Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 065 2006 December by Tasmanian Fishing

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Issue 65 December 2006 - January 2007

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A tailwater trout taken in the Pieman River below Reece Dam. See page 22 for details.

• Frederick Henry Bay from the shore • Back to Pedder • • Bream news • Summer trout options • Sarah’s Kitchen • • Tamar calamari • Pieman River • Georges Bay • Livewells

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CONTENTS

Hot prospects

My Say

Inland Fisheries news 5 Dry fly close to home - Joe Riley 6 Frederick Henry Bay from the shore - John Orchard

Feeding the habit - Tim Anderson 12 Sea Fisheries news 14 Back to Pedder 14 Bream and ABT news 15 December - January trout options - Peter Hayes

Tamar calamari - Damon Sherriff 18 Sarah kitchen 19 Pieman River - Reece Dam - Jamie Harris

Shore fishing St Helens - Jamie Henderson

Fishing and boating directory 27 Livewells and livebait - Mick Gregory 30 Reviews and Fishermans basket 32 Boating 33 Jan’s flies - Jan Spencer 34 Classifieds and subscriptions 37

Wow, what a great time of the year we are in. The fishing, both inland and in marine waters can be fantastic. I know it becomes difficult in regard to low water levels – especially in rivers, but we just have to choose our fishing spots a little more carefully. In many of the lakes water levels don’t matter too much. Great Lake is a good example and it fishes really well when it is low, Lake Burbury doesn’t seem to matter and I don’t think low levels in Arthurs matters too much, Some disagree about Arthurs and maybe they are right, but as the level changes so slowly I think the nymphs, shrimps and other animals sneak down as the water recedes. No one that I know of has done a comprehensive study, so it is anecdotal at best. Woods Lake has been a stand out performer over the last year and the new road will ensure it gets plenty of pressure over summer. The fish size has been good and their condition excellent. Great Lake has a low water level launching ramp at Boundary Bay and it might be the only place you can launch. Some other places deserve a mention as well. I have seen photos recently of some serious bream from the Tamar, huge King George whiting from Duck Bay, a 17 pound trout from the Arthur River and an estuary perch also from the Arthur River. Georges Bay has a good run of Australian salmon again this year and I will be keen to chase them. During the next couple of months I will give the bream in Georges Bay some hurry up as well as the good trevally that seem to be much more common these days. Over summer I am going to do a little charter work on the east coast as well. My boat is in commercial survey and I have the relevant endorsements. If you want a day out in the St Helens, Scamander and surrounding areas give me a call. You will find my number below. By the way, check out the bream and ABT info on page 15. The bream tournament scene has really taken off and Nick Crawford and I fished the tournaments last year. We fared better than expected and will give it another go next year.

Mike Stevens

Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News

Published by Michael Stevens PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250. Ph/fax; 6331 1278 0418 129949 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.

Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027 Printed by Harris Print, 39 Alexander St, Burnie

Big Shimano bargains and huge prizes Details at all participating tackle stores Fishing News - Page 3

Hot Prospects December - January

In the South

Bream will fire up and move down river in the Derwent over the Summer this makes them a lot more accessible to anglers into more popular fishing spots such as Bedlam Walls, Prince of Wales Bay, Cadburys Point and the Bowen Bridge. These are all are quite accessible by anglers. Hard bodied or soft plastics are equally as good in targeting bream. Colours such as blood worm and dark greens seem to do quite well. As water warms bream are more active and will often fight and attack lures with much more aggression than in the colder months. Bait Fishing is also a good option however bream caught on bait are usually smaller. Prawns are a particularly good bait. Trout will start to rise further up the Derwent. Places such as Stores Point and Bedlam Walls are always a popular choice for anglers as they are close by and often produce good numbers of trout and bream in the warmer months. Popular flies include BMS and Derwent Bunny. Stand out lures for me would be an Atomic 3” Jerk Shad in some of the more natural green and brown shades. I have found these lures with a thicker profile often produce some good sized fish this time of year. Australian salmon will be on the minds of many anglers over the Christmas and holiday period and they are already being caught in good numbers off Bruny Island, Kingston and Blackmans Bay beaches as well as up as far as Bridgewater Bridge. Silver slices are always popular for these fish, with 15-40 gram slices being the most popular with anglers. They can also be caught on bait under a float but seems to be a less productive method. Squid have started to be caught off Bruny Island, Blackmans Bay and Kingston Beach. Although the squid seem to be going for many different colours, the traditional Red and White Yozuri has been a stand out for many anglers. There has also been some good catches using pilchards, either under a float or being spun back slowly. Flathead are numerous in all areas especially Frederick Henry Bay. Soft plastics seem to be favourite method with many anglers preferring these lures to bait. Stand outs being White Mr Twisters, Berkley Pumpkinseed Gulp in any shape as well as 3” Bass Assassin’s in any pink/silver.

Fishing and Boating Calendar 2006

Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News is pleased to provide this calendar of events for the year 2006. Events and dates are correct, to the best of the editor’s knowledge, at the time of printing but are always subject to amendment or cancellation. Date Event and venue More information JANUARY 2007 Sun 7 to Fri 12 Jan. Bronte Fly Fishing School Bronte Lagoon Martin Hulsman 6424 3648 Sat 13 Jan Take a Kid Fishing. St Helens Wharf Quenton Higgs 6336 5474 Sat 13 & Sun 14 Jan Tamar River snapper competition Libby Simmons Sat 13 Mountain Design Devonport, Gamefish Comp Ulverstone Sheryl Turner 0419 335 159 Sat 27 Jan St Helens Bait & Tackle Pro-Bream Tournament Jamie Henderson 6376 2244 Thu 24 - 28 Jan Back to Pedder competition supporting Camp Quality Baden Oates 0419 884015 FEBRUARY Thu 8 to Mon 12Feb Mon 12 Sat 17 & Sun 18

Wooden Boat Festival, Hobart Take a Kid Fishing, Hobart Regatta ground. Hillcrest Caravan Park Game fish comp, St Helens

Fiona Ewing 6233 9073 Sheryl Turner 0419 335 159

ABT Bream qualifier, St Helens

Steve Morgan (07) 3268

ABT Bream qualifier, Derwent River

Steve Morgan (07) 3268

St Helens Game Fishing Classic

Jamie Henderson 6376 2244

APRIL Sat 7 & Sun 8 Sat 14 & Sun 15 Sun 29

Easter Game Fishing Competition, St Helens BigFin Sports Fish Comp, St Helens Most brown trout waters close

Sheryl Turner 0419 335 159 Sheryl Turner 0419 335 159 Neil Morrow 6233 8930

MAY 19 & 20 May

Inland Fisheries Open Day, Liawenee Canal

Neil Morrow 6233 8930

MARCH Fri 2 to Sun 4 3992 Fri 9 to Sun 11 3992 Sat 10 & Sun 11

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Learn to fly fish, brush up your skills or learn advanced techniques. Whatever your level these workshops are designed to inspire, entertain and educate. You can spend many years learning fly fishing skills - or you can fast track. These live in workshops are based at our comfortable 20 bed convention centre on the banks of Brumbys Creek, with a purpose built casting pool right next to the centre. This is a superb location for a fly fishing weekend getaway. We invite you to come along and have some fun with like- minded people while you gain a lifelong benefit from this experience. Your skills will be improved enormously as will your enjoyment of the sport. As the key instructor Peter Hayes has been the National Casting Champion a total of 10 times in addition to winning the National Fly Fishing Championship. Additionally, Peter’s knowledge gained from a lifetime of casting and fishing, plus twelve years of guiding experience in the highlands and lowland rivers is bound to rub off on all participants. Peter has run casting clinics for many years in Australia and New Zealand.

Course cost is $300 per person and covers tuition, accommodation and meals. Places are limited and filling quickly.

Stay on packages

As participants of our courses you may choose to stay on and take advantage of our facility on the edge of Brumbys Creek. The fishing here can be sensational (see the article in the current FlyLife magazine, issue 45). Should you choose to stay on after the Sunday the bed and breakfast cost is $65/person/night. You can self cater your evening meals or visit the local hotels or restaurants.

Workshop dates

Intermediate/Advanced Fly Fishing and Casting weekend: 24, 25 February For more information or to book your place contact Peter: 0448 905 125 or email hayes@flyfishtasmania. com.au

Inland Fisheries NEWS

Lake which is already seeing the benefits of the IFS strategy to replenish its rainbow trout stocks. The remaining stocks will be liberated at Penstock Lagoon, Bronte Lagoon and Little Blue Lagoon. The average size and condition of the fish weighed and measured was excellent, decreasing only marginally on last years run. The average weight had decreased by 68 grams and the average length had increased by 1 mm. Overall the fish were in very good condition. With the average weight being around 1,300 grams the rainbow trout at Great Lake are very worthy quarry for the angler.

IFS has moved

After 9 years at Lampton Avenue, Derwent Park the Inland Fisheries Service has moved. The Inland Fisheries Service Head Office is now located at New Norfolk. The address of the new premises is: 17 Back River Road NEW NORFOLK TAS 7140 Ph: 6261 8050 The new postal address is: PO Box 575 NEW NORFOLK TAS 7140 All IFS staff based in the South will now be working from this new Head Office. The facility will also be the location of a new hatchery to be built over the next 6 months.

Great Lake rainbow report

This years’ assessment of rainbow trout spawners was undertaken in late September. Over 240 fish were weighed and measured. After being weighed and measured the fish were stripped of their eggs and milt. This year the fish were stripped using

Jim Allen with a super rainbow from Great Lake modern dry stripping techniques which has resulted in a higher hatch rate. From four visits 534,000 eggs were collected some of which have already hatched and are now free swimming fry. These fish will be carefully nurtured and released sometime in spring next year when they will be around 20 to 25 grams. Thus ensuring a good survival rate. The rainbows of Great Lake are a very important resource for restocking Tasmania’s wild fisheries. The majority of fish raised from the harvested ova will be restocked into Great

New ‘low-water’ boat ramp at Great Lake

The construction of a boat ramp to allow access to Great Lake during times of low water levels has now been completed. The boat ramp is located at Boundary Bay on the western side of the lake. As well as constructing the ramp, the road leading into the site has also been upgraded. The new ramp can be used if the lake falls to 16.8 metres below full capacity or further. The ramp has been built under a joint initiative between Hydro Tasmania, Marine and Safety Tasmania and the IFS.

PRESS RELEASE

Bronte Fly -fishing School

The Devonport Fly Fishing Club (Inc) will once again be holding their annual fly fishing school at Bronte Lagoon in the Central Highlands from the 7th to the 12th January, 2007. 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. It is a great opportunity for beginners or those with some experience to learn and improve their fly-fishing. Students are well supported with the club supplying practical lessons and experienced instructors to help fast track their development. What could take someone years of practice and frustration by themselves can be learnt in this one week. At a cost of $100 per student for the 5-day course it is well within the reach of everyone, with many students choosing to turn it into a family holiday. The club actively promotes women anglers attending the course and also junior anglers provided they are under adult supervision. 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 provides camping area, large marquees, fresh water and portable toilets. Showers and food are available at the nearby Bronte Park Highland Village. Some of the topics covered by the course include Safety, Entomology, Casting, Fishing Techniques, Knots and Leaders, Gear set up, Reading Lakes and Streams, Fly Patterns and Sight Fishing, The learning atmosphere is relaxed and informal providing ample time for socialising and fishing also. As usual the school will again cater for those people returning as second year students with a separate syllabus that will enable them to take that next step and follow on from the previous years learning. More details available at http://www. geocities.com/devonportfly/ For further information or to enrol please contact any of the following. Martin Hulsman, Camp Committee Secretary, 6424 3648; Wayne Bellette, Camp Committee Chairman, 6449 3052 Peter Burr, Club President, 6424 8287 Fishing News - Page 5

Dry fly close to home It's amazing how close to home good dry fly fishing can be found. As summer comes along the lowland rivers start to offer some exhilarating, and often challenging dry fly fishing. From trout cruising the slow moving glides or pools sipping minuscule offerings out of the surface film, to excited brown trout freely leaping from the water to catch mayfly and damselfly on the wing. These fish are catchable. With a little patience, intelligent fly choice, a good leader setup and accurate casting they can be brought undone, and once two or three of these fish come to the net you can really feel a sense of satisfaction about achieving a challenging task. In the North of the State there are plenty of rivers, often we drive big distances to find feeding fish, when in fact there are options close to our back door. Rivers such as the South Esk, Meander, Mersey, Brumbys Creek and Macquarie in

Brown on CDC Shuttlecock

their lowland stretches have plenty of fish that rise freely, particularly of a morning or evening as they cruise around their pool feeding in a relaxed manner. If you live in Launceston, the South Esk at Hadspen is only minutes away, Longford has stretches of all of the above named rivers at hand, Westbury and Deloraine both have the Meander, and Deloraine also has the Mersey close by. If you live on the Northern side of Launceston the famous St Patricks River moves with smaller trout and the North Esk holds fish right down through St Leonards and into Launceston. Morning and evening, even on a calm day you can find fish rising right in the middle of the Deloraine township. At Longford, At Longford, the boat ramp at the junction of the South Esk and Macquarie where water skiers zoom up and down all day undergoes an amazing the boat ramp at the junction of transformation morning and evening as trout start to feed. the South Esk and Macquarie where water skiers zoom up and down all day undergoes an amazing transformation morning Brumbys Creek is famous for it's caenid hatch, and the and evening as trout start to feed, almost urgently, making the subsequent morning fishing to big browns that sip the spent most of what is on offer in the quiet times. While we all love caenid spinners. The same event occurs along the length of the the peace and quiet and getting away from other fishermen, Macquarie, South Esk and the other lowland rivers mentioned. the paradox here is that while you are only minutes from As summer moves towards Autumn, the fall of caenids on a home, you never seem to have another angler walk in on you calm morning can be so thick that they form a dirty slick in and start to cast to your fish. You also don't have to put up the middle of the river, the trout rise rhythmically every 3 – 4 with turning up to your favourite polaroiding spot and find seconds in an exercise in the economic use of energy. These three other cars there already. Best of all you can sneak out fish become a real challenge, other food is available but the for a couple of hours, including travelling time and fish to caenids are of most consequence at this time. rising trout. Mornings and the caenids I'm no entomologist, so what I refer to as caenids are the small, dark bodied mayfly that hatch en masse and fall to the water prior to morning. The precise genus and species of these sorts of flies escapes me for good reason, if it doesn't matter to the trout, it doesn't matter to me. So I'll be referring to these small mayfly here as caenids, even if I am ignorant in doing so.

