Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 075 2008 August by Tasmanian Fishing

Issue 75 August - September 2008

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Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027

Huntsman Lake Night Fishing Trolling Secrets Stripey Trumpeter Trout Opening Tips Best Lure Colours Land Based Sharks and lots more .....

A superbly conditioned trout from Huntsman Lake

Bringing you the biggest and best in Tasmanian fishing news

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Fishing News - Page 2

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CONTENTS

Fishing news 6 The opening - Shane Flude 8 Huntsman Lake - Mike Stevens and others

Ada Lagoon - Gavin Hicks 14 Colour selection for lures 16 Jan’s flies - Jan Spencer 18 Australian salmon - Shane Flude 19 Land based seven gill sharks - Daniel Paull

Fishing the night shift - Craig Rist 32 West coast stripey trumpeter - Mason Paull

Trolling for trout - Leroy Tirant 36 Bradys chain of lakes - Greg French 39 Fishing from a jetty - Daniel Paull 43 News and reviews 45 Fishing calendar 45 How much should you pay for a rod - Jamie Henderson

Inland and Marine fishery news 51 Fishing, boating services directory 52 Classifieds and Subscriptions 54

It is rare these days to get a totally new trout fishery. The days of Hydro development and new dams and lakes becoming available is pretty well over. So it is great to see Huntsman Dam online from 2 August. The IFS stocked it with 1000 browns from Great Lake just to give it a leg up and get it off to a flying start. With a special permit and in conjunction with IFS I went to Huntsman on 11 July to try and catch a fish. IFS was keen to see what sort of condition the fish were in and I was keen to help. Viv Spencer, Senior Inspector IFS, was on hand and we had a little friendly rivalry to see if fly or lure would land the first fish. Viv had a follow and then a grab, whilst I had nothing. I slowed my retrieve down, then stopped and a fish hit my fly. You can see it on the cover. Viv was rapt in the condition of the fish and it was fat and had obviously feeding hard. A couple of photos and back in the water it went — job done. We then did a tour of the facilities around the lake. Huntsman Lake is a credit to the owners and managers, Rivers and Water Supply. The BBQs, toilets, parking, roads and boat ramp are absolutely first rate.

RWS have also contracted a local group to clean the toilets, look after the BBQs and make sure things are kept in order. So, here we have a fantastic new lake with the best facilities in Tasmania, but we still have whingers. The whinge is because bait fishing is not allowed. Maybe it should be, but it isn’t. There was a plan written; it was widely consulted; many had their say and expressed strong opinions as to why bait should be allowed. In the end the RWS decided no. So it should end there. Enjoy Huntsman Lake and by opening the 1.2 kg fish from Great Lake will probably be 2 kg and by the end of the season maybe 3kg.

Help Help Protect Protect Tasmania’s Tasmania’s Freshwater Freshwater Environment. Environment. Declare Declare All AllYour YourFishing Fishing Equipment Equipment

I hope you enjoy this issue. It is packed with a tremendous variety of stories that cover virtually all angling disciplines for this time of the year. It is the biggest issue we have ever done and we thanks both readers, and especially the advertisers who make this magazine possible.

The catastrohic impact of accidentally introduced alga “Didymo”, also known as Rock Snot, on New Zealand’s freshwater environment.

The catastrophic impact of accidentally introduced alga “Didymo”, also known as Rock Snot, on New Zealand’s freshwater environment.

Mike Stevens – Editor and Publisher.

One drop of water. One microscopic cell. One ecological disaster. One drop of water. One microscopic cell. One ecological disaster. That’s all it takes. Don’t take our ﬁshery for granted. That’s all it takes. Don’t take our ﬁshery for granted. Be Be aa Barrier Barrier -–Not NotaaCarrier Carrier of of pests pests to toTasmania. Tasmania.

Check, & Dry Dry your yourﬁshing fishingequipment. equipment. Check, Clean Clean &

Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Published by Michael Stevens PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250. Ph/fax; 6331 1278 Email; fishn@bigpond.net.au Advertising: Quenton Higgs - 0427 129 949 Stevens Publishing, ABN 79 095 217 299

For more information visit www.ifs.tas.gov.au For more information visit www.ifs.tas.gov.au or www.biosecurity.govt.nz/didymo or www.biosecurity.govt.nz/didymo or phone Quarantine on 03 6233 3352 or phone Quarantine on 03 6233 3352

Photo - Brad Harris

My Say

All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027

Fishing News - Page 3

reinVenting tHe sPinning reel

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from heavy to light as the line slaps the spool lip, causing backlash and inconsistent line speeds. 2. SR One-Piece Bail Wire This feature allows the line to travel unimpeded to the line roller. Its seamless design reduces friction and reduces the chance of tangles or cuts to the bail arm.

1. New Propulsion Spool Lip Design

5. S-Arm Cam This protruding surface on the bail arm serves to keep the line in contact with the line roller even in slack line fishing such as vertical jigging or dropshotting. Once the line gets to the roller, the cam keeps the line in place, rather than allowing it to fall back off onto the bail wire which would increase the risk of knots, loops or tangles.

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This new spool lip design provides longer casting distances while preventing backlashes and wind knots. It also allows the line to flow off of the spool in smaller loops during the cast which means less slap on the stripper guide creating longer casts with less friction. The Propulsion spool also utilizes a long stroke design to further enhance the casting distance so there is less “bouncing” of the line on the spool lip. The unique shape of the Propulsion spool allows the line to flow consistently off the spool unlike a standard spool where friction alternates

Fishing News - Page 4

This specially grooved line roller is designed to reduce twist caused by repetitive casting and retrieving, and it’s large diameter assists in reducing friction and line memory. 4. Redesigned Bail Trip Mechanism The bail trip allows the angler to easily trip the bail by turning the handle, while reducing the chance of the bail closing prematurely during the cast.

Overall, the entire Propulsion Line Management System provides the angler longer casts with less effort, while drastically reducing the chance of backlash, wind knots or tangles.

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Paladin Gear durability enhancementª In the past, gear durability was sacrificed for gear smoothness, or smoothness sacrificed for durability. This is because the harder the gear material, the stronger the durability, but generally the rougher or noisier the drivetrain becomes. Using a special cold forged aluminium drive gear and a hardened brass pinion gear, reels equipped with the Paladin Gear Durability Enhancement will retain their smoothness much longer. This combination of metals is more durable than an all-stainless steel drivetrain while maintaining the smoothness that Shimano is

famous for. Die-casting is a popular, inexpensive and easy method of metal fabrication which leads to its popularity in use by most reel manufacturers. Cold forging however is much more difficult and more expensive process that fabricates metal at normal temperatures. The cold forging method can achieve the metal’s original strength without sacrificing its molecular structure. Cold forging is used on Shimano’s drive gear, spools, handles, etc. The drive gear is made out of the highest grade of aluminium. Because each tooth has been coldforged, unbelievable molecular density is achieved

while using a minimal amount of metal. The end result is an unbelievably strong, lightweight gear offering Shimano’s legendary smoothness.

aero WraP ii oscillation system

Aero Wrap II is a worm gear oscillation system with a specially designed pitch to create optimal oscillation speeds for the Propulsion Spool Lip design. It provides uniform line lay and winding shape to prevent loss of energy during the cast

while providing longer casts than other oscillation systems. Casting distance is increased with less effort.

Fishing News - Page 5

$5500 Derwent River Inter Club Challenge Hosted by the New Norfolk Licenced Anglers Assoc. If you needed an incentive to get out on the water for opening weekend of the trout season, how about $5500 in prizes in the Derwent River Inter Club Challenge. For the New Norfolk Licenced Anglers Association (NNLAA) the opening weekend on the 2nd-3rd August marks a big day for the club. This year they extend an invitation to all affiliated clubs in the Southern Tasmanian Licenced Anglers Association (STLAA) to its Opening Weekend Competition. With over $5000 dollars in prizes and a tagged trout worth $500 courtesy of the Inland Fisheries Service the Inter Club Derwent River Challenge looks set to be a big event. The first Saturday of August is the most anticipated day of the year for all anglers. It marks the start of the new trout season and the first chance to wet a line and test ones skills against the wild trout in our magnificent fishery. In the south of the state there really is no better water to fish than the Derwent River for the opening of the trout season. The fishing is just as good as the quality of fish on offer. Good numbers of well conditioned resident and searun trout to 4kg can be taken the length of the tidal reaches from Lindisfarne Bay to New Norfolk. All methods of angling are successful. The mainstays of the fishery are the trolling anglers who catch top fish around the Norske Skog paper mill region. In the lower reaches, fishing from a drifting boat or the shore, anglers’ fare very well spinning with Tassie Devils, fly fishing or casting soft plastics. While the young bait fishermen catch some exceptional trout right in the township of New Norfolk. Entry into the Derwent River Challenge is free but anglers must be a member of one of the ten STLAA clubs. Those looking to join a club can find contact information below. The NNLAA may look at widening the event next year if it all goes well in 2008. It is not necessary to catch a trout to be eligible to win a prize as the majority of items on offer will be awarded by way of a Fisherman’s Pie Prize Draw. This will give all entrants a chance to take away a quality prize. Up for grabs are Stormy Seas Vests and Yolks, Spotters Polaroids, Waders, Fly vests, Rods, Reels and combos, tackle boxes and bags, sounders and marine radios. The Fisherman’s Pie Draw will kick off with several draws for the junior entrants only to ensure they get to choose a quality item. There will also be heaviest trout awards to juniors in 6-13yrs, 14-17yrs and seniors in both male and female categories. The ten clubs will compete for the Derwent River Challenge Shield. The club who weighs the five heaviest combined trout will take home the perpetual shield with the Australian-Polish Club winning the inaugural event last year held between the New Norfolk, Lake Pedder and Aust-Polish Clubs. The NNLAA will also donate all proceeds from the event to Camp Quality.

Fishing is confined the Derwent River downstream from Meadowbank Dam. Only trout will be eligible for prizes and juniors must be six or over to win heaviest trout prizes. Juniors under six may still enter the Fisherman’s Pie Draw and win a prize. There will be a free BBQ for entrants at the weigh-in which is to be held on the Esplanade at New Norfolk on Sunday between 1 -3pm. There will also be a weigh at 4-5pm on the Saturday for people who wish to weigh fish in then. The IFS have generously donated a tagged trout to the competition that will be released in the New Norfolk vicinity. Anyone who catches this tagged trout over the two day competition will win $500 for themselves. Joining an angling club has a lot of benefits besides the chance of winning some great prizes. Clubs have a real social side with many clubs conducting field weekends, participating in projects for the community and several host junior specific events which is a real plus for the future. Many clubs also have shacks in the lake regions, where events are held and accommodation is available. Memberships are inexpensive and offer the chance to be part of the angling community and be rewarded for enjoying the sport of fishing. The NNLAA would like to thank their major sponsors - Norske Skog, Eastern Shore Marine and the Inland Fisheries Service for their generosity. Many thanks also to Spot On – The Fishing Connection (Hobart), Rod and Range Sports (Glenorchy), Wigston Sports (New Norfolk), Catch, Toy & Leisure (Moonah) and Wigston’s Lures (Derwent Park). Please support these generous stores and drop in to pick up your tackle for the upcoming season. For information on the Derwent River Competition please phone Justin Causby on 62 734 744 or one of the club contacts listed below. We hope to see you there. New Norfolk Licenced Anglers Assoc. Elaine Aitchison – 03 62 614 083 or Wigston Sports – High St New Norfolk 62 612 733 Bridgewater Anglers Assoc. Gary Chaffey – 6249 4961 Bothwell Licenced Anglers Assoc. Pam Jones – 6259 5687 Tarraleah / Bronte Anglers Club Anne-Maree Donoghue – 6424 9924 Huon Licenced Anglers Assoc. Patricia Woolley – 6266 0130 or 0428 660 130 Lake Pedder Anglers Club Laurie Harrison – 6263 7038 or 0428 626 370 Clarence Licenced Anglers Club Neil Pinkard – 6234 6245 Kingborough Anglers Assoc. Wayne – 6267 2556 Maydena Anglers Club Carolyn Mapley – 6288 2222 Australian Polish Anglers Club Christine Banasik – 6272 9820

Tasmanian Trout Expo Cressy - 30-31 August

The Tasmanian Trout Expo will be held on August 30th and 31st at the Cressy District High School, in the stadium and on the oval with a large variety of exhibits and entertainment. The event is growing each year and this year is no exception with greater participation from the large number of exhibitors that are coming to show their products off to the fishing public. At the High School stadium you will find fashion parades by the students of Cressy District High School, fly tying demonstrations, fishing clinics, DVD Video screenings on all types of fishing, Fishing Rods, reels and tackle and all types of lures and soft plastics, and book stalls to browse for that hard to find fishing book. Outside on the Oval will be more exhibitors showcasing all the products needed to go on that fishing trip, from camping needs to boats, kayaks, outboard motors, Fishing News - Page 6

fishing tackle and more. There will be a Dry Fly Casting competition by Natone Fly Fishery to test the skills of the anglers, all manner of fun events by Fusion, and a spin casting competition for the younger anglers by Fishcare. Looking forward to some samples? The Taste of Trout area has become very popular and this year we hope to tempt the palette once again with cooking displays and also some saucy offerings and there will also be a Taste of Wine again this year. The Longford Fishing Club will once again be contributing strongly with their delicious smoked trout. The Big Fish Arcade in the forecourt of the school grounds will again feature the Art Competitions which include The Koppers Open Art and photography and the Freshwater Fishing and Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Student Art competitions The community hall will be

the venue for the Art Exhibition which will have all the all entries on show. At the Swimming Pool Peter Hayes will conduct the Tasmanian Fly Casting Championships on Sunday between 10am and 4pm. At the nearby Brumby’s Creek, there will be a fishing competition with a major draw of a $10,000 tagged trout, there will also be four tagged rainbow trout plus 29 other prizes with a prize pool in excess of $5,000. A free shuttle bus will be provided to take patrons from venue to venue, while camping is available during the Expo at the Cressy Recreational Grounds. ***There is NO CAMPING at Brumbys Creek and the gates will be shut on Friday and Saturday nights.*** Entr y is by g old coin donation. Cost to enter the fishing competition is $10 for adults and $5 for juniors. A Tasmanian angling license is required for the fishing competition if you are 14 or over and are available to purchase at the event.

.... and now a word from the sponsor Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News wouldn’t normally run a piece like this, but TFBN is printed on paper from Norske Skog’s Boyer Mill, so it is of interest. And we are quite happy they are sponsoring the Derwent River Interclub Challenge.

The Boyer Mill, situated in the Derwent Valley alongside the Derwent River, has been continuously producing newsprint for the nation since 1941. The Boyer Mill was an inaugural newsprint producer in Australia and has recently achieved a key production milestone of 11 million tonnes. Annual production is approximately 300 000 tonnes. The Mill, part of the Norske Skog global operations since 2000, began its life as Australian Newsprint Mills, to supply the major newspaper publishers at the time, Herald and Weekly Times now News Ltd and the Fairfax Group The Boyer Mill produces newsprint and specialty grades which you see as inserts into the daily papers, like the Real Estate Guide. Newsprint grades from Boyer and Norske Skog’s two other mills in the Australasian region supply the major newspaper publishing companies and ninety eight per cent of Australia and New Zealand’s newsprint needs. Boyer’s contribution is around thirty six per cent. The Boyer Mill is a significant contributor to the Tasmanian economy. Approximately three hundred and eighty employees and ninety contractors are employed at the mill. Revenue is around $300 million per annum, equating to a flow on effect of around $600 million. Each year the Boyer Mill provides financial support to assist organisations in their efforts to enhance community awareness for projects with an environmental focus. Examples have been building enclosures and breeding facilities for species under threat, such as the Tasmanian devil and platypus. The Mill has, by implementation of various projects, progressively sought to improve the quality of the effluent it discharges to the Derwent. Chief among these projects have been Primary Effluent Treatment (1989 and 1990) and more recently Secondary Effluent Treatment (2007). Secondary Effluent Treatment involves the acceleration of natural microbiological processes in a bio-reactor to remove dissolved substances present in the effluent prior to discharge to the river. To determine the effect of these projects on the health of the river Boyer Mill undertakes on-going monitoring of the marine environment in the upper Derwent. The Boyer Mill is very pleased to be a partnership with the New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association to assist in their promotion of an intra-club annual trout season weigh-in. We wish the participants and the clubs all the very best for the day and for the season.

View of the bio-reactor, with secondary clarifier and settling ponds in the background.

The Boyer Newsprint Mill is pleased to be supporting the New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association. We wish all anglers the very best for a safe and enjoyable season.

Fishing News - Page 7

The opening August 2, 2008 sees the opening of the brown trout season in Tasmanian waters. All rivers and most lakes reopen for fishing after the closed winter spawning time. So just what awaits the early season angler for 2008? Shane Flude gives a rundown on some early season waters and examines what’s new on the inland water scene. There has also been a number of new regulations introduced which are summarised at the end of this article, anglers should read their code thoroughly before heading out this season.

Huntsman Lake

The most exciting new addition to Tasmanian angling will be the opening of Huntsman Lake on the Meander River. This lake is now flooding over vast expanses at grass and foliage and should provide some fantastic flood plain fishing for the duration of this season and hopefully several more to follow. Like any newly flooded storage there will be huge amounts of food to be had as the water backs up. More on this at the end of this article.

Lowland Waters

Senior Inland Fisheries Service Inspector, Viv Spencer researching at Huntsman Lake

Other lowland waters which prove popular in the early season include Brushy Lagoon and Four Springs Lake. Stockings have continued into these waters, Brushy with 450 1500g Atlantic salmon and 1000 Adult browns in May and a further 21 000 rainbow fingerlings in January. Four Springs also received 1000 adult browns in May. There has been some work done on the immediate carpark and access road to Four Springs so coupled with the opening of Huntsman Lake hopefully the carpark will not be as congested as last year’s opening day. Both these waters offer an ice-free venue for those not willing to risk an early season trip to the plateau. There were some magnificent trout taken from Four Springs early last season with others certain to follow this year.

Lake Leake

A water that produced well last season but did not seem to make the press was Lake Leake. A number of fish, both browns and rainbows between 5 and 6 pound were taken in the period up to Christmas. With similar low water levels predicted for this season this water may experience a bumper year. Lake

Leake is best fished early up until Christmas before the weed beds restrict fishing. A boat is an advantage on this water and it may only be powered by oars or electric if trolling. Stocked with rainbow fry from IFS July 2008.

Lake Echo

The new Lake Echo boat ramp which was nearing completion at the end of last season has now been finalised and will offer The Bull Bank is the only island at Lake Echo and anglers reliable access to the northern and is a popular and productive trolling area. most productive waters of Echo. The ramp is located by turning off the Mentmore Road and travelling north past the London Lakes. Just follow the productive northern bays are still without much water in fact main road in and you will soon be travelling on the newly laid Large Bay hardly exists at present water levels. What’s left of Broken Bay was still productive towards down gravel section that winds its way out onto Tobys Point, the end of last season and is always worth a visit. Fish the just south of Large Bay. Previous public access to Teal Bay about half way in gaps in the trees with Rapala lures between this bay and the has now been locked off. The new ramp is steep but fully canal mouth. With the Lake so low the canal mouth has now formed concreted. There are limited camping areas amongst the trees. Rubbish had already started to build up by into a large delta and enters the lake from several branches. the end of last season. How hard can it be Each area the canal enters can be a real hotspot when spinning. The immediate area in front of the canal is an obvious trolling to take it back home with you?. Lake Echo commences the season area. Echo has always had a small population of rainbow trout on one of its lowest ever opening levels. Unfortunately this means that the normally which spawn up the canal during September and the last few

‘A good catch of rainbows from Lake Leake.’ It hasn’t been this good for a few years, but it can be worth a close inspection before Christmas. Fishing News - Page 8

Woods Lake was a popular and productive water from the opening to the closing of the season.

years has seen extensive stockings of further rainbows. The canal mouth is an obvious area to target them early season. The distance from the new ramp across to the canal is nearly five kilometres. If the weather gets up which it often does from the west or south west, prepare for a slow cold trip back. Lake Echo was a deep natural lake and once out from the tree line there are no hidden reefs or obstructions to run into. Strong wind however often blows whole trees across the lake so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t become complacent. The Bull Bank is well out of water and being the only island on the Lake is also a common trolling ground, the eastern side fishes best. The best fishing at Echo is traditionally between early September up until Christmas. Stock up on brook trout and perch CD 7 Rapala lures before you go.

Lake commences the season on a very similar level to last year. In fact the water level has only fluctuated between -15 and -17.5 metres from full supply level for the past three seasons. The fishing quality has remained high with well conditioned browns and rainbows being taken even through the winter period. Low levels have had an effect on water clarity with the majority of the lake being completely stirred up and virtually unfishable after a bout of windy weather. Several days of calm is needed before clarity improves. The low levels have also caused problems for launching boats. Most of the recognised ramps are still out of water, only the deep water shore ramps at Boundary Bay and the point off the shacks between Haddens and Swan Bay could now be recommended for launching larger boats.

Woods Lake

Arthurs Lake also commences the season with record low levels. The ever popular Cowpaddock Bay area can now best be described by leaving off the word bay and adding a few cows because a paddock is all its been now for the past two years. If we do experience an overly wet winter and the tide comes back in the three kilometres of slowly flooded marshes will provide fantastic flood plain fishing. If levels mirror last year then boat anglers will be in for another season of dodging never before seen obstacles. Fishing last season produced good results for the spinner,troller and soft plastic angler although the average size was down. Fly fisherman did not experience the normal mayfly hatches as you would expect with decreasing levels.

Undoubtably due to the low levels anglers went further afield last season and soon rediscovered what would have to have been the stand out fishery of last season, Woods Lake. From Christmas on this water proved extremely popular and although fish numbers were not overly high, their average size and condition was amazing. Average size was around 3-4 pound with a number of larger fish up to 7 or 8 pound being taken by the end of April. Their superb condition added to their fighting abilities. The boat ramp became a bit crowded at times, likewise parking was limited, particularly on the weekends towards the end of the season when word was fully out. For those who have not visited this water before simply continue driving once you reach the Arthurs Lake Dam for another 15 ks or so, the last few kilometres winds down into the basin that holds the Lake. The five kilometre wide lake is roughly circular and averages about 12 feet in depth. Being this shallow it has always been a very discoloured water but this murkiness probably adds to the furious takes as the fat brownies pounce on your lures before they disappear into the gloom. You will be well aware when the first five pounder hooks up.

