Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 078 2009 February

Issue 78 February - March 2009

$5

Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027

Flats bream Lake Augusta Gamefishing tips King Island Lofty on trolling Kayaks more...

A bream from the sand flats on Georges Bay - see page 22.

Bringing you the biggest and best in Tasmanian fishing news

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Fishing News - Page 2

37 Wilson St, Burnie Ph 6431 6500 Email: enquiries@tassietackle.com.au

CONTENTS

Early season gamefishing - Leroy Tirant 4 Lake Augusta polaroiding - Craig Rist 8 Jan’s Flies - Jan Spencer 11 Greg ‘Lofty’ Hynes trolls Tassy again 12 King Island 16 Walking and stalking - Scott Levi 20 Bream on the flats - Jamie Henderson 22 Marine fishery news 24 Is the Government destroying our trout fishery?

26

Reviews 28 Classifieds and Subscriptions 28 Accommodation services directory 31 Fishing, boating services directory 31 ‘Yaking - Craig Vertigan 35

My Say Next time you whinge about losing a fish, think about the Victorians who have lost everything.

I hope you gave something to the appeal and I hope you appreciate how lucky we all are.

On the cover in a young Victorian Jaymie Deboucherville. Jaymie was recently in Tasmania with his brother Jake and father Guy. They fished with Michael Haley of Gone Fishing Charters at St Helens and had what they described as ‘a trip of a lifetime’.

They caught salmon, trevally and had an awesome session on bream.

One morning they started off chasing trout first in an east coast stream and then chased the estuary species. Wow, they had a ball and have already planned several trips back. It is at our back door.

Late February and early March two ABT National bream qualifiers are being held at St Helens and the Derwent River. I don’t think the State (Government) has any idea how much angling of this sort is worth as extra income to the state. Many of these guys are the ‘big guns’ of Australian recreational fishing and their talk alone will bring plenty of new visitors. Some, in preparation, spend

a month here, as they chase some really substantial prizes.

On pages 16–20 we have featured King Island. This is another undiscovered part of Tasmania and we all should visit. KI people are the friendliest around and the fishing is awesome. I visited last year and had a ball.

Hopefully I am getting back there in March for a crack at the kingfish and snapper, which are, according to the locals, more common than ever.

These new pre-rigged 3” stickbaits from Yep Tassie tackle are designed to get you into the fish with the minimum of fuss.

No more wondering if your plastic is swimming

Lastly I want to make special mention of Yep Tackle. Yes, he advertises, but this is not cash for comment. Dale Howard has done a spectacular job with the soft plastics he has made. I spent two days at St Helens using just Yep lures. Nine species and plenty of them convinced me he is on the money with colour, size and style. Yep have some new pre-rigged plastics that make them very easy to manage as well. Check them out.

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Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Published by Michael Stevens PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250.

Ph/fax; 6331 1278 Email; fishn@bigpond.net.au Advertising: Quenton Higgs - 0427 129 949 Stevens Publishing, ABN 79 095 217 299 All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027

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Early Season Game Fishing with Leroy Tirant With Christmas behind us a lot of anglers are now on their summer holidays. This sets the mind thinking as to where to spend the holidays with or without the family. Usually this time of the year some early reports start to filter in of Albacore at the shelf, and bait schools start showing up on mass. This gets game fishermen warm to the heart and they start breaking out the heavy tackle to head to the blue water for some serious trolling. Each year is different with the average size of fish being usually smaller than later in the season and showing up in sometimes the strangest of places. Last year it was Merricks reef that produced good sport early. So how do we give ourselves a better than average chance of turning a reel? Well there are a few different ways to look at it and if you slowly put the puzzle together with a bit of homework you can tip the odds in your favour.

Water temperature

How many times have you gone out blind and chucked some lures out the back and hoped for the best? Well water temps play a big part on where fish will be as each Fishing News - Page 4

A nice albacore caught by Lachlan Hayes onboard charter boat Saltshaker, with Skipper Rocky Carosi. species of game fish has tolerance thresholds.

Of course there are crossovers between the species but if you look for water temps that are generally between 17 and 22 degrees you are going to be on the money. Bait fish are also affected by water temp and if you aren’t where the bait is it’s a good bet the big fish aren’t there either. Water temp variations can show up as current lines on the surface.

Sounders of all brands these days should show water temperature so this will at least give you a reference point as you troll around.

When you find the right temperature you can use your GPS if equipped and plot a course to stay in the zone.

A hot bit of advice is to get onto the internet and have a look at websites such as WEATHERZONE and B.O.M or www.tasfish.com, which has a Sea Surface Temperature on its front page. These weather sites can give you access to the latest satellite images of sea surface temperatures, which is the biggest heads up you will find as you can steer directly to where you know there will be warm water.

diving. These can be a dead give away for a school of tuna busting up a bait school as the birds will follow these schools around waiting for them to push the bait to the surface and begin the attack. The birds then dive to either pick up bait fish or pieces of morsals left behind by the bigger fish. Smaller terns can lead you on a wild goose chase so try to keep an eye out for the bigger gulls and shearwaters.

And don’t dismiss a lone bird as they can at times be hovering over a large school and as Dean Butler will tell you in his writings a lone bird can sometimes be a give away to the presence of a marlin.

Gossip

Gossip is the single most misleading bit of information an angler can adhere to.

Every year without fail someone will walk into my shop and give a report that so and so caught such and such a fish at such and such

a location. When I track down the angler to get the report first hand you find he didn’t catch a yellowfin on a purple Saltshaker. It was a small albacore on a Mackbait. Chinese whispers tend to really get inflated especially if someone has caught an exceptional fish like a big yellowfin or the like. You can bet that if you hear it was caught on a particular lure in a particular location that the angler would be giving misleading information to protect his patch.

Lures

Early season I tend to sell a lot of smaller lures which is what I recommend. Lures such as Mackbaits, Feathered Zuker style lures, Jet Heads and smaller pushers in the 4 inch range will suffice. And the most under utilized lures that I know work are worth a try such as small bibbed diving lures like Rapalas and soft plastic shads. I’ve given a list of the best

Current lines

So what if there’s warm water everywhere or at least very little variance? Then start looking for bait schools. Bait schools will tend to hang around current lines, deepwater peaks, upwellings and structure. Current lines can show up as big slicks or riffled water.

Current lines are also good places to troll for pelagics. Current lines can also be the clue to water temp variance often having differing temps on each side.

Birds

Every game fishermen looks for birds when trolling especially for birds that are

Setting the lure spread varies between most gamefishers and all have their favourite positions.

Fishing News - Page 5

bit further back with a larger Jet head opposite.

Off the outriggers you can run two larger pushers staggered. Sometimes you can then run a larger Pusher or Salt shaker that leaves a big smoke trail in the SHOTGUN position out of your centre overhead rocket launcher way back past the boat wash for a shy fish.

Downrigging

Down riggers for game fishing is definitely the most under utilized piece of equipment available to anglers. When the Tuna schools are holding deep and aren’t showing near the surface you have to get your lures deeper. This can be done with downrigger. My favoured option is for the Cannon brand. Downriggers don’t have to be attatched to your boat full time as you can get a detachable base as an option so the downrigger can be easily removed when not needed. For the trolling speeds and size of lures you will be trolling with I would recommend a 15LB lead bomb as a minimum. Most of the better units come equipped with a depth counter which will allow you to troll your lures at a determined depth hopefully at the depth you see fish or bait marking on your sounder screen.

Recommended Lures Rodney - Tassie Tassie and Outdoor Zuker ZF14 Saltshaker # 3 Lumo Mackbait Meridian Demon #4 Bonito

Understanding complex currents and water temperatures can make a huge difference.

These charts can be viewed on CSIRO website, or there is a link to it from www.tasfish.com selling lures and colors in the state to give you a reference of what to look for.

Position of lures in your spread can be important. I heard anglers at times running lures in a V pattern because they don’t know any better but this is not recommended. Lure spreads have been written about in many magazines and it depends on how many rods you intend to troll or rod positions in your boat that will dictate your spread. I like to run a Mackbait on a short corner just below the boat wash with a Diver or Zuker opposite. I then run a small Pusher off the gunnel a

Leroy - Bigfin Sportsfishing Black Magic JET SETTER in green/gold & bonito Mackbait in pink or blue Williamson WAHOO CATCHER Black Pete ZUKER in purple with gold head Jamie - St Helens Bait and Tackle Mackbait Black Pete ZUKER Glen Pankhurst HEX HEAD John - Tamar Marine Black Magic SAURY, FRENCH TICKLER and FLEAS in black/purple, green/gold and lumo

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Leroy Tirant

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GRA20865

2008

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16/1/09 4:59:20 PM

Lake Augusta with Craig Rist Lake Augusta is part of the Nineteen Lagoons area in the Western Lakes. Access to these lakes is via the Liawenee Canal road on the western shore of Great Lake.

Lake Augusta is used by the hydro to catch and redirect the water draining from the Western Lakes down the Liawenee Canal to fill the Great Lake.

During the summer months the water level in the lake drops to form two lakes, Augusta Dam to the north and the natural Lake Augusta to the south. Augusta Dam has deep water along the dam wall and along the northern shore. The River Ouse flows in from the western shore and the James River flowing in from the natural Augusta on the southern shore. Natural Lake Augusta is relatively shallow with a sandy lakebed with patches of weed and rocks. The lake has four shallow sandy bays between the road and the out flow of the James River. Each bay has its own unique sandy beach and alpine sand dunes.

These are the largest formations of parabolic sand dunes in the area. These sand dunes have formed over time by the prevailing westerly winds. Long narrow spits go out into the lake, separating each bay. These bays are shallow with hard sand under foot making wading very easy and safe.

Regulations

Lake Augusta is open to all forms of trout fishing and is the only lake in the nineteen lagoons where the use of bait is still permitted. When using bait only one hand held rod is allowed. I have written about a day with a fly rod but these same conditions can be taken advantage by all forms of land-based trout fishing, especially where they involve actively searching for fish with polaroid sunglasses. There are brown and rainbow trout present, with a bag limit of 5 fish per person. Brown trout are more commonly caught as they are found in all parts of the lake, from the very shallow margins, to the deepest part of the lake. Rainbows, on the other hand, prefer the deeper water. Fishing from a boat can be a great way to access some of the shores or to do some boat polaroiding. There is a boat ramp on the northern shore of Augusta Dam and on the eastern shore of natural lake Augusta below the levee. I use the term boat ramp loosely on the natural Augusta, as it is no more than a shallow beach launch. When these lakes are low care should be taken while navigating this water as there are some large rocks not too far below the surface.

A light rod is some fantastic fun, even on small fish.

Fishing the Sands

When the wind blows from the west and there is some blue sky about, this is the time to fish the sandy beaches of natural Lake Augusta.

The wind and wave action from a westerly, funnels the available aquatic and terrestrial insect life into these shores. Trout can be easily seen patrolling these sandy shallows feeding on the accumulation of these food items. Such conditions can bring on some fantastic sight fishing over these sandy flats.

I have been fishing the Nineteen Lagoons area for many years now and have never really spent much time on these shores. Simon Hedditch, a fishing mate of mine, has been telling me about the great sight fishing he has experienced along these shores during a westerly for some time now and for some reason I had never made the time to check it out.

Early in the New Year, Simon suggested we have a day on these shores and to make things interesting we would only use our small creek rods. Simon’s 6’6’’ two weight and my 7’ one weight fly rod. Using these small rods on a wind swept lake was either going to be a lot of fun or end up being a very frustrating day. Because the sight fishing aspect of fishing these bays was the main feature we had a lazy start to the day,

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GRA20864

2008

GRA20864 v1F.indd 1

Fishing 16/1/09 News -5:16:07 PagePM9

arriving at the lake around 9am. We made our way over the sand dunes stepping onto the first of the four bays. Waves lapped the shore as the wind was blowing from the southwest, just what we had hoped for. I waded out to my knees while Simon stayed in close to the shore. Together we started to wade, while polaroiding, the first bay. Visibility wasn’t that great at this stage. Light cloud covered the sun producing an annoying glare over the water that reduced our vision into the water to about five metres. With the wind at our left shoulder we had a few practice casts. Casting to the right with the wind was pretty easy, but trying to punch out a one weight line and a small dry into a stiff breeze was a different story. One advantage we did have with such windy conditions was the ability to get very close to fish before they realize we where out in the water with them. A short cast is often all you have time for anyway, when a fish suddenly comes into view only metres in front of you. This close proximity fishing can be very exciting as you punch out a small red tag two rod lengths in front and hope the fish sees the fly before it sees you. As we slowly made our way through the water, Simon was talking about his past experiences. “Last time I was here there were fish hard in against the shore over in that corner, there were fish everywhere”. Simon was polaroiding the water with confidence, expecting to see a fish with each step. After wading the length of the first bay we had only managed to see three fish in the poor light. All three had swum onto us before we could get a cast in. With the clouds blocking out the sun more often than not, who knows how many fish we had not seen. We crossed over the first spit separating the next bay and entered the water again. As each cloud covered the sun, we would stop and wait for it to pass before wading on. Even when the sun did come out from behind the heavy clouds, it was still filtering through a light coverage of clouds, limiting our view through the water. We desperately needed a patch of blue sky. Finally Simon caught the movement of a fin as a fish swam towards him. A quick cast saw the size 14 red tag riding the waves in front of the fish. The fish spotted the fly and slowly eased up under the

Fishing News - Page 10

fly and took it with confidence. Simon lifted the rod instantly bending it back to the cork.

