Issue 81 August - September 2009
$5
Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027
Trout season opening Earlyprospects—GregFrench Four Springs Lake Jigging for trout Lake Barrington North east trout Monster bluefin Great Lake ‘Yak fishing
Greg French details the best early season options - page 13.
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CONTENTS
The new trout season — Inland Fisheries Service 4
13
Jigging for trout — Thomas Crawford
6
Four Springs Lake — Todd Lambert
8
Early trouting prosects — Greg French
13
Jan’s Flies — Jan Spencer 18
23
Great Lake — Craig Rist 19 Lake Barrington — Craig Rist
23
Lower Derwent — Marty Wells 28 Monster southern bluefin tuna — Geoff Madden 30 North east Tasmanian trout — Jamie Henderson 34 Boating and reviews 38
30
Classifieds and Subscriptions 43 Accommodation directory 45
46
Fishing, boating services directory
44
‘Yak fishing — what to stow — John Pollard
46
My Say Just as this issue went to press, 13 July, Tasmania had a weekend of heavy rain. I got to wondering if it was above average for the month, or for the past couple of months. I did a bit of a search between a few weather websites that I use, but it was hard going. Then with a flash of brilliance I thought I could just ring and ask my favourite weather man Brendon McMahon in Launceston. Brendon runs the Launceston Weather Office for the Bureau of Meterology and gives fantastic service. So I rang and told him what I wanted and then he gave me a huge range of statistics to choose from. ‘I can ring you back, or you can call in’ he told me. So I chose the latter and dropped into his office in Cimitiere Street, Launceston. So firstly we had a look at three days 9-12 July and some of the standout raifalls were 153 mm at Mole Creek, 44 mm in Launceston, Upper Esk 61 mm, Lake Augusta East 90 mm and Mt Morriston (Macquarie River) 15 mm. Then we looked at ‘Percentage of normal rainfall for 43 days, 1 June to 13 July’ This is what we found: Launceston 142% of normal Barrington 156% Meander 50% Avoca 173%
Lake Leake Orford St Marys Pyengana Tooms Lake Scamander Hobart Airport Richmond Ouse Cradle Valley Strathgordon Tullah
179% 326% 277% 40% 254% 238% 306% 165% 101% 24% 81% 34%
NEW Yep trout lures
Mike Stevens
Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News
All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027
www.tasfish.com - get the knowledge.
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So from this you can see the variation. What is encouraging is the rain in the upper Macquarie River, Tooms Lake and also the South Esk systems catchments. Although the Central Highlands is not shown immediately above, Lake Augusta managed rain on 33 of 43 days with 285 mm of which most feeds Great Lake. Above averag e rain for June was concentrated on the east and south east of Tasmania, whilst the north west all the way through to the south west receive well below the norm. So if you ‘need to know’ any weather information call Brendon on 6331 7116. He is also a fabulous guest speaker.
Published by Michael Stevens PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250. Ph/fax; 6331 1278 Email; mike@tasfish.com Advertising: Quenton Higgs - 0427 129 949 Stevens Publishing, ABN 79 095 217 299
Under
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To see the full range and a list of stockists go to www.yeptassietackle.com Fishing News - Page 3
IFS News and Information for season 2009-10 Angling Licences
The new season’s licence period starts on 1 August, which coincides with the traditional opening of the trout season.You can buy a new season licence or renew your full season licence via the internet at www.ifs.tas.gov.au, or by visiting your local tackle store or Service Tasmania shop. Another benefit offered to full season licence holders is free entry to the Salmon Ponds. There are about 22,000 full season licence holders each year. The Service aims to add greater value to the full season licence, so as to expand this group of dedicated anglers in coming years and increase participation in the sport of trout fishing. The IFS is now offering a two day licence instead of a one day licence, by replacing the 24 Hour Licence with a
Licence type Full Season Adult Full Season Pensioner Full Season Senior Full Season Juvenile (14-17 yrs) 28 Days 28 Days (2 Rod) 7 Days 7 Days (2 Rod) 48 Hours 48 Hours (2 Rod) 48 Hr Complimentary 2nd Rod (Adult) 2nd Rod (Other)
Fee $65.00 $35.50 $51.50 $12.00 $51.50 $58.00 $33.00 $39.50 $19.50 $26.00 $0.00 $13.00 $6.50
48 Hour Licence at no relative increase in price. Angling licence costs for the 2009-10 season are shown below.
Open Season and Regulations
Most inland waters are open in line with the brown trout season from Saturday 1 August 2009 to Sunday 2 May 2010. The exceptions include a smaller number of rainbow trout waters, which are open from Saturday 3 October 2009 to Sunday 30 May 2010, certain waters open for specific shorter periods and 12 waters that are open all year. The general rules governing fishing in most inland waters open from 1/8/09 to 2/5/10 are that all methods of fishing are allowed, and a daily bag limit of 12 fish with a minimum size of 220 mm applies. The exceptions to these general regulations are listed in the new season’s Fishing Code, which is sent with the renewal form to all full season anglers and provided free of charge with the purchase of a licence. You can download a copy of the Code or check regulations for individual waters listed on the Service database at www.ifs.tas.gov.au
Top Waters to Watch this Season
The premium fisheries of the Central Highlands, including Arthurs, Woods and Great lakes, as well as Penstock and Little Pine lagoons, and the more remote waters in the Western Lakes, continue to be the mecca for Tasmanian and visiting anglers. Penstock and Little Pine lagoons, along with Woods Lake, fished particularly well throughout 2008-09 and their popularity is only likely to increase in 2009-10. Lake Echo, an under-rated fishery, was made more accessible last season with a new road and boat ramp at its northern end. It might take a bit more effort to reach Lake Echo but this fishery has huge potential. Those dedicated anglers, who visited the lake regularly over the summer, enjoyed a more solitary fishing experience and good catches of well conditioned rainbow trout. All these waters offer a worthy alternative to Arthurs Lake, which has been the State’s most popular fishing destination over past years because of its high catch rates and quality of fish. Boating access problems due to low water levels at Arthurs, were largely overcome last season with the construction of a new low level boat ramp at Pumphouse Bay last winter through a joint project by Hydro Tasmania, Marine and Safety Tasmania and the IFS. With water levels improving at the start of this season, Arthurs Lake promises to maintain its reputation over the coming months.
Don’t do safety on the fly
www.hydro.com.au
Fishing News - Page 4
5390
As well as being valuable sources of sustainable energy, our lakes also provide excellent fishing, along with other recreational water activities. While we want to share them with you, we would like to remind you that safety on the water should be your first priority, just as creating clean, renewable energy is ours.
Great Lake is an exceptional fishery and one which should not be overlooked. It provides consistent rewards and a varietyoffishingexperiences. The Service has boosted stocks of wild rainbow trout at the Lake by continuing to stock fingerlings at a high rate since 2000. It is open to all methods of angling – all year round – and hosts large populations of wild brown andrainbowtrout.Infact,this water provides the source of wild adult fish and eggs from both brown and rainbow trout, which are used to stock many other waters throughout the State. It has easy access from the North and South, and is close to a warm fire at the local pub when the fishing’s done.
In the northern region, the stand-out waters are Four Springs Lake, Brushy Lagoon and Huntsman Lake, which was established last season. Four Springs is fast becoming one of the most popular lowland waters in the State. It is regularly visited by anglers from the North and North West Coast, and is very popular with keen fly fishers, who might normally fish highland fly waters. It fished exceptionally well last season, with catches of good quality brown and rainbow trout taken on a variety of baits, including bait, fly and trolling with lures. The Service has regularly stocked Four Springs with wild fish over recent years, including 800 adult brown trout in May and 20,000 brown trout fingerlings. It’s definitely worth a visit this season. Brushy Lagoon has also received regular stockings by the Service and tends to fish extremely well after these events. However, the keen angler who is willing to put in the time might be pleasantly surprised with the occasional trophy Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout or even trophy redfin perch, which have been caught up to 2 kg. Huntsman Lake began its climb in popularity towards the end of the 2008-09 season by the time word had spread about how well it was fishing. Several anglers from the North West Coast and even more northern based anglers, realised that with its lowland location and good return for effort, it offered a competitive alternative to travelling and fishing in the Highlands. There are strong indications that the catch rates and quality of trout will continue to increase over the coming season. Lake Barrington, along with the Pet and Guide dams, provide genuine options in the North West, with regular stockings by the Service. Lake Barrington is known for its trophy Atlantic salmon. However reports during 2009 are that the continued stocking of rainbow trout are paying dividends with increasing numbers of these fish up to 1 kg showing in anglers bags. Good wild brown trout and a mix of wild and domestic rainbow trout are there for the offing for anglers who fish the Pet and Guide dams with a variety of methods. Bronte Lagoon and the Bradys system of lakes in the southern Central region, have been extremely popular fishing destinations in 2008-08, largely due to the intensive stocking effort undertaken by the Service in the past few years. A large number of adult transfers from Great Lake boostedthetroutpopulationssignificantlyleadingtogreatly increased catch rates and satisfied anglers. The Service will continue its stocking focus in these waters, which with easy access from the Lyell Highway, should receive significant angler attention over the coming season. Travelling further West, Lake Burbury is worthy of interest. This fishery has a following of regular anglers, who are aware of its potential and have experienced the rewards. It has a thriving population of resident wild brown trout but is best known for its rainbow population. This water is an ideal option for families since it is open to all methods of fishing, 12 months of the year and has a daily bag limit of 20 trout. In the South, Lake Meadowbank is the focus for frequent stocking by the Service of ex broodstock Atlantic salmon, providing a regular trophy fishery. The local population of brown trout also provide the knowledgeable angler with some great fishing. Meadowbank is within striking range from major southern population centres, and is also open all year round, to all methods of fishing. Keep an eye on the Service website for information about stocking here. Do not underestimate Tasmania’s river fishing. Several rivers have been designated as rainbow waters by the Service and the lowland sections of the Huon, Derwent, Leven and Tamar rivers were opened for fishing all year in 2008-09. The aim is to increase the options for anglers seeking a quick cast closer to home and to bring satisfying results. Information supplied by Inland Fisheries Service.
www.tasfish.com - get the knowledge.
Recent good rains have seen hydro lakes increase to over 30 per cent. Hydro Tasmania Manager Energy Resources said that Great Lake and Lake Gordon look like being significantly higher than they were last year for the 1 August start of the season. Lake Echo will also be much higher than last year with a forecast predicted to be 40 per cent full compared with last year’s 22 per cent. Other key lakes will be operated close to their seasonal operating levels as they were last year. Arthurs Lake is starting to recover after good easterly rains and should be above the 948mASL by 1 August. The pump will remain off for the rest of the year unless there is a danger of the lake spilling, which is unlikely.
