicest grandmother in Kingston. “An fish fresh. Just whip the two fillets off, it’s a bit wasteful old retired bloke there took a but you don’t have to mess about with bones. A bit of shine to us and took us fishing flour, just straight in the pan, a bit of oil on the bottom for bream. In those days we and then butter. A bit of white wine – as you finish it had the old gut line, the white off on the other side, just drizzle it across – or lemon one. He’d put it in a mug of juice, always have lemon juice. When they’re a day or tea first, so it’d go brown and two old, you do the flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. not show up.”

Max Hall on his front veranda overlooking Great Oyster Bay with a bird’s eye view of Schouten Passage. Fishing News - Page 8

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

erry Charlton is 92 this year and while he says his age is coming into it, he still goes out with friends fishing when the weather suits him, never when it’s cold. Come the first Saturday in August when the trout season opens, he’ll go up to Lake Leake, half an hour’s drive away, where he keeps a dinghy, has a beer or two at the pub, and checks-up his mate’s shack. He’s not so interested in saltwater fishing these days but keeps his eye on the weather from his front deck, and on his regular 630am daily walk around the blocks of Swansea. In the bay his favourite place to fish is off the reef for cod, 3 to 4 kms out, or else further towards The Hazards in 15m of water, “where we think we get the best flathead, but you catch fish all over the bay. You can’t say just fish in one spot because that’s ridiculous … put in the time anywhere and you’ll catch fish, I believe. There’s a certain bunch of pine trees that seems to be a good place to head for. If they don’t have any luck there, they go somewhere else. But fishing in the bay isn’t that good at the moment – there are stacks of little fish.” Older Tasmanians know Terry from the Terry Charlton Sports Store in Launceston which he owned from 1965-1995. Before that, in 1956, Terry was named Australian Fly Casting Champion, and had a mention in the Guinness Book of Records for distance. Named as one of Australia’s casting ‘Champion of Champions’, Terry Charlton made his start making and selling flies for thruppence and sixpence each. He says he learnt all he knows about fishing from fly casting, his first love. “You must be able to cast before you catch a fish.” He caught the knack from the best – a friend of his fathers by the name of Dick Wigram, a renowned Tasmanian fisherman who also owned a popular fishing shop in Launceston in the late 1940s. “Dick said to come out to Corra Linn and have a cast,” recalls Terry. “I just watched him for a while, then he gave me a rod and said to have a go with that. Within weeks I was among the winners. I just had the knack. I never had a lesson, just watched Dick’s method, his timing, his style, copied it and added some of my own, and it worked. I was Christmas on a stick at one stage.” He wears the pain to prove it, suffering arthritis in his right wrist he puts down to fly casting. There’s not many places Terry hasn’t fished

in Tasmania. He fished with his father, and with his late wife Josie. He took Stirrah, the 40ft boat he built and kept on the Tamar at Exeter, to Cairns and back. He fished at Lake King William on the weekends. Terry was there at the beginning of the Corra Linn Fly Fishing and Casting Club. He passed on his many silver trophies a long time ago – many are held by the Fly Fishing Museum at Clarendon. He once specialized in repairing anything in the way of reels or rods. A gifted craftsman, he still makes things with his hands – boat models are a passion. And he even At 92 years old Terry Charlton is still very active. ‘reinvented the wheel’ – designing a fishing reel out of plywood, shaped the size of a side plate to make the of any importance at all. Gee whizz we’ve had a lot of beautiful fishing, though, there’s no doubt about that.” reeling in less frenzied. How do you like your flathead? There are no better It’s easy to forget Terry is in his 90s, he’s so active, fish than flathead, especially off the barbecue. Roll but he says it’s the first time in his life he’s never had much to do with boats. Terry started and ran the them in cornflour – simple. I also like flathead fillets original Swansea Coastguard for a decade, looking cut into cubes, then submerged in white vinegar with after other boats in the bay. These days the dinghy up a little port wine for a couple of hours, or overnight. at Lake Leake suits him for the fishing he needs to do. They’re very tasty, and there’s no cooking at all. “I can be damned if I catch a fish or not really. If I get Hilary Burden one on it’s a great day. The number of fish is no longer

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 9

NEW SAGE SONIC Hand made in USA — $930

SONIC

TECH N O LO GY

G R A P H ITE I I I E

G E N E R ATI O N 5

K O N N ETI C

K O N N ETI C H D

MID

LONG

E XTR A L O N G

RAN G E

TI P ACTI O N

SONIC

SOFT

MEDIUM

POWERFUL

SOFT

MEDIUM

POWERFUL

MEDIUM

POWERFUL

M I D ACTI O N

LOWER ACTI O N

Whether laying down dry flies with finesse or delivering streamers to SOFT

distant reaches, the SON IC family of rods provides uncompromised versatility, with a balance of feel and power. Delightfully crisp and

FLI ES

lightweight, the SON IC has a level of performance that stands out from MIDGE

the crowd with a fast action taper designed to cover a wide range of fishing applications from dry fly, streamers, to nymphing - floating lines to sinking. Built on Konnetic Technology blanks, casts with the SON IC

STR E A M E R S

XL FLIES

POWER

are as intuitive as they are natural - responsive in hand with excellent tracking qualities. Ready for any application the day has instore.

NYM P H S

D RY

MEDIUM

SOFT

POWERFUL

LINE SPEED

SOFT PRESENTATION

SHOOT LINE

ALL-AROUND

WIND CUTTING

MAX LINE CARRY

LI N E PI CK U P

INTENTION S H O RT

MEDIUM

LONG / DEEP

XL / DEEP

TI P P ET P R OTE CTI O N

G E NTL E / H I G H

Fishing News - Page 10

A L L-A R O U N D

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

L O W / S O L I D H O O K S ET

A solid brown trout from Four Springs caught on an unweighted nymph.

Lake Techniques for a New Season By Casey Pfeiffer

asmania seems to have almost an unending list of spectacular lakes to explore, so with a whole new trout season ahead of us now is the time to get out on the water and enjoy the early season fishing. Although hatches and surface action can be slower during this colder part of the season, there is still some seriously good fishing to be had using a range of techniques if you are willing to look below the surface. In this article I will cover my favourite, and most effective early season lake tactics.

Where There are so many lakes to choose from that fish well in the early season. On the lowlands I love to visit Four Springs Lagoon, Lake Huntsman and Lake Leake.

In the Highlands both Penstock Lagoon and Arthurs Lake are consistent producers, however extreme weather conditions in the Central Highlands means you need to be very aware as the forecast changes very quickly. In fact it pays not to make plans until the day of, because forecasts even the evening before can be way off. But no matter the weather, there will always be somewhere exceptional to fish and the fish are usually very hungry.

Setting a drift While I have spent time fly fishing from the banks, fishing from a boat ‘loch style’ is my preferred way to target trout. Loch style is simply fishing from a boat, drifting with the wind, with the boat controlled by a drogue set from the port side of the boat. When

it comes to drifting the lakes, a drogue is the most important piece of equipment to have. It allows you to not only slow the speed of the boat, but also steer, meaning you don’t have to use your petrol motor as much and in turn disturbing the water far less. Using a drogue, you can silently fish into the banks focusing on the shallows, or you can drift away from the banks targeting the deeper water. Although there are several types of drogues, my personal preference is a PVC drogue, with a little chain on the bottom to help it sink to depth quickly, and pool noddle floats at the top. I also like my drogue to be connected to the boat using a rope in one continuous loop threaded through the side railings. This allows me to pull the drogue easily in either direction from my seat, with no need to stop fishing!

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 11

Rod and Reel Selection For my boat based trout fishing I only use one type of rod, being a 10ft 6wt. A 6wt rod is light enough to cast all day long, but heavy enough to land any fish that Tasmania may throw my way. Length is an important aspect for this type of fishing, and the 10 foot rod not only gives me better control when fighting a fish from the boat, it also makes it easier to hang flies at the end of the retrieve and makes it far easier to net my fish than a shorter rod would. To me, reel selection is less important, as long at the reel has a smooth drag, and it is easy to change spools, it should do the job just fine.

Pulling Woolly Buggers Pulling woolly buggers on sinking lines is an incredibly effective trout fishing technique. It makes it very easy to cover large areas of water in a short period of time, which is particularly helpful when fishing a new body of water. Although there are about a dozen different sinking lines that you could arm yourself with, for Tasmanian waters an intermediate and a Di3 line will cover most of your needs to start with. Which line to fish when is dependant on two main factors, being the depth of the water you are fishing, and the speed you want to retrieve. For example, when fishing into a shallow bank using a slow retrieve, a fast sinking line is likely to get caught up on the bottom every cast, making the intermediate line a far better choice. When pulling woolly buggers you can fish one, two or three flies at a time. While I mainly fish with three flies, sometimes in very windy conditions I will drop a fly or two. My leader set up is very simple for pulling. I tie my tippet directly onto the braided loop, with approximately five feet between the loop and my first fly, and five feet between each of the other flies. The weight of the flies themselves help the leader turn over, so there is no need for a taper. On the odd occasion that I fish two flies, I will generally lengthen the distance to my first fly, and between my flies to six feet or more, but this is something you can really play around with and work out what best suits you. Fly selection to me is less important than retrieve, but I think it is important

A feisty rainbow caught on and orange bead head nymph. to cover a few bases. I would always have in my lake box damsel patterns, small and large black buggers, blobs, and a range of flashy options. Matching the hatch is not always the answer! Most of my pulling patterns tend to be size 14 to 16, but occasionally a larger or smaller patterns may be required so its great to have all your bases covered. To cover the water effectively it is important to fan your casts, as well as changing up your retrieves regularly until you find what is working on any given day.

Nymphing Nymphing on floating or slow sinking lines has been a favourite technique throughout the UK for quite some time, but it is generally a technique still unique to competition anglers in Australia, which is a shame given how effective it is! Flies used for nymphing are often unweighted, or very lightly weighted, and tend to be smaller in size than your traditional lake wets. Stick caddis, dabblers, blobs, and diawl bachs are a must have on Tasmanian Lakes, and I rarely fish without at

A drogue is essential. Shown here slowing the drift perfectly. Fishing News - Page 12

least one pattern in claret, it is just too good for those trout to resist. A standard set up for me is top and middle dropper with two smaller nymphs, and either a claret dabbler or UV blob on the point when fishing static, but when I use faster retrieves I will often move either of these flies to the top dropper. My leader is not too dissimilar to my pulling set up, but with a slightly longer tippet length to my first fly. This is particularly important when fishing slow because the fish have more time to check out your offering and can get cagey if the fly line is too close by. Contact is the most important aspect of fishing nymphs, so as soon as your line hits the water it pays to make a couple of quick strips of your line to get in contact with your flies as soon as possible. Often the fish will hit the flies just as they start to sink and if you are slow off the mark you will miss the strike. Because the boat is drifting towards your line, even if you are fishing your flies completely static, you still need to take up the slack in the line. The most common way to do this is using a figure of eight pattern with your retrieving hand. This method is very smooth and consistent. The aim is to keep a slight curve in the line between your rod tip and the water. As with all types of loch style fishing, changing the retrieve can also pay off. Often when you see fish boiling at the surface but cannot get them to commit to a dry fly, nymphing on a floating line will get the eat. Those fish are sometimes not eating off the surface, but just below, so having your fly in the meniscus means you are fishing at the right level. If you cant see any movement (fish or insect) there may still be nymphs hatching subsurface, just not emerging. In these instances a slow intermediate

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

or intermediate line will put your flies in a better position. Takes can be violent explosions, or very slight ticks that may not be felt but seen in the curve of the fly line so concentration is key, as is a strip strike.

Plonking Plonking is another method that has made its way to Australia via the competition fishing scene. Using a floating line, you can hang either one or two small nymphs under an indicator dry fly. Occasionally fish will be drawn to such a large offering on the surface and attempt to eat the dry so be prepared, it happens surprisingly often on Four Springs early season. You want the dry fly to be easy to see, because this will act as your strike indicator so patterns like Chernobyl ants and those with high vis or fluoro coloured posts are ideal. I recommend using small, usually 2.5 mm tungsten bead on your nymphs. Tungsten beads make them sink to depth quicker than brass, meaning your nymphs are reaching depth faster and you are fishing for longer. I also believe that using a weighted nymph gives better contact between the nymphs and the dry fly, making takes easier to see. This is a great technique on extremely windy days when casting is difficult, because you don’t need to cast long, and you won’t need to cast anywhere near as often as you would using other techniques. It is also a great technique for those that are new to fly fishing for the same reasons.

Jumping brown trout makes braving the cold worth while. These three basic techniques are tried and true, and don’t require any specific hatch conditions, making ideal to use during the cooler months of the trout season. Tasmania is lucky to be home so some of the most spectacular wild trout lakes in the world, and although we all love to see a big brown slurp a fly off the surface, we are missing out on a lot of what this incredible fishery has to offer if we don’t sometimes look below the surface.

Selecting the right fly for the job can be a daunting task.

The author in her best camp outfit.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 13

Recreational Bag Limits WE HAVE QUESTIONS by Todd Lambert.

The opinions expressed in this article are just that, opinions, but they are based on the information that is publicly available to us all. I put them forward to generate discussion. I will leave it to you, to make up your own minds as to the accuracy and fairness of content. I have tried to put forward a fair and valid assessment of our current flathead and whiting fisheries.

he recreational and commercial fishing hold a strong social and economic worth to our island state and this article as not intended it to be an attack on anyone, nor any sector. What I seek to do is drill down into how accurate statistics are when talks of future sustainability and cuts to recreational bag limits are put forth. The intent is to also question how the resource should be allocated so recreational and commercial sectors hold a shared responsibility in regards to allocated catch. Is it skewed at the moment and if so, why and is it equitable? The commercial sector is well represented when putting forth submissions on their behalf and good luck to them, lobbying for the best outcome for their industry is what it is all about. Does our recreational representative body hold the same standing and influence? I personally don’t think we do, I am sure many well-meaning voices have “at times” stood up for us as best they can, but when political funding controls the narrative of any organisation that relies on it for its very existence, perhaps that voice is substantially muffled? In my opinion, the best thing that happened to recreational fishers here in Tasmania was the supertrawler debate and the discovery of social media, some ten years ago. It first evolved through online fishing forums and then through mediums such as Facebook. Recreational fishers started to organise themselves, held state-wide rallies, formed political parties and although we all hold wide ranging political views, decided to stand together and fight to protect what was important to them, in this case it was their small pelagic fishery. I firmly believe that only after this event did our politicians (both state and federal) suddenly realise that a sleeping giant was starting to awake and to ignore recreational fishers’ interests in favour of corporate stakeholders, could become perilous for them at election time. Given the broad spectrum of what is involved here, I am going to concentrate on just two bread and butter fisheries; one is the emerging King George Whiting and the other is sand flathead. I limited it to these specifically as the wider discussion into the management of species such as abalone and crayfish for example, is a whole different ball game again. Fishing News - Page 14

Sand Flathead Sand flathead currently have a status listed as “depleting” and the latest IMAS survey – 2017-2018 on page 27 in table 8 says that recreational fishers take 184.3 tonnes a year as opposed to the commercial sector who take 3.5 tonnes. Based on that it would not be hard to imagine that further bag limits to restrain the recreational sand flathead catch may be put forth. How was this information obtained and is it accurate? The short answer is phone polling and a memory based diary for the previous 12 months (the long answer can be found in the Survey itself which is too lengthy and involved to go into in this opinion piece) Here are a few things to think about, recreational fishers have already had a bag limit reduction from 30 to 20 fish per person. There is another stakeholder in the flathead fishery called Danish Seine, it hasn’t been reviewed since 2011 and I have correspondence from the Wild Fisheries Management Branch that there is little appetite to do so, due to limited resources. A quick overview of Danish Seine netting: They can operate their nets in as close as one Nautical mile off the Tasmanian coastline. Danish seine vessels in Tasmania typically operate close shore (although outside of the one nautical mile limit) on flat sandy bottom. Water depths fished are approximately between 10 to 90 metres. Danish seine fishing gear is light and does not plough into the sea floor, but rather skips over the substrate, scaring and herding the fish into the net.