The little rod bent valiantly as the hooked trout took off over the shallow sand flats.

With nothing but sand between Simon and his fish the fight was clean and he soon had a fish of around two pounds in hand. The fish was quickly released and we were back in business. Simon managed to pick up another fish of around a pound and a half before we left the second bay. I had a fish come in on my left down wind, but I failed to deliver an accurate cast into the wind as the leader and fly were blown off to the right. The difficulty of casting into the wind with these small rods was all part of the challenge we had set for ourselves. Hopefully making the rewards even greater when we did manage to hook a fish.

The sun had made its way over head and we could now see more behind us that in front, so we decided to walk out around the next two bays to the out flow of the James River and fish our way back to the car with the afternoon sun behind us. On our way, we stayed well back from the waters edge, but couldn’t resist looking back into the water for any signs of a fish. We hadn’t walked far, when a flash of a fin caught my eye, as the waves exposed the back of a tailing trout, in the middle of the day. I waited for the fish to turn away and quickly moved closer to the waters edge and punched out a low cast directly into the wind. The leader and fly rolled out into the path of the feeding fish that had now turned towards me. As the fish took the red tag I was looking straight down into its mouth. Knowing this wasn’t the best angle to hook a fish I let him have the fly a bit longer before setting the hook. The hook went in and the fish erupted in the shallows, it had nowhere else to go, but out into the lake. I pointed the rod at the fish allowing it to take line and settle down. Fighting a fish on such a light rod in open water was a blast. A small fish suddenly becomes a big fish when you’re on the verge of loosing control on a fully loaded rod. Simon caught the next two fish while I tried to capture a jump shot with my camera. The last bay, leading to the James River, had the occasional dun floating in with the wind. Every now and then a fish

could be heard taking duns out wide. Simon picked up another fish just before the river and then the wind dropped out. Fish started to rise to both duns and black spinners.

Simon watched a fish tracking black spinners in a quiet corner below a high bank. He put the red tag out amongst the spinners and the fish responded immediately by sucking down the tag. While Simon played out his fish, another fish was slowly taking duns in front of me. I had changed flies to a parachute dun and put out a long cast ahead of the rising fish. Three seconds later a snout left the water sucking down my fly. We were both hooked up at once, landing two nice fish. By the time we had released these fish the wind had come back up killing the rise as the spinners took shelter amongst the low lying scrub. Just past the river there is a small water hole, only knee deep, that drains into the Lake. Simon had mentioned spooking a fish in there on his last visit and was keen to see if it was still in there. As we neared the small pond, Simon wasn’t feeling too confident in successfully polaroiding this water with the cloud cover present.

A fish bow waved from the shallows as it sensed Simon’s movement well back from the waters edge. A few seconds later another fish took a dun from the surface even closer to Simon. Simon was a good ten metres from the waters edge, putting out a long cast on his short rod.

The fish found the fly and sucked it down. Simon was on, the fish charged

around the small pond while Simon did his best to bring this fish under control. We were amazed that there was more than one fish living in this small pond. After landing the fish, Simon was pretty happy with the way things had unfolded and put the fish back for some other lucky angler to experience. We had a deadline to be back at the car by 2pm, as I had to start my first night shift at 6:30.

It was now 1pm so we did some very quick polaroiding on the way back to the car. We both managed to pick up another fish each on the way. In total we had caught nine fish between us in less than perfect conditions. I can’t wait to get back on the sand when there is another westerly blowing and hopefully, a bit more blue sky.

Craig Rist

Jan’s Flies Jan Spencer

One husband and I have just spent the last five days in my favourite fishing destination – the very remote lakes or our beautiful central highlands. The fishing in this part of Tasmania has a place deep in my heart, I am sure my grandfather, Miles, had his way there as he was a great explorer and fisherman of Tasmania’s high country.

METHOD or green and black matuk’s woolly bugger or something that represents the galaxia which by the way I saw a large brown trout hunting these ilttle native fish, it was rather like a sheep dog rounding up sheep.

1. Take thread full length of shank and tie in tail, you may omit the tail if you wish but I find it helps the fly to sit properly.

The caddis in the highland area are many and caried so I have a standard pattern that will represent most varieties. They are tied on fourteen through to size 10 hooks. The following pattern has a palmered body which I find really good if the caddis are fluttering above the water. But if these insects are sitting ont he water with their wings closed, it is nexessary to trim the palmer body right back and even take the tail off too.

There’s nothing like having a versatile fly especially if you are a long way from the fly tying desk.

3. Tie in palmer hackle and wind back toward the bend of hook where the rib is in place. Now bring rib through palmer hackle toward the hanging thread, tie rib down firmly. Cut away excess palmer feather and excess rib.

This time of the year it’s a mecca for the dry fly. Simple dry fly patterns are what is need such as red tags, black spinners, dun pattern and caddis patterns. For wet fly a red and black

4. Place hackle feather in and tie down firmly, cut away excess feather stem. Make four turns of hackle feather keeping each turn snugly against one another. Bring thread through hackle, cut away excess hackle.

5. There should now be a little gap between the hackle and the eye of the hook. Place the partridge feather in and tie firmly down. Make two turns of the partridge feather, bring thread through securing the feather, cut away excess feather. Pull all the hackle fibres back gently and form a nice little head, whip finish, cut away thread and varnish.

The weather has not mde the fishing easy this trip as blue sky which we didn’t have much of certainly helps with polaroiding in these back country lakes, but on the good days we saw plenty of fish and caught a few and that’s how it mostly is.

It’s not only the fishing that brings us back year after yaer the breathtaking beautiful scenery is also a big draw card. The wild flowers were in full bloom, mother nature certainly knows how to plant a garden.

Getting back to the fishing which is mostly hard work as the footwork involved is strenuous. If one wants to catch a few fish the water must be covered and the only way to do this is on foot. Covering the water slowly and watching every corner, overhanging banks, rock outcrops and be right at your feet. Having fished these areas for thirty odd years I am still learning. The fishing int his remote wilderness is like nothing else I have experienced.

2. Tie in rib and bring thread two thirds along the shand toward the eye.

6. Trim the partridge fibres back to the same length as the main hackle.

Caddis Pattern

Hook size – 14-10 light guage Thread – black Tail – cream cock fibres Rib – very fine silver wire Palmer body – cream badger feather Hackle – cream badger feather Front hackle – one brown partidge feather

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This is a very smart little fly and has been a great part of our expeditions into our remote lakes. The trip as far as fishing was medium as the wether was not 100%. We managed some superb fish up to 7lbs. We had a lot of fish ignore the dry fly.

I think this is due to them not being fully clicked on to the dry fly, because of the very cold season we have had. There has not been a continuation of good weather out there to really get the insects underway. These fish are so different to the fish in our easy accessible lakes. They are truly wild fish and fight thus so. All except for a couple of small fish which we ate were released to grow larger for the next trip.

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Fishing News - Page 11

A breath of fresh air for Lofty with Greg ‘Lofty’ Hynes Early December 2008 my son arrived back in Australia fresh from a pretty hectic time in Afghanistan with the 4 RAR commandos. He called me and said ‘dad I want to go back to Tassie fishing’. It had been over four years since we had been fishing together and over three years since I left Tasmania to live on the Gold Coast in Qeensland.

I quickly decided to make some phone calls to some old connections to secure a boat and vehicle and we were all set up to arrive in Launceston on the 18th of Dec Our flights coincided within 30 minutes of each other. From there it was only a short walk over to Europcar where we picked up our vehicle and the boat, which they hire to approved customers.

My first impressions of the 4.3 metre tinny was, ‘shit, this is a fly fishing boat’ and I only wanted to troll. It was set up with a 40 hp E-tec Evinrude and I did not think it would troll down slow enough, but hey we would compromise if we had to. It also was rigged with an electric motor. Our plan was to head for Woods Lake as I had received stories of it fishing well last season and there were some good fish coming from it.

At 5 am Friday 19th December we head up Poatina. At the top of the mountain the weather looked absolutely deplorable.

The wind was blowing 20 knots from the southwest and there was snow on the higher peaks. I had just left 30 degrees 24 hours prior and the outside temp gauge in the car was showing zero. What had I had I let myself in for.

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We arrived at Woods lake at about 7 am and this was the first time I had laid eyes on it. Two foot waves breaking on the boat ramp and I was having suspicions whether this fly skiff would make it over to calm lee shore. Fortunately it did so with flying colours and I was very impressed with the way it sat on top of the waves and sliced through them. The power tilt and trim was invaluable getting out into deep water. Remember this thing was all tiller control I was really going back to my

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Trolling for brown trout - the author having fun at Woods Lake.

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grass roots days of fishing. Getting to the calm shore turned out to be a breeze and there was another boat trolling close by, so we decided to give it a go in the same area.

This skiff came with three rod holders and a fish finder, which we mainly needed for depth and to see what structures were under us. This little boat had everything and next surprise it trolled into the wind at a perfect speed and we used a bucket as a sea anchor to slow us downwind.

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Fishing News - Page 12

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Fishing News - Page 13

My first fish was hooked in no more than one minute of commencing to troll. My son Clint is still stirring me. As he was setting up his rod I flicked a Loftys red nosed brown bomber No 48 out only 25 metres. No sooner had the lure started its action than the fish hit it. It was a lovely doe fish of about 3 lb.

Great, I thought I am back.

We had both purchased two rod licences, which I think is a geat idea because it gives you the opportunity to set a spread of four different colours of lures with different drop back and line dimensions and assess which colour produces the best.

Clint put on his favourite Loftys #18 and also a #71. Wwe also ran a #48 - red nosed brown bomber and a #70 frog pattern. It was not long, proberly about 10 minutes when the #18 struck this also produced a nice trout of about 2 lb.

Something about this lake became obvious to me after trolling for about 2 hours.

It was, in many ways, similar to Lake Sorrell where I had been very successfull when I first started manufacturing Loftys Lures in 1990. The depth is very stable once you are around 100 metres from the shore—most of the bottom it is flat as a pancake at a depth of 4 metres with healthy weed beds growing in depths of 3 metres and under. This makes for a perfect flatline trolling lake. There is no need for lead line or deep diving lures, just line diameter, correct drop back and trolling speed. I soon realized that water clarity was also an issue by being slightly milky and it would not make any difference if it was bright or overcast.

Lure selection was also critical although we would bag out every day we fished this magnificent water, most fish caught was on green and gold—predominately Loftys #18 green and gold. Also, I asked Wayne

Chellis of Perth (Tas), whom I class as one of the best trolling fisherman in the state, what his most productive lure was. He swears by the #18 Loftys—it catches 60% of his fish, no matter what lake he is fishing.

There seems to be certain areas of this lake where the stick caddis are vey prominent and also small snails, every fish we caught were full of them. I believe the bag limit of five fish in this fantastic water is great. The fish are excellent to eat and five each was plenty for a great day.

We were on the lake each morning by 8 am and off by 4 pm—almost gentlemans hours by some standards. Most of the fish we caught were approximately 3lb with a couple of 4 lb. These are great fish to catch.

I also put into Arthurs Lake on the first day on the way home as Clint Hynes enjoying a day with his old man and a few brownies as well. the water level had been dropped very low we trolled the morass It is fantastic to be for about 1 hour and caught three reminded how good the nice two pound browns. These fish fought fishing is and how accessable harder than the Woods Lake trout and it was everything is within two to at a perfect depth for flat line trolling, depth three hours in any direction. was smack on 4 metres. Be wary of snags Fishing Tasmania is the only though.

After living on the Gold Coast for three way to go, this trip was just years where the fishing is hopeless, and there what my son needed to come are more boats than fish, coming home to back to normality and I also Tasmanias Central Highlands to fish was did not realize how much I like a breath of fresh air. It brought home had missed home.

I will be coming back on to me how spectacular the scenery is, how a more regular basis.

The 4.3 metre hire boat from Europcar fresh the air is and how seasonal the weather Gr eg ‘LOFTY’ Hynes, is and how much I took it for granted when is setup as a fly fishing boat, but works formerly of Loftys Lures.

I lived here.

perfectly for trolling as well.

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Fishing News - Page 14

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Fishing News - Page 15

King Island - unfished and One of the great things about King Island is just that – it is an island, and relatively compact as well. There are two main centres, being Grassy and Currie. Like virtually all major population areas in the world with coastal access, both have harbours. Grassy Harbour is on the south east coast and Currie Harbour is around a third of the way up the west coast. Both have good weather protection and both have some excellent fishing within their confines.

It is so isolated I have heard people say, but that is not the case at all. That argument just manages to keep the casual visitor away, but for anyone who wants a fabulous stay away from the world’s troubles should take the effort to visit. As one new resident explained ‘this place is like the world used to be. Everyone waves as they pass in the car. If they don’t you know they are tourists’.

Is there anywhere else you can buy a crayfish pie? I doubt it, and it would be the easiest place ever to not need a watch.

Time seems to go by more slowly, and I suspect people age more slowly as well.

Tasair flies from Wynyard and Devonport everyday and King Island Air flies from Moorabbin.

Fishing

King Island most likely offers the best landbased fishing in Tasmania, and probably equal to any location in Australia.

You won’t catch a marlin from the shore, but you can target very large Australian salmon, kingfish, snapper, sharks–both school and gummy, garfish, mullet and sweep.