Evening

During the evening all manner of fare is made available to coax fish out of their lies to surface feed - beetles, the odd mayfly spinner, adult and hatching caddis are the norm. All of these plus the chance of a mudeye emergence will bring fish to the surface and cause often hectic rising activity all close to home! It is amazing where trout will survive and in fact thrive. While living at Westbury I had a spot I nicknamed 'the ditch'. Now the ditch is not a water you would drive

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miles to go to. It's not the gin clear water of a freestone river but it had anywhere up to 7 or 8 trout rising every evening in a 100 metre stretch which was basically a culvert about 15 metres wide. The spot is on Quamby Brook in the Westbury township still within the 60 kph speed zone. Fly fishing is like most addictions, I certainly can't go too long without a session, so 'the ditch' provided an easy 'fix' where I could be out of the house for literally 45 minutes and catch a fish. Best of all there were actually some quite big fish smooching around, the best I landed was a 3¼ lb brown of magnificent proportion. These fish weren't taken on dry fly, but they show the point that ridiculously close to home, trout can be found.

Daytime options

As I said we really are spoilt for choice. The Macquarie and Brumbys Creek are both very easy drives from Launceston. These waters offer world class dry fly fishing on bright calm days as mayfly spinners, both black and orange, and their ugly duckling predecessors, the duns, try to live out their lives without being chomped by browns and rainbows. Again the North Esk and St Patricks River all have accessible areas and fish that will rise to small spinner and beetle patterns. If you are not preoccupied with size, you can go out and often catch your bag from waters like the St Patricks river, on dry fly and within a half hour drive from Launceston. As summer goes on, particularly this year with record low rain and paddocks that are dry before springs end, you can expect that the grasshopper fishing around the lowland waters will be outstanding. While spinners and duns are the go on calm days, likewise grasshoppers are the option on warm windy days as they blow into the water along the edges of the rivers.

Without getting too far into any particular type of fishing, you can see there are plenty of options available for dry fly fishing around population centres in the North of the State. I haven't gone into detail about dry fly patterns and tactics for each option because all have enough intricacies for an article on their own. The aim here is to point out what is available right under our noses in these time pressured days where we don't always have enough time to drive to the lakes. Here are a few general tips for fishing dry flies to rising trout; Fish as long and fine a leader as you can comfortably. If fish are gently sipping on indeterminable food, fish small flies that sit low in the surface, e.g. small Klinkhammers or hackle-less seals fur dry flies. Judgment is the key to presenting to rising trout, try to read where fish are going and lead them accordingly. Dragless drift is essential, read the current between yourself and the fish and place yourself where you has as few a problems with the current as possible. Don't be put off by no reaction from rising fish as they often will not see the fly. They move from side to side in the current and an apparently perfect presentation can miss the mark. Change flies if you consistently get no response, or just 'pushes' at the fly. Finally there are plenty of stretches of water easily accessible around the north, however respect land owners rights and ask permission if you think you need to cross private land. Also keep only what you 'need for a feed' because after all these are the sort of waters you can pop out to for a fresh trout anytime you get a spare moment because these spots are so close to home. Joe Riley

Top: A formed up slick on the South Esk just near home. Above: Rising fishing on the same stretch. Right: Seals fur, hackle-less dry, CDC Shuttlecock, CDC Klinkhammer.

2006

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Frederick Henry Bay - from the shore Summer is now officially upon us and as the holiday season begins and the weather warms up, Frederick Henry Bay comes alive with boats as anglers head out in search of a fresh fish or two for the dining table; but what of those who don’t have the luxury of a boat? Fear not, for all is far from lost! Frederick Henry Bay and the adjoining Pittwater Estuary offer many great opportunities for the shore-based angler. The opportunities are in fact so great that I was unsure where to start when I set out to write this story so I decided to write about only those that I have fished myself over the past few years starting with the Dunalley area and finishing at South Arm which really only covers half the Bay and misses out many great spots on the Tasman Peninsula side of the Bay. However, you can readily locate many of these likely spots on a map, and selecting a promising looking spot and then setting off to explore it is half the fun I reckon – especially if you “nail it on the head”! Half the battle when selecting a likely spot for a days fishing is ensuring you take into account the prevailing winds for the style of fishing you are looking to do.

reasonably calm or offshore. A reasonably long rod suitable for casting from the rocks together with a squid float to suspend your squid jig at a set distance off the bottom is ideal for this spot. If the weather is in your face, cast well out and then pick up the slack as the wind blows your jig back to shore. If the wind is from behind, cast only far enough to clear the rocks and then slowly feed out line as the wind does the rest – this is my favourite way as you can cover long distances with little effort. Note: - It pays to grease your line when using this method to help stop the line ‘sagging’ down to the weeds below and if you are using cloth covered squid jigs, pour a bit of pure fish oil on them as an attractant before you cast it out – this will dramatically improve your strike ratio.

‘There is always a fish somewhere that needs catching so make the most of it and go catch him – you are a long time dead!’

1 The rocky point on the southern end of the long beach just to the south of Dunalley can produce some great Calamari squid fishing from December onwards if the weather is

2 The long beach itself can produce great flathead fishing for those prepared to wade out at low tide and spin with soft plastics. A powerful spin rod with half once jig heads and Mr. Twister double tails will do the trick nicely. Watch the incoming tide and don’t leave it too long to vacate the area as this beach has some deep gutters that aren’t much fun crossing if you stay too long.

Australian salmon are one of the popular fish targeted from the shore in Frederick Henry Bay. Simple lures such as the Sluk range are easy and work well too.

continued next page...... Fishing News - Page 9

Dunalley itself can offer some great fishing, especially when the salmon are travelling through the canal. At times such as this the action is hard and fast anywhere along the canal spinning with nothing more than the humble silver slice lure. Night time can also produce some fantastic squid fishing from the local wharf when the squid are on the move.

The jetty at Tiger Head can produce some good squid fishing at night, as can any of the small rocky outcrops around the Dodges Ferry area however, the water is too shallow to produce much in daylight hours except off the rocks if the salmon are running.

spot for night fishing is right smack in front of the car park under the lee of the hill. This spot offers shelter from the prevailing winds and makes for a more pleasant experience – plus it usually fishes well.

12 The river mouth at Cremorne is always good for a spin and when the salmon are really firing, it is a great place to pull out the saltwater fly outfit. This is also a good family spot so don’t hesitate to make a day of it and let the kids run loose whilst you indulge in the finer art of fishing.

Low tide can produce some great spinning and soft plastics fishing in the Pittwater Estuary running from Dodges Ferry up to Lewisham. Nearly always good for a fish or two, usually salmon or flathead however bait-fishers occasionally snare a Gummy Shark or two and these put up a great fight! It’s important to note that this area is a shark nursery and all sharks must be released unharmed – still, fantastic fun.

Connellys Marsh beach is a great place to take the family for a picnic on a hot day however the beach tends to run out quite shallow so a powerful surf rod is a must to ensure you can cast out far enough to reach any fish – still, it’s a great place for the kids to play whilst you fish.

13 Clifton Beach is not bad fishing however this is also arguably the south’s premiere surfing beach and as I said before, surfers can be a nuisance so it probably pays to steer clear of the beach itself. This only leaves the rocky points at either end which do fish well however, good surf beaches have big swells and this spells danger for the rock fisherman – so beware, personally I reckon there are far better (and safer) places than Clifton to fish.

Susans Bay on the southern end of Primrose Sands can produce exciting fishing when the salmon are running, as they are easy to reach from the rocky point just before you get to the boat ramp. Once again a good powerful rod is a must when fishing from the shore and lures around the 40 - 60 gram mark are ideal for casting long distances.

The Midway Point Causeway Bridge is probably one of the most reliable spots of all and is an ever popular place for anglers, consistently producing catches of salmon, mullet, flathead, cod, sting rays, skates, flounder and sharks plus the occasional bream and sea run trout. I’m not sure that having cars whistling past on the other side of the concrete wall all day is my idea of a relaxing days fishing but, if its fish you want – this one is well worth a look!

6 Primrose Sands beach is a great all rounder! The family will have a great day in the sun whilst you can fish to your hearts content. Whether its spinning with soft plastics or surf fishing with bait, this beach usually fishes quite well as it isn’t far out to the “drop off ”, and produces some great flathead and more often than not some fat little Australian salmon plus there is the chance of a squid off the nearby rocks – definitely worth a look.

These are just a few of the many places that are available for the shore-based angler in southern Tasmania. My suggestion is to buy yourself a good map of the Frederick Henry Bay area and start exploring; you will be surprised at how much good fishing there is to be had without having to own a boat and, lets face it – there is nothing better (or healthier) for you than a fresh feed of fish that you have caught yourself that day!

11 Seven Mile Beach is another great family spot for the avid angler and can produce some exciting fishing, particularly when the salmon are running. During the day this beach is often good for small whiting and a few flathead as well but, it is after dark that this beach can really hot up if the tide is right. Sharks, skates, rays and some larger flathead plus the occasional calamari squid can really make for an exciting evenings fishing if you time it right and the weather is good. During the day, park in the car park at the western end of the beach and walk out onto the rocky point, this allows you to fish straight out into the deeper water but as it gets dark and the fish start to head in close to feed, my favourite

7 The mouth of the Carlton River is a great spot to spin for salmon and the odd small flathead. The rest of the Carlton Beach is probably worth steering clear of, particularly if there is any surf running as this is one of the south’s most popular surfing beaches and although they can weigh a fair bit, Surfers are only good for one good “run” and then they beach themselves – not much sport in that.

If you are unsure of what species you should be targeting and what you should be using to target them, ask at your local tackle store. The staff in tackle stores are all keen anglers – this means they live and breath the sport and they spend every day talking to other anglers. They know what’s firing where and how they are catching them – what better edge can you have than to get advice from one of these guys? Last but not least, stuff the weather – there is always a fish somewhere that needs catching so make the most of it and go catch him – you are a long time dead! John Orchard

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Feeding the habit - Local sorty around Burnie

Looking from the Burnie boat ramp towards the wharf. Fishing time and effort is often curtailed by the constraints of work and family and is further impacted with the financial pressure of rising fuel costs and the approaching festive season which in itself can lead to your credit card statement looking like an overloaded hay truck on a back country road! Having my offshore boat resting on stands for the past 15 months whilst undergoing a full hull rebuild has had the fishing itch lapping toward full blown withdrawal and the bank account looking like the sides of an exhausted fruit box. With this in mind and the aforementioned domestic pressures I set about a local trip which ended up in an afternoon of fantastic fun on the lesser thought of species and highlighted to me that the “fishing animal” within can be easily, cheaply and quickly fed locally.

Afternoon delight

The recent effort (one of thousands) took place one afternoon while planning to test a small craft I have acquired, with a view of ideas for later modification by a mad man with a diamond saw. The chosen boat ramp was void of water and a muddy escarpment between the water and the ramp saw the chosen ‘practice’ expedition of Inglis River bream on soft plastics come to a screeching halt. So armed with only soft plastic gear an alternative plan was immediately formulated and the said boat was launched at the Burnie ramp. Mason and I headed out around the pylons and other markers that make up portions of the edges of the Port.

Having caught a few small flathead and located nothing in the usual sandy haunts we decided to head to a nearby area where the seabed is broken by reefs rising from the sand. The demographics of such a bottom have, in warmer months seen large flat head caught in numbers around the reef fringes. Only a few medium sized flathead were caught and released however large numbers of (dare I say it) wrasse were encountered and provided constant, regular, hard pulling fun. Most nearly all of the battles titanic on light gear trying to extract the hungry hordes from the weedy hidey holes.

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All the fish were released after being easily caught on brightly coloured jig heads and twin tailed soft grubs designed for flat head fishing. The lures are far from glamorous and cheaply purchased in the budget bins of most popular tackle stores for a hand full of silver coins, thus removing the toll on your collection of more expensive plastics.

Local offerings

I have for many years been sneaking off to local areas to wet a line and there are more options available than one might think. Amazingly, like nearly any other Tasmanian town or city another local area is available within a short drive and even such a small change of fishing scenery can be give a fresh perspective on the old grey mare not being what she used to be. The basic areas I target can be loosely categorized into three zones and either land based or accessed by a small boat.

Coastal fringes

These offer accessible areas like beaches, headlands, rock walls, wharves jetties and the like. A number of species can be targeted with bait or by artificial methods. The beach is be a great place to soak a line and bag a few salmon as they start to appear in numbers around the coast. The species can be targeted with bait and by tossing small lures over the surf wash zone and into associated gutters and run offs. Flathead are targeted with bait or by slowly retrieving poppers lures or soft plastics and the same area later at night may yield gummy shark.

Headlands and jetties

A melting pot of sea based and estuarine species and can also be a viable option for children who often have shorter attention spans than the average dedicated fisho. Flathead, mackerel, blue warehou, squid, salmon and at ling are all noted for their table qualities and a success can have the loved

one pushing you out the door for repeat performances on subsequent occasions.

Estuarine river systems

These can yield medium to large sea run trout particularly during the whitebait runs which taper off at this time of year. Salmon, bream, garfish and trevally can also be caught using the usual array of methods shore based or by trolling in a small boat in the larger systems. The ever popular mullet (Pronounced “Moolay” for a more pimped up french approach) is always a delight for the children and if killed during an unfortunate accident or other such circumstances they can be utilized as bait for shark or other species later. Fresh water can be found in out of the tidal areas of rivers and in impoundments, dams or water storages. An inland fishing license can be purchased for a year or much shorter periods and is a requirement to target the one or more of the three species of trout available in Tasmania. Larger Alantic salmon are also available and as some anglers have experienced can be jumbo in size. They again can be caught by natural bait (worms, grasshoppers, mudeye) or by artificial methods such as lure or fly.

The simple life

The mere mention of fly fishing conjures images of purist trout specialists hovering crouched in the tussocks like a Japanese tourist with dysentery, however this again is not necessarily the case. Fly fishing can also be practised in any of the areas I have mentioned those willing to break free of the traditions may not only learn something new but apply what is learnt to the same form of fishing in other areas. Testament to this is the large following fly fishing has gained and the less usual locations it is practiced in many main land fishing arenas.

