Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 050 2004 June

Issue 50

$3.95

June - July 2004

Australian salmon are a great fish all year round, but they can be one of the best catches over winter. This fish was caught in Georges Bay by Ben Carosi. See more on page 4. horan

Winter Opportunities • Catching Warehou • Trolling for Big Flathead • Joys of Boating • Jan’s Flies • Boat Reviews • Sarah’s Kitchen

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CONTENTS

East Coast Winter Action - Pat Sullivan 5 Winter Warehou - Damon Sherriff 8 Trolling for Bigger Flathead - Mike Stevens

10

Joys of Boating - Humor by hil from Blessington

12

Jan’s Flies 18 Sarah’s Kitchen - Sarah Sherriff 19 Snapper Research - Damon Sherriff 20 Inland Fisheries News 23 Events Calendar 27 Fishing and Boating Directory 28 Subscriptions and Back Issues 29 Classifieds 30

My Say Winter might seem like a dreary time to many, but there is some remarkable fishing to be had.

While some people look at winter as a time to escape to warmer climates, you can do well looking at what Tasmania has to offer.

Australian salmon fishing is excellent on many beaches if you put in the time, and the fishing for snotty trevally peaks in the Tamar River. Reef fishing off the east coast is also at a premium.

As winter progresses the anticipation of another trout season takes over and the hype begins for trout fishers again.

This start to the next trout season on 7 August will be, for many, more keenly anticipated than any has been for years. The reason? Opening of Lake Crescent again. Closed due to the discovery of carp some years ago, the carp have been managed down to a

safe level to allow fishing once again.

Lake Crescent has been restocked with Great Lake fish over the last couple of season and many of these have already grown to the magic ten pound mark.

Lake Crescent was always regarded as a big fish water and many will be visiting it again to try their luck.

It will now be artificial only and this is due entirely to managing the risk of carp.

The next issue of Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News will be on sale by 30 July and will include a comprehensive overview and fishing tips for Crescent. Also included will be a big roundup of news from the Inland Fisheries Service.

Mike Stevens

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Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Published by Michael Stevens 17 Oxford Street, Launceston, 7250. Ph/fax; 6331 1278 Email; fishn@bigpond.net.au Fishing News (Aust) Pty Ltd, ABN 79 095 217 299 All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the publisher.

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Fishing News - Page 3

East Coast winter fishing fun

By Patrick Sullivan

I

t would be untrue to say the winter in Tassie isn’t cold because it is!!! But given that you dress accordingly it is possible to stay warm, catch a few fish and more importantly have fun doing it. Many people see winter as a time to stay home and rug up. While those that do make the effort to get out there and have a fish are often rewarded with more than just a few fish. In fact I have often caught more of certain species in the colder months compared to summer. Species such

as Australian salmon are more prolific from around April right through till November and are one of the best sports fish going round.

On a good day you can catch them one after the other, they are great fun to catch, as they are one of the best fighters pound for pound in Tasmanian waters. Salmon are not the only fish to be caught during the cooler months. Species such as: leather jacket, long finned pike (jack pike) and barracouta (commonly known as couta) just to name a few

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Australian salmon are fantastic fun and prolific over winter. Fish of up to two kilograms are great sport and if properly handled excellent table fare.

are all around in good numbers. To me there is nothing better than heading out for a spin off some rocks on a bright sunny winters day.

Places such as, St Helens, Binalong Bay, Coles Bay and Eddystone Point can be absolutely stunning on those clear, still winter days. The following is a brief run down on what you may be running into if you do chose to get out there and get amongst them.

Australian Salmon (Arripis trutta)

Salmon are a great sports fish and are not hard to catch. If you manage to locate a school then it is possible to catch a fish on every cast! Salmon are common in the 1-2 kg ranges, but it is not uncommon to get a 3 or

even 4 kg specimen. Salmon are reasonably clean fighters meaning they are good for anglers of any skill level and also for children.

One of the most productive ways to fish for salmon is by spinning from the shore or in a boat. I would recommend a medium spin stick loaded with line from 4-6 kg. You want to be able to cast lures a fair way. Lighter lines allow you to do this without too much hassle.

You can use larger rods such as surf rods from the beach or rocks but to me fishing is about having as much fun as possible. I like to use lighter rods as the fight is more exciting and the fish have a better chance on light gear hence making it more challenging.

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Where and when for salmon

Salmon can be caught from a boat, the beach or from the rocks. I prefer fishing from rocks as generally salmon stay close to the shore so a boat is not a necessity. Catching salmon from the beach is often more productive using bait.

If you are planning to fish from the rocks, look for deep holes or headlands. Fish will often hold in this deeper water, as they feel safe from the threat of predators.

The change in light levels at both dawn and dusk will often see most fish come your way, however on overcast days it is possible to catch good numbers of fish throughout the whole day. Tides can alter fish activity especially in tidal rivers meaning it is important to plan your trip accordingly.

Fishing can be good one or two ours either side of a low tide, with fish all but disappearing during the strongest tidal movements. In the sea I believe tides are not as important, just remember that the best fishing is safe fishing. There is no point going out to a rock platform to fish the high tide and getting washed in.

Lures for salmon Soft Plastics

The lure I probably reach for first would be a shad style soft plastic. No doubt people have read many articles on soft plastics and how affective they are. Well they weren’t lying!!!

The reason I like soft plastics is you can fish them so many ways. You can fish them slow and deep when the fish are located in deeper water or you can fish them fast along the surface and watch as ten or twenty salmon crash into each other as they do their best to smash the lure. Squidgies are probably the most available soft plastics in Tasmania and while they are good there are however many more distributors of soft plastics of more types you could ever imagine. Some other quality brands include Atomic, Berkley and ecogear but there are many more out there. I like natural colours such as white and gray but just about any colour will work when salmon are about.

Metal Slices

I don’t think there is a better metal slice on the market than a raider which are available at most tackle stores. They swim fast through the water, which is a good thing when targeting salmon. A 20g raider is a good starting point for light lines while people fishing heavier lines may want to go with a little more weight. Just about any metal slice will catch fish with halco being another widely available metal slice. Metal slices are different to metal spoons. I find metal spoons to be far less affective as they have a much slower action, but they will still catch fish.

Bibbed Lures

Bibbed lures can be great for catching salmon that are holding deeper in the water column. Trawled from a boat they have accounted for many salmon over the years. Again more natural colours such as blue, white and gray are good colours to try. Try to match the bait fish whenever possible.

When buying bibbled lures try to imagine what it would look like in the water. There is a saying “lures catch more fisherman than fish” and this can be especially true with bibbed lure so take your time when selecting what lures to buy.

Bait

Just about any fish bait will catch salmon, but blue bait or similar baits are best for salmon. Some people choose to use stronger baits such as squid so that there isn’t the problem of loosing your bait as often. This can be good when beach fishing as you may be waiting long periods of time between

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Leather jacket

Leather jacket tend to hold in calm bays and estuaries that are protected from water movements such as waves. They are hard fighters, and are considered one of the best eating fish in Tasmanian waters. You will find them on weedy, rocky bottom with patches of sand. Berley is a good idea to get the fish in your area (chook pellets are good). Fishing gear doesn’t need to be fancy, just a simple rod and reel. A spinning rod is a good choice.

A fun and affective way of catching leather jacket is to use a stick float with a metre or two of line below with a piece of fish flesh (squid is good as it holds to the hook well). A tip for using floats is having a lighter leader than your main line as this way if you get snagged you don’t loose your float.

When the leather jacket has your bait they will slowly pull the float under, as this happens strike and play the fish in. They are dirty fighters so try to steer them clear of any underwater structure such as rocks and weed.

Long finned pike

Pike tend to hold over weedy bottom. They can be all but invisible during the day but come dawn and dusk the water is usually alive with them. They are an ambush predator that attacks their prey by waiting on the bottom and charging them from below.

Catching long finned pike

Pike can be caught on all types of lures and fish baits. Soft plastics as mentioned above and bibbed lures are a good starting point. Pike respond better to metal spoons than slices as they have a slower action. A light-spinning rod is best suited for catching pike, as heavy rods tend to be an overkill and stop the pike from putting up any fight whatsoever. They can be caught in large numbers and are reasonable eating fish.

Barracouta

Couta are a very aggressive feeder during the change of light periods. Once locating a school of couta it is far from difficult go get them to take a lure or bait. They have on more than one occasion all but jumped into my boat while attempting to grab a lure. I have also witnessed a couta jump into a boat while doing the same thing. A wire trace is a must

as couta have extremely sharp teeth. Couta tend to hold in deeper water and can be found in water well over 50metres.

If you have a sounder look for reef bottom and any fish that are holding in large numbers as these often turn out to be couta. Handling should be done with caution as their teeth can cause a fair bit of damage to anything that they may come in contact. They do have ok eating flesh but many of the bigger fish tend to have worms and you are advised to steer clear of these fish. Unfortunately you will not know which fish have worms till you start cleaning them so try to take the smaller fish as the chances of worms is lowered.

Catching barracouta

Any imaginable lure will catch you couta. Bibbed lures, metal slices, soft plastics (they will be chewed up real fast) and metal spoons will catch couta. A wire trace is a must, as their teeth will soon bite through even the thickest line. A rod in the 4-6 kg range is a good starter for couta. Their first run is often fast and long, they pull hard on light gear and are fun to catch as they hit lures and baits with reckless abandon.

Places to fish Salmon

Any beaches and rock platforms along the entire east coast. Places such as Eddystone Point, Binalong Bay, St Helens and Bicheno are all good places to fish. Sheltered bays and estuaries will hold smaller fish while the exposed waters tend to hold larger fish although George’s Bay at St Helens holds many larger specimens.

Leather jacket

Can be found in just about any area with a patchy bottom.

They tend to hold in calm water that include bays and estuaries but can also be caught in open waters. Places such as, the Swan River near Swansea is literally plagued with leather jacket.

Barracouta

Will generally be found in open waters other reefs and other structure. They tend to hold in water around 15 metres or more. Eddystone point and out from St Helens are both good places to locate couta.

The East Coast of Tasmania has some excellent structure. Casting lures and baits around rocky outcrops will almost certainly guarantee some good action.

Long finned pike

Rock platforms and reefy bottom is where pike will be located more often than not. Places such as Georges Bay hold pike but generally pike will be found mainly in open waters.

Conclusion

Tasmania is home to some great fishing during winter, but only for those that are willing to try. It is possible to catch many different species in a days fishing relaxing in the sun with an added bonus of taking a feed at the end of the day. It is however important to protect our fish stocks. The fish mentioned above is only a short rundown of what is out there to be caught. There are many more species just waiting for a angler to come along and catch them so next time this winter when you have a free weekend and don’t have any plans seriously consider going for a fish. Hell its better than doing nothing and you might just be pleasantly surprised. While it may be possible to catch well over fifty fish in a day there is no point keep that many. Please fish responsibly so there are fish for generations to come.

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Fishing News - Page 6

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Fishing News - Page 7

Winter warehou

D

uring the winter months a lot of anglers pack their rods and reels up and go and do some much needed gardening and house maintenance which normally has been neglected over the summer months. But all you anglers out there, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Blue warehou can be caught throughout the winter months. They are great fighters and excellent on the table and in my opinion are the best eating fish in the estuary when eaten fresh.

Tides

When snotties are really on the go they will bite at any stage of the tide, but after many trips at targeting snotties

there seems to be more of a trend of catching fish at low tide. The moon phase doesn’t seem to effect the bite whatsoever. Try and concentrate in areas, which are out of the main stream of the current. They tend to hang in feeding bays especially in the Tamar.

You will catch them in fast water at times but the slower water seems to be more consistent. These slower areas are where jellyfish and other prey of the snotties get trapped.

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When targeting snotties keep everything nice and light and in scale. There are certain areas that you do have to The Stanley wharf has been Tasmania’s premier snotty trevally location use heavier tackle for many years. Snotty runs start from December in Stanley, but in mant such as Deviot Tasmanian estuaries snotties often don’t appear until winter. pontoon. The chain under the pontoon becomes a real hassle when needed. Your trout outfit will be fine and should be rigged up large fish are about. A heavy fast tapered with a Surecatch sabiki rig with a bomb sinker on the end. rod and 6000 reel spooled with 7 kg line should be adequate in stopping the big Bait trevally before they get you on the chain.

There is much controversy about what is the best snotty A 20 LB trace should also be used in this bait. Some people believe white bait is the way to go and situation. Sabiki rigs are great on small some people prefer chicken breast but I prefer to use snottie snotties but when larger fish are about trevally flesh. It stays on well and snotties seem to be little stronger hooks will be needed such as cannibals and they love it.

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Fish Facts Blue warehou, seriolla brama Common name: Snotty trevally, Tasmanian trevally, warehou, snotty.

Distribution is from central NSW all of Tasmania and to mid Great Australian Bight.

Adult warehou inhabit waters from 50 m to 400 m and are a schooling species usually aggregating close to the sea bed. Older juvenile warehou are often found inshore are are frequently associated with jellyfish.

Warehou can reach a length of 75 cm and mature in 3 to 4 years.

Should be eaten fresh as flesh spoils quickly.