There is no total allowable catch (TAC) for flathead or whiting in the commercial Tasmanian Scale fish Fishery.Targeted fish are generally tiger flathead and southern school whiting. They do have to abide by size limits, but it is unclear if bycatch or undersized fish are returned to the water dead or alive. Bycatch i.e. discarded catch/catch

not retained is not recorded in Tasmanian waters logbooks. Bycatch is recorded in Commonwealth waters logbooks when fishing within them. Sand flathead would be considered incidental catch by a Danish seine operator even though they can fish inshore as close as one nautical mile. There are six non-transferable Danish Seine Licences and one limited Danish Seine licence holder in Tasmania, it appears around four are working consistently. I am told Danish seine work in a grid pattern when operating and it seems unclear how long localised depletion would exist for after they have worked an area and how often they fish in the same vicinity as recreational fishers. Are recreational fishers being held responsible for depletion issues not of their making? After all, recreational anglers drift over an area, harvest a few fish and drift on further. My understanding is there is no documented case anywhere in the world wherein recreational fishing has been solely attributed to the decline/ decimation of a fishery as appears to be touted now regarding our sand flathead. So, what’s at play here? How can flathead numbers be declining when recreational bag limits are decreasing and size limits increasing? With the emergence of new species to target in our waters such as snapper, kingfish, tuna and whiting, how many hours in a day is there to do the damage to this species we are currently being accused of? King George Whiting In the last scale fish review in 2019 we saw a massive bag limit reduction enforced on Tasmanian recreational fishers with the daily catch take reduced from 30 fish per person down to 5. The reasoning behind this was: as it was classed as newly emerging fishery and a “precautionary principle” needed to be applied to it until a true stock assessment status could be made.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

This is where it gets interesting, latest figures in the previously mentioned IMAS survey show that the total estimated harvest by recreational fishers is 7.2 tonnes and the commercial catch is nil (refer to the IMAS table 8 previous page). There is no limit or quota for commercial fishers. However there is commercial effort put into them on the North- West coast, North and off Flinders island? One only has to view Facebook to see a local supplier advertising them “fresh from the Tamar river”, complete with pictures. Where did they actually get this recreational fishing effort/estimate from? Did they conduct phone polling to acquire this information? Given there are specifically localised regions that hold this species, who did they ring and how did they know these people were specifically targeting King George Whiting when out on the water? It takes a lot of bag limits of five fish per person to make up 7.2 tonnes after all. If recreational fishers have a precautionary principle applied to them for the protection of the species and we received that massive bag limit reduction, how is it then that the commercial fishers targeting this very same species have an unlimited catch limit, whilst fishing these same areas?

As you dig in order to find out the how, when and whys of the decision-making processes behind our fisheries the more questions you will have. It is exhausting and although one can continually put forth well-constructed questions to the powers that be, I found their patience runs dry very quickly and getting “the run around” begins. What do we do? There is/was an online Tasmanian recreational fishing survey underway as I write this, so hopefully you will have contributed. It closed 20 July. Question decisions, make the effort to go to any state-wide meetings when they arise, ask questions, demand evidence as to why decisions re- bag limit reductions are being proposed. Put the pressure on our recreational representative bodies to advocate harder on our behalf and to involve us in the information process. Pressure them to do regional information / feedback meetings on a regular basis. Most importantly, let your local political representative know that our fisheries belong to us all, they are important to us. Todd Lambert.

Think you’ve seen an inshore trawler? Probably not - but it may be a Danish Seine. Seine Netting can operate their nets in as close as one nautical mile off the Tasmanian coastline. Danish seine vessels in Tasmania typically operate close shore.

Areas where commercial fishing (and seine) is NOT permitted in Tasmania As described in Rule 38, commercial scalefish fishing is not permitted in the following waters: • Georges Bay; • the D’Entrecasteaux Channel; or • Ansons Bay. Additionally, only holders of an endorsement for the following waters are allowed to fish for commercial purposes in the following waters: • the River Derwent (BUT there is an endorsement to use one Danish seine net with a whiting codend attached in the waters of the River Derwent and Frederick Henry Bay); • Macquarie Harbour; • Port Sorell (BUT an endorsement exists in the Port Sorell Shark Refuge Area, for a total of 300 metres of “graball” gillnets and a total of 200 metres of “special small mesh” gillnets.)

UNBEATABLE 75–115hp FourStroke

Unbridled power, unexpectedly compact, uncompromising reliability, unbelievably fuel efficient. Mercury’s 75–115hp FourStroke Range. Unlike anything the world has ever seen.

Based on Mercury’s 115hp (L) model. Information based on all manufacturers’ claimed horsepower and weight figures.

UNEXPECTEDLY COMPACT 115HP FOURSTROKE MERCURY

OPTIMAX YAMAHA TWOSTROKE

EVINRUDE TWOSTROKE

SUZUKI

177kg

182kg

Contact or visit us for more information.

HONDA

163kg 170kg

171kg 217kg

THE MERCURY 115HP FOURSTROKE COMES IN AT AN INCREDIBLY LIGHT 163KG MAKING IT THE LIGHTEST IN ITS HORSEPOWER CLASS – 4.6% LIGHTER THAN YAMAHA AND 24% LIGHTER THEN HONDA.

8 Legana Park Drive, Legana, Tasmania 7277 www.cjmarine.com.au Ph: (03) 6330 2277

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 15

INTRODUCING THE NEW 1450 SERIES

“The new 1450 Series is the best compact boat we have ever produced!” 3 incredible package configurations that all feature smart use of space, intelligent ergonomics, stability and performance.

Contact Deegan Marine on 03 6425-2238 or email sales@deeganmarine.com.au and book your test drive today

Fishing News - Page 16

DeeganMarine

www.deeganmarine.com.au www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

The edges of Great Lake are easily accessed and productive.

Great Lake in winter Shaun Cooper

or most angler’s winter is a time for resting weary legs and stocking fly boxes. But for some such as myself the thought of not fishing for a couple of months is too much to bear. So where does one fish for trout in June? And how does one find someone as mad as they are to join them in braving the arctic blast that is a Tasmanian winter. Lucky for me I have a couple of mates who are not quite as delusional as me but do give in to peer pressure easily.

Pete, Brendan and myself met at a bakery in Cressy at the gentlemanly hour of 10am and headed up the mountain to the Great Lake. Great Lake can be a daunting piece of water if looked at as a whole, but when broken down into sections and looking at the bays as a series of smaller lakes it becomes a lot less over-whelming. And if you are lucky enough to have a couple of gun anglers to formulate a plan with as I was it becomes easier again.

We hit the water around lunch time and it was hard to tell if the tingling was from the thought of crossing paths with some wily trout or the effects of nerve damage from the bone jarring drive in but either way, we were glad to be out of the car! Unsurprisingly fish activity at this time of year is at a minimum, so we started out by searching the shoreline with Galaxia patterns and gradually worked our flies out towards deeper water. It wasn’t long before Brendan

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 17

was battling it out with a sprightly young brown taken out wide. After a couple of high fives and a selfie that Pete took of himself on the front facing camera instead of the trout in Brendan’s hands we were back to leap frogging around the shore line. This is an effective way to ensure you are fishing fresh ground with a group but still staying within earshot of each other, which is more of a curse than it is a blessing if you have friends like mine. Moments later the boys were hooked up again and I was beginning to wonder if my fly even had a hook in it. Like the fish landed earlier it was caught out wide in the deeper water along a rocky shore line. With this in mind I decided it was time to abandon my hopes of finding a bow waving brown launching itself at my fly in the shallows, and disappearing into the middle of the lake with my fly while the backing sang through the guides, and started casting to the deeper water. A few casts later and my fly rod finally had a buckle in it! The fish was landed and my cabin fever was cured. Over the next few hundred metres the action really slowed down which we suspected was the result of now being on sand flats and shallow water, we were getting the feeling that we had walked away from the fish so decided to make our way back to where we started.

It wasn’t long before the presence of fish was felt with a few bumps and swipes which justified our decision to turn back. By this point the mountain had decided we had stayed long enough and began to give quite firm hints in the form of sideways rain that it was time for us to go home. We had approached the area where we had started our session and the sight of a warm car triggered thoughts of sitting on a warm back seat and offering helpful driving tips to Pete on the way home. One last cast up along the edge of a submerged log was made and an unusually polite brown took me up on my offer. Unlike some of the fish caught earlier in the day it was in quite good condition which isn’t always the case on the great lake in winter. The final fish proved the theory that fish were holding in the deeper water and a slow retrieve was much more successful. The equipment nor the process need be complicated for this style of fishing, your trusty 5 or 6wt and a floating line is plenty to get the job done. Like most anglers I use a traditional fly pattern that I have tweaked to my liking but I think any woolly bugger in black or olive would do the trick and likewise in soft plastics if that is your weapon of choice.

Brendan Turriff with a lovely Great Lake brown.

YOU’RE INVITED TO THE NEW HOME OF FISHING. There’s nothing like starting your day in the dark. Hitting the road with only the promise of hours spent chasing fat browns and elusive rainbows. The solitude, the unpredictable conditions, the patience, it takes years to master, but once it’s in your bones it’s impossible to get out. Fishing becomes a part of you, it’s why you keep coming back again and again. We at Miena Village understand that, which is why we’re making sure we’re the ultimate destination for your next fishing adventure. From the latest in fishing gear and clothing to steaming homemade soups for your flask and even fuel for the drive, the staff at the Great Lake General Store will have you on the water in comfort and in style in no time at all. And while you’re out for the day, our team at the Great Lake Hotel will be busy getting the log fires stoked, the leather couches plumped and the fridges stocked, for your inevitable return with tales of victory, or chance encounters with the ‘one that got away’. Situated in the heart of the Central Highlands on the shores of the Great Lake, Miena Village is only a cast away from some of the world’s best freshwater angling. You’ll be so spoilt for choice, the only question you’ll need to ask is, ‘Should I stay for the day, or stay for the week?’

3096 Marlborough Highway Miena. Fishing News - Page 18

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

If the fish are not close in sometimes a few casts out wide will work. Winter fishing Is not for everybody but with some warm clothing and a water tight set of waders it can be very enjoyable, Sure you might get cold, wet and potentially not catch anything but it is a good excuse to check in on your mates and enjoy the incredible fishery we have in Tasmania.

My tips: Flies – Black bead head woolly bugger size 8 and 10 Line – 6wt floating Rod Weight – 6wt Cast length – Long casts with a slow retrieve Habitat – deeper pockets of structured bottom Locations – Brandums Bay, Cramps Bay, Boundary Bay. Access – 4x4 is desirable this time of year to access the shore line but many of these locations can be accessed on foot. Time of day – late morning to sunset. Wind – strong off shore. Shaun Cooper

Photos courtesy: Peter Broomhall (Merseyfly), Brendan Turriff and the author.

Big and black works for Shaun.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 19

You’re an Angler, and no matter how many times you go fishing you’ll want to go again and no matter how many fish you catch (or nearly catch) it will never be enough. There will be days when the fishing is better than one’s most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home. You’re hooked, along with us.

WE ARE TONIC! Fishing News - Page 20

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

This lovely bream came to a crab pattern.

Gangsters of the Estuary Southern black bream can be fished for all year.They are plentiful, easy to target, but not easy to catch. James Sinnamon shares a few ideas.

ream were the first species I endeavoured to catch on fly, and I would be glad to have them as one of the last. In my eyes bream are a fantastic fly target, from snags to open sandy flats and everything in-between, they are like the ‘gangsters of the estuaries’, particularly here in Tasmania. I’ve watched a school of bream react insanely to a well-presented fly, racing over to beat it up with shear aggression… They come in hot, sit for a sec or two and bam, they absolutely crunch it!