Top: Looking south along the beach towards the Emu River. Above: The boat launching facility offers land based opportunities. At the end of the day you some may have a laugh at your expense but. You never know you just might catch something and in the process have a hell of a lot of fun. So if necessary use the kids as an excuse, (to the minister of war and finance) and head out

to the local jetty. To me some of the most fun I have had fishing has not necessarily been at the more exotic locations and all on a budget which can be financed from the ash tray of your car. Tim Anderson

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RECREATIONAL FISHERIES NEWS December 2006 With the new recreational sea fishing licensing year DEPARTMENT of in full swing, it is timely PRIMARY INDUSTRIES to talk about one of and WATER the key programs that helps recreational fishers understand fisheries rules and regulations, the Fishcare Volunteers program. Fishcare Volunteers Program The Fishcare Volunteers program has been operating in Tasmania since 1998 and there are currently more than 100 volunteers throughout the State. Volunteers are passionate about ensuring we have fish for the future and donate their time to share their fishing knowledge and experience with other fishers. Fishcare Volunteers are a valuable link between fishers and the Department of Primary Industries and Water and play a very important role in educating the fishing public on the rules and regulations relating to fishing in Tasmania. The volunteers are involved in a range of activities. You might see them on patrol at local fishing spots or manning a Fishcare trailer and kid’s fishing pool at events such as AGFEST. They might be teaching a kid how to fish at the annual Take a Kid Fishing Day, assisting with fisheries research, speaking to community groups or running fishing clinics. Going on patrols is one of their core activities. Fishcare Volunteers visit fishing spots and boat ramps to talk to

14th Back to Pedder Fishing Competition 2007 Lakes Pedder and Gordon lie to the west of Hobart. To reach them 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. Lake Pedder was created in 1973 as a result of 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 approximately two

Fishing News - Page 14

fishers about the day’s fishing, have a look at the catch and get a feel for what is happening. They may provide fishers with information on rules and regulations, such as the Sea Fishing Guide or rulers for measuring catch. They also help answer fishers questions on rules and regulations.

Set Lines (Unmanned Lines) The set line restrictions, outlined in the last edition of Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News, has been causing some confusion for fishers so hopefully the following information helps clear things up.

During their patrol, volunteers complete a patrol report, which includes information on the location they visited, the number of people they have talked to, the type of fishing, species caught and any issues raised. This information is entered in to a database to help the Department determine how we can better meet the needs of recreational fishers.

Many fishers were not aware that rule changes introduced in 2004 affect the common practice of fishers using multiple rods to fish at the same time. Under the changes, there are area restrictions on the use of set lines, which is any line with one to five hooks that is not in physical contact with a person or attached to a vessel. To avoid lines being classed as set lines, fishers fishing from the shore, rocks, jetties and wharves must remain in physical contact with their line/s.

If you see a Fishcare Volunteer (in their distinctive blue and gold uniforms), feel free to ask them a question or just have a chat and get to know your local volunteer. They are a fantastic resource for the fishing community and you might be pleasantly surprised by what they can offer. If you would like to find out more about the Fishcare Volunteer Program, visit our website at www.dpiw.tas.gov. au/fishcare, or contact your regional Fishcare Volunteer Coordinator. • • •

Southern Tasmania Coordinator Ph: (03) 6233 9073 Northern Tasmania Coordinator Ph: (03) 6336 5474 North-west Tasmania Coordinator Ph: (03) 6432 3898

The Fishcare Volunteers program is supported by Fishwise, with revenue raised from the sale of recreational sea fishing licences used to fund projects that support recreational fishing.

metres below full capacity). Excess water from Lake Pedder is passed into Lake Gordon through the canal at McPartlans Pass. The road to Strathgordon and to the Gordon dam provides an opportunity to see two stunning lakes 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. Whilst the trophy fish are no longer caught (although there has been a story of a tourist catching a 5lb rainbow off Ted’s Beach), Lake Pedder has an abundance of beautifully conditioned smaller fish. Many experienced fishermen believe some large fish are still there. There are frequently stories

The Recreational Sea Fishing Guide 2006-07, which is available at all Service Tasmania shops, lists the areas where set lines are not permitted, including Stanley Wharf, the River Tamar, Great Oyster Bay, the River Derwent and D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Fishers who are fishing in areas where set lines are prohibited should carefully consider the number of lines they are using and whether it is reasonable to assume that they can be in physical contact with that number of lines. Christmas Message The Recreational Fishing Section wishes all fishers a safe and happy Christmas and all the best in your fishing endeavours. See you in the New Year! Need more information? For more information on recreational sea fishing: • call the Recreational Sea Fishing Line on (03) 6233 7042; or • visit www.fishing.tas.gov.au

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 2007 ‘Back to Pedder’ competition will be held from Wednesday 24th January 2007 until 12 noon sharp Sunday 28th January 2007. You do not need to be a member of any fishing club to participate. Fish one day, or all five; just be at Strathgordon for the prize announcements to win! ‘Back to Pedder’ 2007 also offers a challenge to other clubs (not necessarily fishing clubs) to beat three nominated fishermen representing the Lake Pedder Anglers’ Club. In 2006, the event sponsored CanTeen, an organisation established 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. This year, the Lake Pedder Anglers’ Club is supporting Camp Quality. Camp Quality is a worthy non-profit organisation that brings hope and laughter to children living with cancer. Entry forms can be obtained from most southern tackle shops, although entry is welcomed throughout the competition. The major prize for ‘Back to Pedder’ 2007 is a 13ft aluminium dinghy and trailer to suit, fitted with an 18hp Tohatsu outboard. This fantastic package is valued at approximately $8,000. There are also dozens of other valuable prizes to be won. Fishing on Lake Pedder centres around two locations, Scotts Peak at the Southern end and Strathgordon in the north. Both locations provide excellent camping facilities, including barbeques and enclosed shelter sheds. There is a team available at the Huon camping ground, up until 1.00pm on Saturday, 27th

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, 19th January 2007. 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. It plays host to a treasure hunt for the children, and a disco that will go on until the last person drops on Friday evening. Prize presentation is on Sunday, 28th January, at the Chalet, commencing at approximately 1.00pm. 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 and comfortable accommodation. During the activities on Sunday, the Chalet will provide a sausage sizzle with all proceeds going to Camp Quality. 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.

The Tasmanian Bream Fishing Classic was decided 12 November on the Swan River at Swansea.

teams Humminbird/Tica with Greg Woods and Ted Newstead and Tas Fishing and Boating News team of Mike Stevens and Nick Crawford whom were tied on points to fish the last round on the Swan. First place at Scamander went to Team GLoomis with anglers Twenty seven teams competed in the Classic, a strong number Steve Steer and Leigh McKenzie who consistently preformed well considering it is only in its second year. There were quite a few new through the entire tournament. faces, which pleased the organisers and it proved that this style of November 11-12 the final teams turned up for the last stage competition is becoming more popular. of the tournament at the Swan River. The final was over two days The Classic is a ‘no-kill’ catch and release event with all fish held and again major concentrations of fish were found up river. The in ‘on boat’ live-wells and released alive after the weigh-in. weather over the weekend deteriorated slowly but when it didn’t This year’s tournament had two qualifying events that had teams rain the air was quite warm. It certainly had no effect on the bream earn points according to the places they finished and the total of as a few teams caught large numbers of fish. Quite a few fish the points earned them a start in the final. Because of a tie for tenth could be polaroided under snags near the surface but were very place the final was fished with eleven boats instead of 10. difficult to catch. The first qualifier was held on the Derwent River 7 October. At the end of the weekend team Mountain Design with anglers The Derwent is renowned for large numbers of very big bream. Mark Cadle and John Farrell were the victors with a 20/20 fish for The weather provided great conditions for the anglers but the 20.27kg and hot on their heels all weekend in second place were fishing was tough with only three teams bagging the maximum of team Suzuki with Leroy Tirant and Paul Mason with 20/20 fish 10 fish. Bycatch of large sea run trout and Atlantic salmon kept 19.48kg, third went to team Bream It On with Nigel Harris and anglers busy in between bream bites. Steve Bond with 20/20 fish 18.43. Most of the field at the start line headed down river at a great Nigel and Steve deserve a special note because they fished rate of knots, with only a few opting to sneak up river. These were well away from most of the field opting to run through The Cut the teams ‘in the know’ as they bagged out early in the morning, and and fish the outer channels downstream. Nik Byrne and Patrick then began the task of upgrading. At the end of the day tournament Sullivan were the most consistent team of the event finishing in regulars Nik Byrne and Patrick Sullivan finished with a huge bag the final in fourth place. of 12.791 kg to secure a win for round 1. All the anglers agreed the event was well run and thanks should Scamander River was the venue for the second round October be given to Anthony Wolfe and Jamie Pennington from Coastal 21 and pre-fishing the day before told the story of many fish Marine for their assistance organising the marquee on competition congregating up river in schools almost ready to move to begin day and for sponsoring the event. Sponsors were very generous spawning. This is where the majority of teams concentrated there with prizes ranging from the finest fishing tackle from Shimano, efforts with many bags coming early. electric motors and color sounders from HUMMINBIRD/MINN Some teams realised the benefit of moving back to midKOTA, bream lures from RIVER 2 SEA and major sponsor river and some of the lower reaches to try to upgrade their SUZUKI provided a 4 smaller fish to bigger ones. stroke motor. The Suzuki marquee at Results from the final: ABT tour naments the final weigh in attracted Mountain Design: J.FarrellandM.Cadle;Day1,10.49Day2,9.78=20.27kg in Tasmania could not competitors and spectators Suzuki: L.TirantandP.Mason;Day1,9.202Day2,10.28=19.48kg happen without the aide of who had gathered to hear Bream It On: N.HarrisandS.Bond;Day1,9.156Day2,9.28=18.43kg volunteers from FishCare the final results and who Tas Sportfisher: N.ByrneandP.Sullivan;Day1,6.403Day2,7.78=14.18kg who adjudicate and act as the lucky 10 would be to Humminbird/Tica: G.WoodsandT.Newstead;Day1,6.675Day2,6.15=12.82 weigh masters. Next years make the final. Team Clear GLoomis: S.SteerandL.McKenzie;Day1,7.04Day2,4.48=11.52kg event promises to be the Cut with anglers Ben Hill and Brendan Turriff made Coastal Marine: A.WolfeandJ.Pennington;Day1,7.964Day2,3.43=11.39kg biggest yet with 3 rounds to be fished and teams the cut, catching their full Tas Fish & Boat: M.StevensandN.Crawford;Day1,3.302Day2,6.91=10.21 competing for points at all bag within 500 metres of St Helens Bait & Tackle: J.HendersonandJ.Nichols;Day1,1.61Day2,3.10=4.71 three rounds. There will be the ramp, but unfortunately Tamar Marine 2: D.WarrenandP.Delphin;Day1,0.31Day2,3.72=4.03 no final. could not fish the final. This left a door open to

Gonefishingtas.com:

M.WellintonandS.Cruse;Day1,0Day2,0.55=0.55

2007 bream competitions ABT TAS CLASSIC 2007

The 2007 Bream Classic will be fished in a new format to reward consistent angling over the three rounds at three different waterways. Teams of two anglers can catch and weigh ten live bream, with heaviest bags being allocated points at each round. At the end of the three rounds the team with the most points will be champion Nigel Harris - one of the top team of the year. performers in 2006. To fish the ABT TAS BREAM CLASSIC you need to become a member of ABT AUST. Dates for next year’s tournament are: 21/22 April at Georges Bay, St Helens 23/24 June at Derwent River, Hobart 8/9 Sept at Scamander River, Scamander Phone 0428 347736

ABT National Qualifiers

ABT will be running two qualifying events next year which will give Tasmanian anglers the opportunity to be able to fish in a nationally organized competition for prizes which are usually in excess of $50, 000 for the winner. Anglers weigh their heaviest five bream live at these events and fish are released unharmed at the end of the competition. The tournaments will be held at Georges Bay on the 3-4 March and at Derwent River on the 10-11 of March. It’s worth attending the weigh in at 2 o’clock on each day to see the range of boats and fish the anglers have caught. Shimano Australia and Berkley will have teams fishing these events and some big names in the fishing industry will compete against locals. Steve Starling, Kay Busch, Ian Miller, Chris Wright, Scott Towner are just to name a few. Phone 07 3268 3992

Fishing News - Page 15

December and January options I noted with interest recently that after more than a dozen years of guiding my most regular clients come during December January. Two clients in particular are emphatic that the best week of the season is the third week in December. In this dozen years one of these clients has never missed catching at least his bag (12) limit of trout on at least one of the days of his visit. December and January are no doubt two of the prime months of the season at the lakes. The water is warming as well as the air temperatures. The bugs are getting happier and starting to think about mating. Stick caddis mature and feed like mad in the shallow bays before they hatch in the evenings. Mayfly nymphs are active and start to hatch. This really turns the fish on. Beetles are becoming keen on moving around from tree to tree and many of them accidentally end up in the drink. All of this makes for exciting sight fishing.

Clear blue sky days

December is also a great time for polaroiding the western lakes. The throngs of visiting anglers have not yet arrived and water levels are still pretty good. The fish have not been fished over too much and are receptive to a well presented nymph or a dry. Prior to December a dry fly is often shunned. If you can manage to get some sun and a light wind to ripple the surface there is no better place to be. Our highland alpine wilderness environment really is heaven on earth to a fly fisher at this time of the season. Keep in mind though that the weather is still fickle and it can snow at any moment. If you are after a big fish, a really big fish, then now is the time to seek one out. Search in the known big fish waters like First Lagoon or East Rocky, maybe even Paget. Consider taking a photo and releasing the fish to hunt again another day. On blue days I often fish the deeper, clear water lakes like Echo, Dee and Great Lake. These waters provide good dry fly fishing and many fish come to a dry fished blind. Try the Chernobyl Ant or a big black Muddler to draw fish from afar. Bigger can definitely be better, but make sure you always have a small, discrete dark dry as well – a Bibio Hopper or Claret Bits just 5 feet from the first fly is a good choice. I like to look for slicks, draws off points or on the wave driven shore when doing this type of fishing. The windier the day the better. Keep an eye out in the wave faces too. The warmer weather brings the fish up and many fish can be sighted and caught polaroiding in this manner on our larger impoundments.