For years sweep has been the focus for many locals and is highly sought as a table fish. This is quite a turn up for visitors because there is nowhere on mainland Tasmania where the sweep is as common, nor held in such high regard. Not that it shouldn’t be held in high regard, it is just an incidental catch generally.

Snapper is another fish that is highly regarded, and interestingly, becoming easier to catch on King Island.

Anecdotal evidence has it that snapper are seen by divers in many places that they have never been seen before and it is not uncommon at all to catch them when fishing for salmon, flathead and gummys from the shore.

Australian salmon and squid are the other two favourites on King Island and we will take a look at some of the hot spots with a few locals.

Terry Perry, proprietor of the local store at Currie has lived on King Island all his life and has travelled all over it fishing—mainly from the shore.

‘I haven’t visited the north for more than 12 months though, as I can find all the fish I want just ten minutes from my door. I used to go up there for salmon, but no more.

‘I can finish work, go home for dinner and then get three hours fishing in after that. Where else could you do that?’

‘There is some fabulous sweep fishing five minutes away, and in recent times the snapper we have been catching have really been great. When I was much younger Pat O’connell told us, Bill Scott had told him where to catch them at the back of Netherby’s, just south of Currie, but we didn’t bother, and just fished for sweep, but it appears he was right. Now, when we target snapper we catch many more, and we know where to find them.’

Terry Perry’s top spots

Currie Harbour is a great place to start. There is a lovely jetty that you can catch calamari squid and silver trevally from.

They are both very good to eat. It is protected from most weather and very convenient.

The rocks anywhere between Currie and British Admiral Beach you will find sweep. There are some great rocks that you can access, virtually in your slippers at low tide, but make sure you do watch the tides and water. You don’t want to get stuck. These rocks are generally safe to fish from, but with any rock fishing you do need to take care.

I once fished with my baits about two metres off the bottom, but a commercial wrasse fisherman told me years ago that the big sweep were close to the bottom, so now I put my baits half a metre up and have caught fish to 3lb 10oz. I have found the best sweep fishing has been in April.

Every now and then I catch a luderick, and I am sure if they were targeted, by skilled luderick anglers they would soon find some excellent fishing.

I used to drive all over the island looking for the best JustoneklmfromthecentreofthetownofGrassy,ontheSouthEastcoast fishing, but don’t anymore. The best sweep fishing is still ofKingIslandwithviewsoverBassStrait,theoldGrassygolfcourseandup likely to be at Seal Rocks down south where water close to to the town of Grassy. shore is 80-90 feet deep. The rocks can be dangerous down Twoluxuryself-containedunits,plusaBedandBreakfastsuite,providinga there and with fishing so good five minutes from home I quiet and relaxing atmosphere for the ideal get away. find no need to go there anymore.

FeaturedonNine'sTV‘Postcards’andSouthernCross‘DiscoverTasmania’.

Martha Lavinia up north east has seen some good fishing Bookings or enquiries: Ken or Marilyn Chapman for salmon, mullet, gummys and school shark over the last Grassy Harbour Rd, Grassy, King Island, Tasmania 7256 couple of years. I have heard of school shark to 9’ being Ph: (03) 6461 1134, 0427 093194 caught there. So it is worth a visit if you fancy catching some Email: ki@portsidelinks.com.au www.portsidelinks.com.au good sharks from the shore.

Portside Links

Shannon Coastal Cottages Set on 2 hectares overlooking Currie Harbour and the rugged West Coast, Shannon Coastal Cottages offer a complete home away from home.

The air is clean and the sunsets spectacular.

Three kilometres from the main town of Currie or a fifteen minute walk along the beach and track.

One and two bedroom cottages accommodate up to 6 people.

Fishing rods are provided. Sightings of wallabies, possums, pheasants, turkeys and a variety of sea birds are common.

The perfect base to explore the island.

Denise O’Keefe 03 64611074 Moores Drive, Devils Gap, King Island TAS 7256 Email: denise@shannoncoastalcottages.com.au Fishing News - Page 16

British Admiral Beach is a little south of Currie and offers some fantastic fishing for salmon, snapper and gummy shark off the beach. Salmon can be caught on most tides with 30 grm slice or slug lures off the beach, and I have noticed over the last few years a low tide can actually be best. Don’t get too concerned about the tide though. It is a great beach that fishes well in most weather except a howling westerly.

Just ask for ‘Bear’, they’ll know.

It seems Bear is one of those blokes who is happy to go through life under a pseudonym. It took an age to find out his real name, but Tony Alexander is a commercial cray fisherman that lives in Currie. His cray boat is a beautiful 80 year old boat that has outlived most people on King Island and is still in superb condition and lovingly cared for.

As a fisherman, much of his spare time is taken up fishing.

Some of it out of a dinghy, but much of it from the shore.

Bear’s top spots

‘Well what do you want to catch’ he asked. ‘Righto here we go, and you’ll have to write fast’.

For all my fishing I don’t worry too much about the tide, moon or anything else—apart from the wind that is. If anything, I try and fish the change at the top of the tide if it suits, but don’t worry too much.

Salmon are good on a chrome lure and if you find some kingfish lurking up the retrieve speed and wind as fast as you can. Big poppers and 70 gram metal high speed lures are also great on the kingfish. On the beaches I like a whitebait on the bottom of a Paternoster rig and a red and white, or blue and white surf popper on the top.

Phoques Bay is a top spot, and one of my favourites—all the way from Yellow Rock in the south to Springs Road at the top. You can get to the beach, but don’t drive on it—you will disappear in the soft sand patches.

There is a track in the middle and this is where I go. There are some gates and make sure you leave them how you find them. My best advice is to get on top of the dunes and check out where the gutters are in the beach. There are usually three or four, and this is where you’ll find the fish. Salmon are good here, as are gummys, school shark and snapper.

At the top of the island is Pennys Lagoon and this is the only place you might catch a trout. You can see a few moving and accasionally catch one, but there has been no stocking in recent years.

Disappointment Bay. Check out the western side where the sand stops for salmon and around number one rock you’ll get shark, salmon and flathead.

At Three Sisters, White Beach in calmer conditions we have caught good gummys, kingfish, flathead and salmon from the shore.

Boulder Point is a great spot going east and from here to Lavinia Point you’ll find salmon, school and gummy sharks and flathead. You can get out to Boulder Rock, but you’ll get wet doing it so take care. If you cast into the sandy patches you will pick up snapper and kingfish.

Get around the Island in comfort

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Snapper have become much more common in recent times.

Along Nine Mile Beach to Cowper Point you’ll get good flathead and gummys and sometimes a few salmon.

Just south of Sea Elephant you often find some excellent flathead and in Elephant River itself there is usually a plague of small salmon.

Naracoopa Jetty is not accessible at the time of writing, but after it is rebuilt during the early part of 2009 it will be a great place to go. It was a great place to fish for squid, salmon, couta, salmon, gummy shark and often a snapper or two where caught here.

Just above Grassy there is Bold Head and just north of here is a little sandy beach that holds all manner of fish and is well worth a look.

My best advice is go fishing anytime you can. There is always a protected shore or bay on the island you can fish. I never worry too much about the time, tide or moon. Ask the locals where to go and they will always put you right.

Lastly, but most importantly wave to other drivers. The locals all do it so get into the habit. Don’t be too enthusiastic though—just raise one finger is more than enough.

Other things to do

Play a round of golf on Currie’s scenic and challenging seaside golf course.

Drive to Cape Wickham lighthouse on the northern tip for great views.

Visit the Lavinia Nature Reserve, an internationally significant wetland bird habitat.

Dive or even snorkel some of the many shipwrecks. Incidentally, Australia’s worst maritime disaster happened here in 1845 when the Cataraqui ran aground.

You can take a coach tour of the island. continued next page.....

‘Bear’ with a couple of locals—the makings of a good crayfish pie.

Fishing News - Page 17

Stroll or take a horse ride along deserted beaches.

Take time to browse the local galleries and shops for ceramics, painting and kelp craft (kelp is quite a big industry here).

At Grassy, penguins come ashore to their rookery on the breakwater.

At Stokes Point, in the south, there’s a calcified forest and the mystery of the historic sealers wall.

Visit the King Island Dairies Fromagerie for tasting and sales of the island’s famous cheeses. The island’s cream is also magnificent, the crayfish succulent and the beef tender and delicious.

King Island: A Small Paradise at 40° South

It’s one thing to buy King Island products from your local deli or supermarket, but it’s another thing entirely to experience what makes those products so special: the people, the places and the pace of the Island itself.

King Island lies at the Western entrance to Bass Strait, between Victoria and Tasmania. It has developed worldwide recognition for its premium quality beef, dairy products and seafood and is also home to growing exports in King Island Cloud Juice pristine rainwater, King Island Honey, and kelp products.

This place is home to a special few - around 1600 people who are proud, genuine and honest. There is little pretence here and the lifestyle is one many envy. The friendliness and authenticity of the people and the beauty of the varying coastline and farming landscapes equal the quality of the well-known produce. The preciousness of life is what really matters here.

There are a range of experiences to be had, and a range of things to see when visiting King Island. But connect with the people, let yourself indulge in the pace, and embrace the generosity of the island for an experience you’ll never forget.

The cheese you buy from your local shop will never taste the same again.

The Naracoopa jetty is currently being refurbished and will be very suitable for fishing and foot traffic, so if you can wait until mid 2009, you’ll be in for a treat. Conditions on the Island vary tremendously so let go of expectations and come and enjoy what we have to offer. Terry Perry 03 6462 1182 is a local with a wealth of knowledge, so give him a call to find out more about fishing ideas.”

King Island Tourism Inc. PO Box 96 King Island 7256 Ph: 03 6462 1355 1800 645 014 www.kingisland.org.au

The Boathouse in Currie Harbour is sadly no more thanks to arsonists. This was the ultimate drop-in centre and the home to art by some of the Island’s leading artists—in particular Caroline Kinimonth.

It was unlocked and unattended and open to anyone to sit and enjoy the view, atmosphere and any BYO they had.

It is proposed to be rebuilt.

Getting there with Tasair

Tasair has been operating a Regional Airline Service between Hobart, Burnie, Devonport and King Island for over 10 years. Our fleet, which includes Jetstream and Piper Chieftain aircraft, enables us to provide an efficient, comfortable and reliable service. It is because of this that Tasair is widely regarded as Tasmania’s premier Airline.

In addition to scheduled services Tasair also operates Charter and Scenic Flights, a Pilot Training School and an Aircraft Engineering Facility.

Our Charters offer an efficient, tailor made, transport service for passengers and cargo within Tasmania or to the mainland. By using a range of aircraft that can operate into remote airstrips and major airports alike it’s a great way for groups to experience areas that cannot be accessed by road.

Our Scenic Flights are simply unforgettable. Experienced pilots fly through some of the most amazing scenery imaginable. It’s simply astounding how many visitors and locals alike are yet to see the full beauty of this incredible island.

Our Pilot Training School is located within modern facilities at Hobart International Airport and also at Devonport. The school provides a premium standard of pilot training from entry level up to Commercial Licence. Tasair also offers training for multi-engine, instrument ratings and instructor ratings. In fact, many of our full time commercial pilots originally completed their training at this school.

Finally, in addition to servicing the day-to-day needs of a busy Airline, our fully approved Engineering Facility conveniently located at Hobart Airport offers a full range of third party maintenance services.

So, whatever service you chose you can rest assured that our team of highly trained professionals, within all areas of our operations, ensure that your flight is a pleasant and safe one.

Tasair hopes to welcome you in the future whatever service you decide on.

Phone: 6248 5088 www.tasair.com.au

Southern Ocean rollers crashing against the rocks. The air is clean and the sunsets spectacular.

Shannon Coastal Cottages are situated three kilometres from the main town of Currie or a fifteen minute walk along the beach and track The cottages are fully furnished down to the last detail, featuring a corner spa and quality fittings in the one bedroom cottage and spacious, stylish surroundings in the two bedroom cottage - ideal for the family or two couples travelling together.

Shannon Cottages can accommodate up to 6 people.

There are plenty of activities to enjoy nearby. Try some rock fishing from the rocks above Devils Gap or beach fishing, swimming or shell collecting at the quiet bay on Shannon's southern boundary. Fishing rods are provided. Wildlife roam free in the Devils Gap area and sightings of wallabies, possums, pheasants, turkeys and a variety of sea birds are common.

Shann on Coastal Cottages on the edge of Currie are the perfect base from which to explore the island After a day fishing or sightseeing come home relax put your feet up and take in the view before either eating in or heading of to the local restaurants for a sumptuous dinner For Bookings or enquiries Ph: Denise O’Keefe 03 64611074 Location: Moores Drive, Devils Gap, King Island TAS 7256 Email: denise@shannoncoastalcottages.com.au

Shannon Coastal Cottages

Cape Wickham Lighthouse – north west tip.

Fishing News - Page 18

Set on 2 hectares overlooking Currie Harbour and the rugged West Coast, Shannon Coastal Cottages offer a complete home away from home.

Enjoy the peace and tranquillity as you watch the busy crayfish boats shuttling back and forth from Currie Harbour and the

Plenty of fun to have on King Island.

Portside Link

Portside Links is located at Grassy Harbour, approximately 1km from the centre of the town of Grassy, on the South East coast of King Island.

Ken and Marilyn Chapman first came to King Island in 2001 as tourists and immediately fell in love with the atmosphere, landscape and friendly community they found there. In 2002 they decided to relocate.