Great Lake

For those anglers intent on heading to the Highlands early season, low water levels will be a common sight. Great

Arthurs Lake

So despite gloom from some anglers over another low water season there will still be plenty of fishing available to start the year. Hunstman Lake should prove very popular and the new ramp at Echo should see a huge influx to what has been a previously been a difficult water to access. Anglers will flock back to Woods and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget Lake Leake. See you on the water somewhere.

New Season Regulations Summary The following is a quick summary of the new regulations which effect a number of waters mentioned in this article. Please refer to the new code or the Inland Fisheries Act and regulations for a more detailed description.

Rainbow Rivers

The following rivers have been designated as Wild Rainbow Trout River Fisheries and parts of these waters will open and close in line with the rainbow trout season of 4/10/08-31/5/09. They are the Mersey River, Leven River, Weld River(south) and Weld River(north). The specific areas that are affected by the new regs are generally the upper reaches and exact descriptions and grid references are listed in the code.

All Year Round Rivers

A new all year round open season has been introduced for the lower reaches of the Derwent, Huon, Tamar and Leven Rivers. Again refer to the code for exact areas.

Five Fish Bag Limits

A 5 fish bag limit with size restrictions of minimum 300mm and only two fish exceeding 600mm have been introduced to the popular multi species family fisheries which include Four Springs, Curries River Reservoir, Brushy Lagoon, Lake Barrington, Pet Dam, Guide Dam, Craigbourne Dam, Lake Meadowbank, Lake Binney, Bradys Lake, Tungatinah Lagoon and Lake Leake. Woods Lake also has a new 5 fish limit and size restrictions of 300mm minimum and only two fish exceeding 600mm. Five fish bag limit for brook trout at all inland waters. Two fish bag limit at Bruisers and Camerons Lagoon. Minimum size raised to 300mm at Lake Kay, Lake Ada, Ada Lagoon and Lake Augusta.

More on Huntsman Lake next page.......

Zero bag limit for estuary perch consistent with a catch and release management policy aimed for this fishery..

Fishing News - Page 9

Huntsman Lake has some superb shore fishing areas.

Huntsman Lake

This section on Huntsman is a bit of a joint venture between Mike Stevens, Rivers and Waters Commission, Inland Fisheries Service and myself, Shane Flude.

History

Huntsman Lake was formed following the construction of the Meander Dam. The lake as you see it, is formed in a valley known as the Hunstman, a location that was home to several enterprises including a large sawmill and dairy.

Meander Dam

Proposals to build a dam on the Meander River below Warners Creek go back to at least 1968, when the Rivers and Water Supply Commission recommended that the site be investigated further. Work started on the Meander Damn in the 1980s when the site was cleared prior to the planned commencement of construction in 1989, which didn’t occur due to a change in Government. As part of the Economic Infrastructure Fund under the 2001/2 State Budget, the Government provided $10 million for the implementation of the Water Development Plan, which included funds to progress the Meander Dam project to the construction-ready stage and $7 million capital contribution towards the construction costs. In August 2001, then Premier, the late Jim Bacon, publicly released the Water Development Plan for Tasmania. This was the first time since the late 1980s that a Government had formally recognized the importance of our water resources. The Meander Dam was identified as a cornerstone of the Water Development Plan, which was at the time the State’s largest irrigation scheme, with 24,000 megalitres (ML) of water available for irrigation Between October 2001 and February 2002, the environmental, engineering, economic and agricultural feasibility of the Meander Dam proposal was assessed in independent, comprehensive studies by Hydro Tasmania Consulting. These feasibility stufies formed the basis of the Meander Dam Development Proposal and Environamental Management plan (DPEMP). Fishing News - Page 10

Dimensions The Meander Dam is 170 metres from abutment to abutment and 50 metres from upstream toe to downstream toe. The inundation are 364 ha in area. Gross storage capacity: 43,000 ML. Effective storage capacity: 41,000 ML. Irrigation water: 24,000 ML per annum. Outlet Pipe The Outlet Pipe is 1350 mm in diameter. Normal operating discharge: 5,000 litres per second or 432 ML per day. Upstream Face The Upstream Face of the Meander Dam has 484 pre-cast concrete panels (2500 mm x 1800 mm x 100 mm), each weighing 2.2 tonnes. The downstream face has 3060 (5 m x 600 mm) concrete panels, each weighing 1 tonne. Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) RCC has three key properties that make it uniquely suited for dams: economy, performance and high-speed construction. It has the strength and durability of conventional concrete, but at a cost that rivals earth or rockfill construction. RCC concrete has the same ingredients as conventional The first ‘legal’ fish caught from Huntsman Lake. This fish was caught concrete: cement, water and aggregate, by the Editor, Mike Stevens, under permit conditions, whilst helping IFS but much drier. It can be place quickly Senior Inspector, Viv Spencer survey the condition of fish. This is likely and easily with large-volume earth-moving one of the fish stocked from Great Lake. It was fat, in good condition and feeding well. Caught on 11 July it was released and should be in equipment. even better condition for the opening of the season on 2 August. . Mini-Hydro Power Station A Mini-hydro power station is located on the left bank of the downstream face next to the spillway. Water being released for irrigation Allowed Activities and environmental flows are passed through the turbine to Picnicking – at the provided picnic areas generate electricity. The 2.5MW station is operated as part Sightseeing – from the dam lookout and the lake shore of the Meander Valley Irrigation Scheme and it produces Bushwalking – on marked tracks enough electricity to power a town of roughly 5000 homes. Kayaking/canoeing – no access below the dam wall The electricity is fed into the Tasmanian Grid with the revenue Shore fishing – artificial lures only, no bait fishing generated from the electricity sales assisting with the running Boat fishing – artificial lures only, speed limited to 5 knots costs of the dam. Swimming – near the Old Dairy day use area

Recreational Plan, Rules and Activities

During the construction of the Meander Dam, a recreational planning firm was engaged to write a recreation plan for Hunstman Lake.

Mountain bike riding – access from Hunstman Rd to State Forest Horse Riding – access from Hunstman Rd to State Forest but not permitted in vicinity of lake shore

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Fishing News - Page 11 BRP920_375x255_Jelly_a.indd 1

15/7/08 4:26:51 PM

Access Rules

The gates are locked at sunset each day Gates open automatically for exit up to one hour after closing Respect and enjoy the facilities provided Keep to formed tracks Do not litter Shooting is prohibited Camping is not allowed Fires not allowed

Fishing Regulations

Hunstman Lake is a wild brown trout fishery reserved for the use of artificial lures and fly fishing only. Angling at Huntsman Lake is permitted from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. Angling Season: From the first Saturday in August to the Sunday nearest the 30th April. Species Minimum size: Brown trout 220mm. Bag limit: 12. Code of Conduct Be aware of and comply with fishing regulations. Respect the rights of other anglers and users. Carefully return undersized, protected or unwanted catch back to the water. Report illegal activities to: Bushwatch 1300 333 000

Boating

Make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you will return. Lake levels can vary, beware of underwater hazards. Maximum speed 5 knots. Do you have a weather forecast? Ring 6498 7755 for latest information, press 5 for information on inland water. Do you have plenty of fuel? Do you have safety equipment required by law? Safety Equipment PFD Type 1 or 2; Anchor, rope, chain; Bailer or bilge pump; Fire extinguisher; Auxiliary propulsion; Make sure all on board know how to use the safety equipment. Do not mix Alcohol and Boating. Special Warnings If the lake level is low, beware the steep drop off at the end of the boat ramp. All vessels prohibited from 200m radius of dam wall.

image: Andrew Cox

Match the hatch

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Huntsman Lake - the fishing

Water from Huntsman Lake flows through the Meander River and provides reliable environmental and irrigation on flows year round and importantly during the dry summer months. The original fish from the Meander River along with the 1000 or so browns (Av. 1.2 kg) stocked from Liaweenee Canal should rapidly pile on weight as they forage and tail around the edges. The main focus for anglers of lure, soft plastic and fly should be to concentrate on getting their lures and flies close to the bottom. Fish will be feeding on grubs, worms, leeches and beetles flushed out as the water level rises. As seen by the fish opposite there is plenty of feed and fish will take advantage of it. Access is excellent and spinning with lures or soft plastics from the shore along Road Shore, North Shore, Paynes Landing and Meander Inlet should be especially productive. A black leech soft plastic will be deadly. Trollers will probably do best following a set depth and keeping lures close to the bottom. There is no restriction on fishing around or in any of the inflowing streams and these would certainly be worth taking a good look at. The best areas for fly fishers looks like being Duck Bay around to Sales Corner. McNeill Bay looks especially good for the start of the season. A Black Woolly Bugger, black leech pattern or Yeti will be all that is needed. Some weight might be needed in the deeper areas, but little will be required on the shallow sloping western shores. Fish your fly slowly and close to or on the bottom.

first few months. Mid July the lake was at about half capacity, but there was plenty of water on the ramp for launching. A large carpark exists between the ramp and the dam, this will undoubtedly fill quickly on opening day. Amenities at the new lake are excellent and will attract anglers and tourists alike. There are toilet facilities on the western side of the carpark and another toilet block and BBQs at the Old Dairy site on the western side of the lake. Fishing is permitted one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset and the main road to the dam and boat ramp will be closed overnight. If you get locked in it will cost you $30 to get out. At less than an hour’s drive from Launceston or Devonport through Deloraine and Meander, Huntsman Lake will be a very popular venue this season. Right: Senior Fisheries Inspector, Viv Spencer will be keeping a close eye on the Huntsman Lake, and may even spend a bit of ‘off duty’ time there as well. Below: Huntsman Dam has tremendous facilities for all to use. This is at the ‘Old Dairy’ on the western shore.

Due to the huge spawning grounds offered by the inflowing Meander River the fish stocks will probably remain high but will probably fall in size once the new food supply is used up and then stabilise around the 500-650g mark. Only brown trout will be stocked in the lake and restrictions of artificial lures, 12 trout a day and 220mm in length apply. There is currently a large amount of flooding debris in the lake and boat operators should take care in the

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Ada Lagoon

early season

After the birth of our second child in early September last year the opportunity arose for me to have a few days in the Central Highlands pursuing my love of fly fishing. Based at the inlaws shack at Miena the opportunities are endless, the hardest decision to make being where to go. I heard the gate was open to the 19 Lagoons area and after doing some weather checks I decided to give Ada lagoon a try. Ada lagoon is accessed via a short 20 minute walk from the Lake Ada carpark along an old four wheel drive track which is shut off in inclement weather with a boom gate. If the boom gate is open as I have found it to be during the past couple of seasons you can drive to the shore of the lagoon and beyond if your vehicle allows it, though I prefer to walk as you never know what you might see along the shore of Lake Ada. I arrived at the carpark in what would best be described as poor weather conditions (so much for the weather check). The wind was blowing fairly well out of the north-east and there was heavy but broken cloud cover. With waders on and a new fly on the end of my 9 foot tapered leader it was only a matter of piecing together the rod and heading off on the 20 min walk to the lagoon. About halfway the track branches into two and you can either go along the shore of Lake Ada to the bridge that crosses the canal between the two bodies of water or you can go left and follow the track that takes you to the bridge that crosses the out flow of Ada lagoon. For me Ada Lagoon has two distinct features which attract me there early in the season, they are the undercut banks that run along the back shore and the marshes on the same shore that fill given the right amount of water. Upon arrival at the bridge across the canal I was a touch disappointed to find the water level not quite high enough to have all the little marshes full as I have had some brilliant fishing there to frog feeders in the past. But knowing that there is a marsh about halfway up the shore that is connected to the lagoon via a deep channel I was still excited by the thought of what might be swimming in there and along the undercut banks waiting for an easy meal. I crossed the bridge and headed up the edge of the canal to the shore of the lake . The first part of the shore till you get along to a little outcrop of rocks has never given up a fish for me so I was not really taking to much notice and guess what , out of the corner of my eye I noticed a shadow heading for the centre of the lagoon at a rate of knots followed by a cloud of silt. After the usual slow down Gav you idiot and watch what is going on it was back to the task at hand. At least I knew now that there might be some fish about.

Driving the road to the Western Lakes and Nineteen Lagoons always fills an angler with great anticipation.

Another 50 metres or so and I spotted a fish laying on the bottom just a metre or so from the bank. At least he hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen me so I put the fly out to him as best I could in the wind and he also headed for the middle. Two more fish were spotted that both showed some interest and followed but turned away from the fly. With polaroiding chances limited due to the cloud I knew I had better find the right fly or I might soon run out of chances , so it was off with the big frog pattern and on with a small brown woolly worm (more by luck than good judgement!). The next fish I saw I landed the fly just to the side of it and let it sink. No reaction from the fish so I gave it a short strip and immediately it turned on the fly. The white flash of the fishes mouth told me it was time to set the hook. What followed was a short but determined fight with the fish trying to swim underneath the undercut banks at my feet putting a nice bend in my 5 wt Loomis fly rod. Finally I slid the net under a nice brown of 2.5 pound. Two more fish fell in very similar fashion in the next hour or so before the cloud finally beat the sun into retreat. I continued on up the back shore to the top corner with no luck so I decided to head back down to the marsh that was about half full and sit on it for a while. After watching for a while with no result I decided to put a cast out in front of the channel into the marsh and see if anything swam by. By this stage my father in-law who was spinning the opposite bank had nearly ran out of water to fish so I decided to wind in and wait for him. Imagine my surprise when I went to wind in and a fish was firmly attached to the end of my line. It was nice way to finish off a good day with a total of 4 trout between 2 and 3 pounds. Upon cleaning a couple of the fish for the table it The Nomad Swift takes the standard Nomad was discovered that they and adds a few extra features to give you a were full of stick caddis little bit more in boating versatility. with a few snails scattered amongst them. Back at the shack on baby sitting duties for the next couple of days and the thought of those fish out there swimming around the edges was just too much for me to handle. So before long it was back out there for another crack at them. This time conditions were no good at all for polaroiding so it was a day for searching. I knew the fish would still be there so with the same Woolly Worm on again I searched 3.95 m long, 1.79 m beam, 30 HP 2 stroke Suzuki the whole back shore only with trailer and boat regos. Package $9990 casting close to and along the bank with the odd cast BassHighway,Somerset,Burnie out into the middle for a TAS 7320 Ph: 64 352 200 couple of hours in fairly E:anthony@coastal-marine.com.au testing conditions for no result. Fishing News - Page 14

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Ada Lagoon is a delightful fishery with feature covered shores.

A bent rod is what anglers desire, and whilst the Nineteen Lagoons holds many superb waters and big trout the catch rate is not as high as most lakes.

Just a couple of flies will usually suffice.

The author ties up another Woolly Worm. When I arrived at the top end I decided for a change of tactics and I put on a size 12 scintilla stick caddis pattern underneath a big dry fly and knowing that the fish had all been close to the bank the plan was to just drift it down the shore about a metre or so from the bank and let the wave action work for me by moving the stick caddis around beneath the surface. When fishing this way and using a dry fly as an indicator I like to use something like a deer hair Red Tag that I know will float all day and I generally run 6 pound tippet to the dry and then tie the dropper off the bend of the hook using 4 pound tippet. That way if the dropper gets snagged I am still a chance of getting my dry back and not losing the whole set up. I was nearly back to the end of my run and thinking it was all a bad idea when my dry was pulled under. I lifted the rod into a solid weight and slowly I began to lose line. By the time my line and about twenty metres of backing had left the reel I was beginning to think I had hooked the platypus that had followed me down the bank. Finally I got the line back on the reel and the fish into the bank and I realised that it looked to be a good fish with the stick caddis only just stuck in the top of its mouth. My loyal fishing companion Ross the German shorthair pointer must have noticed this too because he decided to get in and try to land the fish for me. Believe me when I say that this done nothing in the way of settling the fish but finally I managed to net a cracking hen fish of just under 5 pounds. It was a brilliant way to end a few magic days in the Highlands. There are plenty of marshy, undercut areas in the nineteen lagoons that I am sure are probably better and more productive than the ones at Ada Lagoon but for me it is a favourite spot that keeps drawing me back at the start of each season. Whatever body of water you choose to cast a fly into, fish it hard and with 100% confidence and good luck to you . Gavin Hicks .

Rigged up and ready for another Ada trout.

Fishing News - Page 15

Colour Selection for Lures Many of our lakes contain an abundant supply of galaxiids that are a large component in the diet of the trout and salmon stocked in these lakes. But even though many anglers attempt to “match the hatch” by using colours or finishes on lures to match the existing forage or baitfish this often is not successful. Matching the hatch in this instance probably has more to do with size and shape of a presentation than colour. Lure colour selection should be based on what our target species is likely to see at a particular depth. I would suggest that colour choices should be based on a combination of water clarity, light conditions and water temperature. Choosing lure colours for effective trolling can be a fairly confusing task if you rely on the information on lure packages, fashion, or anecdotal info from our fishing mates. Let’s face it, we’ve all heard the saying that lure colours and finishes are designed to catch fishermen not fish. Whether it’s a marketing technique to sell lures or a genuine attempt to create finishes and colours that actually do work to catch fish, colour is an important part of lure selection. There has been a wealth of scientific information published to support the notion that fish do discern between colours. Not being a scientist much of this information has probably been wasted on me, with perhaps two major exceptions. Paul Johnson’s book “the Scientific Angler” and Dr Colin Kageyama’s book “What Fish See” are both loaded with information and the later especially written for anglers in a clear easy to understand style.

Much of the information that we get from advertising, the media and writers is not always as clear and accurate as it should be when it comes to the description of colours and finishes. Terms and descriptions like “bright”, glow in the dark” “Fluorescent” etc, all get tossed around with little or no understanding of what they really mean. I would suggest that when we choose colours for lures (or flies for that matter) most anglers are thinking in terms of what colour a lure is in air, not what colour it will be in the water at a given depth. What we really need to consider and understand is what happens to our lure colours under the water. The fact box gives a few working definitions for some common descriptions when talking about colour. According to most optometrists objects in air do not catch your attention based on colour, most catch your attention because of brightness or movement. In the air light comes from certain directions either from artificial sources or sunlight and its direction is easy to determine because it casts a shadow. Water is however, very different, once you are more than 1-2 m under water the water appears to glow and light seems to come from all directions. As light travels through water it is reflected and scattered. The more dust and material suspended in the water, the more the light is scattered. When a fish (or human diver) looks at distance through water the scattered light takes on a uniform glow. You can check out this phenomenon yourself in your swimming pool, river or lake. For trolling anglers, (and most other forms of fishing), long distance colour shifts can play a big part The Seeker is the entry level Runabout in your success or failure. range. Available standard as unpainted, Trolling usually means with paint an option. that your lure is passing by a fish fairly quickly with little or no chance for making repetitive presentations. In this instance fish are usually striking out of hunger and/or reflective action. A fish’s ability to hear and see a prospective meal is an important part of foraging and survival. Let’s assume that in clear green water a fish is able to see your lure from 7m away, it makes the choice to go for your lure and 4.35 m long, 1.97 m beam, 40 HP 2 stroke Yamaha charges the lure. At 1m with electric start, power trim/tilt, with boat and trailer away from the lure this regos. Package $15500 fish puts on the brakes and shies away form your BassHighway,Somerset,Burnie presentation. Why? The TAS 7320 Ph: 64 352 200 lure you were trolling E:anthony@coastal-marine.com.au was bright red, but at a

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Fishing News - Page 16

distance of 7 m the lure appeared black. The colour shift from black to red was probably unlike anything the fish had ever experienced in nature. If the lure had maintained its colour over the entire distance it’s a good bet that this fish would have taken the lure. Colour shifts occur as water filters out different wavelengths of light depending on the colour of water and the type of suspended material in the water. Clear blue, green and brown water all filter out light in different ways. As light passes deeper in each of these water types both short and long wavelength light waves are filtered out. Light penetrating in deep water becomes monochromatic or one coloured. In other words the light penetrating deep blue water becomes blue, deep green water becomes green light etc. When light penetrates deep water and becomes one coloured, the only lure colours which will remain bright are those that either match the water colour, are white or are fluorescent colours of a longer wave length. All other colours will turn a nondescript dark colour. For anglers of all methods, the range of colours and finishes we have to choose from is amazing. Colour and subsequent visibility are crucial to all successful lure fishing. These factors have a big influence in attracting fish to your presentation, but they alone are not the only reason a fish will attack a lure. Factors like a lure's action, speed, water clarity and temperature also have an impact on a lure's success. We may never know conclusively which one of these factors is the most important in a fish's selection process for its next meal. In the meantime, I for one will continue to treat all of these factors as vital to my lure fishing success.

Fact Box

Developing an understanding of how the colour of artificial lures change underwater can help us all become more successful anglers. To improve our knowledge of colour a few basic definitions are helpful, such as: • Light: a type of radiation that can be detected by eyes. Light travels in “waves” of different length. Short wavelength light includes ultraviolet, purple and blue. Medium wavelength light includes green, chartreuse, and yellow. Long wave length light includes orange and red.. • Fluorescence: Is the ability of an object to reflect light of a longer wavelength than it received • Brightness: Is the ability of an object to reflect a large amount of light. • Phosphorescence: material that continues to shine in the dark after exposure to light; “glow in the dark”. • White Light: is a light that is a combination of all visible colours. This type of light includes radiation from a variety of different wavelengths or colours. In order for light to appear white, it must include blue, green, yellow, orange and red components. • Colour shift: the phenomenon of objects apparently changing colour under water due to the light filtering nature of water.

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Fishing News - Page 17

Jan’s Flies Jan Spencer

It’s July 2nd and we are knee deep in snow at Miena in Tasmania’s central highlands. Some would say how beautiful it is but personally it becomes a pain to live with as in these heavy conditions it stops my fishing. As most would know though we need any sort of H2O we can get in whatever form to help fill our lakes and in turn sets the rivers with a strong flow. Fishing at this time of year is for the hardy, but it can be very rewarding if the effort is put in. I have had some superb polaroiding on Great Lake. The place for this is shallow bays with bright sun and at this time of year the best time of day is mid-day and this only gives a span of an hour and a half at the most. Trout will cruise the shallows looking for small morsels, I have found a fly resembling a galaxia or a small stick caddis will get their attention. Even though at this time of year the window of opportunity is small it’s exciting to be able to actually see fish and fish to them. In Great Lake there are browns and rainbows so while the browns are away spawning, there are still some nice rainbows to be had. The normal way to fish to these fish is the normal polaroiding method with the sun at your back. I wade in knee deep water, don’t go too deep as it’s at this time of year when the sun is not very high the deeper the water the harder the fish are to see especially when wading. Mostly these fish will cruise closer to the bottom than the top of the water so the angler must look hard into the water to spot any movement.