Closure of Lake Pedder Chalet
Take a mate fishing this season on a renewed Full Season Licence
This year, the Service has a special offer to repeat full season licence holders to take a mate fishing for free this season. A Complimentary 48 Hour Novice Licence has been sent with the annual renewal notice. The full season licence holder must validate the Novice Licence by writing their receipt number on the card before passing it on to their mate. It can then be activated online at www.ifs. tas.gov.au or by visiting a tackle store or ServiceTasmania shop, and providing the details of the Novice licence holder and the dates for the 48 Hour licence. The aim of this promotion is to reward anglers who purchased a full season licence in 2008-09 and who renew their licence in 2009-10. They are encouraged to share their passion for trout fishing with a mate. Hopefully this will lead to an increase in participation in the sport and bring increased revenue from licence sales, so that more money is available to invest in the fishery.
This year’s promotion is part of the recent push to add value to the full season licence and increase the number of full season licence holders who renew their licence each year. As with last year, these full season licence holders are also being offered free entry to the Salmon Ponds throughout the season. A full season licence represents the best value for money, equal to about $1.25 per week for a full paying adult and withsignificantdiscoutsforjuveniles(80% less), pensioners (45% less) and seniors (20% less). This money goes direct to the Service and is spent on stocking and fishery management. Before the start of the season each year, full season licence holders are sent a renewal with a durable business size licence card, and additional offers and information are being planned for next year. So, don’t think twice about it. Renew your full season licence today!
As announced in April, the Lake Pedder Chalet at Strathgordon is now closed to the public. Visitors will continue to be welcomed to the area and Hydro Tasmania is providing limited services. The business will continue to use the complex for staff and contractors working in the region and there will be a permanent staffing presence at the site. Hydro Tasmania spokesperson, Ralph Jackson, said that while meals and accommodation will no longer be provided to the public, visitor information will be maintained in the area along with other services. “The South West is an exceptional area for visitors who are looking for a wilderness experience and want to see Lake Pedder and the engineering feat that is the Gordon Dam. It is also a popular destination for anglers. “We will continue to operate the visitor information centre at the chalet along with maintaining interpretive signage at significant locations in the area. Visitors will also have access to a public phone and petrol for emergency situations.” Hydro Tasmania has also put in place a Good Samaritan procedure to look after staff and visitors who may become stranded due to adverse weather conditions.
InformationsuppliedbyInlandFisheriesService.
fanTasTic fishing offer:
The decision to close the chalet was a result of significant operational losses due to low occupancy levels despite efforts over the years to increase visitor numbers. Hydro Tasmania has advised its staff, contractors, tourism providers and fishing groups of the decision to change the operation of the chalet. Discussions have also been held with the organisers of the Back to Pedder fishing competition to ensure a successful event in January. Infor mation on changes to the operations of the chalet can be found at www.hydro.com.au . Collaboration on access to inland waterways A collaborative series of projects aimed at addressing the access requirements of inland water anglers is now well underway. Agreement between Hydro Tasmania, Inland Fisheries Service, Central Highlands Council and the Southern Highlands Progress Association has been reached to ensure pedestrian and angler access to the foreshore at Brady’s Lake. Access will be improved by the installation of signage at four public access points, including the community boat ramp. During July and August, representatives of Hydro Tasmania, Inland Fisheries Service and Marine and Safety Tasmania will be undertaking assessments of lakes across the State to determine the most appropriate sites for recreational boating infrastructure to facilitate easy access to inland waters. The result of these assessments will be a list of sites showing the best positioning for recreational infrastructure based on a set of pre-determined criteria covering issues associated with demand, cultural heritage, Hydro Tasmania operations, environmental impacts, boating safety and costs. The results of these assessments will be presented at public forums later in the year where comment will be sought from recreational groups. The final result of the assessments will be the development of a Recreational Boating Infrastructure Plan for the state inland waters. The plan will form the basis for the assessment of projects to be funded from the Recreational Boating Fund and other sources.
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Two licences for The price of one! so you can Take a maTe fishing. Renew your full season 2009-10 Angling licence and receive a Complimentary 48 Hour Novice Licence. Share your passion for trout fishing and take a mate fishing during the coming season. Season opens Saturday 1 August, so get a licence and get out there. Renew online at www.ifs.tas.gov.au, call 1300 463 474, or visit any licence agent or Service Tasmania shop.
plus: free enTry To The salmon ponds AAT9444rj
All Full Season Licence Holders who renew their licence for 2009-10 receive free entry to the Salmon Ponds upon presentation of their licence card on any day from 1/9/09 to 31/7/10.
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Fishing News - Page 5
Jigging for Trout Tom Crawford takes a slightly different approach to lure fishing for trout.
Vertical jigging is becoming very popular in salt water fishing in Tasmania with the release of many large and sophisticated jig’s hitting the market. But very few people try this method for trout. One of the biggest problem trout fisherman face is getting their lure or fly down to where the fish are sitting. This technique cures that problem. Jigging for trout has been extremely popular in New Zealand for quite some time and has produced many good sized fish there. In this article I will give you a look into what I believe should be one of the more popular fishing techniques in Tasmania in years to come.
Technique
As you would expect the most important thing to do first is find the fish. This is where a good sounder will come into play. Most of us have sounders in our boat and almost any sounder will aid you in this technique of fishing. The key is to look for drop offs, holes or structure deep under the water where trout love to feed and congregate. Once you have found one this is where you should start jig fishing. From my experience trout tend to hang around on average 40 cm to 80 cm from the bottom. It is important that your lure reaches where the fish are and one of the most important pieces of tackle for this job is multi colored line. You can buy multi colored braids and monofilament. I prefer to use braid for its near zero stretch factor but the choice is up to you. With this you can count your colors as they descend into the lake. On average a color change will happen about every 10 metres, but all lines vary. This is very handy as if you need to be 30 metres down you simply let out 3 colors of line. If you wish to use non colored line try using a permanent marker on you line at 10 metre intervals. When lowering your lure it should fall slightly below where you believe the fish are. This allows your lure to be right in the fish’s face when you jig it up. From my experience they often hit the lure on the drop, similar to soft plastic fishing techniques. This will mean often you will hook the fish when you simply jig the lure.
Jigging is a trout fishing technique that can bring great rewards. One of the real bonuses is that early in the season when fish are lethargic your retrieve can be slowed to match them. When dropping your line you should control the line with your finger for two reasons: (1) This will slow your drop and allow you to count the color’s easily and, (2) Often you will get a strike on the way down and your finger will give you enough resistance and time to hook the fish. When jigging the lure you will be raising and dropping the lure approximately 30 cm each time. The speed of the jig is determined by how active the fish are. In the colder months I suggest you slow your jig down and summer months a fast jig often works well.
Tackle
The best thing about this style is that you can simply use a typical trout spin out fit. 6’6” to 7’6” is perfect. I prefer to use the American drop shot style rods such as G.Loomis DSR820s. The rod should be rated to handle 4-8lb line. The
tip should be sensitive with a lot of power in the bottom half to help set the hook. There are many different jig set ups, but maybe the most simple is a heavy jig lure by itself. But there are many different variations of this and one of my favorites is a large silver slice at the bottom with no hook, this is used purely as an attractor and weight with two droppers coming off above it. A rig like this seems odd in freshwater, but it works. This rig is similar to a paternoster rig, which nearly everyone has used for flathead or other salt water applications. The key is to use a weight or lure that matches the breaking strain of your line. This is why braid comes in handy. You can use heavy braids and still keep the diameter down. The key is to use a braid which will support the weight of the lure/weight but not break your rod. In most cases a weight/lure of between 20 grams to 40 grams will be fine. With these weights you should use 2-4kg line. If you increase your sinker/lure weight from this it is important that you either up grade your rod and line or be very careful
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A near perfect hook position on a nice early season Arthurs Lake trout, hook used was a size 2 Black Magic, Large Eye Lure Hook.
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If it’s available we’ll get it... - Phone Orders Welcome Specials available during July and August or while stocks last
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This might seem like a weird trout rig, and you are probably right. Set it up just like you would a paternoster - weight on the bottom and two droppers. In inland waters though you can only have two lures per line - so remove the hook from the jigging weight or only run one dropper and leave the hook on the jig. not to over tighten your drag on your reel. You can use a mixture of things on the arms of the rig. These include flies, soft plastics, hard bodies and some times even bait. I tend to use a mixture of flies and soft plastics. What you will find is that the fly will move slowly in the water when jigged and the soft plastic will sink much faster. This works particularly well as the trout has two options. The fly will often be the lure that gets hit. The bottom metal lure will get the fishes attention and the fly, being the slow moving lure will often get hit.
Colours
You can use a variety of colors and sizes. The thing to remember is that your lure is often deep and there for is in the dark parts of the water. Using lures and flies of brighter colour can often be the key here. Bright chartreuse and silvers are often good. Lures with a mixture can be great; some of the
Berkley Gulp range are particularly good as they have a selection of bright colors with that Gulp scent which fish just find irresistible. Remember color reacts differently according to how light penetrates water. When fishing at night you will need to select a color or pattern that will attract a night feeding trout, these are when silvers and flashy lures work particularly well. During the day I recommend that you to also select eye catching colors but a little more subtle. During the day the idea is to grab their attention not scare them off. The way trout see is very similar to the way we do. They can see a vast spectrum of colors and are also able to focus near and far. When selecting your lure color there are a few things to keep in mind. When light penetrates the water it will be absorbed at different depths. The colors with longer wave lengths are reds then oranges, yellows, greens, blues, indigos and violets. All these colors are absorbed first and as a result will appear black in the water at certain depths. The color red is absorbed within 20 feet, orange within 40 feet and yellow will go to about 70 feet. Green and blue will almost travel as far as the light goes, so often these are good colors that often get over looked.
Action
The first action is fairly simple, move your rod up and down in slow motion to create an action of a wounded bait fish darting up and slowly sinking back down. As I mentioned before trout will often grab the lure on the way back down. The second action is slow but quite large lifts letting your lure have maximum fall time. This is a good action when trout are particularly shy and not in feeding mode. Another variations of this can be done by actually casting your rig out as if you were spinning. Allow your weight to sink to the bottom and jig the lure up and down as if you were vertical jigging but instead of leaving in the same place wind the rig in a little on each jig. The key is to wind up the slack line you create with each jig. This slow retrieve works particularly well. Your weight at the bottom disturbs the bottom creating
Concentration and variation is important. When you hit the right combination of depth speed and correct lure you’ll be in the money. a puff of dirt and this will grab a trout’s attention. This works well when you are fishing the top of a drop off or if there is some fast moving water. The key is to imitate wounded bait fish so when you are jigging keep this in mind and you will often be rewarded with success. When winding your line up remember that trout will often follow your lure all the way to the top and strike so a slow retrieve is recommended. How often do I jig is a question I often get and answer is simple. Every 60 seconds give it action. If a trout has not come and had a go at your lure in 60 seconds give it another lift. When you are trying this technique and the trout seem not to be on the bite vary your actions. Use a combination of one really fast lift followed by two really fast lifts or on the other hand small frequent lifts. Try any thing you want often it can be something as simple as the speed you lift it that can be the difference between fish and none. Tom Crawford
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Fishing News - Page 7
Bait fishing
If bait fishing, being at the waters edge at daylight greatly improves your chances. The best period seems to be from dawn until around 9 am and going from past experience it usually goes a bit quiet after that. Powerbait fished on a light line (6 pound or under) and with a hook that allows it to float mid water catches a lot of rainbows. Or the humble wattle grub or worm, free spooled back to the shore is also first rate. Leave the bail arm open and allow fish to run before striking. This usually ensures a solid hook up. Last year, on opening day the Longford club had a breakfast on the shore at 9 am and most of the clubs bait fishers headed home shortly after. That being said most also had a smile on their faces as they put their catches in their cars. There were some big tails and tall tales as well. Most would either return later in the day or repeat the ritual on another morning soon.