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Berley

This is a very important part to being a successful snottie angler. Berley is used to lure the fish to your baits. Sometimes large amounts of berley is the way to go. Snotties don’t seem to get over fed like some other species. My preferred berley mix consists of layer pellets, old bread and tuna oil. If you are fishing in deeper water a berley bomb is a great advantage for this lures the fish right to your bait. Also a good tip is to let your sinker hit the bottom and then wind up a meter or two off the bottom. Snotties tend to hang in the middle reaches of the water column.

Times

There is no real rule to the time of the day. I think the tide is more important. I also know a certain angler who has caught snotties in shallow water late at night.

Locations

The Tamar has many good snotty trevally locations as does the Rubicon. When they come into our estuaries they tend to scatter and there are no certain hotspots. They tend to hang around an area for a short period of time and then move onto another area. Half the fun is finding where this is. Don’t get stuck in a rut and fish the same spot over and over again when maybe they are not there. The best advice that I can give you is too not to fish too deep. Snotties tend to hang around in water depths of around 5 to 10 meters of a day.

And try to keep out of the current. There are many good locations for snotties. One that has produced a remarkable number of fish over many years is the Stanley wharf.

Rods and reels

A light snotty outfit that I would recommend would be a 6 foot 6 Ugly stick gold or a Daiwa heartland rod matched up with a Samurai 2500 7I or a caprice 2500 reel. A good heavy outfit would be an ugly stick BWS 1101 or a Daiwa eliminator rod matched up with a Daiwa Kaster 5000 or a Daiwa Capricorn 4000 reel.

One of the most important tips of snotty fishing is to keep your ears to the ground, read the newspapers and listen to radio shows as this will give you the information on where the fish are and when they are biting. You can hear Damon Sherriff ’s statewide fishing report on ABC Radio Saturday morning at 6.20 a.m.

Good Luck with the snotties.

Damon Sherriff.

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Luring bigger flathead F

lathead, we know are one of our most loved fish. They are the backbone of Tasmania’s recreational marine fishery and as table fare they are considered by many as second to none. Fresh or frozen it doesn’t seem to matter too much; as nuggets, fillets or barbequed you can’t ruin flathead.

Some years ago I was shown how trolling shallow water will yield bigger than normal fish. Why this is so I am not too sure, but perhaps it is a territorial thing where bigger fish keep smaller ones away. Regardless of this, it is worthwhile trying trolling beaches and inshore sandy areas. Any beach with gently sloping bottom will hold flathead. You probably won’t find flathead every 20 metres, but with patience you generally find bigger specimens. It is quite common to find these fish are up to 25% bigger than bait caught fish in deeper water.

What you need

A boat is a big advantage if you want to do some trolling, but there are some opportunities to lure fish from the shore.

Bright coloured lures are best and larger sizes work better than smaller ones. Big lure – big fish.

Lures

I love the range of Lively Lures – especially the Mad Mullet range, and in particular the 4 inch deep diver in pink.

The Predatek Boomerang in medium depth is another great lure as is Manns Stretch 10. In fact any bib lure in around 75 – 100 mm will work well as long as it bumps along the bottom in 2.4 to 3 metres of water. I like the pink and bright colours the best, but this may just be a personal preference as I have rarely tried dark colours. I am sure this is pretty much a confidence thing as it is a lot in fishing. Fish with what you have confidence in and you will catch more fish.

One thing I do is often take the front set of trebles off the lure. It doesn’t seem to affect the action much and fish are much easier to deal with when there is only one set.

Visit your tackle store and ask about their range of lures. Every store has a different range and you are sure to find a few lures that will work.

a small overhead or strong baitcaster will serve you much better. A preference is for a rod that isn’t too long and 5’ 6” is best. Look for a rod with a longish butt as when the rod is in an in deck rod holder it keeps the reel away from being damaged by being in contact with the boat. A reel with a good loud clicker is also an advantage to let you know you have a fish on or are snagged.

Rigging up

Good quality eight kilo line is perfect and if you do get hooked up on the bottom eight kilo line will give you plenty of opportunity to retrieve your gear. Eight kilo sounds like overkill, but for trolling and pulling a bibbed lure it works a treat.

Unclip the lure, clip on a paternoster and you can use it for bottom bouncing as well. A simple snap swivel is fine to connect everything together. Use a six turn full blood knot when tying on the swivel. I don’t use a leader, nor anything else.

I keep it simple.

This flathead was taken on a Manns stretch 10 in less than 2 metres of water in Port Sorell. It measured 73 cm long.

Technique

Rod and reels

My preference is for a short, strong overhead rod and reel outfit. Currently in use is a Abu 6500C3 with an Abu 5’ 6” 6-8 kilo Morrum rod. This is spooled with 8 kilo line and it works the bigger lures well. Lures can still be cast and line twist is never a problem. Shimano has an excellent reel in the Calcutta 200 as well. Match this with a Steve Starling or Backbone rod and you’ll have a great outfit as well. Threadline reels are outclassed here as they are in most trolling applications, and whilst you can use them at a pinch,

Brightly coloured lures that dive from 2.5 to 3.5 metres will bring the best results.

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Dead slow troll is what is needed. Even though I have a 130 hp Honda on my boat it trolls at idle at about 3 kph. This is perfect to get your lures to the bottom and puff up plenty of sand – attracting the flathead as you go. If your boat won’t go this slow you need a trolling motor, or try towing a bucket or troll into the wind.

Make sure your lures are running true. If they swim to the right – bend the eye to the left slightly and vice versa. Usually only very small adjustments are necessary, but it is very

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Fishing News - Page 10

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aware of this. Track your depth on the fishfinder and keep within the range that will have the lures on the bottom.

Where to fish

Any Tasmanian beach or estuary with a sandy bottom will yield fish. An offshore breeze will make it easier to work a beach as the depth of 2.5 to 3 metres will often be in the wave and surf zone. This is not the place to be when it is rough. Not only will the fishing be tough due to the rise and fall of the boat, it is also dangerous. You are better in these conditions to be in an estuary.

In conclusion

Grab some lures from the tackle store and try this at the start of a fishing day when the breeze is at its lightest. Cover at least a couple of kilometres of beach whilst refining your technique. If you do no good, get the bait out and move a little offshore and catch some flathead on bait. Try this technique, but most importantly enjoy your day.

Mike Stevens

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                                               

A resonably stiff rod and 8 kilo line, combined with a baitcaster or small overhead will suit trolling very well. A long butt will keep the reel clear of the boat.

                                                        

important. You should test every lure by trolling it next to the boat before casting it out.

Cast your lures out 15 to 20 metres or so and starting at a water depth of four metres or so slowly move into more shallow water until the lures start bumping the bottom. You’ll be able to see this at the rod tip and feel it through the rod. It is essential that the lure is bumping the bottom. If it isn’t you won’t catch any fish. Simple.

Occasionally you will get ‘weeded’ and this is usually easy to see at the rod tip. The vibrating – or constant action will stop. Watch carefully and if in doubt check your lure. You should be trolling over sand though and weed is not too much of a problem.

Once you have found the right depth take careful note on the fish finder. Remember you want lure that swim in the 2.5 to 3 metre range so keep

                         

                         

 

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

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 

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 

  

                             

Mountain Steam Fishery is situated a half hour from Launceston, in the North east of Tasmania in the tranquil valley of Targa under Mount Barrow and down this runs the crystal clear St Patrick’s River. This water feeds Mountain Stream Fishery. This water combined with river rock and shale base in the fishery ponds ensure the fish look fantastic and are superb eating.

The free range fish farm is as close to nature as it can possibly be. Our water is directed from the river and not recirculated to our ponds. Water temperature is an average 16 degrees, close to the ideal temperature for fish growth between 12 and 17 degrees.

Whether you are travelling alone or with a group we are able to offer a delightful fishing experience, in natural surroundings, for either trout or salmon from one to twenty pounds.

You may wish to try spinning or fly fishing and the fishery can supply tackle if required. Sizzle a portion of your catch on the BBQ if you wish and observe trout in the shallows whilst you enjoy a stroll about the grounds.

Mountain Stream Fishery stocks up to one hundred tonne of trout and salmon with annual turnover up to fifty tonne. The hatchery keeps a supply of small fish to stock dams and commercial fish farmers. The free range stock is strong, healthy and grow faster.

Mountain Stream promotes their country style recipes for smoked salmon and trout and golden caviar. These are proving extremely popular with fine dining restaurants throughout the state.

Mountain Stream Fishery. Ph/Fx 61 03 63401747 email: koolwaters@black-stone.biz

  



A snap swivel direct to the lure will work just fine.

On lighter lures a loop knot is better.

Mountain Stream Fishery

Where fishing is fun and you’ll always take home a delicious feed

• Trout and salmon • Lure or fly fishing • BBQ’s • No licence required • Singles, family or groups catered for • Disabled access and facilities •PrepackedCountryStyletroutand salmon available.

Just past Myrtle Park on the Scottsdale Road before the Sidling. Phone 6340 1747

OPEN ALL YEAR Fishing News - Page 11

T

THE JOYS OF BOATING

he following story is true. Phil from Blessington has given permission to use this story - of several parts, as long as his true name is not revealed.

It has previously appeared in the journal of the Victorian Fly Fishers Association.

O

ver the past decade or two it has become fashionable to fly fish the lakes of the Central Plateau of Tasmania from a boat. Indeed, last summer every second vehicle on the Lake Highway seemed to be a Toyota Landcruiser towing a gleaming Quintrex boat. Boat owners could usually be identified by their pastel shaded Colombia shirts. I have previously described in this newsletter the fascinating herding behaviour of these anglers. Rather than seeking peace and seclusion, they seem to feel uncomfortable if they are not fishing in close proximity to at least several other boats. This herding instinct was particularly noticeable last summer at Little Pine lagoon on the first grey, drizzly day, following a hot bright spell, when invariably thirty or more boats would be found on this water.

But I cannot be too critical, as over the past few years the tales of fly fishers from boats taking huge bags of trout from boats at Arthur’s Lake and other waters gradually weakened my resolve to remain a river fisherman. Finally I succumbed and joined the hordes and bought everything but the Columbia shirt. I was assured that the whole system, boat, motor and trailer was absolutely foolproof. So, this was going to be it – the trout and other sundry fish species were not going to stand any chance.

This is the story of how it did not quite work out that way.

It was with great pride that I headed out into Port Philip Bay from the Altona boat ramp with a couple of friends on the solo voyage in my new boat. All went well until the late afternoon; we even caught a few flathead. The moment of truth came when I turned the key to restart the motor to move to a new spot and nothing happened. After an hour of tinkering with the motor and a lot of cursing we were no further advanced. Strangely, despite there being a lot of other boats in the vicinity, none of their owners seemed to see our attempts to draw their attention to our plight. This was a phenomenon I was to notice on each future occasion the motor failed. Eventually, after much futile paddling, a benevolent surf skier came to our aid and I suffered the humiliation of having my boat slowly towed by the surf ski back to the boat ramp which I had so proudly left a few hours previously.

There followed three separate visits to two different boat repairers before the fault was found – an indescribably minute fuse concealed in a jumble of wires in the innards of the motor. I was assured that the motor was in perfect order and that I would have no further problems.

Reassured by this advice I headed to Cairn Curran Reservoir on a cold windy winter’s day. The motor purred as we powered from the boat ramp at Picnic Point to Treloar’s Bay where we fished for a while and then ate lunch. After lunch we completed a drift across the bay but again, try as I might, the motor would not start. Luckily there were two fly fishers in the only other boat in the bay and this time we were able to attract their attention and ask them for help. I suspect that the only reason they heeded our cries for help was to show us the two beautiful trout that they had caught. They certainly were not interested in helping us get back to the boat ramp.

When we asked for help we were told in forthright terms that “We’re fishing till dark. Can’t you make a call on your mobile” as they motored away. As our mobile phone was out of range this advice was decidedly unhelpful. We cursed our luck at the wind blew the boat aground in the muddy shallows. In that bleak position we stayed for well over and hour as we vainly tried to start the motor. Meanwhile our fly fishing friends in the boat drifted here and there about the bay doing exactly what they said they would do “fishing till dark” seemingly oblivious to our plight. We had been unlucky enough to strike a couple of new breed of fly fishers with a take no prisoners philosophy. However, luck was with us as darkness started to fall when on the hundredth attempt, the motor spluttered into life and we managed after a great deal Fishing News - Page 12

of effort and churning of mud to grind our way out of the flats and into the main lake.

So it was back with the boat from Woodend to the repairer at Preston. This time I was told the problem was definitely fixed. Fortified by this advice I took the boat to Womboyn Inlet in New South Wales in pursuit of the elusive bream. All went well till the last day when a bare kilometre from the jetty the motor failed. Three hours later I was still trying to paddle against the wind back to the jetty. I had plenty of time to ponder the sage words of Dr Johnson, “Being in a boat is like being in prison with a chance of drowning”. Whilst drifting in the boat I observed the same phenomenon that I had seen on Port Phillip Bay when I had tried to get help from nearby boats. For some reason, no matter how loudly I shouted and how frantically I waved, the occupants did not seem to notice my attempts to attract their attention. Finally, a charitable soul did tow the boat the six hundred metres to the jetty and I was able to escape with the boat back to Victoria.

Again, I headed down the well worn path from Woodend to Preston. This time I was assured that the agent of the manufacturer had inspected the motor and he had said that the problem was definitely fixed. So there I was back at Cairn Curran Reservoir. This time the motor would not start after the first drift. There was no boat to tow us back this time and my hapless companion and myself had to take it in turns of trudging through the mud pulling a rope towing the boat along a kilometre of shore to the ramp. And of course the next week there I was towing the boat back from Woodend yet again to the Preston.