Some of the galaxia in Great Lake are quite small, around 60mm long and tend to be bottom dwellers, so it’s normal for trout to cruise the bottom looking for them. The following fly has a small amount of weight so when the fish is spotted a quick cast will get that fly down quickly.

Jan’s Galaxia

Hook – heavy size 8 Thread – black Leadwire Tail – olive and black marabou Body – natural and dive green seals fur mixed Wing – dark olive marabou Method 1. Take thread full length of hook shank, tie in tail. 2. Dub on mixed seals fur, take this a third of the way along shank. 3. Place a nice bunch of marabou on top of hook shank with tips facing to the rear and tie down firmly. 4. Now take another lot of dubbing and do the same again finishing back from the eye a little. Tie in another bunch of marabou, tie down, now add a small bunch of black marabou. 5. Make a nice shaped head, whip finish, cute away thread and varnish head. For the opening of the season there are many wet flies to use. Personally I like my flies to be tied with materials that give a lot of movement. Being a great fan of the Woolly Bugger patterns for many years has given me the opportunity to test these flies with many different materials. Two things are a must, that is number one a marabou tail not too long, if you like some length put a small length of monofilament

(10lb) in the middle of the marabou this will stop the tail wrapping around the hook. Also the tail needs to be dressed lightly otherwise you lose all the wriggle the marabou will create. Number two is use soft hen feathers for the body hackle the movement of these hackles are nothing short of superb. If cock hackles are used they stick straight out doing nothing really only looking like an aquatic echidna. Using these two things on a fly as simple as a woolly bugger, can boost a catch rate from 20% to 70%. The materials give the fly realistic life. Other patterns you might try are the fur fly family of various colours if fishing from a boat try some weigh on them to get them down amongst the fish. If fishing from the shore looking for a tail or two the small scuds, snails or even a hairy little nymph will take its fair share. Fishing from a boat use a fast sinking line got that fly down there with the quarry. The retrieve I like is fast to start, suddenly stop let the fly sink again, then get some speed back, a lot of the time fish will take the fly on the stop and drop. In saying all this if one method is not working try some other retrieve till reaction is achieved.

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Australian Salmon There would be few Tasmanian anglers that have not caught at least a few Australian salmon. They are commonly called blackback in Tasmania with the smaller fish being known as cocky salmon. Many anglers target them specifically whilst others are simply caught as a bycatch. There can be no doubting their fighting abilities and they will test light gear to the limit. There have been numerous articles written over the years on this most popular sportsfish describing the correct techniques,tackle and fishing locations. There has not been much written about the life cycle of the fish itself and their general ecology in Australian waters. Shane Flude has done some research on our humble salmon and discovered some interesting facts.

Species and Range

Australian salmon were first recorded by Captain Cook in 1769 in waters near New Zealand. Noting their similarity to the European salmon he named them so however Australian Salmon are not true salmon but in fact belong to the Perch family of fishes. Up until the early 1980s it was believed that all salmon belonged to the same species. Four species are now recognised by the genus Arripis and include the following. Australian herring (Arripis Georgianus), commonly known as the tommy ruff. They extend from the Gippsland lakes area in Victoria across to Shark Bay in Western Australia. Northern kahawai (Arripis Xylahion), commonly called Kahawai. This species inhabits the waters around both main islands of New Zealand and also extends to the waters around Lord Howe, Norfolk and the Kermodec Islands. We s t e r n Au s t r a l i a n salmon (Arripis Truttaceus). Range between Kalbarri in Western Australia to Eden in NSW. Their general distribution is from Perth, across the southern coastline of the Great Australia Bight to Port Philip Bay in Victoria and Tasmanian waters. E a s t e r n Au s t r a l i a n salmon (Ar ripis Trutta). Extends from waters near Sydney as far south as southern Tasmania, through Bass Strait and around Cape Australian salmon are considered Tasmania’s Otway in Victoria. The most universal and popular sportfish. occasional individual has been captured in West Australian waters their pigmentation is darker dorsally but this is rare. giving rise to their common name The majority of fish caught in of black back. The distribution of Tasmanian waters are Eastern Australian light on objects lit from above cause salmon, their western cousins are unequal reflection of light on a body of mainly limited to the waters along the uniform colour. Shadows cast from this north and west coasts. Both species are body provide predators clues as to the almost identical in appearance and can preys shape. Countershading therefore only be sorted by counting their gill reduces the ease of detection of the prey rakers. Gill rakers as the name suggests by the predator by counterbalancing the are the fine filament like structures that effects of the shadows. This form of are attached to the gills which assist camouflage also assists in background the fish in sieving small food items matching. When seen from above from the water. The Eastern Australian the darker dorsal area of the salmon salmon has between 33-40, the Western blends in with the darker waters below between 25-31. I trust next time you and when viewed from beneath the land a specimen you will now take the lighter ventral area blends into the time to count the rakers to check your sunlight from the surface. Salmon species. are only one of a number of pelagic fish species that utilise this form of Description camouflage, tuna ,shark and marlin Australian salmon have streamlined all use countershading to some effect. bodies and a strong forked tail. They Pelagic comes from the greek word generally display gold/brown spots meaning open sea and the pelagic zone on their upper body although this can is any water in the sea that is not close vary between individuals. Juveniles to the bottom. Fish that swim in this or cocky salmon have more distinct zone are therefore called pelagic fish. golden spots and appear lighter Salmon prefer the upper levels of the underneath than the adults. All salmon water column and are often seen near are strongly countershaded, that is the surface, often feeding on schools

These Australian salmon taken off St Helens are the size of small tuna.

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Fishing News - Page 19

of bait fish. Specimens have been taken in 80 metres of water but this is rare Eastern Australian Salmon(EAS) can live for up to 26 years and reach 7kg in weight. They grow more slowly than Western Australian salmon(WAS) which live for up to 10 years and reach almost 10 kg. The Australian Angling Association record is a 9.4kg WAS which was captured in South Australian waters in 1973. Although both species can reach up to 90cm in length, fish above 60cm in Tassie waters are rare. A typical 2kg fish measures in at around 55cm to the fork. Growth rates for WAS have been found to decrease from west to east hence the population in Tasmania and Victoria have the slowest growth. They also reach maturity later in their 4th – 6th year compared to their 4th year in the west. A mature WAS is around 54cm. EAS also mature in their 4th year at around 39cm.

Reproduction;

Australian Salmon are serial batch spawners which means they release their eggs in batches over a period of time rather than all at once. They are also known as pelagic spawners as they spawn in the open ocean. Once fertilized the 1mm sized eggs hatch within 40hours and then drift with the zooplankton in the current. EAS move to waters in northern Bass Strait between Lakes Entrance and Bermagui to spawn between the months of November and February. Once hatched the first year fish drift and migrate south and east from the spawning grounds to waters in Victoria and Tasmania. They are assisted by the south flowing East Australian Current . Juvenile fish up to 6cm will start to appear in Tasmania waters between January and September where

they will frequent bays, estuaries and other sheltered coastal waters. Once maturity is reached WAS move to waters in Western Australia between Brussleton and Albany to spawn. Peak spawning period is from march to may around the many headlands along the coast. The juveniles drift across the Great Australian Bight helped by the east flowing Leewin current. First year WAS appear in South Australian, Victorian and finally Tasmania waters about 6 months later and by this time will be between 5-8cm in length.

Diet and Feeding;

Like most pelagic fish salmon are opportunistic feeders and will consume a variety of food items. As such they are fished for on a variety of lures and tackle ranging from tiny shrimp like flies to large 80mm slices. Both eastern and western salmon have distinct dietry preferences. The WAS juveniles begin life on a bottom dwelling diet of prawns and sprats with the adults preferring pilchards, garfish and squid. EAS juveniles prefer zooplankton which can include tiny crustaceans and squid. The adults diet does not differ much and it is for this reason the EAS needs a more efficient method of sieving food items from the ocean, hence the higher number of gill rakers on this species. In Tasmania waters on calm days you may sometimes see large schools of surface feeding salmon sipping food items from the surface. The closely resemble midging trout, rising constantly every few feet and travelling great distances until they are disturbed. Disturbing the feeding salmon can be as simple as a low flying bird or poorly cast lure which then sends one thousand fish straight to the bottom. Last year on settled days this surface feeding activity was common off Port

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If you want to get technical about which salmon you have caught check the number of gill rakers. The Eastern Australian salmon has between 33-40, the Western between 25-31. Sorell. Stomach contents revealed masses of tiny sea scud. Although present in large numbers the salmon were often quite selective when feeding this way. Despite poor fishing results the excitement of watching hundreds of feeding salmon approaching the boat usually meant I remained fishing. Most anglers would have witnessed the spectacle of salmon feeding on schools of bait fish, a common site around most coastlines and a very common if not daily event on Georges Bay at St Helens. It is this feeding habit that salmon are best known for and attracts fisherman by the droves. They are often identified from some distance by a large number of actively feeding and diving sea birds as the salmon drive their food source to the surface. A relationship such as this is known as a commensal relationship, one that benefits the birds greatly but neither harms nor helps the salmon. It has been suggested that overfishing of salmon could have serious affects on the breeding success of the birds, such is the importance of this relationship.

Population;

This brings us to the subject of numbers and future populations. There appears to be two trains of thought on this topic, firstly from the scientific community who believe that numbers have been declining over the years and largely blame the commercial fishing. Commercial fisherman have provided

figures that suggest the salmon population is stable if not on the increase and that the fishery could even sustain more pressure. Who ever is correct it is probably a good thing for the salmon that they are not a highly regarded table fish attracting a high price as due to their schooling nature they can be easily targeted. As a recreational angler it appears to me that numbers are high although I am obviously biased in saying this as I now know when and where to best target these fish. A recent trip to Georges Bay revealed the largest school of salmon I have yet seen. With the incoming tide a solid black mass of salmon swam past our anchored boat inside the barway for well over an hour. We estimated that around one thousand fish were passing the boat every minute in the 50 m wide school. The 59980 salmon that made it past our boat were present again the next day. They averaged 2 kgs and provided some fantastic fishing. It would certainly have been a shame to see a large trawler waiting for them on the other side of the barway. Monitoring of salmon populations will no doubt continue into the future and size and number restrictions may be altered to suit. At present however there appears to be healthy numbers and salmon should continue to be a popular sportsfish into the foreseeable future. Shane Flude

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Land Based Seven Gill Sharks Some people complain to me about the poor fishing these days. But when you see a story like this about two young blokes giving fishing their all it is refreshing. They are keen and ‘just do it’. Daniel Paull is already an awesome angler and is still a young teenager. Take lessons from this fine young man. Ed.

Introduction:

I became fascinated with seven gilled sharks since my first encounter with one. I have been fishing from Burnie for many years just as a weekend hobbie, and one day land based gamefishing came to mind. Along with my good mate, Jeremy Shaw, we decided to begin a task that would take months if not years to complete. We had been fishing long and hard, every weekend weather would allow us, sometimes for 18 hours straight. Finally the burley stocks were built up and the old man would allow me to take some logs with me. We had worn The author, Daniel Paull and Jeremy Shaw with a seven gill shark caught at Red Rock, Burnie, just prior to release. out two burley buckets and it was many months before we managed to pull in a result. It was a very quiet westerly afternoon on a Saturday in the midst of summer 2008 when we saw our first very large fish. It was a seven gilled shark. This shark weighed about 45-50 kgs. We had been float fishing • Bright, new bigger near the burley bucket when it swam inshore and into our vicinity. Both Jeremy and I stared in awe as the huge fish swam in and store mauled the burley bucket. As Jeremy ran for the camera, I ran for • Convenient parking right the tackle box. Salmon rigs, draughtboard shark rigs, and whiting rigs aplenty, but no substantional shark rigs. outside the front door From the corner of my eye, I spotted an old couta trace with • Shop in airconditioned comfort a 3/0 O`Shaughnessy hook attached to it. It was our only chance so I grabbed the trace and tied it onto my beach rod. Bait was the • Biggest range of rods, reels, tuna next problem, only having prawns and a striped tuna frame in the Shop 1/24 Quail St St Helens lures, soft plastics, hooks, sinkers, burley bucket. It also was our only chance. Ph: 6376 2244 As I threaded a small chunk of tuna on the hook the shark clothing, hats, sunnies and boating E:sthelensbaitntackle@bigpond.com started to gain interest in the burley bucket and started chewing on accessories on the East Coast. the two ropes attached to it. Sure enough the ropes were chewed up and the bureley bucket started to float away. As the burley bucket floated away I threw the bait to the right of the it. The Shark came up and grabbed the bait. As I struck the hook came loose and flew behind me. After that, the shark lost interest in the burley bucket. When it swam off, we headed home for dinner and a hot shower. It was on the 5th of July 2008 Jeremy and I hooked our second seven giller. My old man, Mason, has a saying that I truely follow, "Keep the eyebrows in the middle!". It was a midday tide and it was nearing 4:30 pm. We had been Come in and see Jamie catching draughtboard sharks and good flathead all day so I decided for all the latest info on to put the big gear out. I grabbed my Penn 45 GLS that was sitting fishing on the East Coast next to my trusty tackle box and clipped on a circle hook trace I had prepared the week earlier. For bait I used an old piece of salmon dad had kept for me from Sinking Rock on the West Coast. Game Fishing I flicked a bait out about 8 metres and sat the rod carefully capital down with the drag slackened off. It was about time to pack up of Tasmania when the other big beach rod started to bend. It was Jeremy’s turn on the rod so he wound it in only to find a tiny draughtboard Tasmania’s shark on the end. We de-hooked it and got a few happy snaps and premier returned it to the water. salt water As soon as the little shark hit the water a huge brown shape approached from the north. Suddenly the rachet on the 45 GLS sportsfishing started to howl. We were on to a huge seven giller. Jeremy dashed location for the camera and I ran and picked up the howling 45 GLS. I put and awesome my thumb on the spool and let the shark take a bit of line and then trout too. I pushed the drag lever up to strike. The shark felt the pressure instantly and thrashed around on the surface. It thrashed about for a few minutes and then swam into some snags. I pushed the drag lever up even further and wrestled it out of the snags and over the sandy bank. As the shark tired, I started to gain a little bit of line. As the minutes went on, I battled the large fish into a small bay were we got it into shallow water. I reached for the phone and dialed dads number. I huffed and puffed into the speaker and told him to come as soon as possible, we have a shark on. It wasn’t long before dad’s white Landcruiser sped around the corner and stopped on the dirt

ST HELENS

Fishing News - Page 21

track. He raced down to our aid and by this time Jeremy and I had it half way out of the water. Dad wrapped his arms around the collosal seven giller’s tail and dragged it up the beach a little. There we removed the hook and got a few photographs. We admired our catch for a few moments then dragged it back into the water and revived it. We had landed a seven gill shark weighing in at about 65 kilograms. We felt like heros Soon after entering the water the sharks big tail swooped around and powered it of into the deep. Happy and proud, we headed home.

How to Catch:

We know shark fishing takes a lot of patience. If you want to tackle one of these giants onshore, you need the right gear. I believe that a 15kg overhead outfit will knock over any seven gill shark but a 10kg threadline outfit may just do the job. In any shark fishing environment you must have burley and a bucket. For starters I would recomend using a small bucket you can purchase from most stores. For the burley, start off using mullet and salmon frames, tuna/fish oil and white bread. Remember, your burley trail is your key to success. To have a succesful burley trail, I have found a 12:00 midday high tide works really well. Cubing, like you would for tuna and other oceanic wanderers also works for burley. I find the best cubing burley is a couple of packets of blue bait or western Australian pilchards, mostly because these fish are very oily. When hunting these big fish you must remember that the sharks dwell on rocky and weedy structures and often venture out onto the sand. The best place to fish for seven gill sharks is generally on break walls, jetties, wharfs and rocky points. You can also encounter one of these sharks while fishing on oceanic beaches. Remember, seven gill sharks are bottom dwellers so it pays to have the bait on the bottom. When deploying the bait for the shark remember, the shark has to come to you, you dont have to go to the shark. Have the bait close to the burley bucket so when the shark swims up the trail

it will sense both the burley and the bait. The traces should be at least three metres long and nylon coated. For hooks, I use a 12/0 to a 15/0 tuna circle hook, the reason for this is, when they take the bait down you only have to ease the drag up and mostly you will get a shark that is mouth hooked. This makes for easy release and a healthy fish swims away to fight another day. Always cover at least half of the hook and at least 5 cm from the crimp with heat shrink or electrical tape. If the shark swims over the bait when it is baited with no protection, it will sense the electro-magnetic field around the hook and wire and will refuse to take the bait. And last but not least, the bait. Seven gilled sharks are scavengers and hunters, so it doesnt really matter what you use for bait. I believe the more oily the bait the better so I personlly favour the salmon, striped tuna and mullet. If the bait looses its touch during long periods of time in the water, just soak the bait of choice in tuna/fish oil for five or more minutes. Make sure to fish near, or on, sandy environments where the fish are easily spotted and handled. Just remember that patience is the key to any success in shark fishing, and these sharks can grow to in excess of 10 feet long and make for a great adversery off the rocks. Conclusion: Now that winter is upon us, dont pack the gear away, give the PS3 or X-Box a spell and get outdoors, there are plenty of fish to target during winter. All you need is a bit of settled weather and a couple of good mates to have the time of your life. Daniel Paull

An impressive catch for two teenage boys. It shows just what the results of perserverance can bring.

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P: 6331 6188

P: 6231 0345

DISCLAIMER: All items shown are included in good faith on the basis that the goods, as described, will be available at the time of sale. A failure by a supplier to deliver in accordance with the sample described, or at all, or other unintentional causes may result in some items being unavailable. Not all items featured

$49.90*

available from all stores. *The prices as shown are recommended sale prices that may vary from store to store. Images shown are for illustration purposes only. Accessories not included. All prices include GST. Limited rights reserved. Sale valid until 30th September 2008.

spr ing super sale Sonar & GPS

Hull, Deck & Cabin Hardware ONLY

ONLY

$149.00*

BLA Code 192583 – 586

BLA Code 102504

PiranhaMax 210x • 4 level grey scale • Depth & fish alarms • MicroDynamic transducer for high speed operation

SAVE

$30.00

ONLY

$499.00*

BLA Code 104033 – Promo

Matrix 12x

SAVE

22%

ONLY

22%

$549.00*

BLA Code 102525 – Promo

• 256 colour, sunlight viewable, 320V x 240H pixels • Microdynamic transducer for high speed operation • Depth & fish alarm

757cx Combo

s FREE Include IRD NB HUMMI flatable PFD1 In .00 1 RRP $13 ONLY

Electric Motors

$3.90*

$2299.00*

• Full Side Imaging and DualBeam PLuS down sonar BLA Code 104116 – Promo • GPS chartplotter with Navionics XL9 chart of Chart ics XL9 n o i Australia v a N 00 Includes a worth $405. • 256 colour, 640v x strali 480h pixel fully sunlight of Au viewable screen • 3000 waypoints, 500watts RMS of power

Sound

SAVE

$199.00*

BLA Code 601004

SAVE

$36.00

Endura Classic 28

• 12V electric transom mount • 28lb thrust, 760mm (30˝) shaft

Marine Stereo Package

ONLY

$249.00*

BLA Code 117023 – Duel

• CD/MP3 player, uSB flash memory player, AM/FM tuner • 2 x 100mm 50watt waterproof speakers

$125.00

Water Sports ONLY

$159.00*

BLA Code 501470

SAVE

$40.00

• Nylon outer with 30 gauge PVC inner • Neoprene knee & toe pads • 4 webbed grab handles

Momentum 60˝ Flat Tube

Momentum 52˝ Round Ski Tube SAVE

$30.00

ONLY

$59.90*

BLA Code 501460

• Nylon outer with PVC inner • Two grab handles & a reinforced tow point • Boston valve for fast inflation/deflation

Plumbing

Maintenance 22.7lt Fuel Tank SAVE

ONLY

Side Mount Rod Holders

I h er wort Fishfind ONLY

• Angled mount with protective insert and PVC cap

• Mount on any near flat vertical surface • Available in black or white

$1199.00*

• 256 colour, sunlight viewable, BLA Code 104113 – 320Vx 240H pixels Promo • DualBeam PLuS sonar 10 • 16 channel GPS with ranha 2 i P E E R 3000 waypoint memory ncludes F $149.00

797c2x si

Stainless Steel Rod 0 2 . 4 $1 Holder

SAVE

BLA Code 192593 – 95

SAVE

$29.90*

BLA Code 192549

Slimline Rod Holders

• Black or white moulded plastic • Angle or straight deck mount

• 12 level grey scale FSTN screen s Include • 200kHz, 20° single GPS beam sonar r Receive • 750 waypoints • X-Press menu, instant access to important features • Split screen ONLY • Speed & temperature

141cx

ONLY

$3.90*

BLA Code 200110 – Promo

Filter & Clear Separation Bowl

• Integral fuel gauge

• Suits Mercury® OEM components

ONLY

$12.60

$49.90*

Tamar Marine

ONLY

$39.90*

BLA Code 131560

BLA Code 200478 – Promo

V500 Bilge Pump • 500gph • 3 year warranty

Marineline

6-8 West Tamar Rd, Launceston

279 Argyle St, Hobart

P: 6331 6188

P: 6231 0345

$29.90*

spr ing super sale Electrical

Lights Switch Panels – Splashproof

$26.90*

FROM

BLA Code 113240

• High quality 2 position toggle switches • Neoprene rubber boots on toggles • 6 gang BLA 113250 $37.90*

Twin Battery Switch & VSR

$179.00*

ONLY

BLA Code 113651

• 12V battery switch pre-wired to VSR Relay • Automatically charges start battery to 13.7V then switches charge to house battery

Heavy Duty Battery Switch

$36.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 114304

• 4 position Off/1/2/Both • Rated to 235amps continuous & 300amps intermittent

On/Off Battery Switch • Removable key for security • Suits 12 & 24V applications

Portable Battery Chargers

$14.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 114314

$119.00*

FROM

BLA Code 114578

$19.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 122351 & 353

• Removable stand off for surface or semi recessed mounting • 12V LED efficiency & reliability • Available in white BLA 122351 and sand BLA 122353

Oval 6 L E D Interior Light

$29.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 122345 & 347

• Removable stand off for surface or semi recessed mounting • 12V LED efficiency & reliability • Available in white BLA 122345 and sand BLA 122347

L E D

Nav Lights

ONLY

$39.90*

ONLY

$49.90*

ONLY

$21.50*

• LED BLA Code 121007/08 • Gasket sealed • White or black housing • Available with incandescent BLA 121006 $16.90*

L E D

Nav Lights

Battery Boxes

Fixed Anchor Light

$14.90*

ONLY

$69.90*

0NLY

• Heavy duty handle & strap BLA Code 115108 • 2 cigarette lighter plugs internally wired to 10amp fuse • External heavy duty terminals wired to 30amp fuse

5 Drawer Tackle Locker

$69.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 173082

Folding Anchor Light L E D

BLA Code 261196

$13.90*

BLA Code 261202

500ml Fibreglass Restore & Wax

500ml Fibreglass Buffing Compound

• For marine gelcoat & paintwork in reasonable condition

• For marine gelcoat & paintwork in poor condition • Quality cutting compound

PARTICIPATING DEALERS

Tamar Marine

BLA Code 121325

Removable Anchor Light

$34.50*

ONLY

BLA Code 121327

• LED • All plastic plug-in mount base 610mm high • Available with incandescent BLA 121328 $21.50*

$27.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 121330

• LED • Folding plastic base 275mm high • Available with incandescent BLA 121333 $14.90*

Portable Navigation Light L E D

ONLY

$23.90* EACH

BLA Code 121423/25

• Suction cup mount • Bi-colour port/starboard or stern light • uses 3 x ‘C’ cell batteries (not included)

Humminbird stockists.