Most of the bream fishing I’ve done in Tas has been north and east coast estuaries, with my favourite place to chase them being flats and shallow water snags, places where they can be sight fished. Bream are a fantastic fight for their size, commonly going into my backing when fishing on the flats with light leader. Id highly recommend it to anyone who’d like to chase a devil of a fighting fish that knows its defeated when you hold it in your hands. Honestly one

A kayak is a great way to access waters.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 21

A kayak is fabulous way to chase of the tamest fish to hold, despite the few spines, they barley flinch a muscle until you put them back in the water to where they shoot off. In my eyes, the black bream is one of Australia’s best respected native sports fish. Depending on the estuary system, I find the tide usually has a lot to do with where I find the bream. In systems with vast areas of shallow flats and a large tidal range, I tend to find the bulk of bream hanging around some sort of deep water and or structure on and around the low tide. Although not long after the tides starts to push in, I have found large numbers of bream slowly pushing onto the flats feeding as they go. By the time the tide reaches its peak, I have found the bream way up the back of the flats in large schools. On one glassed off winter afternoon I had a high tide at about 5 pm just before dark, to where I was aimlessly drifting in my canoe with the tide over a flat looking for fish. 2 hours went by with a few fish spooking at the canoe as I drifted by. It was a patchy cloudy afternoon with the low winter sun angle; all that combined did not make for great polaroiding. By 4 pm I ended up poling the canoe way up the back of the flat into very skinny water. Upon arriving towards the top of the flat I instantly spooked a few bream that then went on to spook what looked like a school of 200 odd bream, I kid you not! Ongoing from this, as a result of the glassed off spooky conditions where the fly line hitting the water was enough to spook fish from way off. I decided to sit and see if I couldn’t watch the fish feed for a bit while trying to take some pictures. After a short while I noticed something really cool… of the back of a snag I was watching a small shrimp dart to the surface with a bream hot behind. The shrimp was skipping away as they do while the bream was trying to get it. While this was happening, I noticed that the bream didn’t look like it was actually trying to eat the shrimp yet it looked like the fish was trying to stun the shrimp with its tail, it eventually hit the shrimp stunning it in the water, and while the shrimp Fishing News - Page 22

was slowly sinking stunned, the bream swam up and ate it oh so elegantly, almost like a trout would! Normally when I am fishing the flats, I like to wade. I feel it is easier to present a fly well to a spooky bream. Although, this particular spot had soft mud well and truly over the knees and it was winter. It was no fun wading! In this situation I used a homemade stakeout pole to stick in the mud and hold me in place, so I was able to set up a trap and wait for the fish to come past me. Other times I like to use a drogue/see anchor to create a slow drift. bream. There is a known benefit in spotting fish the higher you are from the water, like in a boat, kayak or on a paddle board etc. However, the fish also tend to see you a lot easier, especially spooky bream in shallow water. I often find myself trying to keep very low when I am in the canoe casting at bream, as in relation to when I can wade, I usually find myself catching bream with the leader in the rod tip. If you like a challenge, try fishing solo out of a canoe in the wind and tide with a fly rod, while trying not to make noise and spook fish. ‘It is good fun!’ Although, it is worthwhile when you hook one in the canoe, oh my it is awesome. Especially on the flats! For some reason the bream in shallow water put on the turbo back to deep water or a snag when hooked. This in the canoe is a whole stack of fun, getting dragged around left, right and centre. However, when fishing in the snags in the canoe it is a different story… you hook them and then they pull you straight back into the snag with them.

bounced in front of their nose. Quickly changing to a heavy weighted crab fly and scratching it through the sand, I was rewarded with some very aggressive bream, working as well as I image dynamite would, it was deadly. Further down the road I ended up hooking one of the bream deep in the gills, so I decided to take it for dinner and look at what it had been eating. I was surprised to see the stomach full of bivalve shells and grab bits. I tend to generally fish flies in relation to what bait is primarily around at that time of year and the given type of habitat. In winter, I fish a lot of baitfish profiles and in summer, I fish more shrimp and crab presentations. The size of flies I use are usually quite large, ranging from a size 2 to a 2/0. I would very rarely fish a fly under a size 2. Bream have hard mouths and have no worries eating a 3-5-inch baitfish. They have also been known to eat oysters and break open mussels, it is for these reasons that I like to fish a heavy and large gauge hook. One of my favourite hooks to use for tying most bream flies is a Gamakastu SLHRS in size 2 and 1/0. Gear I use is anything from a 5 or 6wt 9 ft trout rod for the flats to a 7 or 8wt 9ft for strong winds and heave structure, paired with a weight forward floating line. You can get away with a sinking fly-line and in some cases a sinking line can be quite handy. Generally running 6 – 12lb leader depending on what terrain and water clarity I am fishing. Overall, I think fly fishing for bream is relatively easy if you can launch a decent cast accurately and even if you can’t. If you remember what I personally and can surely be backed by many other bream fishos, think is the most important thing to do when fishing for bream, and that is to PAUSE! Bream love the pause! James Sinnamon

Flies and presentations The black bream in Tasmania dominate the estuaries, I’ve seen them eat everything from small shrimp to large baitfish. Most of the time I find bream are not very picky. I’d say one of the most important things to consider is how to present that fly well, like with a baitfish pattern fly, fish it like an injured baitfish would act etc. On the odd occasion, I have had bream dial in on one prey source and will not eat or even look at the fly if it doesn’t somewhat resemble what they are looking for. For instance, I had a day on a flat where the bream where properly nosing the ground with tails straight up, stuff dreams are made off! They would continue to refuse my minnow presentations, even when

Musselroe Bay produces some big bream on fly.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

A big brown trout taken casting a soft plastic in a river.

Technique and Tactics Colby Lesko asting lures for trout is a super effective technique whether it be from a boat or land based, on a lake or river. The cooler months are by far the best time to be casting lures as the fish are up higher in the water column and often quite angry as they feed up pre or post spawn. There is a massive array of lures effective on trout and an artificial bait to cover every situation. By having a selection of lures, you are able to have all bases covered and make to most of every situation when lure casting for trout. Lure casting for trout can be one of the most effective ways to catch trout. It’s all about using the right lure for the situation and casting it in the right locations!

Bibbed Lure Tactics Hard body minnows have been around forever and the old balsa wood Rapala Minnows have caught more trout then I dare to imagine. Although the old Rapala’s are still a great option when casting for trout, recent years has seen a big shift towards hard plastic divers. These lures cast extremely well, have some amazing finishes, are strong and very resistant to wear, which make them perfect for casting. You can cast these small plastic diving minnows long distances all day with little effort and they swim well day after day. My favourites are 50mm to 100mm long suspending minnows however the 70 to 75mm sizes are perfect

size for most trout. These diving minnows come in a variety of diving depths, colours, sizes with float, suspend or sink models. Diving minnows by far do their best work on the cast fishing in 2 to 4m of water where the trout feed on small minnows or other fish. Diving minnows also work well in current so are a great option in the rivers. A constant winding retrieve with divers will catch you fish but I prefer to put some jerks into my constant retrieve to make the lure more erratic and appealing to the fish. With the season about to open, the trout will be eager to feed on these larger prey items after the cold winter period.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 23

A Tyenna River brown trout on a bladed spinner.

Soft Plastic Success Soft plastics are a much newer lure in the fishing world but have proven themselves well and truly in Tasmania, especially early season. Soft plastics come in a massive arrangement of styles, shapes and sizes but small one to four inch models are your best bet for trout. Usually if the water is clear and the fish are on, its hard to go past a three inch minnow with a small paddle tail for trout. These soft plastics are just a perfect resemblance to the bait fish that trout feed on. Some of my all-time favourites are the Berkley T-tail minnow in black and gold or the Berkley Gotam Shad 3inch in AYU colour. You can rig the soft plastics on a jig head with a 1/0 hook, with a varying weight to suit different depths of water. I generally run a 1/6th head to fish in three or four metres of water, so if you

Fishing News - Page 24

are fishing shallower go lighter or deeper go heavier. By having a selection of these different weight jig heads, you can get your lure swimming at a variety of depths for different areas. Soft plastics are the best option when the trout are A Tasmanian Brown trout taken casting a heavy holding down deeper in spoon from the shores of the great lake the dams or deeper runs or pools in the river. You are able to sink them down on Bladed Spinners the spot by casting them out and allowing them time Bladed spinners are also popular for the casting trout to sink. This gets your lure into the strike zone when angler. Particularly in high flow rivers as these lures the fish are holding deep, and you are able to keep the work well in strong currents. They come in a number lure down in the zone via a jig and pause/sink retrieve. of sizes from some very small ones around 30mm long Soft plastics are my personal favourite lure when casting for tiny streams up to 60mm for big rivers and lakes. for trout in both rivers and lakes. I have also taken my far share of big lake trout on the bladed spinners and they are a great option over shallow Spoons and Winged Lures weed beds for fish that are feeding on insects. But by Spoons and winged lures are one of the best options far they catch their most fish in the hard flowing rivers for casting for trout when you want to cover a lot of and streams. water quickly, such as fishing from the bank in a dam or some long extensive flats/shallows. Winged lures Gear To Get Out There such Tassie devils are famous for fooling big trout Distance is an important factor when casting for and they are just as effective on the cast as the troll. spooky fish such as trout. You want to cover as much Spoons also have a great action that really seems to water as possible but also keep as far away from spooky excite smart trout. Couple this with their heavy cast fish as possible. Therefore, it’s important to have to weight, makes them a great option on windy days or have a nice lightweight casting rod spooled with light as a searching lure as you comb shallow flats or bays braid, three to four and a half kilogram is ideal and looking for fish. I also like to incorporate small pauses this allows for long casts even with the lighter lures. I and stops into my medium paced retrieve when fishing also run a three to four and a half kilogram leader of Tassie devils or spoons and the trout often take it on around one and a half metres for all my trout fishing the pause. These lures generally only run one or two as this prevents the fish from seeing your braid and also feet below the surface on the cast so are perfect for provides a little stretch for big jumping trout. Match fishing shallows and flats. this on a 2000 or 2500 spin reel and a 1-3kg or 2-5kg fast taper spin stick and you have the perfect trout

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

The Miracle Worker

Dr Mark

Soft plastics are a great choice in the flowing water. casting combo. I prefer longer rods over seven foot for my casting and it helps to get that little bit longer cast distance on the lakes and bigger rivers. However if your fishing smaller rivers in tight cover a lot shorter rods will perform better.

Where To Start The Search When fishing large lakes and open water you want to concentrate your casting efforts in areas where the fish will be feeding and this requires being able to read the water. Food rich areas, weed beds, drop-offs and windblown banks are all going to hold feeding trout and casting your lures in these areas is going to be your best bet. Once you find a few fish you are able to concentrate your efforts is this area or other similar areas around the lake to help you cast up multiple fish in short time frames. My Ideal scenario is that you find an edge of the lake that has good weed beds or flats with deepwater close by that has been the windblown shore after a windy day or big storm. This will stir the lake edge up and expose food items that the trout will be feeding on and the first day after the wind subsides the trout can be still found feeding on these banks. It is much easier to cast and fish without the wind from the shore or boat this is why I wait until the day after. If the weather is calm and sunny, I will stick to casting deeper running lures along weed beds or rock walls and deeper drop-offs where the fish can hide in cover. But if the weather is overcast and windy I will fish flats and edges with shallow running lures as the fish have more cover and confidence to move up in the shallows feeding. You will quite often spot trout moving on the

surface as they feed or following your lures back. This is a great sign to concentrate your efforts in that area and try a range of lures.

Observant Anglers Catch More Trout While fishing smaller water such as shallow lakes and rivers there is often much less water for the fish to be hiding in and casting your way along all the likely looking areas with your eyes peeled will bring best results. In these smaller waters you are quite often able to spot fish before you cast your lure at them, this makes for exciting fishing. If this is possible, you are able to slowly walk or wade your way around looking for fish to cast at. A good pair of polarised sunglasses are essential for this type of fishing and bright sunny days will help to expose the fish. If you can’t spot the fish, try casting into all areas of the river until you find where they are sitting. Depending on the trout’s mood and time of year sometimes they are in the fast shallows other times they hold out deeper in the slow water, so it pays to vary things up.

Get Casting! Casting is a great option in the cold weather when fishing for trout. It keeps you moving, warm and motivated when fishing in some pretty cold and unmotivating weather at times. Arm yourself with a light spin rod, a selection of casting lures and try and follow these simple tips. I have no doubt you will be able to find a few trout on your next outing casting lures on lakes or rivers. Just remember fish where the fish will be hiding and chose a lure to match the situation!

Can repair, renovate, rebuild, replace, redesign or renew just about anything to do with boats, trailers, propellers and other general engineering stuff.

If it is busted, bent, broken or dinged.

Dr Mark can fix it, make it, repair it or rebuild it. Miracles - No problem Spongers, idiots and time wasters are not welcome.

Aluman Engineering 424 Hobart Rd, Youngtown TAS 7249 6343 3341

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 25

Southern Bluefin Tuna on Fly Ten Years in the Making! Tim ‘Tunny’ Johnson

s you progress in fishing inevitably we start looking for more challenges. Most of us start off soaking a bait, then progress on to hard body and soft plastic lures or move on to the fly rod where hunting the fish is more of the thing as opposed to the sit and wait mentality. For me one of the biggest challenges is chasing big saltwater fish on a fly rod. If you really want to take the challenge from the sublime to the ridiculous, try catching big saltwater fish on a fly rod under the International Game fishing Association (IGFA) rules. Fishing News - Page 26

Fly Rod and IGFA - A tough gig Everything is in the fishes favour when fishing IGFA rules, from using a rod that resembles a big noodle, a reel that is only 1:1 retrieve, having a leader that’s only 30cm long to stop the fish biting or wearing you off, and a maximum tippet breaking strain of 10kg. Everything gives the fish the advantage, and that’s even before you find a fish! The boat must be out of gear when the fly is presented (so no trolling of the fly) and a harness cannot be attached to the rod while fighting the fish. When you finally get it alongside the boat after

surviving the battle, you must use a fixed head gaff to try and land it. With all these restriction as you can imagine success is a rare commodity, but that’s what makes it so worthwhile “If it was easy everyone would do it.” I’ve had a goal to land a southern bluefin tuna on IGFA fly tackle for about 10 years. Whenever we go out the fly rod is rigged, locked and loaded at the front of the boat much to my brother (the captains) disgust, as he’s not a fan of the wand. In my defence, I have had some success with hooking and landing tuna on the fly rod, but none of them were IGFA legal. I’ve come

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

close but if things could go wrong they did. Everything from the boat still in gear when the fly was presented, leaders being 5mm too long after being stretched by the fish, to IGFA class line breaking above its classification when tested. These setbacks are frustrating yes, but they just add fuel to the fire in my opinion.

A Plan Was Set With all of the above to give you context, I got the phone call that as a fisherman you don’t want at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon when you’re mowing the lawn “where are ya, the bluefin are going crazy today, we’ve tagged and released nearly 20 and are sick of winding them in and the weather is going to be rubbish tomorrow- 20-30knts! We might get an 1hr window in the morning but I doubt it”. So decision time, do I drive the 2 ½ hrs down to the coast tonight with the high probability that all I’m doing is wasting fuel? I say decision time but as all keen fisherman know, it is really not a decision. Where there’s life there’s hope! So off to the east coast to get rigged and to wait and see what the weather would bring. Now always being safety conscious and not ever wanting to go to sea in a deteriorating forecast when Sunday rolled around it turned out that the forecast front was due after lunch which gave us a four hour window of 10 knot winds to safely go to sea. So a plan was hatched. We would troll lures on conventual tuna tackle until we located the school of fish. On hook up the boat would be taken out of gear, my niece India Thompson would fight the hooked fish, captain would clear the roads and I would cast the “chicken sized fly” on the back on a superfast sinking fly line and hopefully get it deep enough to tempt one of the southern bluefin tuna before they moved on. After about an hour of trolling 2 game rods folded over at once and the plan was put into action. Boat out of gear, rods cleared, fly in and nothing. Ok, let’s try that again. We trolled about 200m, again one of the rods folded over, the boat was put out of gear, the other rods cleared, cast the fly in, nothing. This happened three more times in about 30 mins. As I was getting to the point where the crew had to hide the sharp knives to stop me ending my frustration, we finally noticed that only the lumo green lures where getting hit, not the black or the blue. So into the fly box and off with the black and purple fly and on with the brightest green thing I could find.

Expect to be one the rod for quite a while when a tuna is attached. the spool spin so fast I instantly got a blister on my finger where it had been touching the spool. Now as much as a fly rod looks like a noodle its amazing how much pressure you can put on it especially by using low rod angles and that was the case with this fish, after 2 runs of about 100m the fish settled under the boat and was pumped up and landed in less than eight minutes. The feeling of elation was contagious and the crew erupted when we finally got the fish on board. While not a massive tuna, the size didn’t really matter as the feeling of finally reaching this goal had me smiling for the next week.

