Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 059 2005 December by Tasmanian Fishing

Issue 59 December 2005 - January 2006

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WIN a family holiday for 7 days in St Helens See page 38

Dick Greenlaw enjoying some summer fishing chasing dun feeding trout on Arthurs Lake.

• Trolling tips to increase your catch • Jan’s flies • Sarah’s kitchen • Marvellous mayflies • Launceston’s suburban trout • Reviews • Steve Starling - soft plastic tips • Top Tassy sites

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WORLD’S BEST 4-STROKE

7/1/05 5:10:44 PM

CONTENTS

Recreational scallop season a success

Marvellous mayfly fishing - Nick Voce 5 Trolling cobras - Improve your catch rate - Bill Presslor

Gelspun or mono - Damon Sherriff 13 Fishing and Boating Directory 14 Cutting some slack - improve your soft plastic catch - Steve Starling

Launceston suburban trouting - Colin Johnson

Top ten holiday sites around Tasmania - Andrew Richardson

Fisherman’s basket - reviews 28 Jan’s flies - Jan Spencer 32 Back to Pedder 34 Sarah’s Kitchen 35 Calendar of events 37 Free Classifieds 38

My Say Well it is summer at last and the fishing really starts to heat up now. The huge rains we have had will ensure some fantastic inland fishing. Lake levels are high and rivers seem to be flooding every two weeks. Great Lake has risen over four metres, Arthurs is as high as I have seen it and all looks good.

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The first Tasmanian ABT bream tournament has been run and won. Michael Haley, Steve Steer and Leigh McKenzie took out the major prizes and I must say all those that fished the events learnt an enormous amount. I can’t wait for next year. There is also a local bream competition being run at St Helens in January and if interested in this ‘catch and release’ event contact Jamie Henderson at Georges Bay Marine. I hope you have a Christmas wish list. If you don’t have a look at what the advertisers have to offer. Tasmania has some terrific tackle stores and with few exceptions they offer first class advice, tips on methods and sometimes you can even prise some good spots out of the staff. Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News has just moved into its tenth year without fanfare. We value and thank you for your support as readers, and also thank our advertisers for theirs. If you ever have suggestions on things you would like to see email, phone or fax us. Over summer though don’t expect us to get back to you too quickly. Tightlines and good fishing.

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Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Published by Michael Stevens PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250. Ph/fax; 6331 1278 Email; fishn@bigpond.net.au Advertising: Quenton Higgs - 0427 129 949 Stevens Publishing, 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

Inland Fisheries Free Fishing Day reels in new anglers The Free Fishing Day was once again extremely successful even though one venue, Penguin was flooded and had to be cancelled. Free Fishing Day is a joint project between angling clubs throughout the State and the Inland Fisheries Service. Angling clubs such as, Clarence, Launceston, Glenorchy, Penguin, Longford, George Town, Wynyard as well Oatlands High School have been long time supporters and facilitators of Free Fishing Day. Free Fishing Day gives would be anglers a chance to try their luck for one day per year without the expense of purchasing an angling licence. It was very pleasing to see quite a few family groups enjoying this healthy outdoor pursuit. Throughout the State approximately 2 000 anglers took advantage of the day with the weather conditions close to perfect. Clubs and Inland Fisheries staff assisted anglers with tuition, information and assistance wherever possible. Some clubs also had a BBQ which proved popular. Earlier in November the IFS attended the Deloraine Craft Fair where a fishout pond was popular with young up and coming anglers.

Waters Stocked Since October 2005

Lake Meadowbank Four Springs Bronte Rostrevor Dulverton Waverley Craigbourne

Av. size (grams) 200 350 250 0.16 200 350 2 500

Species rainbow trout brown trout brook trout brown trout rainbow trout rainbow trout rainbow trout

Numbers 5 818 860 1 000 5 000 230 300 260

During the past three months the IFS has been very busy restocking the State’s fisheries. In total, nearly 130 000 rainbow trout were transferred into 23 waters around the State. This equates to somewhere in the vicinity of 25 tonnes of fish moved in the period August to October. The fish averaged around 200 grams and were purchased from Tassal - Russell Falls farm (at Karanga). Anglers are now happily catching some of these fish.

Recreational scallop season considered a great success A recreational scallop fishery was opened for the first time in over a decade in Tasmanian waters during 2005, the season extending between 25th March and 30th June. Dive collection was the only permitted method and more than 3000 divers took out a recreational scallop licence. TAFI conducted pre- and post-season dive surveys to assess the general status of the inshore scallop stocks in addition to a telephone survey of scallop fishers to collect general fishery information and feedback about the management of the fishery.

Dive surveys

From the phone survey it was established that licence-holders fished for an average of six days each, representing a total of almost 16,000 fisher days of effort during the three-month season. The vast majority (87%) of effort was concentrated in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, with Great Oyster Bay of secondary importance (7%). Within the Channel, effort was particularly concentrated on beds off Conningham, Satellite Island and Gordon, a finding consistent with the observed changes in scallop abundances. Using the daily bag limit (40 scallops) as a measure of fishing success, over 80% of all effort resulted in the bag limit being achieved.

Underwater visual assessment using a method called ‘timed swims’ were used to collect information about the abundance, species and size composition of scallop stocks both before the season opened and at the end of the season. Volunteers from the Tasmanian Scuba Diving Club provided valuable assistance in the pre-season surveys, extending the areas that were surveyed. Dive surveys were conducted in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Great Oyster Bay and Georges Bay.

The vast majority of fishers indicated that they were overall satisfied with the cautious management approach taken for the 2005 season, i.e. conservative bag limit, large minimum size limits and a relatively long fishing season. More than half of all respondents considered that the daily bag limit of 40 was about right, with most of the remainder judging it to be too low. Almost three-quarters of all respondents indicated satisfaction with the timing and duration of the season.

Telephone survey

Issues of non-compliance were considered a significant problem by over one third of respondents and of these, most felt that the problem could be remedied with greater police presence. Some fishers believed that the low bag limit might have exacerbated the problem.

What was found

In summary, the 2005 recreational scallop season can be considered a success, with a high level of fisher success and satisfaction as well as support for the management strategy. Another encouraging sign was evidence of recent settlement of commercial and queen scallops in some areas along with the continued presence of a wide range of size classes, including legal sized scallops, in the post-season surveys.

Over 400 licence-holders were selected from the recreational licence database and questioned about their fishing activity, perceptions about resource status and overall satisfaction with the management of the scallop fishery. Post-season surveys indicated declines in abundance of commercial scallops at some sites, though legal sized scallops (>100 mm) were still generally well represented - due in part to the growth of sub-legal scallops over the period of the fishery. Greatest declines occurred off Satellite Island (near Allonnah on Bruny Island) and Conningham (especially in depths of less than 20 m) in the Channel. Queen and doughboy abundances appeared to have changed little over the course of the fishery suggesting that commercial scallops were the primary species targeted.

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Informed by the results of this research, the Minister has recently announced that there will be a recreational scallop fishery during 2006, a decision no doubt welcomed by many Tasmanians. Jeremy Lyle and Alastair Morton

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Marvellous mayfly fishing Nick Voce talks about what many consider the trout’s most important food. The mayfly has been closely associated with Spring and flyfishing in the northern hemisphere for hundreds of years. Claudius Aelianus the author of a book on natural history written in the fifth century writes of tackle and fly making. While translated from Greek, the message is clear, the process was already well developed in Macedonian rivers. One can still get a glimpse of these early times and an appreciation of their enthusiasm. Advances in the development of better equipment and methods for their sport could only have been bred through free thinking. The earliest flies were tied from furs and feathers, many of which are still included in modern dressings, to represent mayflies and the immature nymphs. These were undoubtedly fished wet fly style in rivers and streams using relatively crude poles and horsehair lines. It is generally agreed that these representatives of the Order Ephemoptera (meaning literally, short-lived with wings) are responsible for the earliest development of the fly-fishing method.

The abundant insect

Few people other than trout fishers are familiar with mayflies. On a global basis, the mayfly is well known as being closely associated with trout, especially the brown trout, and forms an important staple item in this fish in freshwater streams and lakes. Mayflies are aquatic insects that complete almost their entire life cycle under water. They require clean cool water

When a hatch is on shore fishing can be very rewarding. Structure, such as a point of land are worth concentrating on as they can funnel a good flow of duns past them. This is where you can expect trout to be present in higher numbers. from which they obtain dissolved oxygen through feathery external gills that can be found on the sides of their bodies. Healthy quantities of aquatic plants are necessary for their food and shelter. The wonderful thing about mayflies is that trout love to feed on them. Several mayfly species feature in Tasmania. Some species are to be found in lakes and others prefer streams. It is not essential to have a comprehensive knowledge of the different species to catch trout, but it is useful to have some knowledge of their habits, especially when a hatch is experienced or to be expected.

Know your bugs: the secret lives of mayflies

Mayflies represent a primitive form of insect that has an unusual life cycle. They are unique in the insect world because they shed their skins twice.

The may fly life cycle

Many of the more advanced insects such as butterflies have a life cycle that scientists have described as having a complete metamorphosis. This cycle will be familiar to small children and all who marvel at the wonder of nature, the world over. The complete metamorphic cycle progresses through egg, larva, pupa and the winged adult stage. The mayfly cycle progresses through egg, nymph, first winged stage, (dun,) and adult winged stage (spinner.) Tasmanian trout eat lots of mayflies as nymphs, duns and spinners and this type of feeding activity is something to get really excited about. continued next page......

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Fishing the may fly hatch: a day on a mayfly lake. Today, in our minds, we are going on an adventure to Arthurs Lake in the Highlands of Tasmania to search for brown trout to catch. If we are going to be successful, we need to apply the three F rule. The three F rule is easy to remember. Find fish feeding. The best way to find fish is to dive below the water and look for fish. Come along for a ride on my back as we have a look around, I’ll point out what I want you to see. One of the amazing features of the lake-bed is the amount of lush green plants that grow here. There will be places where that growth is sparse and places where the growth is lush. That’s what the mayfly nymphs want. Water that is two to three metres deep with a soft muddy bottom supports plenty of weed and countless nymphs. As we dig through the weed, we find them living their secret lives amongst the strands. Amazing, as it seems, enough nymphs avoid being eaten alive by fish, saving them from extinction. The time that the nymphs are most vulnerable is when they are swimming to the surface to hatch into a dun. And especially when they are in the process of hatching (emerger) Another name for a dun is a sub-imago. We shall call them duns. When this migration occurs we call it an emergence, or simply a hatch. This underwater activity is not always obvious to air breathing creatures like anglers and wallabies etc. I am sure that the wallabies don’t think about it, much less give a damn, after all they eat grass. But the trout, they eat insects and go nuts. Several types of birds enjoy a feed of mayflies and can be useful to us when searching for the best areas to fish. During the early stages of the hatch, fish will be found patrolling the surface of the weed terrain like Stealth Bombers searching for over-zealous suicide nymphs. As the hatch progresses, larger numbers of nymphs will be found accumulating close to the surface and the trout, looking for the easiest meal, will be in hot pursuit. Signs to watch out for

Now that we are back on board our boat, shivering like idiots, we will see the occasional boil on the surface; this is a result of fish turning below the surface to intercept swimming nymphs. Nature takes no prisoners. You can almost hear them scream. When the swimming nymph reaches the surface a barrier meets it. This barrier is known as the meniscus. The meniscus is what allows us to float our dry flies in the surface, but for our little friends, represents a monumental challenge. The meniscus is like the force fields on ‘Lost in Space’, separating the two worlds, air and water. “Oh the pain of it all.” The poor little nymphs present an easy target for the trout as the meniscus or surface film, which is actually a layer of water molecules, traps them. Soon though, the skin near their head splits and they are free to wriggle from their skins, revealing their wings. Trout smile as they inhale these squishy, but nutritious little morsels. Not surprisingly they taste a little like chicken. Duns are poor fliers, they are dressed in drab tweed overcoats, but fly they must. The fluttering duns try out their new wings, the trout show no mercy as they stuff themselves full, and put on a show for us. The carnage continues as the

Predicting good sport Dodgy weather and hatches.

The largest emergences of duns occur on days with overcast conditions. High humidity helps protect the newly hatched dun from dehydration. Drizzle, rain and snow, even blizzards do little to deter them, however, the best fishing is usually associated with wind. Wind helps to break the meniscus and makes it a little easier for the duns to hatch, resulting in a greater numbers on the surface. Wind also tends to channel the flies and pushes them into lanes, making it easier for the fisherman to locate the fish. When the peak of the hatch coincides with a stiff breeze, they are pushed quite quickly along the surface. Well defined wind lanes means trout will be easier to track as they make their way up wind in search of their next victim

Challenging conditions

It would be fair to say that foul weather is to be expected in the highlands at any time, summer or not. The fact is that calm waters rarely create the right conditions for good mayfly fishing. A full on hatch has to be seen to be believed and when experienced makes up for a lot of less productive sessions. May fly-fishing can be worthwhile in some wild weather, however safety should always show precedence over a few trout.