Soft Plastics
The author, Todd Lambert at Four Springs.
It is my opinion that ‘fished correctly’, soft plastic lures have no equal on this water. The secret is slow retrieves, very slow retrieves, long casts and small twitches. It is vitally important to ensure you keep the slack out of your line when fishing. When you give the rod a twitch make sure you wind the slack up and watch the line like a hawk. If you see any un-natural movement of the line – strike. I find moving the rod sideways with the rod tip just in the water, keep in touch with the line and get ready to hang on. It is always a buzz when the line stops dead and the first fish of the season suddenly explodes out of the depths. I use four pound Fireline braid and spooled up with this you can feel every head shake. Everyone has their favourite soft plastic, but for me, you can’t go past the Yep Tassie Tackle three inch Flickbait in pumpkinseed colour. It might be hard to find them early in the season as most of the experienced fisherman on this water have bought up a good supply from local tackle stores. Olive gold, Salt N Pepper, Pearl White and Whitebait are also good.
Fishing Four Springs Lake • Early season • The new season is on us and with it comes the anticipation of another year’s fishing. Will it be as good as last year … or maybe better? In my role as President of the Longford Fishing Club, each opening day brings with it the filtering through of emailed reports of opening day success by our members. I then pass that around to the rest of the club in the hope that it encourages those that are a bit hesitant to make the effort, get out of bed, pack some warm clothes, a thermos and grab their fishing gear in the fear that they may be missing out. As you could imagine with over 220 members these reports can come in from anywhere, some of our club members make an “annual opening” pilgrimage to Woods Lake, others to the club’s caravan at Arthurs Lake whilst those remaining take part in our first club competition of the year, held at Four Springs Lake. If our Four Springs opening day competition lives up to the expectations we have come to expect from this water, we have a lot to look forward to. ‘Fourseys’ as we affectionately call it, is water that seems to always produce well at the start of each season. Its local resident trout seem keen to put on condition as quickly as they can, and the takes are often aggressive. It is a great water with many large fish. Last year on opening day, club member Simon Green caught a rainbow exceeding six pounds, to win the competition for the day whilst the year before Travis Preece caught a brown trout of over seven pounds that was not beaten that year. Believe me when I say there are always tails of woe from unlucky anglers who talk about losing double figure fish at the boat. Perhaps at any other water one would be seen as “stretching the truth”, but our members (and indeed anyone who fishes this water on a regular basis) knows that there are plenty of leviathans swimming in its depths. This is thanks in large to the intensive stocking program that the Inland Fisheries undertakes each year.
Lures
Trolling lures on Four Springs brings with it much success and many of our members have their favourite colour. Rapala fire tigers are very popular as are reddish/gold colour lures known as “corrobarees” in the Loftys range (ask you local tackle store and I am sure they will know what you are asking for.) One of our members uses a red and black spinner drifting out from the disabled persons jetty (opposite the boat ramp) with great success and works this area solid early on in the
Slow trolling on the ‘electric’ can be well worth it. season. As the season progresses and the water heats up, the weed will appear in this area and continue until towards the end of the season making it all but impossible to fish with a lure. Until then the big fish renowned to inhabit that particular spot will it keep him going back time and time again.
Wet Fly
Early in the season anything that resembles a Woolly Bugger pattern, especially in a purple colour works well. Like the soft plastics though, remember to fish it very, very slowly, using figure of eight retrieves with the rod tip pointed a few centimetres above the water. Be ready to detect the slightest resistance – it could be a monster, or just weed. Daylight and dusk are prime times. As a mad keen fly fisherman that has discovered soft plastics, I tend to leave the fly rod in the cupboard until around late October. This is when the first of the mayflies really start to make their presence known. I then fish with a dry fly indicator and an orange bead head nymph as a dropper one metre under it. The results can be outstanding. Over the past couple of seasons I have found that while trollers often catch more fish and in a quicker timeframe, they don’t seem to be in the size class of those caught on bait or a slowly retrieved soft plastic. My opinion is that the bigger fish are still moving quite slowly and although interested, won’t chase too hard or to fast, leaving that to the smaller ones. So slowly does it.
Methods
What is the best method to use early in the season? To be honest it doesn’t seem to matter, power bait fished from the shore, soft plastics, wet fly, lures, everybody seems to catch their fair share if they put in the effort. Certainly members of our club use all methods and all catch fish. Fishing News - Page 8
Jacob and Demi Lambert with a brace of Four Springs trout. www.tasfish.com - get the knowledge.
Stocking
The Inland Fisheries Service has recognised the value of Four Springs as a fishery and has committed significant efforts into stocking the lake. Since 2006 the IFS has stocked Four Springs Lake with the following trout;
Dam
Four Springs Lake Approx. 178 hectares
Best areas to try
As Four Springs lends itself to all methods of angling, your chances can be increased by fishing in the spots that suit the type of fishing you intend to do. For example, trollers are best off fishing the Northern end of the Lake due to its increased depth and lesser weed growth that can be a nuisance especially as it increases in the warmer months ahead. The Dam wall area seems to hold good numbers of rainbows and fishing around the trees on the point is often met with success. A run up along the trees north west of the boat ramp seems to produce as well.
Bait
Some of our club members are going to kill me for saying this, but without doubt to the best place to be early on in the season is around the disabled anglers platform - accessed by quite a long walk in from the boom gate. You will see this on the left, just before
Boat Ramp Jetty for disabled anglers BBQ and shelter shed
14/2/06
Rainbow trout
15,000
Fingerling
29/5/06
Brown trout
70
Adult (2kg av.)
29/5/06
Rainbow trout
12
Adult (1kg av.)
13/7/06
Brown trout
2,000
Fingerling
20/7/06
Brown trout
100
Adult (1.2kg av.)
12/8/06
Brown trout
2,000
Fingerling
24/11/06
Rainbow trout
185
Adult (1kg av.)
24/11/06
Rainbow trout
3,000
Adult (250gm av.)
24/11/06
Rainbow trout
250
Adult (1kg av.)
23/5/07
Brown trout
900
Adult (1.13kg av.)
12/7/07
Brown trout
1,750
Fingerling
17/7/07
Brown trout
5,000
Fingerling
29/11/07
Brown trout
22,000
Fingerling
14/04/08
Brown trout
1000
Adult (1.2kg)
01/10/08
Rainbow trout
3000
Fingerling/Yearling
02/10/08
Brown trout
139
Adult (2.5kg)
02/10/08
Rainbow trout
43
Adult (1kg)
18/12/08
Brown trout
20,000
Fry (5grm)
26/05/09 Brown trout 800 Adult (1.1kg) Source IFS web site: http://www.ifs.tas.gov.au
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Fishing News - Page 9
you head into the Four Springs track, you can’t miss it, look for the parked cars! Anywhere along that Southern shore or as we call it (Big Brownie Bay) aptly named for reasons that will come apparent if your luck is in and the fish are on the chew. Another popular area for land based anglers wishing to bait fish is the grassy banks virtually opposite the dam wall at the northern end mentioned earlier, one again it’s a bit of a walk from the car park but big fish come out of this area, regularly, especially in the first few weeks of the season every year. A word of warning: there are leeches in their seeming millions so the wearing of waders is advised.
Soft plastics and spinners
Once at the boat ramp and if you are lucky enough to have a boat, look to the north west and you will see a row of trees. A drift between that tree line and the far shoreline can be rewarding. Depending on the wind direction, I like to drift from one end of that shore line to the other, where I start fishing is dictated by the prevailing weather conditions at the time. Reasonably light jig heads should be used to keep your plastic just above the weed, I also like to use a jig head around 1/16th in weight , although it catches its fair share of weed, it also catches its fair share of fish. I also recommend that you try for the ‘widest gape’ in the hook that you can get for that weight, as it increases your hook ups, the fish quite often bite the tails only, if you find this is happening a lot without success, as soon as you feel the next hit, stop winding and count to three before resuming, they often come back for a second and third go, should you give them the opportunity.
Wet fly
Any shoreline left and right of the boat ramp and the Southern end, see notes mentioned in bait fishing and (Big Brownie Bay) as this is also a popular area for fly fishers especially from a boat early morning and late evening. That being said, I suggest if on foot, walk, stop, look and walk again, if a fish is in close after snails, scud etc, you will
Longford fishing club member and Four Springs tragic, Jamie Morehouse with a superbly conditioned rainbow. see them, an accurate cast a couple of foot wide either side will see an aggressive bow wave charging at your fly. I don’t fish with a tippet less than 6 pound at this time of year, unless of course you are prepared to be disappointed with the inevitable bust offs that will come if you’re not on your game.
As with all things you can benefit from other’s advice and experience to help swing the balance your way, but nothing beats being in the right place at the right time. Success can be measured in many ways, from a bag of fish to just being out with your family or mates enjoying the day. Todd Lambert
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Sea trout fishing in the Derwent estuary during the winter of 2009 has been the best in living memory.
Early Prospects for 2009–10 Trout Fishing Season Greg French Since the big wet of 1996–97 Tasmania, like the rest of southeastern Australia, has suffered from a severe lack of rain. The Midlands, East Coast and eastern fringes of the Central Plateau have been especially hard hit in the last three years, with disastrous consequences for high-profile trout fisheries like Tooms Lake, Craigbourne Dam and the Coal River. Whether this can be attributed to normal drought cycles is moot: the trend to generally drier conditions has been evident since at least the mid-1980s and may well be the result of irreversible climate change. Now for the good news: rainfall during the first half of this year has been better than the long-term average, and June has turned out to be one of the wettest on record. Droughtravaged rivers are in flood, the lakes are filling quickly, and the spawning runs in many prime waters have been better than we’ve seen in years. This augurs well for this season and several more to come. Given the dramatic improvement in fishing conditions, where should you fish when the trout season opens on 1 August? There is no doubt that Tasmania’s most famous fisheries are located in the Central Highlands. Many local anglers will
have been champing at the bit during the winter hiatus and will celebrate the opening of the season by going to respected highland waters like Arthurs Lake and Great Lake; and despite the fact that the cold weather will greatly subdue the fishing, they will probably experience some degree of success. As always, though, the most reliable and exciting fishing will be in warmer waters on the lowlands. Here, then, are my hotspots for August and early spring…
SOUTHERN TASMANIA River Derwent
In August, the lower Derwent Estuary—from the Tasman Bridge to Cadbury Point—is my number-one choice for trout fishing, and this year is shaping up to be one of the best in living memory. The fishing has generally improved every year since the late 1980s and early1990s when the pulp and paper mill at Boyer, the zinc works near Risdon and municipal councils all along the estuary started taking dramatic steps to curb pollution. But this year has not followed the pattern of incremental recovery—the improvement has gone right off the scale.