Gear For Tackling Bluefin On Fly If you think you want to take up this challenge, here’s some tips that might help. These have been gained

from years of failure, so they are well and truly tried and proven. Number one, use bigger flies than you think. A four kilogram tuna will hit a 30cm long lure so your flies can never be too big. Number two, use a fast sinking line. The majority of the school of tuna will be sitting seven to 15 metres below the surface and you need to get down to them. Number 3, you need a reel with a large arbour for retrieval speed, a smooth drag and about 600m of backing. Out in the deep blue the fish that grabs your fly might be a schoolie but it could also be a 60 – 100kg giant, you just never know. Saltwater fly fishing for big pelagic fish on IGFA tackle is about as rewarding as fishing gets. Give it a go, hopefully it doesn’t take you 10 years to reach your goal! Tim Johnson

A Goal Achieved Ok lets try this dance again. Like clock work we started to troll again, the rods folded over, the boat out of gear, lines cleared, fly in and nothing. Now I think I was just about ready to throw this silly fly rod at the fish when on the second strip the fly got absolutely hammered. The rod buckled over and the fly line whipped off the deck as I did my best to stop it tangling on all the obstacles that you have on the back deck of a boat. When the fly line reached the reel the speed at which the fish accelerated made

When you are using flies this size big fish are expected. (Shown actual size)

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 27

Fishing News - Page 28

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

An original John Lanchester ‘Tom Jones’ and a commercial bastardised version. Commercial versions are rarely anything like the original.

Tom Jones and the Imposter Peter Hayes reveals the real Tom Jones.

learnt to fly fish in my early teenage years while I was living in Melbourne. At that time I was mentored by Jack Joyner who was a fly fisherman of note and also a past accuracy fly casting champion. Jack had previously competed against the American casting champion Jon Tarantino and easily beaten him and set a new world record at the same time. In those days it was widely accepted that Jon Tarantino was the greatest caster in the world. As an aside, at about this time the English Hardy company named a range of their fibreglass rods that Jon E Tarantino had designed for them after him. They were called the ‘Hardy JET’ series. Sadly, Tarantino died at an early age at the peak of his tournament casting and rod designing career with the ‘Fisher’ company when he was shot dead by a burglar at his father’s San Francisco warehouse. But this story is about another tournament caster, John Lanchester, and a fly he developed — the Tom Jones.

Jack Joyner had some experience as a fly fishing mentor. Some decade or so earlier he had taken under his wing a new arrival to Australia – John Lanchester aka ‘The Yank’. Jack taught the yank to fly fish and to tournament cast. I remember Jack telling me that The Yank was somewhat of a natural and whilst I only remember seeing him cast on a handful of occasions I can tell you that he was poetry in motion and his name is engraved on many trophies from that era. The Yank always seemed to be a man of some mystery to me, and to many others. The stories of his fishing prowess were legendary. Because of his accent everyone assumed he was from the USA – hence his name, but I remember Jack telling me that he was a Canadian that jumped ship in Melbourne and decided to stay. That’s probably close to the mark. In those days the Yank was a fishing machine and also a fishing machine bent on catching huge trout. If you were good enough, and The Yank was, in

those days 10 pound fish could be caught in Bullen Merri, Purrumbete, Lake Fyans, The Nhill Swamp, Lake Ettrick, Lake Burrumbeet, Hepburn Lagoon and Tullaroop which are just the spots that come immediately to mind. I remember also the Yank as being a very innovative and thinking angler too. Some examples. He was one of the first people that I knew to make up his own fly lines. Old lines would be ‘cut and shut’ with scarfed razorblade and superglue joins to suit his needs. Mostly shooting head type lines to achieve longer casts. These were in some ways forerunners to Lee Wulff’s Triangle Taper lines. The Yank would also soak the running line section of these lines overnight in radiator fluid. This would help to remove the plasticiser and stiffen this section of the line – giving better shootability. I also remember The Yank as always using made up leaders of 20 feet. This was a huge and unheard of length for a leader in those days (I’m talking about 40

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 29

Fishing & Boating Specialists

EPIRBS

SOFT PLASTICS

YETI

Trading Hours - Monday - Friday 8am-5.30pm & Saturday Mornings 8am-12.30pm - 6-8 W Fishing News - Page 30

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

PLBs

GARMIN INREACH

HAYABUSA RIGS

Hundreds and Hundreds of lures to choose from

West Tamar Road, Launceston - tamarmarine.com.au - 1300627463 www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 31

years ago). It is now almost standard for competition fly anglers. In those early days (to me) of fly fishing very, very, little fly fishing (more likely none) was ever done from a boat. Float Tubes had not been invented then either. I often saw The Yank fishing the Ballarat lakes from his blow up Clarke Rubber kiddies boat. He half lay, and half sat, in the boat after blowing it up with a little foot pump. A half a brick was used as an anchor. He was so clever that when the lakes were low he would do a scouting trip without any rod. The purpose was to identify where the channels and drop offs were, The rocky areas of bottom and the weed beds. He stored this information for the fishing times when the water came back and he could blow up his little kiddies pool toy. The Yank was no fool ! So it was John Lanchester, The Yank, fishing the central Victorian lakes I’m guessing in the late 70s that invented the Tom Jones fly. Since then the Tom Jones is to a Victorian fly fisher what a Red Tag is to a Tasmanian fly angler. It is that popular and effective. Fished in a rapid, stop start, pulling retrieve it can be a very effective smelt imitation (Victorian smelt are generally smaller and slimmer than the Tasmanian galaxias). When fished on a slow figure of eight hand twist retrieve it is as good a stick caddis pattern as you will find. It’s a versatile wet fly just as useful to cast at a sighted trout or to use as a blind searching pattern. When I started guiding 26 years ago I asked The Yank three times over as many years, if he could send me a couple of his original patterns — none were forthcoming for some reason, so I gave up. A couple of years after that I came across a group of Victorians staying in their new shack at Arthurs lake. They said The Yank was staying with them and as they knew that I was an old friend of his they invited me to dinner with them all that evening.

I arrived on the door step with my bottle of wine a little before the arranged time and as It turned out the Yank and Ray Horsey were still not back from looking at a trotting horse in Hobart. When I asked if they had taken their fishing gear with them the answer was no, all their gear was hanging up downstairs in the garage. I heard the car pull into the driveway and met the Yank at the doorway. As soon as he saw me he grinned. You had to know him to know that grin. It wasn’t a grin – I’m pleased to see you again Haysie but a grin of - I guess you finally have those flies you’ve been after Haysie. He was right onto me. I asked John that night how he came up with the name Tom Jones. He said that at the time he was reefing in big browns, fish after fish, in the spillway hole below Lake Cairn Curran. This is the start of the Loddon river. John’s wife Sue came down from the car after watching the action and she asked what fly he was using. He showed it to her swimming thru the water at their feet and she commented that it didn’t look like much of a fly but rather it looked just like a piece of grass in the water. Just at that time Tom Jones was singing ‘The Green, Green Grass of Home’ in the background on the car radio. Sue suggested ‘Tom Jones’ as a name for the fly. It stuck.

The Dressing Guided Fly Fishing/Accommodation Tasmania

www.driftwater.com.au Fishing News - Page 32

Like so many flies, commercially available versions seem to be bastardised versions of the originals. This is very much the case with my ‘Guides Tag’. From what I see in tackle store fly compartments this applies the Tom Jones too. Commercial versions are usually very, very heavily dressed. I remember The Yank telling me the following about the important things when tying a Tom Jones. Firstly the wing fur and body dubbing was soft underbelly fur from a Bennetts Wallaby. It has to be soft to give the movement you want. Also, “Peter, when you are tying the fly pretend that this fur is gold – you don’t want to give too much of it away” were his words. It was dyed a mid olive Dylon colour and I don’t remember the colour number but I have got it written down somewhere.

A Tom Jones will work all season long and can be fished a variety of ways. The author with a good early season brown. Tie the tail out of black Squirrel and use just the right amount and length to give the fly good balance in the water. A substantial head of black tying silk should be coated with glossy black nail polish. The photos are of the flies that I borrowed on permanent loan from John’s unprotected vest hanging in Ray Horsey’s garage. I noticed in John’s wet fly box there were dozens of variations on his original pattern. As an example some had shiny, facetted plastic bead heads. Mess with your versions and tie in various sizes and weights to suit. John Lanchester is a smart man and perhaps one of the greatest fly fishermen ever to cast a fly and not many people know that. I feel lucky to have shared his mentor and to have been influenced somewhat by him. Peter Hayes

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

The author with a school sized SBT casting a stickbait.

TARGET — Surface Blueys Scott Gray goes on the hunt or surface feeding SBT

outhern bluefin tuna have seen a very long season and it is in full swing as the fish migrate along the coastline of southern Australia. While trolling is traditionally a very effective method of catching tuna, a lot of enjoyment can be had casting lures at fish feeding on the surface. When the fish are up on the top feeding there is no more exciting way of targeting these fish than sight casting with a lure on light threadline spin tackle. The strikes are very visual, explosive and it’s a great way of getting consistent results on days when the fish are proving challenging. Most of the fish often encountered by fishers are in the 10-20kg ‘school’ size range and provide some of the best light tackle fishing going around!

There are plenty of benefits to casting lures at feeding fish than simply trolling over them and some of these benefits include the option of fishing lighter tackle, less chance of spooking the fish and being highly mobile. Casting is second to none when the fish are visually feeding on the surface. If the fish are up and down a lot or moving around quickly or you see some action off in the distance you can capitalise on this and motor up to the school quickly and cast. You will always beat other boats that are trolling to the action and get first chance at the fish. Some days it’s just a matter of just getting there when the fish are up. The opportunity being mobile creates can really make a big difference in this situation.

Positioning your boat correctly is very important. While the fish will move in many directions generally you will find fish will feed into the wind so the best place to position your boat is upwind of the feeding fish. This way there is less likelihood of spooking the fish and you will get a longer cast into the school. You can also choose to cut your motor for a silent approach if required. Let the fish come to you. With light threadline tackle and wind assistance it’s quite easy to make a 50-60 metre cast into a school, even with small sinking stickbaits. When motoring up on feeding fish from behind be aware of the wake coming from your boat and often it’s a good idea to take a wider berth from the school if you are behind them because even the boat wake

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 33

Poppers are a great way to get the fishes attention but they seem to be a bit hit miss with the fish unless they are really on the bite. If you are using a popper and are getting boils, but not strikes I suggest that you either downsize your popper to a smaller head profile model or change to a stickbait. Poppers are ideal when the fish are eating larger baits like mackerel. Lure size is a matter of personal preference and is best suited to the size of the baitfish the fish are feeding on. While I generally use lures in 15cm size range, lures as small as eight centimetres have brought me just as many bites when the fish are feeding on small whitebait and it’s just a matter of seeing which works best on the day. When the fish are fussy and you get the size and action right it’s quite obvious and the fish will be all over your lure. Don’t worry about the fact that the lure you are using might be small as tuna have excellent eyesight and if it’s what they want they will find it quickly!

Tackle Always look for birds while on the water. can put flighty fish down before you get a chance to cast at them. Pulling up within a good distance from a school there is less chance spooking the fish and disturbing the feeding behaviour of both the fish and the bait on which they are feeding on. This will often give you multiples chances of a strike. If it’s busy out there and other anglers stick to the same principles then everybody can also comfortably fish on a school at the same time.

Lure Selection Lure selection is very important as the fish often become fixated on the bait which they are feeding on. Casting distance is also important factor so you need to select a lure that is going to get you in the strike zone. Floating surface lures provide exciting surface strikes, but are often lighter than weighted sinking models which can restrict casting distance and can be difficult to work efficiently when the sea is rough. For general use I prefer using slow sinking stickbaits and metal slugs which work well fished just below the surface and can be easily cast long distances even when its windy or conditions are unfavourable. While I always have at least one metal slug rigged on a rod in the rack it’s hard to beat the action of a well presented stickbait. The range of traditional timber and plastic moulded stickbaits and bibbed minnows on the market has increased significantly over the past few years. These lures are purpose built, designed for casting, have a unique action and are durable enough to land big fish. The side to side action of a stickbait is very alluring for the fish and is perfect for when the fish are feeding on or just below the surface. These lures are basically Fishing News - Page 34

like throwing jellybeans at the fish when they are on and the strikes are spectacular. You can also let them sink below the school and retrieve them as fast or slow as you prefer. To work these lures simple keep you rod tip down and give them a flick as you retrieve and you can watch the action of the lure from side to side. Mix up your retrieve and you will work out quickly what the fish want. Metal slugs in the 20-50g size are ideal for casting due to their relative weight for size, are relatively inexpensive and they make an ideal baitfish imitation,

Threadline tackle has come so far over the past decade and small lightweight threadline reels are capable of handling more than enough drag and line capacity to secure a good sized school fish and because the inshore fish are generally in water less than 50 metres deep there is no chance you will get spooled. If a fish rips plenty of line off then you can just chase it in the boat. A light seven to eight foot, 10-15kg spin rod matched to a 3000-5000 sized reel loaded with around 250-300m of 15kg braid is plenty of power to hold on to the fish and really makes the most of their fighting qualities. Rarely will the fish do big long runs from the boat and you usually end up fighting the fish straight up and down under the boat. While you can definitely fish lighter braid it will extend the fight time considerably and therefore is not ideal if you are planning to release.

Leader and Lure Connections

This selection of stickbaits will cover a lot of different scenarios. particularly when the fish are on very small bait. The other advantage is if the fish go down you can just let the lure sink down and use it more like a jig and often this will draw a strike when it is sinking or being retrieved.

There’s no need to fish a heavy leader for these fish as they only have fine teeth and the majority of fish you are likely to encounter are under 20kg in size. I usually use a 60 pound fluorocarbon leader of around two metres in length connected to the braid with a neat FG knot. If the fish are finicky you can downsize to a 40 pound fluorocarbon leader without worrying about losing your lure. The use of fluorocarbon is optional, but is definitely of benefit when fishing lighter leaders and provides more abrasion resistance. Fluorocarbon coated leaders are not a stiff as 100% fluorocarbon lines and provide a bit more shock absorption. There are two ways of connecting your leader to the lure either with a swivel to the split ring connection or simply with a loop knot. If the fish are being fussy and you are likely to be changing your lures regularly then the swivel to split ring connection is more user

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

friendly. Just remember not to oversize either of these components as it can affect the way the lure will swim. I usually retrofit all my sinking stickbaits with single hooks and they usually result in a better more solid hookup, will cause less damage to the fish’s mouth and are easy to remove especially if you are planning to release the fish. Polaroiding these fish feeding on the bait schools is a very exciting form of fishing and with their dark blue backs they stand out clearly in the water. You can often see them actively moving around under the surface even when they aren’t breaking the surface and when several fish chase your lure in it really leaves your heart in your mouth. When you head to chase tuna this season make sure you pack a light threadline outfit and try something different, casting at feeding fish is an exciting way of increasing your catch rate when the fish are finicky and it’s a very exciting and visual way to fish. Scott Gray

Hooked up on a cloudy day.

Siglon PE, is made from EX-PE fibres and offers a tightly woven braid that provides superior abrasion resistance, a very thin diameter and minimal stretch. Available in 8 carrier PE (PEx8) and 4 carrier PE (PEx4).