The next trip was to fish the mayfly hatch at Lake Wendouree. The day was perfect. Grey, humid and drizzly. This was definitely going to be it. I could possibly not miss out on a day like this. I can now assure any boat owner wanting to fish Lake Wendouree in spring that they should check to make sure that they do not attempt to do so during the Ballarat Begonia Festival. After spending the better part of an hour battling through the crowds I found that boat access was barred.

After these protracted “teething” problems I took the boat on the ferry to Tasmania. The motor was finally fixed and I was looking forward to foolproof boating. I was to learn that there is no such thing. It is difficult to know where to start when cataloguing the series of disasters and near calamities which befell me over the next month. The low point was definitely at the aptly named Jonah Bay boat ramp at Arthur’s Lake.

I had, I must confess had a great deal of difficulty reversing the boat. With the patient assistance of a very stoic Rick Keam I had finally, after a great deal of difficulty managed to reverse the boat down into position to be launched at the ramp. And I remembered (for once) to undo all the clamps and straps

and other bits and pieces so that the boat was ready to launch. But then I saw that one wheel of the trailer was off the concrete and decided to move forward and properly align the trailer.

As I drove forward I heard a scream from Rick’s direction, stopped and got out of the vehicle to investigate only find to my horror that the boat had dropped off the trailer and smashed on to the concrete ramp. Amazingly, beside a small dent on the bottom it was not damaged and with the assistance of some bystanders we finally managed to launch the boat. This was the major of many reversing mishaps.

Over the course of the next month I had many other minor disasters and managed to break or rattle off all tail, stop lights, and indicators and broke off the rear number plate off the trailer and lose the straps, hit numerous rocks and stumps, smashed the navigation light on an overhanging branch and did a bearing on the trailer wheel. I dare not think of the money that I have spent on this boat over the past year. Yes, I did catch fish but I doubt if I landed any more than would have fallen to my rod had I fished from the shore. And so it was that I came to realise the truth of the adage, “The best two days with a boat are the day that you buy it and the day that you sell it”. Alas, I have yet to experience the latter exquisite pleasure.

Phil from Blessington

E

MORE BOATING JOYS

arlier I recounted the story of some of the more harrowing experiences which I endured in my first year as a fly fishing boat owner. This November when I somewhat stoically towed my boat onto the Spirit of Tasmania I was confident, having a year’s experience under my belt, that my boating disasters were behind me. The boat had appeared to be in good working order. After all the lights that had rattled off the boat and trailer on the last trip in Launceston had been replaced before I sailed back to the mainland. And the boat had undergone a full (and expensive) service. True it is that when I recently lent it to a friend the tarpaulin cover had ripped in strong winds on the way down to Lake Purrumbete, but importantly the motor had started for him.

The weather in late November in Tasmania this year was superb. When the second day of the short trip dawned clear and mild my son and I decided to head for a day at Penstock Lagoon. We arrived at a good time at about 10.30 am. The weather was ideal – mild and warm with a light cloud cover and the lagoon was clear. We launched the boat without mishap and after some initial stuttering the motor started. This was going to be it – a copybook start of the day of my dreams.

It did not take long for my dream to be shattered. For as my son was returning from having parked the Landcruiser, I turned the wheel on the boat and felt a click and the steering went. I could not believe it, for after the thousands of dollars that I had spent on this boat the steering had failed and I was left adrift in the boat. With great difficulty I managed to paddle my way into shore. My humour was not helped by an angler who had just arrived to launch his boat, asking me how I had gone. It took a great deal of willpower to reply “No good, mate”.

We did get back to the ramp and did manage to get the steering repaired (at great cost) in Launceston later in the day. And I was given the now familiar assurance that the boat would be “right this time”. Time will tell! Wait for the next instalment.

Phil from Blessington

YET MORE FROM PHIL FROM BLESSINGTON

When will my boating woes end?

arly last year I detailed the horrors of my first season as a novice boat owner fly fishing the lakes of the central highlands of Tasmania. I returned to the mainland with frayed nerves but wiser from the experience and confident that my boating troubles were largely behind me. How naïve I was for, as it eventuated, last years disasters proved to be a mere preview of what was to come.

I booked my boat, the “FU 940” on the Spirit of Tasmania to return for another foray in the highlands this season, but not because by that time I preferred boat fishing as a mode of angling for trout. Far from it, for following the sobering effects of my experiences in the FU 940 last year, I had lost my taste for boating and yearned to do nothing more than return to the peace and solitude of my favourite Tasmanian river. Alas, I made the booking because I had expended a large sum of money purchasing the boat for the specific purpose of using it to fish the Tasmanian lakes and I did not have the stomach to endure the marital flak which would have inevitably followed had I left the boat behind when I went to Tasmania.

So it was that I reluctantly took the boat to Tasmania in late November and left it there to be used by me over my long summer holiday. I did manage a little fishing prior to returning to the mainland.

In the December newsletter I wrote what I hoped would be a mere postscript to the original article describing that fishing. For at the very outset, a steering bearing broke just after I launched my boat in the canal at Penstock Lagoon on an otherwise perfect day. I had to abort the day’s fishing without troubling the trout with a single cast and take the FU 940 to a boat repairer in Launceston. But, after extensive repairs were carried out, I was assured that all would be well. And so it proved to be on the one solitary day that was left to me to fish on that trip. Now, I hasten to add that I do not blame this repairer, or indeed any of the repairers that have had the misfortune to have the FU 940 in their yards, for the breakdowns which have plagued it.

I now realise they, along with myself and sundry passengers are all victims of some sort of curse that has bedevilled the FU 940.

I left the boat in Tasmania at Cressy with Don Urqhuart and returned to the daily slog in Melbourne eagerly looking forward to the Christmas break. The boat would surely have to be functional and trouble free on my return. After all it had been repaired (by yet another repairer) in Tasmania at the end of my trip last season, was fully serviced when I returned to Melbourne and had only been used once thereafter other than on the day the steering went at Penstock. Was it unreasonable to expect that after three visits to various boat repairers for one day’s fishing that I might have a few weeks of trouble free boating ahead of me? Unfortunately, events proved that it was.

For the nightmare continued the very first fishing day of my Christmas trip – a perfect boat polaroiding day on the Great Lake – warm with clear blue skies and a north wind. Having endured countless cold and windy days in the highlands over the years I could not believe my good luck. On the way to Brandum’s Bay my fishing companion Bruce Amos, who at that stage did not know that he was destined to become one of my serial boat victims, not being used to fly fishing from boats remarked with some prescience “This should be a new experience”. And so it proved to be. However, I would wager that it was an experience that Bruce would not care to repeat. The launch of the boat went smoothly and the motor started like clockwork.

It was ten o’clock in the morning, there was not a cloud in the sky and we were virtually guaranteed a wonderful day’s fishing.

But the curse of the FU 940 struck again.

When I went to turn the steering wheel there was no steering. The hydraulic fluid had leaked out of the power steering ram. Those fly fishers who have fished with me over the years have noted my

extraordinary calmness in the face of angling adversity but it deserted me on this occasion. I could not believe this had happened to me yet again and I must confess to momentarily losing control of my temper. When my senses returned I realised that there was no alternative but to return to the boat repairer at Launceston. It was only a couple of days before Christmas and I would have no chance of having the boat repairer between Christmas and the new year.

Thus, again without troubling the trout with a single cast I towed the FU 940 on the long trip to Launceston. The curse tightened its grip at this stage for on our arrival at the repairer’s yard we were told that the boat mechanic had just gone off work as a result of a boat, by coincidence owned by another VFFA member Mike Stevens, falling on and fracturing his foot. The ordinary mechanic would do his best to repair it but they could not guarantee the result.

A few days and a makeshift repair later an increasingly apprehensive Bruce and I once again launched the boat, this time at Penstock Lagoon. And we had a trouble free and pleasant day. Again I thought my boating woes were behind me. However, the next day, once again at Penstock, we were about to launch the boat when I checked the steering. It was gone once again due to the hydraulic fluid leaking out of the ram. Yet again we set off on the well worn track to the boat repairer at Launceston.

Now at this stage counting the repairs and services done in Melbourne, I had enjoyed a bare two days boating from five separate visits to various boat repairers – not a good average by any standards. And Bruce, a mild mannered and uncomplaining fellow was beginning to assume a harrowed look that cried out “What will happen next?” But we did have some good river fishing whilst the boat was being repaired.

This made me ponder why it was that I had left the peace, serenity and solitude of rivers and bought this wretched boat.

It is appropriate at this stage that one Randall Trethewie comes into this saga. For it was Randall who was responsible for me buying the boat in the first place. I was happily ensconced in comfortable lodgings close by my favourite river in Tasmania when Randall, who himself originally hailed from Blessington, started calling in to the cottage telling me about the magnificent boat fishing he was having in the highlands. Randall spun tales of huge dun hatches at Arthur’s Lake and Penstock Lagoon and big bags of trout. And, he asked what I was doing wasting my time fishing in the rivers for sprats when there was such wonderful fishing to be had in the lakes.

Those who know Randall well will tell you that he is not known for doing things in half measures and so it was with his boat fishing. For Randall owned an impressive fleet of three special purpose boats and separate vehicles for each boat. There was his large punt for use as a polaroiding platform on the western lakes, the zodiac for drift fishing the lower Macquarie and South Esk rivers and the flagship of his fleet, a luxury vessel of a size more suited for marlin fishing than fly fishing for trout, which he used on the bigger lakes such as Arthurs. This boat, due to size and grand appearance, soon became known among the laconic locals of Miena as the ‘Queen Mary’.

In the end I finally succumbed and agreed to have a day’s fishing with Randall in the Queen Mary at Penstock. It was a memorable day not the least due to the road from Poatina being closed due to a bushfire. Randall was quite undeterred and without hesitation imperiously towed the Queen Mary around the barricades, past various police and fire fighters and through the fire. When we finally arrived at Penstock we had a wonderful day. Turbid water had ruined the fishing at Penstock for over a decade but the water was relatively clear, the duns hatched in good numbers and

Fourth Tasmanian Fly Casting Championships Saturday 24 July

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This event is designed for all anglers, clubs and interested friends of any age and skill to meet once a year from all over the state and share their skills and enthusiasm for the sport.

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Fishing News - Page 13

we even caught a few trout. And all of this in the luxury and comfort of the Queen Mary.

My determination to stay with the rivers began to waver. Randall was right. What was I doing fishing these humble little streams for stunted trout when there was such wonderful fishing for much bigger fish to be had in the lakes. And so it was that I made the fateful decision I have regretted a thousand times. I bought the FU 940 and joined the pack.

Randall did do me one big favour when the FU 940 was being repaired. By coincidence, Randall, who was unaware of my latest boating problem called in to see the boat repairer and saw my boat there. This was fortuitous as the repairer wanted to replace the whole steering ram unit but could not contact me to get the go ahead. Should he try to repair the ram yet again or replace it?

Randall solved this problem by peremptorily issuing the order, “Replace it”.

When I arrived at the yard to pick up the boat the following day I was told that the whole unit had been replaced and that the problem was definitely fixed. I must have been overcome by emotion at hearing this news. At least that is the only explanation that I can think of that could explain what then happened. For as I reversed the landcruiser back to line it up with the boat trailer, it stopped suddenly with a loud crash. I had reversed it into the repairer’s office causing the interior wall to collapse.

Eventually, we extricated the boat from the yard and were back on the road. It did not take long for the curse to strike again.

When we were less fifty yards from the turn off to our shack at Little Pine Lagoon, the left nearside tyre of the landcruiser went flat.

About twenty five years ago, in a more carefree time in my life I drove a vehicle around the highlands for a couple of days without a spare tyre. I worked on the theory that it was highly unlikely on the law of averages that it would get another flat tyre in such a short period of time. That theory worked well until another tyre went flat, and the logistical nightmare of leaving the vehicle on the side of the road in the highlands with three wheels and getting the other two tyres to and from a repairer is not one that I cared to repeat. So off we went on what turned out to be akin to search for the Holy Grail – a service station in Hobart that could repair a flat tyre on New Year’s Day. Eventually, the following day we did finally get the tyre repaired and the boat performed admirably for the rest of the trip.

But my boating woes had not ended.

The highlight of the trip was a seven day stay at Binalong Bay near St. Helen’s on

the east coast where there was excellent fly fishing for Australian Salmon, particularly in George’s Bay. By this time I had been joined

by Noel Gladman, one of previous serial victims of the FU 940. At least, unlike Bruce, he could not say he did not know what he getting himself into. Now, Noel is a man who has his own view of how things should be done and when I told him as we were heading into the George’s Bay wharf after our first day’s fishing that, “If he was ever to wear the life jacket he should wear it when we were going in there” he was reluctant to put it on. Noel did put his life jacket on, for about five seconds and then took it off again. As we approached the boat ramp, a police car ominously pulled in alongside it. A quick look around showed that we were the only boat in the vicinity. A fumbling and panicky Noel struggled to hitch the boat to the trailer as the policeman approached him. Noel was immensely relieved when the policeman asked who was the owner of the boat. Quick as a flash identified me as the owner and then disappeared leaving me to face the music.