The main residence of Portside Links is situated at Grassy Harbour on the site of the old club house and has views over Bass Strait, the old grassy golf course and up to the town of Grassy.

After 4 years of creativity and hard work, Portside Links Accommodation has been lovingly created and now offers 2 luxury self-contained units and 1 Bed and Breakfast suite, providing a quiet and relaxing atmosphere for the ideal get away.

Enjoy the majestic views of Grassy Harbour and “Sand Blow” beach from your unit or take a stroll to explore the natural wonders beyond. A short walk to the end of the harbour will provide you with a close encounter with fairy penguins as they return to their colony each night Portside Links is fast becoming a popular holiday retreat for couples of all ages to enjoy a romantic getaway. Portside Links is far away from the busy mayhem of big cities and the clean air, the wildness and majestic beauty is ideal medicine for romance, regeneration and well-being.

In 2007 Portside Links was featured on Channel Nine's TV series Postcards as well as the Southern Cross series Discover Tasmania.

Bookings or enquiries: Ken or Marilyn Chapman Grassy Harbour Rd, Grassy King Island, Tasmania 7256 Ph: (03) 6461 1134, 0427 093194 Email: ki@portsidelinks.com.au www.portsidelinks.com.au

P & A Car Rentals

P & A Car Rental offer car hire at Currie on King Island. Self-drive hire cars are an ideal way to explore King Island, and see the sights.

P & A Car Rental vehicle are Mitsubishi Magna sedans and wagons, automatic. Priced from $66.00 per day, price includes GST, comprehensive insurance, unlimited kilometres, and touring information.

Child seats are available free of charge. Drivers must be over 25 years of age. Vehicles are available for pickup and drop off at the airport to arrival and departure flights. Note - the carriage of surf boards is not permitted in or on any of the vehicles. If bringing fishing or diving equipment please specify so that the appropriate vehicle can be reserved for you.

P & A Car Rental are open Monday to Saturday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. Sunday 12.30 pm to 5.00 pm and Public Holidays 8.00 am to 12.00 noon Driving on King Island is delightfully leisurely through interesting coastal and rural landscapes. Roads are 25% bitumen with the remainder good, well maintained gravel surfaces. You will see plenty of wild life including wallabies and these pose a hazard if travelling too fast. Currie is centrally located on our west coast and with the island being 60 kilometres long (north/south) and 30 kilometres wide most fishy destinations are reached in under one hour.

We look forward to showing you the sights.

1 Netherby Road, Currie, King Island, Tasmania 7256 Phone: 03 6462 1603 Fax: 03 6462 1257 Email: kimotors@bigpond.com Web: www.kingisland.org.au

The jetty at Naracoopa is an icon of the Island and is currently in a state of disrepair. However funding has been found to rebuild it and this will certainly be a wonderful fishing platform.

It was a great place to fish for squid, salmon, couta, salmon, gummy shark and often a snapper or two where caught here.

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Walking and Stalking A first timer’s impressions of Tasmania’s Western Lakes with ABC Radio’s Scott Levi.

So you think you’re a dedicated fly fisher! Well try this quick quiz: Are you prepared to walk 1300 metres straight uphill with a 30 kilo pack, cross loose rock screes that can break an ankle with one false step and navigate across trackless wilderness?

Are you also prepared to bush bash through tiger snake invested scrub and swamps, eat dehydrated bushwalking food, suffer from hypothermia when it’s 30 degrees plus down in the lowlands and, after all of that, stand a very good chance of not catching anything?

If you answer YES to all of these questions then you’re ready to tackle the Western Lakes.

I can hear the tough Tasmanian veterans of this unique wilderness lake fishery chuckling into their beards but I found my excursion up the Western Tier one of the toughest things I have ever done.

The best thing you can do is team up with one of those veterans, as I did. Our trip leader, Brian Chambers, is addicted to the Western Lakes experience and like all great explorers was meticulous in his preparations, sending me a fool proof check list. The only trouble was this fool didn’t bring a Gortex coat, gloves or beanie, as advised. While Launceston experienced the hottest temperatures on record, up on the Plateau, it was cold, wet and cloudy and, on one day, the mist didn’t lift till after 2 pm.

Before the trip, I asked local Tasmanian, Mike Stevens, about fly selection and was heartened by his simple approach— apparently as prescribed by legendary Tasmanian guide, Noel Jetson. “For the big shore cruisers start with a size 12 Red

New South Wales ABC Radio presenter Scott Levi with a hard earnt fish from Tasmania’s Western Lakes.

Tag,” he said. “If they refuse that, go to a size 14 Red Tag, if that’s refused go to a size 16 Red Tag and if that’s refused throw a rock at them!”

He was spot on. A great example of the pulling power of this simple little fly occurred when one of our trio, Mike Chambers, presented a Red Tag to a 4 lb fish cruising along a wind and wave washed rocky shore. The fish was searching for food washed into the rocks hard up against the bank and

just before the trout arrived at the fly a wave snagged the Red Tag on a mossy rock. But that didn’t stop the determined fish.

It then did its best to bite the fly off the rock several times in about 20cm of water!

If there is one bit of advice I can give to people like me who are used to catching regular Australian stream sized fish on dry fly it is to SLOW DOWN THE STRIKE! If you tangle with a Western Lakes fish it is more than likely going to be

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one over 4 lb and big fish take longer to turn down with the fly. There is nothing as heart breaking as spotting a nice trout, making a perfect presentation with the right fly and then pulling it out of the fish’s mouth by striking too early. Thank goodness it’s a wilderness area because the expletives I let go when this happened on two occasions could have led to my arrest had anyone been within ear shot.

One of the highlights of the trip was a great example of perseverance. On our last day, with mist cutting visibility down to a watery window of five metres, Brian sat on a rock to lay in wait for a cruising fish. On a previous visit he had seen fish regularly swim past this outcrop.

We sat for fifteen minutes until a disappointed Brian hooked the fly in the rod’s keeper ring and said: “Looks like he’s not coming this time.”

As if on cue, a big brown swam out of the mist and into view. With frantic, fumbling fingers, Brian unhooked the fly, a CDC Mayfly Emerger, and flicked the line a bare metre from the rod tip. The fish sidled over and the fly disappeared into its gaping mouth. My mouth was also agape as I helped Brian land the trophy fish which weighed at least six pounds. We immortalised the catch on camera and let him go.

As we packed the tents, the watery sun peeped through the clouds and the fish continued to feed on the mayfly duns.

But now we could see them clearly in the water and not just their “rises”.

What a revelation. No wonder we couldn’t temp them fishing blind. They zigged and zagged just under the surface of the waves searching for duns. I was lucky enough to get my fly into the path of a feeder about 20 m out. He wolfed down the mayfly pattern and took off across the lake, cartwheeling like a marlin. After three spectacular leaps, he won his freedom. I had struck too quickly again! Mike Stevens reckons a Tasmanian fly fisher wouldn’t have missed those fish. He reckons my fast city lifestyle was the curse.

After a week walking from lake to lake, probably fishing a dozen lakes and looking at a dozen more, we made our way back down. Two pieces of gear that were vital for the descent were retractable aluminium walking poles. Brian gave me his because I’m sure he didn’t fancy carrying my 100 kilo carcase down the mountain. The poles saved me from tumbling on a number of occasions and are worth the investment.

Stopping for a dip in a tumbling, crystal clear, freezing cold stream was a highlight at the end of the trek and helped to take a bit of the swelling out of my knees.

It was tough going but, for me, the adventure of a lifetime and I would recommend the experience to anyone fit enough to make the trip.

If all of that seems too much like hard work then our next two days of fishing could be a much more enjoyable option for you.

We drove out to one of the local rivers. When we arrived we found the banks alive with grasshoppers. Every pool we fished had trout on the look out for these big, tasty, treats.

We caught and released about 20 fish in a 500 metre stretch with the best a 45 cm brown around 2 lb.

Brian and Michael Chambers looking for fish off the banks.

It was easy cool, wet wading and an engrossing way to spend the day. The big fish had come out of their hidey holes to get on the “Hoppers” and they found a Nobby Hopper size 12 irresistible.

The next day we had some great sport for rising fish on the St Patrick’s River and caught and released plenty of fat and feisty little browns. The Tasmanian rivers have to have the healthiest numbers of wild bred fish in the world.

Within an hours drive of Launceston we satisfied our need to catch fish after a week of hard stalking for a handful in the Western Lakes.

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Bream on the flats - Georges Bay Intro

Up until the summer of 2006 suggesting to anglers that large numbers of bream could be caught from the rich waters of Georges Bay on artificial lures would have resulted in a small laugh and a comment that it was a waste of time. The fish had always been there, just talk to any of the oyster farm workers.

The numbers may have been low, but the bay had never been considered a major bream fishery, not like several river systems along the coast from it. Some of the jetty regulars would catch a few bream on baits during the summer months, even boat anglers would snare the odd fish, but most had overlooked the schools of fish that frequented the mud and sand flats at high tide. As the soft plastic lure revolution built up speed suddenly these areas were being looked at a little harder and some exciting fishing was being discovered. In January of 2006 a small bream tournament was run on Georges Bay, 12 teams with a maximum bag of 10 fish each saw 81 fish brought to the scales and released back into the bay and most of those fish were caught in less than one metre of water. From this point onwards Georges Bay in St Helens has grown as one of the states premier bream fisheries and is now host to a qualifying round of the Australian ABT Bream tournaments.

Many mainland entrants are now making the trek to Tassie to experience the fantastic Bream fishing we have. Now nearly every weekend throughout the summer the high tide will see various sand flats, mud flats and oyster racks targeted by small boat anglers armed with bow mounted electric motors and soft plastic lures chasing the wiley southern black bream.

Fishing News - Page 22

Mike Stevens with a fly caught bream on the sand flats in Georges Bay.

The Fish

The Southern Black Bream, or Acanthopagrus butcheri, is probably one of the most common species in our waterways around Tasmania, particularly the East Coast, and is more than likely what most of us would have cut our teeth on as a youngster bait fishing the rivers and jetties with Prawns and Crabs as bait.

Southern black bream are opportunistic feeders and will consume a wide range of prey. The diet of the species varies between river and estuary systems but exhibits smaller variations between seasons, although they appear to have certain preferences towards a particular prey item when two or more possible prey species are available. In most estuary systems in Tasmania crustaceans make up a large portion of the breams diet, this includes crabs, prawns, types of shrimps and nippers etc as well as a number of polychaete and annelid worms. Other food items such as oysters, mussels and cockles are also consumed by bream and are crushed in the fish’s powerful jaws. Small fish such as gobies and anchovies, commonly referred to as “Sardines” or “Prettyfish” are also taken and at times feature highly on the breams diet. Studies have also suggested that the fish’s diet changes as it gets older, the juvenile fish eat a higher proportion of amphipods and small molluscs. The number these items consumed decreases in the diets of older fish while the number of large molluscs and crabs increases.

The Flats

Now that you know the dietary preferences of the Black Bream you can get a better understanding as to why they feed so heavily throughout the “flats” areas of most estuary systems. Georges Bay, like most estuaries, is very tidal and as the tide rises the water covers much of the exposed shoreline, as the tide drops this area is once again exposed to the air. This area is called the “intertidal” zone and this region contains a very high diversity of aquatic species. The intertidal zone is also split into smaller zones, Lower intertidal zone - dry only during the lowest tides and contains the highest biodiversity within the intertidal zone, Middle intertidal zone - regularly covered with sea water and the Upper intertidal zone – only covered by water during high tide so it experiences dry periods daily.

A general rule of thumb is to look for any sand and mudflats or rocky bars covered in shellfish such as oysters that

are out of the water at low tide, come back to these spots at high tide and there is a good chance there will be Bream feeding all over them. Look at the sand and mud for small craters or “digs” as this is where the Bream have been feeding on the previous tide, they work along with their head down and tail up and blow water at the bottom to move the sand and dig out the little critter they are trying to eat.

Any areas that have high concentrations of oyster and mussel growth and rocks covered with oysters are prime locations to prospect for fish once they are covered in water.

Ideally you are looking for expanses of mud and sand with broken patches of week interspersed with rocks, oysters and mussels with 2-3 feet of water on top…….this is where the bream will be

Techniques and Lures

Tides, tides, tides…..can’t stress that highly enough, if the tide isn’t high you can’t fish the flats. Study the tides closely and aim to attack the flats on the incoming and high tides.

As the tide drops the fish will have finished feeding and will move back down into deeper water. Look closely at the tide height figures as well, usually there is one high tide of the day that is higher than the other. Depending on the moon phase the high tide can be actually be quite low so there will be less water on the flats than normal, this is an important factor as it will effect the feeding patterns of the bream and determine what areas they can access so pick your tides carefully.

I like to approach the flats as stealthy and quiet as possible by using a bow mounted electric motor and start by using a hard body lure such as a Bushy’s Stiffy on 4lb Fluorocarbon to search the flats. I pick areas where there are clear patches in between the weed and broken rock and shell and keep my eye out for fresh diggings or any disturbances and activity.

I get very excited if I see a small group of bait fish skitter about the surface and cover the area with a cast immediately as generally there is a big bream in close vicinity.

Ahe lure is an excellent choice for long distance casting and can be fished in various depths of water with a little manipulation of the rod by the angler. Belt out a big cast as far as you can and when the lure hits the water give it a quick sweep with the rod to get it down under the water and moving then stop with a pause in the water and wind up the slack, wait a second then give another steady sweep with the rod and

Fly Fishing

You won’t see many people fly fishing on the flats of Georges Bay for bream, and until recently very little was done. Fly fishers though love their sight fishing and bream on the flats fit the bill perfectly.