Dull overcast days

On this type of day it is wiser for the fly fisher to stick to the mayfly waters. These include Arthurs, Penstock, Little Pine and now the more accessible Woods Lake. Mayflies love to hatch at this time of the season on overcast days. If the action is scarce then consider hanging a nymph a couple of feet off the weed beds. This may mean a 10 – 12 foot dropper from the indicator. I use a Brown Nymph at 9 feet under and a Prickle Stick Caddis at 3 feet under the indicator. It is more common to catch on the deeper fly even thought the Prickle Stick is a killing fly. Surface film flies like hoppers, Bob’s Bits and Possum Emergers are all good flies and moving them often is a great idea. Particularly in wavy conditions. I like a fluro head on my mayfly emergers and a shiny holographic gold head on the possum emergers. A Shaving Brush is also a great fly for this fishing but not so good to use on the pull. Woods Lake is a great spot at this time. The fish are in superb condition and they fight pound for pound better than any other highland trout. The new road has really opened up this fishery. Too much I fear. Perhaps we all need to limit our catch in this water -much lower than the 12 fish limit. It is a unique fishery that deserves to be this way for what is left of my generation as well as the next. Peter Hayes.

Get ready for a big summer of fishing - talk to our boys who know where they are biting. Fishing News - Page 16

Summer fishing can be very productive. A lot of activity is visual with polaroiding and shallow water fishing adding much excitement to the day.

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Fishing News - Page 17

Tamar River calamari Southern calamari and cuttlefish are one of my favourite species. They are both fantastic to eat and make great bait. Although calamari are related to the arrow squid I am sure that calamari are far smarter! They can be a real challenge. They go off and on the bite at the flick of a switch. In my opinion they are far superior on the table as well. Southern calamari are also a great sport fish on light tackle when they approach two to three kilos.

Squid Jigs

Everyone has their own favourite squid jig and their own favourite colour. I have mine and this is how I rate them. Ozzie Tackles, Mini and tiger prawn are my favourites, they are very strong and have a stainless steel wire which connects the eye of the squid jig to the extra heavy guage hooks. The bottom set of hooks are larger than most other squid jigs. They have a strong fiberglass smooth body and come in some great colours. My favourite colours are green, red and white and chartreuse. They are not the cheapest squid jigs in the world but they are great. The mini prawn works better when the squid are a little bit shy.

Pioneer Power Squid

This is a fantastic and economical version of the ozzie tackle tiger prawn. It has a hard smooth plastic body. They have a moulded swivel connection and inserted hooks. This makes it not quite as strong as the tiger prawn but it is half the price. This makes it a great alternative in snaggy areas. The power squid

comes in three great colours; pink, blue and lumo. They have a great reflective body and realistic eyes. They come in two sizes; 3 inch and 3.5 inch.

Mako Tackle Pro Shrimp

This is a unique cloth finish jig in eye catching colours. Weight balanced for superior swimming action. They are available in five colours and two sizes; a 3 inch and 3.5 inch. My favourite colour is red veined blue in the 3 inch size. They are priced around $9.

Pearl Bellied Squid Jig

This economical squid jig is very popular because of its price. It has a pearl essence body on top that squid and cuttlefish find irrresistable. They come in four great colours. All colours work on the right day. They are a traditional cloth prawn style squid jig. I like the small 2.5 inch size for calamari when they are touchy. They cost around $3 each which make them a great squid jig for kids.

Baited squid spikes

This is another deadly way to catch squid and cuttlefish. They are a long metal rod which you spike through your bait. The best baits are W.A pilchards, flathead. mullet and salmon. You can still fish a spike mid water to the bottom. Both of these depths are productive. No action is required when using a spike but attention to your bait is important as pickers such as small leather jackets can sometimes strip your spike.

Locations

This is one of the best locations to catch squid land based on the Tamar. There is a sea grass bed that runs down • Hiking • Map reading the north side of York Cove which • Emergencies makes it an excellent spot. This year I • Trade work have seen some fantastic squid catches taken off the pontoon. I have even popped down one lunch break and Hands Free Personal Headlights caught 4 in half an hour. Non-obtrusive, lightweight (35 grams) LED unit that clips underneath the brim of your favourite cap. Leave it there permanently for whenever localised, super-bright light is required.

Calamari squid are fantastic to eat, and make great bait as well.

Squid skewer This will get your small squid jig in the strike zone. Mako squid jig

Pier pontoon

• Fishing • Camping • Boating • Cycling

Calamari can be caught anywhere but to consisitently take good bags a little knowledge of there habitats comes in very handy. Look for shallow sea grass beds in no deeper than 8 meters. Cuttlefish are normally found in the same area but are caught a little deeper. Squid spawn during the spring. The females lay their eggs in the sea grass beds. These areas are excellent spots. Masses of males and females school up around this area to protect their eggs. Reefs can also be a good spot to catch squid. When spinning with a squid jig a slow lift up and wind down is the most productive although there are many different techniques if you are fishing off shore in a boat drifting, no action is required as the movement of the boat is often enough to do the job. This way you can use a couple of rods by yourself. Anchoring can also be very productive, especially if there is a high concentration. You will often out fish an area quickly. Once this procedure is done you should re-anchor and repeat the process. When drifting and the calamari are a bit touchy it might be necessary to use a smaller squid jig such as a 2 inch or 2.5 inch. If this is the case run your squid jig on a paternoster rig with a long leader.

Low Head breakwater

This is another great land based squid spot. Squid can be caught all over the break water but the best place seems to be right at the end and casting into the Mariner side, or after dark at the pilot boat light which attracts bait fish which in turn attracts squid. This is a great place to fish and good bags of calamari and cuttlefish can be taken here.

Tiger prawn squid jig

Power squid jig

Tackle

A simple light 2-4 kg spinning outfit is all that is required. I like to use gelspun line when I am out drifting as it gets my light 2 inch squid jigs deeper. It has been an unbelievable season so far on squid and most anglers have experienced great catches of squid and calamari. Try a slow drag and wind for best results.

Other places

What works in my backyard will also work in other places. Try my techniques and you will jhave a lot of fun - and get a good feed. Damon Sherriff

Pearl bellied squid jig

Habitat

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Phone

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140InvermayRoad Invermay Launceston, 7248

Sarah’s Kitchen

I thought with the Christmas season coming up it would be nice to do a couple of recipes that we could cook on the barbie that are really easy but taste great. Crayfish tails with lemon butter 90g melted butter 3 tablespoon lemon juice 3 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons chopped chives 1 tablespoon chopped dill 6 crayfish tails

Mix together the lemon juice, melted butter, chives and dill. Cut the soft fins and shell away from the underside of the crayfish tails. Brush the tails with lemon butter and barbecue until cooked and tender. Brush with the lemon butter while cooking. Another great one is using squid. There is a lot of squid being caught in the George Town area at the moment and people are always asking for different ways to cook it. Hope you like this one.

Marinated squid with whipped cucumber sauce 1kg cleaned squid ½ cup dry red wine 2 tablespoon lemon juice ¼ cup oil ¼ cup French dressing ½ teaspoon dried basil leaves

Cucumber sauce

] 1 small cucumber 150gm s our cream 2 teaspoons lemon juice 150ml thickened cream 2 teaspoons chopped dill 1 tablespoon chives

Sarah Sherriff

Cut squid into rings. Place then into a dish and add the red wine, lemon juice, oil, French dressing and basil. Cover and stand for 1 hour. Barbecue in batches on a hot greased plate for about 30 seconds.

Sauce

Peel and seed the cucumber and sprinkle with salt.

Come in and say hello to Sarah and Damon Sherriff. We will give you No1 advice, the best service and the best prices.

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Fishing News - Page 20

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Fishing News - Page 21

West Coast - Pieman River - Reece Dam Around 14 years ago, a workmate and keen fly fisher spoke of a mighty river, where the whitebait were so thick you could almost walk across them, and as far as the eye could see there were trout of all sizes smashing them on the surface. Only in my dreams had I seen such a place. I thought he was exaggerating. He said you could stand in the one spot and catch 20 or 30 fish in a couple of hours. He also said while he had only caught fish to 5 lbs, there were fish in double figures taken there every year. This was all I could take - I said, ‘Right, when are we going?!’ Three weeks later we were there. The river he spoke of was indeed the Pieman River. We arrived at Reece Dam at daybreak after an hour and a half drive from Burnie; the Reece Dam being the name of the huge dam wall on Lake Pieman. As we drove down to the power station at the base of the dam, you could see the massive volume of water churning out of the turbines, creating the headwaters of the Pieman. My mate Paul mumbled, ‘Awesome, she’s crankin-’. A few seconds later we stopped the car at a boom gate. ‘Come on’, he said, ‘bring your waders, we’ll go across to the other side, there’s more room to fly fish.’ I didn’t ask questions. We walked around the steep track behind the power station and waded across what’s known as Stringers Creek. As we crossed we spooked at least four or five fish in the shallows and just metres away there were trout chopping the bait. Paul wasn’t fazed by this action and proceeded around to the main river. I, however, couldn’t help myself and put my fly rod together then and there. In the first 20 minutes I managed three small fish and one ‘keeper’ about 2 lbs. I was stoked, I’d only been fly fishing for two years and just as I was thinking ‘It can’t get any better than this’, Paul appeared waving his arms and shouting something in the distance. I thought I had better see what all the fuss was about. As I dropped my gear next to his, I noticed the four fat trout he had next to his bag. They were all around 1.5 to 2 lbs. ‘That’s nothing’, he yelled, ‘I’ve let another eight go’. We’d only been there for 45 minutes!

Pumping, broiling well oxygenated water creates an ideal environment for some excellent fishing. I walked down next to Paul and he said, ‘get a cast out there and hang on. Don’t strike, they will hook themselves’, he said. Sure enough, bang! I was on, first cast.

keeping five fish each, the best of which was about 3 lbs. And, while we didn’t catch any monsters, it was everything he said it would be.

We stood side by side going fish for fish for about three hours until the sun got too bright and slowed things up somewhat. I think the final tally was Paul 25 and me 21; only

Since that day I try to do at least four or five trips every year. It’s possible to catch some nice fish there all season but peak times are from mid-October to mid-December when

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Downstream can be very productive.

A big cannibal trout.

the whitebait are thickest. The bait runs vary from year to year depending on rainfall mostly.

Many different style lures will work at the Reece. If you’re into the plastics, you can’t go past Squidgy fish, Berkley Minnows or Firebait Minnows. The lead painted slug style lures in dark colours to match the dark whitebait work extremely well. Smiths Wobblers homemade slices or roofing nail lures work as good as anything in the fast water. The fish sit in the current waiting for the food to wash past so they will snap at just about anything. Try a Black Matuka as a dropper fly, they will often catch more fish than the lure. On a few occasions I have caught two trout at once! Where else in Australia could you do that I ask? You will have to weed through the many hundreds of smaller fish at the Reece but your patience will be rewarded. If you want to target a large fish, use a big lure, down deep, simple as that.

The old fly rod doesn’t see much action these days as I’m hooked on the soft plastics. I’ve found that most of the fish you see chopping the bait are the smaller fish, and these are the fish you would catch on the fly. The big trout are almost always down deep. Two years ago at the Reece, just before dark, I hooked and lost a fish that I will never forget. I cast my big 80 mm Squidgey out in the middle, let it sink for three or four seconds and just as I clicked my bail over and took up the slack, bang! The big fish hooked itself and screamed down river 50 or 60 metres, slowed for a split second, then decided it had had enough and almost spooled me before cutting me off on a rock. I sat down still excited, yet totally gutted at what might have been. I was only running 6 lb mono at the time. I’ve landed Atlantic salmon up to 16 lbs from Strahan and Lake Barrington on the same gear, but it was no match for this fish in the fast water. About half hour later when I’d almost composed myself, I hooked another fish that went just under 5 lbs. I landed this fish easily. These days I use 8lb Bass Hard Braid with a 10lb fluorocarbon leader. I’ll be ready next time.

Fishing News - Page 24

Beware of a big log out in the middle, although I believe this is where the big fish lie in ambush. Other similar places to try are the Bastyan power station on the way to the Reece Dam; also the power station where Lake Mackintosh runs into Lake Rosebery. There are obviously no whitebait so far inland, so there aren’t big numbers of fish, but if you hook one, chances are it might be of trophy proportions. Unfortunately, I have to finish on a darker note. It seems everywhere you go these days there are always one or two irresponsible people leaving rubbish lying around. My last trip to the Reece I was confronted with empty cans, bottles,

Downstream from Reece Dam

A superb fish taken on a big soft plastic. lure packets and bundles of line everywhere. It’s no wonder more and more great places like this are being closed to the public. So please, take out what you bring in and let’s keep this beautiful place as pristine as it should be. Jamie Harris

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Solar shower Large 5 gallon capacity, made from lightweight yet durable non-toxic PVC. Save $7 $9.95

Kershaw floating fillet knife Drop it in the water and it floats to the surface. Flexible blade improves handling and control. Includes belt sheath. Was $59.95 $29.95

Out back 6 pint stainless steel billy Ideal for picnics, camping and hunting. $25

Wild country 6 ft spin combo rod $49 Ideally suited as a good quality starter package, the 6’ rod is perfect for estuary and freshwater fishing situations.

Roman bushman sleeping bag -6 degree rating Plenty of room to move. Can open for use as a quilt. Zip models together to form a double sleeping bag. Lifetime warranty. $89

Wild Country picnic rug Water proof backing. 175 x 135 cm Great for use as: car boot liner, ground sheet and beach mat. Bonus bottle opener.

Matilda swag king size Heavy Duty water repellent zips. Zipped “Finetex” mesh included. 60mm Duo Density mattress. Kingsize 7’ x 2’6”

R.S.W 3 webb haversack Made from Heavy cotton canvas. A great carry all.

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Excalibur folding pocket knife Stainless surgical steel guaranteed.

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$14.95 Victorinox swiss tool From a knife to a can opener this knife has twenty three different uses. Save $50

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ALLGOODS

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Fishing News - Page 25

Shore fishing - St Helens As many of us fish on a tight budget these days, what with mortgages, living costs, family expenses, kids and cars etc, owning a boat is quite often low on the list of priorities. With this in mind being able to maximise your shore fishing opportunities and make the most of your feet is as important as the tackle you use to do it with. What follows is a quick look at shore fishing options around Georges Bay, St Helens, and the tackle and techniques needed to take home a feed of fish.