Minn Kota stockists.

Marineline

6-8 West Tamar Rd, Launceston

279 Argyle St, Hobart

P: 6331 6188

P: 6231 0345

$29.90*

ONLY

• LED • Folding plastic base 650mm high • Available with incandescent BLA 121326 $17.90*

Folding Anchor Light FROM

BLA Code 121027

• LED • 360° clear lens • 102mm high • Available in incandescent BLA 121026 $14.90*

L E D

Maintenance $16.90*

L E D

• 5 individual draws, adjustable internal dividers • Face dimension 363 x 187mm

22_08_Sp_TasFNews

Round 4 L E D Interior Light

• 5amp 2 stage, 10amp 3 stage charge • Suit 12VDC/6 cell flooded wet cell, maintenance free or AGM batteries • Available in 5 amp BLA 114578 and 10amp BLA 114580

Battery Power Box

FROM

$19.90*

FROM

• Single or double BLA Code 122002 12V/8W tubes • White plastic body, clear diffuser • Integral on/off switch • Available in single BLA 122002 and double BLA 122006 $21.90*

• LED BLA Code 121038/40 • uV stabilised plastic housing in white or black • ‘O’ ring sealed lens with PVC base gasket • Available with incandescent BLA 121050/52 $19.90*

• Supplied with webbing strap BLA Code 115100 & tie down brackets • Small 115100, Large BLA 115102 and Extra Large BLA 11510

Storage

Fluoro Lights

spr ing super sale Navigation 150 Series Compass

$13.90*

ONLY

• 50mm apparent card diameter • Vertical or horizontal mount

BLA Code 231500

$18.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 231510

100 Series Compass • Bracket or adhesive pad mount • 38mm apparent card diameter

200 Series Compass • 65mm apparent card diameter • 12V red illumination

$34.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 231530

Seating

ONLY

BLA Code 232074

Angler Bracket Mount

• 70mm direct read hi-visibility dial • 12V green lighting • Five year warranty

Plumbing Skipper Folding Seat

ONLY

$59.90*

Portable Toilet

$89.90*

Heavy Duty Bilge Pumps

• uV stabilised BLA Code 181076 folding seat • Heavy gauge moulding with reinforced base

Padded Skipper Seat

ONLY

• uV stabilised folding seat BLA Code 181110 • Heavy gauge moulding • Grey pads BLA 181110 with blue pads BLA 181112

Premier Folding Seat

$149.00*

ONLY

• Marine grade vinyl BLA Code 181202 • Hammer tone painted, aluminium hinges • Available in grey/charcoal BLA 181200 and blue/white BLA 181202

Crew Folding Seat

$34.90*

FROM

• Folding backrest BLA Code 181390 • Without padding BLA 181390 • With grey/charcoal padding BLA 181402 $64.90*

Seat Clamp & Swivel

$28.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 182112

Belle Seat Pedestal • Aluminium pedestal, hammer tone finished base • Adjustable height 330 – 440mm • Swivel top

Seat Swivel

General

ONLY

$79.90*

BLA Code 183014

ONLY

$89.00*

FROM

$39.90*

• 11lt holding tank BLA Code 139400 • 12lt flush tank • Compact design, all plastic construction

BLA Code 131600

• 2 year limited warranty • Snap on mount base strainer • Available in 500gph BLA 131600, 1000gph BLA 131602 and 1500gph BLA 131603

Float Switch

Aerator Kit • Supplied with 450gph submersible pump, spray rails, hose & wiring

$19.90*

ONLY

• Spark proof float switch • Running ball type on/off switch

• Ideally suited for tinnies • Suits all seats listed in the Sale

S/S shown

$99.00*

BLA Code 131694

$39.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 131712

$49.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 133106

In-Line Electric Pump

• 13.2l/m flow capacity suited to 10 & 13mm hose • Suitable for fresh, saltwater and diesel transfer

FROM

$9.90*

• 360° BLA Code 182058 • Suits most common seat bases • Available in PPG BLA 182058 or stainless steel BLA 182054 $39.90*

Docking Light Set

ONLY

$74.90*

• Twin 12V/55W spotlights BLA Code 123058 • Pivoting S/S mounts • Includes switch, wiring harness, in-line fuse & mount hardware

Tamar Marine

Deck Wash Hose Kit

ONLY

BLA Code 133150

• Includes: 7.6m coiled hose, spray nozzle, storage housing and hose connection kit

Blue Eye Spot Light

ONLY

$99.00*

• 400,000 candle power BLA Code 123194 • Glare free beam • 1.7m coiled lead with 12V cigarette lighter plug

Marineline

6-8 West Tamar Rd, Launceston

279 Argyle St, Hobart

P: 6331 6188

P: 6231 0345

$59.90*

spr ing super sale Minn Kota® Electric Motors Riptide® 55SP Bowmount

ONLY

$1199.00* Riptide® 55SPAP

BLA Code 601450 – Promo

• 55lb thrust, 48 ˝shaft length • Maximizer™ gives you up to 5 times longer on the water • 3 year warranty • Corded foot pedal, 6m (20´) cable

s FREE Include ® PFD1 ta Minn Ko .00 31 RRP $1

Riptide® 40lb Transom Mount

$499.00

• 40lb thrust with 36” shaft * ONLY • Minn Kota’s genuine 3 year warranty, BLA Code 601512 even in saltwater

Deck Hardware ONLY $39.90* BLA Code 192602

BLA Code 192568/69

Oval Rod Holder

Rail Mount Rod Holder • Stainless steel construction • Suits rail size 19 – 25mm

ONLY

$6.90*

ONLY

$49.90*

• Moulded plastic construction • Supplied with PVC cap • Black or white

3 Step Boarding Ladder

Folding Drink Holder

• Portable, hooks over gunwale, rail or transom to 250mm

• Holds drinks to 75mm • Black or white

ONLY

FROM

$13.50*

BLA Code 192627

Moulded Fender

Silver Rope Hanks & Coils • uV stabilised silver rope, soft loop one end & spliced stainless steel thimble in the other

$9.90*

FROM

• Traditionally shaped fender, ribs prevent rolling • Rope attachment points either end • 115 x 380mm BLA 141680 145 x 510mm BLA 141694 $14.50

BLA Code 141680

$8.90*

FROM

BLA Code 144160

• Available in Hanks Diameter: 6mm, 8mm and 10mm Length: 30m and 50m BLA code 144182 – 202

• Available in Coils Diameter: 6mm, 8mm and 10mm Length: 30m, 50m and 110m BLA code 144160 – 180

$44.90*

ONLY

• Fits around anchor rode for deep water retrieval • 250mm diameter float fitted with 125mm diameter ring

BLA Code 144301

FROM

$39.90*

FROM

$5.90*

• Galvanised anchor, chain & 2 x ‘D’ BLA Code 146015 shackles • uV stabilised rope • 6lb anchor – 30m x 6mm rope BLA 146015 8lb anchor – 50m x 8mm rope BLA 146018 $59.50*

Reef Anchors – 4 Prong

BLA Code 146422

• Heavy duty hot dipped galvanised finish • Available in 6mm BLA 146422, 8mm BLA 146424, 10mm BLA 146426 and 13mm BLA 146430

ONLY

$9.90*

• Super bright 5 LED BLA Code 123066 • Adjustable elasticised strap • Requires 3 x ‘AAA’ batteries (not included)

PARTICIPATING DEALERS

22_08_Sp_TasFNews

$4.90*

FROM

• Spherical shape, centre rope hole BLA Code 141002 • Available in 100mm BLA 141002, 150mm BLA 141006 and 200mm BLA 141010

Sand Anchor Kits

General Headlamp

Styrene Floats

$18.90*

BLA Code 192555

• 3 or 5 rod configuration • Mount vertically or horizontally • Available in 3 rods BLA192627 and 5 rods BLA192633 $14.90*

L E D

s FREE Include ® PFD1 ta Minn Ko .00 31 RRP $1

Anchoring & Mooring

Anchor Retriever

• Rotates 360° with angle adjustment • Mounts on flat vertical surface or rail to 25mm with optional adapter

Rod Storage Holder

• 55lb thrust with 54˝ shaft length • Maximizer™ gives you up to 5 times longer on the water • AutoPilot™ • 3 year warranty, even in saltwater

$49.90*

• uV stabilised plastic BLA Code 194072 • Lid incorporates 2 folding drink holders • Door size 340 x 132mm

Bait Caster Rod Holder

Bowmount with AutoPilot™

BLA Code 601484 – Promo

BLA Code 194110/112

BLA Code 194200

Lockable Glove Box

$4.50*

ONLY

$1549.00*

ONLY

Tamar Marine

Folding Anchor

FROM

Humminbird stockists.

Minn Kota stockists.

Marineline

6-8 West Tamar Rd, Launceston

279 Argyle St, Hobart

P: 6331 6188

P: 6231 0345

$9.90*

• Hot dipped galvanised cast BLA Code 146470 iron construction • Available in 0.7kg BLA 146470, 1.5kg BLA 146472 and 2.5kg BLA 146474

spr ing super sale Trailer Accessories

Manual Trailer Winch

Coupling Trailer Lock

$28.90*

FROM

BLA Code 211602

• Available in 3:1 or 4:1 ratio • Cables sold separately • 3:1 BLA 211602 and 4:1 BLA 211610 $24.90*

Winch Cables

$11.90*

FROM

• Galvanised wire with swagged BLA Code 212906 thimble & stainless steel ‘S’ hook • 4.5m x 4mm BLA 212906 • 6m x 5mm BLA 212910 $15.90*

Rubber Keel Rollers

$4.90*

FROM

• Hard wearing black rubber BLA Code 213008 with internal bush • 17mm bore • Available in 113mm BLA 213008,152mm BLA 213020 and 201mm BLA 213028

Red Poly Keel Rollers

$14.90*

FROM

• Hard wearing red polyurethane BLA Code 213064 • 17mm bore • Outlast rubber and less abrasive • Available in 113mm BLA 213064, 152mm BLA 213068 $17.90* and 201mm BLA 213072 $19.90*

Red Poly Self Centring Rollers

$19.90*

FROM

BLA Code 213076

• Hard wearing red polyurethane • use as first roller to align vessel • 18mm bore • 153mm BLA 213076 • 205mm BLA 213080 $27.90*

Trailer Light Board

$79.90*

FROM

BLA Code 214046

• 1.5m wide with ADR approved lights • 7 pin flat, large 7 round plug and small 7 round plug available

Ratchet Tie Down • Wind up ratchet tensioner • Plastic coated ‘S’ hook on ends • 25mm x 4.5m BLA 215074 • 50mm x 6m BLA 215076 $24.90*

Auto Locking Tie Down Set

$10.50*

FROM

BLA Code 215074

ONLY

$19.90*

BLA Code 215110

FROM

$28.90*

• Kit for 1 wheel BLA Code 215152 • Inner & outer bearing, inner seal, galvanised dust cap and split pin • Holden BLA 215152 • Ford BLA 215154 $39.90*

Bearing Lubricators

$34.90*

Spring Loaded Outboard Motor Support

ONLY

$39.90*

BLA Code 215218

• Soft poly ‘V’ holds motor leg • Metal yoke at base locks on trailer rear beam • 520 – 780mm operating range. Suits motors to 150hp

Engine Accessories Spin-on Fuel Filter Element

ONLY

$11.50*

BLA Code 200394

BLA Code 200106

11.3 Lt Fuel Tank

• Fits Mercury® filter heads • Removes 98.8% of emulsified water and foreign particles to 20 microns

FROM

$37.90*

ONLY

• Non corrosive uV stabilised plastic

$6.90*

$109.00*

FROM

BLA Code 200808 – 816

BLA Code 200722

Outboard Flushers

Hydrofoil SE Sport

• Available in Rect cups BLA 200722, Oval cups BLA 200723 and Dual inlet BLA 200720

• Improves hole shot and minimal planing speed • SE 200 suits 9.9 – 150hp black or grey • SE 300 suits 25 – 350hp black, grey or white

Fuel Hoses

FROM

$13.50*

ONLY

$49.90*

• PVC fuel hoses with uV stabilised BLA Code 200230 primer bulb • Available in BRP® (Evinrude®/Johnson®) BLA 200224, Yamaha®/Mercury® BLA 200232, Mercury® 99 to date BLA 200233 and universal no connectors BLA 200230

Oils & Lubricants

• Cam action self locking buckle • 25mm strap with 0.4 – 1.8m adjustment with ‘S’ hook at both ends

Wheel Bearing Kit

ONLY

• Zinc coated solid flat bar steel and BLA Code 215206 solid brass padlock with 8mm st/steel shank • Fits coupling when connected/disconnected to vehicle

ONLY

$19.90*

• Spring loaded chrome bearing BLA Code 215170 cap for constant bearing lubrication • Supplied with PVC dust cover (sold as pairs)

Tamar Marine

Grease Gun • Steel construction grease gun with solid and flexible attachments • Supplied with 85gm grease cartridge

BLA Code S18-9783

Water Sports Knee Board • Dual density EVA knee pads • Tow hook at front • Extremely stable

Ski Rope and Handle

ONLY

BLA Code 501426

ONLY

• 23m, 680kg breaking strain • Solid alloy core handle with soft rubber grip

$24.90*

BLA Code 501440

Marineline

6-8 West Tamar Rd, Launceston

279 Argyle St, Hobart

P: 6331 6188

P: 6231 0345

$199.00*

spr ing super sale PFD’s BLA Code 241061

• universal fit • Manual inflation from replaceable CO2 canister • Available in navy BLA 241060 and gunmetal BLA 241061 • Australian Standard AS1512 TM

Certified Product

Ocean Mate PFD1

$49.90*

FROM

BLA Code 241502 – 504

• Head support, zip and webbing strap • Crotch strap on infant & child sizes • Available in Infant BLA 241502 – 504, Child BLA 241506 – 508 and Adult BLA 241512 – 520 • Australian Standard AS1512

3 in 1 Rod Holders

Cutting Board

$49.90*

ONLY

• Includes mount to BLA Code 394801 suit existing straight or angled rod holder • uV stabilised polyethylene & anodised aluminium

‘D’ Shaped Berley Bucket with Muncher

Bait Box • use as bait box, fish box, livewell tank or storage • Cutting board lid • 300mm L x 200mm W x 190 mm H

$119.00*

ONLY

BLA Code 395060

• One piece polyethylene, permanently bolts to transom • Supplied with aluminium berley muncher

$64.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 395222

$19.90*

ONLY

$13.90*

BLA Code 223170

BLA Code 222112

6V Rubberised Torch

Flare Container • Rigid poly container with threaded lid, for storage of flares and other emergency items

Fire Extinguisher

FROM

$21.50*

• Dry powder, suitable for: BLA Code 226999 A class - Wood, paper, cloth, B class - Liquids, E class - Electrical • 0.6kg/1A:5B:E BLA 226999 • 1.0kg/1A:10B:E BLA 227001 $24.90*

PARTICIPATING DEALERS

22_08_Sp_TasFNews

$49.90*

Ocean Tot PFD1

0NLY

$74.90*

ONLY

$13.90*

• Specifically designed for BLA Code 241634 – 636 toddlers and infants • Neoprene crutch strap and fold back collar • Available in 10- 15kg & 12 – 25kg • Australian Standard AS1512

BLA Code 261002

1lt Drifter Gelcoat Restorer • Removes stains from fibreglass, painted timber, steel surfaces

ONLY

$11.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 261036

$13.90*

BLA Code 261038

1lt Portasan Top 1lt Portasan Waste Tank Rinse Tank Additive 500gm Boat Polishes ONLY *

$14.90

• Available in Superfine BLA 261180 and Extracut BLA 261192

BLA Code 261180 & 192

Oils & Lubricants

10W-30 4 Stroke Outboard Engine Oil

FROM

$9.90*

BLA Code S18-9420-2

• Exceeds requirements of BRP® (Johnson®/Evinrude®) Mercury®, Yamaha®, Suzuki® and Honda® • Available in 946ml BLA S18-9420-2 and 3.78lt BLA S189420-3

Safety

• 6V battery included • 6 position adjustable stand

FROM

• Canoeing, sailing etc. BLA Code 241546 – 548 • Webbing straps, zip & reflective patches • Available in Child BLA 241546 – 548 and Adult BLA 241552 – 558 • Australian Standards AS1499

$85.00*

ONLY

• For straight or angled single BLA Code 394654/82/86 rod holders • Port, centre and starboard models available • uV stabilised polyethylene & anodised aluminium

ONLY

Maintenance

Fishing Accessories

(Port shown)

Coast Mate PFD2

Certified Product

$89.00*

ONLY

Certified Product

Inflatable PFD1

Tamar Marine

FROM

TCW3 2 Stroke Outboard Engine Oil

• Meets all industry standards for TCW3 requirements • Available in 940ml BLA S18-9520-2 and 3.78lt BLA S18-9520-3

Premium Gear Lube • For marine gearboxes using GL-5 class lubricant • 946ml

ONLY

$9.90*

BLA Code S18-9600-2

Wet Weather Gear Rain Jacket & Pants Set

ONLY

$17.50*

BLA Code 243972 – 82

• Removable hood & press stud front • Elastic sleeves/waist

Humminbird stockists.

Minn Kota stockists.

Marineline

6-8 West Tamar Rd, Launceston

279 Argyle St, Hobart

P: 6331 6188

P: 6231 0345

$8.50*

BLA Code S18-9520-2

spr ing super sale Steering

Paddles

Laguna Steering Wheel

$32.90*

ONLY

• uV stabilised thermo plastic • Suits ¾˝ tapered shaft • 335mm diameter

BLA Code 271026

Champion Steering Wheel • Italian styled weather resistant black grip • uV stabilised thermo plastic • 340mm diameter

$39.90 *

ONLY

BLA Code 271030

$199.00

* FROM • Compact rotary helm, BLA Code 280112 ¾˝ tapered shaft • Meets ABYC/NMA standards • Multiple cable lengths available

Mechanical Steering Kit

Side Mount Outboard Steering Kit

$699.00*

ONLY

BLA Code 291570

• For engines with tilt tubes • Hydraulic reliability

$899.00*

ONLY

Economy Paddle

BLA Code 221060

• Anodised aluminium shaft with black nylon blade • 1220mm overall, sold individually

2 Piece Telescopic Paddle

• Economical hydraulic steering • Max single engine rating 150hp

Side Mount Steering Kit

ONLY

$849.00*

BLA Code 221064

• Extends from 762 to 1066mm

Double Ended Paddle

ONLY

• 2 piece aluminium shaft & nylon blades • Adjustable blade angles

Simply Magic Paddles

Front Mount Hydraulic Steering Kit

BLA Code 527254/58 • One piece 29mm dia, 218cm fibreglass or alloy shafts • 60 degree offset 180mm wide blades • Available in Alloy BLA 527254/58 and Fibreglass BLA 527312/16 $119.00*

Water Sports ONLY

Canoes & Kayaks ONLY

$1399.00*

Junior Trainers

• Stabiliser bar & rope keep skis together, but can be easily removed • Double ended tow rope to give juniors additional confidence

ONLY

Adult Skis

BLA Code 521658 – 670

• Can be paddled by 1 or 2 persons with 3rd seat for child • Extremely stable, great in the surf or for larger paddlers

Tamar Marine

ONLY

Double Tube

ONLY

$199.00*

• Suits 2 children to sit BLA Code 501478 in recessed or 1 adult straddled • Heavy duty nylon outer with PVC inner • Boston valve for fast inflation/deflation

Mysto Surf • Surf or recreational paddling • Main skeg and two outer fins for superior tracking • Moulded backrest, drainage scuppers plus carry handles

NEW RELEASE

ONLY

$799.00*

BLA Code 521096 –104

Marineline

6-8 West Tamar Rd, Launceston

279 Argyle St, Hobart

P: 6331 6188

P: 6231 0345

$22.90*

BLA Code 501445

• Polypropylene rope with pulley, float & shackle • 1080kg breaking strain • 4.2m length, allows for podded outboard installations

• Stable, seaworthy fishing kayak or touring sit-on top • Moulded cargo area, flush mount rod holders, Plano tackle box & more

$949.00*

• Concave bottom for sharp cornering and straight tracking • Precision RIM moulded construction with poly-carbonate fins

Ski Bridal

Prowler 13

ONLY

$199.00*

BLA Code 501420

BLA Code 521240 – 48

Malibu Two

$109.00*

BLA Code 501424

BLA Code 291600

• Single engine application to 300hp • Meets ABYC/NMA standards

$89.00*

FROM

BLA Code 291610

$1099.00*

$34.90*

BLA Code 221049

• Single engine application to 300hp • For outboards with tilt tubes • Meets ABYC/NMA standards

FROM

$13.90*

ONLY

BLA Code 291560

Compact Front Mount Hydraulic Steering Kit

$7.90*

ONLY

Fishing The Night Shift Trout fishing at night can be a very productive time to go fishing. A lot of big fish have been caught after dark using many different fishing techniques. For a trout, there is no safer time to venture into the shallower margins in search of food. All of the aerial predators such as cormorants and sea eagles are roosting at this time. Along with the birds, most of the anglers are also tucked up in bed at this time. There are, however, those very keen anglers who have experienced the rewards of fishing after dark. For many, it’s a time to squeeze in a few more hours of trout fishing through the week and the chance to target the bigger fish that are so illusive during the day.