In past seasons the fishing (as opposed to the weather) sometimes warmed up in late May but rarely become hot until late June or even July. This year things were already in full swing when I tested the water in late April, and the fishing kept getting better and better right up until late June (when I wrote this article). By August, after the floods have subsided, conditions on the water will be at their absolute peak. Most winters, the majority of the trout I catch are secretive crab feeders. This year, nearly all the fish—silvery sea runners and large coppery residents—have been feeding on big baitfish such as prettyfish and juvenile mullet. I have found them swirling, rising and charging in to small schools of bait all over the rocky shallows at Lindisfarne, Cornelian Bay, Store Point and Dogshear Point. The action is not necessarily hectic—often I only see a one fish move every half an hour or so—but I have consistently caught two to five fish per session, and many have weighed 3–5 lb. I use # 8 wet flies—such as Sloane-style whitebait patterns or BMSs, usually light green or white—but I suspect any wellpresented wet fly would work a treat. Spin fishers and trollers have also experienced heart-warming success.
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creating a stable habitat which fostered the growth of lush weedbeds. This, in turn, created ideal conditions for trout. In 2008-09, as the lake approached all-time lows, the amount of water allowed to flow downstream was progressively reduced. The trout, once abundant in the riffles and narrow channels, retreated to small pools and broadwaters where they competed with the long-term residents, to the detriment of both. Finally the flow was completely shut down; the pools got hotter and many were sucked almost dry by irrigators. Some fish died, but most simply went into torpor and lost condition. Today the river is running again, and there is sufficient water in the dam to ensure that constant flows can be maintained for at least the next couple of years. It will take time for significant numbers of trout to reoccupy the riffles, and still longer for them to regain condition, so the fishing may not have returned to its former glory by August, but the Coal is certainly a water to watch in the months ahead.
NORTHERN TASMANIA South Esk system
In August I like fishing the tributaries of the South Esk, especially when levels are moderately high, as they most certainly The much needed floods that occurred in June should ensure that will be this year. the Coal River quickly returns to its former glory. It is generally accepted that in the first few weeks of the season the most reliable angling occurs at These days the only lament I hear about the trout fishing Brumbys Creek, especially in the upper (No 1) weir and in the in the lower Derwent is that the whitebait run much later than they once did. Traditionally, most anglers did not begin fishing creek proper between the lower (No 3) weir and the confluence for sea trout until the official start of the season immediately of the Macquarie River. Look for brown trout tailing along after midnight on the first Saturday in August. Many of us the edges: most will weigh 0.5–1.2 kg. Despite the unquestionably good fishing at Brumbys, my would line up alongside the main river channel on or near the favourite water is the Meander River between Westwood and Bridgewater Causeway, and the fish we caught would always be Exton, where fish rise and tail from day one. Conditions are full of ‘Tasmanian whitebait’ (Lovettia sealii). These days the best when the river is running a banker but not spilling too far runs of Lovettia are smaller than they once were and the trout out into the paddocks. Hotspots include the flooded mouths rely more on juvenile galaxias, which always arrived later than Lovettia but now run later than ever before. I have come to of tributary creeks, any distinct backwater lagoons, and the think of this as a bonus. Once I used to give up fishing on the submerged banks of the river proper. Dry flies can work if lower estuary by early October; now there is good sight fishing you see fish sipping from the surface, otherwise it pays to use right up until late November. And further up the estuary, from nondescript nymphs or wee wets. The Macquarie River is another much-loved water of Sorell Creek to Lawitta, the fish continue to feed spectacularly mine, especially the stretch from Fosterville to the confluence on whitebait right up until Christmas. of Glen Morriston Rivulet. The fishing here has been disappointing during the big dry of the last few years, but this Craigbourne Dam year flows are going to be very good. This irrigation supply dam, set in open pasture near The Lake River near the Cressy Road will also be worth Colebrook just 45 minutes’ drive from Hobart, was a look. commissioned in 1986. Although there was significant natural recruitment of brown trout, the lake was essentially managed as a put-and-take fishery, receiving ample stocks of hatchery- North Esk system Despite my preference for fishing the meadow streams reared rainbows, Atlantic salmon and even brook trout. It in August, some of Tasmania’s elite guides often prefer to provided reliable sport until autumn 2009 when levels fell concentrate on the fastwater tributary creeks in the forested so low that water could no longer be feasibly extracted for catchments of the North Esk and St Patricks rivers. The secret irrigation. Many fish survived in the large pool left behind the here is to fish headwaters where flows are not too fast and the dam—and in the billabongs along the exposed bed of the old water is likely to be crystal clear. You will be able to polaroid river course—but they would have suffered terribly during the trout in the pools, and you can fish-up others by drifting a coming summer had we not received substantial rain. weighted nymph down the edges of the currents. The big As I write, the lake is filling quickly and the fishing should have substantially recovered by opening day. Things will be advantage of utilising these waters instead of the meadow better still if the IFS does some quick stocking with large streams is that you will stand a good chance of taking large rainbows, or if it transfers some adult brown trout from the bags of brown trout, though individual fish will be much spawning runs on the Central Plateau (keep an eye on the smaller than those taken from places like Brumbys Creek. Fishing in the mid-reaches of the North Esk and St Pats IFS website). will come into its own from late spring into summer and In early August the water will be rising over lush green autumn when the water is lower, warmer and easier to wade. paddocks, creating boom conditions as trout feed heavily on worms, corby grubs and drowned terrestrials. There is also bound to be some midge activity, possibly even a few small mayfly hatches. NOTE: The Editor spoke with IFS early July and they were trying to source some adult fish to stock Craigbourne. No promises, but there is a good chance it will get a top up of adult fish.
Coal River
The Coal River is a silt-bottomed creek which flows through marginal pasture. After the Craigbourne irrigation project was commissioned in 1986, the Coal river downstream of the dam was blessed with steady flows of clear cold water,
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Tooms Lake
After the demise of the once phenomenal fishery at Lake Sorell in the mid-1990s, Tooms Lake at the head of the Macquarie River system became something of a haven for refugee anglers, largely because it was the most Sorell-like water in Tasmania. No only did it lay at relatively low altitude (464m) amid dry sub-alpine forest, the water itself was shallow, slightly milky-green, and featured substantial strapweed marshes. Better still, the lake had a reputation for providing genuinely good fishing in the early weeks of the fishing season. Like Sorell, the marshes at Tooms were always full of frog feeders; and there was superb dry fly activity to all manner
Fishing the upper tributaries of the North Esk and St Patricks rivers can be a delight in August and September. insects, including highland duns and red spinners. But the real attraction ended up being the prevalence of jollytails (Galaxias maculatus) which schooled well and provided action reminiscent of that precipitated by Sorell’s extraordinarily prolific and gregarious golden galaxias (G. auratus). Where exactly the jollytails came from is a mystery to me—I don’t recall seeing them in the 1980s and they were not recorded by fisheries biologists who mapped the biota of the lake in the late 1980s. Nonetheless they ended up thriving in the lake, and the trout which fed on them grew very big indeed, sometimes averaging 3–5 lb. Low water levels have plagued the lake in recent years, resulting in blooms of blue-green algae. Although toxic to livestock and humans, the algae did not poison the fish. However, when the lake was especially low and the algae especially thick, the water became anoxic and the fish stopped feeding. In the last couple of years, the trout were mostly lean and difficult to catch. This season the lake will fill and we should see a major rebound in the quality of the fishing: it could conceivably end up as good as it was in the glory years from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Good sport will probably be available early in August, especially if the IFS engages in some remedial stocking with yearling rainbows and/or wild brown trout from the highland lakes (again, keep an eye on the IFS website). For both fly enthusiasts and spin fishers, the most exciting thing to do in August and early spring will be to hunt down the trout which can be seen charging around after jollytails like sea trout in a whitebait frenzy. It is easiest to find these fish by walking and wading along the shorelines.
The small lowland lakes
Wild brown trout, all fit and chubby, will be found tailing along the grassy verges of the recently flooded Huntsman Lake. This year will see the fishery approach the peak of the boom cycle which typically occurs in newly created impoundments. Take advantage of the fishing while it lasts. There will be plenty of eager rainbow stockies in Brushy Lagoon, and many of these fish will be suckers for wet flies and lures. The fishing is less reliable at Four Springs Lake, though big browns and rainbows, some in excess of 2 kg, are regularly taken by dedicated locals. A small boat is a real asset on this water.
WESTERN TASMANIA
Those of us who live out of area generally find it best to delay fishing expeditions to the West Coast until things fire up in late September, but locals are able to enjoy reasonable sport from the outset.
Lake Burbury
Lake Burbury (just 235 m above sea level) is full to brimming with wild rainbows and browns, and although most fish are small (0.3–0.7 kg), they rise to midges throughout the year. They are also easily taken on lures and soft plastics, either by spinning or trolling.
Sea trout
Of the estuaries, the lower Henty River is the best bet in August. You can also have a bit of fun at the mouths of the Arthur and Pieman rivers, but it pays to leave the Gordon until October because a trip across Macquarie Harbour can be strategically complex and, having gone to all the effort of getting to the river, most people get frustrated if the fishing turns out to be a bit slow.
continued next page... Fishing News - Page 15
Fishing News - Page 16
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Lakes Plimsoll and Rolleston
One other place worth a look is the brook trout fishery in the upper Henty–Anthony system, especially lakes Plimsoll and Rolleston. Although fishing for brookies in Tasmania is a notoriously hit-and-miss affair, with anglers usually catching lots of fish or none at all, August and September are relatively reliable. Trout on the West Coast spawn late, often not until July, but most will have dropped back into the lakes before the start of the season. Because brookies favour very cool water and are hungry after the rigors of spawning, they feed more veraciously in the shallows during August and September than they do at any other time of the year. Whereas post-spawned brown trout in waters like Arthurs Lake are often lean and sluggish, brookies regain condition quickly and behave aggressively to large wet flies and lures right from day one. (The only better time to fish the Henty– Anthony is in January and February, especially during the evening, when big brook trout come to the surface to feed on migrating mudeyes.)
CENTRAL PLATEAU
As previously mentioned, the high-country lakes (those above 700m) do not fish really well until mid-September. Historically the only genuine exception to this rule was Lake Sorell. However, Sorell has suffered terribly from the dual whammy of persistent low water and indiscriminate netting associated with the carp-eradication program: it will take several successive wet seasons for the fishery to properly recover. If you simply can’t wait to fish the plateau, the best place to fish on opening day is likely to be Woods Lake, which is now accessible
by 2WD from Arthurs Lake Dam. This water lies at relatively low altitude (737 m) and is reasonably sheltered. Prospecting along the shore with wet flies and lures can be quite effective, and anglers who troll deep offshore often fare even better. This lake has the added advantage of harbouring some of the biggest and fittest brown trout on the Central Plateau, many of which are silvery specimens that weigh 1.5 to 2 kg. Other fair prospects for August are the Bradys chain of lakes and Bronte Lagoon, once again because they have fertile shallows and lie at relatively low altitude. For those who have shacks at Arthurs Lake and Great Lake, and are determined to make the most of the opening weekend, the action might actually turn out to be better than normal. Because of good rainfall, the spawning runs were earlier and more intense than we’ve seen at any time in the last decade. This means that many fish will have dropped back into the lake by late June and early July and will have been busy putting on condition for several weeks prior to opening day. This year the situation will be further enhanced by virtue of the fact that both lakes will be rising over long-exposed flats and there will be a superabundance of terrestrial food, including worms and drowned spiders. Mind you, things will be even better in spring when the water warms and the fish are able to metabolise food more quickly.