The nymphal stage is, arguably, the most important stage of a mayfly’s life to the trout— available as food from the bottom of a lake or river until it breaks through the meniscus on the surface.

trout make splashy lunges at the duns as they drift along in the currents of water and wind like little sailboats. Mayflies hatch into a winged insect for one reason only, to find a dance partner. In the absence of nearby phone booths these mild mannered duns remove their drab overalls behind the bushes, revealing their dazzling dance clothes while no one is looking of course. They are called spinners and are ready for the spinner B and S ball. The transformation is complete. Spinner couples yet again take to the air. They are splendid and generally cut a rug. Dancing spinners can be seen performing the nuptial dance in private places often well away from the water. Go John and Olivia. Don’t forget to grease your hackles boys. After a few rounds of mind-blowing dancing they are in ecstasy. Coupled male and the females return to the water to lay their eggs. Soon they will perish but the eggs sink to the bottom of the lake as the seeds of the next generation have been sown. They are spent spinners. They die, as they possess no mouth parts capable of feeding. They certainly are short lived with wings.

The dun stage is, arguably, the most exciting stage of the mayfly’s hatch to the fly fisher. As they sit on the water’s surface drying their wings they are very vulnerable to a feeding trout. Trout sipping duns are a joy for any fly fisher to see.

As always, it is necessary to be well equipped. It is foolish not to take advantage of well-designed modern clothing and equipment. To suffer adverse weather conditions is unnecessary, and removes much of the pleasure from the experience. When you dally over the high price of that special jacket, consider the cosy comfort well designed all weather gear

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Fishing News - Page 7

The spinner is the final stage of a mayflyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. This stage is of much interest to river fishers, but much less to still water anglers.

The variety of flies for mayfly fishing is as varied as anglers themselves. The best bet is to visit your local fishing shop and take some advice from them.

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Fishing tactics

The flies

From a boat

Fly-fishing from a drifting boat is a great way to present our flies to a large number of trout. A boat provides us with great mobility. Many trout will see your flies if the boat is handled correctly and bag limit catches are possible and not uncommon.

From the shore

Fly-fishing from the shore or better still, wading or even float tubing, can also be rewarding and quite relaxing if you are fit and mobile, and I think that good presentations can even the score a little. It depends also on factors such as your personal taste, your budget and the conditions of the day.

In the earliest part of the hatch and during quite times, the standard weighted brown nymph is usefully fished on a floating fly line and a long, fine tippet. The plan if no fish are showing is to have the fly swimming above the weeds without actually hanging up on them too much. This skill takes time to master but is well worth the perseverance and concentration required to achieve results. If you are not occasionally picking up weed on the hook you may not be quite in the zone. This technique needs constant revision to be on the money, but results speak for themselves and create a steep learning curve. The take is registered through visual contact with the line. Remember, nymphs swim at about one inch per second, so the take is mostly subtle. It is intense fishing.

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The next fly in your kit is an unweighted brown nymph, and these are used for free swimming nymphs closer to the surface. The surface film is best covered with an emerger pattern fished dead drift, like a dry fly, with occasional but subtle twitches. A two or even three-fly combination is often a good bet and various combinations can cover the whole gamut of mayfly scenarios. In summary, from bottom to top; heavy nymph, light nymph, emerging nymph, dun, spinner, and spent spinner patterns all have their day. The important thing is to get out there and have a go!

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Bronte fly fishing school January 2006

The Devonport Fly Fishing Club (Inc) will once again be holding their annual fly fishing school at Bronte Lagoon in the Central Highlands from 8 to 13 January 2005. This long running school has developed greatly since the club took over it’s running from the Department of Sport and Recreation some thirteen years ago and it is now acknowledged as a forum for the beginner or total novice to grow in stature as a fly fisher with its air of 6173 FP ETEC FishingMthly 0812A casual intensity.

8/12/04

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Page 1

Students are well supported with the club supplying experienced instructors to guide them through the rigours that sometimes beset the angler as he or she starts out fly fishing.

The club actively promotes women anglers attending the course and also junior anglers provided they are under adult supervision. Some of the topics covered by the course include First Aid, Entomology, Casting Techniques, Reading Lakes and Streams, Fly Construction, Polaroiding, etc. As usual the school will again cater for those people returning as second year students with a separate syllabus which will enable them to take that next step and follow on from the previous years learning. Second year students will have a $75 fee as opposed to the first year fee of $100.

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At a cost of $100 per student for the four and a half day course it is well within the financial reach of most, with many students choosing to turn it into a family holiday. Students who undertake the course will be required to supply all their own angling gear and if choosing to camp on site will need to be self sufficient. The club will supply two porta loos and showers are available at the nearby Bronte Park Highland Village.

For further information or to enrol please contact any of the following Martin Hulsman 6424 3648 Barry Jacobsen 6272 2597 Peter Burr 6424 8287

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Fishing News - Page 9

Trolling Cobras

Improving your catch rate If you asked most Australian trout anglers if they ever used spoons for their fishing most would likely reply that they seldom ever use this type of lure. In reality the Tasmanian ‘Cobra’ style of lure is really a type of spoon, albeit a heavy, uniquely–shaped lure, it is still basically a spoon. Every size, shape and description of spoon has been manufactured over the years, but nothing else comes close to these little plastic and lead marvels. The Cobra style of lure has an amazing scope to accommodate a broad range of applications for almost any fishing condition. With the addition of a couple of new innovations to this style of lure Australia’s most popular and successful fresh water fishing lure has just become even better! The Cobra style of lure has been around for a very long time now, with a range of manufacturers producing this type of lure. Until recently there has been little change in this style of lure, with most makers offering a range of colours and finishes, but remarkably most of the differences are little more than cosmetic. With all the ardent followers of this style of lure around, I am probably going to get hate mail for saying this, but the biggest difference in most of these lures has been the range of colours available. Designs of lures with slightly different weights or subtle changes in the body size or wings has been the norm, but basically the lure has remained much the same, until recently. Two manufacturers, Lofty’s Lures and Wigstons Lures have introduced a new deeper diving lure during the last couple of years. Although both these lure making firms have no doubt been researching this problem for some time it’s very interesting to note that their approach and the finished products are very different. Because of this the two lures, Loftys Wide Wing Cobra and Wigstons Dual Depth Tasmanian Devil, both have a unique action and a range of applications. No matter what your personal preference in brand may be, I would suggest that both styles of lure deserve a place in your tackle box to accommodate a range of conditions. I’ll get into the similarities and differences between these two lures a little later. The main purpose of this article is to help create a better understanding of how this lure works and what you can do to improve your success and catch rate. There are a number of factors that play a part in how well your lure is presented to a fish including your choice of line, rigging, hooks, boat speed and the lure itself.

Lines

One of the most critical factors in achieving optimum performance from any lure is line selection. The line you choose for a particular application deserves a lot of careful consideration, after all it’s your main connection to a fish.

Trolling at the right speed can easily be achieved - even on big motors by using a trolling baffle. This 150 HP Honda will troll happily all day on idle at just the right speed. Though it has been said countless times in this publication and elsewhere how important line selection is, a lot of anglers seem to pay little attention to this detail when it comes time to spool up for a fishing trip. The age-old adage about getting what you pay for certainly rings true when it comes to line selection. The technology and choice available to anglers in the form of monofilaments, co-polymers, braided gelspun, and fluoro carbon lines is really quite staggering. The array of manufacturers and brands of lines, along with the price and availability, seems to have expanded enormously in the past ten years. The most important areas for consideration with trolling applications should be line diameter, stretch and abrasion resistance. When you are trying to decide on a line for trolling, keep in mind that lines which are primarily made for casting are not the answer for trolling. In many of our impoundments you will encounter submerged trees, rocks, fences etc., that will really test out your line. Trolling lines need to be fairly tough with good abrasion resistance and low stretch, not soft and limp like a good casting line. The brand you choose is a personal preference, but buy as good a quality line as you can. Line diameter plays a major role in how deep your lure runs when trolled or retrieved. Thinner diameter lines allow your lure to run deeper and optimise the lure’s built-in action. In most applications diameters in the 0.18 to 0.22 mm range are your best bet for trolling Cobra style lures on surface or flat lines. My personal choice for flatlining is line of 0.20 mm diameter. Lines of this size (and of course all others) can vary enormously in breaking strain from one maker to another Most major brands are between 2–4 kilograms breaking strain for 0.20 mm line which is more than adequate for most trout trolling applications in Tasmanian waters.

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Don’t go cheap on one of the most important important parts of tackle. Good mono can make a huge difference in your catch rate. Line stretch and resultant breakage can be a problem with some lines. Stretch is usually difficult to detect until you snag up or try to land a big fish. Ordinarily you can see or feel the difference when your line has stretched and not fully recovered. When your line is stretched it may also show up as a different colour, most noticeable with darker coloured lines. To avoid problems like this most line manufacturers recommend that you cut approximately 1.5–2 metres off your line and retie your lure after landing a big fish or getting snagged. Most anglers don’t do often enough. Today’s new generation of gel spun braided lines are amazing to use. Surface trolling or flat lining with braided lines is almost like learning to troll again. The amount of stretch in

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Fishing News - Page 11

this type of line is so minimal as to be almost non-existent. Your first hook-up on a fish will amaze you with what you can feel; every head shake or flap of a fish’s tail is transmitted through this type of line. If you have never used this type of line keep in mind that with so little stretch you need to run a very light drag and use a rod that is soft enough to be forgiving and act like a shock absorber. Lines such as Fireline, Spiderwire, Fins and the Australian-made Platypus are all excellent performers. Generally, line diameter for downrigging is not as crucial as when surface trolling. Having said this you still need to choose your line carefully. Your selection of line for downrigging should take into consideration what type of line release clip you use and the type of downrigging you intend to do. If you are constantly chasing the bottom in snag ridden waters you need to consider a tougher abrasion resistant line. For most Australian conditions line from 0.20 to 0.30mm will handle just about any fishing situations.

on a small fish they seem to have a real knack for getting caught with all three prongs of a treble in their mount. When you try to get the treble out you can do a lot of damage to the fish. Because catchand-release is something I firmly believe in and want to practise, I now use single hooks. My favourite pattern is an open eye siwash hook. An Eagle Claw 210NA, VMC 9171N1 or Gamakatsu Saltwater f ly siwash hook are all brands I’ve used with great success. Gamakatsu have recently It won’t matter how many cobra style lures you have - it will be barely enough. introduced a Lure Single They are a fantastic lure that fill many Tasmanian tackle boxes. Hook that also looks very promising. One of my main concerns when changing over to single As with any lure of this style watching the rod tip can tell you hooks was whether or not the hook-up rate would be as good what’s going on with the lure. If you pick up weed on the lure as with a treble. My experience has been that it’s even better it will change the action of the rod tip alerting you to the fact and rarely do you seem to fail to hook a fish. The Siwash that it’s time to bring the lure in to clear it. Both of these lures pattern of hook is used extensively in the US and Canada work equally well for lead lines flat lines or downrigging but for salmon and steelhead. This type of hook features a very my preference is to run them on a flat line or surface line. For long point, short shank, wide gape and usually has an open downrigging I prefer to run a standard lure of 13 grams or eye which you can crimp over a split ring. Regardless of what the smaller 7 gram model when conditions warrant. Most anglers seem to shy away from the 7 gram or 25 brand or pattern of hook you choose, make sure you keep gram size lures for trolling but I’ve found they are both very it razor sharp. productive. The size of the forage fish you are trying to imitate should dictate what size your lure should be. The 25 gram lures Deep Innovations The introduction of the new Wide Wing Cobra and the have a very strong action that can be extremely productive if Dual Depth Tassie Devil has proved to be a real bonus for you are chasing big trout and salmon. The smaller 7 gram size trout anglers over the last couple of seasons. Wigstons Dual lure is great for shallow water or weed bed trolling and has the Depth Tassie Devil uses a combination of dual towing points same great action. The 7 gram is also an excellent choice of and heavier weight (20 grams) to achieve a deeper diving lure. lure when you want to run a slider off the downrigger. With the advent of the new deeper diving lures, the On the other hand Loftys Wide Wing Cobra adopts a wider wing and retains the 13 gram weight of the standard Cobra. amazing range of colours and sizes means Australian anglers My experience with these lures has shown that they are both have a greater choice than ever before. Dollar for dollar these quite sensitive to speed. The Dual Depth needs a slightly faster lures are some of the best value tackle around, so no matter (2.5 – 3.5 km/h) because of its heavier weight while the Wide which brand you choose you can support a unique Australian Wing seems to operate best at slower (1.5 – 2.5 km/h) speeds. product! Bill Presslor Both lures need to run at the right speed to avoid line twist.

Use your mono onto a split ring and single hook for better lure action.

Rigging Tricks

One tried and true approach to rigging this style of lure usually entails passing the line through the body of the lure, through a small plastic bead, and tying it to your choice of hook. As the lure moves through the water the hook is pulled up tight against the bead which in turn locks it in one position. To gain the most from your lure the hook should be able to move freely. Using a split ring instead of a bead, allows free movement of the hook.