Choosing a location

If at all possible, it is a good idea to fish an area that you have fished during the day. Having a mental picture of the area you’re about to fish will help you choose the best location. When the sky has little or no cloud cover and the moon is out, it is surprising just how much you can see once your eyes have become accustomed to the low light. Standing or fallen trees, large exposed rocks and even the weed that has grown to the surface can be seen in the moonlight. On a moon lit night it is possible to fish the more challenging areas amongst the trees that are normally too difficult to fish while casting lures, flies or baits during the darkest of nights. In the light of the moon, the last of the light after sun set or the first light at dawn, it’s possible to see rising or tailing fish. If you have the option, choose a shore that will see you fishing towards this available light, giving you the best chance of success.

Lakes

Many of our lakes have dam walls that are constructed with large rocks. During the night, fish can often be found lying hard in amongst these walls. This can obviously produce some great fishing, and a cast made close in along the wall is always worthwhile. Trout use creek beds and weedy channels like roads to access the shallows, making these prime locations to fish at night. Shallow bays that drop off into deeper water are another good place to try. Shores where tailing trout are common are another worthwhile option. Trout can come into these shores to feed at dusk and will not leave until the sun is up.

Fighting a good brownie like this in the dark can be quite a chaallenge. Casting and slowly retrieving wattle grubs at night is a very affective fishing technique that is used by many anglers. An unweighted wattle or wood grub is fed onto a grub hook and the line is half hitched over the grubs head to stop the grub sliding down the hook. The grub is then used almost like a lure as it is continually cast and slowly retrieved. Close-faced spincast reels such as Daiwa’s ‘Gold Cast’ are ideally suited to this form of fishing. The second you feel a hit from a fish you can instantly lower the rod tip and press the lever at the back of the reel to put the reel into free spool. This quick action prevents the fish feeling any unnatural weight that could cause a fish to drop the bait. The usual procedure is to allow the fish to take line, stop and swallow the bait and then set the hook after the fish starts taking line again. The timing of the strike is usually refined during the night depending on the behaviour of the fish after taking the bait. The obvious problem with this is gathering or buying the live grubs before you go fishing. A good alternative is to use the soft plastic varieties that are available at most tackle stores. These can be scented or unscented, depending on the brand you buy. The soft grubs can be rigged and fished in the same way as you would the natural bait. Some of the harder plastic grubs come with a set of trebles at the rear. When using these there is no need to let the fish run before setting the hook. These artificial grubs are very effective when trout are continually dropping the natural bait after the initial take. Another advantage of using the artificial is that most fish are hooked in the mouth and not the stomach as they are with bait. You will also spend less time cutting grubs and more time fishing.

Rivers Many of the large fish in rivers will often hold up in big deep pools, which are often overgrown or have steep banks, limiting access and fishing pressure to these areas. As the light starts to fade, the larger fish will leave the safety of these inaccessible areas to search for food. Often lured out of their lie by the movement, sound or smell of potential food.

Lures

In the seventies and eighties Fish Cakes were made famous as a night time lure on the massive fish of Lake Pedder. Today, there are many more surface lures available to tempt trout at night. Fizzers, walking surface lures, poppers, even simple home made surface lures cut from broom handles will catch trout at night. Sub-surface shallow running bibbed and bib-less lures and of course unweighted soft plastics are worth a try if the surface lures aren’t preforming. A very slow retrieve is the normal tactic, as is a slow start and stop retrieve. Try different retrieves until you find the one that works.

Natural and Artificial Baits

Bait fishing with set rods at night is very popular and is often done using a running sinker rig or just a hook and unweighted bait. The only difference between bait fishing at night and day is in the way a bite is detected. All types of bite sensing devices have been made over the years, from bells that are clipped to the rod tip to all sorts of battery operated lights and bells that are switched on as the line is pulled after the fish has taken the bait, activating the switch. Fishing News - Page 32

Loud lures are great.

Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is hard enough during the day, without the added complication of not being able to see what your line is doing during the cast, but it does have its rewards. From the moment you start to make a cast in the blackness of night your sense of feel and hearing take over. Instead of watching the false cast, you are now totally reliant on the casting techniques you have learnt and the sound and feel of the line as it passes overhead. As soon as the cast is made your anticipation and concentration intensifies as you prepare yourself for a soft or savage pull on the line as a trout takes your fly. Unlike bait fishing there is no need to let the fish run before setting the hook. Once hooked, it’s a matter of playing out the fish by stripping in line or by getting the loose line back onto the reel as quick as possible to fight the fish from the reel. Using

A selection of night flies. the light of the moon to locate rising fish a dry fly can be presented with some degree of accuracy. When using very small dry flies that are impossible to see, it is very difficult to know when a trout has taken your fly. If you’re unsure, it’s better to use a strip strike without lifting your rod to set the hook, thereby leaving your fly on the water ready for the next rise, that could be on your fly. Another way is to tie on a big bushy dry fly that can be easily seen with a small fly tied to the bend of the hook using a short length of tippet. It’s then just a matter of striking when the larger fly starts to move or has been drawn under.

Casting

The difference between having a good or bad experience while fishing at night will depend on your chosen location and how well you can cast and manage line. Having a good sense of humour after you inevitably hook up on the back cast or end up with a tangled mess will also help. Before I go fishing I like to stretch out the length of my fly line between two fence posts or trees and allow it to hang off the ground under its own weight. I then clean and apply fly line dressing and allow it to hang there for at least half an hour. This gets all the twists and kinks out of your line and reduces friction through your rod eyes, giving you the best chance of trouble free casting. If you can cast well during the day, with a little practice and patience, you won’t have too much trouble casting at night. Making long casts at night are normally not required, given that the fish are usually close to shore. Until you can cast with confidence at night it pays to protect your eyes with a set of clear safety glasses. Why risk your sight for the sake of a cheap set of glasses. Some form of head cover, be it a hat or hood will also add some protection. Finally choose a location where the wind will assist your casting and blow the line away from your body.

Line Management

The types of retrieves and the way you manage your fly line can make a big difference to your night fishing experience. A variety of slow retrieves are usually the norm at night. One common method to manage the retrieved line is to gather it in loops, holding the loops with your line hand. These loops are prone to becoming tangled if they are gathered in at the same length, therefore, a useful way to reduce the amount of tangled loops is to make the first loop larger than your last. The length of your strips can remain the same, just let the first three or four strips drop before holding onto the next,

creating a large loop. Then reduce the number of loops you drop as you continue to retrieve line. Each loop will be slightly smaller than the first, resulting in fewer tangles. The figure eight retrieve is another good way to control line in the dark, giving very few tangles. By using the fingers on your line hand you can gather small loops into the palm of your hand, creating an erratic twitching retrieve. Because these small loops are contained in the palm of your hand they are less likely to be tangled by the wind or your casting action. Stripping baskets are usually worn around the waist. These are a great way to control line and prevent tangles at night. The line from any retrieve is simply dropped into the basket ready to be recast. Stripping baskets are best used while fishing from a boat or from a fixed position. Walking any distance with a stripping basket full of line usually ends up with a tangled mess from the line being shaken up in the basket. When wading, your floating line can be stripped into the water at your feet. This only becomes a problem if your line starts to sink and becomes looped around your feet or a snag on the bottom. Tangled leaders and weed covered flies can be detected by the different sound they make during casting. Regularly checking your leader and fly from time to time with a torch will pick up any irregularities with the fly or leader that have gone unnoticed. Searching the water with a fly at night is done in exactly the same way as you would during the day. Fan out your casts to cover new water and if the light allows, locate and cast to any likely spots that may have a trout waiting in ambush. Dead trees, large rocks, and exposed weed beds are all worth a well placed cast.

Flies

Flies that are fished at the surface such as mouse flies, cork or foam flies, deer hair muddlers and Chernobyl Ants can be very exciting to use as you will often hear the sound of a fish taking these at the surface. As the fly is retrieved across the surface, it creates a disturbance in the surface film that is hard for a trout to ignore. Surface flies are a good option in situations where the weed has grown, making it impossible to fish sub-surface flies.

When trout are not responding to surface flies, sub-surface flies will usually do the job. Fur flies, woolly worms, woolly buggers, mudeyes and matuka style flies all work well.

Equipment

Headlamps are the way to go when it comes to fishing at night. They allow you to tie knots with ease and are great to use while walking any distance over rough ground. Many headlamps are now available using LED lights, giving up to 120 hours of battery Artificial soft plastics often work as well as the real life on a three light thing and are available at most tackle stores. headlamp. A spare set of batteries or a back up torch is also advisable. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing to keep the cold wind off your neck and head. Your hands worse than trying to tie on anther fly, lure or hook with no tend to cop the cold the most when they are wet from rain light or trying to make your way back to the car over some of or handling fish. There are many gloves available, but not too many give you much in the way of warmth and the sense of the terrain around our lakes and rivers. The type of clothing you wear to keep warm and dry will feel, when it comes to handling fishing tackle. Fingerless gloves dictate where and in what conditions you can comfortably fish. offer a good sense of feel until you loose the feeling in your Most nights are going to be cold, so investing in quality thermal fingertips through the cold. The best gloves I have used are undergarments that allow free movement, is just as important the full-fingered thermal gloves. These are very thin, allowing as buying a rod and reel. Thermal gear is available in different free movement and feeling and will keep your hands warm thicknesses and can be worn as layers to suit the time of year. for some time even when wet. Because they take up very little Your usual trousers, jumpers and coats can then be worn room, a second pair can be carried, just in case the first pair over the top of these layers. Waders are another layer that will becomes too wet. To fish comfortably at night, you do need to be prepared keep you dry and warm. The neoprene waders are very good when standing in icy water for long periods. The ever-popular for the cold. Once you have the right gear, fishing the night breathable waders worn with thick thermal leggings can keep shift can be as enjoyable as any other day on the water. Fishing you warm in icy water, but over shorter periods. Wearing good at night will open up a whole new timeslot, giving you yet quality socks will keep your feet warm allowing you more time another option when it comes to deciding when and where on the water in comfort. Neck gators and balaclavas are good to go trout fishing. Craig Rist

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West Coast Stripey Trumpeter Introduction

I love fishing adventures and coupled with the promise of huge fish and a new location, I was keen to test this new spot. The stripey trumpeter (latris linaeta) commonly run from 1 to 8kg, but in offshore fishing grounds they can grow from 10 to 15kg with the odd monster to 25kg. These fish are primarily a forager and hunter, feeding on crustacea, shellfish, squid and octapi, although large fish will take small fish. My good friend Geoff Cook and Mark Breadon had invited me to fish with them off the west coast, just south of the Arthur River. The shelf off the northern end of the west coast is well out, but as you travel south it becomes more accessible. This said, it is still a long way out. Our launching site still had us traveling 21 nautical miles to sea. We were lucky enough to have a little inside information coming from a respected local angler who had fished this area extensively. Armed with the waypoint he had given us, we basically headed due west .

The day out

We arrived at our mate’s shack and saw the mighty ice age already attached to the small red tractor, and with our gear quickly stowed on board we headed onto the beach, the launching was pretty painless but if done with a four wheel drive would see you sinking your vehicle a long way in the water. There is only a small entrance to this beach so great care should be taken with any launching in a new spot, lucky for us Geoff is pretty familiar with the area so we encounted no problems. we had organized to meet out near the shelf, with our man who had left from his own launching site. We travelled to our mark, then slowly travelled out a little further, searching for good bottom and echos on the sounder. I find that striped trumpeter like low and rubbley bottom as apposed to really rough bottom. We started fishing in 114 metres of water and with our first fish coming quickly. Mark was the lucky angler and he landed a nice stripey weighing in at about 5 kg. Now because of short notice we had found a shortage of sinkers, with my bottom bashing bag suffering a barrage of attacks from our mates, the barracouta. I spent a fair amount of time making rigs after being bitten off time after time by the razor gang. My first fish was my personal best stripey at around 10 kg and was a magnificent fish. With a few photgraphs taken, I was back in action. The next fish however had me guessing with its powerful runs and massive head shakes, put a fair bit of preassure on for about 5 minutes, then a beautiful school shark appeared out of the murky depths. This was my first schoolie and I was rapt. We landed six stripeys and two school sharks and lost two other schoolies after long drawn out fights. We also caught morwong, couta, octopus and gurnad. With this style of fishing you must be patient and study your sounder and plotter, moving your drifts and marking the areas where you are hooking your target species. I always keep letting line out so you are always in contact with the bottom, it doesn’t take much wind or tide to lift your baits out of the strike zone, when fishing in 100 plus metres of water.

Gear and Rigs:

I prefer to use a egg beater or threadline reel ( conventional spinning reel) as apposed to an overhead reel. They are much easier to use and with the braid lines of today, the capacity of line is not a problem. I use between 30 to 50 lb braid, since using these these new lines you can fish a lot lighter sinkers and you have a superior feel in deep water. Most people have a favourite rod for bottom fishing, mine is a Silstar Crystal Tip jigging rod, it is fairly short but has a ton of power to keep these tough fish out of the snags. My rig is nice an simple, It is a standard paternoster bottom rig. I make mine fairly long, this has my top hook well off the bottom. My hook of choice is a Mustad Big Gun in sizes 6/0 to 10/0. Sinker is a snapper lead, size depends on the depth, tide and wind. Only use as much weight as you need to get your baits to the bottom. On this last trip, it was on short notice so I didnt get many rigs pre made. Normally I would have many rigs made up and ready to Fishing News - Page 34

The West Coast is not as highly regarded as the East Coast as good striped trumpeter destination. Perhaps anglers are wrong when you see a fish like this taken by Mason Paull. go in kids sandwich bags, so then in the event of a bust or bite off you can re-rig and get back into the game. Some people go overboard with their leader material. I rig the same with all my fishing, go as light as possible to present your bait as natuaral as possible. This said, I use between 80 and 100 lb Jinkai or similar to make my bottom rigs up. No ugly crimps or anything like that, just a top quality ball bearing swivel two hooks and a snapper lead sinker and some green lumo beads to hang above the hooks. With baits, I like big baits such as barracouta, squid or mackerel. My favourite bait is a long fillet of couta. Couta hangs on well and when fillited, has a long line down the middle of the fillet, cut down this line and you will have long thin strips that make big beautifull baits. Remember big baits equal big fish.

An early start in a seaworthy boat is necessary on the West Coast.

Safety:

Now I cannot stress enough about saftey when it comes to fishing off the wild West Coast, weather can be un-predictable and the sea can be very un-forgiving. We had had someone who had fished down there for most of his life, giving us the heads up on the weather and helped us out with a waypoint. You must carry plenty of fuel, have all saftey gear and make sure to let some one know where you are going and your estimated time of arival back at the ramp will be. Stick to the time that you have given. There are only a handful of days each year that allow you to head offshore on the West Coast so choose them carefully. Remember, no fish is worth risking your life for.

A super day and superb catch.

Preparing for the table:

Now that you have caught one or two of Tassy’s best table fish, you must bleed them straight away, and remove the gills and guts , wash them in saltwater and get them on ice. This makes them better eating. You go through a lot of trouble to get them so a bit of care after landing them is well worth the extra effort. Just remember that these are very slow growing fish and your average legal stripey is around about 20 years old. Only take what you need for a feed, lets all enjoy these great sportsfish and make sure generations to come can enjoy the same thing Mason Paull

The author with a shark, which are a rewarding bycatch.

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Fishing News - Page 35

Trolling for trout

Trolling for Trout is undoubtedly the most popular and challenging form of fishing in Tasmania. It can be as easy as tying on a lure and towing it behind the boat, but believe me there is so much more to trolling, as it can be much more rewarding and enjoyable. There are so many variables to trolling that it can be as technical as any other type of fishing and at times even more so. It just depends on how pro active you want to be as a troller. There are a number of variables that have a direct effect on lures when trolling, luckily we have control over these variables. How well we understand all the variables and how well we are able to apply them to our trolling has an enormous impact on our success. Looking at these variables, including how you position your boat, lure design, line diameters, line out and trolling speed we should be able to develop a better understanding of what happens on the business end of our line. Flatlining, down rigging, side planning and leadlining are the main terms used for various forms of trolling. Let’s take a look at these and what goes into trolling. Hopefully you find something in this article you can take away and use to your advantage to put fish in the boat.

Flatlining

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This term basically means trolling a lure behind the boat with nothing impeding the line or acting as an attractor or to gain extra depth other than what the lure being towed will achieve. Flatlining is what the majority of anglers do, which is fine as it is probably the most effective method in the majority of Tasmanian waters and also because Trout spend a fair amount of their time feeding on or near the surface. Tackle used for flatlining should be selected and used in accordance with boat size and the type of lures and water you fish. Both spinning and casting reel advocates have their favourites for flat line trolling, and both obviously have

A variety of gear such as leadline, downriggers and flatlines will give you a chance at attracting fish from different depths. advantages and disadvantages. I generally opt for casting or overhead reels to run out the back as flat lines. Overheads trolled in this manner tend to sit well in a rod holder with the guides facing up and any striking fish pulling line from the reel against the backbone of the rod as it should be. Rods I favour are in the 6’ to 6’6”. Fast action light rods in the 2-4kg range work well for this application. Short light rods are great fun to land fish with, but they don’t really give your lures much of a spread. To increase the distance between my trolled lures I generally use a much longer rods at the sides of the boat that allows me to turn more sharply and work my lures to better advantage. Light fast action overhead rods in the 2 – 4kg range with a length of 6’-7’6” are ideal for this application. Spinning rods should be of the same lengths but with slightly longer butts so the reels handles and bail arms are kept clear of rod holders and gunnels. Generally with two anglers on board I troll a four rod set. Two rods set amidships and at right anglers to the side of the boat roughly parallel to the water, and two rods set in each back corner facing directly out the back of the boat pointing straight at the lures at a fairly high angle. In a normal 12’ tinny this spread will have your lures tracking roughly 4-5 ft apart.

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Downrigging is using a heavy lead weight to take the lure to a greater depth than most other methods will do. Whilst I know anglers that use a handcaster with heavy cord tied to a lump of lead I would not advocate it. A proper downrigger has a rod holder and spool affixed to a boom(arm) with a roller on the end that the wire runs over. Wire is used rather than cord as it has less water resistance because it is thinner and it is also stronger. A proper bomb(lead weight) is usually shaped so it is aerodynamic. A small release clip is fixed to the rear of the bomb and this is what holds the fishing line and lets go when a fish strikes so the angler fights the fish

with his rod free of the bomb. Some down riggers also have a line counter so you know precisely what depth your lure is being trolled at. A down rigger used in conjunction with a depth sounder can be deadly as you can track the bottom or over weeds beds precisely by adjusting the down rigger up or down according to the depth you wish to troll. I’ve used many down riggers and have found Canon to be one of the better brands on the market.

Leadline

Leadline is beginning to wane a bit in popularity as the weight of the line whilst playing out fish tends to make them feel like a wet sock at times which is pretty unsporting for most. Leadlines come in different line weights but 18lb is the excepted norm and is also colored. The colors change every ten meters and spools come in three and ten colors. Most anglers would be aware of the effect water pressure has on leadline so I wont expand to much on it except to say that its almost impossible to physically troll slow enough for ten colors of leadline to hang vertical so what happens is after about 4-5 colors(variable according to lure type) water pressure begins to push the line back towards the surface so hence you get a big bow in the line. Most anglers use only three colors with five maximum and this is what I would also advocate. To rig leadine simply push approx 4 inches of lead out of the core and break off, push the now hollow outer back out flat and tie your leader directly to this short length using a uni knot or something similar. If you do not break off a short length of the lead and simply tie a knot directly to the line you risk your leader slipping off the leadline because the pressure of the knot will invariably break the lead inside and this will want to slip out under pressure letting your leader slip with it. Leadline can only be used effectively on an overhead reel. A rod between 5’6” and 6’ should be used and must be fairly heavily weighted (3-4kg) to counter act the weight of the line.

Lines

Choosing a trolling line for most trollers generally involves looking at properties like strength, abrasion, resistance, amount of stretch and for some applications colour. There are a host of excellent trolling lines available, choosing one is partly personal preference and partly the application. To determine the difference line diameter makes in relation to lure diving depth, a general fixed standard has been set at 10lb. breaking strain. Studies done to establish diving depth of lures have used this standard as a baseline to determine accurate depths. Nearly all lures will run deeper when trolled on smaller diameter lines, due largely to the effect of water resistance against the line. Try to use line of the smallest diameter to its breaking strain possible. One of my favourites is Platypus Super 100 and braided lines. The new generation of braided lines are also another viable option for trolling. Softer rods and a light drag are the order of the day for trolling with braids. The minimal stretch with braided lines can result in hooks pulling and dropped fish when your not familiar with this style of line. The extra depth that

can be achieved on a trolled lure utilising braids can give the troller the option of prospecting more of the water column. Floruocarbon makes great leader material because of its abrasion resistance. Some of the new lo stretch mono’s are definatley worth looking at but I cant offer an opinion on these as I am yet to use them trolling. I tend to stick with 610lb mono and 6-8lb braided line. Leader length and size will depend upon water clarity and how much timber weed and rock your trolling around. Line stretch and resultant breakage can be a problem with some lines. Stretch is usually difficult to detect until you snag up or try to land a big fish. Ordinarily you can see or feel the difference when your line has stretched and not fully recovered. When your line is stretched it may also show up as a different colour, most noticeable with darker coloured lines. To avoid problems like this most line manufacturers recommend that you cut approximately 1.5 – 2.0 metres off your line and retie your lure after landing a big fish or getting snagged. It’s probably something that most anglers don’t do often enough.

Sounders and GPSs.