A few days later I was able to exact my revenge on Noel although I gave myself a fright in the process. We launched the boat at Binalong Bay and been fishing in the ocean with some success. We started filleting our bag of flathead in the boat but decided that it would be easier if we did this at the shore. I took the boat into what appeared to be a tranquil piece of water by the stunning white sands of the beach at Binalong Bay. Unfortunately what appeared to be a gentle shore break turned out to be quite a large wave which propelled the boat like a surfboard almost up onto the beach, tipping it over and ejecting a startled Noel into the shallows. How I managed to extricate the boat from that situation is a blur but I did, although it had shipped some water and flathead fillets were strewn all over the deck – I found one fillet in the corner of the boat two weeks later.

Now the problem was how was I going to get Noel back in the boat. I was not prepared not risk taking the boat into the shore again and Noel did not appear to be keen to swim out to it. It was difficult over the roar of the waves to communicate with him but I gathered from Noel shaking his fist at me that he preferred to walk the five kilometres back to the boat ramp to coming back on board. As I headed off in the FU 940 back to the ramp, I became aware that the wind had increased dramatically and the seas were quite high and very choppy. My heart sank when I noticed that the back of the boat was almost under the water as a result of the water which it had

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shipped. I turned on the bilge pumps, pulled the throttle right down to keep the stern up above the water and headed back to the boat ramp thudding and bouncing through the waves. I did make it back and waited until Noel finally arrived in a shaken, bedraggled footsore condition. He was also angry. I was puzzled by Noel’s ingratitude. After all he had been able to go boating, catch a lot of fish, have a swim and even do some beachcombing and all on the one day?

Thereafter, the rest of the trip was relatively uneventful. However, I did return to the aptly named Jonah Bay boat ramp at Arthur’s Lake with my daughter and Rick Keam, another serial victim of the FU 940. Readers may remember that Rick was present when I managed to drop my boat from the trailer onto the concrete boat ramp when launching it at Jonah Bay last year. This time the launch was relatively uneventful once I ascertained that the reason why the boat would not come off the trailer was due to the straps not being removed. On our return to the ramp, after a rather mediocre day’s fishing, I was waiting in the boat near the jetty whilst my daughter Penny retrieved the Landcruiser, when a rather ignorant and discourteous Tasmanian with two dogs in his car took his boat on ahead of me and blocked the ramp. When Penny reversed the trailer down alongside his boat, he reluctantly moved it in a little closer to the jetty and left me with a tight passage through to the trailer. This distraction and the pressure of other boats wanting to use the ramp was enough for me to lose my routine. As I drove the boat onto the trailer and Penny winchched it on, I forgot to tell her to make sure that the ratchet had been secured on the winch strap. Thus to the amusement of about twenty onlookers as she drove forward, the boat fell off the trailer back onto the concrete ramp again. I can vouch for one undoubted quality of the FU 940 – the hull is very tough.

Now I am back in Melbourne with a problem. What should I do with this boat? It is no longer gleaming and brand new but, as you would expect bears the scars of various disasters which have befallen it. I can only sell it for a fraction of what I bought it for.

I have no confidence if I ever take it back to Tasmania, or for that matter anywhere, that the nightmares of the past will not be repeated in the future. Who can I blame for this? This is where it all comes back to my friend Randall. Affable, pleasant, gregarious and friendly Randall whose stories seduced me away from my own little piece of angling heaven on the rivers of Tasmania.

For I have received information from an independent witness of unimpeachable integrity, that when I made the disastrous decision to buy the FU 940 Randall himself had amassed a lamentable record of boating horrors. A record that he did not deem necessary to share with me when he was waxing eloquent about the joys of boat fishing.

I learnt that on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary on the Tamar estuary, Randall was proudly celebrating the event with some friends, oblivious to the fact that at that very time the rising tide was inundating his boat trailer and vehicle at the ramp. And I learnt that Randall had spent a lonely night in the Queen Mary stuck fast on a stump in the middle of Penstock Lagoon. And I was told these stories were only the tip of the iceberg of Randall’s boating disasters.

So what is the lesson to be learnt from this litany of boating misery? It is to resist the peer group pressure to get with the mob.

If you feel comfortable in the herd then buy a wardrobe full of Colombia shirts, a Quintrex boat, four stroke motor, Toyota Land Cruiser and join the hordes on the tram tracks between Arthur’s Lake, Penstock and Little Pine Lagoons. If you are content fishing the small streams for small trout stay there. And rejoice in the peace, solitude and intimacy of the river and forgo the joys of boating.

When, before my first trip my wife told my elderly mother that I was taking my boat to Tasmania, my mother rang back a few hours later. She said was very worried about me taking the boat to Tasmania as Bass Strait was a notoriously treacherous piece of water.

In retrospect it may have been better if I tried to sail my boat through the heads and into Bass Strait. Could it have been worse? After all the FU 940 had life jackets, flares and an Epirb, it was insured for its full value and I would probably have been rescued.

Phil from Blessington

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Thinking about a new trailer?

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Jan’s Flies Jan Spencer Fly tyer for the World Champion 2000 Australian Team

I

t’s Sunday 2nd May as I write this and the trout season is all but closed. If you are keen though there are a few waters which will be open in the months to come for the adventurous souls.

As I am sitting at my dining room table writing and watching heavy snow scuds going around the Great Western Tiers I ponder what next season will bring. This past one has been an ‘on and off ’ season, due mostly to the weather. There were patches on the rivers which were memorable and others which one have to work hard to find a fish. The lakes were different, depending which area we were fishing. Arthurs Lake certainly had a great lot of mayfly this year which proves the weather doesn’t have to be perfect for those insects to hatch. Great Lake had its good and bad patches; there were gum beetles early, but very few late and the jassids were all but non existent, although there were a few around the Bronte System.

With the winter months coming it's time for filling the fly boxes with next year’s selection. Also worth doing is cleaning out your fly tying materials reorganizing them and adding some repellents to keep the nasties out.

Casting my eye around my favourite fly fishing shop there are some exciting materials on the shelves. The Rainy’s

selection of materials are outstanding as most will know I am a lover of foam flies. For many years if tying foam flies you had to cut the shapes which may be required to tie the required flies. Now there are foam shapes cut to resemble most insects.

Nearly every fishing season there seems to be a new fly that everybody is talking about, well I am not sure in fly tying if any fly is ever new or it's just like fashion it comes back every so many years, but the fly of the past season has been the Chernobyl Ant. This fly is large and at the right time works really well.

The foam bodies for the Chernobyl Ant can be laboriously cut from sheet – or you can buy Rainy’s in pre-cut packs of six. The bodies are cut with a segmentation design along the side which makes for realistic fly when tied. The shapes come in various sizes and many different colours, these same bodies in the correct colour will make excellent hoppers, stoneflies, crickets and cicadas. If you are looking for these they are called Gorilla Bodies.

Back on the market are Tube Bodiz, these were available some time ago but disappeared, I know quite a few tiers who have been requesting them. The bodies are woven shapes which come in many styles to imitate the bodies of various insects. Probably of interest to the Tasmanian fisher are the

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Fishing News - Page 18

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mayfly, emerger trailing shuck, caddis, midge tubes. Available in many colours and depending on the insect required the tubes come in a large range of sizes. These bodies allow the tier to create a fly with a very realistic body which gives a superb water surface impression.

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With the package come easy instructions for cutting wing shapes. The material has indentation in the surface which is ideal for imitating the natural.

For the saltwater tyer who uses dumbbell eyes for their Crazy Charlie, Clousers and Minnows, Spirit River have ‘Real Eyes’ with enamel iris guaranteed never to come out. I know over years since taking up saltwater fishing the one thing which truly annoys me is when a lot of trouble is taken tying good saltwater flies and the insert in the eye, or the painted on eye comes away, so here is the solution ‘Real Eyes’.

Hopefully the above mention products will give the enthusiastic tyer something to look at and experiment with in the coming months. All the product’s are available from Essential Fly Fisher, Launceston.

Sarah’s Kitchen I hope you enjoyed the recipes from the last magazine. The Editor has asked me to put in another couple for you to give a try, so happy cooking.

Stuffed snapper fillets wrapped in bacon 4 butterfly snapper fillets 4 bacon rashers 30g butter

This next recipe is a really good one for those people thaty may not have any fresh fish tucked away in the freezer.

Seasoning ½ cup grated cheese 1 cup breadcrumbs 4 chopped shallots 1 tablespoon tomato sauce

Cheesy salmon quiche

Mix all the ingredients for the seasoning together.

Place the seasoning on the end of the fillet and fold the fillet over to cover the seasoning.

Wrap a rasher of bacon around the seasoned end and place toothpicks through to secure it.

Gently fry the fillets in butter until it is tender.

This would have to be one of the easiest recipes I have made and one of the yummiest.

Baked flake with crunchy topping 1 kg flake fillets ½ cup melted butter 1 ½ cups fresh breadcrumbs ½ cup toasted sesame seeds salt and pepper to taste

The ‘X’ factor

New labelling for Scientific Anglers tippet materials takes away the mystery Scientific Anglers have updated the labelling on their tippet materials. The change is to label each spool via the X factor with the average breaking strain and diameter being displayed instead of the rated test.

Scientific Anglers have changed their system is to keep up to date with how other manufacturers are labelling their spools so customers can make easy comparisons between different brands.

The “X” factor should be the first priority an angler looks at before the breaking strain.

The reason behind this is the X indicates the diameter of the tippet. Fish can’t see breaking strain, but can definitely see diameter.

Combine the breadcrumbs, butter, sesame seeds, salt and pepper.

Put the fish fillets in a greased baking dish Sprinkle the crumb mix over the top of the fish.

Bake in oven on 180 degrees for about 20 mins or until the fish flakes easily.

Pastry 1 cup plain flour 1 tablespoon tomato sauce 90g butter water Filling 1 can pink salmon ½ cup grated cheese 4 chopped spring oinons ¾ cup milk ¾ cup cram 3 eggs Pastry Rub the butter into the flour.

Add tomato paste and enough water to make a firm dough.

Roll the dough out big enough to cover a 23cm quiche dish.

Blind bake for 10 mins in oven on 190 degrees.(place rice or dried beans on top to stop the pastry from rising)

Wherethe“x”factorcamefrom

The first nearly transparent, supple leaders were developed in the early 1700s, probably in England. They were often called “catgut leaders,” but actually were made from strands of silkworm gut. These leaders needed great care because they were brittle when dry and they required a thorough soaking before each use. The anglers back in these days realised the importance of matching the diameter of the leader tippet to the size of fly to get the best turnover/presentation. In doing so manufacturers designed a method of drawing the silk through a metal die with varying diameter holes thus creating different tippet thicknesses.

This is were the “X” factor was created.

The X actually stands for “times” being how many “times” the silk had been drawn through the metal die working there way down from the largest hole to the required hole to give them the desired diameter.

By drawing the silk one time through the

Sarah Sherriff

Remove rice and bake for a further 5 mins.

Let the pastry cool before filling.

Filling Drain the salmon and place it in a bowl with the cheese and onions; mix to combine.

Beat the milk, eggs and cream in a bowl .

Spread the salmon mixture over the pastry.

Pour the milk mix over the top.

Bake for 30 mins on 180 degrees or until it is set.

mould it would create a tippet with .010” diameter. By drawing the silk again through the die stepping down to the next hole it would be twice drawn (2X) giving a diameter of .009” diameter and so forth.

1x .010”: 2x .009”: 3x .008”: 4x .007”: 5x .006”: 6x .005”: 7x .004”

In the early 1940s, the invention of nylon revolutionised leaders and tippets. And since then, its characteristics have been vastly improved. Nylon can now be made with various properties, such as high knot strength, degrees of stretch or stiffness, and abrasion resistance.

In order to gain one characteristic, however, another often has to be slightly sacrificed.

The X factor is still and important aspect of how an angler should select his tippet as it gives a clear indication of the diameter of the material which should match both fly sizes and presentation/turnover he is requiring for the job at hand.

Scientific Anglers has included both the X factor and diameter on their new labels with an average breaking strain. The average breaking strain has been introduced as this gives the angler an indication of the quality of the line.

For example: COMPETITOR BRAND: .009” (2X) = 6lb SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS: .009” (2X) = 9.9lb From above you will notice a big difference in breaking strain considering these tippets have the same diameter. If you were chasing a big fish that lived near a big old snag, the thing to look for is a tippet material with a thin diameter and high breaking point. From above, would you choose the competitors brand with a 2X breaking strain of 6lb, or Scientific Angler’s 2X with 9.9lb? The answer is obvious.

Andrew Summers Import Manager for Scientific Anglers

Fishing News - Page 19

Tamar snapper research A

bout 18 months ago Simon Conron of Victorian Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute asked if I would be interested in filling out a fishing diary for him so they could gain some information on Tasmanian snapper. Over a period of time we have learnt quite a bit and also have gained some valuable knowledge on this precious fish.

chemical signature on file at the institute. This probably means Tasmania’s snapper stocks are not linked to that of Victorian fish, but more research needs to be done to confirm this.

Ageing and growth rates

Coldwater spawning

The last two and a half seasons I have been sending snapper otolith (ear bones) to the institute where they can gain valuable information on growth rates, aging and also distribution. I suffered some setbacks extracting otoliths, and unfortunately, my wife threw out a set from a 10.6 kg snapper.

I would have loved to find out how old he was.