Hook Options

The standard hook that comes with most of these type of lures is usually a single treble hook. After experimenting with several different types of hooks for the last three or four years, I almost never use a treble behind a Cobra style lure. Invariably, if you have my sort of luck, when you hook up

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Gelspun or Monofilament Gelspun

the time you may as well get out As stated gelspun lines your scissors and start cutting. have very little stretch. Probably the most concerning This has both good and thing with braid because of bad points as menthe zero stretch. The tioned. You fish that you lightly can work hook are norlures mally the fish and that you blow. soft Braided lines. plasThese are made from two types of futur- If your drag tics istic fibres which are dyneema and spectra. on your reel a lot At the end of the day most braids are very has the slightbetter similar and many different brands are prob- est bump this when ably made at the same factory. Braided lines will be magnified the normally don’t have an outer coating and dramatically. My adline doesn’t this makes the line limper and finer than the vice to you would be to Platypus by Australian Monofil has stretch, and you fused variety. Braids biggest benefits are low use it if you really need it. some great lines, whilst Berkley can feel everything stretch, (which allows you to detect bites in Fireline has a huge following. that happens if a fish deep water) and low diameter (helps you to Fused lines These are far more user friendly than even taps the lure or bait. All gear needs to cast lighter weights more easily and creates braid. They are made from dyneema or be absolutely top notch—especially the reel less water drag on your line). This small diameter allows you to use spectra. But fused line has an outer coating drag. There is also no doubt that fish fall lighter sinkers or when trolling—your lure which holds the parallel fibres together, not swims a little deeper. This all sounds great but like braids woven fibres. The coating makes off, break off or throw the hooks more it also has a few downfalls as well—one being the line a little bit stiffer and handles a bit easily—primarily due to the no-stretch the price. It is normally around five times the like mono. It is still has zero stretch and characteristics. quite a fine diameter but you still require to Conversely you can ‘horse’ a fish straight price of a medium monofilament line. Braid is harder on all your gear such as, learn a couple of new knots. One thing to out of the snags with the drag locked up— rod guides and line rollers and reels. People remember with most gelspuns is the label- something you can’t do with monofilament. tend to fish a heavier line class on rods and ing of the breaking strain is not correct. For reels which are not designed for this pur- example Berkley fire line 14lb actually breaks Monofilament lines In my opinion I think that mono is a far pose. Some anglers also fish their drags a bit at around 20lb. It is nearly twice the breaking strain that is stated on more user friendly line. It is low cost, you can heavier which creates the box. So once again more wear and tear just because Berkley on gear. fire line 14lb has a Another down 6lb diameter, which fall with braid line is is equivalent in mono that you cannot tie doesn’t mean that you conventional fishing would spool it up on knots. You basically a trout outfit. In fact have to start from you are using a 28lb scratch. It is also hard line on an outfit that to detect line damis probably designed age with braid and it for the use of no more often breaks without than 10lb breaking warning. It also tanstrain. So it is a good gles a lot easier than idea to find out the mono because of its There are some great lines on the actual breaking strain limpness and super market. Mono is good in some applications and braid good in others. before you purchase fine diameter. When Choose the best line to suit the job. it. it does tangle most of The family of lines known as gelspun lines includes two types, braided and fused. Both of these varieties of gelspun have similar characteristics but are constructed differently. The main two advantages of gelspun are a fine line diameter and are very close to zero stretch.

run it right to your hooks if you wish because of its transparency, You will lose less fish due to its cushioning effect for hard running fish with hard mouths. It is very easy to tie simple knots with and it is not hard on your gear. If you get a tangle or a back lash and you can’t undo it is not the end of the world.

Knots in gelspun

The knots that I use for gelspun are not the simplest but are the best especially when using heavier lines. Bimini twist double connected to braid leader knot. This is by far the strongest connection to join monofilament to gelspun line. It takes a bit of practice to tie but it is worth the effort. The instructions for this knot can be found in Geoff Wilson’s book on Knots and Rigs or you can call in to Charltons Fishing for a free demo. Braid ring knot. This is the knot that I use to connect an eye of a hook or swivel straight to gelspun line. It is reasonably simple to tie and also can be found in Geoff Wilson’s book - Knots and Rigs. Gelspun lines definitely have a place in today’s fishing but are knot always suitable for every application. Damon Sherriff

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Fishing News - Page 15

Cutting some slack Steve Starling - and then Kaj Busch explain a technique that will boost your catch rate when using soft plastics. If I can teach you just one thing about fishing with soft plastics, please make it this: You will catch a lot more fish on plastics if you learn the importance of giving a little slack. Let me explain by telling you a true story that provides a practical example… One of the great things about fishing the ABT BREAM and BASS Tournament circuits, that Bushy and I have been involved with almost since their beginning, is that you are partnered each day on the water with a different angler. People enter these events as either boaters or non-boaters, and the non-boater contestants are paired at random each day with a different boater. Not only does this diminish the opportunity or even the suggestion of anyone cheating towards zero, it also means you get to meet some great folks and swap ideas with them. That’s why the motto of the ABT circuits is: ‘Who shares wins’. I’ve learnt a lot from the non-boaters I’ve been lucky enough to fish alongside over the years, but I guess the most important penny of all dropped one competition day during a bream round staged in an estuary on the south coast of NSW a couple of seasons back. That day I finally recognised a few of the subtle, but very important differences between getting the whole soft plastic thing right and only nearly getting it right. I guess I’d been doing these subtle things almost unconsciously for years, but that day forced me to analyse precisely what was going on, and when realisation dawned, it was like a big light bulb snapping on in my head. Suddenly, a whole lot of things made much more sense. It was a very tough day and the fishing was slow. We were struggling to catch a few legal bream, but I was at least scoring the odd one. Not my non-boater, though. He was frustrated by the odd bump and short take, but just wasn’t catching them, and I started to wonder why this was so. My companion on this particular day was a reasonably experienced angler. His gear was good, he was using virtually identical lures to me and he could cast every bit as well as I could. He was landing his plastics right

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Steve Starling and Kaj Busch practice ‘giving a little slack’ on the Scamander River.

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in there against the bank or up under the overhanging trees and beside the sunken snags. But he just wasn’t getting many bites and, when he did, he converted almost none of them into solid hook-ups. Why? The big difference turned out to be the fact that I was incorporating what I’ve nowadays come to refer to as ‘controlled slack’ into my presentation. To begin with, after the lure splashed down close to the structure, I would let it sink on a semi-slack line until it actually touched bottom. By semi-slack, I mean with a slight, but not exaggerated, belly in the line between my rod tip and the water. And I’d watch this belly of line like a hawk, especially that all-important 20 or 30 cm closest to the water’s surface. If it twitched, ticked, kicked, flicked, paused, tugged or jerked, I’d strike! As the jig head touched the bottom, the belly of line would visibly relax and droop toward the water. At this point, I’d turn the reel a couple of times to remove the slack and make contact with the lure, then stop turning the reel and use a lift of the rod, from horizontal to about 45 degrees, to lift or ‘swim’ the lure half a metre up through the water column, then drop the rod tip again to create more controlled slack, allowing the lure to once again swim down to the river bed while I watched that all-important belly for those tell-tale signs of a bite or pick-up. Once again, when the lure touched down on the bottom, the line would visibly relax and I’d turn the reel a few times to pull the slack from it, then use the rod to lift the jig again. And so it went, until I’d fished the soft plastic halfway or even two-thirds of the way back to the boat, maintaining frequent contact with the river bed all the way. At this point, I figured I was out of the primary strike zone (for that day), so I’d retrieve my lure, but not flat out. I’d always start the straight retrieve with half a dozen slow cranks of the handle, followed by a momentary pause, just in case a following fish chose this moment to finally pounce. Only after this process would I speed up the retrieve and bring the lure back to the boat, but even then, I’d watch it carefully as it swum into view, just in case something was following it. By contrast, my offsider was making his lure sink on a tight line next to the structure (causing it to swing out and away from the fish holding cover), then cranking it on a relatively tight line. Sure, he was stopping and starting his retrieve as he

Getting your retrieve right will have you hooked up more often. Subtle changes can make a huge difference. knew he should, but rarely, if ever, was his jig getting the opportunity to sink on slack or semi-slack line. This was making all the difference. He was getting a lot fewer bites and, when he did get a hit, he was typically pulling the lure away from the fish as he struck instinctively at the tug. All the fish I caught that day (and it was few enough) ate my plastic on the drop. I saw their takes as a little jerk or tick in the line. By the time I saw this, the lure had already been sucked well into the fish’s mouth, was being tasted, and was

just about to be ejected. If I was quick enough, I was able to smartly raise the rod and set the hook. This matter of bite detection is something Bushy will come back to at the end of this article, but for now, please take on board the fact that this phenomenon is common to nearly all types of soft plastic fishing in almost every angling environment. If you understand it and begin to make it work for you, you’ll take that next big step up the learning ladder and you will definitely start catching more fish. I guarantee it!

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Learn to cut your soft plastics a little slack, to let them swim down from time to time through the water, to slow down your presentations, and to incorporate frequent lifts and drops or stops and starts into the retrieve process. If you are trolling, you can still achieve this end by holding the rod and giving its tip an occasional jig, or by pulling the lure forward with the rod, then pushing the rod tip back to create momentary slack. You will catch more fish as a result. A big part of getting this whole presentation thing right is correctly matching your soft plastic tail to the optimum casting weight or jig head for the prevailing conditions, and Bushy now has some interesting comments to make on this important subject.

Was that a bite?

As already explained, because soft plastic lures are so life-like, fish take them ‘on the drop’ very confidently; either while they are first sinking after being cast, or when you pause the retrieve or jig the rod tip and then let them stall and sink in mid-retrieve. When fish take a plastic on the drop, they generally just eat it and sit or hang there. There’s often no reason for them to bolt, as they think they’ve caught their dinner. If the angler is on the ball, he or she should see the line give a little twitch as the lure goes into the fish’s mouth. If the angler fails to strike at this stage, he might eventually see another twitch on the line as the fish spits the lure out! How fast this happens depends a lot on the species of fish involved. Sometimes you will also feel a tug on the line–that familiar ‘bite’–but more often than you might imagine, the only indication of a pick up will be a visual one; that movement in the semi-slack belly of line between rod tip and water. You really need to be watching for it.

Most newcomers to the game don’t see either the first twitch (as their lure is inhaled) or the second twitch (as it is spat out) and return from a fishing trip thinking that they haven’t been doing the right thing with their lures, that they didn’t get so much as a single bite, and that the whole soft plastics ‘thing’ is just a hyped-up myth. Any time your plastic lure is swimming its way down through the water you really need to be watching the slight belly in your line about 20 or 30 cm above the point where it enters the water, and you need to strike fast and firmly if you see that line do absolutely anything out of the ordinary. That’s for sure. In fact, Bushy and I have a saying about this: ‘If you thought you had a bite, you probably did’. It is so often true! Even those of us with lots of soft plastic fishing experience still miss a surprising amount of takes because we don’t see the take, we don’t react in time, or we doubt ourselves. Could that tiny shiver or tremor in the line really have been a fish picking up the plastic? Chances are it was! And you’ll never know unless you lift the rod and find out. My advice is: if in doubt, strike. You’ll be surprised at how often you come up tight, and even more surprised at how often a tiny shiver or almost imperceptible flick in the line has been caused by a much bigger fish than you might ever expect. Perhaps this is one reason Bushy and I do so little soft plastic fishing at night. Plastics are certainly capable of catching plenty of

Controlling the ‘slack’ can make a huge difference in the hook-up rate.

fish after sunset–even on the darkest of nights–but our inability to see those tell-tale twitches in the line not only decreases the effectiveness of the process, it also robs it of a great deal of its visual aspect which, to us, is half the fun. Seeing that magic little ‘tick’, then lifting the rod and coming up solid is a blast. It has many parallels with watching a nicely balanced stem float glide under the surface to the tug of a biting fish and then lifting to set the hook. Just as float fishing is tricky at night, so is this visual aspect of plastic fishing. (By the way, if you do fish at night, maintain a slightly tighter line than you would during daylight hours and feel for those subtle pick-ups instead.)

Okay. Those are basic rules of soft plastic presentation; tailor your casting and your jig weights to the prevailing conditions, give your lure some controlled slack so it can swim down from time to time, slow everything up and watch that belly of line. Keep those golden rules firmly in mind and you may get a pleasant surprise. Steve Starling and Kaj Busch. Check out On Soft Plastics - and how to use them by Steve and Bushy. It is a fantastic, very up-to-date book that will improve your skills enormously. Available from good tackle stores. Published and distibuted by AFN.

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- Ulverstone - 6425 1968 / Charltons - Launceston - 6334 9298 / Tamar Marine - Launceston - 6331 6188 Fishing News - Page 23

Launceston’s suburban trouting The little lure was halfway back when a yellowish flash and a sharp tug indicated it had drawn the interest on one of this little stream’s inhabitants. After a short thrashing fight with a couple of jumps, I was able to work the small trout into the bank for a quick photo and release. This was my first for the day and whilst only a small fish at around 40cm long, for water this small it was a monster and at least it showed that this little stream held fish. The water, though discoloured from recent heavy rains was still clear enough for effective lure fishing. I had been fishing for less than 10 minutes and was still at work 25 minutes previously, with home less than 10 minutes drive away. I could afford to stick around for fair stretch longer before having to head homewards for dinner. This suburban trouting was not bad at all. When I first moved to Launceston from Sydney 7 years ago, I asked around about local fishing options and was initially lead to believe that I would have to head either to the coast or up to the lakes if I was to experience a realistic chance at taking any fish. This was not good news for fanatical angler, who was also an impoverished student without a car and a big change from the ten-minute walk I had had in Sydney to my nearest fishing spot. Thankfully, I have since discovered that this could not be further from the truth!