PLEASE VISIT EJTODD.COM.AU

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 35

Rivers in crisis Who Cares? Last summer saw rivers across the state suffer incredibly, and extreme dry provisions were introduced in the north east of the state. The iconic Break O’Day River ceased to flow; below local angler Howard Jones gives a back story. Howard has fished the Break O’Day since the late 1970s and its demise motivated him to become a member of Anglers Alliance Tasmania (AAT). Having received numerous reports of declining river health from anglers around the state, AAT is intent on working with other recreational water users to initiate a campaign to seek greater monitoring and protection of our waterways. AAT is keen to receive examples of both negative environmental impacts and, more importantly, examples of projects or initiatives which have led to better river health, to act as exemplars to improve land management practices.

t a time of changing climate and rainfall patterns amid burgeoning agricultural expansion, many anglers and recreational water users are becoming concerned about the health of Tasmanian rivers and streams. The Break O’Day is an example of a struggling Tasmanian river. The Break O’Day River rises in the hills behind St Marys and flows into the South Esk near Fingal. Sadly this river has faded from a fishery written about by renowned angling authors like David Scholes, even visited by overseas anglers every October for the mayfly rise - to a waterway deemed “unfit for trout to thrive in” by the IFS in 2014. Last summer it completely ceased to flow and was reduced to a series of warming pools and broadwaters.

The Break O’Day River Our real concerns crystalized when club patron Len Smith, a fisher on the Break O’Day River for some 50 years, having fished alongside Scholes et al, insisted it was poor trout stocks and not his increasing age which had led to falling catch rates. Len wouldn’t let up, and by 2007 letters had been written to IFS, permissions had been sought from land owners and an Electro Fishing Survey took place at various sites along the Break O’Day in April of that year. Despite confident assurances from IFS staff only 2 pygmy perch, several eels, a tench and 1 trout were stunned or netted and so the IFS agreed to establish a stocking program. Initially 400 adult fish were tagged and transported to 3 sites. The following May 10,000 fingerling trout Fishing News - Page 36

The Break O’Day ran dry in 2019-20 and was just a series of pools. were finclipped and released into the Break O’Day in June and another electrofishing survey undertaken, sadly finding no evidence of any tagged fish. Stocking continued through 2009 and 2010 and a follow up survey again failed to record any previously stocked fish. Logbooks distributed to anglers indicated only a handful of tagged or fin clipped fish were recorded. Stocking continued with both fry and adult transfers into 2014. With little evidence of significant improvement in catch rates IFS informed the club that stocking of the Break O’Day River would cease as fish were failing to thrive due indeterminate water quality problems. A written request for IFS support to ascertain what the water problems were went un-answered and subsequent conversations with IFS staff highlighted their incapacity to address the issue. So, how can a river rising in the remote highlands of NE Tasmania go from a fishery lauded in Angling Literature, decline to such an extent that the Inland Fishery Service considers the waters unfit for trout to thrive, in Len’s life-time?

A sad demise For the Break O’Day River it has been a death by a thousand cuts, as many factors may have contributed to the decline in water flow, quality and impacts on the aquatic environment. A free-range pig farm at Gray (since closed) coincided with the first major signs of increased turbidity and algal growth in the Break O’Day. A new sewerage plant routinely overflowed in extreme weather events leading to trials to spray “waste water” onto adjacent farmland.

Coal Mining has shifted from underground to open cut operations sited close to headwater streams. A proliferation of instream headwater storages both for small-holdings and larger properties, limited inflow. The last 30 years has seen an incredible change in land usage. Once principally a grazing region, plantation forestry brought extensive land clearing and spraying regimes. When such schemes foundered, farmers cleared again to return land to productive use. More recently, investment in irrigation has boomed, leading to greater water extraction, increased nutrient, herbicide and pesticide application and more intensive stocking. In-stream dams on headwaters trap winter flows to provide water to be conveyed down-stream to suit farming needs in summer, drastically altering seasonal flows.

Climatic Change Rapidly changing climatic conditions, particularly seasonal rainfall patterns, are also having major impacts. Less frequent minor rainfall periods, and irregular but severe convective events have confirmed climate predictions. Periods of low flow have become extensive and increasing temperature profiles threaten the viability of aquatic organisms. Dissolved oxygen levels are compounded by nutrient run off, increased turbidity and temperature rise. With so many small headwater dams, vital flushes of the river at times of stress provided by lesser falls have been eliminated. Deluges causing extensive damage to both river banks and floodplain infrastructure have increased in both frequency and intensity. Tributaries of the Break O’Day have limited areas of riverbed suited to trout spawning. Unfettered access

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

by cattle has created areas of marsh, denying upstream access to fish seeking to spawn in the gravel beds up stream. Other important streams are often blocked by small water storages. But anglers are not just concerned about trout. One club member and avid bird watcher has maintained fishing diaries over 30 years which document dwindling trout numbers. He has recorded the loss of aquatic insects and insectivorous birds. White caddis, once abundant throughout the upper river, and the mayflies for which the river is famous have become scarce. These insects once swarmed amongst the riparian vegetation and are a major food source for both trout and bankside birds. The Welcome Swallows “that would often settle on your rod as you watched for rising fish” are a memory and the colonies of Martins nesting in holes in high clay banks have disappeared. As the government seeks to ramp up agricultural production to achieve a target of $10 billion revenue by 2050 and climate change threatens accepted understandings, can we as anglers work together and with other recreational water users, to ensure the viability of our rivers and streams into the future?

A stretch of the Break O’Day on Killymoon.

One of Tasmania’s finest trout authors, David Scholes saw the best of the Break O’Day, wrote a book on it and saw it diminishing in his latter years. Here he shows a good fish that was once normal.

David Scholes’ diary entry from the first day he fished the Break O’Day River — 21 October 1956. He also mentions the rod used on the day - a Hardy Koh-i-noor, the total catch for the day - 6, and a running total for the season - 22.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 37

THINGS THAT SNAP

THINGS THAT DON’T 40% stronger than the competition. You don’t have to take it from us. We had a 3rd party lab independently test and prove that our wet knot strength is 29% stronger than our previous material, and 40% stronger than the premium competition.

scientificanglers.com

For your nearest stockist visit www.mayflytackle.com.au and click on the logo. Fishing News - Page 38

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Escape the uncertainty Trout fish Tasmania Season outlook 2020-21 John Diggle Director of Inland Fisheries

he Tasmanian brown trout season opened Saturday 1st August and the outlook for fishing looks great. This season, anglers will have the opportunity go fishing and win up to $50 000 in the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion. Before the start of the 2020-21 season, five tagged brown trout were released into lakes around Tasmania. One each into Arthurs Lake, Lake Burbury, yingina/ Great Lake, Lake Pedder and Lake Rowallan. Lake Rowallan will open on 3rd October and provides a location on the North West Coast. The Promotion is aimed to assist recovery from COVID-19 restrictions in rural areas around the State. The tags are blue and have unique identifying details. Each tag is worth $10 000 to the angler that returns the fish to the Inland Fisheries Service. For more information and full Terms and Conditions, go to www.ifs.tas.gov.au or go to the 2020-21 Angling code. IFS produced a number of short videos before and after the World Fly Fishing Championship 2019 that include access and fishing information for anglers. These may provide some inspiration for the coming season. To see these go to the IFS website video library. Good rain in April allowed brown trout spawning to begin on the Central Highlands. Runs have been consistent and steady which will result in excellent fishing in the coming seasons. The run started in Liawenee Canal in early April and continued well into July with fresh fish arriving on each rain event. As of 21 July, we had relocated over 10 600 wild adult brown trout from spawning traps at yingina / Great Lake. You can find the exact numbers of all stocking on the IFS website stocking database. If yingina/Great Lake continues to rise, fish will be found close to shore. After spawning, the brown trout feed heavily on all manner of things from stick caddis to galaxias and even small trout. Large, protein rich, food items are on the menu as they try to put condition back on. It is worth remembering that almost all fish that have spawned, will take a few months to get back into condition. The southern half of the lake often fishes best through late winter and early spring with rocky points and drop offs providing the best action for shore-based anglers. Whether bait, lure or fly fishing, a strong ‘cross breeze’ over a submerged ledge is hot spot for cruising trout. Although less comfortable, the windier days are usually the most productive. On shore winds are also excellent if you can fish the seam between dirty and clean water. Worms are always worth trying during and after heavy rain while larger lures in black / gold, black / red and green/orange are usually the best. For fly anglers,

fishing slowly with large woolly buggers and yeti style flies rarely fails. Lake King William is nearly full and provides the opportunity to target some good fishing early in the season. At this high level there is good access from the Lyell Highway at Derwent Bridge and from the south at Butlers Gorge. Those accessing the lake at Butlers Gorge will be well advised to use a boat and fish in the Guelf Basin. There is an abundance of bays and shallow water to the north and south once inside the basin. This provides shelter and ample water to chase the 0.5kg fish that frequent the lake. Those who are unfamiliar with the area should be advised that the boat ramp is exposed to strong winds with any northerly direction in it. With safety as a priority, unless you have a large boat, this area in these conditions, should be avoided. The number of fish in Lake King William provides all anglers with a good opportunity to land a fish. The brown trout spawning run at Arthurs Lake started in May and continued through into July. Traps were operated on Tumbledown, Scotch Bobs and Hydro creeks. Over 10 000 brown trout were counted through these traps and allowed to progress upstream to naturally spawn. Data from the traps (Arthurs Lake) this winter showed that the spawning fish were in good condition and that this fishery should continue to build after some positive reports last season. The IFS has not removed any fish from Arthurs Lake this winter. The most reliable method for catching fish in Arthurs last year was trolling. This may have been Lake Botsford often gets a lot of attention due to the depth at which many fish were feeding from visiting anglers. The lack of visitors due (around 4-5m). The start of the season will see to Covid19 may be a bonus for locals. many fish feeding around this depth again but it won’t be long before they are hard in on the bank Fly anglers always enjoy seeing Lake Ada full, early looking for frogs. Targeting rocky shores with drop offs in the season. This will provide wonderful sight fishing usually produces fish early in the season for those with around the flooded bushes and undercut banks when soft plastics. For fly anglers, going deep will give you the sun allows it. access to more fish but there will always be some fish Eastern waters, Lake Sorell, Tooms Lake and Lake close to shore in the Cowpaddock and other weedy areas Leake have had some rainfall and show signs of of the lake. You never know, you may even polaroid a rebuilding after the previous dry years. Late winter and fish with a $10 000 blue tag in its back. spring rains will see some excellent fishing in these The West Coast and most of the Central Highlands fisheries. Many of the IFS staff have ear marked these has had good rainfall. The Nineteen Lagoons and waters for their own fishing trips early in the season. greater Western Lakes have also benefited from this It pays to get some local knowledge before going and there will be some good fishing for those that boating on these waters as rock bars (Lake Sorell) and want to explore this area. The transfer of wild adult an abundance of large stumps (Lake Leake and Tooms brown trout into these lakes this winter was done very Lake) can cause issues. The installation of a floating early on, giving them a wonderful chance to make the pontoon at Lake Leake towards the end of last season most of high water levels. We expect these fish to be will be a welcome sight for boaters. in better condition than they usually are at the start While the water at Lake Sorell and Tooms Lake is of the season. slightly murky, Lake Leake water is very clear. This Lure anglers who are brave enough to fish in cold, does not seem to affect the trout’s feeding habit with windy conditions will have great fishing in Carter large flies and lures working well in all of these waters. Lakes. Those venturing further afield will always find Brighter colours that are often associated with catching good numbers of hungry fish in Lake Botsford but rainbow trout, can be used to good effect on these lakes. please remember that the lake has a one fish bag limit If success is not forthcoming, try to fish a bit deeper and that fish must be at least 500mm long. and more slowly.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 39

UPSTREAM D e ta i l s

• Designed with one of a kind actions reminiscent to bamboo or glass • Natural Tonkin Bamboo color with matte finish and clear wraps

Upstream Series

• 6 rod choices in 2-4wt, 2, 4 & 6pc

SERIES

ITEM #

LENGTH

WEIGHT

PIECE

MSRP

• Packaged in fine aluminum tube and sock

Upstream

21010

6’6”

$638

Upstream

21015

7’0”

$762

• Designed to be the ultimate presentation rod, unmatched in grace and feel

Upstream

21000

7’3”

$638

Upstream

21020

7’6”

$762

Upstream

21030

8’0”

$762

Upstream

21003

8’8”

$638

Fishing News - Page 40

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

• Lifetime warranty on all Douglas fly rods

Following on from its reopening in February Lake Sorell will be open to anglers on Saturday 1st August 2020 in line with the start of the brown trout season. Temporary periods of closure will be required during spring and summer and these may occur at short notice to achieve carp eradication. Anglers should be aware that the trout population has been reduced by the intense carp fishing effort but is expected to rebuild naturally over the coming years. We expect that the Lake Sorell trout fishery will take several years to recover after carp are eradicated. This is similar to the recovery in Lake Crescent where anglers again have the chance to catch a trophy trout. Anglers should be mindful that the lakes are naturally shallow and extra caution while boating is required. With the opening of the 2020-21 trout season this will be a great opportunity for anglers to reacquaint themselves with Lake Sorell as the fishery rebuilds. For anglers chasing a trophy trout at Lake Crescent early in the season is the best time. Remember to keep an eye on the water level as it is still relatively low. You can follow lakes Sorell and Crescent water levels at https://dpipwe.tas.gov. au/water/water-data/lake-levels While many anglers immediately go to very large flies and lures when they see the colour of Lake Crescent water, it is often the standard sized imitations that work best. Remember that the trout grow very large while feeding on small galaxias (often found inside the trout at around 6cm early in the season) in the lake and clearly know how to hunt and catch their food in dirty water. The water quality at Woods Lake is good and the water level is rising nicely. Based on the young fish that were seen coming through last season it will fish well again right from the start of season. The lake is very popular for a reason and anglers should expect to catch fish using all methods. As is usually the case when water temperatures are low, fish slowly and at depth if fish are not being caught. Black and green lures or flies work best. For those fly fishing the lake, a Di 5 fly line is often the best for the first month and a half of the season or when it is windy. Another trophy trout chance is Blackmans Lagoon. Past transfers of adult brown trout and stocking of young rainbows will see some good early season fishing. A fisheries performance assessment undertaken at Curries River Reservoir showed low numbers of fish that were in great condition. We have transferred 960 adult brown trout from the Central plateau and a further 1520 rainbow trout. These fish should all grow quickly and provide good fishing. The water is very clear and a level of stealth is required to maximise your catch. Worms are popular with bait anglers while bait fish patterns are the best artificial options due to the abundance of galaxias in the lake. Fishing on the opening and through the season will be popular at Four Springs Lake. This lake has been very reliable in recent years and rarely disappoints the persistent angler. We expect that another large crowd will be there on opening morning. The lake will fish very well for two or three weeks after opening before