It can be a very delicate way to present an artificial bait to feeding bream and this type of finesse fishing can be exceptionally productive when other methods fail. Mike Stevens, the Editor, has managed plenty of bream on the flats and the techniques are not much different from what I have described for lures and plastics.

A floating fly line is all that is needed and in fact, any trout fishing outfit will do.

Just about the only change needed is to the leader. A heavy butt leader will help turn the flies over and a long tippet will keep the flyline out of the bream’s vision.

A leader of total length of more than four metres is best and if you can handle longer go for it.

You will often find the bream will follow when you make short strip retrieves, but not eat. Don’t be hasty—just let it sit there sometimes and the bream will pick it up. Try to strip strike, and above all avoid trout striking and lifting the rod.

Muzz Wilson flies work well if you can find them. Try his Black or Olive Hammerhead, Fuzzle Bugger or the universally great BMS Special in Olive or Black, or Estuary Chartruese.

Most shops have a few different bream flies in stock. Even small Crazy Charlies and small streamer flies can work really well.

The flats of Georges Bay are extensive and productive. By far the most important aspect though are the tides, with big, high tides the best by far.

SERIOUS ABOUT CATCHING BREAM?

AUPA-0658-8-00B

pause again. Many of the strikes from bream will come while the lure is sitting static in the water and lures that suspend are preferred for this purpose. If the water has good depth then keep the rod tip low however if the water is a little shallow or you are over the top of weed and want to keep the lure above everything hold the rod tip high which will keep the lure a little higher in the water column and just above the weed. Don’t be frightened to experiment with the retrieve either, sometimes just a steady constant wind, called a slow roll, will trigger a reaction and other times a very static lure will be the secret, even a very erratic and jerky retrieve will work when the fish are in an aggressive mood, don’t get locked into a particular retrieve especially if it isn’t working look for the trigger and then be consistent but be willing to change.

When using plastics I take a slightly different approach favouring areas with little or no weed and picking the clear sandy areas as much as possible. A large plastic such as a 100mm Pro Range Squidgy Wriggler in Wasabi colour on a light 1gm-2gm head is my choice and cast into the clear areas.

I then let it sit for a minute before giving a slow lift and then let it settle back on the bottom for a pause again for anywhere up to 10 seconds. I find the fish either swim over to it as soon as its hit the bottom and grab it or after the first couple of lift and drops but they always take the plastic while it is sitting so remember to keep the retrieve slow. If the fish are not hitting the plastic properly and I am not hooking up I add a little bit of “S-Factor” scent to the lure which usually causes the bream to hold onto the plastic a little longer.

Another technique and lure that is becoming more and more popular is the Vibe style lures. These lures are generally used when targeting bream in deeper water and suspended schools of fish however they are proving themselves as worthy flats weapons as well. When using vibes on the flats open sandy areas are preferred with little or no weed and obstructions.

Cast the lure as far as possible, being small metal lures they cast extremely well and can also be effective during windy conditions. Once the lure has settled start the retrieve, this can vary between slow winding across the bottom or small rips and hops all the way back to the boat. The action of these lures attracts bream from a wide area and can be a good technique when searching for congregations of fish.

Tackle

Both lure and fly are very effective on the flats.

Fishing the flats for bream does require the use of specialised tackle, once again there is no need to break the bank but buy the best you can afford. Rods need to have the ability to cast very lightly, and often unweighted, plastics and lures a long distance and this requires them to be ultra

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Fishing News - Page 23

light themselves. High modulus graphite has the benefits of being super light, incredibly strong and extra stiff and this all equates to a rod that has more responsiveness than a composite or fibreglass rod. The more responsive the rod the better its ability to store and release energy efficiently, the faster and more consistent a rod is able to store and release its energy, the better the angler is able to cast farther and more accurately.

I favour rods 7’ in length as it gives you a tad better distance over a 6’6” length and on the flats distance is everything.

Reels need to be small and light, 1000 through to 2500 sizes will be perfect and will hold more than enough line. The reel also must have a very smooth drag, they don’t need to have high drag pressure capabilities but must be smooth to start up as often you are dealing with very light line classes and the line needs to be able to run off the spool without being jerky or notchy when a fish hits the lure hard and runs fast.

A combination of a lightweight rod and reel will give the angler the ability to cast all day long with less fatigue on the casting arm, the more casts you make the more water you cover and the more chances of presenting to a fish and flats fishing is all about covering as much water as possible.

Lines can vary depending on opinion, some anglers favour light gelspun lines and some favour light fluorocarbon….I tend to use both depending on the situation. I use light GPS line of 3-4lb couple with a long fluorocarbon leader of 2-6lb for the soft plastic lures and I use a 4lb fluorocarbon all the way through for the hard body lures when conditions are bright and the water is clear. Most quality reels come with a spare spool these days so having an extra spool rigged with

The 100 mm Squidgy Wriggler in Wasabi colour is a winner and the selection of flies above is all you need. a different line is handy for differing conditions if multiple rod/reel outfits is not in your budget.

Shimano have a great range of rods and reels to cover most budgets for this type of fishing, with rods priced anywhere from the Catana at around $50 right through to the T-Curve Flight and Fireblood series at around $400+. Reels are also price in similar fashion with the Slade from around $60 right through to the Stella range at $600+ and everything in between Fishing the flats for bream is an exciting way to target the fish, often you are in water less than 3 feet deep and you can

Recreational Marine Fisheries News Progress of the Scalefish Review

The review of the Scalefish Fishery Management Plan, Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2004 is progressing and changes will be implemented by 1 November 2009.

In late last August/September During the first consultation phase, the Department aimed to identify issues that may be addressed by changes in the management plan. A paper outlining potential issues for review as well as a questionnaire to assist in providing feedback on the issues raised were released for public comment. Four hundred and sixteen submissions were received during the first phase of consultation.

After considering the submissions, and other information at hand, and the advice

St Helens

of the Recreational Fisheries Advisory Committee (RecFAC) and Scalefish Fisheries Advisory Committee (SFAC) the Department has drafted changes to the management plan.

T he draft manag ement plan and information paper explaining the proposed changes will be available from early March.

The Proposed changes include: • Introducing maximum soak times of 2 hours in Shark Refuge Areas and 6 hours other gillnet waters.

• Changes to the management of calamari, inshore crab, blue eye trevalla, bastard trumpeter, snapper, yellowtail king fish and striped trumpeter.

• Introduction of a set line licence [note that the proposal for a Gamefishing licence is not being progressed].

• Prohibiting the take of scalefish for commercial purposes in Ansons Bay and Port Sorell.

STORAGE SHEDS

see many of the fish you are fishing to. The fish hit the lures hard and generally run hard across the flats fast peeling line off against the reels drag. The flats in Georges Bay can produce some big fish of well over 40cm and 3lb in size and are well conditioned and strong. Its one of my favourite forms of fishing during the summer months, so the next time you are fishing St Helens in your boat don’t ignore all those areas that look too shallow you may just be missing out on some of the best estuary bream fishing you could wish for.

Jamie Henderson

Other news: It is worthwhile noting that some of the proposals discussed in the previous “potential issues paper” are not being progressed. Some issues will be addressed by education(such as filleting at sea), and other require more further research or investigation. There will be some outstanding issues after this review is implemented (in November this year).

Issues relating to wildlife interaction, no netting areas, shark refuge areas and scalefish allocation require a strategic focus and will be investigated and developed after this review.

This will involve community input.

These information paper, report on the first consultation phase, and the previous consultation documents are available for down load from www.fishing.tas.gov.au or by request at the contacting the details below.

You have an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes until 17 April 2009.

The process for making a submission is detailed in the information paper.

You are also encouraged to attend one of the consultation meetings to hear and discuss the proposed changes with the recreational fisheries manager, Rod Pearn and the scalefish fishery manager, Andrew Sullivan.

T he recreational Scallop Season commences on Saturday 4 April and ends 31 July 2009. A reminder that the D’entrecasteaux Channel is closed to scallop fishing for 2009. This closure also prohibits the possession of scallops while swimming or diving. This allows for boats with scallops taken from waters outside the closed area to transit through the D’entrecasteaux Channel.

The closure aims to increase the chances of rebuilding scallop stocks in the area and limit longer term closures. Licences are available from Service Tasmania and the www.fishing. tas.gov.au.

We are keen to hear where scallop divers locate scallops in 2009. If you want to report finding a good scallop bed please contact us.

We will not publicly divulge specific areas during the season, however may use this information for post reporting on the season or to target surveys.

Need more information?

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.

Public meetings for the Scalefish Fishery Review

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Fishing News - Page 24

Location Date Venue Time Flinders Island Monday, 16 March Whitemark Sports Club m p03.6 Launceston Tuesday, 17 March DPIW Prospect Offices, 167 Prospect Rd p 0 3m .6 Devonport Wednesday, 18 March DPIW Stoney Rise Government Centre, Rundlem p Rd 03.6 Taranna Monday, 23 March Tasman Community Centre, Amy St p 0 3m .6 Triabunna Tuesday, 24 March Triabunna RSL Club, Vicary St (Buffalo Room) p 0 3m .6 Bicheno Wednesday, 25 March Bicheno Meeting Hall, Burgess Street m a11 St Helens Wednesday, 25 March Tidal Waters St Helens Resort, 1 Quail St m p03.6 Hobart Monday, 30 March Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania Marieville Esplanade, Sandy mp0Bay 3.6 King Island Tuesday, 31 March Council Chambers Cnr George & Meech Streets p 0 3m .6 Smithton Wednesday, 1 April Circular Head Community & Recreation Centre Cnr Nelson m p &0 G Strahan Thursday, 2 April Strahan Golf Club, Meredith St p 0 3m .6

Tasmania’s East Coast Sports Fishing Destination

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Fishing News - Page 25

Is the Government destroying our trout fishery?

Trout anglers are a steadfast lot and by their very nature take a lot to disappoint them. But the lack of consideration on what anglers are worth to the State is abyssmal.

Arthurs Lake is low, dirty and uninviting, but still fishing OK. I am told that Arthurs had an algal bloom last year, and may be heading that way again. There is no doubt that irrigators take precedence over anglers, and there is no

doubt this fishery is in serious decline. It was Tasmania’s premier fishery with a catch return of over two fish per person per day. We have lost Lake Crescent, Lake Sorell, Lagoon of Islands and Arthurs is heading the same way.

The Inland Fisheries Service gets token support from Government, which in real terms has been declining.

When we have an agency and Minister that is responsible

for both water and the fishery one would think that a better outcome would be possible.

Add a pulp mill and two irrigation schemes into the mix and we will never see trout fishing again as we have had in the past. We have been told the pulp mill and irrigation schemes won’t use any more water than what is taken now. Baloney. Mike Stevens

Arthurs Lake and “droughtproofing Tasmania” - Richard Dax AAT

As far as Arthurs is concerned there is clear evidence that this water is in decline as are all eleven waters east of Great Lake whose only common denominator is that they have supported irrigation. Surely starting the Midlands scheme before it can be proven that both Arthurs and Great Lake can be restored to “preferred levels” by the Hydro is putting the cart before the horse.

In addition Arthurs is in its present condition with the Hydro pumps turned off so where would we be under past management regimes? What is absolutely certain is that unless there are scientifically based minimum water levels fixed in legislation, sooner or later the water taken for irrigation will become an extra draw down rather than part of the historical amounts used by the hydro so some 28,000 ML will become extra rather than a part of the norm.

As far as the Clyde is concerned this is Tasmania’s own little “Murray/Darling” tragedy where mismanagement and disproportionate usage over the last thirteen years (not since 2005-06) has caused levels to drop to such an alarming level that evaporation is greatly accelerated through low levels and consequent water temperatures which also produce larger wind effects.

Anglers Alliance (AAT) notes the mooted irrigation “assessment processes and Consultation” outlined by the Minister and we look forward to sharing in this. In fact this is all that AAT has asked for from the start but was found lacking..

We accept that in the past some Governments have used the announcements of contentious issues as an ambit claim, later watering these down under the guise of listening to the public but we believe that our angling environment requires full, open and frank discussion throughout.

AAT notes that The Minister intends to initiate a steering committee through which the “angling community is provided with the best possible chance to have their say about irrigation projects and input into operational rules.” Two members of this Committee will be drawn from his advisory body IFAC which does not necessarily represent the views of anglers as its makeup is from many quarters.

Given that the Government through the Minister has confirmed that AAT is the body representing the views of fresh water licensed anglers then this committee would seem superfluous although AAT will deal with this or any other body involved. AAT already has an expert group who has met with the Irrigation Development Board twice and the Hydro once and with another major meeting soon to be held.

Following these meetings and the reaction of IFAC to the Minister’s intended steering committee AAT may call a mass meeting of anglers to gauge their feelings.

In closing it may appear that AAT is against farming irrigation in general but in fact we encourage the Government to use the State’s water resources in a fair and equitable manner and with the environment the number one priority.

This should also include consideration of the West’s abundant supply for Tasmania rather than continuing with the extraordinary proposal to pipe water to the Mainland which flies in the face of the available water resources to the East and a $400 million scheme based on engineering feasibility.

Finally www.fishandgame.org.nz features an article written by their respected CEO Bryce Johnson. It makes compelling reading from a world expert who has experienced the sort of plans contemplated for Tasmania. This article is also on www. fishingtasmania.net. Richard Dax, Anglers Alliance Tasmania.