Sounders are by far the most under utilized tool in a boat. I’m constantly amazed at how many anglers come into my shop admit they don’t know how to use their sounder and how many don’t even own one! Maybe I’m a child of technology but I wouldn’t be without a sounder for any sort of fishing. Don’t make the mistake of thinking they will find lots of fish for you and you just drop a lure down and catch fish because that is a rarity. A sounder is important to you whilst trolling because it’ll give you the depth your in and a picture of the bottom and any structure under and near your position. Take my advice get a sounder even a cheap one and learn how to use it and your fishing will improve. Of late GPS’s are becoming more popular for trolling as you can plot a track as you go and if you get onto a patch of fish you can back track your line and keep trolling backwards and forwards on the position the fish are holding. How far back you troll your lures also dictates and determines dive depth and action. . Letting more line out while moving all lures will eventually reach an effective maximum running depth. The majority of floating/diving lures will reach there maximum depth between 50 – 75m of line out. Obviously, if we know the distance a lure is behind the boat and the relationship to the distance the lure is down,

Trollers should take extra care in setting and monitoring gear. Too many anglers just ‘set and forget’ and results don’t come. Get it right and results will be increased many times over. we can achieve any depth in between the lures maximum depth and the surface. To do this accurately we need some sort of mechanism to measure line out. There are a number of means to do this including marking your line in measured increments, counting bars on a level wind reel, line counter reels, or a Tackle Tracka line counter, designed in Australia from Precise Angling. Regardless of which method you use, the consistency and exactness of the measurement of line out will determine how accurately you can predict the depth of your trolled lure!

Lures.

Winged style lures such as Loftys Cobras and Tassie Devils are by far the most popular lures for trolling in Tasmania and rightly so as they catch a lot of fish. They can be rigged in many various ways including running the line through your lure then a bead and tied off to a single hook or a treble. Or alternatively the line through the lure and tied off to a split ring with a single hook threaded onto the ring. If using a treble I like to use one a couple of

sizes bigger than what comes with the lure. I find a larger one will give a better hook up rate. Bibbed diving lures are becoming more popular with anglers as the shimmy action many of these lures have represent many various bait fish we find in our lakes. The diving nature of these lures lets anglers work at more varying depths also. Boat speeds are also important but most anglers get the fact you troll as slow as you can. If you find your moving to fast a sturdy bucket or small drogue can be dragged behind the boat to great effect. Lures for flatlining come in all shapes and sizes with a range of actions and diving capabilities. Lures with different running depths can be used to target fish in different parts of the water column. You can run a lure right on top of a shallow rocky bottom with a shallow running floating lure or fish an 8m. drop off with a deep diver. The key to successful trolling of any lure lies in understanding each models properties, including optimum speed, depth capabilities and action. Trolling is a lot of fun and can be very productive. Don’t be a lazy bugger and just throw a lure out the back and drive around the lake all day sucking on a stubby. Learn and understand the variables in trolling and you’ll be rewarded for your efforts. Leroy Tirant

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Fishing News - Page 38

Bradys Chain Of Lakes

Greg French

Early in the trout season, high-elevation waters like Great Lake, the Nineteen Lagoons and Little Pine Lagoon (all higher than 1000 metres) can be very cold and uneventful, so this is an ideal time to try fishing further west in the Bronte district. Without doubt, the most high-profile lake in the western part of the Central Plateau is Bronte Lagoon. This is largely because of its wet-fly fishing and superb rises, both of which can be world class. However, the nearby Bradys chain of lakes offers more consistent fishing and more variety. Greg French explains how you can make the most of the venue during the opening months of the coming trout season.

Description

The Bradys chain of lakes includes three waters (Bradys Lake, Lake Binney and Tungatinah Lagoon) which are interconnected via deep canals and share a common regime of water manipulation. Water enters the system at Bradys Lake (via Woodwards Canal from Bronte Lagoon, and the Dee Tunnel from Dee Lagoon). It flows through Lake Binney to Tungatinah Lagoon and exits via a pipeline to the Tungatinah Power Station on the banks of the Nive River. All three lakes have a full supply of 651.2 metres and a normal operating range of about 4.6 metres. Water levels in any one lake cannot be manipulated independently of the others, so levels are always consistent across all three impoundments. For this reason the chain can be considered as one distinct fishery, and rather than talk about each lake individually, I prefer to discuss the various shores and bays in the context of the whole chain, just as I would talk about, say, Cowpaddock Bay in the overall context of Arthurs Lake. Generally the shores in the Bradys chain are steep and rocky, and at times of low water expansive clay banks are exposed—all of which contrasts unfavourably with the gentle, lush banks characteristic of Bronte Lagoon. Nonetheless, there are some weedy shallows and the lakes are certainly neither ugly nor barren. The water is usually wonderfully clear, certainly of a higher quality than that in Bronte, though heavy on-shore waves can temporarily disturb the margins.

Trout stocks

Wild trout in the Bradys chain generally weigh from 0.5–1.0 kg but fish to 1.5 kg are hardly uncommon and some of the biggest specimens (generally those which are proficient at hunting redfin perch) attain 3 kg or so. On average, Tungatinah fish are slightly bigger than those in the other two lakes.

While brown trout dominate, wild rainbows are common, especially in Bradys Lake which is deepest and closest to the main rainbow spawning areas. In recent years, the IFS has intensively stocked Bradys Lake with domestic fish—predominantly small hatchery-reared rainbow yearlings, brook trout yearlings and large adult Atlantic salmon. These fish remain concentrated in Bradys Lake but disperse throughout Lake Binney and Tungatinah Lagoon. The average size of the stockies fluctuates according to the time elapsed between stocking events. The rainbows and brookies are often small and tatty, but can attain 0.7 kg and more. The Atlantics are often 4–9 kg when released, but are prone to become slabby if not caught within a few months. Despite the huge quantity of domestic fish liberated in recent years, wild trout remain the real attraction, and you can still catch good quantities of them if you know where to concentrate your efforts.

Fly fishing when water levels are high

By and large, the shore-based fly fisher is confined to the places favoured by wild brown trout, and the fishing is never better than when levels are high in late winter and early spring. The Bradys chain of lakes holds a variety of trout and The Hydro is able to raise salmon including some good rainbows. levels simply by releasing extra water from upstream impoundments, and/or shutting down to warm up, usually by early September, the fish will normally the Tungatinah Power station, which is sometimes necessary be found tailing about in the shallows and/or rising close in for maintenance and other reasons. However, in the normal on shore. The best floodplain in Bradys Lake is the grassy Shack course of events the lakes are usually drained to something approaching normal minimum operating level by about March Shore (which extends from the southern end of the dam (especially if the summer has been hot and dry) and allowed to the outlet canal). In Lake Binney it is the shallow weedy Island Shore (just south of the outlet canal) and in Tungatinah to fill quickly when there are heavy spring rains. This year the chain was low throughout much of the Lagoon it is the Northern Shore (particularly the flooded winter. Still, despite the ongoing drought, a single rain event marshy corner near the dam wall and the weedy shallows just can be enough to fill the system, so a return to high levels this south of the inlet canal). These same flats can be good for frog fishing too, especially spring is more probable than not. Rising water usually means that a wealth of grubs, worms if levels remain high for a couple of months during spring. For wet-fly enthusiasts, the fishing is best on dull days. A and terrestrial insects are flushed from the flood margins, especially over the flats. Even if there is no obvious action, as small black Woolly Bugger is preferred by many anglers, though is often the case in the cold days of early August, rest assured these days I’m quite happy to use a wee wet or nymph. If things are warm but bright, the fish may stop tailing and that there will be lots of secretive cruisers in the shallows just waiting to have a go at a wet fly. And as soon as things start become less inclined to strike savagely at wet flies. On the other

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hand, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to polaroid your quarry. Under these conditions I prefer use a rugged emerger pattern. I can retrieve it like I would a semi-buoyant wet fly, and when I spot a trout I can splat it down and leave it sitting like a traditional dry fly. A bob each way. At night, it is worthwhile prospecting with a black Woolly Bugger on a # 8 hook, but you may prefer to opt for a luminous fly. If you don’t have a traditional New Zealand pattern, such as a Dolly or Glo-squid, you can just make up a ‘Glo Bugger’ with luminous chenille for the body.

Fly fishing when levels are low and the sky bright

During August and September, rises are likely to be incidental, so if levels are low and the fish not foraging in the flooded shallows, polaroiding will be the staple. The best spots include the flats already mentioned above, but you might have to wade a bit further offshore. A real hotspot is either side of the plume where the canal from Lake Binney empties into Tungatinah Lagoon. It is best to wade out knee to thigh deep and work your way up along the edges of the riffle. I look for fish on the shallows adjacent to the lip while prospecting the deeper currents with an emerger. In October and November the rises increase substantially. You can expect good activity from spinners and gum beetles, along with intermittent hatches of caddis and smut. All of the areas already mentioned are good, but now is the time to embrace wave-washed areas as well. Foremost, during the prevailing westerly breezes, are the Bradys Sugar Loaf Shore and the eastern shore of Tungatinah Lagoon. The connecting canals are also superb, with many fish taking up station behind structure along the banks or in the middle of the currents. At this time of year I always start off with an emerger—either a First Choice or one of my own rugged white-post emergers—and I rarely get too many refusals.

Fly fishing when levels are low and the sky dull

Where to go when levels are low and sky dull really depends on how good a polaroider you are. The brown trout will be in all the places you expect to find them on bright days, but they will be harder to spot, especially if it’s too cold for good rises. Under these conditions the easiest thing to do is look along shallows bays that are well protected from the wind where polaroiding will be easiest, and where you will be likely to notice any fish that makes an incidental rise. You can prospect with a small nymph, but you’ll catch more fish if you stalk your way along the shore

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armed with an emerger. You can deposit your fly for a ten seconds at a time over deep water as you make your way along the shore, but you should concentrate on polaroiding. On a typical hard day, I’ll land three or four fish out of maybe six or eight that I see, and perhaps pick up one or two blind as well. If things are really hard, you should try retrieving a weighted nymph in Bradys Lake in the plumes from Woodwards Canal and the Dee Tunnel. You are not allowed to fish the canals themselves until after the end of October, but rainbows, predominantly small domestic fish, congregate in the currents just beyond the white posts that mark the no-fishing zone.

Fly fishing from a boat

Most of the best fly fishing is shore based, but there are very good midge hatches throughout spring. The best midge slicks and windlanes form well offshore in Bradys Lake and are highly recommended. I used to love fishing these areas for wild rainbows and browns, but these days I am frustrated by the predominance of domestic fish. Still, if you prefer good bags of small domestic rainbows to slightly smaller bags of big wild fish, there’s plenty of action to be had. Even the brook trout will have go at times. A reliable fallback if sight fishing is hard is to fish the plumes from Woodwards Canal the Dee Tunnel. Throughout spring, these currents are absolutely chocker full of pre-spawned rainbows. When using a small weighted nymph on a slow figure-of-eight retrieve it is nothing to catch huge bags of trout. So easy has the fishing become that the IFS has introduced a bag limit of five fish per angler per day. Binney and especially Tungatinah produce very good bags of wild fish when using traditional lochstyle techniques with either a team of nymphs or dries, but the sight fishing around the edges is so good that I only bother doing this when there is no light for polaroiding.

Lure fishing from the shore when levels are high

When levels are high, the best places to fish are the thigh-deep waters along the outer edges of the flooded marshes. Try the Shack Shore (Bradys Lake), the Island Shore (Lake Binney) and the Northern Shore (Tungatinah Lagoon). The brown trout are caught as they move in and out of the extreme shallows in search of frogs, drowned terrestrials and worms. It pays to use small lures so you don’t get snagged, the best options being fish-spoon wobblers, Celtas and lightly-weighted soft plastics. Remember that fly fishers will be wanting to fish the extreme shallows at this time (water too weedy for lure fishing), so take care not to disturb the fish. Wade smoothly out to the appropriate depth, and try not to race along the shallow margins spooking everything as you go.

Lure fishing from the shore when levels are low

The best places to fish when levels are low are adjacent to the inflowing Woodwards Canal the Dee Tunnel. Here you are likely to encounter dense concentrations of domestic rainbows and the action can be thick and fast. In September and October most of the trout are pre-spawners, but in November you will find many wild rainbows and some wild browns feeding heavily on redfin perch. Apart from that, almost any stretch of shore in chain is suitable, as long as you fish light.

Trolling and drift spinning

In Bradys Lake, trolling and drift spinning in and around Woodwards Canal and the Dee Tunnel currents can be very rewarding, otherwise most anglers just fish their way along sheltered shorelines. Big bags of rainbows are commonly taken, but you can expect to take worthwhile numbers of wild brown trout and even some domestic brook trout. Salmon are taken incidentally.

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Binney and Tungatinah are much shallower than Bradys. These waters are predominantly brown trout fisheries, though stockies of one species or another are increasingly common. Because the water is not very deep, most anglers prefer to troll across the open water well offshore. Tungatinah in particular is an extraordinarily productive water for drift spinning.

Bait fishing

The popular hotspots are located in Bradys Lake around the Woodwards Canal and Dee Tunnel inflows, though the mouths of the canals in Binney and Tungatinah are also well patronised. Set-rod fishing with worms and wattle grubs are favoured, but cast-and-retrieve methods usually get much better results.

Targeting salmon and brookies

Atlantic salmon and brook trout seem to have an enduring novelty value for Tasmanian anglers. The salmon are especially difficult to locate. Most are caught in Bradys Lake, where they are released, but they stray far and wide and quite a few end up in Binney and Tungatinah. The fish respond aggressively to lures, but do not feed actively once removed from the hatchery environment, so the usual trouting tactic of fishing areas where there are seasonal concentrations of food is useless. I polaroid the shorelines all the time and only spot the occasional salmon close in. Still, many fish are taken while spinning from the shore, while others are caught offshore by trollers. Bait fishers take the odd fish too, but again the reluctance of the salmon to feed can be frustrating. Salmon that aren’t caught quickly begin to waste away, so don’t be surprised to find some pathetically slabby specimens. The brook trout feed quite well but prefer cool water and are often concentrated in deeper water offshore. They disperse more freely than either rainbows or salmon and, although they are released in Bradys, they are common in Binney and Tungatinah. They are most easily seen when there are good hatches during summer and early autumn. An evening smut hatch is especially favoured. Most don’t grow much past 0.5–0.7 kg.

Wild versus domestic

Although, I don’t have any real problem with domestic fish being used to bolster stocks in lowland dams where there is negligible recruitment of wild trout, the wanton transformation of a robust wild trout fishery like the Bradys chain into a mediocre put-and-take fishery is to be abhorred. Domestic fish are not revered by serious anglers anywhere in the world. No-one would consider going halfway around the globe to target someone else’s tatty stockies, yet many people travel extraordinary distances to sample New Zealand’s rivers, Mongolia’s taimen, Norway’s salmon, Canada’s steelhead and Tassie’s wild brown. When you read The author questions the cost versus the benefit of a English magazines, they’re full on put and take fishery rather than a wild fishery. Englishmen extolling the praises of wild Irish trout, and of Irishmen lamenting England’s reliance on hatchery fish. Several people IFS, that cost will skyrocket and anglers will have to foot the have tried to invalidate these arguments by stressing that the bill. (In the March 2008 letter, the IFS suggested that the real IFS is catering for locals, not visitors. Are they suggesting that cost of providing a single adult salmon was in the order of locals deserve an inferior experience? $28 to $33.50.) Believe me, as soon as a steady demand for Nor do I accept that rampant stocking is a good way of stocked fish has been entrenched, the farms will start charging increasing licence sales: the world-wide experience suggests for their produce: their shareholders will demand it. quite the opposite. Indeed, Tasmania’s licence sales peaked Already in Tasmania we have the ludicrous situation where in the late 1980s around the time of the World Fly Fishing our IFS considers a small tatty domestic rainbow from Bradys Championship when we were proudly bragging about the Lake (bag limit 5) to be worthy of more protection than a lengths we were prepared to go in protecting all our wild big wild brown trout from Bronte Lagoon (bag limit 12 fish). fisheries. This is an admission that maintaining a mediocre put-andOne of the scariest things about becoming reliant on take fishery at Bradys is more expensive and unsustainable stockies is the cost. The IFS alluded to this in a letter dated than maintaining a robust wild fishery in the same system. March 2008 in which it first proposed reducing the bag limit Go figure. in waters that were being stocked with adult fish, a course Remember, the future of Tasmanian fishing is your hands. of action justified entirely on the grounds that things were Do you want quality fishing you can afford and be proud of ? becoming too expensive. Bear in mind that this unbearable Or not? cost was for transportation only. When the commercial farms Greg French begin charging for the fish that they now offer ‘free’ to the

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Fishing News - Page 42

Fishing from the Jetty

Intro

Fishing from a jetty is a great expearience for people of all ages, especially for the amateur angler. Tasmania has some great jettys and piers along the coastline, Georges Bay being my personel favourite. Fishing from jettys can produce some great species. The best thing about jetty fishing is that you don’t have to take a truck load of gear. All you really need is is a hook, line, sinker and bait. Prawns and squid usually do the trick and if you are like me and want to catch something huge, take some pilchards. I started my landbased fishing on a jetty on the beach across from Jetty Road (Georges Bay). It produced some great fish until it was closed to the public. There are still many great jettys to fish from in our great state. I can easily say that any jetty is a good one.

What you can catch

There are many species of fish that you can catch from a jetty and the range of fish changes during the day. Squid is the favourite species caught from jettys so it always pays to take a couple of squid jigs with you. Australian salmon, cocky salmon and tailor are a common catch, from depths of two metres upwards, and the occasional sand flathead can be caught in any depth of water. Mullet can be caught by using a tiny hook and float and dough for bait and for a little fun I sometimes target eagle rays. The eagle ray is one of the fiercest fighting fish you will encounter at a jetty and the lighter the gear, the more they play up. I target these fish because of the thrill and excitement you can get out of them. Some eagle rays I have caught have jumped clean out of the water!

Geared up and ready for anything that may come along. This is where you want to see kids.

What to use

All you need to fish succesfully from a jetty is a hand line or a typical 4-6 kg fishing rod and reel. The key to fishing from jettys is to use unweighted baits. Usually the hook and bait has enough weight to get through most wind and if the wind is to strong for an unweighted bait, just simply clip on a split shot sinker. I always take a loaf of white bread whilst fishing on a jetty as you can use it as bait and you can establish a burley trail with it to attract garfish and mullet.

For my favourite, the eagle ray, I use a 10 kg outfit with a 24 kg trace and a medium sized long shanked hook and a fresh fillet of any fish. Garfish and mullet are the best in my opinion. Try not to use wire traces or leaders as the fish can sense it.

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Rigs

Shown below are the three main bait rigs I use whilst fishing from jettys. They are self explanatory.

How to hook a big fish

When fishing for any shark, skate or rays from any environment you must always have your drag loose so when a fish takes of with the hook and bait it won’t feel any pressure from the rod. When you set up your rod and made the cast make sure you can pull the line off the reel with ease. Do not loosen it too much though. You don’t want a giant birdsnest, but you do want the fish to be able to take line. When you see your rod slightly bending over, there is most likely a fish on the line. Pick up your rod and tighten the drag and once you feel a little bit of weight, strike the hook. You can be there angling the fish for two minutes or two hours. That is the beauty of jetty fishing - it can bring some real surprises.

Rays are fun to catch, but like draughtboard sharks that my friend Ethan has caught they are poor eating and should be released.

Care for your catch

As most of my friends know, I am mostly a kiss and release angler. There is nothing beter than letting your friends reel in a beautiful big fish and taking a couple of photos and then seeing them swim off safely. One fish I target from jettys is the eagle ray. They are terrible eating and it is best to release them. Try not to damage the protective layer of slime on the rays skin as this can lead to serious injury or death. Most sharks and skates need to be revived after a long fight or being held out of the water for long periods of time for removing the hook and getting some snap shots with the camera. To revive the fish, simply hold the tail of your catch and hold it completly under the water and push it two and thro, creating a swimming action. When the fish kicks and makes a commotion you can let go of its tail. Always remember, only take what you need for a feed! Unfortunately while fishing from a jetty on the north-west coast with some friends I have seen some grizzly things. Just after dark a couple of people caught a small draughtboard shark. As soon as I saw the gaff come out I new it was over for the shark. To my disgust they gaffed the shark and dropped it on the deck of the jetty. They cut its Snap lock belly open, removed the hook and bait sinker and kicked it back into the water. These bogans

Small Rig Small clip on float

Medium Rig

Large Rig

(Paternoster)

(Running sinker) Main line

Main line

Running bean sinker

Barrel swivel

Barrel swivel Main line

Dropper 24 kilo leader

15 kg leader

need to be educated on catch and release. Don’t kill anything that you have no intetion of eating. To kill something to retrieve a ten cent hook is a joke. These fish are poor eating, and should of been realesed and able to be caught again by our future anglers.