A B

G Despite what some anglers may think there is plenty of fishing to be had around Launceston. Here are just a few places to try. A: Tamar River. B: Tailrace. C: Lake Trevallyn (Trevallyn Dam) D: South Esk (Duck Reach). E: North Esk. F: St Leonards. G: Corra Linn.

Tidal water fishing is mainly carried out in the lower North Launceston also has two lakes that can provide some Esk particularly around Hoblers Bridge with quite a few large entertaining trout fishing. sea-run trout being taken from this region every year, mainly Waverley Lake is a designated in spring when the whitebait run brings the fish in. Parts of junior angling spot and as such the upper Tamar can produce good fishing at times, however can only be fished by those water clarity can be a major problem. When conditions are less than 16 years of age, so I good, sea-run trout can be taken from the foreshore beside have never tried there myself. the East Tamar highway below Mowbray and likely in most However, I have heard reliable other parts of the river. This is an area for the super keen reports of some good-sized however as Tamar sea-runners are often the fish of 1000 or rainbows coming from this more casts. Another tidal spot well worth trying is the lower water to both shore based gorge between Kings Bridge and the first rapids on the South spin fishers and fly casters. Esk. Big redfin can be caught here and the area has definite The North Esk at St Leonards is easily accessed and during summer fish can be Trevallyn Dam on the lower potential for some very large trout though I have yet to taste seen rising nearly every warm night. Spring time sea runners can also found as South Esk on the other hand success here personally. far up as this barrage, which is the extent of tidal influence. The rivers and streams are where I do most of my suburis open to all. This lake holds a reasonable population of ban fishing. For larger rivers, there are two options, the North Being an inland city, Launceston may lack the estuary and wild brown trout from the South Esk River and has also been and South Esks. Suburban South Esk fishing basically means the gorge saltwater options available to anglers living in other Tasmanian stocked in the past with both brook trout and atlantic salmon. population centers such as Hobart and Devonport. However The area near Blackstone Heights where the river starts to back and the area between first basin and the dam wall provides a what we do have right on our doorstep is some pretty reason- up is quite a productive zone for anglers to drift spin from substantial amount of territory to cover with the easiest access able trout fishing, in some cases almost in the middle of town, boats and for those with access, would also provide some at the old Duck Reach power station. Care needs to be taken and certainly within the suburbs. reasonable shore-based sport using lures or bait. There is also in this area as the rocks are often slippery and if caught at There are five main environments for suburban trout some scope for fly-fishing in this waterway and for trolling river level when a large water release occurs you would be in fishing available to Launceston residents: tailrace, tidal waters, the dam, particularly in the deeper sections downstream using real trouble. A reasonable level of fitness is also necessary, as dams, rivers and small streams. diving lures, leadcore or downriggers. Shore-based bait fishing rock hopping, scrambling and climbing along the watercourse Of these, the most popular is certainly the Tailrace at near the picnic area and spinning or fly-fishing the margins can be quite tiring. A water bottle is a good idea too as these rocks will radiate a lot of heat on a sunny day, however once Riverside where water from Trevallyn Dam is released after also hold potential in this water. you are down at water level, this passing through the power station. Every year many fish are river provides a real wilderness taken from this popular spot, with some absolute thumpers feel within minutes of the city and amongst them. Brown trout, redfin and mullet are the most in summer, a refreshing swim is a common species encountered here, with some of the best good way to cool off. Brown trout fishing occurring when the large whitebait schools put in an are the main species encountered appearance in spring. Tailrace trout may be targeted using bait, here along with a few redfin and lure or fly. Soft-plastics such as the Berkley bass minnow and grayling and some of the brownies gulp grubs or similar lures are quite successful here, particularly are disproportionately big for the fished slow and deep when no fish are showing, or else cast size of the water. The fishing is unweighted or with a very light jighead at bust-ups when fish typical of upland fast water river are chasing whitebait. Small Rapala style floating lures, tassie fishing with spinning arguably the devils or spoons can also be used to good effect in this water. best method. I mainly use small Generally, white, silver and natural shades are the best lure spoons here due to the ability to colours for this area. Fly-fishers can taste success on tailrace bounce them off rocks without trout by casting whitebait flies at bust-ups when they occur or damage however all the normal by fishing wet flies slow and deep at other times. Most baitriver lures will work. A few soft fishers seem to use bottom baits of either worms or wattle Some remarkable fishing can be found close to Launceston’s plastics are definitely worth includgrubs when fishing the tailrace and do particularly well after centre. All you need to do is go looking — and fishing. ing in your kit though as in places dark or at change of light periods (when all methods are at their best). Fishing News - Page 24

there are some quite deep but short pools with fish sitting right on the bottom and inaccessible to other lures. Bait and fly-fishing would also work but as a committed lure angler, I have not tried these techniques in the gorge. The other thing to note about this spot is that the fish can be extremely skittish, especially in late summer when the water is crystal clear and the area popular with swimmers. Working slowly and methodically and using available cover is definitely the way to go. Finally, particularly in summer, the gorge can become very weedy with filamentous green algae sometimes making much of the river unfishable. The North Esk also provides substantial scope for suburban trouting. The area from Newstead up past Corra Linn can all produce fish with the easiest access around the dog exercise area and park at St Leonards and at Corra Linn itself. Some quite large trout come out of this river each year

with the best fishing again in the spring coinciding with the whitebait runs. This is more typical river fishing with fly-fishing, spinning and bait fishing with worms, grubs or grasshoppers (summer) all productive. The river is a standard pool and rapid affair and the fish can be found in all the obvious spots such as undercut banks, eddies and the heads and tails of pools. Generally, this section of the North Esk is shallower, broader and slower than the South Esk is at the gorge with the slower gradient and grassy banks making this a more angler-friendly though much less scenic location. As with most suburban waters, water quality can be an issue, with even moderate rains sufficient to dirty the water enough to make lure or fly-fishing difficult or impossible. Additionally, by summer, water quality has often deteriorated to the point where authorities strongly advise against contact with the water and it would be a brave person who would risk eating a A tiny stream not far from the suburbs with a fishy looking pool. fish from this location. As with the South Esk, brown trout are the predominant tiny streams can sometimes turn on some quality action. The species with some redfin and gray- fish are brown trout and in most cases anything over 35cm is a whopper. These small streams are not an area to hit for a feed ling present. The final option for Launceston as, being tiny, they cannot support much fishing pressure, but anglers looking for a bit of subur- for anyone desperate for a fishing fix and a little solitude in an ban action are the small streams apparent wilderness (at least once out of sight of houses) these that criss-cross many suburbs. I little streams can be a godsend. Spinning with small spinning will not give any specific locations blade lures, tiny 30-35mm spoons, 3cm rapalas (or equivalent) of these tiny waterways away, or tiny soft plastics like the Berkley nymph, 1” sliders or grubs however a quick look at a street is the way to go using a short and light spinning rod than can directory should be sufficient to be cast in the limited space available. So for any frustrated Lonnie fishers, don’t get too jealous point you towards one of these fishing spots. The small streams of the fishing options that the southerners and coastal dwellers are often overgrown and you will have on their doorsteps, get out and check out some of the probably get some odd looks or suburban trout action available in your own backyard. A bright spotted brownie close to town. derogatory comments if people see Colin Johnson you fishing in what to them is little more than a drain; however, these

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These unique weight forward and double tapers are designed especially for selective trout fishing in all weather conditions. The Selective Trout™ lines are designed for discerning anglers and technical fishing. The weight forward lines feature a long front taper for delicate presentations and an extended rear taper for effortless roll casting. RIO has reinvented the timeless double taper by slightly increasing the weight behind the front taper for easy turnover of the long front taper and leader. The Selective Trout line, ultra supple for delicate presentations and memory-free in winter, is the perfect choice for the most demanding conditions. Super slick, selflubricating coldwater coating on a supple multifilament core makes accurate casts and delicate presentations easy. WF3F - WF6F DT3F - DT6F, Length: 90 ft, Colour: Chartreuse. R.R. $99.95

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The perfect lake line with an intermediate sinking rate of 1.5 – 2.0 inches per second (3.7 cm/s). Ideal when stealth is required for wary, selective fish. Based on the Classic weight forward taper for superior casting, this transparent clear line with a single strand monofilament core remains flexible in coldwater lakes. Made with superior adhesion technology, a leader can be nail-knotted directly to the coating. WF3I - WF9I, Length: 100 ft (30.5 m), Color: Clear AquaLux. R.R. $109.95

Available from all good quality tackle stores. Trade enquiries Clarkson Imports 03 9758 7722

Fishing News - Page 25

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Ten top holiday sites for summer fishing It could be any suburban home, on any given day of any summer holiday. Your peaceful serenity is disturbed when you are woken up at six a.m. by your daughter screaming at you that her brother has just pulled the head of her Barbie doll, again. You roll over and put your own head under your pillow but your wife shakes you violently and tells you to get outside and mow the lawns. The dog howls, the cat screeches and you cry ‘ENOUGH! I’m going fishing’ But you can’t just load up the car and leave, if you do that your wife will probably have the locks changed by the time you get home! Instead it’s time to dust off the old tent that has been gathering cobwebs in the garden shed and hit the road for any location where you can go fishing, your kids will be happy and your wife will too. You think this place doesn’t exist? Think again. Here are just a few suggestions for a camping holiday experience in reach of good fishing within our magical state.

Caravan parks, cabins and hotel rooms.

These can be heavily populated over the summer months so it is best to ring in advance and book. Okay, you don’t have to ‘tent it’ if you don’t want to, as you have several options available to you. These range from un-powered tent sites through to self contained cabins or even hotel rooms, depending on your budget and the type of experience you desire.

Coles Bay.

Coles Bay is situated on the Freycinet Peninsular on Tasmania’s sunny east coast. There are many hotel rooms to be had and the caravan park offers self-contained units as well as powered and un-powered tent sites, all within walking distance to easily accessed fishing locations. Fishing from the local jetty is productive with leatherjacket and wrasse in plentiful supply (great for keeping the kids amused!) while fishing from any of the rocks or beaches will produce cod, flathead and Australian salmon in numbers.

Bakers beach.

A magnificently pretty beach within the Narawntapu national park, Bakers beach has a formal camping ground though no power is available. You must pay a national park entry fee upon arrival and this is paid at a clearly marked collection point. The beach itself is many kilometers long and has a shallow drop off, so at low tide the water can be quite a way from the camping ground (Great for beach cricket with the kids!). Fishing is productive with all the regulars being present, but flathead being possibly the most common catch. After dark, Bakers beach is also a good location for the spearing of flounder. As these fish can often be plentiful, do refer to your recreational sea fishers guide for bag limit and size restrictions.

Salt water not your thing? Silver trevally are one of Tasmania’s favourite catches over summer. Small specimens are caught on most jetties around the state, whilst bigger fish can be caught in most estuaries.

Bridport

Located on Anderson bay on the northeast coast, Bridport has all the facilities you could imagine to make for a great holiday. The caravan park is situated right on a beach, which is ideal for those with a family. The novice and experienced angler alike will find yellow-eyed mullet, flathead and Australian salmon within reach of all the beaches, while whiting are also present within the bay. It is also an idea to try spinning from the rocks as ‘couta and pike are known to be present in the warmer months.

White Beach

About ten minutes drive past Port Arthur on the Tasman peninsular you will come across White Beach, near Nubeena. The caravan park offers both camping and cabin facilities and is situated a short walk to the beach. Flathead are commonly caught from this beach and other species are not uncommon. Further back toward Hobart, but still on the peninsular, Fortescue Bay offers many great fishing locations with ‘couta, mackerel and even the occasional striped trumpeter available to be caught. The peninsular is a fantastic tourist location steeped in history, and well worth a visit.

Strahan

Arthur River has good facilities with excellent fishing at the mouth and upriver.

Arthur River.

The tourism capital of the west coast, Strahan is a thriving holiday village over the summer months. There are many hotel rooms to be had as well as a caravan park or two. Strahan sits on the edge of Macquarie harbor, which boasts some really fantastic fishing. The water is ‘tea-stained’, and rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon are farmed in cages within the harbor. These fish often escape into the harbor proper and can be caught from the jetties in the town, or from the beaches towards Macquarie heads. Both spinning with a lure and bait fishing is productive for these and other species.

Want something more informal?

The township of Arthur River is located on the west coast of our island about twenty kilometres from Marrawah. Here you will again find a variety of places to stay with holiday cabins and tent sites available for your selection. Fishing at the mouth of the river is productive, especially in summer as many large salmon and sea-run trout frequent the area feeding on whitebait. Fishing with a silver slice lure is recommended. Beach fishing is productive with flathead in plentiful supply. Boat hire is available at Arthur River and trout can be caught after a short trip upstream.

Okay caravan parks and hotel rooms can be great places for a holiday, but if you are seeking an experience a little closer to nature then try these places. These are just two of hundreds of places within the state where you are allowed to camp but may not have facilities such as toilet or shower blocks. Sites along the coast will often not have fresh running water either, so an essential investment is a large container in which to carry your own. Again be prepared to share these camp site over the summer months, but you can usually get a little further away from your neighbors than in a caravan park.

Orford

Swimcart beach at St. Helens.