the fish ‘wise up’. It will then come back into its own most at this time of year. If the major rivers aren’t in during late September and throughout the mayfly flood, the sea run trout will be about in the estuaries hatches later in the year. and lower reaches from the start of August. This can Using powerbait for the rainbows is a common provide exciting fishing right through to Christmas. practice that works well while spinning around drop Close to Hobart you can fish the River Derwent or offs or fishing sinking fly lines with a team of streamers Huon River. Of course the Lune, Pieman, Forth, will get you onto the fish. As is the case elsewhere, if Mersey, Great Forester, Duck and many other rivers you are not catching fish, slow down, don’t quicken around the state are great places to seek out a sea runner. up your retrieve. The lure of a catchable $10 000 trout exists in five The recent rain has seen the water level at Craigbourne Dam race up onto fresh ground and lakes and the IFS hopes and expects that the first lucky although the water is dirty it should improve quickly. angler will soon be forthcoming. Who knows, if they Pleasing numbers of previously relocated brown trout catch all five, they could walk away with $50 000 and from the highlands, have been caught through the all they need is a fishing licence. winter months. Many of the stocked rainbows are yet If you want to buy a licence, know more or simply to be caught making this lake an excellent choice for want to pass on your experience then visit the IFS southern anglers. website (www.ifs.tas.gov.au), ring on 1300 INFISH or Talbots Lagoon fished really well last season and email infish@ifs.tas.gov.au, we do value your feedback. this is expected to continue this year. With the improved angler’s access, everyone is talking about how good a fishery it is. It will fish well all season but aim for the November mayfly hatch and you will see something special. The lake has a great deal of submerged timber that gives many of the trout a better than even chance of getting away. Strong hooks and thicker than usual line is often required. You have been warned! Angling in Tasmania is not all about trophy trout. It is about the amazing fishing 2020-21 Angling Season experience. It is impossible to list all the fisheries expected to perform well this coming season. Beyond the well known waters like yingina/Great Lake, Woods Lake, Lake Echo, Bronte Lagoon, Little Pine Lagoon, Penstock Lagoon, Four Springs Lake why not explore the Bradys Chain. It has had a large number of wild adult brown trout transferred into it over the last few years and has also received stockings of smaller rainbows that should provide some fun. Of course, there are plenty of other waters that are under fished and exciting to explore like lakes Pedder, King William, St Clair and Before the start of the 2020-21 season five tagged Burbury. These are reliable but be prepared brown trout were released into lakes around Tasmania. for some rough weather particularly early in One each into Arthurs Lake, Lake Burbury, yingina / the season. For a more sheltered option with Great Lake, Lake Pedder and Lake Rowallan. good numbers of fish, why not try Huntsman Lake? If you are able to combine rising water The tags are blue and have unique levels and temperatures, Huntsman Lake will identifying details. provide excellent shore based fishing with Each tag is worth $10 000 to the angler that returns the trout moving in shore throughout the day. fish to the Inland Fisheries Service (*conditions apply). Rivers will provide great fishing in the coming season and there are simply too For more information and full Terms and Conditions, go many to mention here. Many enthusiasts to www.ifs.tas.gov.au spend the opening weekend trying to catch a trout on a dry fly and in many creeks, this is easily achievable. Just how good these rivers are will depend on the rainfall for the rest of winter and spring. A skilful angler with an Inland Fisher ies Ser vice unweighted worm can catch more fish than

Go trout fishing and win up to $50 000*

Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 41

Winter Bream - The Good Oil By Nathan Huizing

uring the cooler months of the year, the fishing tends to slow down for a number of different species around Tasmania, however the big blue lipped bream that Tassie is notorious for are certainly an exception to this. As the water temps begin to drop around the state the bream begin to leave the larger estuaries and bays to make their way up into smaller rivers and tributaries for the winter. In this article, I’ll be sharing some of the knowledge I have gained while chasing these fish with lures during these cooler periods over the last 12 years or so.

Fishing News - Page 42

LOCATIONS Little Swanport Lagoon Little Swanport Lagoon is one of the well known bream fisheries along Tasmania’s east coast situated about half an hour north of Orford. Little Swanport is an extremely healthy system and supports a wide variety of species such as silver trevally, Australian salmon and flathead, but most importantly big bream! This lagoon is a bream fishers paradise as it provides for a wide variety of fishing styles from oyster racks to sand flats, channel edges, weed beds and rocky shores, this place has it all! During the earlier stages of winter, bream can still be found in good numbers in the lower section

of Little Swanport. Fishing the racks and flats in early winter, you can expect some exciting fishing on shallow diving hardbodies or even better, topwater! Later in the season, the majority of these fish tend to make their way into the upper reaches of this lagoon and school up for spawning. This is when fishing deeper with soft plastics, vibes and cranka crabs is most effective.

Derwent River The mighty Derwent River is certainly one of the big name locations on the bream scene, not only in

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Tasmania but Australia wide - and for good reason! This river hosts possibly the largest population of bream in the state and not only does it host a quantity, the quality is there also. One of the commonly visited locations on the bream tournament scene, the Derwent is known for producing (5 fish) bags over 6kg! With endless rocky shores, reefs and industrial structure, this system can cater for some exciting fishing. Being such a big system, knowing where to focus your efforts can be tricky. In early June, some good fish can still be found lurking along the shores around the Bowen Bridge, Otago Bay, Old Beach and Austins Ferry just to name a few spots. Although usually by late June it seems as if a large percentage of the Derwent’s bream population have headed for their designated winter hideouts. This is when the shores surrounding the mouth of the Jordan River are worth searching. The upper section of the Derwent itself should not be neglected also. In particular, the shores around Sorell Creek and Boyer have been known to produce good numbers of fish as well as the industrial structure of Norske Skog.

Jordan River The Jordan River is one of three better known tributaries of the Derwent River. Located just south of the Bridgewater Bridge on the eastern side of the river, the Jordan is accessible by foot but certainly better fished by boat. Unfortunately this is one of the least scenic bream locations in the state. Over the years this little river seems to have been used as a bit of a dump site by people looking to get rid of unwanted cars, shopping trolleys and other debris. On a positive note, this can be seen as extra structure for the many blue lipped residents that reside here in the colder months! The tidal section of the Jordan is less than 3km long and mostly consists of rocky edges with a muddy channel of which large numbers of bream can be found schooling in.

Ralphs Bay Canal Ralphs Bay Canal is a smaller body of water found branching off the lower Derwent on the eastern shore. The canal is located in an area known as Lauderdale and considering just how small this body of water is, it sure does support a great number of bream! Only accessible by foot, this rather shallow canal is roughly 750m long and mostly consists of a sandy/silty bottom with patches of weed and scattered shells. The perfect habitat for a variety of crabs, shrimps and worms that these fish love to feed on. With so much food on offer it is no surprise that some of the fish in this area grow to such large proportions.

Browns River Arguably one of the most popular and well known winter bream fisheries in southern Tasmania if not the whole state, Browns River certainly hasn’t gained its reputation as a bream hot spot for no reason! Yet another great fishery branching off the lower Derwent, this river is fishable by foot or kayak and definitely sees its fair share of anglers throughout the season. Each year as winter begins to set in, huge numbers of bream

Big bream taken on a two inch swim prawn soft plastic. make their way into this little river and quickly take up residency in all the fish friendly structure this system has to offer. From bridge pylons to undercut banks, fallen trees, jetties and weed beds, it’s no wonder so many bream return to this system every winter!

Huon River A little further south and one of the lesser fished winter options is the Huon River. This is a system not often discussed on the bream scene but don’t let that fool you. The Huon River has all the key elements to support a healthy population of bream and it does just that! If you’ve never fished the area it can be quite a daunting place to work out and knowing where to start isn’t easy. However, from personal experience I’ve always found the section of river from Franklin down to Cairns Bay to be the most productive at this time of year. The rocky oyster covered shores of Castle Forbes Bay to the muddy flats of Egg Island and the industrial structure of Port Huon are all worth prospecting. The dark tannin stained waters of this river may seem a little off putting but this is not to be stressed, if anything, I think it possibly gives the fish a false sense of security and makes them less wary.

TACKLE When it comes to tackle there are a lot of great options on the market these days. While you may notice some anglers are fishing for bream with outfits priced over $1000, this is certainly not necessary. By all means, if you have the money, go for it, you won’t be disappointed! However, technology has come a long way over recent times and these days a nice set up can be purchased for no more than a few hundred dollars. When choosing a rod to suit your style of fishing, it is worth noting the specs of each individual rod. If

you’re fishing open water such as flats and channels, you want to be covering as much water as possible with each cast and this is where a longer rod has its advantages. Rod lengths in the eight to nine foot range are ideal and will help you noticeably when casting light presentations for these fish. If you’re fishing amongst tight structure such as fallen trees, undercut banks and jetties this is where shorter rods around six foot come into play, particularly if you’re shore based. A shorter rod will give you the freedom to position the rod in angles that may not be possible with a longer rod in these situations which in return can assist your ability to cast, work your lure and fight the fish tremendously. If you fish all sorts of places and are after more of an allrounder type rod, something around the seven to seven and a half foot range should be just perfect and is often the length I find myself using the most. When it comes to rod tapers I rarely stray from a fast action rod. I personally prefer the feel and responsiveness of a fast action rod when fishing for bream with both soft plastics and hardbodies. A slower action rod does have its benefits when fishing with smaller trebles on lures such as cranka crabs and some hardbodies as it absorbs more of the headshakes and doesn’t tear the hooks out. Other than that its really just a personal preference thing and if you’re fishing small trebles on your fast action rod I find just loosening the drag and the stretch in the fluorocarbon leader alone is enough to keep those hooks in the fish. Choosing a reel is relatively easy. Both 1000 and 2500 sizes are great options and you want to look for something with a smooth drag. Brands such as Shimano, Daiwa and Abu Garcia all have excellent options within their range and you shouldn’t have to spend more than $200-300 for a quality bit of gear.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 43

When spooling your reel I personally suggest going with braid as it gives you a more direct feel to your lure and helps you feel more bites. As with most things fishing, braid has advanced quite a bit in recent times and you can now get some stronger braids in some super thin diameters. Due to this I generally run eight strand braids in six to twelve pound on my reels. It also pays to have a number of different fluorocarbon leader sizes in your arsenal. If you’re fishing in open water where there is no risk of being busted off or perhaps you find some bream that are a bit wary and not committing this is when leaders as light as three pound can be very helpful. On the other hand, if you’re fishing deep in some nasty structure such as oyster racks or bridge pylons I would suggest you beef your leader up to eight or even ten pound because lets face it, no one enjoys losing expensive lures or the fish of a life time to a leader failure!

LURE OPTIONS and HOW TO UTILISE THEM As we all know, the range of lures on the market these days is quite extensive and when it comes down to it, most of them will catch fish. However, knowing just how and when to use a specific style of lure is the important part. Listed below are a number of lure styles I like to fish and how I like to fish them.

you suspect the fish to be sitting and allow you plastic to sink until it reaches the bottom. Once on the bottom, begin the retrieve with a couple of short sharp lifts of the rod tip then allow your lure to sink back to the bottom while winding the slack in. Let your plastic rest on the bottom for a few seconds and repeat. Bream will often eat the lure as it rests so watch your line carefully for a subtle ‘tick’ that typically suggests a bream bite! Alternatively, if you find fish hiding deep in thick structure such as fallen trees and undercut banks, rigging your plastic on a weightless worm hook is a very effective method and often over looked. Rigged correctly, worm hooks are super snag resistant and give you the ability to cast your offering into areas you wouldn’t even consider with other lures. If you can’t already, teach yourself how to skip cast. This is a skill worth learning for situations like this! The bonus of using a weightless worm hook is that your sink rate obviously slows dramatically which gives you the ability to slow your retrieve right down and keep your presentation in front of the fish for longer!

Hard body Minnows

Soft Plastics Soft plastics were all the hype when the bream scene really started to take off all those years ago and the fact that so many fisherman still use them speaks for itself. There are so many styles of plastics available these days but there are a select few that stand out above the rest. Grubs, minnows, prawns and worm profile plastics are without doubt the best options. Typically with these lures, anything in the two to four inch size range is ideal with the exception of worm styles up to seven inches. There are two main scenarios where I like to fish soft plastics; If you find the bream to be schooling in deeper water which is quite typical behaviour in the middle of winter, a soft plastic rigged with a suitably weighted jighead is a great option! Cast your lure into the zone

You’d struggle to find a bream angler in Tassie who doesn’t have an assortment of 60-80mm suspending hardbody within their lure tray. These lures not only catch fish but they’re a great lure for covering water quickly when in search of bream. They come in both shallow and deep diving options and therefore can be fished in a few different scenarios. Shallow diving hardbodies are great when fishing over flats, weed beds or rocky shores no more than a metre or two deep. Deep diving minnows are great when fishing down the sides of channel edges, reefs or deep banks in two to four metres of depth. Generally, after making a cast I like to give the lure a couple of solid rips to get it down to the desired depth. After this, proceed to twitch the lure two or three times with the rod tip down while slowly winding up the slack. Follow this with a pause anywhere from two to five seconds and repeat all the way back to the rod tip. Bream will almost always eat the lure on the pause!

Top Water Lures

A few of the authors favourite bream lures. Fishing News - Page 44

By far the most exciting and visual way to catch bream, fishing with topwater lures is definitely my favourite method! Chasing bream with topwater lures in winter is often neglected by many anglers as most seem to consider it as more of a summer thing, however this is not true. Some of the best topwater sessions I’ve had were in

Cranka crabs are deadly on bream! winter, one session in particular produced over 30 fish in late June while fishing Tassie’s east coast. That being said, I do find this style of fishing best utilised in early winter when the fish are still mostly spread out feeding over shallow flats and oyster racks or towards the end of winter as the fish begin to school in the shallows prior to spawning. Topwater lures are best fished over water no more than a metre or two deep and there are few instances where I fish them in particular; These lures are great for covering flats, working parallel down racks or alongside undercut banks. Similar to retrieving hardbody minnows, keep the rod tip down and give the lure a few consecutive twitches followed by a short pause. When retrieving your lure it is important to pay close attention to the surface around your lure. Any subtle bow wave, boil or ripple can be the sign of a big bream hunting down your lure. If you notice any of these signs try to pay close attention to how the fish responds to your lures movement. In these moments, a longer pause or a few extra twitches can be all it takes to convert a follower into a boofer! When selecting a topwater lure, I generally pick sizes anywhere from 60mm up to 90mm and find styles such as surface walkers, bent minnows and even small poppers to work well.

Cranka Crabs By now just about everyone has heard of the cranka crab. These lures entered the bream scene about six years ago and have taken out the win for many tournament

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

anglers. Designed by Steve Steer and Andrew Cox - two gun bream fisherman in Tasmania, its no surprise these thing catch lots of fish! I’ve found these crabs to be great when the bream are in a super fussy mood and not interested in chasing down faster moving presentations. These crabs are great for fishing in channels and over flats, sand holes or sinking alongside pylons and other structure. When fishing a crab, I sink it to the bottom and simply keep my rod tip high and shake the rod tip lightly in order to make the crab scuffle along the bottom while incorporating some long pauses along the way. While fishing so slow can seem a little tedious it can often save the day and result in some red hot fishing!