15gm Raiders and Snipers as well as soft plastics like Berkley 3” Bass Minnows and Squidgy Flick baits can be very effective. Just a simple cast and retrieve with an erratic motion will be all that’s needed for any small salmon or tailor to jump on it. Some areas to concentrate on are the main wharf area towards the main township, the small T-Bar shaped jetty in Beauty Bay just along the waterfront, Kirwans jetty along the shoreline a little further from Beauty Bay (both of these can be seen from the road driving into St Helens) and the Treloggens Track jetty out along the road to St Helens Point on the dirt road just past the Sea Scout Hall. All of these jetties produce good fish on a regular basis and are a great spot to take the family. If a crowded jetty or wharf is not your thing then there is plenty of good wadable shoreline to concentrate on. Starting in the township a quick wander along the foreshore and around the main wharf along the rocks can produce good bream and trevally as well as mackerel and salmon. I find that a lightweight soft plastic rod and reel outfit is an ideal way to target these species and flicking small bait fish imitations up along the pylons and along the rock walls will produce fish as well as unweighted baits being let drift about naturally. As you move over the bridge on your way out of the town there is a small oyster encrusted rock wall that you can climb down to at low tide, this gives casting access to the pylons under the bridge and the rock wall itself can quite often hold good numbers of fish.

Locations

Georges Bay has a good variety of shore fishing options from sandy flats to rocky shores as well as the many small jetty’s around the bay and these offer a great place to start especially where the kids or family are concerned. To ensure a successful outing on a wharf or jetty the use of berley is paramount, this will attract fish from a wide area to your fishing position and keep them there for your session. A small berley pot with a couple of handfuls of berley pellets and a capful or two of tuna oil is all that is needed and dropped down a foot or two under the surface. Try not to introduce large amounts of berley to the water column at once as this will only serve to feed the fish and they will soon move on, the effect you are looking for is a constant, steady stream of particles floating down to the bottom……a little bit often is better than a lot at once. Once the berley has attracted schools of fish to your area then a standard paternoster rig, small bomb sinker on the bottom with two hooks above, dropped to the bottom is by far the best all-purpose rig to use. Place a piece of bait on each hook such as prawn flesh, whitebait, pippies or freshly collected nippers and the action should come thick and fast. Fish such as silver trevally, leatherjacket, mullet and bream will all respond well to this method as will Australian salmon to a lesser extent. As many of the fish feed on the small bait fish that frequent Georges Bay, at times the water around the jetty’s can be black with bait fish, the use of small baitfish imitation lures such as 10-15 gm Halco Twistys, 18 gm Sluk lures, 10-

Shore fishing around structure can be very rewarding From this point almost all the way around the waterfront is a walking/bike track and from here you can access quite a lot of good fishable shoreline with a good mixture of rocky bottom, sandy shore and muddy flats. Here the same soft plastic outfits and lures will work well or a simple running sinker rig of a small ball sinker down to a #1 or 1/0 octopus or long shank style hook, baits such as those mentioned above will be ideal for these areas as well.

Expert east coast fishing advice and a great range of tackle

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Fishing News - Page 26

Come in and see Jamie Henderson for all your fishing needs.

63 762 244 12 Cecilia St (opp Banjos)

Fishing and Boating Directory Advertise here for $77. Contact Quenton Higgs 0427 129949

Fishing • Guiding • Charters

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Snowy Range Trout and Salmon Fishery

Lake Leake Anglers Paradise Approx. 50 mins from Launceston Airport. Half way between Campbell Town and Swansea. •Fully licensed hotel •Accomm (from $40) •Private and public lake •Meals 7 days •Rod Hire •Boat hire (no licence required) •Deer farm •Wilderness tours Phone 03 6381 1329 Email:lakeleake@bigpond.com Website:www.lakeleakechalet.com.au

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Salmon to 10 kg), rainbow and brown trout from pan to trophy size. Take home or BBQ for lunch. Fish packed to send interstate. Kids to experienced fly fishers. Catch and release in some waters. Located between Hobart and the air walk an hours drive from Hobart or 20 minutes from the air-walk. 62660243. A/H 62660245.

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Tackle and Supplies

Private Fisheries

Scottsdale St Helens Call in for all your fishing tackle including full range rods, reels, lures, landing nets and bait. Also life jackets plus diving gear and stuff for all water sports. Talk to:

Scott, 53 King Street Scottsdale.Ph. 63522357 Julie-Anne, 41 Quail Street St Helens. Ph. 63761390

Top Service – Top Price

LATROBE

Wm.L.Wells&Sons Agents for Shakespeare & Shimano Rods,reels,lures,waders, licences,campinggear,rifles, gunsandammoandmore. 108GilbertStreet,Latrobe0364265000

St Pauls River Cabins

St Pauls River Cabins are nestled at the bottom of St Paul’s Dome. An ideal location. Magnificent views. A few metres walk to your own fishing spot on the St Pauls. Break O’Day and South Esk rivers nearby. Email: saint146@pacific.net.au Phone: 03 6384 2211 www.stpaulsrivercabins.com

Boat building and repairs

Aluman

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

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Fishing News - Page 27

When looking for a likely spot to target with the baits I prefer the shorelines that have some shallow mud or sand flats close by that have plenty of small crab and nipper holes in them as this is where the fish will feed as the tide rises over them. Target the drop offs on the edges of these flats when the tide is low and fish up on the shallows as the tide rises over them. When the tide is low or receding good flathead will sit in the deeper water facing up ready to snatch any food item washing down off the flats and they will rarely refuse a well presented bait. If you keep a small bait container on your belt with a handful of pippies, crabs and live nippers in it and cast these out onto the flats as the tide comes in with a very light weight no bream or trevally worth its salt will refuse it. One of my favourite areas in the bay to do this is the Stockyard Flats near Akaroa. It is easily accessible by car, has a good little parking area and is easy to wade, just being careful to keep your eye on the tide when it rushes in over the mudflats. Fish such as bream, trevally, flathead, leatherjacket, garfish, mullet, tailor and squid can all be caught in this area using any of the means mentioned above, most of the bait you need is right at your feet and can be collected at low tide. This is a great place to fish - especially on the corner, where there is good deep water into the main channel. Further access to deeper water is also available further towards the mouth at the breakwall. Spinning and bait fishing can be quite productive for salmon here.

The jetty at Kirwans Beach can be very productive.

The Gear

As you will be spending most of your time on your feet good footwear is a must, the many wharfs and jetty’s around Georges Bay can have nails, bits of sharp wood, metal spikes and all sorts of nasty things to damage your feet on them so be prepared and don’t go barefoot. If the jetties are not your desirable hangout then a good set of gumboots or waders will be needed to wade the shallow shorelines. I use a pair of neoprene thigh boots for the cooler months but when summer is here just a pair of shorts and an old pair of sneakers does the trick, just remember to keep a towel in the car.

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continued next page....

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Ideal for anglers wanting to fish Lake St Clair or King William or just to explore the area. Self contained 1, 2 and 3 bedroom chalets. Or enjoy one of the luxurious spa chalets for couples. Situated just 5kms from Lake St Clair on the southern boundary of the National Park. Enjoy superb comfort and facilities for an active, romantic or restful holiday in this beautiful wilderness area only a couple of hours drive from Hobart.

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Somerset - Phone 6435 2200 Hobart - 30 Napolean St, Battery Point 0408 657 150 Fishing News - Page 28

Breakwall

A good beach with access to the main channel can be found out near out near the mouth of the bay. A good wide brimmed hat or cap to keep the sun off your face, a long sleeved shirt to keep your upper body and arms protected from the sun, plenty of sunscreen and most important of all a good pair of polaroid sunglasses. These not only give you an advantage of being able to see in the water better but protect your eyes from harmful UV glare from the waters surface as well. Brands such as ‘Uglyfish’ offer good value for money, stylish models and ‘Spotters’ if you are after top of the range models. A good quality 6’6” or 7’ spinning rod or nibble tip is perfect for most situations both off the jetty’s and around the shorelines, rods such as Shimano Spectrum, Taipan Extreme and Backbone Elite are all good models made just for the task matched to a small spinning reel in the 2500 to 4000 size such as Shimano Slade, Sienna or Symetre are all perfect for the job and will give good service for a variety of techniques. For soft plastics the same reels matched to Shimano Catana, Starlo Stix and T-Curve rods will be great weapons for targeting bream and trevally particularly and make even the smaller salmon great sport. A small tackle box in a waist bag or small back pack with a handful of small size 1 and 2 ball and bean sinkers, #1, #2 and 1/0 size hooks in both octopus and long shank varieties, a couple of small silver lures in 10-20 gram range and a few different soft plastic minnow patterns matched to appropriate jigheads is all the wandering angler needs. This is the sort of fishing you can do with a spare hour or two up your sleeve and with many of the locations only minutes drive around St Helens you can be on the water hooked up to your first fish in no time. The gear needed is minimal, the cost involved is minimal but the fun factor is at its maximum….good value angling all round. The next time you are in St Helens drop in to see me, Jamie, at St Helens Bait and Tackle and I will be happy to point you to productive areas and help you with the tackle you need. Jamie Henderson

Akaroa Stockyard Flats

Georges Bay

St Helens Town wharf Beauty Bay Kirwans Beach

Trellogens Track Scout Hall

Kirwans Beach is a great trevally spot.

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For further details contact: • Lindsay Deegan Marine; 102 Eastland Drive, Ulverstone, Ph. 6425 2238 • Maynes Marine; 119 New Town Road, Hobart, Ph. 6228 3999 Or phone Honda, freecall 1800 80 75 90 Fishing News - Page 29

Livewells and livebait Livebait tanks and livewells - such as needed for ‘catch and release’ comps need virtually the same requirements. The only real difference being the size of the tank. So read this story as suiting both situations. An easy way to improve your capture rate is to improve your bait presentation and in the majority of fishing scenario’s there is no better bait than live bait. Laws on how you catch your bait, legal sizes and quantities vary in different states and territories, so ensure you check with local authorities prior to snooding a couple of hooks and dropping a livey into your favourite spot. Gathering bait, especially with kids, can be just as rewarding as the end product. Unfortunately with most positives there is a negative and with live bait the greatest battle is how to keep it alive. Round or oval shaped tanks provide better recirculation, they let the bait school as they would in their natural environment and provide a smooth flow of water over their gills if the tank is fitted with a recirculating pump. Square or rectangular tanks will suffice and will work to their optimum if the water inlet creates a circular motion in the tank. If you are setting up a tank with recirculating water, keep the water flow to between 1.5 – 3kph, any faster and the bait will tire and will be less active when dropped over the side. There are many other ways to kill live bait apart from lack of oxygen in the water. When out fishing we normally have remnants of chemicals on our hands such as sunscreen, human oils and salt plus any lubricants and protectants we may have used on the boat winch, fishing rod, tackle etc. Because of these it is a good idea to use a bait net or scoop rather than your hand to procure your next bait. A net or a scoop is also a lot faster, more accurate and less stressful on the bait rather than the chasing them round the tank with an XOS hand.

Another critical factor that can’t be overlooked is the necessity to change the water regularly, that is, if you do not have clean water being pumped in continually. Tanks with builtin pumps naturally generate heat which reduces the waters ability to retain oxygen (if water increases by 10 degrees its oxygen demand will more than double) this places the live bait outside their comfort zone. Live bait also produce waste matter which contains ammonia, another chemical that factors into the amount of time live bait will survive (longer or less). One last point to consider are bubbles, and against common thought, smaller is better. Reason being the smaller a bubble the longer it takes to rise, thus being in contact with the water for a longer period of time, allows a greater amount oxygen to be absorbed into the water. One large 20mm bubble has a volume of approximately 4.2cm3 and a surface area of just under 13cm2 From that one bubble you could make 260 smaller 3mm bubbles and these would have a combined surface area of about 84cm2 which equates to over six times the surface area.

Styles of Aeration

The simplest aeration system is the air stone and pump, these units simply clip onto the side of a bucket or tank and produce generally larger bubbles as you see in most home aquariums. They are generally powered by ‘C’ or ‘D’ cell batteries that will on average last for around 10-12 hours, depending on the battery quality.

Another form of aeration system that can be fitted to a 20lt bucket, or existing tank is similar to a bilge pump with suction caps on the base, they can be mounted on the base or side of the livewell and draw water from the lower section of the tank. The water travels up a tube and is sprayed through an adjustable flow control onto the surface. As the water travels though the air it gathers oxygen, oxygen is also created by the water piercing the surface, which also produces bubbles. With this system water must be changed regularly as the pump creates natural heat, it is also important to constantly monitor the velocity of the water jets as they can harm bait and remove their scales. The best system but not feasible to all, is to have fresh water pumped into a tank with an overflow system that allows the water to be continually The Tsunami turned pump from BLA is over. These available with a large range of systems have pick-up and strainer options. the ability to keep a greater quantity of bait than those previously mentioned and require much less attention when you are out on the water. Water can be gathered by several different methods including pumps designed specifically to be mounted inside the transom or remotely mounted if space does not allow.

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4/08/2006 12:24:19 PM

Unfortunately very few can walk on water ........ but Stacer gives you the next best thing this summer Stacer 400 Bass Elite

Through hull pump mounts are ideal. Here are two mounting options.