In southeastern Tasmania, and located at the mouth of the Prosser river, you will find the holiday town of Orford. You can choose to stay either at the caravan park or book into a hotel room. The Prosser River runs through the middle of the town and provides good fishing for leatherjacket, yellow-eyed mullet and mackerel, as well as the occasional sea-run trout. There are beaches either side of the river mouth and these are definitely worth a try, with flathead and Australian salmon the most prolific species caught.

Swimcart beach is renowned as one of Tasmania’s most exceptional beaches for surf fishing. You will find Swimcart beach a short drive from St. Helens on the east coast, in an area known as the ‘Bay of fires’. There are plenty of places to pitch a tent or park a camper within a short walk to the beach. The water is crystal clear and the beach drops off steeply. This allows for short casts into deep water where flathead and Australian salmon can be caught. Alongside the rocks at the beach species such as luderick and mackerel have also been known to be present.

Now beaches are great for kids and adults alike as they allow a variety of activities to take place and many are located close to or within towns, which can be convenient. However if it is fresh water fishing you are seeking then the following locations cannot be overlooked. (Be sure all anglers purchase an appropriate license before fishing in inland waters, and check your angling code for specific regulations pertaining to the location you choose to fish).

Great Lake area

In and around Miena at the southern end of the Great Lake you will find both hotels and informal campsites. If you choose to base yourself here then you will have access to many great fishing locations both at the lake itself and within a short drive of it. The serious fisherman should not pass up a trip to the area known as ‘The nineteen lagoons’, which includes Lake Augusta, Double Lagoon and Lake Ada among many others. Fly-fishing and shore based spinning are very productive at these waterways and there is ample opportunity to catch some good-sized trout. Another great location within a short drive of the Great Lake is Arthurs lake. This lake has possibly the best-equipped camping area in the central highlands located at ‘Pump house bay’. Here you will find a shower and toilet block, as well as running water and a picnic area. It is an extremely popular location in summer months so be prepared to camp close to like-minded people. The lake itself is regarded as Tasmania’s prime brown trout fishery and as such all methods of fishing are productive. ‘Cowpaddock Bay’, a short drive north of ‘Pump House Bay’, is the most popular location at Arthurs lake for shore-based angling and well worth a try.

Derwent Bridge And Bronte Park.

These two locations are both good bases for a trout-fishing holiday. Derwent bridge is situated at the southern end of the Cradle Mountain / Lake St. Claire national park and from here you have the opportunity to fish waterways such as Lake St.Clair itself, St.Clair lagoon and Lake King William. Fourwheel drive owners, I recommend you engage your hubs and locate the track to Clarence Lagoon, just east of Derwent Bridge. The track to the lake is rough and is overgrown in sections but on arrival you will be fishing exclusively for brook trout in a fantastic setting. Bronte park has a cabin park for your stay, or you can choose to camp at one of the nearby lakes. These lakes include Bronte lagoon, Lake Binney, Brady’s Lake and Tungatina lagoon. All are good fishing locations for both brown and rainbow trout, and the stocking of brook trout into the chain in recent years has seen its popularity increase markedly. So having chosen one of the above locations, or one of your own, you can now return home with everybody’s mind and body refreshed, happy to tackle everyday life once more. The cat and the dog will be smiling because you’re home and the kids will have great holiday stories to tell their classmates when they get back to school. What’s more you’ve got out of the house into the fresh air and most likely contributed a few dollars to the economy of one of our tourist locations, which can only be of benefit to us all! With a bit of luck you caught a few fish along the way! Andrew Richardson. Fishing News - Page 27

Fisherman’s Basket Reviews by Mike Stevens unless stated otherwise

Currawong Lakes Trout Fishery and Wildlife Retreat

Red spinner (Atalophlebia australis) is the tucker that really excites Macquarie River brownies. It comes as no surprise then to witness the biggest hatch of the season at its headwaters, Currawong Lakes mid November. Lake Long Marsh was where the action was and it wasn’t brownies, but rainbows of all sizes simply just ‘going off their faces’! Any fly that slightly resembled a spinner was woofed down. What a morning we had! But let me take you back to the previous evening when Chris and I had driven from Hobart, (2 hours drive) arriving mid afternoon. After an hour or so on the Midland Highway the peacefulness of Currawong and the welcome by hosts Scott and Sally Richardson was delightful. Scott hails from a timber background in the Fingal Valley and learnt his angling skills fishing the local rivers. Sally not far away from Campbell Town. When you are visiting a place for the first time you have some preconceived ideas of what it will look like. Currawong Lakes surpassed this for me and can be described as expansive. Cabins are elevated on the forest fringe allowing spectacular views down the valley and across Lakes Currawong and Long Marsh. With at least 500m to the nearest cabin the serenity and seclusion was already working I was feeling totally relaxed. For anyone escaping the pressures of work I reckon this is the ticket. Scott had fishing on his mind though. We chucked our bags inside we headed down to check out their lakeside anglers lodge. Within casting distance from the shore it is comfortably fitted out with outdoor BBQ, kitchen, large macrocarpa tables and free standing fire place. Whilst Currawong is a fishing retreat it could also double as relaxing venue for small corporate meeting/training weekends with a drop of fish’n tossed in. Ideal for de-stressing! Lake Currawong has probably 3klms of shore line with a large dam and a number of inundated snaggy trees at the other end. In between are gently sloping grassy banks interspersed with some fishy looking bays and backwaters. Scott has a Hobart mate who ties a terrific mayfly emerger pattern that features a wing case tied from downy grey duck feather; it floats beautifully. There was not a lot of rises happening but eventually one showed and I dropped the offering about a metre upwind. There he goes again, a little closer and there he is, on! After some good aerobatics a fat little rainbow of 2lbs slid onto the grass, was quickly unhooked and released. There’s nothing like the first fish of a trip and feeling the weight on the rod. The fishing here is not dead easy, you still have to use a bit of cunning and guile to get hooked up and like the vagaries of highland lakes the weather can send the fish down. This afternoon was a bit like that with cool squalls blowing through so I tied on a mudeye pattern perfected by the late Hughie Higgs of Lilydale. Bang, second cast the water erupted with the strike of a thumping fish I reckon of 6-7 pounds! Alas he was on and off but it demonstrated that other presentation/retrieval methods, including nymphs, can be practised and modified in these waters for use down the track. Some sizzled steak and snags topped of with a nice bottle of red saw us well fortified and ready to hit the sack. Our cabin ‘Red Tag’ was a two bedroom job with well appointed kitchen and cosy lounge area with fire box. Swallows are nesting under the eaves and the view is to die for. We slept like logs. Too good in fact and I missed my planned 5.00am start. What the heck, when you’re on holidays 7 o’clock is OK! The couple of hours I put in before brekkie saw several nice rainbows landed and in the corner adjacent to the Lake Currawong Fishing News - Page 28

dam at least four brownies were mooching amongst the reeds. Several casts yielded no result! I don’t know about you but when fish are finning like this it’s easy to get excited and when that happens, to me anyway, casts go every where they not supposed to – bugger, bugger, bugger! Time for breakfast. Lake Macquarie, the lowest of the three was quite dirty due to the amount of recent fresh. Not a lot happening here so we turned our attention to Long Marsh. I reiterate, it is hard for me to remember such a wonderful hatch of red spinners that lasted several hours. Full credit to owners past and present for replicating conditions where this jewel of fly fishing is able to flourish. I could provide you with a blow by blow account of every fish landed however I’m sure you get the drift of what played out over the next few hours. Spectacular fishing! Currawong Lakes and Wildlife Retreat is nestled in the east coast highlands between Lake Leake and Lake Tooms. It is situated on the edge of the Long Marsh water reserve and Tooms Lake conservation area. Anglers have the choice of fishing Lake Currawong, Lake Long Marsh or Lake Macquarie that are all annually stocked with hefty rainbow and brown trout. The latter is specifically a brown trout water. Currawong will suit the beginner or the experienced angler with guiding/tuition and gear hire on hand. So what are you waiting for, get on the blower and talk to Scott or Sally about some rest and relaxation that you won’t forget in a while. (Ph. 03 6381 1148) Quenton Higgs

Snowy Range Fishery

I have been visiting the Snowy for a number of years now. This remarkable private fishery has a large range of trout and salmon fishing opportunities. It is a great place for locals and visitors and it has recently undergone a few changes. So what’s new? The fishery is under new management, some catch and release fly fishing is now available; there are some very large browns in the trophy lake of 6kg to 10 kg. Salmon have just been released in the Salmon lakes and bush poles are now available for kids fishing. It is a great place to take kids to catch there first fish even at a very young age. It is a great place to take visitors where they will catch a fish possibly a large one. It’s a great place to learn a bit about fly fishing and experience the feel of a fish on the fly. It’s a nice place to be to practise fish spotting and your fishing skills. The Fishery was developed by Sue Valance and Robert Cleary initially as a private recreational fishery which diversified into a hatchery for Salmon and rainbow trout. Sue and Robert showed great vision and imagination in establishing about 11 lakes which are interlinked and fed by the Dennison River. The Hatchery has now been leased to provide salmon and rainbow trout for aquaculture. Curly and Sue Blythe have leased the recreational fishery and part of the farm to provide some rainbow trout for the local market. On the Denison river via Judbury about an hours drive from Hobart 20 minutes from the air walk. Diversity of opportunity is not a bad summary of the place. You can spin, bait fish using the magic secret bait, fly fish or the kids can try a bush pole to preserve a bit of fishing heritage. The 11 lakes are stocked at different densities of rainbow, Atlantic salmon and brown trout. Size varies from pan size to huge trophy fish. There are lakes with very large numbers of pan sized rainbow trout, great for the little children and great to catch your lunch for the BBQ. There are lakes with medium sized and large rainbows; 3Kg is considered large for a rainbow, but there are some monsters about if you are up to the challenge. Two lakes have both

rainbows and Atlantic Salmon ranging from about a kilogram over 10 kg. and they will take a dry fly! The Snowy has always been a catch and take fishery so you buy what you catch. Prices are $10.50/kg to $12.50/kg for rainbow and $18.50 for Salmon-with a maximum price of $65 per fish. The good news is Curly loves cleaning your fish! If you watch him you will learn a bit too. Curley and Sue are now allowing catch and release fly fishing in some waters. including the trophy fish lake which has a good population of brown trout and there are some monsters. This lake is furthest from the starting line and offers a challenge to the fly fisher. You are likely to see tailing fish around the shore and rising fish if conditions are right. Under calm conditions you see midging fish and there are plenty of gum beetles this time of year. So dry wet and nymphs all work at times. There are also some Salmon and if you happen to hook one hang on it is likely to be over 10 kg. The charge for catch and release is only $40 a day. All the Lakes are in a natural bush setting, not far from the bubbling Dennison Diver. You can just walk about and watch the fish, the wild life and if you look you might spot the resident sea eagle. I took tackle wholesaler, John Orchard for a fish and he said “Smithy this is just like being at the lakes” John Smith.

Savage SL 500 Scorpion Bowrider/90hp Optimax

Report by Quenton Higgs It took some time, but the vagaries of Tasmania’s highland weather finally allowed me the opportunity to test drive Savage’s 5m Scorpion Bowrider. Savage has been around since 1898 and produce some 45 different rigs—ranging from 3m punt to 6.5m plate boat—all backed up with a 3 year warranty! The 5m Scorpion is a step up in comfort from traditional trout fishing platforms. On the purpose built Savage trailer it launches easily on multiple rollers. We tested the boat on Arthur’s Lake and whilst there was a reasonable chop on the water later in the day the 620mm freeboard kept us dry. Savage has high quality under-floor foam impervious to petrol, oil and saltwater filling cavities between bracing ribs. An extended transom makes it easy for swimmers/divers/skiers boarding from the water. A nifty stainless ladder is provided. The beam of 2.10m makes it a very stable fishing platform. Floor space on the 5.0 Scorpion is all on one level so makes moving about when casting or playing a fish quite easy. There is ample storage space along both sides for spinning combos and plenty of other gear and in a rear shelf, easily accessible behind a fold down padded bench seat. This idea creates heaps of extra fishing room needed when you are fly fishing. Everything is neatly tucked away and finished so there are no points where a fly line can snag. Assembled fly rods could not be stowed along the side compartments but that posed no problem. Two comfortable swivel seats in the cockpit area and bow access to forward seating come fishing area is through a cleverly designed low profile windscreen. This screen was handy later in the evening when a chop came up along with that chilly highland breeze; kept us dry and a tad warmer a luxury you don’t have in an open tinny! Ideally suited to two fly fishers, casting is quite easy and not hindered by this screen or the cock pit seats. Three experienced casters could also fish without too much drama. Bow padded seating can be easily removed for a more serious fishing area. In the passengers cockpit there is a small glove box that would be ideal for cameras, binoculars and there is more storage room between the seat and the bulkhead. Stainless grab rails front and rear plus a couple of rod holders for trollers complete the package. The upper deck and cockpit bulkhead is fibreglass so you have the durability and lightness of an aluminium hull combined with the finish of glass. Our test boat was fitted with a 90hp Optimax that did the job more than adequately. Starting was instantaneous and I was immediately impressed with dead slow, no noise idling, an ideal speed for anglers keen on trolling. Kicking it up a cog or two and onto the plane we could still have a normal conversation. We gunned it only for a short time and top speed (whoops where’s my hair gone) was a respectable 75kph with the engine running at 5800rpms. Dropping back to a more

practical cruising level of 45kph the Optimax was beautifully quiet and smooth running at a lazy 3900 rpms. Mercury’s ‘Smartcraft’ technology is fantastic in keeping you instantly informed about motor performance. For example at the press of a button I was able to optimise the motor trim. A host of other checks include fuel flow and consumption rate, estimated range of remaining fuel, air, water and engine temperatures, boat speed, rpms and whole lot more are all at your finger tips. I was very impressed by this feature. Talking of economy we used just 6 litres of fuel during the afternoon trip. Later in the evening a typical Arthurs Lake north easterly chop made the trip back to the Flintstone Drive shore a bit uncomfortable and on the short sharp following waves there was a bit of hull thumping. This was practically eliminated by reducing our planing speed slightly and even in these conditions the hull design threw water well away from the boat making it a dry run back. At the ramp the low profile of the boat ensures that it does not get blown about too much and it was simple to drive onto the trailer.