Lure Colours When it comes to colour choice, I usually stick to natural presentations that mimic the baitfish and crustaceans that the bream like to feed on. Although it never hurts to have some more bright and colourful options in your lure box as they can often provoke a bite when nothing else is working!

Tides While bream can be caught at any stage of the tide I’ve always found the last half of the run in tide, high tide and start of the run out to be most productive.

For me the last half of the run in is possibly the best of all, particularly in winter! As the tide comes up, the bream feed aggressively on all the food items that weren’t accessible to them during the lower periods of the tide and this can account for a couple hours of exciting fishing! Although it is hard to cover everything in just one article, I hope there is a few things that can be taken from this for those that are new to bream fishing or looking to get into it. Winter breaming can be great fun and is a good way to keep your fishing skills in check over the colder months while waiting for those summer species to return in force!

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing the racks usually finds some big bream.

Fishing News - Page 45

New leadership and a new look at TARFish

to sharing our new strategic framework that will guide our organisations activities over the next three years at our Annual General Meeting in October,” he said. The organisation also has a new look with the launch of their new website showing off the new logo and making it easier to find out what the organisation is trying to achieve on behalf of marine recreational fishers and how it is going about doing it.

TARFish CEO, Jane Gallichan, joined the organisation in February and used the Covid-19 lock down to fast-track development of the new site.

The relatively recent appointments of a new Chairman and CEO have paved the way for a process of organisational renewal with the TARFish Board focussing on strategic planning in recent months.

“It’s time we caught up! I’ve had plenty of feedback from fishers that our communication needs to improve. I’ve heard that message loud and clear and this is a first step to providing more information more often to recreational fishers,” said Jane.

ARFish, Tasmania’s peak body for recreational fishing has undergone some significant changes in recent months.

TARFish Chairman, Dane Jones said, “I took on this role after the unexpected resignation of our former Chairman last year which was closely followed by our former CEO. Importantly, both I and the entire Board embraced the changes as an opportunity to revitalise TARFish. “Like any organisation, we must continue to examine what we do and how we can do it better. As a Board we have been reflecting on just that and I look forward

The new website provides access to recent submissions made to governments and regulators on a range of topics important to recreational fishers as well as how fishers can get involved in everything from citizen science projects to surveys. The News section of the website will include all media releases as well as anything recently added to the site.

“This is the first stage of the website development and we have more changes planned for stage two including an events section that will be a one-stop-shop for all marine fishing related events and activities. “We’re holding off the stage two roll out to make sure we get initial feedback and can incorporate that into the final stage of development. “I encourage Tasmania’s fishers to jump on the website and have a look around. Your feedback is welcome and will help us to continue to develop the site in coming months – the website will grow and develop over time as we get to know what fishers want to see on there,” she said. A new website is not all that is planned at TARFish with a new e-news bulletin replacing the old one and which provides more in-depth updates on issues of interest to recreational fishers. “We’re giving the news bulletin and Facebook page a refresh as well so that we have consistent, relevant and timely information coming out via a number of channels, but the website will be the information hub for the organisation,” she concluded. Got feedback for TARFish? Go to www.tarfish.org or or email info@tarfish.org

New TARFish website OUT NOW! We’re here to champion you, Tasmania’s marine recreational fishers. To find out how we are doing that and for the latest on the issues that matter in marine recreational fishing from your peak body, visit our new website.

www.tarfish.org Fishing News - Page 46

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

BAR CRUSHER EXCLUSIVES:

BR SERIES

C SERIES

Head office 5 Quality Drive, Dandenong South, VIC 3175 Phone 03 9792 2999 Email info@barcrusher.com.au Sales 0408 776 080 Website barcrusher.com.au

HT SERIES

XS SERIES

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

XT SERIES

Fishing News - Page 47

Setting up for early season lure fishing Matt Sherriff is a fishing nuts and a good part of his business is developing and distributing tackle. Here is his guide to setting yourself up for success.

ell, Trout season is here again and looking as promising as ever! Winter rains have seen some much needed water return to many lakes and the Inland Fisheries Service have been busy stocking some of the popular waters around our state. Early season lure fishing is a great way to actively target Trout as many fish will be trying to put condition back on after their spawning run. Recent rains have boosted lake levels and most rivers are flowing well which will be fantastic as feeding trout will be moving over the flooded margins which is especially good for anglers fishing from the shore. Fishing News - Page 48

The right setup does not need to be expensive, but does need to be balanced

Ideal fishing setup

Rod: When fishing lighter lures such as bibbed minnows and soft plastics a 1-3kg or 2-4kg rod is ideal. The 1-3kg rods are great for those that enjoy fishing ultra light, but the 2-4kg models are a great allrounder that is able to handle heavier lures and is a better option if you’re wanting to troll or if kids may be using the rods. Ensure you check the lure rating on the rods as some of the high modulus, ultra-light carbon blanks are only designed to fish lures up to 4g. Therefore, if

you are intending to use heavier lures such as Tassie Devils which can range from 7 - 26g you will need a composite or fiberglass rod which will accommodate for these heavier lures. Most manufacturers have rods available in lengths from 6’ through to 8’ with the most popular sizes being 6’6” and 7’. Note that the higher the modulus of the rod, the more feel it will have, however these rods which are more expensive need to be cared for as they will not handle carelessness as

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

NEVER BEFORE SEEN ON A SINGLE OUTBOARD... The next generation of digital boating control is here.

FISH POINT Automatic Position Holding

DRIF T POINT Heading Control When Drifting

AUTOPILOT Navigation System

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

For more info visit: www.yamaha-motor.com.au Fishing News - Page 49

well as the cheaper lower modulus models. Guides are also an important feature with many of the newer rods now running tangle-free “k” guides. These make a huge difference when fishing with lighter fused or braided lines, especially on windy days, helping to avoid the line getting tangled around the guides. Worst case scenario is when one of the top guides is wrapped and you get a fish on which has the potential to break the rod! Reel: Ideally, your reel should match your rod. Most of the above-mentioned rod sizes will best suit reels in the 1000 – 2500 size range. What you are looking for is a balanced set-up. If you’ve spent good money on an ultra-light carbon rod make sure the reel you choose is light enough that it doesn’t unbalance your rod. As a rough guide, your rod should balance evenly on a single finger placed close to the front of the foregrip. Reels for trout fishing do not require high capacity spools and anything that holds around 150 metres of line will be fine. The reel should operate smoothly, preferably have infinite anti-reverse and a good drag system. The main thing to look for with the drag is that it is finely adjustable and smooth running, some of the newer reels are fitted up with carbon drag washers which are much better than traditional felt ones. A smoothly operating drag will minimise your chances of losing a good fish! Smooth drag it especially important with braid as it has no stretch. Line: Whilst monofilament lines are still used, these days most lure anglers are preferring to run straight through fluorocarbon or braid with a fluoro leader. Fluorocarbon will give you an almost invisible link between your rod and lure, is very easy to manage for anglers and it is ok to use on lower priced reels. It is also less likely to form wind knots when compared to braid as well as there being no need to tie on separate leaders which can save time and frustration (especially

Fishing News - Page 50

if you’re like me and your eyes aren’t as good as they used to be). However, on the downside, fluoro has a degree of stretch or elasticity which lessens the feedback through the line. This means you will not feel as much action from the lure which makes in turn makes it harder to feel hits from fish and also to know if you’ve got weed on your lure. This line is ok for those just fishing hard bodied lures, but you will really struggle to convert fish on soft plastics without feeling strikes. Fused or braided lines on the other hand have zero stretch which coupled with new aged carbon rods lets you feel everything that’s going on at the lure, most importantly changes to the action and any hits from a fish. When you feel a hit, you can pause your lure or change the retrieve which more often than not will turn into a hook-up especially with soft plastics!

The other benefit of these lines is their small diameter for the breaking strain which allows you to cast light lures much farther and therefore enabling you to cover more ground when searching for fish. The offset for these advantages is that you have to use better line management to avoid loose wraps of line forming knots and also use braid friendly reels that lay the line tight on the spool. You will also need to tie a leader between the braid and the lure which creates the invisible link to the lure. Your local tackle shop will be more than happy to let you know what reels are suitable for braid and the characteristics of the different lines. They’re also a great place to try reels on rods to feel their balance which is something that can’t be done over the internet! Lures: There are many different styles of lures on the market and as anglers we are spoilt for choice. There are three variants of lures that I use which cover the majority of scenarios you will be faced with, these are shallow running minnows, deep minnows and soft plastics. Shallow Minnows: these lures are generally between 50-80mm long and swim less than one metre below the surface. They are a great baitfish imitation which can be used around edges and shallow margins. Deep Minnows: also representing baitfish, these lures generally run between 1.5 – 3 metres deep and are used to target fish in deeper water around drop offs and weed beds. Soft Plastics: representing small baitfish, worms, insects etc, soft plastics can be weighted according to depth or current and give you the ability to work the

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

entire water column whether that’s a shallow edge or a weed bed eight metres down in great lake. The versatility of these lures makes them a valuable addition to the tackle box! Whichever lure you choose, try to closely match what fish could be potentially feeding on and work that lure through the water in a natural way. It is important to mix up your retrieve as different actions tend to work better on different days! When fishing minnows, I will generally incorporate a slow retrieve with intermittent rod twitches and a couple of pauses. Take note of what you are doing when you get hits as this is often the key to unlocking the bite. If you do feel a tap and don’t hook up, I find momentarily pausing your retrieve followed by a couple of small twitches of the rod before resuming your retrieve will often result in a secondary strike! Experiment with this as you will definitely convert more fish when you mix it up. If you’re looking at a new rod, make sure you check out the Crucis brand, with the Tempesta range coming in well under $100 and the Aegis models around $169. Ask your local tackle store to pair these with a reel for balance or take your own reel in to try. Nearly all the trout I catch are on Hawk Sniper and Megabass lures along with Strike Tiger Plastics. Our business imports these rods and lures and are more than happy to help with any questions you may have. Michal Rybka is the distributor of Strike Tiger lures which is another local business. On behalf of myself and Michal we certainly appreciate everyones support, especially in recent times! Keep an eye out on the Sherriff Fishing and Outdoor Facebook page as well; we are about to run a tagged trout competition in one of the lakes with $1,000 worth of prizes up for grabs for the 2020/21 season! Tight lines, I hope you have a great start to the season! Matt Sherriff

A soft plastic doing the job during high water on a river.

SNIPERS NEVER MISS

60mm series dive to 1 metre, great action proven in Tasmanian waters, great colour range Deep 69mm series, dive to 2.5 metres, transversing weight, great swim action and colour range

Increase you catch at affordable prices

Trout & Bream Candy

Check out on Facebook our tagged Trout Competition at the Huntsman Lake Meander

For directions to your nearest Tasmanian stockists ‐ message us on Facebook

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 51

The lowland lakes will fish well early.

Early Season and Sinking Lines Commonwealth fly fishing champion, Lubin Pfeiffer shares a few of his ideas.

ts early season here in Tasmania and the fish are hungry after the cold winter. Regardless of which of the lowland lakes you choose to fish, the trout will be eager to chase bigger offerings at this time of year. There are several techniques that work in these fisheries but fishing them with sinking lines can be the most effective. In this article I’ll run through the techniques I’ve found to become super effective while fishing Tasmania’s lakes - especially with sinking lines.

Early Season Options The great thing about fishing with sinking lines is that you can use them in every type of water you find. Whether it is shallow weedy bays, or deep drop offs, Fishing News - Page 52

sinking lines will get you to where the fish are holding. My favourite type of water would have to be lakes that have a good thick weedy bottom with about 1-2 metres of clear fishable water over the top of it. This water is just perfect for trout to cruise around in and has lots of food with plenty of cover. You can then make searching casts drifting over this and usually picking up lots of fish. Brushy, Blackmans, Big Waterhouse, Four Springs and Leake are perfect examples of this type of water. Early season will see great bags of fish come from fishing with sinking lines pulling flies such as woolly buggers or streamers. The amazing thing about Tasmania is there are countless lakes where this technique will work. If there is a piece of water that

has trout in it, chances are they will be catchable using a sinking line setup.

The Gear To Get Set-Up Commonly fishing with sinking lines in lakes is done by competition anglers and that means that the set-up is a little complicated. That said though, once you are set-up you will have a selection of lines that will enable you to fish any lake right across the globe. Thats the thing that I love about competition based techniques. Once you learn them you can take them anywhere in the world to catch fish, and usually lots of them. To get started you will need a suitable rod. Because of the weight of sinking lines you need something with a little

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

UNBEATABLE 150HP FOURSTROKE

The Mercury 150hp FourStroke is the largest displacement and lowest weight outboard in its class. The perfect partner for powering trailer boats.

LIGHTWEIGHT. LARGE DISPLACEMENT. 150HP FOURSTROKE – COMPACT MERCURY 150 LIGHTEST

HONDA BF150 OVER 5%

YAMAHA F150LB OVER 8%

SUZUKI DF150 OVER 12%

150HP DISPLACEMENT COMPARISON 3000

2500

3000cc

2867cc

217kg

NEW MERCURY

60AMP

SUZUKI

44AMP

YAMAHA

35AMP

HONDA

40AMP

2670cc

2000

206kg

150HP ALTERNATOR OUTPUT

2354cc

223kg 232kg

NEW MERCURY

The New Mercury 150hp Fourstroke comes in at an incredibly light 206kg* making it the lightest in its horsepower class.

SUZUKI

YAMAHA

HONDA

The Mercury 150hp FourStroke is the largest displacement, helping out gun other 4-strokes in the category.

The largest capacity 150hp FourStroke boasts an impressive 60amp alternator output, giving you ample power for all onboard electrical accessories.

Channel Marine Services Margate, Ph: 03 6267 1456 *Based on Mercury’s 150hp (L) model. Information based

on manufacturers’ claimed horsepower and weight figures.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 53

bit of grunt. My preferred selection is a 6wt. As most of my sinking line fishing is done from boats I like to opt for a rod length of 10ft. This not only gives me extra power on the cast, it also helps me control my flies at the end of my retrieve during the ‘hang’. A 10ft rod length will also make landing fish easier from a boat. Comparing a standard 9ft 6wt rod to a longer 10ft version side by side in a boat you will definitely notice the difference. Reel selection is another very important piece of the puzzle. For sinking line fishing in boats, it could not be more true in saying that the reel is simply a line storage device. Rarely will you be fighting a fish off of the reel in a boat. As a line storage device though, it plays a massive part in successful fishing. You need a reel that comes with a large selection of spare spools to interchange lines throughout the days fishing, sometimes even throughout a drift if necessary. So with that in mind, choose a reel that comes with the option of getting spare spools easily. You can get away with a few to start with but I feel a little lost if I’m not heading out on a lake with my set of eight different spools with me. These are all loaded with lines of different sink rates and characteristics.