Times and Tides Medium size long shank hook

Small long shank hook

Sinker

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Large long shank hook

I believe that the best way to fish of a jetty is when the tide is on its way in. The best tide, depending on were you are fishing is a midday tide. Always try to fish the tide running in as the fish will be coming in to look for food. As your bread trail goes out the fish will follow it the jetty. As the depth is incresed the bigger fish will be attracted to the action of the surface caused by you bread trail. Tide changes play an important role in any type of saltwater fishing and you need to keep a constant eye on the increase and decrease of water in your surrounding environments. Daniel Paull

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Reviews

Fishing and Boating Calendar

Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News is pleased to provide this calendar of events for the year 2008. 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 & Venue

More Info

Sat 2

Brown trout season opens

Inland Fisheries Service 6261 8050

Sat 30 & Sun 31

Tasmanian Trout Expo, Cressy

George Marsh 6397 5003

ABT Bream Classic #3, Derwent River

Leroy Tirant 0428347736

Wed 1

Take a Senior Fishing, St Helens Wharf

Quenton Higgs 0407502046

Fri 3

Take a Senior Fishing, Bonneys Beach, West Tamar River Take a Senior Fishing, Cam River, Somerset

Quenton Higgs 0407502046 Damian Heran 0408337317

Rainbow trout season open

Inland Fisheries Service 6261 8050

Recreational whitebait season opens

Inland Fisheries Service 6261 8050

Tasmanian Boating & Leisure Show, Lindisfarne Motor Yacht Club

Simon Connor 0409 975812

Take a Kid Fishing, Beauty Point Wharf 12noon til 4.00pm

Quenton Higgs 0407502046

Inland Fisheries free fishing day – call IFS for nearest venue

Inland Fisheries Service 6261 8050

Hydro Tasmania Bronte Tie-in. Bronte Highland Village

Iain McLeod 0412021237

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER Sat 6 – Sun 7 OCTOBER

Mustad’s New Penetrator Snapper Rig

Mustad has released a new tandem Sat 4 hook bait fishing rig, modelled around its formidable Penetrator Wed 1 – Nov 11 hook. The Mustad Penetrator Snapper Sat 11 & Sun 12 Rig uses two opposed chemically NOVEMBER sharpened Ultra Point Penetrator hooks snelled to a monofilament Sat 15 trace. This rig facilitates the rigging Sun 16 of big baits such as long strip baits, JANUARY 09 whole fish and whole squid; baits that are often difficult to rig satisfactorily Mon 5 – Sun 11 on a single, large hook. It is a similar system to the Mustad Big Red Snapper Rig, but the lighter gauge of the Penetrator hooks and lighter trace line makes it a great rig for light tackle snapper fishing. It is also suitable for many other species, from mulloway down to bream and trevally. The fine gauge of the Mustad Penetrator belies its real strength, because it penetrates easily right down to the bend. And when the load is concentrated at the base of the hook bend, the stress on the hook is minimised. That’s what Mustad calls the Penetrator Principle. It means you can fish a large size hook on light line and still drive it home. Mustad Penetrator Snapper Rigs come in a hook size range from 9/0 down to 4/0. The rigs are tied on top quality Mustad Ultra Line monofilament in clear colour. They are expertly assembled by hand in Mustad’s own terminal tackle factory. Illustrated rigging instructions are included on the pack. Hook/line size combinations are: 9/0 / 70lb, 8/0 / 50lb, 7/0 / 50lb, 6/0 / 40lb, 5/0 / 40lb, 4/0 / 30lb

Salt-X and PHEW-GO

These are two new products from Jarvis Walker. Phew-Go eliminates odours instead of just covering them up. It claims to to eliminate the odours of human and animal faeces, ur ine, gar bage, blood, fish, etc. PHEW-GO works. John Orchard, Jarvis Walker distributor gave us some to try and there is nothing better to try in on than fish slime and fish stink. I had a smelly car problem where I had spil;t some bait and it did work. Spray your bait box, garbage cans, wheelie bins, carpets and boat. SALT-X is a product that has been around in the USA for years and neutralises the effect of salt on your tackle and boat fittings. It’s biodegradable, non-toxic and safe to use on most surfaces, although if it comes in contact with magnesium rise thoroughly with freshwater. It is not a spray and rinse product. You just spray your reels etc. and that’s it. Available from good tackle stores and chandleries for around $12.50 for 500ml. Fishing News - Page 45

News and Reviews

6-weights are fitted with a half-Wells grip, while the 7through 12-weights have a full-Wells grip with cork fighting butt. All come packed in a green and gold aluminum rod Winston Boron II-MX Rods tube, and include an unconditional lifetime warranty. Over the last half dozen years or so, R. L. Winston has See them at Doo Gun Tackle ($930), or for more details transformed itself from a quirky little Montana rod company contact R. L. Winston Rod Co. or www.winstonrods.com that built nothing but soft-tipped, spring-creek trout rods (As appeared in Fly Fish America’s 2008 Gear Guide) into a major technical innovator in the industry. It’s also the only rodmaker that spent the time and R&D dollars to Winston’s Boron IIX Rods perfect the marriage of boron and graphite in modern fly A useful blend of delicacy and power rod construction. It is always gratifying to have one’s own conclusions Winston’s new Boron II-MX rod represents the pinnacle independently validated; it makes you believe you actually of technical achievement in boron/graphite composite know something. Once again, I find myself in complete construction. “MX” stands for “maximum”—as in maximum agreement with FR&R readers, who have selected power, maximum distance, and maximum fish-fighting Winston’s Boron IIX rods as the recipient of the 2008 ability. We’ve spent many hours on stream and in saltwater Readers’ Choice Award. with both 5- and 8-weight Boron II-MXs over the last I suspect we appreciate the same qualities. First and several months, and they are immensely powerful, highly foremost is the phenomenally smooth casting feel – a responsive, and superbly accurate. In a word, they do longstanding Winston hallmark – in a rod with a quicker everything right—so “right,” in fact, that we consider casting tempo and impressive power without the slightest them to be among the ten best technical casting rods of whiff of stiffness or clubbiness. It has all the virtues of all time. a faster rod with none of the drawbacks. Credit here Boron II-MXs are offered in 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12goes to Sam Drukman, who designed an extraordinarily weight models. All are 9-foot, fast-action, 4-piece designs lightweight, narrow-profile shaft with extremely fast featuring hand-turned, premium cork grips, uplocking recovery that virtually eliminates residual vibration. The nickel-aluminum reel seats with dual locking rings, rod tips are supple and sensitive without being wobbly or emerald green painted blanks, tip-over-butt ferrules, twin soft and offer that deft, point-and-shoot feel that makes dual-foot strippers, and hard-chrome snakes and tip-top. the trout weights exemplary dry fly rods. The boron fibers The 5- and

Don’t follow me I’m going offshore

used in the butt section, however, make these delicate rods deceptively powerful and strong, and even the lighter line models can deliver remarkable distance. Yet they don’t demand the kind of shorts-ripping, double-hauling overexertion required by some rods designed primarily, and sometimes exclusively, for throwing the long ball. To start short and progressively work out a longer line on a BIIX is to have the rod maker’s ideal – the seamless transfer of energy – demonstrated to you indisputably. The upshot is a wonderfully versatile rod – small flies and big ones, surface and subsurface, with a light, balanced feel in the hand that makes even heavier line weights almost effortless to cast all day long. Last summer, I took three BIIX rods on a sinfully extended trip to Montana and passed them around among fishing friends. Their unanimous and unprompted reaction matched my own first impression – they are easy rods to cast and pleasing to fish with. I haven’t tried every line/length combination, but I have used a fair number of them from 3-weight to 10-weight, and as always, one has favourites. The 4-piece, 9-foot 5-weight is as fine an all-around trout rod as I’ve ever had in my hand, with a deeply useful blend of delicacy and power. The 4-piece, 8-foot 5-weight is perhaps my favourite rod in the line, with exactly the kind of lively responsiveness I value in a dry fly rod. The 4-piece, 8-foot 4-weight is not far behind. The real surprise to me, though, was the 4-piece, 9-foot 7-weight; cast it blind-folded, and you’d swear it was a 5-weight. I borrowed one of these for bonefishing in Belize, and despite its trout-rod like feel, it had all the guts necessary for the windy flats and the fish. When I got back, I did what any sensible person would do – I bought one. It is my third BIIx. So congratulations to the folks at Winston for crafting another superb fly rod and for earning this recognition. Your public has spoken. winstonrods.com -Ted Leeson

Rock Fish PE

Quintrex 630, 670 and 670 Centre Cab Offshore

This new High Grade Dyneema from Sunline is 20% thinner than standard dyneema for the same breaking strain. The smooth surface manufacturing method and ultra thin diameters improves casting distance and accuracy while reducing friction, water absorption and fuzzyness. This 4 strand HG PE is the thinnest PE available, tournament anglers agree this line is ideal for super long casts and natural lure presentations. Available in 120m 6lb(0.3) 8lb (0.4) and 10lb (0.6). Retail from $65

Power Options: Single or twin outboards, petrol or Cummins diesel sterndrive. To order the OFFSHORE brochure or to see the awesome video of the Diesel and Outboard versions of the OFFSHORE in action, go to: www.quintrex.com.au

Jazz Metal Vibrations

Lewis Marine - Twin rig specialists on Quintrex Offshores

198 - 200 Campbell St, Hobart

03 6234 7266

www.lewismarine.com.au Fishing News - Page 46

The new metal vibration ‘blades’ from Jazz are available in 3 sizes: Bokun 30mm 1/8oz, Sonic Boom 43mm 1/4oz, Sonic Boom 55mm 1/2oz The Bokun has 3 tow point options allowing the angler to find a suitable action on the day. These lures are productive when fished deep or shallow with a fast or slow speed retrieve or hopped off the bottom. Long castability, high appeal. The Sonic Boom 43 and 55mm blades are fitted with 4 tow point options and have an additional hole at the back of the blade for adding a willow leaf blade similar to a spinnerbait. These high spec metal vibrations are made in Japan. Retail from $14

News and Reviews

Honda’s marine crew expands

Honda Australia (MPE) – Marine Division has taken onboard two new recruits who are sure to strengthen the company’s position as a leading force in advanced technology and environmental efficiency. Chris Schultz has joined the team as National Marine Manager and Rod Day will continue his loyal service to Honda in his newly-appointed role of Business Development Manager of the Marine Division. Before commencing work with Honda, Schultz fulfilled the role of National Sales Manager, Car Care Division for Valvoline, supporting and developing the national dealer channel. With an active interest in boating as well as a number of watersports, Chris is an exciting addition to Honda’s dynamic team as he plays an instrumental role in the release of several new engine models in the near future. Rod Day joined Honda 17 years ago and was one of Honda MPE’s original staff when it was formed in 1991. Rod has now taken the plunge into the Marine Division as Business Development Manager. With his intimate company knowledge and passion for all things Honda, Rod will develop Honda’s Marine Division in a way that will support the industry as a whole and continue the success of Honda’s unrivalled consumer support operations. Chris and Rod, together with the Honda Marine team are looking forward to working with their dealer network, manufacturers and customers to grow the division, as Honda leads the way into a cleaner and greener new era.

Free Stormy PFDs with every Honda purchase!

Honda, in conjunction with Stormy Australia, is running a ‘safe boating’ retail promotion during the winter boat show season. Customers who purchase any new Honda outboard engine – from the lightweight BF2 through to the powerful BF225 – between 1 July and 31 August 2008 will receive two FREE Honda-branded Stormy PFDs (each valued at around $150). Honda Australia Managing Director Stuart Strickland said the promotion was an extension of Honda’s ongoing focus on marine safety. “Honda’s social responsibility extends beyond manufacturing the world’s most environmentally-friendly engines,” Mr Strickland said. “This latest promotion not only provides Honda customers with quality personal floatation devices, it reinforces an important message to all boaters – be safe on the water.” Available only to retail customers, Honda units purchased outside of the promotion period dates will not be eligible for the offer. The two PFD Type 1 Stormy yokes will be despatched directly to customers within four weeks of the date of warranty registration. To locate your nearest Honda Marine dealer, call 1300 1 HONDA (1300 1 46632). Further information: Honda – (03) 9270 1111 or visit: www.honda.com.au

4.4 Sea Jay Escape CX

Vision Stealth Amphibia wading boots

Stealth Amphibia® replaces and improves upon rubber and felt sole technology. Amphibia’s high friction properties outperform other sole materials with significantly better traction on wet rock, slippery mud and moss, and on hidden algae-covered rocks. Stealth Amphibia® rubber also provides traction on land and in water, giving the freedom to wear the same pair of boots all day. The rubber provides the advantage of a quickcleaning sole from which dirt easily washes away. This is especially important for river eco-systems that suffer from fishermen’s felt soles housing bacteria and spreading it from one stream to the next. Stealth Amphibia® rubber also lasts up to 50% longer than ordinary felt!

Vision Flywater Waders

The new Flywater waders are the most advanced value waders on the market. They are Vision’s European best seller. Made from durable F3wader™ fabric with a NoSeam™ leg cut. 5- layer fabric down from the knee. Waterproofing 20 000 mm. Breathing ability 14 000 g./m2/ 24h. 3 layer upper and 5 layer knee F3wader™ fabric. Built-in gravel guards with elastic fitting around boot collar. Easily worn at waist height Internal mesh pocket with zipper closure. 3.5 mm. neoprene stockings Adjustable belt. Available from good tackle stores for around $220.

cosy wood fires

The Sea Jay Escape CX, also available as an Escape CX Sports which incorporates a Side Console is a new model to the Sea Jay range. The original Escape model was one of the first models introduced by Sea Jay in the early 1990’s. At that time the Escape with it vast amount of features was popular and still remains a current model today. The new Escape CX still carries many of the features of the original Escape with the popular magnum hull the Escape CX is available as a tiller steer or side console known as the Escape CX Sports. The Escape CX is available in three model lengths of 4.2, 4.4 and 4.55 which features the new Sure Trac reverse chine hull. The Escape Sports CX model is available in two lengths the 4.4 and 4.55 Sure Trac Hull. Some of the new features included in the Escape CX and CX Sports are a Front Cast Deck through to the bow, with an anchor cavity and hatches. A Dry Storage Box is fitted to keep those valuables out of the weather with this area is ready to be converted as a Live Well or Kill Tank whichever option is suitable to your needs. A Minnkota plate is also positioned on the bow to fit an Electric Motor with a Battery Rack positioned under the Front Cast Deck. Together with the new, existing features of the Escape remains with Hatches located in the Front and Rear Cast Deck and a small splash well incorporated in the rear cast deck. An under floor fuel tank is standard in the 4.4m and 4.55m models this tank has a 60 litre fuel capacity. Comfortable padded seats are provided with various seat positions provided with four socket positions available in the 4.2 and five socket positions provided in the 4.4 and 4.55 models. A plastic Live Bait Tank with plumbing is positioned in the rear cast platform and four Rod Holders are fitted in the Wide side Decks. All the Escape models are painted white chine up and inside with coloured sides available as an option. The new Escape CX and CX Sports is a very impressive outfit and well appointed to suit the keen angler. Further information is available on the Sea Jay Range by contacting your local dealers Coastal Marine or Eastern Shore Marine, or go to www.seajayboats.com.au

World class fishing in the heart of the central highlands

Speci al to sta offer r Fishin t the g Sea son

Stay in a luxury art deco 3 bedroom cottage Atmospheric Highlander Arms tavern on the doorstep 3 course meal provided each night 2 hours fly fishing tuition included per day Catch your own salmon in Tarraleah lake and learn how to prepare it with expert chef 18 lakes within 30 minutes drive

$165

(03) 6289 0111 per person per night.

( Min 2 persons). Offer applies August and September only

wine & whisky tasting

guided fishing trips

info @tarraleah.com www.tarraleah.com

great pub Fishing News - Page 47

The $64 000 question.

How much should you pay for a rod? Tackle retailer and competition angler Jamie Henderson explains the vexed question on how much you should pay for a rod. I saw an interesting statistic the other day that said at least one third of the population of Australia go fishing. That makes it the biggest single recreational pursuit in our country. That’s a lot of rods and reels at the end of the day. Its because of this that the fishing tackle industry grows and improves all the time, every year new gear, new brands and a myriad of upgrades and improvements come along which can at times have the owners of the tackle stores pulling their hair out wondering what they should stock next. This doesn’t make it any easier for the consumer, what type of gear should they purchase, what fish are they targeting, are they targeting anything at all or just want to dabble on the jety and hope for the best, fly, plastic, bait, spin, surf, game……aaaaagggghhhh.

The big question

One of the biggest questions I get asked by customers though is not what they need but “how much should I spend on a rod and reel?”. It’s the $64,000 question and in many ways you could say well how long is a piece of string. The simple answer is you can spend as little or as much as you like…. its all up to you. For a newcomer into the tackle scene the best single piece of advice I can offer is to purchase the best tackle you can afford at the time, work out a budget and look for tackle priced accordingly. Lets take one of the largest growth areas the tackle industry has seen for many years as an example, soft plastic fishing. If you

This Shimano outfit is good quality but only about $120

go back 4 or 5 years there was very little on the market that suited this style of finesse fishing and many of the rods were highly priced, excellent quality but generally priced at a level the average angler could not afford. Now there is more tackle on the market that suits soft plastic fishing than just about any other style and the prices vary quite a lot. It is often said that the more expensive the gear the better it is, when it comes to the quality of the components and construction and maybe the ability of the tackle to perform this is often very true however the most expensive isn’t always the best for each customer.

So - how much?

Lets take a look at what you should spend when looking for a rod and reel for soft plastic fishing starting from a basic setup to a mid range product up to a top end model. A good basic soft plastic rod and reel combination, 6’6”-7’, should set you back $90-100, this will get you a reel that is smooth in its operation with 2-4 ball bearings and some basic features like dyna balance and infinite anti reverse. The rod will be a reasonable light graphite composite style rod moderate in its speed but with just enough feel to know whats going on with your plastic on the end.

The middle ground

To move to the middle ground you would expect to spend anywhere between $250-400, this is where it gets interesting. Here the rods will be much crisper in their feel, being that there is more graphite component in the rod and less fibreglass which increases cost, as well as being lighter once again due to the higher amount of graphite. They will be faster in their taper and have a quicker response time which means there is more line speed generated and therefore a better ability to cast further and more accurately. The reels will be also much lighter, smaller and more compact, are smoother, have anywhere from 4-8 ball bearings and be more able to lay line, particularly braid, much neater on the spool. This means the line is able to come off the spool easier and with less tangles than a cheaper reel.

It is a delight to use top end gear. It looks good, but doesn’t necessarily catch more though.

Going to the top

Once you get to the top end products you can almost spend any amount, it just comes down to where you draw the line and what value you put on owning expensive tackle. Here other factors must come into the equation, what is the likelihood of the gear being damaged and if so what are the warranty conditions. Tossing a $50 rod around the boat may not hurt too much, a higher fibreglass component provides a certain level of robustness although lacking in feel however throwing a $500 high modulus graphite rod down in a boat can have dire consequences.... can you afford to break a rod of that value. At the top end level you can expect to pay anywhere from $600-1200 for a rod/reel combination, its here you get the Rolls Royce of tackle. Rods are constructed from 100% high modulus graphite, are super light, incredibly crisp and responsive with

rapid response times giving superb feel of every little tap and bump from the fish. They are generally designed to cast specific weights with specific line classes so the ability to be consistently accurate with casting is greatly enhanced. The reels at this level are once again lighter, better balanced, have anywhere between 8-12 ball bearings, are incredibly smooth and are generally made from better quality components. Spools are lighter and have various taper shapes to suit braided lines or non braided depending on choice which increases the smoothness and speed of the line leaving the spool. It is all done to aid casting ability and accuracy which in turn increases the likelihood of placing the plastic right where you need it in front of the fish and hopefully be more successful at catching them.

Squidgy Pro-Range Winner of the Port Macquarie ABT Bream Classic. Check out the Squidgy Pro Range at good tackle stores. Fishing News - Page 48

Expert advice is easy to find

This is where your local Tackle Store plays a major role and will offer much needed advice and assistance in helping you purchase the correct tackle inside your budget, much more so than a chain store where customer service is minimal and no one really knows much about the products anyway. All good tackle stores will stock a wide range of tackle that will suit the styles and types of fishing in their area so always go local, it’s the job of the guy behind the counter to sort through all that is on offer and stock tackle that will suit everybody

from the beginner right through to the pro angler. Most of the time the guy in the store is passionate about his fishing and does a lot of it too so will draw on that experience to help the customers. There is a big difference between cheap and value for money, god quality and overpriced so talk to your tackle store and let them help you with what you need. Jamie Henderson

The Territory now has more ribs, larger hinged anchor cavity and stronger tank rack, a full front cast platform with two hatches and a tank rack. A Minn Kota plate and battery rack is standard. It is great fun fishing from jetties and expensive gear is not essential.

You get what you pay for

The old saying, “You Get What You Pay For” certainly rings some truth and for the most part the more expensive the tackle the higher the level of quality, components, workmanship, finish and performance you get. However the word “quality” can be very subjective, just because a reel is more expensive and better quality than the cheap one doesn’t mean if you leave it on the floor of the boat and never clean it that it will last any longer or end up performing any better, decide the type of fishing you want to do, how often, where and choose tackle accordingly and to a price level that suits. All of the price levels mentioned will result in “quality” tackle that will be reliable and catch fish, and it goes for all styles of angling be it fishing from a jety, flyfishing

for trout, trolling for game fish or just sitting in a dinghy dangling a rod over the side. Flyfishing for example can produce some of the most expensive tackle out there with rods reaching up to $2000 or more however $80 will but you a great little rod to learn to cast with and give years of enjoyment if its looked after. Its great to use high quality tackle, it feels better, performs better and generally gives the owner a psychological edge, you may not catch any more fish with it but it makes you feel like you have a better chance. However its no use putting a learner in a formula one car and sending him around the track: high end tackle will only show its true worth when in the hands of a skillful angler…….but don’t let that put you off a purchase because its still nice to use.

4.35 Territory $12900 4.35 m long, 1.97 m beam, 40 HP 2 stroke Suzuki with trailer and boat regos. Package $12900 BassHighway,Somerset,Burnie TAS 7320 Ph: 64 352 200 E:anthony@coastal-marine.com.au

New for 2008 - RIO Gold The Ultimate Fly Line. A revolutionary taper design allows tremendous loop stability at distance and a unique weight distribution loads a rod at close range for easy casting. The front taper delivers perfect turnover and presentation of flies between sizes #22 and #2, making this the best general purpose, all round fly line on the market. The long back taper is excellent for mending and for roll and single handed spey casting and the color change between the head and the running line makes it easy to find the perfect load point for each cast. The lines features RIO’s new Extreme Slickness Technology for an extraordinarily slick, dirt-repelling coating; in addition RIO’s AgentX and Super Floatation Technologies ensure the line tip and running line remain floating high. As with all of RIO’s premier trout lines a small, neat welded loop in the front end makes it easy to change leaders. WF3F – WF9F Color: Moss head with Gold running line

Fly Fishing’s creative specialists in Fly Lines, Leaders and Tippets For additional information: www.jmgillies.com.au

Trade Enquiries: JM Gillies Pty Ltd Ph: (03) 9646 4745 Fax (03) 9676 2060 Email: sales@jmgillies.com.au Fishing News - Page 49

Derwent Bridge Chalet There are lots of things that fishers can turn their hand to in the off-season eg. house painting, servicing fishing gear or fly tying, but I figured I would try to stay a bit fitter for later forays into the western lakes by walking the Overland Track. We had a week to spare and with snow forecast mid June the thought of a winter challenge was quite exciting. The walk is the good part; getting to the starting point at St Clair from Launceston and home from Cradle needs nearly as much planning! We arrived at Derwent Bridge on Tassielink via Hobart and after enjoying a top meal and glass of red at the pub we retired to cosy accommodation at Derwent Bridge Chalets & Studios. Mien hosts John & Louise (Trout Guides & Lodges Assn. members) offer six chalets and four studios that can very comfortably accommodate blokes, couples or families that would be an ideal location for anglers wanting to fish Lake St Clair or King William or just to explore the area. Stay a few nights or just rest overnight, in a fully self contained holiday chalet or studio 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 two and a half hours drive from Hobart or Launceston. Choose from a variety of outdoor activities – a range of bush walks from 1 – 7 hours, trout fishing in up to fifteen lakes, canoeing or boating on Lake St Clair. Take the ferry from Cynthia Bay to Narcissus River for local bush walking or commencing the Overland Track, trout fishing or photography in this idyllic location. Or take an easy day trip to Queenstown and ride on the Abt Wilderness Railway. The options are endless. Anyway to cut a long story short we had a great walk, plenty of snow and ample time to make a sidewalk into the Mersey Falls. Conditions were too icy to tackle the Mt Ossa or Mt Pelion East climb. Got some neat photos of Lake Windermere and I’ve earmarked a return trip to this area to fish Shadow and Forgotten Lakes. If you’re considering this trip in winter I recommend you walk south to north meaning that you have adverse weather on your back! And don’t forget those comfy nights at Derwent Bridge Chalets and Studios. Phone 03 6289 1000

DERWENT BRIDGE CHALETS STUDIOS c i g a m y l p m i s AND

Ph. (03) 6289 1000, Fax (03) 6289 1230 See www.derwent-bridge.com

Phone or book online info@derwent-bridge.com

Venture Cab has a spacious cabin and is an ideal family craft. The Sea Jay “Ultimate Edge” features a new hull design to provide great stability and all round performance. A 4mm aluminium bottom incorporates a reverse chine and compatable transom allowing this craft to perform extremely well.