The tested 5m Scorpion is priced ready to go at $34500 and includes 90hp 2 stroke Optimax, Smartcraft technology, bimini, VHF marine radio, Lowrance X52 fishfinder and safety gear. Base packages start from $26600 all at Seaport Marine, 391/1a Westbury Road, Launceston 7250. Phone 6344 3311 or email: marine@jmc.com.au Model: Savage SL 500 Scorpion Bowrider Configuration: Walk thru screen Overall length: 5.0m Beam: 2.1m Depth freeboard: 620mm Bottom thickness: 3mm Side thickness: 2mm Weight: 408kg Max. power: 90hp

Summary The 5.0 Savage Scorpion Bowrider is a beamy and stable boat ideally suited for two fly fishers but could quite easily accommodate three, applying a little care with casting. Stability is a feature and I could move around easily without undue movement. An electric motor can be easily fitted to the front end with safe battery storage beneath forward seating. It would also impress the bride as a comfortable all round fishing/family boat eg. mum, dad and two billy lids for a bit of ski biscuiting or a picnic away from the maddening crowd.

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Optimax 90 Propshaft rated hp: 90hp/67.1kW Cylinders: 3 Displacement: 92.9ci/1524cc Ignition: PCM555 digital inductive Gear ratio: 2.33:1 Alternator system: belt driven 60amp/756watt Weight: 164kg Smartcraft: Yes

140InvermayRoad Invermay Launceston, 7248

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Fishing News - Page 29

Fisherman’s Basket Reviews by Mike Stevens unless stated otherwise

Chota Citico Wading Boot

Wading boots are a fickle thing and getting a pair that fits, does the job, are comfortable and not too expensive is difficult. Chota boots have been around for a while and they have just released this economically priced high-top boot. It features Chota’s ‘STL’ Cleat Bases, which allow for the addition or removal of Chota’s specially designed, case-hardened ‘STL’ Cleats as wading conditions demand. The lace-up PVC leather and 1000 denier nylon upper incorporates a padded cuff, buttonhole drains and removable EVA sock liner with arch and heel support. The specially blended ‘Dark Grey’ polypropylene felt sole blends in with the stream bottom. A cushy injected PU mid-sole provides high-end comfort at an affordable price. You’ll find these at good tackle stores for around $200.

Rio Accelerator’ controlled distance casting line

I was given this line a couple of months ago by the Australian agent. It was literally straight off the plane from the annual Denver fly tackle dealers show. This is a new technology line from Rio who are unquestionally one of the worlds leading line manufacturers. I could quote you all the garb from the manufacturer but I don’t much care for any of it myself and would rather not burden you with it. All that I need to tell you is that it is perhaps one of the best lines I have used. It lays as straight as a die off the reel and behaves as a line should at your feet. It has a great taper that delivers well under all circumstances. It seems to floats higher than any line I have ever owned. It is as slick as any line I have ever used and as a result shoots with ease. continued next page .....

‘Why I recommend Honda’ ‘Reliability to me is a must as I fish way offshore along the East Coast. Reliability is the reason I chose Honda outboards. My boat is a 6.2 metre Stabi Craft HT with twin Honda 90s. It performs beyond brilliantly. This isn’t the first time I have owned Honda outboards, I have had them on my two previous boats, so I had plenty of time with them. The business I work with, sell and service Honda outboards and I see very little if any concerns regarding these engines. It’s basically oil filter and some fine tuning that’s all. One other thing I will mention is the fuel economy. For a normal day fishing going to the continental shelf and trolling I would use about 80 litres. There’s no two stroke fumes and no oil to refill. I can not recommend Honda highly enough and wouldn’t own anything else!’ Andrew and Sue Tyson

For further details contact: • Lindsay Deegan Marine; 102 Eastland Drive, Ulverstone, Ph. 6425 2238 • Lifestyle Marine; 14 Dry St Invermay, Launceston, Ph. 6331 9507 • Maynes Marine; 119 New Town Road, Hobart, Ph. 6228 3999 Or phone Honda, freecall 1800 80 75 90 Fishing News - Page 30

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 believes their four stroke outboard engines are the best in the world. Honda has a range of four stroke engines 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

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Fisherman’s Basket Reviews by Mike Stevens unless stated otherwise

When you use any brand of new line you can easily be fooled into thinking it is the greatest line on the planet. I have had this one for a couple of months and I still think it is the greatest line on the planet. Give one a try next time you need a line. Peter Hayes

Rio shock leaders.

I fish in gin clear, shallow, weedy, moving water for large wild brown trout that are mostly hard to catch. When you put those ingredients together you may realise I am talking about Brumbys Creek. I have guided here for 4 years and know it well. There is a definite advantage in using light tippets and loop knots. Light tippets are dangerous in hard hands ( learn to use soft hands and fight the fish without fighting the fish). I had read years ago about a product called shock gum and I finally found it on the Rio website. The importer gave me a couple of spools of shock gum and a couple of leaders already made up with it incorporated. Shock gum is about as thick as the butt end of your leader and if you tie in a 15cm piece it wil l stretch to 30 cm under load. The commercial pre made leaders are sensational and I think it wise that you carry at least one for coping with large fish in weedy areas. They may in fact be a great idea if you are new to fly fishing and you have not learnt about the soft hands thing.

I caught a fish a few weeks ago that weighted 3.5 pounds. It was as fit as Ali in his hey day and it fought like him. A few seconds into round two he weeded me and it took some minutes to pole the boat through the weed to him. When I got there I found the line weed wrapped solid and the fish still on. I watched for several minutes as the fish pulled left, right and centre against the bungy effect of the shock gum. It was not possible for him to break the 3 pound tippet and he was knackered after a few minutes. I simple netted him after I let the leader do my soft hand fighting. It was a graphic example of the effectiveness of this leader. I implore you to get a couple and try them. Peter Hayes

AWJAM magnetic fly threader

This is absolutely ingenious and perfect for anyone who has ever had trouble threading a fly onto their line. Designed in Australia by someone who had this trouble the little fly threader recently won ‘Best Fishing Accessory’ at the Australian Fishing Tackle show. The guts of this innovation is the magnet, and notch, which holds the fly in place and a central groove which directs the line through the eye of the fly. Try it ten times before you buy it and you will not leave without giving the tackle shop the $12.95. Comes with lanyard and instructions.

FLY ’n DRY NEOPRENE WADERS & THIGH BOOTS

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Haines Hunter - Stacer - Webster - all powered by

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Aversatileall-rounderwihanimpressiverangeof features.The495hasbecomefamousasthefirst boatformanyfamilies.Ratedto90HPtheBreezeis extremely functional and practical.

Great for family fishing the 580 is a roomy, goanywhereaffordablecuddycabinboatthatis unbelievablevalueformoney.Ratedto150HPthe 580 is a great all-rounder.

Eastern Shore Marine

Now located at 14 McIntyre Street,

Webster Twinfisher 4.6 Webster Twinfisher 5.2

Mornington, Phone 6244 1163

Stability, soft ride, economy and durability are Aroomystablecatsuitableforopenseaconditions hallmarksoftheWebsterTwinfishers.The4.6islight, withmoreroomthanyou’dthink.Towedeasilyby butstrongandiseasilypoweredbyasingleoutboard theaveragefamilysedanandpoweredbysingle 60 to 90HP. Rated to 5 adults. 90-120HP it is rated to 6 adults. Fishing News - Page 31

Jan’s Flies

For the point fly I like to add some weight with lead wire wrapped around the hook shank. The dropper or bob fly unweighted as it’s this fly that needs to come to the surface and cause the desired wake. I will leave the point fly to your favourite large wet with some weight added. The dropper if prefer is dark coloured for overcast days as the fish seem to be able to see it better and a light coloured fly for sunny days.

Jan Spencer Fly tyer for the World Champion 2000 Australian Team

So many times I hear fellow anglers say they cannot wait for the dry fly season to start; most fly anglers love this type of fishing. Here, where I live, in Tasmania’s highlands we really do have quite a short dry fly season so if one really does want to fish often one should look at some other options as well as the dry fly. There are those enthusiasts who start the season early and fish heavy flies on heavy lines and catch their fair share of fish. Personally my starting time for the highland is mid-October when fish really start to move. There are warm days that tend to send the message of dry fly but the reality is the trout have not clicked their brain into consitently looking up. So it’s up to the angler to try and get them to. Most of us have experienced loch style fishing or at least read about it. Loch style fishing is done with three flies. I have reduced this to two flies for early lookup fishing, a heavy point fly and a dropper or bob fly. Fish these flies on a leader as follows; four feet of ten pound off the fly line then five feet added onto that leaving an eight to ten inch dropper line off the knot. Using the two fly set-up eliminates a lot of the tangles one tends to get in windy weather with three flies. Fish this set-up on a long fly rod of ten feet or a little more. The technique in fishing this rig is cast; retrieve lifting the rod to create a wake through the water surface with the dropper fly. It’s this wake that stirs the trout to look up with sometimes spectacular results. A few weeks ago I had a personal best days fishing for the highlands with this method. I think it just needs that disturbance in the surface water to wake them up and start looking up!

Queen of the Water - for pleasant sunny days Hook: 14,12,10 Thread: Black Tail: Bright red or brown cock hackle fibres Rib: Gold wire Body: Drab orange floss Body hackle: Brown cock palmered Wing: Teal

Black Speckled Sedge - ideal for overcast days Hook: size 14, 12 ,10 Rib: Oval silver Body: Black seals fur Palmered body hackle: Black cock Wing: Speckled brown hen Head hackle: Black cock hackle

Method 1. Take thread along shank to bend of hook 2. Tie in rib 3. Dub on seals fur body finishing back from the eye a little 4. Tie in black body hackle feather and back over seals fur body to where the rib is tied in, now with the rib wind forward through the palmered body, tie down and cut excess away. 5. Take two slips of speckled hen feather and place them together, tie them in over the body 6. With another black hackle tied in at the head wind three or four turns with hackle so it faces back over the body, form a nice little head, whip finish, cut thread away and varnish.

Method 1. Take thread full length of the shank 2. Tie in rib and orange floss, bring thread back to just behind the eye of the hook. Wind floss forward to thread and tie off, cut away excess. 3. Tie in body hackle and wind over floss body finishing where the rib is tied in. Wind rib through the body hackle to secure it down firmly. Cut away excess rib and also the feather tip at the end of the body. 4. Now with a slip of teal feather tie in over body, form a nice little head, whip finish, cut away thread and varnish. I hope this bit of advice will help to catch many more fish. To everybody, have a great Christmas and a very happy New Year! Jan.

Fly casting lessons Beginner Level: 3 hr introduction to fly-fishing for those with 1 year’s experience. $120 p.p. Intermediate level: Full day $185 p.p. Advanced Modules: Four 3 hr modules for those with more than 3 yrs experience or have completed the Intermediate class. Distance and Double Hauling, Roll Casting, Stream and Mend Casting, Troubleshooting and General Improvements. $120 p.p. module. See our web site for information on Peter Hayes Products, Guided Fly Fishing Packages, Free Tips and Fishing Articles and much more at: www.flyfishtasmania.com.au

Hayes Fly Casting

Email;hayes@flyfishtasmania.com.auwww.flyfishtasmania.com.auPh0363975073

Abu 6’6” and 7’ soft plastic combos

If you don’t tie flies buy Tasmania’s best

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Big range of Berkleyproducts available now GreatvalueT-shirts$29.95

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Fishing News - Page 32

Parachute Orange Spinner

Brown Parachute Emerger

Gibson Flies are tied in Tasmania with no compromise on workmanship or quality of materials. Every fly is individually tied to catch fish. Flies of this quality can’t ever be mass produced and therefore they may cost a little more. However, when you’re about to cast to that trophy fish you’ll be pleased you tied on a Gibson’s fly, or did you?

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Fisherman’s Basket Reviews by Mike Stevens unless stated otherwise

with tackle priced from the ridiculously cheap to some things that are very expensive. However I do tell people tackle is one of the things you can save for and buy the best products in the world of. You can’t do that with a car or house, but a rod and reel you can. Tamar Marine also puts out a beaut catalogue—especially if you are a boaty. You won’t get much past the cover without finding something you need. You should be able to get both Shimano and Daiwa catalogues from good tackle stores and if you want a Tamar Marine catalogue give them a call on 6331 6188.