Fly Lines, Leaders and Tippet The sink rate of fly lines is measured in ‘Di’ which is the ‘Depth in inches’ it will sink per second it is in the water. For example a Di5 fly line will sink five inches each second it is in the water. A Di3 will sink three inches for every second and so on. For my lake reel and line selection I like to have a full set of lines to cover every water I may come across. Rather than having a selection of flies in different weights like you would fishing in rivers, the depth your flies sink when fishing in lakes, for the most part, should be dictated by the weight of the line taking them down. Because of this, I will take everything from a Di7,

A boat will allow you to cover more water. Di5, Di3, Fast Intermediate, Intermediate and floating lines. That way, regardless of the flies I have selected, I can fish them where the fish are holding. Moving across a lake for different drifts and coming across several depths of water I will simply change the line and not the flies I am using. If the flies you are using in one part of the lake are working there is little point in changing them. Same goes with the effect of wind. On calmer days you will find your flies will sink faster than on days of high winds. This is due to the speed the boat drifts and the waves in the water. So if you are successfully fishing one area with a Di3 but find in the fishing session the wind starts to blow, you can change to a Di5 and continue you to fish your flies at the same successful depth. This is the reason

for needing a selection of spools to change you lines quickly and efficiently. I use the WaterWorks Lamson Remix reels and find them very easy to change over. I’ll explain my tippet construction shortly, but for me to change over a three fly rig during a competition session it is a simple wind the line back on to the spool, cut the line, pop off the unwanted line and spool, then pop and tie on the new one ready for casting. With a correctly set-up reel selection and braided loops on your fly lines, this should only take around one minute, some times less.

Fly Selection Fly selection for me using sinking lines is predominantly streamer type flies. You are using a

Canvas, Clears, Covers and more .........

A towing mishap in early January saw the bimini cover on our boat fly off the back like it had taken up parasailing. Luckily there were no cars behind us as it became airborne not far from the Epping Forest shop. What to do? Should we salvage what was left and seek a repair with the debris I collected on my 400 metre ‘walk of shame’ or should we just bite the bullet and get a new one built? Fishing News - Page 54

Eventually it was decided to go the new option, along with the addition of some clears and sidewalls which was my wife Janet’s suggestion as apparently she likes staying dry when fishing - who knew? Anyway, did the due diligence thing and settled on a quote by a young fellow who runs a business called Mick’s Canvas, out at Mt Direction on the Tamar River.

We were very pleased with the quality of the job, his professionalism and the price. Above are a couple of pictures of the new bimini. If you’re in the market for this kind of service, give Mick a call. Shop local, support local. Todd and Janet Lambert

Mick’s Canvas 0447 590 797

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

technique that is searching for the fish, so it only seems natural to use searching type flies. My main choice are woolly buggers. It’s astounding how many variants there are of this fly and while it may seem confusing, don’t fret as there is a system to use which is easy to understand. I question just how much difference you need in each of your woolly buggers. For me, the most important part is size and colour. Weight plays a small part but only occasionally as this should be dictated by the sink rate of your fly line. Sometimes I like to have a point fly as anchor which I will tie with a tungsten bead. For the most part though, all of my woolly buggers are tied with brass beads. These are also way easier to cast. My woolly bugger selections consist of the main successful fly colours which are brown, black and olive. I will then have variants of these which may have an orange bead, gold body, flash in the tail or a hot spot of some sort. I like to tie them in various sizes. For Tassie, I find I am mostly using flies from size 8 through to size 14. This selection covers a lot of different types of water for me. While I could go through individual names of certain woolly buggers, I see very little point as you only get caught up in the hype and miss the fact that they are all very similar. The more I trout fish, the less I think a trout is going to care if one has two strands of red flash or three as it gets ripped past them on a sinking line at pace. Forming your own opinion often leads to better fish catches anyway, trout get smart and fishing the same flies as everyone else is not the best tactic to use especially in heavy fished areas such as Tasmania. The reason the best anglers are always catching more is that they don’t follow the crowds which gives them a much better understanding as to why a fish is eating a particular fly. The Europeans are a perfect example

of this, where most of their woolly buggers are very simple to tie and catch more fish than most of us put together.

Tippet selection Tippet selection is pretty simple. I don’t use a tapered leader when using this technique and this means all that is needed when I hit the water is a couple of spools of tippet to cover the days fishing. Your Try to have a range of tippet breaking strength should be selected depending on the size of fish you expect to encounter. Large fish in the 2-4kg bracket require a tippet of around 0.22mm/4.5kg, this size tippet is also great for when you are fishing in high winds as you will get less tangles. For smaller fish and less wind you may go with a tippet of 0.18mm/3.0kg. If the water you are fishing has a bit of colour in it, you can get away with thicker tippet than what you can when it is very clear. It’s always best practise to be on the heavy side to start with and then go lighter as your confidence grows with the technique. Because you are pulling the flies quite hard at times it can be easy to bust a fish off on the take. To construct a tippet, simply tie three - 1.5m

A longer — 10ft fly rod is much better for boat use in every way.

flies in different colours and sizes. pieces of tippet together using a surgeons knot. The top of your first piece will connect to your braided loop, you then need to leave a 150mm ‘dropper’ on the next two tags for your middle flies, and then the point fly can be tied on at the bottom. It is most common to use this technique with three flies but you can use only two if it is easier for you to start with. I like to construct spare leaders before heading out on to the water and wrap these are a foam board and keep them in my bag. That way when I’m drifting around in the boat in the wind and get a tangle, I can quickly unwrap a brand new leader and tie one knot to get fishing again.

Retrieves The retrieve is what brings your fly in to life. With this in mind, you need to be-able to picture how your woolly buggers are moving through the water. I suggest this to most people new to fishing and it’s such a great thing to do. Put your flies in the water in front of you where you can see them and move them in the way you plan to retrieve them. There’s no point doing a long cast and never really understanding how the flies are moving. After you’ve seen them up close, you can then do small twitches, or speed up or slow down your flies to really entice a bite from a fish. The worst thing you can do when pulling sinking lines is gets caught up doing the same retrieve over and over if it isn’t working. Try stripping them fast, try slow, try constant retrieves and everything in between until you find out what is working on that day. Another good tactic that works over a range of different Tassie lakes, is to hang your flies at the end of the retrieve. This is usually done a couple of rod lengths from the boat and it is best to do just before you get sight of your flies. You can hang them for only a few seconds or up to 20 seconds or more, it just depends on what the fish want at the time. Rarely if ever, will I lift my flies out of the water and recast straight away. Lubin Pfeiffer

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 55

6-8 WEST TAMAR ROAD. LAUNCESTON. TASMANIA 7250 Fishing News - Page 56 www.tasfish.com www.tamarmarine.com.au - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

PHONE (03) 6331 6188 FAX (03) 63342681

Squid closures reminder The areas below are closed to the taking and possession of squid and calamari during the dates listed to protect spawning calamari.

RECREATIONAL SEA FISHERIES NEWS August 2020

Recreational Sea Fishing Strategy More than 3200 people – both fishers and non-fishers – responded to the For a Better Fishing Future survey conducted during June and July – thanks to everyone who participated. The survey sought views on broad initiatives that may be progressed under the Tasmanian Recreational Sea Fishing Strategy – a government initiative to provide a more proactive approach to recreational fisheries management over the next 10 years. The topics raised in the survey were based on feedback from stakeholders, including fishers, over the past six months. Survey respondents also had the opportunity to raise new ideas. The popularity of these initiatives across the community will help determine whether they are progressed under the Strategy, and if so, how this will be done. Overall, there was broad support for most initiatives in the survey. These included those relating to research, management priorities, fishing infrastructure, encouraging sustainable fishing behaviour and encouraging participation among women and people with disabilities. Initiatives that attracted a more divided response included those relating to encouraging general fishing participation and fishing tourism. A summary of survey results will be available at: www.fishing.tas.gov.au. The survey results will inform a discussion paper to be released in August. There will be further opportunities for public comment, both in writing and face-to-face subject to Covid guidelines allowing this. For more information visit: www. fishing.tas.gov.au/rec-strategy

North Coast 1 - 31 October 2020 inclusive: All waters from Cape Grim east to Cape Naturaliste.

East Coast 15 October to 14 November 2020 inclusive: All waters south from Lemon Rock (south of Wineglass Bay) to the northern end of Marion Beach (south of Maria Island) including Coles Bay, Great Oyster Bay and Mercury Passage.

Fishcare activities set to recommence Due to Covid-19 directives between March and June, the Fishcare Program moved to working remotely and conducting meetings with volunteers online. During this time, we were unable to conduct fishing clinics or visit schools. Large events such as Agfest and Liawenee that are usually important dates on our calendar were cancelled. Before Fishcare activities can recommence, a Covid-safe work plan will be put in place to safeguard volunteers, staff and members of the public. Volunteers will undergo training on how to conduct fishing activities with minimal Covid-19 risks. It has been a challenging time, but our volunteers are enthusiastic about re-starting activities when circumstances allow. We are hoping to offer fishing clinics in some form and attend events subject to guidelines. Please contact one of our Coordinators if you’d like to enquire about a future activity. If you’re interested in volunteering, email us at fishcare@dpipwe.tas.gov.au or ring 6165 3039. Need more information? Get a copy of the Recreational Sea Fishing Guide from Service Tasmania Download the Tasmanian Sea Fishing Guide app Go to www.fishing.tas.gov.au or www. facebook.com/FisheriesTasmania Phone: 1300 720 647 or 03 6165 3233 Email: fishing.enquiries@dpipwe.tas. gov.au

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 57

REDINGTON 8wt SALTWATER COMBO $420

Redington’s Path/Behemoth Fly Combo. All-water, medium-fast-action Path rod boasts premium graphite blanks for reliable performance. Rods feature full-wells handles and anodized-aluminum reel seats. Alignment dots make assembly easy. Matched with a Redington Behemoth 7/8 Reel / Backing and WF8F Fly line. The Redington Path rod has lifetime replacement warranty, so if it gets broken for any reason you pay around $100 and Redington replace your rod with a new one. The Redington Behemoth reel is tough and amazing value for money. Check out any review and you will see. Great drag and great value. We have sold hundreds. They are tough. Buy it online at www.essentialflyfisher.com.au Shipping is FREE.

LAUNCESTON’S ONLY AUTHORISED MERCURY MARINE SERVICE CENTRE • MERCURY MARINE SALES AND SERVICING • SERVICING ALL BRANDS OF OUTBOARDS • TRAILER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS 8 LEGANA PARK DRIVE, LEGANA PH: 6330 2277 Z A N E @ C JMA R INE .C OM .A U

Tasmania Made in your - to suit . ing spirit r u t n e v d a

The Leven

Little Henty camper - this is a great camper The Leven slide on camper is constructed from light weight for couples who want a very light weight fully insulated slide on with extensive customization Litt fibreglass panel and hasoptions. outstanding insulation properties. So make it suit how you want to live while on the road. With seven models in the range for c The aerodynamic shapeand of Leven only looks great, but is threethe of them set for those whonot travel alone we have it covered. insul functional saving you fuel on those long road trips. The electric optio powered roof gives the Leven it’s stylish exterior and the camper whil able to be used evenmodels with the roof down. Security features in interior is designed to allow the maximum TheisLeven - One of seven Aussie Traveller and double use ofsecurity space. Thedoor, features include a pull out and The the LevenLeven slide oninclude camper isthe constructed table which be stored when windows with lock down pointscanthat ensure a not needed we h fromglazed light weight fibreglass paneltriple and has andfitted comfort-able faceistodesigned face seatingtoin a strong durable seal. The quality interior outstanding properties. Phone : 03 6437 2791 emailinsulation : and drafting@penguincomposites.com.au of durableinclude fashion fabrics. The allow aerodynamic shape of the Leven the maximum use ofnotspace. choice The features a pullThe sleek kitchen design features overhead storage, only out lookstable great, but is functional youwhen not needed and comfortwhich can besaving stored plenty of draws, and a choice of gas or fuel on those longtoroad trips. The electric able face face seating in a choice of durable fashion fabrics. electric hotplate. A fridge is also included in powered roof gives the Leven it’s stylish The sleek kitchen design features overhead storage, of the camper so you will plenty have everything you exterior and the camper is able to be used draws, and a choice of gas or electric hotplate. A fridge is also need including the kitchen sink. even with the roof down. Security features included in the camper so you will have everything you need Customise to suit your needs. in the Leven include the Aussie Traveller including kitchen security door, andthe double glazedsink. windows The Leven slide on camper is constructed from light weight fibreglass panel and has outstanding insulation properties. The aerodynamic shape of the Leven not only looks great, but is functional saving you fuel on those long road trips. The electric powered roof gives the Leven it’s stylish exterior and the camper is able to be used even with the roof down. Security features in the Leven include the Aussie Traveller security door, and double glazed windows with triple lock down points that ensure a strong and durable seal. The quality fitted interior is designed to allow the maximum use of space. The features include a pull out table which can be stored when not needed and comfortable face to face seating in a choice of durable fashion fabrics. The sleek kitchen design features overhead storage, plenty of draws, and a choice of gas or electric hotplate. A fridge is also included in the camper so you will have everything you need including the kitchen sink.

with triple lock down points that ensure a strong and durable seal. The quality fitted

Phone : 03 6437 2791 email : drafting@penguincomposites.com.au Fishing News - Page 58

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Gone Fishing Charters

• East coast estuary and bay • Whiting, Bream, Salmon, Garfish, Flathead, Squid and more • Soft plastics, lures, fly and bait • 5.8 metre sportfishing boat.

Gone Fishing Charters St Helens Michael Haley 0419 353 041 mhaleycharters@bigpond.com www.breamfishing.com.au

Boat trailer wheel and tyre

Dunbier and early Holden pattern

around $90ea 62 Hopkins St, Moonah 6228 0274

Outboard Technology Quality service and repairs to all Outboard Motors

Southern Region David Gillespie 6248 9080 or 0417 562 859 96 Clifton Beach Rd Sandford Tas 7020

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 59

BOATWISE? BOATWISE? ARE YOU DODGY ARE YOU DODGY CHECK CHECK BEFORE BEFORE YOU YOU BUY. BUY. BOATWISE? BOATWISE? CHECK CHECK BEFORE BEFORE YOU YOU BUY. BUY.

Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 142 2020 August

Articles inside

Winter Bream — Nathan Huizing

Trout Season Outlook — IFS

Rivers in Crisis – Who Cares — Howard Jones

Early Trout Season Lure Fishing Setup — Matt Sherriff

Bluefin Tuna on surface lures - Scott Gray

Tom Jones – The Real Version — Peter Hayes

Great Lake in Winter — Shaun Cooper

Lake Techniques — Casey Pfeiffer

The Old Masters — Hilary Burden

Recreational Bag Limits — Todd Lambert

World Champion’s Winning Techniques – Penstock Lagoon — Howard Croston

Bluefin Tuna on Fly — Tim Johnson

Lure Tactics for Trout — Colby Lesko

Bream – Gangsters of the Estuary — James Sinnamon