I sought the help from two of my fishing mates to help me extract the otolith. Francisco Nieria or Pancho as he is better known is a recognized marine biologist at the A.M.C. and Sean Brodie a Victorian Fisheries Officer and snapper and mulloway expert. Both Sean and Pancho showed me two different methods of extracting them .I mastered Sean’s technique the quickest, but I was lucky enough to get a first hand lab demonstration from both of my fishy mates.

After breaking several sets of smaller fish I managed to send over around 15 sets of snapper otolith to Simon and Sean .The fish where of mixed sizes between 700 gms to 11.5 kg. Out of all the otoliths I have sent I have only received information back on around five sets. I found the information to be very interesting and this is what I found out.

4 kg = 7 years, 4.2 kg = 7 years, 6.5 kg = 16 years, 8.75 kg = 20 years, 10.3 kg = 26 years and 11.5 kg = 27 years. These were some of the larger ones that I had sent over. Some of the smaller fish have not been aged as yet. As you can see the growth rate is very slow. The otolith is not only used for ageing and growth, but they also contain a chemical DNA signature called Beriam. This can enable scientist to locate where fish have been spawned. Snapper in each state have a different DNA signature inside their otolith. It was interesting to find out that the otolith that I sent to Victoria had no matching

In all the textbooks I could find it states that snapper normally spawn in water surface temperatures higher than 18 degrees. I found this to be hard to believe after catching several big fish over 20 pounds in water temperatures less than Snapper research has been very limited in Tasmania 15 degrees which have been full of spawn and roe. My theory was more reinforced when Sean spent a week fishing with me preciate it if you could please give me a ring or come and see in the Tamar late in the season. Apart from having a holiday me at Charltons fishing. he desperately wanted to catch a Tassie snapper. After a full I have also been filling out a detailed diary which tells reweeks fishing to no avail, the second last night that we fished searches where I caught the fish, the time of day, type of bait Sean’s rod buckled over out of the blue and his dream came used, how many rods that I use, hook style and size, depth of true, an 8.75 kg fish. Apart from being over the moon we water, fork length and quantity. This enables researches to get both gained some valuable information out of the fish. The a better picture of the Tamar estuary and all the population snapper was a big female and was in spawn. A sample of the of snapper it may hold at certain times of the year. Hopefully eggs were put in alcohol and sent back to Victoria for exami- next year I can write another article and tell you more about nation. The egg expert found the fish was about two weeks the findings of the Tamar snapper. I feel honoured to have off spawning and the water temperature was well below the been given the opportunity to be involved in the first research 18 degree mark. Maybe Tasmanian snapper have adapted to done on Tassie snapper. the colder water temperature for spawning.

Tight lines, Damon Sheriff.

Tag and Release

Half way through this season Simon also issued me with some Vic tags. Out of the ten fish that I caught this season five fish were released and four had tags in them. I was once a fisherman that when I caught a snapper I would kill it and take it home to eat, but after learning how slow that they grow and knowing that the Tamar numbers aren’t as prolific as other places I now get just as much enjoyment out of letting the odd one go with a tag in them. I have a hope that one day one of my boys will catch one of Streamline Upholstery and Trimming have been prothe tagged fish. If by chance someone does catch one of viding a flexible, custom design and fitting service for the tagged fish I would ap-

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Tasmanian snapper stocks are limited. Take care of them so there are fish for future.

An eleven kilogram snapper caught at Devonport mid April. Kim Jordan caught this monster on 8 lb trout rig with flathead for bait. It was 90 cm long and took him 20 mins to land. It was his first snapper.

The Forgotten Double Taper Andy Puyans

A

lthough I have fished extensively for most fresh and salt water species with a fly, I keep going back to the Trout as the perfect fly rod species. Trout challenge us by their natural wariness, while feeding on an ever-changing menu of aquatic and land born insects, together with other water born yummies from baitfish to leeches.

Trout offer us beautiful surroundings to enhance the challenge of presenting the proper imitations of natural food to them in the manner they are accustomed to, accepting our offering as the food of choice. Presentation is the name of the Trout Anglers Game.

Several years ago the great trout angler and rod builder Tom Morgan explained his rod designs and fishing this way: “During the past 50 years most Trout have been taken from 20 to 40 feet and I expect the next 50 years will be the same.” The need for a long cast certainly is part of our game but our day to day staple is to position ourselves to make an accurate presentation within the range he noted so well.

I prefer a Double Taper line to handle the Trout challenge, although a properly designed weight forward will perform well also the Double Taper offers the most, most control and accuracy in the 20 – 40 feet range, which is what presentation of the fly is all about. Because of the extended belly of the Double Taper mending in the air (i.e.: Reach Cast) and on the water is much easier. Roll casting is easy and a single handed Spey cast can be very useful with a brushy background.

My choice of floating lines has, in the past, been the Rio Classic, but this year the ‘Selective Trout’ lines became available and I think it is the finest trout fly line I have ever fished! All the great qualities of the Classic lines, but a bit more supple and enhanced with a nine foot compound front taper and a bit of an hour glass profile. It loads a rod easily at short distanced and presents the fly positively but gently. I was concerned that with such a long front taper it might drift sideways in the wind, but it does not and remains very accurate.

The ‘Selective Trout’ is at home with graphite or a fine bamboo rod.

I still fish bamboo, because I like to and the rods I’ve used the Selective Trout lines on seem to be a marriage made in heaven. The graphite and similar composite rods I like to fish are progressive tapers with delicate tips and they all love the ‘Selective Trout’ lines as well. I’m not about to discard my ‘Classics’ but the folks at Rio have a clear winner with the Selective Trout and they have certainly reinvented the Double Taper.

Recently on the Henry’s Fork and the Bighorn I needed the Selective Trout DT5F to perform both ends of the spectrum from size 6 grasshoppers to size 22 baetis. The long front taper turned over a hopper flawlessly in the wind and was totally accurate with size 18 to 22 dries. I couldn’t ask for any more from a fly line.

Jim Vincent and the design team at Rio are all outstanding fly fisherman. They bring a very practical approach to the innovation on a new design.

The demands of quality with constant testing are remarkable. The durability of all the Rio lines has

set a new standard for the industry. The over fantastically. Powerflex ‘Slick Shooter’ process adds increased tippet material has the best shootability and has another very de- qualities of strength, shock sirable trait to all their floating lines, proof and knotability, it has because they just don’t get dirty, like become the standard that all so many other lines. Distance, when others are measured by. you need it, are easy and are further enhanced by the ‘hour glass’ profile.

Now, if you have not tried Rio leaders, and PowerFlex tippet material, I encourage you to do so. If you enjoy the demands of Spring Creek and Tailwater fisheries these leaders and tippet compliment the advanced line tapers and out perform others I have used, which includes just about all that are available.

What do I use for precision required for success on our Western rivers? The answer is simple: Rio Hand Tied multi-material leaders, which embody the best qualities of different monofiliments to achieve the best presentation leader that is commercially available. Wind or no winds they perform beautifully so try them. If there is any floating grass or algae, I will use the RIO knotless leaders, and Call and see Damon at Charltons Fishing. what is so amazing, is that Phone 6334 9298 AH 6394 3337 even the 15’ leaders turn

Damon Sherriff

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Email; fishn@bigpond.net.au Website; WWW.fishing-books-australia.com Return to Stevens Publishing; PO Box 7504, Launceston, Tasmania 7250. Ph/fax 03 63311278 Fishing News - Page 21

D

Quintrex 435 Coast Runner.

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esigned as an affordable, entry level boat the Quintrex 435 Coast Runner is suitable for the first time boat buyer. “This boat is one our most popular models Australia-wide” comments Damien Duncan, National Sales and Marketing Manager. “It’s popularity due to being such an easy boat to operate and is the perfect size for families” comments Damian.

Measuring 4.45m overall and 1.77M across the beam, this versatile runabout is roomy for a family of four to comfortably enjoy relaxing days cruising estuaries and protected waters.

“When packaged with the recommended 30hp outboard, the 435 Coast Runner planes easily aided by the benefits of the Maxi 2 Transom. This unique feature generates more buoyancy at the back of the boat, meaning less reliance on the throttle. The Maxi 2 Transom extends the hull to the edge of the boarding platform and its new curvaceous design gives a sleek, more streamlined finish.

Intensive R&D processes have devised an aluminium hull that gives smooth, soft, controlled performance through its Flared Bow, which pushes water up and away from the hull, to ensure passengers stay comfortable and dry.

“Being relatively compact this is a boat the ladies will enjoy driving too” comments Lavinia Gorse-Flint, PR and Marketing Assistant. “It’s easy to launch and retrieve and comes with practical features such as the leanthrough dash to make anchoring easy work”.

“Quintrex acknowledge boating is no longer a male past-time. We understand women want comfortable seating

Mercury Media Release

Mercury introduces 3-Year Outboard warranty

A

arrangements and attention to detail” comments Lavinia.

“The boats car-like layout is stylishly designed; its dash features marine radio and lockable glovebox, complete with drink holder for convenience. The two premiere folding seats provide valuable back support and the rear-folding lounge includes padded backrest along the transom”.

Quintrex have been building boats for 50 years and throughout this time have led the market with innovative designs, such as the Millennium Hull designed to slice through chop, lift the boat up onto the plane and stay there.

Quintrex takes pride in understanding customer needs and aims to exceed expectations to maintain its number one position within the aluminium boat market.

For more information contact your local Quintrex dealer, or visit www.quintrex.com.au

Buoyancy aids improve safety in tinnies and other small boats

Airofloat stabilisers are designed and built in Australia to improve both stability and buoyancy in tinnies, fibreglass boats, canoes, tenders and punts. Constructed from a tough outer layer of Santex 520 with an airtight inner bladder Airofloats are easily installed and if needed they can be easily removed.

Whilst many small dinghies may have sufficient buoyancy built in increasing the buoyancy can only improve your chances if problems arise. The trouble with small vessels is just that - they are small. Small vessels are inherently less stable than larger ones and that is where Airofloats come into their own.

Airofloat stabilisers, ideally, are setup so that they are clear of the water on planing yet sit in the water at rest. This gives a huge increase in stability at rest and if you have kids or move around in a small boat you will know how ‘tender’ they can get.

The Airofloats are simple to fit and slide into two rope tracks that are bolted onto the side of the vessel; one at the top and the other rope track about 200mm below it. Slide the collapsed Airofloats into the tracks and then pump them up. The pressure holds the chamber against the boat and friction keeps it there. Nothing else is required. If you want to, or need to, remove them, release the valve and pull them out - a 15 second operation. If you have a small boat and want to improve the stability and safety these are the way to go.

Prices to suit a small tinny up to 3.5 metres are from around $500.

Available from; Eastern Shore Marine 6244 1163 or Leo Sheehan 6443 4420 or visit www.airofloat.com Fishing News - Page 22

t the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show in May, Mercury Marine Australia announced that consumer warranties for all Mercury and Mariner Outboards have been extended to three years.

The longer and more comprehensive three year consumer (non commercial) warranties cover the exciting new Supercharged Verado engines together with the complete range of Mariner and Mercury outboards (from 2.5 hp-275 hp) sold in Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands markets from 20 May 2004.

Mercury’s Director of Sales and Service, Ken Evans says, “After reviewing competitors‘ warranties, Mercury, which has always structured its warranties to be the most comprehensive available, has introduced a three year enhanced warranty to replace our previous industry leading 2,3,4 year warranty.

“Our new three year warranty covers parts, components, labour, corrosion failure and ignition components.”

After more than 60 years as the world’s leading recreational marine manufacturing company, Mercury is so confident of its product range that it is able to offer industry leading warranties that provide complete peace of mind.

More information: www.mercurymarine.com.au Mercury Outboards dealer locator Ph 1800 114 500

A look at Stabi-Craft

At the southernmost corner of New Zealand lies Foveaux Strait, a notoriously stormy stretch of water that separates Stewart Island from the southern mainland. The men who fish there naturally treat these waters with great respect.

It was in 1986 that two local Foveaux Strait fishermen approached the fledgling Stabi-Craft Marine with a brief to design and build a small, rugged, unsinkable pontoon style boat. The key criteria was, it would have to allow them to fish these waters in almost any condition and always bring them and their catch safely back to their mother boat. This began the evolution of a brand that was to set world-class standards in aluminium rigid buoyancy boat design and construction. Even today Stabi-Craft Marine's standards are to the highest standard of performance and safety.

Precision build and thorough testing ensures StabiCraft's ongoing superiority.

Right from the beginning Stabi-Craft Marine instituted a program of research, development, thorough hull testing, and meticulous attention to detail. As a consequence, you can be sure that every Stabi-Craft to leave the factory is built to the highest possible standards of engineering precision. The hull design has been thoroughly tested beyond what you are ever

likely to ask of it and the build quality is still there even in the places you'll never see.

Take a good hard look at a Stabi-Craft and you'll see what we mean. Better still, take one for a test run in rough water. You won't want to give it back, because you'll quickly realise that at last you can enjoy adventure with confidence.

Design of Stabi-Craft

With an ever watchful eye on the future, at StabiCraft we are always researching new design concepts that will improve performance, safety and design aesthetics.

Generation II pontoon

Not being content to rest on their laurels, the Stabi-Craft team continually researches and refines hull to ensure it leads the market with breakthrough innovations. For example, following a process of testing and refinement, the Generation II hull was introduced into the production line in the late 1990s.