Another option is to mount an ‘L’ bracket with bilge pump below the water line on the transom and run a hose over the transom and into the tank. This can be coupled with a bait tank pick up that also allows for water to be pumped in when under way. When setting these systems up it is best to talk with your local chandlery or tackle shop as there are plenty of This bait tank pickup is accessories that can available from really make your life BLA through easy. For example BLA chandlers and now carry an excellent can be trimmed overflow and drain to a length that covers two roles. to suit your The drain is mounted application. at the base of the tank and has an internal threaded insert, into this screws a plastic and PVC overflow tube that can be cut to length to suit your tank. (See opposite) As the water level reaches the top of the drain tube water passes through the grated top that also prevents bait escaping (and clogging plumbing lines). This means you only have one amount of plumbing to cover both drainage and overflow level. With the advent of live weigh-ins at many tournaments, it is not uncommon to see two or

REVIEW Have you ever wished there was a more simple way to obtain constant personal light during those long nights of beach or offshore fishing? Light at your fingertips often meant the use of a cumbersome head lantern that was not only heavy, but usually not bright enough for most applications. An innovative company has come up with the perfect light source which slots easily to the brim of any standard cap. This ingenious product is powered by four lithium coin cell batteries that will give up to 24 hours of constant white light (that’s a lot of light if used only ‘on demand’ for a few minutes or so at a time). And the first set of batteries comes with the unit! Consisting of three super-bright LED bulbs capable of over 10,000 plus hours of light, this lightweight product (35 gram or 1.24 oz ) is designed

three livewell set ups on today’s tournament boats. With action aplenty many anglers set up their rigs with livewell aerator controls that automatically switch on/off the livewell pumps in intervals that can be set between one to ten minutes, for a run time of 90 seconds. If the thought of setting up a system is a little daunting, you can buy a complete live bait tank set up straight off the shelf for around $325. This includes a moulded polyethylene tank, pump and pick-up, plus inlet and outlet with filter, all you need is to add the desired length of 20mm hose and your away. The only thing you need to take into account is the placement of the tank, a full live well can add considerable weight to your rig and if not mounted on the keel line may need to be counter balanced by battery, fuel tank or possibly esky. This article was supplied by Mick Gregory from Bob Littler Agencies.

for hands free operation. A simple flick switch turns it on. For those who are wondering, the aptly names "Cat's Eyes" are water resistant and suitable for

use on the beach. Cat’s Eyes can also be used for a wide range of activities including camping, hiking, hunting, boat mechanics or any other application where handsfree light is a must. It would be a great Christmas gift for that person in your life who ‘already has everything’. Relatively inexpensive, Cat’s Eyes are available from selected marine and fishing tackle outlets. For the Internet inclined, more information is available on ‘wizardproducts.com.au‘.

The 400SF Bass Elite offers a sophisticated layout including painted hull, rear casting platform with live bait tank and fuel tank tray, carpeted floor, front casting platform with storage under, upholstered seats with five floor positions, and side decks with rod holders. Ready2Go $10 953 + dealer delivery.

Stacer 429 Sea Hawk

The 429 Seahawk’s compact design enables easy manoeuvring and provides good performance. This affordable package features a practical layout and a wide rear bench seat with enclosed flotation. Ready2Go $11 733 + dealer delivery

Stacer 519 Sea Runner

The 519 Sea Runner is a great entry level cabin for a family of six. Enjoy easy access to the moulded anchorwell with Stacer’s innovative walk through cabin. This popular model also boasts level flotation for added safety, extruded side decks, cabin bunk storage and cabin box seating - all as a standard. Ready2Go $32 657 + dealer delivery.

Port Sorell Marine Phone 6428 7124

Shopping Centre, Club Drive, Shearwater

Find Stacer at - www.stacer.com.au

Mon-Fri 9am to 5.30pm, Sat: 9am to 12 noon, Sun: 10-2pm Fishing News - Page 31

Fisherman’s Basket Reviews by Mike Stevens unless stated otherwise

Cortland Master Braid

Master Braid is constructed in a way that makes it rounder, which means less twist, greater accuracy, With almost 100 years of braiding longer casts and extended life. A proprietary experience and technology, Cortland process bonds the color and finish Cortland Line is proud into the fibers of the braid eliminating to introduce the next fading or flaking of the color and stiffening generation of ‘Premium agent. With only 4% stretch, small diameter/ Super Braid’ – Master pound/test ratio and a unique hydrophobic Braid. A premium super coating that slices through the water and braid constructed using comes back dry, this new Master Braid all the best features of delivers greatly enhanced fishing qualities and Cor tland’s legendar y performance. Master Braid is very easy to use Spectron braided line, but and works equally well on both spinning and with a unique coating that conventional reels. Available in 10, 15, 20, makes the braid permanently 30, 50, 80 130 and 200 pound test in lengths stiff. ranging from 150 yards to 2500 yards. Available colors: Sea Green, Yellow and Bronzeback Brown. That was the company blurb. Now the real test - using it. I have used most of the available top quality braided lines. They vary enormously in usability. Many I have used have Evinrude E-TECE-TEC 40,50,60, 90,115,150, 175,AND 200,225, 250HP EVINRUDE V675, – 200HP, 225HP 250HP. coatings that fluff as the colours comes out; and I believe this turns E-TECS ARE E-TECS ARE E-TECS ARE E-TECS ARE E-TECS ARE into tangles as the AS FUEL CLEANER THAN JUST AS EASIER TO LIGHTER THAN fluffy bits catch. After EFFICIENT AS THE CLEANEST QUIET AS OWN AND COMPARABLE they have been used 4-STROKES 4-STROKE 4-STROKES OPERATE 4-STROKES Thanks to stratified The environmentally Not only are E-TECs E-TECs require no The new E-TEC 225HP for some time and combustion E-TECs friendly E-TECs already as quiet as 4-strokes, scheduled dealer is 54kg lighter than the achieve fuel economy meet 2006 EPA EU they produce a more maintenance for the first Mercury Verado 225HP. the colour goes the and efficiency only and 2008 CARB 3-Star pleasing, less obtrusive 3 years or 300 hours Less weight means previously possible emissions requirements. sound. In other words, of normal recreational significantly better tangles stop. with 4-strokes. In fact, Every drop of the E-TEC the sound of your E-TEC use. You’ll never have handling, improved All the braided the new E-TEC 250HP engine oil is combusted engine will not interfere to change oil or oil filter out-of-the-hole is 36% more fuel and accounted for in with the sound of your – ever. Plus, no belts performance, and lines are all strong efficient than the it’s 3-Star rating. This own voice. to change, carburetors optimised speed. Mercury Verado 250HP is not the case with to set or lifters to and have low to no at Wide Open Throttle. 4-strokes. adjust. Compare that to a 4-stroke. stretch. Master Braid is the same. I believe some are easier to knot than others and ‘in my experience’ the Master Braid knot strength - and ease of knot tying is as good as it gets. When the going gets hectic in a bream competition and you are busting leaders off on snags you need fast easy knots. I use a six turn

6173 FP ETEC FishingMthly 0812A

8/12/04

4:45 PM

Page 1

FIRST IT WAS THE 2-STROKE. THEN CAME THE 4-STROKE. NOW THE FUTURE’S ARRIVED ...

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Surgeons knot with several twists put in the line first. It works well, but it has to be carefully snugged up. The line I used was 10lb in Bronzeback Brown. I liked the colour and it was quite easy to see, but I suspect difficult beneath the water. The colour stayed in and there was no surface fluffing. I thought it was a very good all round braid. More info at www.cortlandline.com Mike Stevens

Scientific Anglers new Dry Tip

Released at the World Fly-Fishing Dealer show in August 06 was Scientific Anglers new DRY TIP TECHNOLOGY. Utilising a new formula in 3M microballoon technology and designing their cores with optimum air entrapment for maximum flotation and minimum memory, Scientific Anglers have achieved a high-floating fly line without sacrificing on castability, presentation and durability. The science behind this ground-breaking technologyisdesigning a high floating line without increasing the diameter of the line. Increased diameter works against the angler in castability as the air drag caused by a thicker line decreases line speed, it also lands heavier during the presentation spooking wary fish and they are softer in their density meaning shorter life span. These were the obstacles that challenged Scientific Anglers when they first hit the drawing board. How did they go? The proof is in the casting, floating and durability of the NEW Dry Tip fly lines. Available in the following models and line weights from your local Scientific Anglers Mastery Dealer. Available GPX taper Optic Green/Dk Willow WF36wt and Nymph Taper Willow/Orange WF4-8wt. For dealer location call Mayfly Tackle on (03) 9899 0034

102 Eastland Dr. Ulverstone 6425 2238 PN 99050

Great reads and gift books for Christmas

Fifty Places to Fish Before You Die Edited by Rob Sloane The most picturesque and rewarding flyfishing locations in Australia and New Zealand - $49.95 Fishing News - Page 32

Other Side of the Hill Don Boden’s long awaited biography of David Scholes – aviator, angler, artist and author. An absolute beauty - $59.95

Tails of a Tasmanian Angler Neil Robson’s book of anecdotal tales of fishing experiences will fill many nights with interest and intrigue - $39.95

Memory Hold the Rod This magnificent leather bound collectors edition is a tribute to David Scholes and features his a collection of best stories, plus some of David’s water colour paintings - $425

Great Australian Flyfishing stories Book collector and fishing writer Les Hawkins has collected his favourite stories - $29.95

89 Brisbane St Launceston

Phone 6331 8088

Open 7 days

Best boats Best deals

Savage Fibreglass Boating Packages Released for 2007 Savage Fibreglass has released their latest boat packages for 2007 with new look modern styling and interiors. The 2007 range also offers a great selection of new design coloured decals. The range consists of, the ever-popular cuddy cabins from the Escape 6.5m down to the Centurion 4.8m, the sleek Javelin 5.5 bowrider and the fun Elite 5.5 and Escort 5.2 runabouts. The new look fibreglass range maintains its superior level of quality and continues to be built by Whittley Marine Industries, a company renowned for excellence in boat building. All Savage Fibreglass models now all comply with Australian Builders Plate standards. A new model for the 2007 range is the 5.2 Tasman, it will feature full wrap around windscreen with walk through, new upper deck and dash styling as well as new all white and grey interior. It’s a great medium sized family boat that will now fit the very latest flush mounted Navman electronics and Mercury instrumentation.

Savage 520 Blue Water Steve Bull, National Product Manager, Savage Fibreglass, is happy to have launched the 2007 new look range saying, “ The fresh new look we’ve given the boats moves in line with modern boating trends and aligns them with our Savage Aluminium range. The new Tasman will be even more popular than its predecessor featuring the iconic Savage walkthrough wrap around windscreen and cabin. The all new dash can now accommodate the latest marine instrumentation, making this great boat even better!” All Savage Fibreglass boats are matched perfectly with the ideal Mercury or Mariner outboard and custom-built easy-launch trailer in a Just-Add-Water package. Boat, motor and trailer are all covered by 3-year warranty. An all-new colour brochure is now available through your local Savage Fibreglass dealer. To locate one nearest you free call 1800 114 800 or check it out on the web at: www.savageboats.com.

What the boat dealer forgot to tell you about the trailer With tough competition in a crowded market, it’s easy to understand why Boat Dealers sometimes forget to tell new boat buyers crucial things about trailers. Often to meet a package price point, trailers are underspecified and inappropriately matched to the customer’s boat, vehicle or application. Trailers must provide absolute safety on the road, comply with regulations, as well as make for a fun boating experience. They also need to go the distance in harsh conditions over a long period of time. Of course, despite everyone’s efforts, sometimes things go wrong.

Questions the boat buyer should ask

What is the intended use of the boat and trailer? Will it spend a majority of the time at the holiday house only a few kilometres from the water? Or will it frequently travel long distances? Will the boat be heavily loaded with holiday gear, or will it be empty? This is the key to happy boating and trailering, so be honest with yourself. What is the gross weight of the of the boat and trailer rig? The majority of people underestimate the maximum gross load and this leads to purchase of the wrong trailer (albeit

cheaper). Factors must include the boat dry weight, motor/s, fuel and water, boat accessories such as anchor, safety equipment etc; as well as the tare weight of the trailer weights itself, not to mention any additional items. The total estimated gross weight of these items all added up need to be less than the GVM stamped on the trailers compliance plate. Other key questions relate to tyres (what speed are they rated to?), grease seals (are they a 2 part marine grease seal?), jockey wheels, hubs, springs and U-bolts (are they galvanized?), Does the trailer have sufficient rollers to support the boat and are electrical connections soldered and heat shrunk? With 30 years of experience, Mackay Trailers (www.mackaymultlink.com.au) can provide you with the expertise to select the right trailers for every application. Based in Melbourne and having recently established a distribution centre in Mandurah, Western Australia, Mackay trailers are sold nationally through selected marine dealerships. To locate your nearest Mackay Multi-Link dealer contact 03 9772 6166 Or visit www.mackaymultlink.com.au

Gone Fishing Charters

• East coast estuary and bay • Bream, salmon, garfish, flathead, mullet and squid • Specialising in BIG BREAM • Soft plastics, lures, flies and bait • 5.8 metre sportfishing boat.

Gone Fishing Charters - St Helens MichaelHaley63761553or0419353041 mhaleycharters@bigpond.com www.breamfishing.com.au

The larger fuel tanks, bigger cabins and wide walk through decks of the Savage Sports Pro Series make these boats the ideal rig for serious offshore or coastal fishing. The larger cabins, not only provide protection from the elements and areas for your family to bunk down, it also gives you the freedom to comfortably stand at the helm. The moulded fibreglass cabins have ample room for any electronics and instrumentation you desire. The aluminium hulls with full-length storage, carpeted floor and folding rear lounges provide a stable and practical platform for fishing and other fun activities on the water for your family. With GPS, Fishfinder, radio, canopy, side curtains, safety gear and regos on Mackay trailer and 90hp Mercury Optimax. $35 000

Savage 490 Bay Cruiser

At 4.8 metres, it’s a versatile family runabout for five people offering loads of creature comforts, and a lot of boat for your dollar! The SL Ranger is light and easy-to-handle, with standards of safety and performance that are more-than-a-match for many larger runabouts. • Stylish profile and smooth finish of a moulded fibreglass deck and cockpit. • 2 swivel skipper seats, and comfortable aft seating. • Ample storage for all the gear you need for a day on the water. • Safe access to the anchor with the Savage walk-through screen design. • 60litre sub-floor fuel tank. On Mackay trailer, fitted with canopy, colour sounder, radio and 60hp Mercury 2-stroke. $25 000

MotorGuide 55lb saltwater

bowmount wireless remote. $1300 (handheld remote extra $120) 75lb 24v freshwater $1400

3 year warranty. Lifetime warranty on composite shaft.

MotorGuide has long been the industry leader in trolling motor innovation and design. MotorGuide were the first to create a foot-controlled steering system and a retractable bow mount.

A large range of models in the lineup include; Freshwater, Saltwater, 12 and 24 volt. MotorGuide are proud to offer you an unique product that will redefine the way in which you go fishing from lakes to estuaries and bays. MotorGuide has the product to handle the task.

Seaport Marine

391/1a Westbury Road, Prospect Ph 6344 3311 2005 Australian Savage Dealer of the Year Fishing News - Page 33

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

Over the last three months I have been based at St. Helens on Tasmania’s sunny east coast; I suppose it doesn’t take a genius to work out what has taken up most of my spare time while being in this lovely holiday destination. Anyone who wishes to have some great fishing included in their holiday would not need to look further than this area. Georges Bay has a huge amount of fish with many species to get one’s attention. The bait fish in late October were there in great numbers and the predator fish were right on them. Not having access to a boat while there, the deeper shore lines and the jetties were my fishing points. I caught more fish than I ever thought possible. Very interesting was that the people who fish on the jetties all had their own special way of catching fish (mostly with bait). The different hook and sinker attachments were interesting to say the least, most catching their share of fish; also interesting was to have a look in the catch buckets where one would find a variety of fish. Many of these people have been fishing these local jetties for a very long time and most will tell how much the fishing has improved since the netting has been stopped in the bay. But you know one of the most exciting things about the jetty fishers is the stories they tell, especially the one where the big flathead is chasing the pelican.