5 Venture Cab $36900 5.2 m long, 2.24 m beam, 90 HP Suzuki 4 stroke with electric start, power trim/tilt, with boat and trailer regos. Package $36900 BassHighway,Somerset,Burnie TAS 7320 Ph: 64 352 200 E:anthony@coastal-marine.com.au Fishing News - Page 50

Full Season anglers who recently received a 2008-09 Renewal Notice in the mail and who wish to renew their Full Season Licence using the Service Tasmania telephone or internet option. The Phone Payment Number, located in the top right hand corner of the form beneath the primary Payment Number, is incorrect and your payment using this method will not work. This is to notify Full Season anglers who recently received a 2008-09 Renewal Notice in the mail and who wish to renew their Full Season Licence using the Service Tasmania telephone or internet option. The Phone Payment Number, located in the top right hand corner of the form beneath the primary Payment Number, is incorrect and your payment using this method will not work. However, the primary Payment Number on the top of the Renewal notice is correct, so the other payment options available on the Four Springs Road Upgrade On Wednesday June 25, Forestr y Tasmania regraded the road into Four Springs giving this main access road a much needed lift in preparation for the upcoming season. As well as levelling the surface the road was also widened and roadside vegetation cleared. The carpark has also been regraded which

reverse of the form have not been affected. This means that you can still renew your licence using the primary Payment Number and your credit card via the Inland Fisheries Service website (click on Licence and follow the prompts), or by using Bpay telephone or internet banking. You can also renew your licence in person by taking your Renewal form to any Licence selling agents (most tackle stores) or Service Tasmania shop. You are also welcome to call the Service on 6261 8050 and we will process your payment over the phone. We apologise for any inconvenience and confusion arising from the use of two payment numbers this year. We will strive to remedy these problems for next year’s Renewal mailout. We also urge you to take advantage of the promotion offered this year to Full Season Licence holders and renew your licence before 30 October 2008. You will automatically go in the draw to win one of three prizes of $5000, $3000 and $2000 worth of fishing tackle. In addition, all Full Season Licence holders are being offered Free Entry to the Salmon Ponds on presentation of their licence throughout the 2008-09 season. will make life easier for those visiting this popular fishery. The Inland Fisheries Service is extremely grateful to Forestry Tasmania for their assistance and at the opening of the 2008/09 angling season the large numbers of anglers who fish this popular fishery will also be very appreciative of their works.

Fishing and Outdoor The store with more on the West Tamar. Everything you need for fishing and outdoors.

Inspections are welcome 500 metres toward Hobart from the Lake St Clair Road Junction 2005960GL

Each chalet and studio has TV/CD/DVD

• Self cont. chalets and studios only 5 minutes from Lake St Clair, about 2½ hours from Hobart, Strahan and Launceston. • Spark some romance in one of the luxurious spa chalets. • Spacious 2 and 3 bedroom chalets. • Studios for two people. • Self cater or dine out nearby. • Private laundries in each chalet. • One studio has disabled access. • Experience easy-medium wilderness bushwalks from 1 - 7 hours • Spoil yourself after the Overland Track, best facilities and value. • Enjoy trout fishing - licenses available, launch your own boat, book a trout guide in advance • Take a day trip to Queenstown for the West Coast Railway • Cruise on the Lake St Clair ferry • AAA 3½ • Seniors - book direct to save 10%

Important payment information - 2008-09 annual angling licence renewal

Seven days a week and public holidays. 48 Weld Street Beaconsfield Ph 03 6383 1555

Marty’s Fishing and Outdoor Big changes have been afoot in Beaconsfield with new owners at the down-town tackle shop. Local boy Marty Suitor had been manager of Bart’s Tackle for four years and purchased the business in April. With four years of retail experience behind him Marty is really looking forward to the challenge of providing the region with top quality tackle something he is qualified to talk about. He is passionate about his trout fishing and with the new Lake Huntsman coming online on 2nd. August Marty reckons a lot of people will be heading in that direction more-so than Four Springs or Brushy. Born and bred on the West Tamar Marty has been salt water fishing since he was a little tacker and has a top pedigree with his “old man” Steve being his mentor. Steve needs no introduction in fishing circles around Launceston or indeed further afield. Marty’s Fishing and Outdoor specialises in fishing gear, marine chandlery, camping, diving and sports equipment so there is

going to be just that special item you are looking or maybe your wife is looking for, for your birthday …. hey, we can always drop a few hints. And if it’s not stocked an item can be quickly sourced and ordered with virtual overnight delivery. Fishing stuff includes rods, reels, waders, lures, bait, oh trout licences but if they’re off the bite use the water skis, wake boards, ski biscuits, pdf ’s, dive gear plus lots of boating accessories. A full range of camping and sporting gear is available and even a nifty Auspit spit roast …. hmmm I can taste the crackling right now! Continuing his association with the water Marty qualified as boat builder and is able to provide good advice in this field as well..…. get in and have a yarn to him, Marty might even knock you up tuna boat in his spare time. Marty’s Fishing and Outdoor (Open 7 days a week and public holidays) 48 Weld Street Beaconsfield 7270 Ph. 63831555 Fx. 63831540

Inland Fisheries News

Recreational Marine Fisheries News Recreational Abalone Fishery

Win $10,000 worth of fishing tackle

If you buy or renew a Full Season Angling Licence by 30 October 2008, you will automatically go in the draw to win three prizes of $5000, $3000 and $2000 worth of fishing tackle. This promotion is being sponsored by Tasmania’s leading fishing tackle stores and industry partners - members of the Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA). The winners names will be drawn from the Inland Fisheries Service Licence holder database in November and announced in early December.

Get free entry to the Salmon Ponds

Full Season Licence holders are being offered Free Entry to the Salmon Ponds on presentation of their licence throughout the 2008-09 season (valid from 1 August 2008 to 31 July 2009). This promotion is being sponsored by the Salmon Ponds, Heritage Hatchery and Gardens. Other reasons to buy a Full Season Licence * You’re buying the best value licence: A Full Season Licence represents the best value for money, equal to about $1.20 per week for a full paying adult. There are significant discounts for juveniles (80% less), pensioners (45% less) and seniors (20% less). * You’re supporting the fishery: The money from your licence fee goes direct to the Service and is spent on protecting, managing and improving the fishery. The Service relies on your licence money. * You can fish all year round: Full Season Licence holders can fish for 12 months of the year at 11 different waters around the State; as well as all brown trout waters from 2 August 2008 to 3 May 2009; and from 4 October 2008 to 31 May 2009 at rainbow trout waters. * You’ll be sent a licence card: Each year Full Season Licence holders are sent a renewal form, which contains a durable business card size licence with a range of easy payment options. * You’re a valued customer: Full Season Licence holders tend to be our most dedicated anglers and are highly valued customers. The Service is working on ways to add value to the licence and reward their ongoing support.

Research on Recreational Rock Lobster, Abalone and Scallop Fisheries

Some of the funds from the purchase of recreational sea fishing licences are used to conduct research on how fishers are utilising recreational fisheries and what impact they are having on fish stocks. The annual research surveys on the recreational rock lobster, abalone and scallop fisheries are conducted by the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI). The surveys for the 2006-07 fishing years have recently been completed with some of the key findings for each of these fisheries detailed below. Overall, the recreational rock lobster and abalone catches appear to be in within sustainable levels. However, the recreational scallop fishery in D’Entrecasteaux Channel is being heavily impacted by fishers and management changes may be necessary to maintain the health of these scallop stocks into the future.

Recreational Rock Lobster Fishery

• During the 2006-07 season, recreational fishers took an estimated 135,000 rock lobster, equivalent to about 135 tonnes. • Using rock lobster pots was the most popular method accounting for 63% of the annual harvest with an average retained catch of 0.9 lobster per pot per fishing day. • Dive collection accounted for 32% of the annual harvest with fishers having an average retained catch of 2.2 lobster per day dived. • Rock lobster rings represented just 4% of the annual harvest with an average retained catch of 2.3 lobster per fishing day. • The recreational rock lobster season had three distinct phases with November to January accounting for 68% of the harvest, February to April contributing 27% and May to August just 5% of the season’s total. • Most of the recreational catch was from the south-east and east coasts (60%) with 26% from the north coast and 14% from the west coast. • The 2006-07 recreational catch was 79% of the allocated recreational catch of 170 tonnes.

Marine Recreational fishery manager, Rod Pearn, offers some advice to a junior angler trying out the Fishcare pool at Agfest.

New marine recreational fishery manager is up for the challenge. Rod Pearn was recently appointed to head up the Recreational Fisheries section in the Department of Primary Industries and Water. Over the last two decades Rod has worked in various fisheries-related fields in Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia – and even reports that he has

caught a fish or two in each of these States! Since returning to Tassie, Rod has spent the last seven years in the DPIW Wild Fisheries Management Branch working with the scallop, rock lobster, shellfish, octopus and developmental fisheries.

• During the 2006-07 season, recreational fishers took an estimated 105,500 abalone, equivalent to about 49 tonnes. • Fishes had an average retained catch of 5 abalone per fishing day although one fifth of all dives targeting abalone resulted in no retained catch. • 59% of the abalone harvest was taken between November and January, 33% between February and April and 9% between May and October. • 40% of the catch came from the south-east coast, 20% from the east, 33% from the north and 7% from the west coast. • The recreational catch represented about 2% of the total statewide catch of abalone.

Recreational Scallop Fishery

• During the 2007 scallop season, 98% of scallop fishing effort was in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel area with the vast majority (84%) of fishers reporting taking their bag limit on each day fished. • Hookah was the primary fishing method used, followed by SCUBA and to a lesser extent snorkel. • The recreational fishery has had a significant impact on scallop stocks in the Channel, particularly in terms of legal size commercial scallops with abundances declining by around 50% compared with 2006. However, there is evidence of a large recent settlement of commercial scallops in the central Channel region. • The overall number of queen scallop stocks declined by more than 30% and there is no evidence of significant recruitment. • Although not particularly abundant within the Channel, doughboy scallops numbers have increased following recent recruitment, but are still only available in low numbers. • Since the fishery re-opened in 2005 several scallop beds within the Channel have been fished out and there has be a general trend towards fishing being concentrated on the few remaining dense beds and a general shift in focus from commercial to queen scallops. For information on recreational sea fishing: • call the Recreational Sea Fishing Line on (03) 6233 7042; • visit www.fishing.tas.gov.au; or • subscribe online to have fishing news information updates emailed to you.

Rod says he is very fortunate to have spent his early years close to the water at Wynyard. He remembers it as a place of opportunity, growing up with mates that loved the water and spending lots of time swimming, kayaking, boating, snorkelling and fishing. “As a teenager I went out with my mate in his family’s 12-footer to Table Cape and got absolutely pelted with hail – our parents didn’t even know we had taken the boat!” After doing a dive course at the local scuba centre, he was hooked on the underwater stuff. After completing a degree in Marine Science and Microbiology, Rod commenced work at the Marine Research labs at Taroona – eventually working on the rock lobster research program. This involved many trips out on or in the water, much to do with the rock lobster larval sampling program. After having two children, eventually Rod changed his view on “ never working in head office” spending a year working on scalefish catch histories and “other stuff ”. “I was really surprised to find I liked working in an office – I think it was a break from having to worry about getting field work completed and always looking at the weather and other safety matters”. Rod then got a “dream job” – working as a Technical Officer in pearling and abalone research in Western Australia. The family up and moved, and they spent the next five years on what was more or less a working holiday. After numerous field trips to Broome, Exmouth and the deep south – Cape Leeuwin, Rod accepted a job as the Southern

Regional Policy Officer based in Albany. “This was a job I loved, it dealt with so many diverse issues – across all sectors. I worked across so many recreational and commercial issues, with a little aquaculture planning stuff thrown in. Resource sharing issues were high on the list especially due to some of the beach-based commercial fishing operations such as herring and Australian salmon being so visible to beach users and recreational fishers.” Although Western Australia was so much fun Rod always felt the pull back to Tassie and after a brief stopover working in regional fisheries in Gippsland, Victoria he made it back home. Rod says that the experience gained by previously working and living in regional areas should be particularly be useful in his new role. He intends to periodically attend the regional Fishcare Volunteer meetings so he can develop an understanding of the on-ground issues. “Fishcare have three coordinators, one based in Burnie, one in Launceston and one in Hobart supporting 100 volunteers – it’s a tremendous program that communicates the “Fish for the future philosophy” out there where it counts.” He cites the upcoming review of the marine scalefish fishery as an upcoming challenge due to the many and varied points of views that recreational fishers hold on how the scalefish fishery should be managed.

Fishing News - Page 51

FOR SALE - 4WD Business and Boat or sold individually 2003 Troopcarrier Turbo Diesel and 5m Quintrex Trophy with 90hp Suzuki Currently operating as a 4wd business in Strahan. The vehicle and boat can be sold separately. The Troopcarrier has Transport and Tourism accreditation and has just completed an inspection. The vehicle is in excellent condition throughout and includes a handheld CB radio, snatch rope, personal Epirb, tool kit, shackle, Bushranger compressor, Bushranger X Jack, deflation kit, 2 batteries and 2 fire extinguishers.

The vehicle is fitted with a towbar, air conditioning, long range tanks, bullbar and spotlights. Five near new Maxxis tyres and Sunraysier rims.REG FM5912 117700kms. Price $33,000 The 2007 model boat is as new with a Suzuki DF90 four stroke with 20 hrs use, hydraulic steering, Lowrance X107CDF colour sounder/fish finder, Wireless MotorGuide 55lb electric with foot and hand held remote, rod locker, 2 plumbed in bait/catch tanks, red hull, side console, 406 Epirb, 2

fire extinguishers, handheld marine radio, 2 rod racks, 8lb anchor and rope, 2 Stormy Seas full jackets with automatic inflation, 3 Stormy Seas yokes with automatic inflation, 2 recreation PFDs, 1 ski tow, 1 inflatable biscuit, 1 first aid kit, 2 paddles, anchor light and nav. lights, custom canopy, 2 batteries, large sea anchor, baitboard,

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Fishing News - Page 53

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 commercial and non subscribers remains at $11 and must be pre-paid.

Surf Rods 13’ 2 piece surf rod. Pacific Composites blank MT9144. Castweight 60-140 gram. 1015kg line weight. Near new $230. 12’ 1 piece surf rod. Snieder MT8144. Cast weight 50-112 gram. Line weight 6-10kg. Good cond. $130. Charlie 6257 1507

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Mercury outboard 25hp., 1996 model, tiller, only used in freshwater $1800 ono. Contact Graham, Georges Bay Marine Ph. 6376 2800

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10 Savage Kingfisher dinghy $690 12’3’’ Savage Kestrel [ boat only, $1,100 ] or with trailer $1,500 14’Midnite, 40hp Yamaha and trailer $6,900 15’ Mariner, 40hp Johnson and trailer $4,900 455 Poly craft fitted with a new Yamaha 40hp and king trailer [ boat & Tra ’06 ] $12,900 455 Polycraft with 50hp Yamaha 2 stroke & minn kota bow mount, saltwater $14,900 480 Stacer Bow Rider, 60hp Yam 2 stroke, trailer with options all 2004 $23,500 460 Haines Signature, 90hp Yamaha and trailer $21,500 5m Stebber R/about, 125hp Mercury & trailer $12,500 500 Stacer, 70hp Evin, 8hp Evin fwd controls, canopies, electronics ’93 $14,500 500 Quintex Spirit, 90hp Yam, m/ trailer, ladder, r/rack, VHF, CD, ’04 in A1 cond $29,500 525 Stacer Cuddy Cab, 90hp Yamaha, trailer,F/F, CD, F/covers, T/door, 135hrs $34,500 Southwind SF550 w/around, 115hp Yamaha and tandem trl $39,900 580 Voyager, F115hp Yamaha 4 stroke, mackay trailer $53,500 18’ Nova f/glass, 115hp Yamaha [’01 ], tandem trailer ’03, heaps of options $17,700 580c H/Hunter, 175hp & 9.9hp Evin, Tand trl, covers $28,500 Whittley 550 Cruiser, 135hp Mercruiser stern drive and Mackay trailer ’07 2hrs $57,000 Whittley Monterey V6 Yamaha, easytow trailer ’94, F/F, spotlight, VHF, CD player $37,000 630 Whittley Cruiser, V6 mercruiser and trailer, as new $84,000 660 Cruiser $84,000 22’ Aluminium hard top, lockable cabin door, self draining decks, ice box, twin Yamaha 85hp 2 stroke motors and trailer $34,000 7M Whittley Cruisemaster, 5.0l MPI Merc, Dec 2005 with low hrs $85,000 Yamaha XL1200 ’99 model with trailer $6,900 Yamaha jet skis-GP1300/FX160 with Tandem trailer $34,000 OR Yamaha FX160 with new trailer $18,000

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Subscribe today Subscribe, Back Issues: 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.____________ Payment by; ____ Bankcard ____ MasterCard ____ Visa ____ Cheque ____ Money Order Credit Card __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ Exp. date __ __ /__ __ Total amount; ______ From issue no. ____ Fishing News - Page 54

Deegan Marine Used Boats Quicksilver 640 Warrior Fibreglass ( 2006 Model ) Bimini Top with Front & Side clears, Storm Cover, Navman Coloured Sounder / Plotter, Navman VHF Marine Radio, CD Player, Dual Batteries, S/Steel Ski pole, Dunbier Tandem Trailer -13’’ Wheels, Mech Braked. Powered with Mariner 150hp EFI 2 stroke, Mercury 15hp 4 stroke Electric Start with Forward Controls, Package Price $37,900 PolyCraft 5.3mtr CentreConsole VHF Marine Radio Lowrance Coloured Sounder / Plotter Marine CD Player, nav lights Bilge Pump Epirb Fire Ext, RM Trailer – 14’’ Wheels, Mechanical Braked, Johnson 115 hp 2 Stroke, Package Price $19,900 Whittley Voyager 580 Bimini Top Front & Side Clears Camper Back Covers Electric Toilet Fresh Water Tank portable Cooker Sink Rear Folding Table, AM /FM Radio CD Player Lowrance x65 Sounder 27 MHZ Radio Rear bait Board Station, Mackay Tandem Trailer, Powered with Mercruiser 135hp 3.0 Litre Sterndrive ( 88 hrs) $39,000 Used OutBoards Honda 10hp 4 Stroke Long Shaft (2005 model) $2450 Honda 5hp 4 stroke Short Shaft $890 Honda 40hp electric start with forward controls (1996 model) $4,490 Honda 30hp Tiller Steer (Electric Start With Power Tilt & Trim) ( 2004 model) $4,290 Honda 15hp long Shaft (1998 model) $1,980 Evinrude E-TEC 90hp XL 2 Stroke (2004 model) $9,600 Tohatsu 30hp Tiller Steer 2 Stroke (2006 Model) $2,370 Tohatsu 40hp Tiller Steer 2 Stroke (2007 Model) $3,690 Deegan Marine Ulverstone 6425 2238

Marine Fishery Advisory issues The Editor, Mike Stevens, sits on the Ministerial Marine Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee. This is a precis of issues discussed at the last meeting in June. New appointment of Rod Pearn as Principal Manager Recreational Marine Fisheries. See details page 52. Bay of Fires - Abalone research area. Remove restricted bag limit for recreational fishers; Should area be reopened to say 6000kg of commercial take; RecFac advise Minister to stay as research area with restricted recreational take only. Charter Boat Management Plan - Leave on agenda for later discussion. Abalone Fishery Plan - Plan to be renewed in 2009. Legislative Council Select Committee review of Recreational marine fishing - an ongoing Select Committee that will report on a broad range of issues. No end date at this stage.

Recreational Fishery Research - Marine. 1100 households are participating in research using diaries. TAFI are sur veying estimate of southern bluefin tuna catch. D’Entrecasteaux Channel scallop dive assessment. Acoustic tag survey on movement of scalefish in Derwent and Norfolk bay. Fish include flathead, searun trout and bream. Biosecurity - Issues include abalone and rock lobster. Compliance - Over 500 calls to Fishwatch phone over the last year. Total convictions nearly 2500 which is up 1000 on last year. Mostly because of good weather and more people on the water. Around 1500 of these are Marine and Safety Tasmania offences. St Helens - Elephant Rock research area. Rock lobster and centrostephanus (sea urchins) research area. Beach seine licence - to adjust licence and allow take of small amount of Australian salmon on NW coast by current fisher. Calamari closure - South East Coast including Great Oyster Bay and Mercury

Passage as per last year. 1 October to 14 December. Scallops - Sur vey results from D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Should consider rec. research areas or some closures. Scalefish Management Plan 2009 - Current plan expires on October 31 2009 and must be reviewed prior to then. Chance to look in depth at and change anything that is in the current plan such as; areas, bag limits, netting rules, recreational species, recreational areas, size limits, what’s missing, options etc. Plan applies to both recreational and commercial scalefish in State waters. Rock Lobster - Research report by Caleb Gardner. Issues included; identifying immature females, size limits across State and how maturity changes north to south, translocation trials and results. Fishwise Community Grants - First round assessment. Project proposals included; Sand dredges, Scallop surveying, Fish attracting devices, Fishcare volunteer projects, Recreational forums, Newsletters and more. Advice from these discussions goes to the Minster, David Llewellyn.

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www.fishplatypus.com.au Fishing News - Page 55

Rebate available on range of Yamaha 4-Stroke engines Commences May 1 for a limited period Conditions apply Only at participating dealers

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