LAST WORD
Well, now you know where to find me this August and September. Honestly, things haven’t looked so rosy in long time, so for goodness sake get out there and fish hard while the going’s good. Greg French
ATTACK
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Woods Lake will be one of the most reliable venues on the Central Plateau during August and September.
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Fishing News - Page 17
Jan’s Flies Jan Spencer
It’s that time of year when everybody’s optimism is running very high. Most are contemplating what the new trout season will bring. One thing is for sure – it will be cold. The rivers will be brownish in colour as we have had some good recent rain which has made for some swollen streams, this is wonderful as the trout will be foraging for food washed into backwaters by the excess water and they will be in prime condition when the weather warms up. The highland lakes are another story. Both Great Lake and Arthurs are rising with good flows of water from recent rain. As normal, this time of the year the surrounding shore lines will be icy if not iced all over. It takes a little while for the lakes to get rid of the winter blues, but the fishing can be good if you can put up with the cold. So if you are fishing in the highland areas, be prepared for extreme weather. In my opinion the trout season opens a month too early. The brown trout often haven’t revived after spawning and the rainbows are still doing so. The popular lowland lakes such as Huntsman and Four Springs, just to name a couple, will be popular starting lakes. Huntsman is a lovely water and a valued water storage. It saddens somewhat that the superb inflowing creeks in that area will probably become void of trout over the next few years as it is well accepted that most fish will drop back into available lakes. These streams have given me such pleasure over the past thirty odd years.
As there will be some murky water around at the start of the season a fly which can be easily seen is the go, an exciter fly of some sort. Some highly recommended flies are Yetis, Matukas, Woolly Worms, Montana Nymph and Fur Flies in different colours. My personal choice will be a black fly with jungle cock eyes, this will be easily seen in murky water, even if the water is clear the jungle cock eyes seem to draw the trout attention. As mentioned in precious articles marabou is a favourite of mine as it gives lifelike movement to a fly.
Starter Fly
Hook: Medium gauge size 8-6 Thread: Black Butt: Red wool Body: Black wool Wing: Black marabou Eyes: Two jungle cock feathers
Method:
1. Take black thread the full length of shank and tie in red wool butt, make sure the butt is not too long as it’s only there for a little colour. 2. Tie in black wool; take thread back along shank stopping back from the eye a little. Bring wool forward forming a nicely shaped body. Tie down with thread and cut away excess body. 3. With a nice bunch of marabou tie in a wing over the body. The wing should extend well over the butt area, tie down firmly and cut away excess marabou. 4. Take one jungle cock feather at a time and tie in one on each side just behind the head, cut away excess feather stem of the jungle cock. Form a nice little head, whip finish and cut thread away. Varnish with black head cement. This is a champion little fly. When fishing this from the shore I use a floating line with a nine foot tapered leader with 6lb tip. If fishing from a boat an intermediate line would be used, vary the retrieve till you connect with the fish. If desired you could fish with two flies a smaller dropper fly of choice have this fly 4 foot up the leader. Remember you will need to have a longer leader for this method.
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Great Lake
Early Season Fly Fishing By Craig Rist
It might often look grey and uninviting, but it is good fishing weather. By the time July and August comes around, the browns in Great Lake are back in feeding mode, after spending the last couple of months spawning. Stick caddis, the Great Lake Shrimp and native galaxia and paragalaxias are highly sort after by these fish at this time. The galaxia and paragalaxias are small native fish that inhabit Great Lake. The majority of these inhabit the shallower margins of the lake; making shore based wet fly fishing a productive option. The colourations of these small native fish range from golden brown through to dark grey or black and are generally around 40 to 50 mm in length. Many trout, early in the season, find it hard to refuse a well-presented fly that even remotely resembles one of these fish.
Pre Season Fix
Come July, most die-hard trout bums are itching to get back into there favourite past time. New lines and leaders are purchased; more of those ever-reliable patterns are tied, along with some new variations tied from a new fly tying material that had suddenly inspired some creativity while loitering around your local fishing shop. With three weeks to go before the muchanticipated opening of the brown trout season, I was that person. A quick trip to Great Lake, which is open all year round, had to happen. My irrational thought process went a bit like this. Must have pre-season fix. Will be fishing from the shore so the weather conditions will not be a showstopper. Have warm dry clothes can fish in anything. The next morning the alarm woke me at 4:30 a.m. There was no hitting the snooze button today. I was up and gone by 5 a.m. fully kitted out with waders, thermal gear and a new fly already tied on ready to go. There was very little wind and the fog was thick up on the plateau. It was still dark when I turned down the track to Swan Bay below the Great Lake
Pub. With the water level still low at Great Lake this section of Swan Bay has a shallow rocky shore with nearby weed beds out in the lake making it a perfect place to fish a wet fly in the early ours of the morning. With a headlamp I walked down to the water’s edge. The water was flat calm and covered with a thick fog. I could now just see without needing the light on. It was dead quiet with no signs of fish anywhere. I put out a cast, close in along the shore and began a slow foot long strip with a two second pause. With each new cast I put the fly out a couple of metres further out from the bank until I had fished the fly from the shallow margins out to the deeper water. I took three or four steps along the shore and repeated the process. The anticipation on each cast was intense, just waiting for the line to draw tight. Suddenly my concentration was broken as I instinctively struck on the feeling of some resistance through the line. Only to come up tight on a submerged stick that did kick and fight for a milli-second as I pulled it off the bottom. A few more casts and again the line pulled tight, but this time the same feeling of hooking up to a stick kicked into life as a fish tore line from my hand as the rod lunged and buckled under the power and weight of a good fish. The fish leapt clear of the water into the fog breaking the silence of the morning as it splashed back into the water. Line peeled off the reel stopping just short of the backing. The fish slogged it out in the shallows for a while until it had run out of fight. It was a great looking brown trout with it’s blue gill plates, dark spots and buttery yellow fins. I removed the olive fur fly from the corner of his mouth and watched him kick back into the lake. By 9 a.m. I had managed to pick up two more fish of the same quality and fight. With my quick fix out of the way I was back home by eleven, attempting to finish those never ending jobs around the house, before the trout season really takes off.
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Fishing News - Page 19
Flies
Flies such as the Yeti or Cat Fly and Woolly Buggers in sizes 10 to 6 are good imitations of these small fish. The rabbit fur on Yeti and the marabou on the Woolly Buggers give these flies a lifelike swimming action as they are retrieved. Many unweighted fur and marabou flies can have a tendency to Rabbit fur gives flies a beautiful action. Some added weight helps. float after being dried out on the false cast. I like to use these flies with a few turns of lead or copper wire tied in near the hook eye. This helps the fly sink as soon as it hits the water and makes the fly sink head first, keeping the fur and marabou moving in the same direction, mimicking a wounded or sick bait fish. Yetis or Cat flies that have worked well for me have been all black, brown rabbit with a “Golden Stone” Diamond Brite Body, and an olive rabbit with claret seals fur body. For woolly buggers you cant go wrong with black, black marabou, black hackle and black chenille body. Black and olive is also a good combination.
often trigger a take after having persisted with the normal strip and pause retrieve. When retrieving a long cast the amount of line in your hand can become hard to manage using the figure eight retrieve. You can solve this by simply letting go of the loops as they are made or at any stage of the retrieve before they get too hard to manage.
Overhand Retrieve
Another constant retrieve is the overhand retrieve. The rod is held under your arm and both hands are used to pull in the line with or without a pause imparted into the retrieve. High speed retrieves can be achieved using this method, leaving the fish with a quick decision to make as the fly is swept past. This can often result in a compulsive hook up. Line management needs to be considered using this method, as the line is not contained in your hand. Stripping line directly into the water, a cleared deck space or into a stripping basket are the best ways to manage line during casting and fighting a fish.
Retrieves
Having a few different retrieves at your disposal can make all the difference. Here are a few that are worth a try.
Standard Strip Retrieve
By far the most wildly used method of fishing a wet fly. This is basically pulling in line at different lengths and speeds using your line hand and one or two fingers of your rod hand to guide and hold the line as it is stripped in. This basic line management is one of the first things you learn in fly fishing. If possible I try and use a strip strike to set the hook when a fish takes the fly. A strip strike will keep the fly in the water if the fish is missed on the first attempt. Giving that same fish another chance to take the fly. There are many different
The cold is more likely to stop the anglers, rather than the fish.
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• Boating Accessories • Full range of Fishing Tackle • Marine Paints & Fibreglass • Stainless Steel Hardware • Safety Equipment & Longline Bac kground Equipment Great Lake is located on the Central Plateau of Tasmania, • Inflatable Lifejackets 1,034 metres above sea level. It was one of Australia’s Great Lake is an example for balancing the protection of biodiversity of freshwater lake ecosystems, providing for recreational needs, whilst ensuring the economic and social imperative of reliable power supply. Managed by Hydro Tasmania for hydro generation purposes, with its fishery managed by the Inland Fisheries Service (IFS), Great Lake is a unique ecosystem in Tasmania. You are encouraged to enjoy and protect its beauty.
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largest natural freshwater lake systems prior to its initial damming in 1916. In 1922 the Miena multiple arch dam was built across the outlet of Great Lake to increase storage. In 1967 a sloping core rock fill dam was built down stream. Then in 1982, the rock fill dam was raised six metres and a levee was built across a saddle on the storage rim. When full, the lake has the capacity to cover 17,610 hectares and hold 3,178 million cubic metres of water. Fishing News - Page 20 Great Lake is Tasmania’s second most popular fishery in
Strip Tease Retrieve
The first time I saw this retrieve was on one of Gary Borgers instructional flyfishing videos many years ago when I was first starting out. He was using this retrieve to imitate the swimming action of a damsel fly nymph to his fly. Since then I have used it on a regular basis over the years to impart a wriggling action to all kinds of flies. The retrieve consists of a 300mm long, slow strip, while shaking the rod ever so slightly to impart a wriggling action to the fly. three secondeggs pause follows collected at Liawenee Canal annually.AThe fertilised before are on grown at the IFS hatchery until theystarting reach a the sizestrip again. that will ensure a high survival rate inA the fishwild canand takeare the fly at any restocked into Great Lake. Brown trout time,populations so be ready.are maintained through natural recruitment. The IFS further Figure eight Retrieve supports the management goals at Great Lake through This one does take a little specific size and bag limits and a reduced angling season practise but is well worth the at Canal Bay to protect spawning fish. effort. When mastered it can be fished very slow or quite Angling Notes fast. The figure eight retrieve is Shore based anglers have many options which small figure donefrom by gathering to choose. Set-rod bait fishing is practised along most of eight loops of line into the shores and is often very productive.palm Best baits are of your hand using only mudeyes, crickets, and worms. It is an offence to use any your fingers and thumb. This fish or fish products as bait. For the fly angler, polaroiding line gathering action gives the shoreline on a sunny day provides good returns. a continuous The trick is to cover plenty of waterthe andfly eventually you pulsing swimming action will find fish. Beetle falls and hatches of various aquatic that is very close to the action given to insects during late December to February provide thegenerally fly when on thethe line is wound good dry fly fishing. The best spots are thethe reel at the end leeward side of the large points andback bays onto around lake particularly the Tods Corner area. on Great of Trolling a session. This action can Lake is very popular with deep diving lures, down rigging or lead core line used to get lures down into the strike zone just above the weed beds. One of the best spots
TROUT GEAR
Sustainable Management
combinations you can use with this basic retrieve, and mixing them up until you trigger a response is the way to go.