The Generation II pontoon cross-section is deeper then previous configurations which means most Stabi-Craft have greater freeboard (higher sides) than before. The slimmer pontoon shape also provides Continued on page 24...

2004 brown trout spawning runs As of the first week in June the IFS has undertaken two of the three weigh and measures of spawners in the highlands, Arthurs and Great Lake. Lake Sorell will be monitored at Mountain Creek in the next couple of weeks if there is sufficient rainfall. The

below table shows the average weights and lengths of the fish sampled. The change from the 2003 averages is also indicated.

As is evident in the table, fish have decreased in average size and length at Arthurs but increased at Great Lake.

Blue-green algae blooms at Craigbourne

Just before Easter this year Craigbourne Dam was closed to the public and therefore to anglers for fishing.

This step was taken as a precaution against toxic blue-green algae. Whilst there have been a number of blooms in recent months only low levels of Number Average Minimum Maximum Average muMinimum m i x aM toxins have been detected. The dam

sampled length (mm) length (mm) length (mm) weight (g) weight (g) g)(isw gheti now officially open to the public again. Regular water testing suggests that there were low levels of toxins Arthurs Lake produced from the algae bloom but Males 99 435 288 544 883 300 1610 they haven't persisted. Eating or comFemales 101 397 308 506 722 360 1570 ing into contact with fish is thought Combined 435 802 to be of a low risk as there has been 2003 averages 437 916 no evidence to the contrary.

Change - 2 - 114

Penstock Lagoon Fishery Management Plan

Great Lake The Penstock Lagoon Fishery ManMales 103 470 335 530 1132 430 1840 agement Plan kicked off in the first week of June with a stakeholder Females 105 445 319 508 1057 650 1590 Combined 457 1100 meeting at Liawenee. Representatives present were from the Freshwater 2003 averages 445 1020 Anglers Council of Tasmania, Fly Change + 12 + 80 Fishing Association of Tasmania,

Waters stocked during May 2004 Water Stocked Bradys Lake* Penstock Lagoon Lake Crescent Lake Kara Rocky Lagoon Brushy Lagoon

Size (grams) 1100 1100 1100 1100 1100 200

Species brown trout brown trout brown trout brown trout brown trout brown trout

Number 1910 750 1000 350 100 160

Please note that there are a couple of waters left to stock with adult brown trout transfers for this year. These transfers will occur within the next few weeks. * indicates the remainder of the 5000 planned to be stocked there this year.

Tasmanian

Great Lake Fishery Management Plan

The Great Lake Fishery Management Plan (FMP) has been finalised and signed off on by the Minister Steven Kons. The plan was officially released on Saturday 22nd of May 2004 at the IFS’ Liawenee Open Weekend. One hundred and fifty copies of the plan are available to the public through Service Tasmania shops at Hobart, Rosny, Glenorchy, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie.

Copies will be available at a cost of $5.00. The plan will also be available online later in mid June. To access the plan there will be a link on the front page of the IFS’ website www.ifs.tas. gov.au.

Southern Tasmanian Licensed Anglers Association, Northern Tasmanian Fisheries Association, Trout Guides and Lodges Tasmania and a representative from Hydro Tasmania.

The next step is to prepare a draft Fishery Management Plan that will be presented to the Inland Fisheries Advisory Council for comment. The draft plan will be released for public comment later in the year, following which the plan will be presented to the Minister for endorsement. For further information please contact Rob Freeman 6233 3348 or e-mail rfreeman@ifs.tas.gov.au

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.....continued from page 22 increased internal beam. The overall effect is more room, more storage and more protection from the elements, yet with improved traditional Stabi-Craft benefits of buoyancy and stability. This was only possible because of a unique and technically advanced Stabi-Craft process in which the pontoon sections are now extruded with exacting precision, rather than cut and rolled.

Improved Lift

The Generation II pontoon design with its stepped chines provides improved lift, more responsive cornering and a drier ride. Inside or out, Generation II pontoons give you a better performing, roomier and safer Stabi-Craft.

Associated Benefits

Associated benefits of this innovative procedure are then inclusion of concealed internal cable ducting on the inside, while externally providing a means to neatly and professionally clip fendering to the outer hull.

Advantages of the Generation II pontoon

• Tighter tolerance • Higher rigidity and lateral strength • Cable ducting on inside and means to clip belting to outside • This is all without compromise to buoyancy

Build Quality

Particular attention is given to each and every Stabi-Craft model produced with quality and pride of workmanship being an important aspect of the manufacturing procedure.

A quality checking system is in place to check material and product at each stage throughout the manufacturing process. Every attempt is made to provide a quality product to enter the market place.

Stability

Stability under power or at rest. Your family will be safe with the unequalled stability provided by Sta-

bi-Craft’s airtight pontoon hull design. These pontoons have large amounts of buoyancy and this provides unequalled stability while either under power or at rest. In almost any other type of boat it would be wise to avoid having all the occupants move to one side as depicted in the photograph.

Virtual unsinkablity

Sadly, few other boats on the market can match StabiCraft’s positive buoyancy and design safety. Even if a pontoon is pierced, the separate water-tight chambers limit the damage, making a Stabi-Craft virtually unsinkable.

Superior rough water handling

When travelling at speed, Stabi-Craft’s Generation II hull creates a cushion of water under each pontoon, thus softening the ride for your family. Observe a Stabi-Craft at speed compared to most other boats and you will immediately become aware of how little spray rises above the gunwales because it is deflected and trapped by the hull design.

Naturally this contributes to passenger comfort and dryness of ride.

Legendary Toughness and Durability

Apart from aiding buoyancy, Stabi-Craft’s pontoons with internal hull bracing provide longitudinal rigidity to the boat.

The unique shaped design of the Generation II pontoon affords greater cockpit space than most other simarly styled

boats. What gives greater confidence are things one cannot easily see. For example, the entire hull is meticulously welded and finished to a standard that is without peer in the aluminium boat building industry.

For more information contact: Lindsay Deegan Marine 6425 2238 or www.stabicraft.com

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LifestyleMarine.Ph63319507 14 Dry Street Invermay, L’ton Fishing News - Page 24

Stacer605OceanRunnerCuddy

130hpHonda4strokefuelinjectedHonda,Tandemdiscbrake trailer,Biminiwithfrontandsideclears,Reartransom doorandladder,Rearloungeseatandbackrest,115litre underfloorfueltank,Navigationlightsandbilgepump, FF160Garminfishfinder,Marineradioandcompass,Full instrumentation,Batteryisolatorswitch,4rodholders, Bunkcushios,Hydraulicsteering,Stainlesssteelpropellor, Fuelfilterandwatertrap,Openingfronthatchforeasy access, Outriggers and rocket launcher.

Completepackageincludessafetygearandregistrationfor boat and trailer. Ideal tuna fishing boat.

Was $49 500 Specail price $45 900

$191.80 per week over 60 months, $10 000 deposit. Conditions apply.

650 OFFSHORE CC

Latest Addition to the 2005 Quintrex Range

T

he 650 Offshore CC is the ultimate sports fishers dream and is the latest addition to the 2005 Quintrex range.

Your fellow anglers will appreciate the boats spacious layout, now constructed with a full walk-around front deck to ensure you can chase the feisty marlin around the full circumference of the boat.

Measuring 6.48M from bow to transom and 6.70M overall, the boats wide 2.4M beam easily accommodates seven people plus all the gear required for serious competition- style fishing.

The boats deep 1.47M sides help when reeling in a large one, adding extra security underfoot.

Quintrex builds its boats from the highest quality marine grade aluminum and utilises a unique stretch form process, which outrivals its competitors. The 650’s 5mm bottomsides and 3mm topsides create a tough and durable boat to withstand strong choppy conditions.

Designed with the industry-praised Millennium Hull and Flared Bow for a smooth, dry and controlled ride, the boats strong internal keel, improves manoeuvrability, even in cross wind conditions and large swells. The Maxi 2 Transom allows less reliance on the throttle – recommended horsepower is 150HP - for extra performance the 650 Offshore CC will handle up to a 200HP outboard.

In keeping with the Quintrex philosophy of innovation and quality, the 650 Offshore CC comes with a multitude of standard features including auto bilge pump, 160 litre fuel tank to take you to the outer reaches, new cabin dash with mounting point for your GPS, transom door, rear ladder, twin anchor tubes, trim tabs, five rod folding rocket launcher, bimini, envelope and front clears and brackets to mount outriggers for open water expeditions.

Two premiere bucket seats provide comfort and are placed atop cabin boxes to give practical storage solutions. Not that storage is an issue in this boat, with heaps of storage space along the re-designed enclosed side pockets and cabin bunk section. The roomy interior is fully carpeted throughout with durable marine grade carpet for extra stability underfoot.

Designed to give optimum protection from the ele-

ments the cuddy cabin area includes a huge Roto-moulded underfloor storage bay and features thick, padded cushions with high, supportive backrests as options - perfect for an afternoon nap!

For increased fishability option-up with a transom mounted 100 litre live bait tank with cutting board and 90 litre fuel tank for added cruising range. An auxiliary motor mount can be welded on to place an additional motor or burley bucket.

“This year Quintrex introduced “Instant Boating” pack-

Lewis Marine

• Quintrex • • Haines Hunter • • Whittley •

ages, which incorporates a premium Johnson outboard and custom built Quintrex trailer being delivered direct to the boating public, designed for minimal fuss and maximum enjoyment - especially for the first time buyer” comments Andrew Hill, Director of International sales and marketing.

This boat will be popular choice for those wanting to upgrade and go where the smaller boats can’t travel.

For more information contact your local Quintrex dealer or visit: www.quintrex.com.au

Huge range.

From dinghys to the very best from Haines Hunter, Whittley and Quintrex.

Great packages available and expert advice.

Ph: 6234 7266 Fax: 6234 1251

198 - 200 Campbell St. Hobart, 7000 Fishing News - Page 25

Stacer 340 Proline Cartopper.

New Model.

New Adventures.

Want a boat that is Tough, Durable, Stable, Light to tow and rides as good as fibreglass?

• Wave slice hull design providessoftrideandoptimum performance.

•Fullysealedandwelded checkerplate floor.

•Quickflowwaterballast systemforgreatstabilityatrest.

Callusnowtoarrangeatest driveofAustralia’sbestplate aluminium boat.

Fishing News - Page 26

D

ue to the increasing popularity of 4WD vehicles and 4WD activities, Stacer have introduced the new 340 Proline Cartopper. “This latest model has been specifically designed to fit perfectly atop a standard 4WD roof rack” comments Stuart Morgan, R&D Manager.

Weighing just 52KG, one person can easily handle this boat. Measuring 1.25M across the beam and 0.50M in depth, the Cartopper comfortably seats four people and boasts wide bench seating, which envelopes foam positive flotation for added buoyancy for safety.

Suited for lake and river work, this model has a surprising amount of internal space for fishing or cruising with the family. Bottom sheets and topsides are constructed using 1.2mm marine grade aluminium and the boats solid corners offer a durable, yet light, working boat.

“We expect this boat to be a popular model since the majority of car manufacturers are building cars narrower, thus reducing the maximum load capacity” says Damien Duncan, Sales and Marketing Manager. “It’s also designed to fit camper vans or caravans, making it a truly versatile boat, that’s sure to get you hooked on the boating lifestyle” says Damien.

“Just strap on the roof and you’re off!

An easy addition to 4WD adventures and adds heaps more diversity to camping trips”.

The 340 Proline Cartopper is rated for a recommended 6hp or maximum 8hp outboard – making this an economical boat to operate and maintain.

“Requiring only a 6hp outboard, means you’ll get lots of fun return on your investment” Stacer understands its customer’s needs and builds its boats to a standard and not down to a price.

Stacer “Ready 2 Go” boating packages have seen this new dimension develop, with customers appreciating the ease of buying the best boat for their needs, complete with reliable specific trailer.

The recently released Stacer catalogue clearly shows all package inclusions and the recommended retail pricing, which is especially reassuring for the first–time boat buyer.

“To make the purchase decision even easier, no deposit Stacer Finance is also available to approved purchasers, it doesn’t get much easier than this!” says Damien.

Popular options for the car topper includes bimini and envelope for protection, painted hull and stripes for looks and bow and short side rails for extra safety, especially when travelling with children. Rod holders can also be added - for those looking for added fishability.

For more information contact your local Stacer dealer or visit; www.stacer.com.au

Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News calendar 2004 to 2005 Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News is pleased to provide this calendar of events for the next twelve months. Events and dates are always subject to amendment or cancellation. Ensure you check dates with the relevant authorities.

If you would like an event added to this calendar fax to 03 63311278 or email fishn@bigpond.net.au Date Event & Venue More Info June 11-12 Far South Classic (Game Fishing),Southport.