Many are questioning the generalisations laid out by Minister Llewellyn in his circular letter to all licensed anglers which strangely I did not receive personally.

We are all aware of the ongoing effect of the drought on our leisure environment and thereby the concern that the Government’s proposed innovation strategy for the State seems to be centred solely on farming irrigation.

There are two scientific studies underway which are due out at the end of this year and we should be concerned that the first of twelve planned irrigation schemes, the Midlands Irrigation Scheme is underway without the results of these studies. We should be further concerned that this scheme is based so far on engineering feasibility rather than scientific evidence.

Apart from anglers views there seems to be a growing concern amongst some in the farming community in regards to the fair use of water and the Government’s plans particularly in the Clyde Valley and the South Esk catchment.

Recent comments by the doyen of the Coal River Irrigation scheme Bill Cassimaty, that “irrigation is like heroin, once you’ve had it you cannot do without it” encapsulates the feeling of many anglers who have seen both the Clyde and Coal systems fail through a lack of proper management plans and judicial usage.

Further the observation by one large Northern Midlands irrigator that unless the Government supplies more irrigation water then farmers will have to stop growing irrigated potatoes and plant crops that require less water is surely an example of danger into the future of Tasmania’s environment.

Fishing News - Page 26

Fishing News - Page 27

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Redesigned for 2009, one of the most significant enhancements has been the incorporation of the Propulsion Line

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.

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RL Winston Fly Rod Boron II 8ft 6in AFTM#4 fast taper, light Approx 80grm) yet powerful. Beautiful green rod, unused. Reluctant sale. Bargain at $700 neg.

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Kingfisher squareback canoe 3.6 metre long x 85 cm wide with outriggers and paddles. Two seater. Capacity 275 kg. Can take 3 hp or 45 lb thrust electric. Ideal fishing or leisure. New price $1950. $1100 o.n.o. Phone 0418 131 538 or AH 6344 8372.

St. Croix Legend Ultra Fly Rod USA made 9 foot 9 inch, 7 weight, 3 piece. Rarely used, great for lake fishing. Includes 2 Cortland 555 floating lines unused in box. $300 the lot.

Call Tim (03)6331 2441.

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

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Chota wading boots.

Over more than 35 years of fly fishing I have had a huge variety of waders and wading boots. In the early days it was pretty much Hornes with soft gumboots attached. Later on they went radical and you could get better supporting boots. It was many years before separate wading boots became ‘the norm’, although quite a few anglers still use waders with boot foots.

I am now firmly in the stocking foot and separate boot camp and for two very good reasons – comfort and practicality. Comfort in footwear is paramount with me and I even pay more than my wife for a good pair of shoes. However I do expect a perfect fit and for the shoes to last.

Likewise I think wading boots should be extremely comfortable and long lasting. Chota boots fit my long foot perfectly and I have had three or four pairs. The latest RockLocs were brought to my attention – especially due to the radical rubber ‘gripping’ soles. My previous wading boots had worn down substantially and the grip was gone. OK for wading lake edges etc. but murder on slippery stones and banks of rivers.

So it was a new pair of Rockloc Chotas for me. First thing – they are not as attractive as some of the other brands, until you turn them over. In my opinion this is where they shine.

Big, fat, grippy soles and screw in cleats that come in the box. Use them or not.

One thing I really love is the Quick Lace system. Laces are like bungy straps and you simply slip your foot into the boot, pull the laces tight and slide down the locking mechanism. Fast, simple and the easiest to put on and off wading boots I have owned.

I have been using these boots for about three months and they grip better than any I have owned in a wide range of situations.

Many times in the past I have come a ‘cropper’ on slippery rocks, wet, grassy and muddy banks. It was always ‘tread carefully’, but now I can concentrate on the fishing, confident of the grip the Chotas give.

Check them out at Essential Fly Fisher, Launceston and Bridges Bros in Hobart. Cost around $250

spectacular. They live up to the hype and more.

I have had Simms breathable waders for years, and Simms have always been the benchmark worldwide, but here we have another quality product. So I really did measure them against my experience with Simms.

The Vision ‘Extreme Zip’ have performed very well, although I can’t really say how they would be in the extreme cold.

Neoprene feet are pretty standard and moving up from these you have built-in gravel guards with rubberised grips to stop them riding up – combined with a hook to attach to the boot lace – further ensuring the guard stays in place.

I don’t know too much about the breathable fabric, and am not really concerned about the hype of it all. Goretex was the first of the breathable fabrics and is still the most high profile amongst the punters. As with all things though if you are in front someone will be snapping at your heels trying to catch up.

So if you want to compare the technical stuff here it is. Waterproofing 20 000 mm.

Breathing ability 14 000 g./m2/24h.

The breath well in summer, you still get hot of course, but a bonus is you can unzip and wade to about crutch level very nicely.

Don’t forget to zip back up though. Use the wading belt and you can fold the tops down.

The zips are by Riri and made in Switzerland they have five layer fabric down from the knee and three layer above. There are two D-rings to attach accessories to. Another important feature is there are no seams running down the inside of the legs. In some waders in the past this has been the weak area. Vision has done away with this completely.

The other great thing about a zip is they make getting into and out of waders a breeze and as one becomes a little less flexible the zip is a blessing. So if nature calls often, you want breathable and lightweight waders, you are less flexible than you once were check these out. Avilable at good tackle stores for around $550 Reviews - Mike Stevens

Squid Witch

A WITCH IS BORN John Calderwood is a South Australian angler who lays awake at night thinking up new ways to outsmart things that swim. His new invention, the SquidWitch, is an innovative

and new squid catching system and he explains its development.

Ever been squidding and not caught any? There will often be one or two locals who will have all the action, while you are left to ponder why! Sometimes squid will only go for a particular colour jig and if you haven’t got that colour, you may as well be somewhere else. Usually though, a good fresh bait presentation will come up trumps.

As most know, local knowledge is one of the keys to most successful fishing expeditions, so if you are in the need for any fishing tuition, watch what the locals are doing on their local patch and then try emulating it yourself.

O ve r t h e c o u r s e o f developing the SquidWitch and the Gill hook, bait presentation was found to be the key element.

If the squid are hungry, they will tend to go after anything that moves. A lot of the time, however, they tend to be very finicky. That is when you need to try something different to get past the squid’s unbelievable eyesight.

Squid have large, beady eyes and they don’t miss a trick. Thus, they will not touch anything that looks foreign. The jetty environment is very much different than that offshore and you really need everything going for you to fool squid on a regular basis.

There are two pieces of equipment commonly used for catching squid – the plastic prawn imitation and a fresh bait threaded on to a bait jig. In my opinion, squid will be consistently more stimulated by a real bait presentation.

Over the years I noticed that, due to the finicky behavior of jetty squid, sometimes neither of the above-mentioned jigging methods were much good and concluded that there was room for improvement in the way bait was presented.

A good way to stimulate a squid into taking a bait presentation is to offer a teaser, usually in the form of a plain baitfish that has no catching ability. The squid will accept this presentation without too much thought, due to the absence of catching pins – a good way to entice the squid close to the jetty, then swap it over for the baited jig with pins attached. Using this method was how I invented the Gill Hook.

When implementing the abovementioned teasing method, the Gill Hook gives the plain baitfish much more security on the line, as opposed to a single hook in the mouth, which tends to dislodge very easily. The Gill Hook is quick and easy to use and the attached baitfish will last well. Use a freshly caught baitfish if possible.

Now, let’s take a look at the new SquidWitch jig. It is all very well to tease squid closer to the jetty for catching, but at the end of the day you still have to get them to take the baited jig and for a long time all I had was the old style jig with the conglomeration of pins sticking out the back. I decided I could improve on this.

The first theory I had was to replace the conglomeration of pins with a fake fish tail.

This jig actually caught squid quite well. I got to work in my shed, making up various versions of the fake fishtail. Each new jig I made meant another field trip. We out-caught all other squid anglers on the jetty that first day, which encouraged me to continue.

There were two field trips out of 30 we made in the early stages of the fake fishtail trials that didn’t produce. The baitfish’s own real tail, known correctly as the caudal fin was the key. This is when I came up with the first jig that had three shafts – a main shaft and two other minor shafts. The addition of the two minor shafts allowed the tail end of the baitfish to run through and sit naturally

Vision breathable waders with zip

As you get older the call of nature seems to come more often. Who would have dreamt years ago that you would be able to get full length waders with the convenience of a zip?

And who would believe that the zip wouldn’t leak? Not me.

A little unsurely I bought a pair of the Vision breathable waders, hoping they would be OK, but not really expecting too much, but surely they can’t be as good as promoted.

Four months, and a lot of fishing later, and I can state quite enthusiastically, these are

Fishing News - Page 29

out the back, while also providing a mount for the catching pins, which would be situated at the start of the caudal fin and the end of the body of the baitfish.

Experimenting in the shed, I put together my first experimental threeshafted jig. As soon as I had threaded a baitfish on to the first prototype, I knew I was on to something; the only thing on the jig visible after baiting up were the catching pins, and they now appeared to be part of the baitfish. The hooks looked like they were part of the dorsal fins, or even an extension of the caudal fin – a very nice presentation indeed. The introduction of the two minor shafts also provided added security for the baitfish by stopping it from spinning on the main shaft.

I couldn’t wait until the conditions were suitable to try it out. As hoped, it performed very nicely, out-catching all other anglers on the jetty by five squid to one.

This was very encouraging and upon my return I set about trying to find the best material, and overseas manufacturer to produce a sample.

Somewhere along the line it dawned on me to laser cut the main frame from one piece of stainless steel sheet and have it hardened for extra strength.

This was also very challenging, but once achieved, provided a much stronger and better looking frame than the original wire model.

After completing the first batch of laser cut SquidWitch frames in Australia, it was just a quick trip to the

Mustad factory to get the product fitted with quality hooks and packaged, ready for sale. Mustad also make the Gill Hook and they use nothing but the best quality materials for both products.

After recently receiving the first market ready shipment of Gill Hooks and Witches from Mustad, it was another couple of field trips to test the final manufactured version of both devices.

The Gill Hook and the SquidWitch combination has performed beautifully in the most difficult crowded jetty conditions and ‘dropoffs’ are close to one hundred per cent.

It’s been a long and arduous slog, but we’ve now achieved a squid jig that looks natural enough to tempt even the fussiest southern calamari.

NITRO Top-Ender

5’10” 2 piece 4-6kg Lure weights – 10-28grams Following on the success of the 5-piece Nitro 007 Undertaker, we have received many requests from professional guides and retailers as to whether we could produce a 2-piece, version of this shortened 5’10” baitcaster, while still retaining all its great attributes. Well, we thought - why not?

Thus was born the 2-piece, Top-ender; its length of 5’10” lending itself beautifully to under-hand casting where getting your lure in under the overhanging mangroves is critical in nailing big barra. Visit www.innovatorrods. com for your closest participating stockist.

Sophistication and intelligence combine in Yamaha’s new F40F outboard

The latest evolution of Yamaha’s 4-strokes has landed on Australian shores with the new mid-range F40F outboard brimming with new technologies. The innovative and compact 40hp engine now boasts a sophisticated fuel injection system for improved fuel efficiency and outstanding power-to-weight performance plus full connectivity to Yamaha’s digital control LAN system.

At the heart of the new F40F outboard is Yamaha’s electronic multi-point fuel injection system.

Combined with an electronically controlled single throttle valve, long intake track manifold and 32-bit electronic control module, the new mid-range 40hp pocket rocket delivers lightening starts, smooth and quiet performance and precise throttle control.

Built around a 6-valve, single overhead camshaft, in-line 3-cylinder power unit, the new F40F is light and compact without sacrificing an ounce of performance and reliability. Precision engineering has afforded Yamaha the room to develop a new benchmark for mid-range outboard performance that will appeal to both the commercial and leisure boating sectors.

“Yamaha’s engineers have held nothing back in developing our new electronically controlled F40F outboard,” said Brett

Hampson, National Sales and Marketing Manager at Yamaha Motor Australia.

“Our commitment to innovation and quality is evident with the new F40F sharing many engine technologies with our industr y leading F350 V8.

Electronic multi-point fuel injection, single throttle valve control and 32-bit electronic control module are just some of the features onboard the F40F which deliver a key performance advantag e in the marine outboard market.”

A stunningly modern cowling adds to the engineering appeal of the next generation F40F 4-stroke outboard from Yamaha. Bearing resemblance to the cutting edge profile of its bigger brother F350, the F40F is in every way the latest engine evolution from Australia’s largest engine manufacturer.

Yamaha’s intelligent F40F is available in three model designations, F40FEHDL, (electric start, multi function tiller handle, hydro tilt, long shaft) F40FEHTL, (electric start, multi function tiller handle, trim & tilt, long shaft) F40FETL, (electric start, forward control trim and tilt, long shaft).

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GREAT TASMANIAN FISHING ACCOMMODATION

DERWENT BRIDGE CHALETS AND STUDIOS

Enjoy one of the best fishing destinations in Australia Lady Barron Holiday Home—comfortable self contained accommodation in a garden setting with sea views of Franklin Sound.It is just a moment from the waters edge and within walking distance to restaurant, supermarket/post office/news agent and all attractions that Lady Barron has to offer.