Wharf Access Road, West Devonport
6423 1676 hmurfet@yahoo.com.au
Where to go
There are so many potentially good shores to fish on Great Lake depending on the Lake’s water level and wind direction. I like to seek out shores that are relatively shallow with some sort of structure, be it rocks, trees, weeds or depressions in the Lakebed and drop offs. Other considerations would be wind direction. Quite often, fishing a shore where the wind has been blowing into for some time can be very productive with the accumulation of stick caddis attracting fish, in from the deeper water. Places to try would be Little Lake Bay, Reynolds Neck, and the entire southern shore from the Bee Hives to Todds Corner. Great Lake continues to be one of the most consistent lakes throughout the season. Despite its barren looking shores it is definitely worth throwing a fly along one of its shores. Craig Rist
Great Lake season, bag and size limits: Combined daily bag limit of 12 can only include 3 rainbow trout. Species
Minimum size
Bag limit
Brown trout
300 mm
12
Rainbow trout
400 mm
3
Location
Method
Season
Great Lake Fly fishing Open all year excluding Canal Bay Artificial lures round and Tods Corner Bait fishing
Tods Corner
Fly fishing Open all year Artificial lures round
Canal Bay
Fly fishing Artificial lures
Between the Saturday nearest 1st December in any year and the Sunday nearest 31st March in the next year
Anglers are reminded that it is an offence to: www.tasfish.com - get the knowledge. • Take fish in any water flowing into Great Lake,
Approx. 38km to Deloraine
Pr
Bay
Lake Levels
Sh
Lake
LAUNCESTON GREAT LAKE
•
e
Bay Grassy Bay
Weed Beds HOBART
To Launceston
Doctors Point
1022m 17m Below FSL
e
nk
Ba
Dogger
Little
Ha l or fm
oo n
1039m Full Supply Level (FSL)
Whitehors
Breona
Re fish fut •
LOCATION
N
Alanvale Bay
0
Brandum Bay
1
2km
Cider Park Bay Sandbanks Bay
Middle Brandum
South Brandum
•
pumphouse
Brownie Bay
breakwater
Ac
Reynolds Island
Reynolds Neck Helen Island
Cramps Bay
A5 Howells Neck Island
To Western Lakes
Howells Neck
Cramps Bay
Re
Howells Bank (submerged)
Canal Bay Clarks Point Island
IFS Field Station
LAKE
Boat ramp
Bay
ROAD LAKES
Fire at a Lak
Camp ground Toilets
Duck Point
LAND
Ca cam Jon and
Symbols
Burneys Island Muddy
Duck Point Bay
Boundary Bay
B51
Elizabeth Bay
Rainbow Point
Accommodation
Low Lake Level Boat Launching
Petrol Tourist information Public telephone
One Tree Point
HIGH
• • • • • •
GREAT
Liawenee
•
•
Brandum
Parks and Wildlife Field Station
•
Scenic lookout Gin Point Shoobridge Island
Christmas Bay MacLanachans Point Island
Shore
DudSea ls Bay
ore
Swan Bay
Becketts Bay
Gr
Tods Corner
Re the
Miena Dam
Ea
rle
ys
B11
Sh
Beehives Point
Tods Corner
Haddens Bay
Miena
A5
Shannon Lagoon
Arthurs Lake
Telephone Bay
Approx. 56km to Bothwell Map courtesy of Anglers Alliance Tasmania and the Angler Access project.
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Fishing News - Page 21
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Lake Barrington By Craig Rist
Anglers would love to see more of these big Atlantic salmon in Lake Barrington. The word soon gets out when some are stocked and they are eagerly sought. Approximately 16 kilometres long and rarely more than half a kilometre wide, Lake Barrington is a deep clear lake with mostly steep tree lined shores. The Hydro Electric Commission built three dams on the Forth River to form Lake Cethana, Lake Barrington and Paloona Dam. Lake Barrington is best known for its international rowing course and is a popular water skiing destination during summer. Over recent years the Inland Fisheries have transformed this lake into a viable fishing destination with it’s extensive stocking program. The lake has a healthy population of rainbow and brown trout. Small rainbows up to 0.5 of a kilo can be very active, dominating the catch at times. The browns on the other hand can be a bit more elusive, but generally larger in size, some reaching well above double figures. Over the last five years, large ex-brood stock Atlantic salmon have been introduced into the Lake, some up to 30 pounds, testing the nerves of even the most seasoned anglers. The lake is one of the few in our State that is open to all forms of freshwater fishing throughout the year. A five fish per angler bag limit applies to Atlantic salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout with a minimum size of 300mm.
Shore Based Access and Fishing
The steep tree lined banks that surround most of the lake prevents much of it being accessed by land. There are four main access points, three in the east and one in the west.
Devils Gate Dam
The dam wall at the northern end of Lake Barrington is about a 20-minute drive inland from Devonport via Devils Gate Road. The steep tree lined shores here limit most of the shore based fishing to the boat ramp area located a few hundred metres up from the picnic area at the dam wall. The boat ramp is used by the Hydro and has a locked boom gate midway down the gravel road leading to it. The water level of the lake usually dictates how easily the shore can be negotiated along from the boat ramp. For the more adventurous, the
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high banks between the Dam wall and the boat ramp can be a good place to see brown trout and Atlantic salmon patrolling the edges. Once spotted, they can be ambushed with a well placed fly, bait, lure or soft plastic. This visual form of fishing is very addictive and just seeing fish is often enough to bring you back for more.
Kentish Park
Midway along the eastern side of the lake via West Kentish Road, is Kentish Park. This area is a very popular water skiing area with two good concrete boat ramps. Despite the roaring engines, fish are still caught here from the shore, especially early morning and late afternoon when things have quietened down. I’ll never forget the time I returned to this boat ramp after an afternoon on the water to find trout rising to a midge hatch only metres away. For the shore based angler quite a bit of fishable shore is accessible at Kentish Park.
Rowing Course and Weeks Reach Flats
The rowing course at the southern end of the lake would have to be the most picturesque part of the lake and the most accessible for the shore based angler. Here the lake’s shore has been cleared to view the rowing events. Unlike the remainder of the lake, this area has a gradual sloping shoreline that extends into the lake forming a series of relatively shallow bays. A good concrete boat ramp and parking area is located towards the finish line of the rowing course. The rowing course and Weeks Reach Flats are accessed via a boom gate at the junction to Staverton Road near “Tasmazia”. The boom gate is opened from 6 a.m. and closed again at 9 p.m., restricting this area to day use only. This boat ramp is where the majority of the exbrood stock Atlantic salmon and rainbows have been released into the lake over the past few years. The highest catch rates of these fish are within the first few weeks of their release. Keep an eye out on the IFS web site to see when the latest
truckloads of salmon have been released. Within a couple of weeks the salmon quickly disperse throughout the lake and can be caught anywhere from the road bridge at the southern end of the lake to the dam at the northern end of the lake.
Western Shore
Access to Lake Barrington from the west is via Barrington Road from the town of Wilmot. At the end of Barrington Road there is another good boat ramp and a few more places to cast a line. This boat ramp is also a popular launching site for ski boats with Kentish Park on the opposite side of the Lake.
Bait Fishing
Bait fishing is a very popular past time on Lake Barrington. Many small rainbows are caught here with a simple running sinker rig and a bunch of garden worms for bait. Power bait is also popular, as is a single wattle grub. The native Black Fish in the Lake can be caught after dark on both worms and grubs. Many people with a two rod trout fishing license will fish one bait on the bottom and the other under a float to cover fish feeding near the bottom and at the surface. A small running float can be used with a grub, worm, mudeye or cockroach suspended a metre below the float. A single grub under a float has taken many big Atlantic salmon from this Lake over the years. Fishing a shore with the wind behind you will help keep the float and bait at the depth you want to fish. Fishing a bubble float just off the drop off is a great place to intercept fish patrolling this edge. Fish feel safe swimming here and can easily swim up into shallower water to search for food and then back into the deeper water. The edge of submerged weeds at the rowing course is also a good place to suspend bait under a float. When using a float it is a good idea to coat the length of line between the float and your rod with a line floatant such as “Gink” dry fly dressing. This will stop the line sinking where it can become snagged Fishing News - Page 23
Looking down Weeks Reach Flat. on the bottom and will also have less resistance when a fish swims off with the bait. Another method of bait fishing is to actively cast and retrieve a single bait such as a cockroach or mudeye. This is a very effective form of bait fishing, be it in a lake or river. The sunken timber and deep drop offs at Barrington are ideal places to fish one of these baits from the shore or from a boat. With a good pair of polaroid sunglasses, it is possible to locate the submerged trees at the lakeshore and fish a cockroach or mudeye around these fish holding structures. Let the bait sink down close to this structure until it’s just off the bottom. Watch the line as the bait sinks, if it suddenly starts to speed up, a fish has already taken it on the sink. If not, retrieve the bait slowly along the timber to draw out any fish that may be present. When a fish takes the bait you will feel, or see the line pull away. As soon as you feel or see the line pulling away quickly lower your rod and let the fish take one or two metres of line, before setting the hook. This method of casting and retrieving of bait can also be used to systematically search water with a series of casts or placed in front of a fish that has been spotted cruising the shallow edges. Rods and reels used for this type of bait fishing can vary. A threadline or spincast reel can be used with quick reflexes. Cast out the bait either unweighted or with a small split shot clamped onto the line next to the hook eye. After the cast, hold the rod almost straight up when you are slowly winding in the line. The instant any resistance is felt or seen, quickly lower the rod tip and release the bail arm to allow the fish to take line before setting the hook.
A fly rod and reel can also be used with great affect and is one of the best ways to deliver and retrieve unweighted bait, unlike the threadline and spincast reel that require light line to enable them to cast unweighted baits. A fly reel is spooled with 10 or 12-pound line to make the line more manageable and reduce tangles when retrieving line by hand. The line is gathered in using long slow strips. Each loop of line is held in your line hand. To make a cast the line is allowed to flow freely off your hand as the bait is lobbed out using a single casting stroke. When a fish is felt taking the bait it’s simply a matter of allowing the fish to take line from your hand until you are ready to set the hook.