John Brooker 62310255 July 10 Grand Opening Eastern Shore Marine August 07 Most brown trout waters opens Sarah Burton 62338930 August Port Sorell Marine and Coastal Marine boat shows October 1 - 31 Recreational whitebait season Sarah Burton 62338930 October 02 Most rainbow trout waters open Sarah Burton 62338930 October TBA Tasmanian Boating & Leisure Show. Lindisfarne Motor Yacht Club Graeme Floyed 0418123797 October 9-10 Hydro Tasmania Bronte Tie-in. Bronte Highland Village Robin Wiss 62438078 October 30 Take a Kid Fishing. Stanley Wharf Damian Heran 0408337317 October 31 Take a Kid Fishing. Beauty Point Wharf Quenton Higgs 0407502046 November 14 IFS Free Fishing Day. Statewide Sarah Burton 62338930 November 06 Rock Lobster season opens. Statewide Andrew Sharman 62337042 November 19-21 Lake Burbury Fishing Classic. Lake Burbury Joy Marshall 64712286 November 21 Take a Kid Fishing. Hobart Wharf Avril Brown 62332033 November 26-28 Tamar River Snapper Championship Libby Simmons 63944426 2005 January 15 Take a Kid Fishing. St Helens Quenton Higgs 0407502046 January 26-30 Back to Peddar. Lake Peddar Mick Corner 62286784 February 12-13 Tasmanian One Fly Graham Blight 0412144072 March Flinders Island Challenge (Game Fishing) John Brooker 62310255 March St Helens Gamefishing Classic John Brooker 62310255 March 9th. GN Electrical Coles Bay Classic (Game Fishing) John Brooker 62310255 April 43rd. Surf Angling Championships. Swimcart Beach via St Helens.

May 01 Most brown trout waters close Sarah Burton 62338930 May 29 Most rainbow trout waters close Sarah Burton 62338930

WIN$200worthoftackle

The winner of $100 of Black Magic tackle is Jake Martin with this sensational 52.5kg southern bluefin tuna caught on 15 kg at Pedra Branca, April 2004.

PhotoCompetition Double your prize.

Sendinyourbestphotos.We’llgiveyou$100 ofBlackMagictackleforthebestphoto’s published.IfyourcatchwasmadeusingBlack MagicTackle,andyouincludeaBlackMagic barcode,we’llgiveyou$200worthofBlack MagicTackle.BlackMagicTacklehaveahuge rangeincludinghooks,flyhooks,gamelures, gamefishinggimbalandharnesses,Sabiki& fly jigs, game leader and more.

IncludeanyBlackMagicbarcodeifyouusedBlack MagicTackleandget$200tackleinsteadof$100.

Name ..........................................

Address .....................................

Phone .........................................

Where caught .................................

Date ..............................................

Tackle ............................................ ......................................................

Postto;TasmanianFishingandBoatingNews,POBox7504,Launceston,7250

Fishing News - Page 27

Live your Life with a Stacer

T

he lifestyle industry is booming in Australia, particularly boating. This year Stacer has witnessed the dynamics of the industry firsthand through the introduction of Ready 2 Go boat, motor and trailer packages.

“Ready 2 Go was an initiative introduced this year to attract new markets and make the concept of the boating lifestyle an attainable goal for everyone” says Damien Duncan, National Sales and Marketing Manager.

“Stacer has done all the hard work for you. Matching your boat of choice with a suitable Mariner outboard motor and Stacer trailer and feature popular package inclusions to give you a better value boating package” says Damien.

Ready 2 Go packages also include boat and trailer registrations, inshore safety equipment and GST. An extra one year warranty comes with Ready 2 Go BMT packages,

extending warranty cover to three years, highlighting Stacer’s value added formula for success.

“Our August-September sales results have shown a 100% increase in Ready 2 Go BMT packages - which is incredible” says Damien. Research has shown a high percentage of first time boat buyers and retirees, markets we have been actively targeting. Another contributing factor to this growth has been the successful acceptance of Stacer Finance”.

“No deposit Stacer Finance is particularly attractive for young families and couples looking to invest in their lifestyle, particularly at this time of the year” comments Cameron Wood, National Retail Finance Manager. “Year to date Stacer Finance has accumulated 2.7 million dollars

of settled finance applications, and it is still in its infancy” says Cameron.

With the introduction of Stacer Finance the boat of your dreams is easily attainable with affordable weekly payments over a five year term. “Stacer Finance has been embraced by a large majority of dealers; we provide a strong support system and can generally approve successful applications within the hour” comments Cameron.

Stacer boats encompass a broad spectrum of uses, from smaller tenders, prolines and nomads to larger runabouts, bowriders, cuddy cabins and centre consoles for serious fishers.

Stacer is traditionally positioned as being the best boat for your dollar, priding themselves on building boats to a standard and not down to a price. Stacer boats offer exceptional strength and manoeuvrability thanks to the unique design of the smooth riding EVO hull and Mod Pod transom offering exceptional tracking, faster, flatter planing and superior stability. Built Stacer tough, yet light enough to trail behind the family sedan. Stacer boats require minimal maintenance compared to its fibreglass counterparts, whilst also offering superior performance and operating efficiencies.

Stacer boats represent years of family enjoyment. So what are you waiting for? Start what will be years of happy memories with your family aboard a smoother running, greater value package from Stacer.

Fishing and Boating Directory Boating Supplies

Fishing and guiding

BURNIE MARINE Services • Over 30 years experience on all types of motors • Approved insurance repairer to boats and motors • Propellor rebuild and refurbishing • Repairs of all types - including skegs etc. • Contact: Cyril Stevens Phone 6431 3082

TROUT and ADVENTURE TASMANIA

•11pristinelakesandrivers within20minutesdrive.•Wildbrown,rainbowand brooktrout.•Professionaltuitionandguidingfornovice andexperiencedanglers.•2hourtoextendedtrips,boat insurvey.•Selfcontainedcottages,ensuites,hostel,and caravanpark.Contact:RobAitkenhead0418139048or BronteParkHighlandVillage:0362891126 www.bronteparkhighlandvillage.com.au

Charter Boat Fishing

Nuts & Bolts Tasmania Precision Charters

Nuts,bolts,rivets,screwsblack,zinc,stainless,brass.

Launceston:145WellingtonSt,63316711 Burnie: 3 Wellington St, 6431 9400 Hobart: 101 Albert Rd, 6278 3333

StHelens-EaglehawkNeck-38’Mariner 1to8peopleincomfort-QualityPenngear.

BrettCleary,Ph:0418121317,0362231200

You name it - we’ve got it

MarineLINE

ju/au

Private Fisheries

All your boating needs.

•Clothing and footwear •Fibreglass andepoxyresins•Navmanfishfinders •Stainlesswirebalustrading•Marine paints • Full stainless fitting range • Extensiveroperange•Safetyequipment EPIRBS, GPS, flares 279 Argyle Street, Hobart Ph 03 62310 346 Fax 03 6231 0347

Trailer Boat Alarms

ProtectyourtrailerboatwithaHi-techMaktek Alarm.Specificallydesignedfortrailerboat.Easily selfinstalled.Operatedbyakeyringremote.Very lowbatterydischarge.2yearreplacementguarantee.Optionsincluderemotephonemonitoring.

From $450. Deryn McArthur: 0419 582 549 email: mcarthur_tas@bigpond.com.au Fishing News - Page 28

Huge Atlantic salmon and trout await you

atGeevstonHighlandsSalmon&TroutFishery 45minutesfromHobartsomeofthebiggestAtlanticsalmonand troutyouareeverlikelytosee.Salmonover15kgandtroutover 8kgarepossible.365daysayear.Tuitionandtackleavailable.

172KermandieRoad,Geeveston,Ph:0362970030

Tackle and Supplies

GLADSTONEGENERAL STORE and BP

Craypotsandlicences,rods,reels,Raider lures,nets,waders,fishingtackle,full rangebait,takeaways,groceries,marine batteries,wheelbearings,tyrerepairs.

Roger and Mandy Forsyth Ph.63572182Mob.0407561257

Prospect

ChainsawsandMowers Fishing tackle • Bait • Wattle grubs • Outboard repairs • Trailer repairs PlusMowers,Chainsaws,Brushcutterand Smallenginesales,serviceandrepairs.

391A Westbury Rd, Prospect, L’ton

Garry Laskey Ph: 6340 2220

Doo-Gun Tackle

Open 7 days during trout season Fishingtackleandlicences Live bait, accessories, clothing, waders.

Winston fly rods 21MarlboroughSt,Longford

Allan and Sue Davey 6391 1401 Email: doo_gun@hotmail.com

Boating Supplies

Boat Hire Tasmania Wide

No Licence required All safety equipment supplied

Hobart 6272 5563 Arthurs Lake 6259 8327 Bronte Park 6289 1129 Bradys Lake 6289 1191 Coles Bay 6257 0355,

0417 355 524 Derwent Bridge 6289 1000 Lewisham 6265 8272 Lake Pedder 6280 1166 Orford (Canoes) 6257 1033 www.boathiretasmania.com

Boat building and repairs

Aluman

Engineering Vandieman Seaman boats Proplate Custom Boats Boat repairs Propellor repairs Mark Tapsell 424 Hobart Road, L’ton Ph 6343 3341

Fish Supplies

LATROBE Wm.L.Wells&Sons

AgentsShakespeare&Shimano Rods,reels,lures,waders, licences,campinggear,rifles, gunsandammoandmore.

108GilbertStreet,Latrobe0364265000

Tasmanian Trout Supplies and Services Trout available for farm dams Daniel Hackett Or e-mail any queries to dhackett@tassie.net.au 78 Bulwer Street, Longford 7301, Tasmania. Ph. 0427 313 972 ABN: 44 981 499 195

Subscriptions & back issues ISSUE 1 • Bigger Flathead • Tasmania’s Top Trout Lures • Berleying for better results • Trevally at Stanley • Port Sorell • Tamar River Snapper ISSUE 2 • Surf fishing • Trolling for tuna • Swan River Bream • Mersey Bluff • Tamar River • John Fox on trout • West Head fishing ISSUE 3 • Tamar River snapper • Tempting marlin • Tassie Devil lures • Water temp. and trout • Bream - East Coast • Avoiding sea sickness • Ansons Bay secrets ISSUE 4 • Kite Fishing • Manns Lures • Trout Management • New Zealand • Understanding tides ISSUE 5 • Great Lake report • Lures and flies for the start of the season • Lake Echo report • Choosing a fly rod • Rapala lures • Derwent River trout • Bait fishing ISSUE 6 • West Coast fishing • Macquarie River • Derwent Bream on fly • Flinders Island profile • Planing Boards • Curries River Dam

ISSUE 10 • Winter opportunities • Choosing a rod • Soft plastic lures • Internet fishing • Fish Finders

ISSUE 19 • Dun fishing techniques • Great Lake tips • Game fishing • Kids stuff • Getting started

ISSUE 11 • Season opener • Choosing a rod • Best baits • Tassie’s top lures • Finding trout Greg French

ISSUE 20 • Mako shark on fly • Tasman Peninsula • Fly leaders • Outriggers • North west coast • Caring for your catch • Pakula gamefishing tips

ISSUE 12 • Choosing a fly rod • Tassie’s top spots • New Zealand • Central Highlands - Peter Hayes • Down rigging ISSUE 13 • Lake Burbury • More on mudeyes • Game fishing teasers • Game fishing • New products • Float tubing

ISSUE 21 • Secret English fly fishing techniques by John Horsey • Tassie’s best Bluefin lures • Fly tying ISSUE 22 • Big boating issue • Boat handling techniques • Tassie’s best fly techniques • Kids Stuff

ISSUE 14 • Boating techniques • Surf Fishing • Game fishing tips • Fish finders • Marine Communications ISSUE 15 • Polaroiding Great Lake • Trout tips • Game fishing tips • Fly tying • Understanding fish finders ISSUE 16 • Lure and fly colour - does it matter • Spearing flounder • Penn fishing stories • Fly tying

ISSUE 7 • Arthurs Lake • South West Tas. • Mayfly fishing Jim Allen • Baitcasting techniques • Electric Motors

ISSUE 17 • Trophy Atlantic Salmon • Fly Fishing tactics • Smoking fish • Choosing a fly rod • Fish Finders

ISSUE 8 • Bronte Lagoon • Game Fishing • Fly Tying • Bream on lures • Mudeye fishing • Jigging

ISSUE 18 • Loch style techniques • St Helens sportfishing • Henty River secrets • Big Bream • Brook trout • Back country browns

ISSUE 23 • Four Springs Lake • Peter Hayes casting tips • Lure fishing lakes • $100 - $400 fly rods • Sea-run trout on lures • IFC Commissioner profile ISSUE 24 • Tamar River Snapper • Peter Hayes casting tips • Meadowbank Lake • West Coast sea-trout • Fly fish Tamar River • Nymphing secrets • Squid on bait, lure & fly ISSUE 25 • English hopper flies • Peter Hayes casting tips • Arthurs Lake - Cowpaddock • Gum beetles • Game fishing ISSUE 26 • Albacore on fly • Peter Hayes casting tips • Mudeye magic • Lifejackets • Game fishing - live baits ISSUE 27 • Gamefishing • Peter Hayes casting tips • St Helens bream • Lake Skinner rainbows • Windlane fishing

ISSUE 9 • Late season trout opportunities • Tasman Peninsula • Surf Techniques • Baitcasters

ISSUE 28 • Dover Atlantic Salmon • Which Boat?