Innovator Freestone fly reel Tackle Catalogues

It is always exciting this time of the year. All the major tackle manufacturers put out excellent tackle catalogues and this year is no different. Some that landed on my desk in the last couple of weeks include the Daiwa and Shimano catalogues. Daiwa has seen somewhat of a resurgence over the last year or so and when you look over the new catalogue there is no wonder. I found plenty that I needed/wanted and will sit down and study it closer when I have to pick a present. Shimano is probably the biggy in serious tackle and it is often the brand people most want to own. These days it is easier than ever

It amazes me how far fishing tackle has come over the last few years. Once upon a time there was little to choose from when it came to reel. And it doesn’t seem that long ago when I decided to buy three trout sized fly reels and three extra spools. These would last forever and they were as good as anything on the market. The reels were Ultralite Hardys and whilst I am not unhappy with them there are plenty of reels I would now rather have. ‘They are just a place to store line’ I am often told, but while that is somewhat true it is nice to own nice things. So a reel like the Innovator comes along and I drool again and wonder how I can add another to the collection. A bit more about the reel though. The reel I have is a 567 (suits #5, 6, 7 lines) and is in titanium silver finish. These are large

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of the frame. Not that the reel is heavy-in fact it is very light and superbly crafted. The spool is held by a central nut that stays with the spool so you can’t loose it. An enclosed cork and Teflon drag will stop any trout, or salmon in the bigger size and if you want to change from left to right wind it is easily carried out. The only thing I’d change is the winding knob. It is very practical plastic, but I’d rather it was wood. Sizes available are 345, 567 and 789 in silver, anodised green and anodised blue. Comes with protective cover for on, or off-rod use. Prices range from $349 to $389. arbour reel and this is certainly an advantage, reducing, both memory in the line and also lessening the number of turns it needs to retrieve line. It winds quietly and has a subdued pleasant click when a fish is on. The reel foot is slightly off centre to counter the heavier back

Stabi-Craft boats serious, safe and stable

Stabi-Craftaresomeofthemostexcitingboatswehaveever driven.Verysolidlybuilt,exceptionalbuiltinsafety,softrideand excellenthandlingmaketheseboatsthepickofthecrop. Serious - Stabi-Craft has been designing & building positive buoyancy boats for many years. Stabi-Craft boats are built to last far beyond whatever you are likely to ask of them. Safe - We build to the highest build quality, our world leading design has resulted in a boat that is rugged and virtually unsinkable. Stable - The unique and highly stable hull design allows greater payloads and tougher seas to be navigated

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6425 2238 We take Tasmania Boating Honda • Mako Craft • Trailcraft • Cruise Craft • Stabi-Craft • Evinrude • Johnson • Tohatsu Fishing News - Page 33

Lake Pedder Back to Lake Pedder Lake Pedder lies to the west of Hobart. To reach it by road requires a trip through the Derwent Valley via New Norfolk, Westerway, National Park and Maydena. The road journey from Hobart to Strathgordon (located at the north-western end of Lake Pedder) takes between 2 and 2½ hours. The current Lake Pedder was created in 1973 due to the Gordon power scheme. The original Lake Pedder was a much smaller lake that was flooded to create the hydro electricity scheme. The Gordon power scheme requires Lake Pedder to remain at or above a specified water level (believed to be two metres below full capacity). Excess water from Lake Pedder is passed into Lake Gordon through the canal at McPartlan Pass. The road to Strathgordon and to the Gordon dam provides an opportunity to see a stunning lake and surrounding mountains, especially on a fine day. Visitors must return the same way as they enter, but the journey is worthwhile and the Lake Pedder Chalet, located at Strathgordon, provides a most hospitable and refreshing place to stop. The road to Strathgordon is sealed all of the way. The more time you spend at Lake Pedder, the more you can see. Different weather conditions change the various views of the lake and mountains. On a still day, the water reflections of the surrounding landscape are wonderful to behold. The sandy beaches that are forming around the lake dazzle the eyes in the sunshine. There are birds and animals

to see, especially platypus in the lake. These things are even more visible if you can take a boating trip on the lake. There is also the trout fishing. In the early days after the flooding to create the present Lake Pedder, the trout fishing was renowned for the large fish caught. Fish above five kilograms were plentiful and frequently caught. In those days there was a significant residential population at Strathgordon. It was this group that formed the Lake Pedder Anglers Club, initially known as the Strathgordon Licensed Anglers Club (SLAC). Today, brown trout are plentiful and there is occasionally a rainbow trout. However, the big fish are no longer caught. A fish larger than 1½ kilograms has not been caught from Lake Pedder for at least five years. [There has been a story of a tourist catching a 5lb rainbow off Teds Beach]. Many experienced fishermen believe some large fish are still there. There are frequently stories of broken lines. The yabbie population in the lake is enormous and provides a food supply for the trout. Most fish caught from Lake Pedder contain yabbies in their gut and stories of still alive yabbies taken from the gut abound. The availability of such a food source could take the big fish to locations untouched by fishermen. Each year, around the Australia Day public holiday, the Lake Pedder Anglers Club hosts a five-day trout fishing competition. The 2006 ‘Back to Pedder’ competition will be held from 25 January 2006 until 29 January 2006. Fish one day, or all five. Just be at Strathgordon for the prize announcements to win. ‘Back to Pedder’ 2006 also offers a

challenge to other clubs (not necessarily fishing clubs) to beat three nominated fishermen representing the Lake Pedder Anglers Club. This year the event is sponsoring CanTeen, an organisation established in 1985 to support, develop and empower young people living with cancer by providing a high quality Australia-wide peer support network of young people living with cancer. Competition booklets are available from good Tasmanian tackle shops, or by writing to the Lake Pedder Anglers Club, 63 Giblin Street, Lenah Valley 7008, (or telephone on 0362 781 454). The major prize for ‘Back to Pedder’ 2006 is a 14 foot aluminium boat designed and built by Fords Welding at Geeveston, a Dunbier trailer and an 18hp long-shaft 2-stroke Tohatsu outboard motor valued at about $7,500. There are also more than 100 other prizes to be won. Details of prizes are contained in the competition booklet. Fishing on Lake Pedder centres around two locations, Scotts Peak at the Southern end and Strathgordon in the north. There is a team available at the Scotts Peak camping ground, up until 2.00pm on Saturday, 28 January 2006, to accept entries into the competition and to weigh fish caught for the competition. There is also a team located at the Lake Pedder Chalet at Strathgordon for entries and weighing fish. The competition concludes at 12.00 noon sharp on Sunday, at Strathgordon. Prizes are announced soon after the close, and winners must be available at Strathgordon to receive their prize, otherwise the prize-winner is redrawn. The preferred method of entry is by mail to 63 Giblin Street, Lenah Valley. There are special prizes available to entrants

who lodge their entry forms before Friday, 20 January 2006. It is important to remember that persons 14 years and older must hold a current Angling licence to fish for trout during the competition. Licences may be obtained from tackle shops or from Service Tasmania. The Lake Pedder Chalet, at Strathgordon, is an excellent host for the ‘Back to Pedder’ fishing competitions. As well as the fishing, there is a ladies only night at the Chalet on Friday, 27 January (men can gather at Teds Beach!), a night of fun at the Chalet on Saturday night, with treasure hunt for the children and a disco that will go on until the last person drops. Prize presentation is on Sunday, 29 January, at the Chalet, commencing at 12.45pm. In addition to the functions, the Lake Pedder Chalet provides shopping for essentials for campers (including fuel, ice, bread and milk), a bar, an excellent restaurant, accommodation and showers. During the activities on Sunday, the Chalet will provide BBQ food at extremely reasonable prices. The Lake Pedder Anglers Club welcomes anyone and everyone to enter the competition and to join in the fun. There is a small entry fee. The Club Committee is mindful that the future of fishing lies with our children, so many prizes are directed towards juniors. Bring the family and your friends to Lake Pedder over the Australia Day period and enjoy a wonderful experience with both the scenery and the fishing.

Thank you

Fishcare wish to thank local businesses, tackle shops and our major sponsors past and present.

Next Take a Kid Fishing Dates Stanley Wharf - Saturday 29 October Contact: Damian Heran 0408 337 317

Beauty Point Wharf - Sunday 30 October Contact: Quenton Higgs 0407 502 046

St Helens - 14 January, Hobart - 5 March Port of Launceston, Hobart Ports Corporation and Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Fishing News - Page 34

coates

Sarah’s Kitchen

With summer coming up I thought it would be worth doing a couple of recipes to cook on the barbeque.

gently for 12 minutes or until the water has evaporated. Cover and stand for 10 minutes.

Snapper stuffed with saffron rice

Melt the butter, add garlic, shallots and celery and sauté for 1 minute then stir in the crab meat and rice.

1 whole snapper ½ cup long grain rice ¼ teaspoon saffron threads (dried saffron will be fine) 1 cup water 2 cloves garlic crushed 2 shallots chopped 1 stick celery finely chopped 170g can crab, drained

Run knife inside the fish across the bones, starting from the head and working down to the tail to remove the bones. Do not cut through back.

Spread the saffron rice mixture evenly inside the fish. Brush the fish on both sides with oil. Wrap with foil or place in a wire barbeque basket and cook until the fish is just cooked through.

Lobster tails with lemon butter

Turn the fish over and repeat on the other side, cut centre bone at both ends, gently lift the bone out.

90g butter 3 tablespoons lemon juice 3 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons chopped chives 1 tablespoon fresh dill 6 lobster tails

Place rice, saffron and water in pan, bring to the boil, reduce heat simmer

Combine butter with the lemon juice, honey, chives and dill.

Sarah Sherriff Cut soft fins and shell away from the underside of the lobster tails. Brush lobster tails with lemon butter, barbeque until cooked and tender. Continue brushing with the lemon butter while cooking.

Winemakersneedtime,patience,ingenuityandabitofluck..... Ourwinemakerhasitallinabundance......heisalsoatroutfisherman

Winemaker, Raymond Stanley sources the finest grapes from the Barossa to produce the Trout Masters series of wines. Sometimes he goes missing on his search for these grapes, but he usually turns up when it is too dark to fish. Nevertheless he takes both his favourite activities very seriously and you can be assured the Trout Masters Shiraz, Merlot and Riesling will leave you wanting for more.

Available from restaurants, fishing lodges and selected outlets. Riesling $150 per case Reds $165 per case Includes GST and freight.

Order direct: 08 8563 2676 or 0400 575 492 Email: bob@troutmasters.com.au Fishing News - Page 35

Mercury Shadow technology wins IBEX Innovation Award Mercury Marine’s Shadow Technology for SmartCraft Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS) control systems won the 2005 Innovation Award in the US recently in the OEM Electronics Division at the International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition and Conference. The annual IBEX Innovation Awards are determined by a panel of 12 judges from Boating Writers International. Mercury Marine is the world leader in recreational marine propulsion with a full line of outboard, sterndrive and inboard engines, plus the marine industry’s most extensive line of propellers, lubricants and parts and accessories. Shadow Technology allows boaters to control three engines with just two levers instead of the traditional cumbersome six-lever setup. Each binnacle operates the respective outside engine, while the center engine is controlled by software via Mercury’s SmartCraft network. Unlike conventional mechanical triple-engine control systems, where the center engine is “slaved” to one of the outside engines, Shadow Technology controls the center engine in an intuitive and logical manner. When both levers are in either forward or reverse, the center engine is automatically throttled to a level equal to the average rpm of the two outside engines. If both levers are in gear and within five degrees of each other, the system initiates the Auto Sync feature and the rpm level of each engine is synchronized. If one lever is in the

forward position and the other is in reverse - as is common in docking maneuvers - the center engine automatically shifts to neutral.

Tom Burkard, general manager of Mercury Control and Rigging Systems, accepted the award for Mercury Marine in the US. “Shadow Technology represents what is not possible in the mechanical world of rigging a boat, so in a sense it means the laws of physics no longer apply,” he said. “We are excited and honored to have been presented the IBEX Innovation Award.” “This system is now being used here in Australia for a number of applications from seroius charters in Tasmania to pleasure boats on Sydney Harbour. The future for outboards is here.” said Ken Evans, Director of Outboard Sales and Service, Australia, New Zealand & Pacific. Shadow Technology is compatible with any Mercury engine equipped with Digital Throttle & Shift, including all Verado outboards, 200 and 225 OptiMax DTS outboards and all MerCruiser DTS V-8 sterndrives and inboards. The original incarnation of the SmartCraft system earned a Boating Week Innovation Award in its category when it was introduced in 2002. Mercury received an IBEX Innovation Award last year for its Verado outboard propulsion system, the world’s first production supercharged outboard engine.