Fly Fishing
Surprisingly good midge hatches can occur on the lake and the use of a boat will allow you to find the largest concentrations of these insects early morning and late afternoon. Small rainbows usually dominate the wind lanes and calm slicks, feeding on these small insects. Steve Hambleton and I struck a big hatch of midge one afternoon at the northern end of the lake. The small rainbows were all around us sipping down the adult midge almost in a feeding frenzy. There was actually too many fish rising at the one time making it difficult to choose which one to cast to. Steve was the first to hook up, landing a small rainbow on a tiny “Griffiths Gnat” dry fly. A few more of the same size followed, then Steve hooked into a fish with a bit more weight. Mixed up with all those rainbows was a nice brownie that eventually showed itself after a strong fight down deep.
Steep banks encourage trolling close to shore in many areas. These shores are also a great place to sneak along using an electric motor—casting lures, soft plastics and flies.
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To Ulverstone
To Forth and Devonport
To Devonport LOCATION
C132
B14
B15
LAKE BARRINGTON
AD
LAUNCESTON
RO
S TAT E F O R ES T
HOBART
OT
M WIL
To Nietta
B14 C133
B15
Barrington
AN LM EL
SP
P R I VAT E P ROP E RT Y
S
S TAT E F O R E ST PR I VAT E P RO P ERT Y
D
A RO
C143
Devils Gate Dam
Lower Wilmot
ON
RO
D
AD
C132
ROA
T NG
LA
KE
Wilmot
D
NO W
BA
SE
STAT E FOR E ST
ROA
ON
GT RRIN
EL
KE
HE RE
BACK
RI
R BA
LA C135
F O RT H FA L L S S TAT E R ES ERV E
Kentish Park
C141
PR I VAT E P ROP E RT Y W
ES
KENTISH
T
RO
AD C141
Re
ac h
ROA
D
West Kentish
U
P R I VAT E P ROP E RT Y
row
DLE
CRA
C136
S TATE F O R ES T
DE CL AU
S TAV E RTO N F OR E S T R E S E RV E
S TAT E F O R ES T
M OUN T ROL A N D CON SE RVAT I ON A R E A
PR I VAT E P RO P ERT Y No Boating
ROA
C140
D
Cethana C136
Cethana Dam
M OUNT ROL A N D R E G IO N A L R E S E RV E
C138
Lake Ce
S TATE F O RE S T
M OUN T ROL A N D R E GI ON A L R E SE RV E
Gowrie Park
C136
NA CETHA
thana
To Cradle Valley
AD
RO
Staverton
S TAT E F OR E S T
C132
ON
RT
E AV ST
Claude Road
To Sheffield
L A K E B A R R I N G TO N N AT U R E R EC R EAT I O N A R EA Promised AD Land RO
ing
MO
Roland C140
W cou ee rse ks
S TAT E F O R ES T
AIN NT
P RO M I S ED L A N D F O R ES T R ES ERV E
To Sheffield
P R I VATE P RO P ERT Y P R IVAT E P ROP E RT Y
To Sheffield
Upper Castra
N 0
1
2
3
4km
www.tasmap.tas.gov.au
To Lemonthyme Map courtesy of Anglers Alliance Tasmania and the Angler Access project.
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Fishing News - Page 25
Red, and black mayfly spinners can be found along the sheltered shores in the warmer months, as can falls of gum beetles. Small rainbows are the most active feeders near the surface on this lake, but any sized fish caught on a dry fly is a lot of fun. Traditional wet fly fishing can be very effective on rainbows, browns and Atlantic salmon. Intermediate sinking lines do come into their own when fishing a wet along the deeper edges of the lake. Steve Hambleton and I were fishing for Atlantic salmon at the rowing course from a boat using big wets on clear intermediate sinking lines. I was already up to my tenth fly change of the morning and had just discarded a big black and red woolly bugger with white rubber legs. I was mumbling something like “that fly wouldn’t catch a thing” , when Steve promptly picked it up off the deck and tied it on. A short time later, with Murphy’s Law on his side, Steve was hooked up to something big. Ten minutes later he had boated a ten-pound Atlantic salmon. The fact that Steve had just caught this fish on a fly that I had only just rejected made the catch even more memorable. Needless to say I don’t leave too many flies lying around the deck anymore, although it is always great to see one of these big fish landed.
of similar size followed the fly back in at my feet and took the fly. The third fish was hooked up out wide just on dark, but quickly gained its freedom with the hook pulling free after a series of spectacular jumps. The fly was a red and black yeti and all three fish were caught within sight of the dam wall.
Barrington by Boat
The steep surrounding hills that plummet into this Lake ensures that it stays relatively calm for most of the year. On the down side, these same hills restrict access by foot around most of the lake. Even a small boat can open up parts of the lake that are rarely fished. Trolling or casting bibbed lures close to shore is a very popular method that has accounted for many trout and big salmon. Fit a boat with an electric outboard and these steep shores can be fished quietly at close range with bait, soft plastics, lures or flies. Wind lanes and slicks of insects that seem to accumulate out in the middle of the Lake, out of reach from the shore-based angler, suddenly become a viable option when you have some sort of watercraft.
The boat ramp adjacent to the rowing course.
Regardless of what type of fishing you enjoy, Lake Barrington can offer a change of scenery out of the wind, and a chance to land one of those big salmon. Craig Rist
Fly-fishing for salmon is basically blind flogging, but it can turn into sight fishing if you’re lucky. One late afternoon I was fishing a steep shore at the dam end of the lake with an intermediate sinking line. I had scaled down the bank to fish around a submerged tree. A back cast was out of the Recent stocking in Lake Barrington question, leaving a roll cast as the only way to deliver the Date Species N0. Age Av.sizegms fly out to the sunken tree in front of me. After about the 09/06/2006 Atlantic salmon 185 Adult 005 4 tenth cast I watched a salmon followed the fly up as I was 21/11/2006 rainbow trout 7800 A dult 0 5 2 raising the rod for another cast. I immediately stopped 05/12/2006 Atlantic salmon 160 A dult 005 3 the fly dead; the salmon ate the fly virtually at my feet. I 05/12/2006 Atlantic salmon 160 A dult 005 3 struck hard to take up the slack and all hell broke loose 07/06/2007 Atlantic salmon 540 Adult 005 1 as the fish made a charge for deeper water. A few tense 29/06/2007 Atlantic salmon 40 Adult 000 8 moments followed as this fish had full control. The loose The Kentish Park boat ramp and pontoon 13/12/2007 Atlantic salmon 200 Adult 005 3 line I had gathered in my hand had shot back out through 01/10/2008 rainbow trout 7000 Fingerling/Yearling 0 0 2 the rod eyes in seconds. The drag on the reel started to slow the fish up allowing me to gain some control of the 15/10/2008 Atlantic salmon 250 Adult 005 2 situation. After a couple of spectacular leaps and a few 15/10/2008 rainbow trout 80 Adult 005 2 surging runs I managed to grab the fish by it’s tail at the 28/11/2008 Atlantic salmon 100 Adult 000 3 small ledge I was standing on. The salmon was about 12/03/2009 rainbow trout 25000 F0ingerling 2 seven pounds and still in relatively good condition. A Watch www.ifs.tas.gov.au for up to date stocking. short time later the same thing happened, as another fish
STRENGTH
RELIABILITY
QUALITY
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Fishing News - Page 26
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Fishing News - Page 27
Derwent River the lower reaches
This is THE spot for whiting in the Derwent. They are usually spotted cruising in loose schools on the edge of the illuminated water. Vacuuming their way across the bottom, their presence is betrayed by the movement of black tailfins over the pale sand. Good baits include mussels and bread, if you can get hold of sandworms, they are dynamite on these sometimes finicky fish. Although I haven't tried fly fishing for the whiting yet, it is on my fishing to do list. Flounder and over sized sea run trout can also be targeted here on rod and line.
Lindisfarne Bay
The lower Derwent is easily accessed, productive and you can fish it at any time.
way it has since fooled salmon, The Derwent River has been my fishing playground for many flathead and years. I started off targeting flathead in the Sandy Bay area but trevally. A session soon had my eyes opened to the fantastic range of species and polaroiding these fishing scenarios the Derwent offers. I have detailed below a mullet over the few of the successful locations and tactics that I’ve explored shallows and sight during my Derwent years. casting a fly(?) can help alleviate the trout folks Battery Point Nutgrove Beach (Sandy Bay) winter blues. Of course it This beach and its adjacent waters are home to a large range is not just for the frustrated of species. The main attraction here is the dramatic, sandy though. It is a destination that drop off. The distance from shore to the deeper water varies can certainly stand alone. greatly according to tide and wading is a distinct advantage. In the deeper water you will, Kitted out in all your fishing finery you certainly draw some Nutgrove Beach of course find the ubiquitous stares from the dog and power walkers on the beach! flathead. Bait fishermen find that if There are basically two fishing grounds at Nutgrove, the they can last through the procession shallow flats inshore of the drop off and the deeper water of mostly undersized fish the odd better outside. The main target over the flats is the humble yellow eye fish will come along. mullet. I was chasing these one day on my #5 fly rod and was A few wised up locals have known for frustrated by boiling fish all one morning with no fish caught. years of the amazing lure fishing to be had I looked a bit harder and realised that the mullet were in fact by probing along the drop off using silver sucking down a type of worm that appeared to swim on the lures and small deep diving minnows. Using surface. Rustling through my tackle bag I came across a soft silver lures you can expect to catch plenty of smaller plastic worm look alike. Threading it onto a size 6 long shank salmon, though at certain times larger specimens do frequent hook and breaking the tail off flush with the bend did the the area. Couta, silver trevally, mackerel and the occasional Battery Point Public Jetty and CSIRO trick and I was into them. Though not a fly in any traditional sea trout can also be tempted with the silver. Small deceiver wharf I was originally alerted to the numbers of bream living at flies, tied with a stinger hook will also undo many fish. In these sites by a uni friend who had observed schools of big, adverse spinning conditions (ie. blue nosed bream while scuba diving under the CSIRO wharf calm and bright sun) switching in the course of his studies. Further investigation revealed to a deeper running cobra style bream to around 1.5kgs happily swimming about amongst the mussel encrusted pylons. The sight fishing is best on a sunny lure can bring success. Large bream, averaging day with a northerly wind blowing, waves generated dislodge around a kilo, can be found at food for the bream and they queue up for a feed. The wind isn't as critical at Battery Point, but if it's blowing Nutgrove and fresh mussels will take their share of fish, too hard sight fishing will be difficult. Chasing the big bream NAME the bream will also readily that live under these structures can be very rewarding but is ADDRESS attack lures and flies fished not for the faint hearted. First of all sure footing and a good deep. It seems an hour or so sense of balance are both needed as the best fishing is had CITY each side of the low tide is the by climbing down and lowering your baits to the waiting fish. STATE P’CODE best for these strong fighting, Gel spun lines can be an advantage in these tight confines. All TFBN - Tasmanian Fishing chrome flanked fish. Large that is needed tackle wise is a spinning rod about 6', brands baits fished after dark yield a don't matter too much as long as there's plenty of power in the Type of boat: Power Sail mix of various sized sharks butt. I use a one metre length of 6lb monofilament used as a Length: 0-14’(0-4.2m) 15-24’(4.5-7.3m) and rays, the elusive Derwent leader between the gel spun and a chemically sharpened hook 25-32’(7.6-9.7m) 33-46’(10-14m) over46’(14m) adversary the thresher shark embedded inside a fresh mussel collected on site completes Construction: Fibreglass Steel has been sighted attacking the package. Wood Aluminium Cement Having assembled your gear and scrambled below, the salmon and couta schools not far from shore but none have bream (if they are there!) will either be schooled up, usually been captured, that I know of, hanging vertically in the lee of a pylon or individual fish might ® be seen pulling mussels from the structure. It is simply a matter by land based anglers. Another spot I occasionally of spotting the fish, presenting the bait and waiting. Often the check out once night has first one or two will readily accept the bait but their mates soon MARINE & LEISURE fallen is unusual in that you wise up and become wary. Berley doesn't seem to excite these actually fish from the footpath! fish at all, in fact, if anything it seems to spook the fish. If you Travelling south past Wrest do hook a fish it can be a real battle to steer the rampaging Point, the road passes next to bream away from the line severing structure and to avoid falling the water in the vicinity of two in! Many more fish are hooked and busted off than are landed small jetties. Park here and if but that's why it's called fishing and not catching! • HUGE SELECTION All the fish species mentioned in the Nutgrove section your trip has been timed to OF QUALITY 20 Derwent Park Road coincide with high tide and above can also be captured here along with squid and during PRODUCTS calm water numerous fish will autumn the wharves provide access to the vast warehou/snotty Derwent Park, HOBART • SATISFACTION be seen swimming in the gloom trevally schools that enter the estuary at this time of year. Many GUARANTEED Phone of the street lights. The jetties pages have been devoted to catching 'snotties' but like most • ONSITE PARKING are signed as private so respect fish, fresh bait is the key. A modest berley stream of tuna oil · this and fish from the footpath soaked chook pellets distributed via an onion bag suspended only. It makes no difference on the surface of the water will entice the travelling schools to to your fishing result anyway. stay in the area and to get them feeding. Make sure all set rods By Marty Wells
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Fishing News - Page 28
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The drop-off at Nutgrove Beach is quite distinctive and can be very productive. are tied to something solid, you wouldn't be the first person to loose a rod to a hard hitting fish. Cheap rock climbing style clips available in discount stores are handy for clipping this retaining line on and off the reel quickly.