• Dressing for the cold • David Scholes new book

ISSUE 29 • More Atlantic Salmon • Fly rod comparison • New Zealand on the cheap • Starting the season ISSUE 30 • Spinning techniques • Tailing techniques • Huon River secrets • Dog Nobblers • Soft plastics ISSUE 31 • East Coast Bream • Blue Peaks Lake • Choosing a Spinning Reel • Lifejackets ISSUE 32 • Great Lake • Duck Bay • Striped Trumpeter • Derwent Bream • Tamar Kingfish • Bridport Hot Spots • Game Lure Colours ISSUE 33 • Autumn Fishing Tips • Monster Sea Mullet • Game Fishing • North West Snapper • Bream On Lures • Big Trout Theory ISSUE 34 • Tassy’s most popular boats • Winter trouting • Snapper • Frederick Henry Bay ISSUE 35 • Trout opening destinations • Tamar Secrets • Bushy on Bream • Fly Casting Championships ISSUE 36 • Lake King William • Craigbourne Dam • Tamar River trevally • Mullet on fly • D’Entrecasteaux Channel • Electric power ISSUE 37 • Huon Tributaries • Downrigging baits in current • Flathead on fly

ISSUE 40 • D’Entrecasteaux Channel • Stripey trumpeter • Soft plastics • Fish finder tips • Brook trout • Casting tips ISSUE 41 • Mega sized mullet • Brumbys Creek caenids • Tooms Lake • Bream on lures • Mayflies • Derwent bream ISSUE 42 • Gamefishing teasers • Neil Grose’s secret spots • Stillwater indicator nymphing • Autumn streams • Anglers Hall of Fame ISSUE 43 • Southern bluefin tuna • Yellowfin tuna • Jassids • Surf fishing • Elephant fish ISSUE 44 • Big boat issue • Anchoring correctly • Atlantic salmon • Fly retrieves • IFS news ISSUE 45 • Four Springs • Bream - Tamar River • Calamary • Multi tool review • IFS news ISSUE 46 • Brumbys Creek • Snapper • Great Lake • Flinders Island ISSUE 47 • Little Pine Secrets • Kingfish • Bream on plastics • Trout hotspots • Arthurs Lake

ISSUE 38 • Best Game Lures • Georges Bay • Choosing a propellor • Catch and Release

ISSUE 48 • Tasmania’s best game lures • Snapper • Penstock • East Australian Current • Big, fat, silly flies • Saltwater fly fishing

ISSUE 39 • Elephant Fish • Winter Garfish • Soft Plastics • Southern Bluefin Tuna • Salmon on Fly

ISSUE 48 • 25 Hotspots around Tasmania • Lake Burbury windlanes • Rainbow opportunities • Big flathead • Scalefish changes

Subscribing; Just fill in the form, or send your details as below. You can fax the subscription form to 03 6331 1278 or post to Stevens Publishing, PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250. or email details to fishn@bigpond.net.au Name;___________________________________________________________Address;____________________________ ___________________________________________________________Postcode;____________Phone________________ Subscriptions: $24; one year. $48; two years.

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Classifieds Lindsay Deegan Marine Haines Hunter 490SLC Powered with a 1996 model 115hp Suzuki.

Price: $15,500 Quintrex Explorer 420 Near new Quintrex Explorer 420 powered with a 40hp Yamaha.

Has bimini top, travel cover and fish finder. Save thousands on replacement.

Price: $13,300 Savage 15' Centre Console 15' Savage Centre console powered with a 40hp Mariner oil injected 2 stroke with power trim.

Price: $8,990 Fibreglass 1/2 Cab Boat & trailer only. Hull and trailer are in sound condition. Great value.

Price: $1,390 DeHavilland Dinghy DeHavilland 12' dinghy and trailer. Powered with a 15hp Johnson.

Price: $1,795 Quintrex Breezeabout Quintrex 4.3m Breezeabout powered with a 40hp Yamaha on Galvanised trailer. A little rough but affordable. Serviced and ready to go.

Price: $5,490 Quintrex Fishmaster Quintrex 5.0m Fishmaster powered with a 90hp Yamaha. Has service history and is mechanically sound.

Price: $9,500 Savage Scorpion 15' Savage Scorpion MK11 powered with twin 30hp Mariners, 1997 models with oil injection and power trim. On tandem trailer. All fully serviced and ready to turn the key.

Price: $12,500 Savage Escort Savage Escort powered by a 70hp Evinrude. Has an aluminium raised deck making this a good stand up runabout with plenty of deck space. Hull is sound, recently had new transom.

Price: $7,200 Outboard Motors: Honda 90hp 4 stroke 20" shaft. Has just been serviced and in good condition.

Price: $7,350 Mariner 90hp 4 stroke 20" shaft. 1994 model with less than 80hrs Rare opportu-

nity to upgrade to a late model 4 stroke.

Price: $8,700 Evinrude 4hp L/S 2 stroke 1998 model in immaculate condition. Has just been serviced.

Price: $890 Johnson 8hp Johnson 8hp short shaft 1999 model.

Price: $1,350 Yamaha 9.9hp 4 stroke 9.9hp L/S Yamaha 4 stroke electric start with remote controls.

Has service history & in excellent condition Price $1,190

Lindsay Deegan Marine 102 Eastlands Drive Phone 64252238

Heading to Lakes?

Stop in at Deloraine Pizza and Pasta, 53 Emu Bay Rd, Deloraine. Phone ahead on 6362 2000 to have your delicious pizza or pasta waiting. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm. Orders taken from 4 pm.

Coastal Marine Second Hand Boats 16’ Silverline F/glass Cuddy Cab, Canopy, Side Curtains, Storm Cover, Sounder, AM/FM Radio, Dunbier Trailer, no motor, $4500 Stessl 3.7 Runabout, trailer, no motor, $2600 Savage Gannet Runabout, trailer, no motor, $1900 Motors 200hp Mariner, 1992 XL/S, $5850 1999 EVINRUDE 90 FICHT, $8990 Trailer Tandem trailer, electric winch, suit 18-20’ boat $1500

Coastal Marine Somerset Ph 6435 2200

Port Sorell Marine Boats Savage Gannet, 4.3 runabout, 40 Yamaha, canopy, sounder, $6,500 16’ Fibreglass half cabin, 115 Merc, full canopy, side curtains, storm cover, $4,900 Motors 6hp Evinrude L/S as new $1,195 15hp Evinrude S/S fwd controls

$895 25 Johnson L/S fwd controls $900 25 Yamaha 4 stroke, as new, $3950

Port Sorell Marine 7 Club Drive, Shearwater Phone 6428 7124

Lewis Marine Secondhand boats 10’ Sillinger Inflatable $1,895 2.7m Aquapro with wooden floor A1 cond, as new $1,700 901 SLR Aquapro $2,850 Purdon dinghy $650 14’6” Pleasurecraft, trailer, hummingbird sounder $2,600 or with new 40hp CV $8,500 15’ Pride r/bout, 65hp Evinrude & trailer $3,900 525 Savage Osprey, 90hp Mercury and Dunbier trailer, with extra’s, all ’00 $26,500 5.8m Savage, 140hp John, tandem trailer with extra’s $20,500 2100 Haines Hunter ski boat, 225hp V max & trailer $36,500 Seconhand Motors 8hp Yamaha s/s ’03 $1,895 9.9hp Mariner s/s ’88 $725 25hp Yamaha ’00 L/S $2,250 25hp Johnson, 01 s/s $1,950 30hp Evinrude ’91 $1,250 130hp Evinrude ‘ $5,750 150TXEU Ficht ’97 $5,900

Lewis Marine 198-200 Campbell Street Hobart Phone 6234 7266

Wanted Fishing shack or land Arthurs Lake.

Prefer Morass area. Must have water views Tasmanian/Australian fly fishing books. Wigram, French, Sloane etc. Phone 63446866 (H) 0419 177706.

R.L.Winston Rod 5 weight, 2 piece, 2.4metres, $450 Ph 03 62731200. 03 62734330

Canoe 16’ Canadian with Minn Kota 36lb electric motor, VGC $550 Phone 6391-2220 Lowrance X97 Depth Sounder Brand New, with RAM bracket. $870 6391-2220 GLoomis Flyrod GL3 690 4 piece, with case VGC $400 6391-2220 Thomas & Thomas Flyrod 6 weight 10 foot 4 piece, with case As new $780 6391-2220

For Sale New fly tying cabinet 380 x 230 x 330. Holds all you need, two separate drawers, plus eight plastic wallets $105. Fly fishing books, abalone diving. Ph 6424 6798

Marine Batteries Now available AC Delco Voyager deep cycle & starting marine/RV, maint. free batteries with built in charge indicator. Nor-Co Batteries, Devonport Ph 6424 6466

Fly gear for sale Saltwater gear - used once. Fenwick F912 large arbor with 300 metres dacron backing with #8 WF line.

Loomis F102 #10/11 GL3. All perfect condition $1000 Phone 63678149.

Honda 30Hp outboard, 4 stroke motor, 3 years old, little use $3000. Phone 6229 7966 B/H, 0418 123 594 A/H

Advertisements.$11each.Youcanincludeupto30words-alladvs.mustbeprepaid.Justwriteoutyouradvert.andsend,Emailorfaxitwithcreditcarddetailsto Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News, PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250 Fax 6331 1278. Email fishn@bigpond.net.au Name .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Fishing News - Page 30

Hobart’s Largest Undercover Display of Boats

Stacer Boats from 3.1 to 6.4 metres.

2 and 4 Stroke Outboards 2 to 300 hp

Grand Opening 10th July

RFD Inflatables

Eastern Shore Marine Now located around the corner at 14 McIntyre Street, Mornington, Phone 6244 1163

Fishing News - Page 31

‘......I recommend Honda.....’

‘One of the most important things to me in business is reliable machinery. In my contracting business, Crossroads, I use Caterpillar products because they are considered by many as ‘the best’ and are renowned for reliability and dependability. I want to be able to get contracts done quickly and efficiently. With Caterpillar I can do that with the utmost faith.

For similar reasons I chose Honda outboards for my new boat. I run twin Honda 130s on my 7.3 metre Ocean Cylinder and it performs like a dream. Honda outboards are incredibly quiet, smooth and deliver economy that amazes me. And unlike the two strokes I’ve had in the past - there’s no two-stroke fumes or oil to worry about. I recommend Honda with the greatest confidence. By the way I also have a Honda, Type ‘R’ Integra that is nearly as much fun as my boat.’ Dale Stacey

H

onda is the biggest manufacturer of four stroke engines in the world producing around 10 million every year. Honda’s has a single mindedness and commitment to four stroke engines no other company can remotely match. Sure Honda know how to make two stroke engines, in fact we’re famous for them - winning seven of the last eight World Motorcycle Championships with them. In 2002 500cc 2-Stroke Grand Prix bikes were dropped and Moto GP 4-Strokes introduced. It was no suprise to anyone that Honda rider Valentino Rossi blitzed the field - leaving all other riders in his wake.

Honda also know that to achieve the ultimate in boating pleasure, comfort, fuel economy and performance, only a four stroke will do. Honda

For further details contact: • Lindsay Deegan Marine; 102 Eastland Drive, Ulverstone, Ph. 6425 2238 • Lifestyle Marine; 14 Dry St Invermay, Launceston, Ph. 6331 9507 • Mayne Marine; 119 New Town Road, Hobart, Ph. 6228 3999

Or phone Honda, freecall 1800 80 75 90

believes their four stroke outboard engines are the best in the world. Honda has the largest range of four stroke engines on the market, from 2 to 225 horsepower (and 52 models in between).

Honda remains solely dedicated to the advancement and development of four stroke and the benefits it will bring to our environment and the quality of your life.

Thankfully, Honda’s specialist dealers remain as passionate as our engineers. For you, it all adds up to value that lasts. In years to come, when you’re accustomed to the sheer joy of boating with a Honda 4-Stroke, you’ll truly know the satisfaction of having made the right choice.

Honda four stroke outboards - a natural evolution.

2 l 5 l 8 l 10 l 15 l 20 l 25 l 30 l 40 l 50 l 75 l 90 l 115 l 130 l 150 l 175 l 200 l 225 Horsepower

Po we r

i n t u n e wi th n at u r e

The NEW Stessl Edgetracker

‘By far the best boat I’ve ever had anything to do with’.

Port Sorell boater Royce Mather has been boating for many years and when it came time for a new tinny he looked closely at the new Stessl Edgetracker. Royce had owned one of the earlier models and was very happy with service it had given him.

‘It was a good, tough, stable boat that served me well’, Royce said.

‘After a test drive there was no doubt in my mind that the new Edgetracker was a far better boat. Now after using it in both estuaries and out at sea on the west coast crayfishing I am convinced it is by far the best boat I’ve ever had anything to do with.’ Royce concluded.

Superb stability, smooth ride, low power requirements A completely new, re-engineered hull and bow has taken the legendary Edgetracker into a new league. Whilst keeping the highly revered Edgetracker system aft, the new bow has made the ride even better and enhanced the ability to perform with a minimum of horsepower. All heavy duty boats from 3.85 metres (pictured) have a massive 2 metre beam giving awesome stability; and Tournament models have a 2m x 2m casting platform.

The lightweight models - ideal for cartopping range from 3 metres at 50kg up to 3.7 metres at 75kg

Strength you can rely on

Stessl Platerix - strength in a boat like never before

•4mmhightensileplate•Fulllength,6mmstringers•4mmbulkheads (max spacing 380mm) • Max. unsupported distance 420mm.

•StandardinallBluewater,MakoandTrophiesover4.8metres

102 Eastland Drive Ulverstone

6425 2238

Stessl • Trailcraft • Cruise Craft • Stabi-Craft • Honda • Evinrude • Johnson • Tohatsu Fishing News - Page 32