I could go on talking about St. Helens and it’s fishing, but the holy grail of fish beckons me back to the rivers and lakes. Hopefully we will get some better hatches than last season. If I had to choose a dry fly for this part of the season it would be an emerger, of which there are dozens of patterns, with most being successful at the right time. A couple of important things for an emerger are how it sits in the water, and being visible to the angler. Hopefully the fish will put their mouth over the fly, which makes their presence very visible; but if they suck it down it’s not so easy to see, so a fly that is a little easier to see is a must. This will enable the fisher to see exactly where the fly is. Some emergers have posts that are very visible and I use these on occasions. They come in many forms and most work well, but if you require a fly to sit very low the following fly works very well. Very important is not to overdress these flies, remembering that you want them to float in or on the surface so too much dressing will cause them to sink.

Basic emerger

Hook – light gauge size 12-14 Thread – brown Wing case – strip orange foam Tail – very small bunch deer hair Body – brown possum fur Hackle – brown cock hackle

1. Start with thread tying just behind the eye, wind back with a few turns. 2. Tie in orange foam strip. 3. Take thread back to bend of hook, tie in a very small bunch of deer hair for tail. 4. With brown possum fur dubbing form a nicely shaped body, bring body dubbing snugly behind thorax. 5. With brown cock feather for part parachute hackle tie in firmly at the side of the wing case material. Cut away excess hackle stem. 6. Bring thread forward to the eye. With a small amount of possum dubbing, dub back to the wing case. 7. Take hackle and wind around wing case four times making sure each turn is under the previous one. With the thread, wind around wing case securing hackle. Cut away excess hackle tip. 8. With a very small amount of dubbing dub forward to the eye. 9. Take the wing case by the tip and pull forward to just behind the eye tie in firmly, cut away excess wing case, whip finish and varnish. This fly pattern is a very versatile one. The colours can be changed to represent other insects. The fly is easy to see with the attached bright wing case. Normally this fly would be fished as a single fly to sighted fish. May I wish everyone a very happy festive season and tight lines for the coming months. Jan Spencer

Shimano spin combos From

$47.50 Great range of

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•No1choicefor90%ofTas.troutguides • Hand made in Tasmania •4mmdoublelinedRadialFlexneoprene • Individually leak tested prior to sale • Excellent buoyancy characteristics • Double sealed seams •DoublereinforcedK-Toughkneepads •Suitableforsaltandfreshwaterfishing •Largechestpocketwithhandwarmer • Suitable for aquaculture/commercial •TopqualityTasmanianBlundstoneboots fishing • Warm, comfortable and durable • 12 month guarantee Available from all good tackle, sporting and marine outlets Manufactured by Fly-N-Dry, 10 Negara Crescent, Goodwood, Tas. 7010 Phone: 03 6273 0666 Fax: 03 6273 0692 Fishing News - Page 34

Huge range of fly boxes

Fly combos From

$147.50 Large range of soft plastics

Winston Fly Rods - Sole Tasmanian agent

Unconditional lifetime warranty. All rods 4 piece - from $350

Quality fishing equipment, licences, live bait, accessories, waders, flies, lures, clothing and more. Owners Allan and Sue Davey. Open 7 days a week during the fishing season

‘Winners are grinners’ Quintrex Hornets take out Gold Silver and Bronze in the Tasmanian Bream Fishing Classic 2006. After two qualifying rounds and a final of compettion in a variety of river and estuary systems, the top 3 placings in the grand final at the Swan river were all using Quintrex Hornets sold and serviced by Coastal Marine. These boats offer tremendous stability at rest, which allows very accurate casting, they draw very little water, which enables you to negotiate very shallow rock bars in rivers with ease, and with the Eclipse V Flared Hull gives you a smooth soft ride in choppy water, superior to any boat of the the same type on the market.

y. Be the one that got awa

choppy… the V Flared conditions… smooth or ﬁshing boat. No matter the fect rear bait tank, the per live the y the sibl like pos is hy features The Quintrex Hornet Trop and performance. With ility stab for y every weekend! bine awa com i 2 Transom , you’ll be trying to get Eclipse Hull and the Max sole to name just a few trex.com.au con uin rts w.q spo ww side at ler the dea your nearest Quintrex rear casting platform and Find . REX INT QU Y. EAS ATING MADE FISHING MADE EASY. BO

QX086/FFA

Team Mountain Designs - John Farrell and Mark Cadle took out the Grand Final and had this to say about their 445 Quintrex Hornet Trophy. ‘A fantastic stalking boat that allowed us to fish two anglers side by side from any part of the boat. The Hornet is very well equipped with big livewells, and storage everywhere for rods and tackle. ‘Until you have fished out of one of these boats you don’t appreciate how good they are, if you haven’t got one GET ONE!’ Team Big Fin Sporfishing - Leroy Tirant and his partner, Spaceman (Paul Mason) finished second by a very close margin. A super effort fishing out of a 5.0m Quintrex Hornet Trophy. Leroy commented: ‘The only thing better than a 445 Hornet is a 5 metre Hornet. I have just upgraded to the big brother and it is a dream of a boat. It is still very manouverable and will still get into the shallows. Stability is brilliant and it flies... with the 90 Suzuki. A fine 3rd place from Nigel Harris and Steve Bond in a Quintrex 435 Hornet Trophy rounded out the top 3. All the boats were professionally fitted out at Coastal Marine, give us a call today to discuss your next boat, or come and see us and we will take you for a test ride to show you how good these boats handle.

Phone 6435 2200

Cnr. Fairlands Drive and Bass Highway, Somerset. Email: anthony@coastal-marine.com.au Fishing News - Page 35

Vulcan 189

In stock now

Virtually 2 boats in one’ the Allison Vulcan 189 is a boat the whole family can enjoy in both cruising and fun mode, whilst the anglers can prepare the boat for serious fishing expeditions. Many great features - including the bulkhead between the cockpit and the cabin with plenty of room in the cabin and two berths for those overnight fishing jaunts.

Fisherman 5

Not a centimetre of wasted space in one beautifully built 5.18m package is a fishing boat with all the features experienced anglers have had on In stock now their “wish list” for years. Cockpit measuring no less than 2.52 metres long, from the transom through to the bulkhead and 1.62 metres wide, giving the Allison Fisherman 5 easily one of the biggest cockpits in its class.With carefully designed transom wells for the bait and drinks, a huge opening walk-through hatch to make anchoring a breeze, full length fibreglass cockpit side locker storage and wide, flat cockpit coamings (to position rod holders any which way), the Allison Fisherman 5 is a win, win, win for Aussie fishing families.

Quicksilver Releases Water Wise Boat Care Range

Quicksilver is proud to announce the release of its new range of boat care products. The range of four boat care products will keep your boat looking sharp with minimum time and effort. QUICKSHINE is a revolution in boat cleaning, allowing you to achieve an easy clean and deep shine without the use of fresh water! Its unique formula is sprayed onto the boat surface to remove dirt whilst leaving a streak free shine. With severe water restrictions in place throughout the country Quicksilver have seen the importance to producing this water saving product. The second product in the range is the MARINE POLISH that uses synthetic polymer chemistry to achieve deep gloss and protection on both new and old surfaces. Its unique molecular design means that it can

be machine polished to turn old, oxidized surfaces to new as well as maintaining the deep shine on new boats. Perfect results are also achieved on metal work meaning that one bottle of MARINE POLISH does all surfaces. The VINYL CLEAN and WASH’N’WAX complete this innovative Quicksilver Boat Care range. All products provide high-end UV protection, are easy to use, and because they are biodegradable they are safe for the environment too. Available from chandlers and marine dealers.

Fisherman 189

A strong and safe boat for inshore and offshore fishing. The solidly built hull with fibreglass sub-chassis has a variable Vee shape which makes In stock now for an easy ride and excellent stability at rest. The wide deflection chines ensure quick planing and the broad shoulders ensure stability and well mannered handling in rough water. The cockpit is a fisherman’s delight with easy washable moulded fibreglass floor with side drains, the moulded side pockets and comfortable 78cm internal freeboard. Also the oval live-bait tank with its large cutting board lid.

Ocean Angler 244

A very special boat, made for dedicated fishermen who know what they want in a boat in In stock now which they are going to spend hundreds of hours at sea, working, driving, fishing, trolling. Some features include: 6’8” bunks with infill (cloth covered), Access tackle hatch, Underfloor cockpit storage, Sink with cutting board lid, Companion way door – sliding with lock, Dual marlin boards with boarding ladder, Two cutting boards on top live bait wells.

Fishing News - Page 36

Allison Boats celebrates 20 years ALLISON Boat Company turned twenty years old during October 2006 and continues to maintain its reputation as an Australian leader in building good looking, safe, very strong fibreglass boats. Allison is a family owned company that prides itself on the highest standard of build quality and value for money. The name Allison is synonymous with boats built to cater for the serious angler. Allison provides anglers with roomy boats that offer lightweight but strong, fuel efficient platforms. The theme is the same in all Allison models: simplicity of design combined with strength and durability. The strength and sea handling comfort of the boats has never been compromised. The company pioneered the fibreglass stringer system, eliminating the use of timber and reducing warranty claims. The stringer system technology- first applied when the ALLISON built durable trailers for the heavy transport industry- has been modified to become a safety feature in the sub floor of their modern fibreglass leisure craft.

This super-strong feature, which bonds a well designed hull shape to form a safe buoyancy compartment and a rigid cockpit floor and gives the feel of a bullet proof boat. All prospective ALLISON owners can be assured every boat has the build integrity to tough it out when the going gets rough. And with a five year structural warranty you get great peace of mind. The ALLISON range can be customised for offshore fishing, inshore family boating and competition water skiing. With an extensive range there is an Allison model suitable for all boating pursuits. From die-hard fishermen looking for serious blue water action, runabouts and cuddy-cabins and all -rounders suitable for fishing forays and family days on the water. You can be assured, all Allison models feature hi-tech, fuel efficient hulls, superior stability and a dry fast ride. A policy of ongoing research and development has assured the company of maintaining its reputation as a perfectionist in a very competitive industry. Further information is available from our website www.allisonboats.com.au

Free Classifieds

Advertisements of a non-commercial nature, to current subscribers of Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News, are free and can be inserted for two issues. Cost for commecial and non subscribers remains at $11 and must be pre-paid.

Wanted

Coastal Marine

Old Japanese swords, WWII or older. Must be authentic. Phone 0417 543 815

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

Wanted 70 to 100 hp motor We need a longshaft 70hp - or more for an old ski boat for the kids. Must have trim/tilt and forward controls. Phone Mike Stevens 0418 129949.

Garmin Etrex GPS (yellow) New and still in package $190. Phone 64434420 or 0427 571 212

De Havilland Topper craft Mariner 8hp, trailer rego to 8/07, plus extras. $1900 ono Phone 6267 4659

Port Sorell Marine Second hand motors 90hp 2 stroke mercury 96 model $4000 25hp Evinrude good condition Mustang-fibreglass half cab with 70hp motor $3000 PORT SORELL MARINE SHEARWATER 6428 7124

Outboards 1998 Johnson 8hp 2 Stroke L/S $1200 Boats Savage 380 Snipe, Yamaha 15HP, Dunbier Trailer $3,990 Savage Gannet, Johnson 35Hp, Johnson 6HP, Home made trailer $5,990 Van Dieman Seaman 14’, Canopy and Side clears, Eagle Fish Finder, Yamaha 40hp, Trailer $4,500 Stessl 14’, Evinrude 40HP, Trailer $4,990 Quintrex 420 Dory, Johnson 35Hp, Mackay Trailer $6,490 Van Dieman Seaman 13’ Johnson 35HP, Homemade trailer $3,999 Haines Signature 1550LE, Mercury 115Hp, Dunbier Trailer $18,990 Stabi Craft 389, Bimini with clears, Fish Finder - Excellent condition, Tohatsu 40Hp, Trailer $17,990 Quintrex 500 Seabreeze, Canopy with side clears and full storm cover, Twin batteries, sounder, bait board/ ski pole, AM/FM radio, 27mhz Radio, Yamaha 90 2str, Yamaha F8, Mackay Trailer $26,990 Stessl Bluewater 5.5M, Canopy, VHF and 27MHZ Radio, Bait Board, Rocket Launcher, Sounder/GPS, Johnson 90Hp, Mackay Trailer $26,500 Somerset, Burnie Phone 6435 2200.