This 3 bedroom home sleeps 6. The main bedroom has a king size double or 2 king singles. The other 2 bedroom both have twin singles. There is a fully equipped kitchen. The lounge room has DVD/VCR, TV.,& CD player and sliding doors to front patio—great place to watch movement of boats and yachts. A reverse cycle heater/ cooler has been installed for winter/summer comfort. Most of the year yiu have the choice of a gas or wood BBQ. Separate laundry has washer, dryer, airer, iron and ironing board.

The house is opposite the start to the Lady Barron coastal walk also the boat slip area one of the popular fishing spots. The wharf is also very popular with fishermen and within easy walking distance. The tennis courts are nearby and tennis racquets are supplied. A visit to Vinegar Hill is essential as the views of Franklin Sound and Islands are superb and is within walking distance. Flinders Island has a lot to offer and all attractions are amazingly close and a short distance by car.

Phone Allan or Pat on (03) 6359 3555

Airlines of Tasmania Your link to Flinders Island

Lady Barron Cottage A great place to stay while you explore, discover, sightsee and fish Flinders Island

Flights available from Melbourne and Launceston Book online at www.airtasmania.com.au p: 1800 144 460 e: flinders@airtasmania.com.au

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Fully equipped cottage with all home comforts. Contact Shane or Dianne.

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Fishing holiday packages, 2 to 5 days. Continental shelf, inshore and surfcateredfor.From tunaandtrumpetertosnapperandkingfish -fishwithJamesLuddington0363594507 www.flindersisland.com.au James Luddington Ph 03 63594 507

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Stackhouse Beachfront Accommodation

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Absolute beach frontage to Killiecrankie Bay. Explore endlessly the surrounds via the beach, rock-hopping or bushwalking tracks.

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Flinders Island is a diver’s paradise.

Diving, fishing, snorkelling; day or halfday fishing tours or cruises.

Shipwrecks, reef dives, scenic dives, drift dives, crayfish and abalone diving, photography, naturalist and research dives are all in abundance.

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Flinders Island Dive - Mike Nichols (03) 6359 8429

St Helens Game Fishing Club Inc. present...

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Fieldwicks Crushing and Screening Hilly’s Value Plus Supermarket

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Break O’Day Council Weeding Party Hire Diageo Australia Flying Colours Reidys Lures Bayside Inn

“ What a great place to stay! These quality, new bungalows have everything you could ask for to comfortably explore this beautiful region of Tasmania.” (Wendy & Harry- Ulverstone TAS)

Superbly situated on a beautiful waterfront, The Fox & Hounds Inn is a family owned and operated business, located at Port Arthur on Tasmania’s spectacular Tasman Peninsula.

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Just one minute from the Historic Site, the property provides a link to our convict history, as well as the opportunity to explore 24 acres of native bushland, perhaps spotting wildlife such as cockatoos, echidnas, or wallabies at night.

The Fox & Hounds Inn is a one-stop location, with an on-site bottle shop, bar, and licensed restaurant – renowned for delicious, hearty meals made from the freshest Tasmanian produce.

WIN a Quintrex 375 Dart with 15 Horsepower Mercury Motor and Trailer RRP $6,500.00

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email: enquiries@strahanbungalows.com.au

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Secretary:AnneStevensonPhone/Fax:03637636314RichardCrt,AkaroaTAS7216Email:shfgc@vision.net.auMobile:0407174031 St Helens Classic Flyer_Brochure_Jan09.indd 1

Fishing News - Page 31 27/01/2009 12:28:42 PM

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

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

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

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Protect your boat, motor and trailer with BEL-RAY. Waterproof grease and 6 in 1 Lubricant Available from selected dealers including: Webster Bearing and Engineering Tas Bearing and Chain, Launceston NBC Engineering, Kings Meadows Port Sorell Marine, Shearwater St Helens Mower Centre Trade enquiries P.M. Glover 6327 2322

Fishing News - Page 32

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* Exclusive Offer – 2 free Gillhooks with every online SquidWitch purchase (offer ends 31 st March 09)

Gillhook For quick, easy, secure setup as a Squid teaser.

Stock your tackle box with a few of these.

Brilliant New Squid Catching System Patents Pending

SquidWitch It will revolutionize the way you fish for Squid; the most natural bait presentation. A must have inclusion for every tacklebox.

Features: A very natural presentation Pins appear to be part of the bait fish Nearly invisible to Squid when baited up Better hook ups, less escapes Bait is more secure and firm on the shaft Streamline and lightweight Either trawl slowly, or set under float Quality Stainless Steel material Three sharp hook points on each side Easy to follow instructions

Available Online And Selected Tackle Stores Trade Enquiries Welcome

www.thongs.com.au/squidwitch Tune into www.strikehook.com and enter the squid catching competition to win a SquidWitch prize pack.

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Fishing News - Page 34

Yakin’ with Craig Craig Vertigan gives us the lowdown on kayak fishing

What’s so good about kayak fishing?

Cost

There are many reasons for getting into kayak fishing.

Maybe one of the most obvious is that it’s got to be the most cost effective way to get waterborne. A decent kayak set up for fishing can be had for anywhere between $1000 and $2500, And that’s it, no more to pay – no licence, no trailer with associated rego, no fuel bills, minimal to zero maintenance.

The only fuel needed is the food you eat. And that leads me on to some of the other great benefits of fishing from a kayak.

Exercise

You’ll actually feel much healthier after a day out on the water paddling about searching for fish. But don’t get the wrong idea; it’s not all hard work. You can quite easily launch your kayak in calm waters and go for a gentle paddle and be in prime fishing waters in no time at all with minimal effort.

But then if you feel like a challenge then you can go for an exhilarating surf launch and paddle out to a rocky headland, where you might find yourself getting a good feed of flathead and squid, or possibly give your arms another workout on some kilo-plus Aussie salmon.

Ease of use

If the weather’s good on the weekend I might go fishing.

It’s just a matter of throwing a rod or two, a tackle bag containing some hard body lures, some jig heads and soft plastics, my PFD, paddle and kayak seat in the back of the

confirmed it for me. The convenience was just such a cool thing. In fact the dingy is completely impossible to launch when the tide is out since you’d have to drag it across 500 metres of sand flats to get it to the water. Whereas a canoe or kayak floats in 5 to 10 cm of water!

But there was one major drawback to the canoe. Being an open canoe it catches a lot of wind, and also being flat bottomed it doesn’t track too well and doesn’t handle waves well either. So the upshot of this was that it was only safe to paddle the canoe in calm conditions. If the wind was up I’d fish from the shore on the rocks. Then I started seeing more and more tourists popping up in sea kayaks cruising around the coast and this got the idea buzzing in my head. But these were all ‘sit inside’ sea kayaks, which are great to paddle, but lacking in access points for easily storing rods, gear and fish. I really didn’t like the idea of trying to stow a frenzied flapping flathead down the cockpit into some hidden bucket, all the while making sure all those nasty spikes didn’t inflict damage on certain delicate parts of my anatomy.

Enter the ‘sit on top’ kayak. These things started showing up a few years back now and have really become popular for paddlers and anglers alike. And it’s no wonder too. They take the fear of getting stuck under water in a capsized kayak out of the equation. You can get swamped by a wave and don’t have to worry about the boat getting full of water and sinking.

The water will just drain away out through the scupper holes.

I’ve had some fairly decent waves crash over the top of me in the surf zone and had no problems. The boat feels heavy and is more difficult to steer for a short period before the water all drains out, and then you’re back to normal. And if you do capsize, it’s a lot easier to get back on one of these SOT kayaks than get inside the cockpit of a SIK kayak. And the few times I’ve tipped a canoe have meant swimming it to shore to tip it upright to empty it.

So when the angler versions of SOT kayaks appeared that was the real clincher for me. I did some research to find the one to suit my needs and went and ordered it from one of the local dealers.

wagon, then tossing the kayak on the roof racks and strapping it down. That’s a few minutes spent getting gear in the car, and it’ll take the same amount of time to get it all out on the water too. When I get back from a saltwater session I’ll give the few metal fittings a bit of hose down and that’s all the maintenance you’ll ever need to do. So there you go, how easy is that?

Now you might be thinking it can’t be comfortable or convenient to fish out of one of these things can it? But a good fishing kayak has been set up specifically with anglers in mind, and contains everything you need in just the right spot so you’ve got your gear in reach without being too cramped.

And before you know it you’ve spent the best part of the day on the water chasing fish, and hopefully catching a few too. It’s surprising how quickly the time can fly when you’re enjoying yourself out on the water.

My desire to get a kayak probably started from my fishing trips down at my in-laws’ place on the Tasman Peninsula. They have a small dingy and an open Canadian style canoe on their property, which has beach frontage onto Norfolk Bay. I found myself preferring to fish from the canoe over the dingy simply because of all the effort involved in carting the outboard down the paddock to the dingy.

Then when the engine started to have mechanical problems and A kayak can be paddled in just a few centimetres of water. finally kicked the bucket that

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• Multiple clip on points for securing your equipment.

Securing your rods with a leash to the kayak is highly recommended. I was fishing the Derwent for bream one time when a school of salmon turned up. I had just landed one and rested it on my lap along with my rod while I unhooked the soft plastic lure from its mouth. I had tossed the lure back in the water to get it out of the way while I released it on the other side of the kayak. Then some movement caught my eye and I saw my rod disappearing into the water. The bungy cord kept it attached to the kayak and I reached out and pulled it in. It had happened because there was another salmon on the end. The stealth of a kayak, means that fish tend to treat it as a floating log, so this salmon had come up and grabbed the lure which was freely dangling 50cm deep next to the side of my kayak!!!

• A rudder to help you track straight in windy conditions – you can also use it to position your boat around likely snags, and provide extra sideways pressure when you get onto that fish of a lifetime.

• A bungy strap and clip for tying down your paddle to the side of the kayak to get it out of you way while fishing.

Okay, assuming you’ve got all these features and done whatever modifications you desire, it’s time to get out there on the water and go fishing.

It is fun setting up a fishing kayak, and accessorising it to suit yourself.

A good SOT set up for fishing will generally have:

• Built-in rod holders, as well as areas where you can mount other rod holders.

• Multiple storage areas, usually including a large well in the back to hold tackle bag and a crate or a bucket, and one or two in hull storage areas up front with water tight hatches to get at your gear, and a mixture of other useful areas such as cup holders for drink bottles and a tray or two for storing small tackle boxes and a selection of lures ready to go • A comfortable seat that attaches to clip on points, providing good back support as well as enough padding to avoid a numb bum.

Fish those spots you could never reach when land based

If you’ve been a shore based fisherman up until this point, the kayak has now opened up a whole new world of fishing opportunities. I clearly remember fishing from the rocks casting to moving fish that are just that little bit beyond casting distance. Major frustration! Oh what a pleasure it was when I came across my first school of feeding salmon in the kayak. I was able to paddle out to them in very short time and then just drift towards them for the last few metres while I got a rod out. Cast after cast was attacked by the salmon. And I was able to follow them as they moved along the coast. At times I’ve had massive schools of salmon swim directly under me so close to the surface that I could just about reach out and touch them. You can see every detail of blue and green with flecks of black in their backs through your polaroids. It is scenes like this that provide the exhilaration that motivates me to go fishing.

A kayak allows you to work so much more water than you can from the shore. This is especially the case when fishing some of the larger rivers, which have their banks choked with crack willows. Rivers such as the South Esk and the Derwent are prime examples. In some of the prime stretches of these rivers, you’d be lucky to find a couple of metres of bank to stand on. And there you’d have to stay, because there is no opportunity to wander up the bank.

Pre-kayak I had fished just such a spot on the Derwent near New Norfolk. Although I did see the odd small fish come within my casting range, the majority of the fish, especially the larger ones, were frustratingly out of range, slashing at schools of whitebait hard up against the willows. I now fish these spots from the kayak and can easily target the moving fish right up against the willows and reeds and cliff faces. My favourite method to do this is to troll a hard body lure such as a bibbed minnow while paddling upstream. Then paddle to the other side of the river and drift down that side while working a soft plastic stick bait along the edges. If the trout are working on the surface this can be exhilarating stuff, especially when you cast towards a rising fish and you cast lands just where you want it to and a few jigs and winds later you feel a powerful tug on the end of the line as a wild sea run trout smashes you lure. Things can get a bit interesting and testing here as the trout uses all the tactics in its arsenal to get off. Including heading for the snags around the bank such as any drowned timber, diving deep under your kayak looking for cover below and jumping and thrashing its head.

This is exciting stuff and at times the fish will do all that and more, requiring good use of your rudder to help steer your boat towards the middle of the river. You may also have to place your rod deep into the water at times as the fish dives deep under you kayak.

Your kayak will also allow you to fish those spots where the beach is too shallow and the rocky shore around the edges of the beach is too dangerous or too awkward to fish. This will get you into some of the most productive flathead spots around our shores. I have fished countless spots like this from the shore where I have generally managed to catch a few flathead and maybe 10 or so on a good day. But fishing these same spots from the kayak has yielded at least 3 or 4 times this amount of fish in the same amount of time. Probably the major advantage of fishing from the kayak for flathead is that

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Fishing News - Page 36

you can drift along slowly and bounce a bait or soft plastic along the bottom until a flathead engulfs it. Often this is the sign that you’re over a patch of fish and you may catch a few in quick succession before things go quiet. A quick paddle will get you in position for another drift over the same spot. You can use a small sea anchor to slow your drift down when the wind is pushing you along too quickly.