Squidgy slick rigs

NEW

2006 catalogue just arrived

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Boat packages Honda outboards, Dry Street, Launceston sales, servicing Anthony Stagg and spares Ph 6331 9507 A/H 0427 318 410

Anglers in the midst of a hot bite or those new to soft plastics are prone to putting replacement tails on crooked, and this can deter fussy fish from striking. Fortunately though, the Squidgy folk have tackled this problem in their inimitable style and the end result is the Squidgy Slick Rig. Slick Rigs come rigged and ready to fish straight from the packet, and unlike conventional soft plastics, feature a hollow chamber in the soft body, so replacing tails is as foolproof as it gets. To change a tail, simply insert the weighted, heavy-duty VMC jig hook in the chamber and push it to the end. The hook eye then pops out through a pre-formed slot, ready to be tied to the line. Based around the popular Squidgy Fish tail, there are four sizes and weights to choose from — 80 mm (7 gram), 100 mm (11 gram), 110 mm (14 gram), 130 mm (19 gram). This covers fishing options as diverse as estuary flathead right up to breakwall jewfish and offshore snapper. Slick Rigs come supplied with six tails per pack (four for the 130 mm model), and there are five Squidgy colours to choose from - Black Gold, True Blue, Neon, and Drop Bear schemes, plus the delightfully-

Lewis Marine

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Quintrex 4.2 metre Wide body Dory One of Quintrex’s most popular boats. Ideal for lakes rivers and estuaries. Powered by the ever reliable 30 HP Yamaha on a Quintrex trailer and complete with registered boat and trailer. Complete package from $7900 drive away.

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Only $41.23 per week* Fishing News - Page 36

Only $41.23 per week* *To approved customers. Conditions apply. See instore for details. Per week $41.23 over 60 months. Interest rate 10.75%. Comparison Rate 12.73% Photo depicts model only. Boat offered is unpainted. Many other options available in this model.

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titled Techno Yawn. Replacement tails are available in packs of six (packs of four for the 130 mm model). Another important feature that separates Squidgy Slick Rigs from other internally weighted jigs on the market is that these jig hooks are completely re-useable. Once the existing tail has been shredded by numerous big fish, just slip on another one and you’re back fishing. It’s that easy.

Huge range. From dinghys to the very best from Whittley and Quintrex. Great packages available and expert advice.

Satisfied Customers Rate Yamaha 2-Strokes No 1 Yamaha’s strong commitment to marine outboard development and customer support has once again been acknowledged by the results of the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Marine Engine Competitive Information Study. Yamaha HPDI outboards ranked number one in customer satisfaction among the 2-stroke outboard group. The compelling result is the third such award for Yamaha in as many years. Yamaha, the world’s largest outboard engine manufacturer, received the top 4-stroke ranking in 2004 and the top 2 and 4-stroke rankings in 2003. The 2005 study was based on 12,530 responses from boat owners who had purchased a new boat during the previous calendar year. Yamaha achieved the highest index score among two-stroke outboard engines, with high marks in nearly every key engine attribute measured, particularly in rapid acceleration and cruising speed performance. “The achievement highlights Yamaha’s strong customer orientation,” said Yamaha Outboards Sales and Marketing Manager, Danny Casey. “We are all thrilled with this result.” “The J.D. Power accolade is the ultimate recognition because it is the voice of the customer and how they feel about their outboard engine,” said Danny Casey. At Yamaha, we believe that the customer is well qualified to determine which brand of outboard motor is best suited to match their boating interests and expectations. Receiving this prestigious award for the third year in a row is a good indicator that our plans at Yamaha are on the right track.” The J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Marine Engine Competitive Information Study results were calculated using an engine performance index which is made up of eight attributes. These include: • Ease of starting when engine is cold • Ease of starting when engine is hot

Go Fishing Charters Eaglehawk Neck

• Quietness of the engine at cruising speed • Ability of boat to accelerate rapidly • Cruising speed of boat • Engine fumes • Cruise time/range between fuel stops and • The standard warranty coverage of the engine. “As summer approaches, Australians everywhere are gearing up to launch themselves back into the swing of the boating lifestyle. An international acknowledgement of this calibre can only inspire customer confidence in the Yamaha name and assure customers that an investment in Yamaha is highly regarded the world over,” said Danny Casey. Yamaha outboards are available through an Australia-wide network of authorised Yamaha outboard dealers. All Yamaha outboard models are fully backed by a comprehensive two-year manufacturer’s warranty.

If you’re looking for top tuna and shark fishing from Eaglehawk Neck this coming season look no further than Lee Harris’ boat ‘Go’. Tuna just love a bit of rough choppy water to bring then on the bite and you can cope with this type of discomfort in Lee’s 46’ Cresta Sports Fisherman. Whether or not the fish are on at Pedra Branca or the continental shelf off the east coast the ‘Go’ boat is able to cruise in real comfort. Sporting twin Cummins 450hp motors the ‘Go boat’ is in full survey which means it meets the stringent safety requirements of Marine and Safety Tasmania. Catering for up to ten anglers of all ages the boat is equipped with a full range of quality rods, reels, tackle and bait is available to target all species including tuna or shark, flathead, stripey trumpeter and perch. Lee has held various tuna Australian records including 4, 6 and 8kg class over a number of years so he really knows how to get you amongst them. The professional crew are experts in all types of fishing in the region. This season the boat will be operating from Eaglehawk Neck although if fish show up at Pedra Branca we will cruise two hours out of Southport. A typical day out would go something like this. Meet your ‘Go boat’ crew at Pirates Bay wharf and once under way the outriggers go out while we troll for striped or albacore tuna up to 20kgs. Depending on where big fish are biting we may cruise south toward Tasman Island via the Hypolite Rocks viewing some of the most spectacular vistas imaginable. Once in the strike zone you hook up with blue or yellow fin tuna up to 100kgs plus and the action can be fast and furious. Having an experienced crew makes all the difference in bringing a fish on board or not! If tuna are not obliging we will try for stripey trumpeter. Drop the rig to the bottom and then wind up about a metre to be in the strike zone and hang on! Stripeys average 5 to 7kgs and when they hit, they hit hard and head for the nearest reef so you need to be on your toes quickly. Shark, king flathead or perch may be other options. Take a rest from strenuous action to enjoy a lunch of sandwiches, soft drink, tea or coffee provided by the crew. And just to really pamper you we will also clean and pack any fish you wish to take home. For those not used to extended time on the water we recommend you pack sun protection stuff including sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat that will not easily blow off. Lip balm will help prevent sunburn and windburn. Suitable clothing, for example, a wind/rain proof jacket plus soft soled, non slip footwear will be good value. Oh, and don’t forget your camera and film to capture those exciting moments! Lee Harris and crew. Go Fishing Charters, Mob: 0407 240 750. Email: leharris@bigpond.com

Fishing and Boating Calendar 2005

Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News is pleased to provide this calendar of events for the year 2005. Events and dates are correct, to the best of the editors knowledge, at the time of printing but are always subject to amendment or cancellation. Date DECEMBER

Event & Venue Christmas, what else?

More Info

JANUARY 2006 Sun 8-13 inclusive Sat 14 Wed 25 – 29 inclusive Sat 28

Bronte Fly Fishing School – Devonport Fly Fishing Club. Take a Kid Fishing, St Helens Wharf Back to Pedder Trout Fishing Expo. Lake Pedder St Helens Bream Comp, Georges Bay

Barry Jacobson 0409 947185 Quenton Higgs 0407 502 046 Mick Corner 62286784 Jamie Henderson 0409 445006

FEBRUARY Sat 11 -12

Tasmanian One Fly, Bronte Lagoon. www.hobartflytyers.com.au

Graham Blight 0412 144072

MARCH Sunday 5 tba Sat 11 – 12 Sat 25 – 26 10th.

Take a Kid Fishing, Hobart – Princes Wharf No. 2 Flinders Island Challenge – game fishing St Helens Game Fishing Classic GN Electrical Coles Bay Classic – game fishing

Avril Brown 62332033 Chris Pratt 0419537943 Anne Stevenson 63763631 John Brooker 62310255

APRIL tba Sat 22 – 25

44TH Surf Angling Championships, Swimcart Beach via St Helens 21st. Australian Blue Fin Tuna Contest, Eaglehawk Neck

Shane Banks 0438 165023

Fishing News - Page 37

WIN a family holiday at St Helens Entering is really simple. Shop with any advertiser in this edition of TF&BN, attach the receipt, or a copy to this coupon and send it in. You then go in the draw for: Seven nights family (mum, dad + 2 children) accommodation at fabulous sunny St Helens, Hillcrest Tourist park. Plus: An exciting half day Roban fishing charter excursion. Plus: Four terrific fishing books for relaxation between catching fish. Plus: A subscription to Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News.

Hillcrest Tourist Park & Mini Market Your every need catered for • Eight en-suite cabins • Convenience store • Hot takeaways • Groceries • Newspapers • Fuel and oil • Bait and tackle • Boat parking • Boat and car wash 100 Chimney Heights Rd, St Helens. 63763 298

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Subscriptions, ads and back issues 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________________ Advertising payment: ___ $11. Attach details by Fax, email or post. Subscriptions:___ $24; 1 year. ___ $48; 2 years. Back issues; $3.95 each - Issue No req’d.____________ Payment by; ____ Bankcard ____ MasterCard ____ Visa ____ Cheque ____ Money Order Credit Card __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ Exp. date __ __/__ __ Total amount; ______ From issue no. ____ Fishing News - Page 38

ABT Results and wrap up

The first Tasmanian ABT bream tournament was fished in September this year. Forty eight anglers registered as 24 teams fished the first qualifying round in September on the Derwent River. A steely grey dawn greeted anglers at the Austins Ferry Yacht Club who hosted the event, and anglers and officials set about erecting the sponsors marquee and ensuring boats were launched in an orderley fashion. Nerves were clearly evident at the start line with adrenalin pumping through competitors waiting for the official start time. Horsepower on some of the smaller punts was an awsome sight to watch as they quickly got on the plane as they were released from the start line, and made the run down the river to their chosen fishing area. As the the morning wore on the sun came out and gave anglers a brilliant day to fish. Some teams were already well on the way to filling their bag of five fish per angler, whilst others were seen dashing from one spot to the next in an attempt to find fish. Slowly working structure and sneaking about with a Minn Kota was the tactic all the teams employed. At the end of the day it was all about the choices made on where to fish and whether to stick to one spot or move on. All competitors fished soft plastics of varying kinds and Craig Templar used his home made jigs with great effect. In the end only 4 teams caught the full bag of 10 Bream, but team Lyndcraft Boats consisting of Michael Hayley and Mark Turner beat the field with a hefty bag of nine fish. Three other teams qualfied to fish the final and they were two teams were from Spot On in Hobart. The anglers were, Craig Templar and Tom Crawford and Joe Mangin and John Huskins. Team Blue cafe were the last team to qualify and the anglers were Danny Warren and Josh Strudwick. Round 2 qualifier was at the Scamander river. This was the last chance for teams to qualify for the final and some friendly rivalries had developed. The river was designated as a 5 knot limit, so the start was a snaking procession of boats travelling up the river in single file. That would have been a sight for anybody standing on a bank downstream to witness. Good fishing conditions saw five teams weigh in full bags with fourth place hanging in the balance between team Coastal Marine consisting of Anthony Wolfe and Jamie Pennington and Team Sportsfishtasmania.com. Fishing was found to be hard for most teams with some not boating a fish at all. The consistent method was to work deep water with methodical searching using soft plastics. Once again a variety of patterns

Winners — Michael Hayley, Steve Steer and Leigh McKenzie. were used. A large crowd of people had gathered for the weigh in and in the end the four qualifying teams were Team Got One, Steve Steer and Leigh McKenzie, Team Coastal Marine 2, Mason Paull and Jamie Harris and Team Pflueger, Leroy Tirant and Steve Foster and finally in fourth were team Sportsfishtasmania.com, Patrick Sullivan and Nik Byrne. The final was fished on 8 October on the Swan River. Pelting rain and gusting winds were the norm for the day and most teams found the conditions trying, but eventually at the weigh in it was found that three teams stood out of the field. Team Got One had caught their full bag early and were upgrading fish most of the day as were team Spot On. They used drougues and Minn Kota’s to great effect to hold positions in the wind and showed some real class in field of top anglers. Team Got One bagged first place with an impressive 10/10 fish for 11.80kg. Second place went to Team Spot On 10/10 fish 9.38kg. Third place went to Team Lyndcraft Boats 8/10 fish 7.33kg. Indiviual champions were Steve Steer 5/5 6.065kg, Leigh McKenzie 5/5 5.74kg and Michaek Hayley 5/5 5.3kg. This event was the first of it’s kind in Tasmania as the fish are kept in live wells until they are weighed in and they are released unharmed. Because anglers use lures in these events the fish are normally mouth or lip hooked and can be kept in excellent condition in aerated wells. These events promote sustainability in fishing which is an area that more and more anglers look torward as fish stocks continue to diminish.

As with any other tournament the organisers rely on the aide of others. Some that stood out were the FISHCARE volunteers who attended each round and helped with the weigh in’s and final tallies. They worked tirelessly in sometimes apalling conditions. FISHCARE should be congradulated on the efforts as supporting a tournament such as this shows there commitment to Tasmania’s fishery and anglers. Sponsors are of course responsible for prize pools and for pomoting the event and because of the generosity of SHIMANO, TASMANIAN FISHING and BOATING NEWS, HUMMINBIRD, MINN KOTA, SUZUKI and COASTAL MARINE a prize pool to the value of $10,000.00 was on offer. When you consider your team had a one in twenty four chance at this it made the entry fee seem minimal. Mike Stevens, Michael Hayley, and Anthony Wolfe were integral to the organization and have my personal thanks and gratitude for thier efforts. ABT Australia will host a qualifying round for the National ABT Series on the Derwent on the 8th-9th April in 2006 so keep an eye out for further details and entry forms.  Leroy Tirant

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Fishing News - Page 39

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