Lindsay Deegan Marine 4.0m Devil Cat runabout powered with a 1992 model 20hp Evinrude 2 stroke. Hull and trailer are in good order. Outboard has done very little work and is in excellent condition. A very safe and stable boat representing outstanding calue for money. $3,890 Stacer 395 1996 model Aluminium runabout powered with a 30hp electric start. Evinrude and

4hp Evinrude auxiliary. Full canopies and storm cover, fish finder, rear seat, storage boxes and more. Excellent condition. $9,900 Stacer 395 Pro Angler 2004 model On Dunbier trailer. Powered with a 25hp Yamaha 2 stroke. Fitted out with extras which include lights and Humminbird 525 Fishfinder. Why buy new! Save thousands on this near new package. $8,500 Stessl 6100 WB Bluewater 2003 model 6.1m plate alloy hull. Powered with twin 90hp Yamaha 2 stroke outboards done 147 hours. Fitted on brand new Dunbier tandem trailer with brakes. This immaculate boat features deep V hull with track rails and water ballast, alloy floor with clip in carpet, rear transom door and ladder, himini canop with clear front and side curtains, 27Mhz and UHF radios, GME GR100 am fm radio, compass, dual batteries and fuel filters. Exceptional value at only $39, 990 Stessel 600 Bluewater 2003 model 6.0m plate alloy hull on Mackay tandem traler. Boat powered with a 130hp Honda 4 stroke outboard (done only 83 hours) and 15hp Honda 4 stroke auxiliary. Boat features a 5mm plate alloy hull with track rails, alloy flooe with carpet, rear transom door, bimini canopy with clear front and side curtains, rocket launcher, SST Davit. Garmin fish finder. 27Mhz Marine radio, compass, navigation lights and switch panel. This boat is ready to go fishing, just add water. $42,500 Swiftcraft Seabreeze fibreglass 1/2 cab powered with a 60hp oil injected Yamaha 2 stroke Storm

cover canopy, baitboard, marine radio and sounder. Good tidy boat in sound condition. $7,200 Savage Runaway fibreglass cuddy cab powered with 60hp Tohatsue (fitted new September 2005). Full canopies and storm cover. Humminbird sounder and VHF radio. Very good example of this excellent model from Savage. $9,200 Trailcraft 530 Sportscab 2002 model 5.30 metre plate alloy cuddy cab on tandem trailer and powered with a 115hp V4 Johnson 4 stroke auxiliary Numerous options, some of which include Full canopies, kill tank, baitboard, deck wash pump, marine radio, sounder and chartplotter. Excellent condition. $37,000 Sundancer 14’6” fibre glass Runabout powered with a 50hp Tohatsu oil injexted 2 stroke (2002 model). Neat and tidy runabout with late model engine that has done very little work. Canopy, storage cover, fish finder and marine radio. Also includes a Johnson 3.3hp Auxiliary. Great value. $6,250 OUTBOARDS 4hp L/S Yamaha 4 stroke 2000 $825 6hp Johnson s/s 2 stroke 1994 $950 8hp Mariner s/s 2 stroke $950 9.9hp Evinrude s/s 2 stroke (1974) $600 15hp Honda L/S 4 stroke (Dec 2003) $2,500 25hp Mercury L/S remote electric 2 stroke (2004) $2,490 35hp Evinrude L/S remote electric (1982) $500 102 Eastland Drive Ulverstone 64252238

Advertisements.$11each.FREEforsubscriberstoTF&BN.(Limitedto3editions.) Youcanincludeupto30words.Justwriteoutyouradvert.andsend,Emailorfax itwithcreditcarddetailstoTasmanianFishingandBoatingNews,POBox7504, Launceston, 7250 Fax 6331 1278. Email: fishn@bigpond.net.au

Get a subscription for Christmas

Subscribe, Back Issues, or Tasmanian Tide Tables: Just fill in the form, or send your details as below. Fax to 03 6331 1278 or post to Stevens Publishing, PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250 or email details to fishn@bigpond.net.au Classifieds - FREE for subscribers 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.____________ Tasmanian Tide Tables:___ $6.60 + $1 post. = $7.60 Payment by; ____ Bankcard ____ MasterCard ____ Visa ____ Cheque ____ Money Order Credit Card __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ Exp. date __ __ /__ __ Total amount; ______ From issue no. ____ Fishing News - Page 37

Gamefishing questionnaire

Prizes for a gamefishing questionnaire sent to 2000 registered boat owners during September have been drawn. The first prize of a PFD-1 inflatable vest from Stormy Australia went to Adrian Pearce of Ulverstone while the second prize of a $150 tackle voucher was won by Mervyn John Lohrey of West Ridgley. The questionnaire was one part of a socioeconomic study of the Tasmanian gamefishery. The study is a PhD project funded by the University of Tasmania and the Department of Primary Industry and Water (DPIW), with assistance from the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI), and Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST). We received an encouraging response from the questionnaire and would like to thank all who participated. Your involvement will result in a greater understanding of our unique gamefishery, and may enable those involved in the fishery to be better represented. A summary of the results from the questionnaire, and other surveys to be conducted for the study, will be made available in later editions of Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News.

Books for Christmas TheOtherSideoftheHill A biography on David Scholes written by Launceston gynaecologist, Don Boden. This is a remarkable story of an Aviator, Angler, Artist and Author. Better known to many an angling author, David Scholes was a man of many parts, and many talents. Who would know that as a boy, David and a friend built a manned glider at his home. With David at the controls it was launched down Fordham Road. The flight was brief, but eventful. Flying took over David’s early life and he says he was lucky to survive a tour of 34 flights as a bomber pilot during WWII. David was a commercial artist as his chosen profession and worked on some Australian wide campaigns selling products from chocolate to beer, lingerie and flour. He took on the role of commercial artist for Tasmania’s The Examiner Newspaper and worked there until his retirement. On retirement though he progressed his love of fine art. His watercolours became so highly sought, art lovers would camp on the street in order to get first choice when the exhibition opened. David claimed he sold 600 paintings in 600 minutes and this undisputed claim seems quite possible as exhibitions usually sold out in the first hour. Throughout his life he fished and wrote about fishing. His prose was, and still is, loved by a huge number of fly fishers and early books bring several hundred dollars. $59.95 Available from most Tasmanian booksellers and Stevens Publishing 03 63311278.

Australia’s Best Trout Flies

A fabulous collection of 168 flies by some of Australia’s best know fly fishers. Compiled by Malcolm Crosse and edited by Rob Sloane. This is the second edition $45 Available from Petrarchs Bookshop, Launceston and Stevens Publishing 03 63311278.

FiftyPlacestoFishBeforeYouDie

Tasmania features strongly in this book edited by Rob Sloane. However their are many other places within Australia and New Zealand that will take your fancy as you browse this collection. Written by many different writers with some lovely photos. $49.95 Available from most bookshops.

GreatAustralianFly-FishingStories

Les Hawkins has done a great job selecting some of the finest stories ever written on Australian fly fishing. All the greats are there and quite a few lesser know as well.

Now you see it… now you don’t! The foldable T-top of Bar Crusher’s walk-around series reduces the on-trailer height of each rig for fuel-efficient towing and easy storage.

Compact sportsfishers

Owning one of the best sportsfishing boats available is the dream of many anglers – storing such a rig, on the other hand, can prove a nightmare… unless you own a Bar Crusher. The company’s practical thinking and superior engineering expertise eliminates the common problem of trailerable sportsfishing boats being too big to store in the average garage. Just as each of Bar Crusher’s cuddy cabin models has a folding roof, reducing the on-trailer height by a metre, the sturdy T-top of the new

St Helens

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

Hillcrest Tourist Park & Mini Market

100ChimneyHeightsRd.63763298 Fishing News - Page 38

walk-around series folds down into the cockpit for low-profile towing and storage. Bar Crusher’s Peter Cleland said the innovative design feature was just another aspect that put the company and its boats even further ahead of the pack. “We really take onboard the things people say they want in their boats – it’s about being market driven and designing boats that fit peoples’ requirements,” Peter said. “While we don’t custom-build boats, we do work hard to build a range of fully-featured boats and allow customers to tick all the boxes.” As well as eliminating storage issues, folding down the T-top when towing long distances ensures much better fuel economy. While cheap vinyl or canvas tops perform the same function, they don’t compare with the extremely durable, purpose-built aluminium roof system used on Bar Crusher boats. “As boaters and anglers ourselves we test things on the water to discover what works and what doesn’t, which is why Bar Crusher customers love our boats,” Peter said. “The functional T-top of Bar Crusher’s 530WR, 560WR and 640WR takes just a minute to fold down – it’s as simple as loosening a couple of handles, dropping the T-top and sliding it away!” Further information: Bar Crusher Boats – (03) 9702 8555 or visit: www.barcrusher.com.au

Think Peter Leuver, Jack Ritchie, Dick Wigram, Sir Hudson Fysh, John SautelleDon Gilmour, David Scholes, Rob Sloane and more. Published by ABC Books $29.95 from Fullers and most book stores.

NewZealand’sMatauraRiver A fishing and access guide by Ian Pullar

If you have ever fished NZ, desired to fish NZ or are going to fish NZ the Mataura River is a ‘must visit’ river. It is a dry fly fisher’s dream, but other methods are also tolerated and successful. In writing this book describing the beautiful Mataura River in Southland, Ian Pullar has raised the bar for a book of this type. Ian has presented the reader with a near mile-by-mile description of a dynamic river system that includes all but a very few of the officially recognised fishing access points. In so doing, he has managed to capture the moods of the river and its surroundings in a manner that is both informative and entertaining. By including maps and wonderful images, Ian has also succeeded in enhancing the reader’s journey down this world renowned trout stream. This is much more than a mere guide book. Indeed, Ian has managed to produce a valuable work that is useful for planning a trip, but also designed to be carried to the river in the glove box of the car as a working reference tool at the streamside. $45 Available from Stevens Publishing 03 63311278.

Hooked

A true story of pirates, poaching and the perfect fish. This a story that started on 7 August 2003. On that day one of the longest and most dangerous pursuits in maratime history began. The chase lasted 21 days and covered 3900 nautical miles as the patrol boat Southern Supporter pursued the Uruguayan long-liner Viarsa, which was suspected of carrying an illegal catch of Patagonian toothfish. Hooked is an extraordinary story about a remarkable fish. $29.95 from Petrarchs and most bookshops.

Honda ‘blasts’ its competition out of the water Honda’s revolutionary Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLAST™) system, featured in the new BF75 and BF90, pioneers a new age in four-stroke outboard engines. Developed to improve acceleration at lower speeds, BLAST™ results in powerful hole shot performance – equivalent to that of rivalling two-stroke outboards – to get boats on the plane quicker. Honda Marine technical officer Darren Milgate said the ‘air/fuel ratio linked ignition timing control technology’ bridged the acceleration gap between two-stroke and four-stroke outboards. “Hole shot acceleration of Honda’s new BF75 and BF90 is improved by MBT trace control – MBT standing for Minimum advance for Best Torque,” Mr Milgate said. “The engine’s Electronic Command Module (ECM) determines throttle opening during acceleration and advances the ignition timing to develop more horsepower at low revs. “A quick movement of the throttle control lever activates the BLAST™ system, aggressively advancing the ignition curve. “Upon slow advancement of the throttle control lever, a mild ignition spark advance curve is initiated.”

Michael Haley

During acceleration, the air/fuel ratio goes to a richer air/fuel ratio setting, which is more fuel than the engine demands. At that point, the ECM – receiving information from the throttle sensor and other engine sensors – determines the best spark advance by tracing the ignition timing (-1° to knock limit) for best air/fuel ratio. “In a nutshell, the resultant boost in horsepower and torque at low revs contributes to very strong acceleration from 0-50m to get the boat on the plane quickly, something which was traditionally considered a weak point of four-stroke outboards,” Mr Milgate said. “Not anymore! “This patented technology will be the global benchmark for future four-stroke outboard engine designs.” (Pictured:) Honda’s BLAST™ system, featured in the new BF75 and BF90 fourstroke outboards, results in powerful hole shot acceleration on par with that of twostroke engines.) Further information: Honda (03) 9270 1111 or visit: www.honda.com.au

Michael Haley

Fishing with the Michaels

You will recognise Michael Haley. He has been the cover boy on Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News before and runs Gone Fishing Charters out of St Helens. He has been on all the big shows and DVDs catching bream, trevally, Australian salmon and more. Michael Haley runs charters all year round and know the East Coast - and in particular the St Helens area better than anyone. Over summer the Editor, Michael Stevens is also doing little charter work on the east coast and are working in with Michael Haley. Both boats are 6 metres and in full commercial survey for up to 5 passengers. Charters with Michael Haley are all year round; charters with the Editor of TF&BN, Michael Stevens are available during most of January at St Helens

Michael Stevens

and surrounding areas. This is estuary based and waters will include Georges Bay, Scamander River and other nearby waters. He has shown us his backyard fishing for some time now and if you really want to capitalize on your time phone him, not me. We have tackle, but you can bring your own if you want. Both boats are very comfortable and there is plenty of room. We can chase several different species and have some fun doing it. For further details and bookings. Michael Haley: 0419 353041 www.breamfishing.com.au Mike Stevens: 0418 129949

NEWHONDABF75/BF90 Lightest Four-Strokes in their class!

Honda’s new BF75 and BF90 four-stroke EFI outboards are the lightest weight engines ever produced in their class! Weighing just 162kg and 163kg respectively, the completely-redesigned engines are 4-5kg lighter than their nearest weight competitor, and boast power-to-weight ratios on par with that of two-stroke outboards.

Only $7250

7 only available prior to Christmas.

Lean-Burn Control Improves overall engine operation and efficiency

44 AMP Alterator 35 Amp dedicated to maintain superior battery charge

3.9 Mako craft Estuary Tracker by Stessl Family Boats 2 Metre BEAM - STRONG BUILD Most stable, best handling aluminium dinghy on the market Test run one you will agree Dunbier Easy Loading Trailer 13" wheels

18 hp Tohatsu outboard Registration of Boat and Trailer Safety gear pack Only 7 of this package available pre Christmas Safe family dinghy

Sleek, Streamline (V-Wing) Design Aerodynamic – to improve performance

Programmed electronic Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) Easy starts, instant throttle response with fuel efficiency

Freshwater Flushing Convenient and easy to use

High Performance Gear Case Reduces hydroponic drag for increased thrust and higher top speed

B.L.A.S.T Boosted Low Speed Torque provides quick acceleration

Need a new auxilary motor? Check out the popular 9.8 Tohatsu. (Same weight as a 6 hp)

Only $1985

102 Eastland Dr. Ulverstone 6425 2238

102 Eastland Dr. Ulverstone 6425 2238 Fishing News - Page 39

Legendary Toyota 4WDs

4L V6 petrol, 3L turbo diesel. Towing capacity to 2500kg*

Overlander Magazine ‘Best Medium 4WD Wagon’ for the three years in a row

Toyota Prado

Getting there is halfallthe fun

Toyota Landcruiser King Off the Road

Awesome power with the choice of 4.7L V8 petrol, 4.2L diesel or 4.2L turbo diesel. Towing capacity to 3500kg*

Toyota Hilux Get in - or get out of the way

*Subject to state regulations and trailer braking

4L V6 petrol, 3L turbo diesel. Towing capacity to 2250kg*

Toyota Rav4 Bursting with uncompact thinking

2.4L 4 cyl. Towing capacity to 1500kg*

80 Hobart Road, Kings Meadows Phone 63 444 000 www.brucestevenson.com.au

Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027

Issue 65 December 2006 - January 2007

A tailwater trout taken in the Pieman River below Reece Dam. See page 22 for details.

$3.95

• Frederick Henry Bay from the shore • Back to Pedder • • Bream news • Summer trout options • Sarah’s Kitchen • • Tamar calamari • Pieman River • Georges Bay • Livewells