Go where boats can’t and fish the tight spots with ease.

Sneaky fishing in the tight spots.

Go where no boat can go

Even a boater can enjoy the benefits of a kayak. If not for the reasons already stated, then for the fact they can be used to get to places that are otherwise inaccessible by boat or land based angler. I have fished some small coastal rivers and lagoons, which are impossible to launch or use a boat in, and provide only a small area of shore available for the land based angler. There are some surprisingly large bream in some of these small waters, which provide great sport on light tackle. I vividly remember getting to the headwaters of one of these rivers, where I could hardly paddle any further as the river became as wide as the length of my kayak and was about half a metre deep. It was at that “one more cast” spot before I turned around, that I cast a lightly weighted soft plastic lure over the other side of a drowned log. I had to wind it in fairly quickly to avoid snagging up on the log. But suddenly my line started heading off at an angle as an agro bream grabbed it and headed for cover. A bit of creative side pressure on the rod was needed to get the fish out of the snags and give it the comfort lift into the yak for some photos before releasing it.

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The whole experience

All of the features I’ve described make a kayak a great platform for getting waterborne while fishing. But wait there’s more! It’s the X factor. Paddling a kayak is a whole of body experience. You become a part of your kayak and a part of the environment. It can be incredibly peaceful paddling on glassy calm waters and yet fully invigorating when crashing through the waves in the surf. You’re so close to the water that you feel a part of it. And the fish and other creatures often see you the same way. I have paddled with a few pods of dolphins, one in particular included some very curious dolphins who

circled me at close range a few times while swimming on their sides so they could eyeball me. Totally awesome stuff! Then at other times I’ve observed at close range all sorts of fish from large eagle rays to schools of baby flathead and flounder in the shallows. For me this is one of the best things about kayak fishing. It’s about being out there amongst the elements and getting immersed in it all - stalking fish, taking in your surrounds, catching a feed, having some fun and even getting some exercise.

Craig Vertigan

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Installing a fish finder on a kayak If you want to take fishing from your kayak to a new level you should consider installing a fish finder. All those boat owners out there using them can attest to the benefits of a fish finder.

They help you locate structure, discover what depth you are fishing, the nature of the bottom structure, the temperature of the water and if you’re lucky a few fish may show up too, giving you an obvious indication that you are in the right spot.

Generally though a fish finder isn’t going to “find the fish for you”. Instead you use it in your arsenal to work out where the fish are most likely to be. Use it along with reading the weather, using your polaroid sunglasses, watching for surface activity from birds and fish and looking for any structure above water which extends sub surface. In clear and shallow water you can see all you need to ascertain the bottom structure and depth. But those kind of conditions aren’t always the case. It’s then that a fish finder becomes an incredibly useful tool. You can use it to find any drop offs where the fish are likely to be holding, ready for an ambush attack. Sometimes the fish will be where the weed beds are.

At other times the fish may be holding at a certain depth. In that situation it is a good idea to cover the water at different depths until you find the fish. If you start catching them consistently at a certain depth then that’s a good indication that you’ve discovered ‘the zone’. An example of this technique is fishing soft plastics or hard body lures to trout in one of our many fine lakes. Use the wind and a sea anchor to set up a drift along the shore. If you don’t hook up, then paddle back to where you started the first drift and paddle out a bit further and deeper. Continue this until you get some action. Then concentrate on that depth for a bit to see if it becomes consistent action.

Essentially a fish finder is made up of the fish finder unit with screen and menu buttons, a transducer which emits the sonar signal and receives the echo of the signal and a battery.

Generally fish finders are sold without the battery unit so you’ll need to buy the bits to make this yourself.

Most kayaks weren’t built with fish finders in mind so you’ll need to use a bit of ingenuity when installing one. The Ocean Kayak Prowler series are one of the few exceptions, since the new models all come with a specially designed forward scupper hole to install the transducer flush with the hull. Unfortunately for me I bought my Prowler before they started putting these fish finder-ready scupper holes on them. So I had to come up with another method for mounting the transducer.

The following is a run down of the method I used when installing my fish finder.

it is again out of the way of paddling and fishing and that it gets a direct signal straight down to the bottom without any air bubbles or cavities. The transducer must be horizontal with the water.

The battery pack can be placed anywhere out of the way.

The fish finder will come with a plenty long enough cable to place the battery a fair way away from the unit. So the best spot for it is out of harms way inside a hatch in the hull of your kayak, where it will be nice and dry.

Mounting the transducer

Mounting the transducer is arguably the trickiest bit of the fish finder install. It is critical that you get the transducer as close to square as possible, so that it is pointing directly down to the bottom rather than off at an angle. And it is equally important that you install it in such a way that it is sitting in the water or shooting the signal through your hull without any air bubbles/cavities. Air is the enemy when installing the transducer. The sonar signal needs to be shooting through water or something as close to the density of water as possible.

If it encounters air bubbles or cavities of air then you’ll get a bad signal. Transducers are designed to work in water. The signal from the transducer is reflected right back on itself by air bubbles and cavities. So if you have air directly below the transducer, where the signal is at its strongest, then the reflected signal will be very strong and will therefore interfere with the weaker bottom, structure and fish return signals, making them difficult or impossible to see. The plastic of a kayak is a very good density for shooting a sonar signal through, with minimal loss of signal.

On a power boat there can be problems with air bubbles created by turbulence at high speeds at certain parts of the hull. This generally isn’t going to be much of a problem with a kayak, unless you’ve got a motor attached to your kayak. But it may be best not to put it directly behind the mirage drive on a Hobie since this area is likely to produce some turbulence bubbles at times.

Choosing where to place the screen, transducer and battery pack

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Fishing News - Page 38

You need the display close enough to actually see the detail on the screen. But you’ll also want it to be in a place that’s out of the way enough to not impede your paddling or fishing, nor get in the way when landing fish. For me that ended up being the forward cup holder between my feet.

I can lean forward to use the controls, see the details on the screen clearly and it’s low enough not to get in the way of rods when fishing or when landing fish.

The transducer needs to go somewhere out of the way, where it can shoot a signal straight down, either through the hull or directly through the water via a special fish finderscupper hole if you have one, or an outrigger setup that you’ll need to construct. Also some people have mounted their transducer on the rudder successfully. The main thing with your transducer is that

Take your time and get it right.

Make sure the battery is watertight.

Semi-permanent in-hull.

Glue a piece of foam or rubber “cup” with a cut-out to hold the transducer snugly to the inside of the hull. The join needs to be fully water tight. The hole in the foam is then filled with water or Vaseline to form a bubble free liquid between the transducer and the hull.

What I did I decided to go with an inhull install for my transducer.

My only other option was an outrigger to hold it in the water.

But I saw too many negatives with this approach. I like to keep the The result of sneaking up a creek where no boats can go. cockpit area of my kayak as clutter free as possible. I decided that the permanent install was probably the most straight-forward, Some of the options kayakers use for fool proof design. mounting the transducer include: To work out the best place to mount my transducer I used a Fish finder-ready scupper hole small spirit level and with the aid of a torch placed it at different For those of you lucky enough to have one of these fish spots inside the hull in my forward hatch. I made sure I was as finder-ready kayaks you can either buy the transducer kit to far back as possible to make sure it was an area that is always install your transducer snugly in the hole or use bungy cord, under water. Initially I considered putting it in the centre of rope and PVC tubing to build your own kit for holding the the hull, but changed my mind when I found a fairly level bit transducer in place in the hole. The transducer should be to the side. I like to store spare rods in my centre hatch, and a fairly flush with bottom of the kayak so that it is always in transducer there would have been in the way. I found a level the water but avoids getting hit by sand and rocks when you bit next to the left scupper hole near my foot peg. launch and land.

I prepared the surface with some fine grain sandpaper Outrigger and washed it with a rag and some methylated spirits. I then Custom built outriggers made from PVC or aluminium did the gluing in two stages. Firstly I cut a rectangle of foam to hold the transducer directly in the water at the side of the a few centimetres large than the foot of the transducer. I boat. The drawback with this technique is that they can get in then traced the foot of the transducer on the foam and cut the way of paddling and landing fish on one side of your boat. that out to form a hole to hold the transducer snug. My first Also they could get weeds tangled up in them. The positive stage of gluing was to glue the foam support in place, making is that it can be removable and it is shooting directly into the sure that no glue went onto the hull in the centre hole of the water, avoiding any issues with bubble interference and also foam. I used Selleys All Clear, which many other kayakers have giving a quicker more accurate temperature reading. used successfully. The idea of the foam holder is to keep the Permanent in-hull transducer in place while the glue is curing, you don’t want Glue the transducer to the inside of the hull with a two the weight of it moving it out of alignment. After a day when part epoxy or similar good quality glue or a silicon sealant. this was dry I then filled up the hole in the Facing the transducer down and ensuring no air bubbles. This foam with a generous blob of All Clear and method has the advantage of keeping the transducer out of pushed the transducer in place. I then gaffer the way inside the kayak. taped the transducer in place to give it some

pressure while it was curing. You could also place a weight on top to hold it down. When dry I just wrapped the coils of spare cable around the scupper hole and used a cable-tie to hold it all in place.

Mounting the screen Unit

For the display unit I wanted it to be removable so I built a holder from some PVC pipe and an end cap. This fits into my forward cup holder perfectly. I made sure it was as low as possible so that it was out of the way, yet still readable. For a permanent install you could bolt it to the hull of the kayak and use some sealant in the bolt holes to and a rubber grommet for the cable to stop any leaks into the hull from wave wash.

Building a battery pack

The fish finder needs a 12 volt battery. The easiest way to build a cheap rechargeable battery is to get a battery holder for 8 AAs. This will provide enough voltage to run the fish finder for a couple of days of fishing and the batteries can be pulled out and charged with a cheap charger. Then install an inline fuse on the red wire and join the wires from the battery holder to the cable provided with the fish finder, making sure to go red to red and black to black. Before soldering it to the cable I put the battery and inline fuse into a clip-lock plastic container and pushed the cable in through a small hole I had drilled. Some foam padding in the container stops the battery from moving about.

Fitting it all together and going fishing

My fish finder unit and battery are removable units. So when I want to use them the display goes in the cup holder, the battery goes in the forward hatch next to the transducer and the cables from the battery and transducer go under the rubber gasket seal on the bottom of my hatch to the back of the display unit. The first time I used it I discovered the mysteries of the bottom makeup of New Town Bay on the Derwent and managed to find a shallow rocky platform next to a deep drop off which held flathead, a school of passing salmon and some blue nosed bream.

Craig Vertigan

CENT RAL TASM ANIA

Important kayak accessories • Pe r s o n a l Fl o a t a t i o n D e v i ce : A P F D is compulsory in Tasmania, although the definitions of a kayak are somewhat difficult to understand. Check out some of the stores that carry a range of kayaks to find a suitable kayak friendly PFD. • Paddle and gear leashes: Losing your paddle can be a disaster. Tethering it stops that happening and it also means you can just let it go if you get a fish on. Tether your rods and other important gear as well. There are also some small super-magnet release clips and zingers that are useful.

• Dry Bags: Dry bag are quite inexpensive these days and available in many sizes. Stuff your extra gear in these, clip them to your kayak, or put them in a hatch. As they will also contain plenty of air they are usually buoyant as well if they end up in the water. You can get clear or coloured in many sizes for clothes to mobile phones, cameras and food.

• Whistle: Buy a PFD whistle and clip to your PFD. They are cheap and it could save you. They can be heard for long distances and are ideal for attracting attention or warning an oncoming boat of your whereabouts.

• Fish handling tools: Two tools you will find very useful are a ‘Lip Gripper’ and a ‘Flathead De-hooker’. Fish flapping around in a kayak are hard to handle. A ‘Lip Gripper’ is a super kayak addition and the de-hooker allows for easy release. Even small flathead can spike you badly and ruin your day.

• Knife: A good folding knife on a lanyard is very handy for a range of uses. It is even better if you can open it one-handed.

• Sea Anchor: Windy days, like we get so often in Tasmania can ruin your day. A sea anchor or even a bucket will slow your drift and then you can more effectively fish an area.

• Trolley: Even if you only have to walk 5 metres to the water get a trolley. Fishing kayaks can be all rigged at the vehicle and become heavy and cumbersome. Buy a trolley to suit the situation where you will need it most. Big wheels for sand for example.

• Anchor: Most places you will fish don’t require anchoring but there are times when you are in a hotspot and want to hang around and fish for a while. It might be in a river with some current or if you want to wade fish or just take break you should drop anchor. An anchor trolley that positions where on the kayak the anchor attaches to is also a great idea.

• Compass: You probably think this is dumb.

Just ask anyone who has been caught in a fog and you will be getting on quick smart.

• First aid kit: Essential in every boat. Put some matches with this and sunscreen and keep it all in a dry bag. Keep a spare bottle of water handy as well.

Tasmanian maps for any

Map Angli

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and ng No tes

TASMAP’s Central Tasmania Map and Angling Notes is an invaluable guide to the world class trout fishing in the thousands of lakes and tarns located throughout the region.

It covers most of the Central Plateau, shows all of the lakes, how to get there along with launching facilities, accommodation, camping and caravan areas, fuel supplies and services.

The reverse side features detailed notes and maps covering the prime fishing lakes. The notes are packed with valuable information on regulations, fish types and the best fishing locations and methods.

It is available online, along with TASMAP’s full range of maps, books and historic charts, at:

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Fishing News - Page 39

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