Tasman Bridge to Lindisfarne Bay
This stretch of shore is best fished at first and last light although, at times significant action can be found all day. The prized sea run trout are the main target here, the rocky shore providing plenty of opportunity for them to hunt and ambush the resident baitfish. While trout numbers vary throughout the year, peaking in September-October, there are enough trout around all year to warrant a session at any time though. You don't know if you don't go. A good sea runner lure runs close to the surface and still has plenty of action when retrieved slowly. Lures that fit the bill include Duchess Wonder Wobblers, Pegrons and even Tasmania’s cobra style lures. To stop myself drifting off and just going through the motions while spinning, which, let's be honest, can happen. I think of the water as a small stream, fishing to likely lies and generally adopting a more attacking approach to tactics. This mental scaling down is also a useful tactic in the dauntingly large hydro impoundments of the central highlands. Bream are
also common in this area and grow to truly epic proportions. Best catches come to the bait fisher, but cod and small flathead will drive you to the edge of insanity between bream. By using lures and flies you will avoid the rubbish fish but still get your share of fish. The area under the Tasman Bridge and adjacent to the old floating bridge approach on the eastern shore is a great place to target salmon and other top water feeders, a better class of fish tends to hang here in comparison to Nutgrove. Good sport can be had by using silver lures or cobras. I have heard many stories of huge sea runners caught from here, presumably feeding on the bait fish attracted to the lights of the bridge. The deeper water allows the use of Rapala style minnows to target these fish but care must be taken or tackle loss can be expensive. Couta, slimy and yellowtail mackerel and tailor can also be caught using these methods. As you can see there is a myriad of fishing options available around Hobart. I haven’t even mentioned the first class bream and trout fishing that occurs in the river’s upper reaches. I hope this article goes some way to show there is more to the river’s lower reaches than flathead. Marty Wells
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Fish of a lifetime
Huge southern bluefin tuna Geoff Madden’s day off with his sons was heaven sent.
Fishing for me has always been a part of my life. Growing up living on the banks of the Derwent River, and having a family holiday home on the East Coast, gave plenty of opportunities from an early age to throw in a line. I’d lived in a family where any sort of fishing…fresh or salt water…was the norm, and somehow, I’d passed on this passion to my sons as well. We’d always welcome the chance to get out on the water… even if it meant taking a day off work if the conditions suited and the opportunity presented itself. Being self-employed in the building industry gave some flexibility with time, and having my two sons working with me as carpenters meant that we could choose the hours that suited us best. Working on the Tasman Peninsula was always going to have its perks…but two months into a house renovation job we were doing at Premaydena, the boys made the comment “I thought there were going to be more perks with this job”. Well that set me to thinking…If I don’t do something soon, team morale is going to go down pretty quickly. The fishing season (tuna) for us had been a good one. We’d caught plenty of albacore, and after
8 years of trying, we’d had our first taste of Southern Bluefin, catching our first “schoolie” blues earlier this year. The year was moving on though and we were into May, and the next few weeks were looking busy, with our weekends already accounted for, with no opportunity for fishing. With that in mind, I’d packed the boat (a 5m Tristar with a 90 hp Yamaha 2 stroke outboard) away for the winter, as the bluefin had gone quiet for the last week anyway, so we didn’t think we’d be missing anything. That was until I read an email from Stuart Nichols (Personalised Sea Charters) saying that the bluefin had turned up again and that this may be the last chance to have a go at “the big ones”. It sure sounded enticing…what had we to lose except a few hours of work. So the decision was made to tow the boat to work and leave it on the job for the week and just wait till the weather looked good, and we’d give it a shot. The day was Tuesday 5th May, and the evening before was looking calm following a hard blow on the Monday. Monday 4th May was looking really nasty on the water with 40 knot South Westerlies keeping all the boats on their moorings and on the trailers. But by evening, things were calming down quickly, and looking good for the next day.
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Fishing News - Page 30
Ben, Geoff and Chris Madden ‘weighing in’. So the day dawned…Tuesday 5th May, and the alarm went off at the usual time of 5.30 in time to prepare for work at 6.30. After checking outside, looking at the sky, seeing the wind direction, and listening to the 5.55 weather forecast, we decided to head to sea to give the big blues one last try. We were at the boat ramp at Eagle Hawk Neck by 6.30, and with just 4 other boats out, we sensed that it wasn’t going to be crowded on the water. Usually going for the day, we had never set out without catering with plenty of food for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. But this day we had nothing, (other than emergency supplies stowed in the bow) as we had thought we’d be back on the job for a late morning tea, ready for work, dressed in our work clothes and Blundstone boots. What had been the norm for the year, was that we’d have a guest crew on board to give them a treat…tuna fishing and sightseeing for the day. That usually meant that I (Geoff) wouldn’t get to fish, as the crew and guests always took priority. Today however, there were just two up on the boat, so we decided to each fish with our own gear – two rods apiece, and we’d each choose our owns lures. I was running a small Penn 45 GLS with 15 kg line and a Penn International 50V SW, spooled with 37 kg line. My son Ben was running 24 kg line on his Penn Senator outfit and another Shakespeare combo with 24 kg line. So off we headed…father and son… Geoff and Ben, making a direct line for the Hippolyte Rock. We stopped short, and started running the lines as we came up to “Foxies” and had our lines set by 7am. The morning was brisk with beanies and jackets essential for any degree of comfort in the
chilly 5 – 10 knot North Westerly breeze. The water looked “fishy”, with plenty of bird … and seal activity. Because the Hippolyte had been so productive, our fishing plan was to fish till 11, then straight back to work. We’d been trolling for 3 hours (now 10am), circling both the big and little Hippolyte Rocks, with the occasional wider run as well…but absolutely nothing was on the bite, not for us, or any of the other boats out for the morning. My other son, Chris, was out on another boat for the day and following some radio talk we decided to “split up”, as they had also caught nothing. They’d go one way and we’d go another in order to cover more ground to try to locate some fish. They decided to head for the (Continental) shelf and we decided to head south. By 10.30 the call came over the radio from Chris that the albacore were going “ballistic” out on the shelf. Ben and I were done, after fishing for 3 1/2 hours without a strike, we were just about to head back to work. Anyway… I looked at Ben…he looked at me, and we both thought that at least a couple of albacore would be a good end to the season rather than go back empty handed. By this time, the sun was well up, there were no clouds, the wind had dropped and the remnant SW swell sneaking up the coast earlier, was all but gone. So we went up, up and away and sped out to the shelf to quickly get a feed of albacore before our prearranged curfew time of 11am. Inshore, around the Hipplolyte, we were running some of our bigger lures for the “blues”. A recently acquired “killer vib 200”, and old “Zuker”, a gold “laser pro” and a large blue pusher type lure were on offer. Out on the shelf, we knew the albies were taking the smaller lures, and
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green was the colour. So after a quick change downsizing our lures, we were all hooked up to the albacore, a few quick ones on board, and true to our word, we were calling it a day by 11 am. With the sea conditions so calm, we again planed our way back in from the shelf, heading for work. I thought as we neared the Hippolyte and this would be the last pass for the year, why don’t we just troll the lures from the big to the little Hipploite…then that’s it for the year. After all, it would only put an extra 10 minutes on the day. We approached the reef on the outside of the big Hippolyte and still had our small albacore lures on, but decided that we’d just use them anyway. We could see that there was a foam wash from the reef running south and thus decided to pass to the south of the reef as it would be darker running our lures under the foam and wash, but it was just where about 20 – 30 seals were enjoying themselves. Being Christians, we always sought God’s blessing on our trips to sea, and just at the completion of running our lines, unbeknown to me, Ben was offering up a prayer….praying specifically for 4 things…That God would provide a big fish, that it would be on the new 37kg Penn outfit, that it would cap the season off, and that it would happen NOW. Well no sooner had Ben finished praying, and the line started stripping from the reel, just as we trolled the lures through the foam and in between the seals. The sound of the reel screaming was sweet, but my initial thought was that we’d hooked a seal on the way through. This soon changed as the first run was maybe 60 – 80 metres of line, and the fish went straight to the bottom and stopped. I knew a seal would need to come up for air, so after about 5 minutes, it was clear that what we had hooked was in fact a big bluefin. For us, anything bigger that 27 kg was going to be big, because that was our previous biggest fish, but just how big was going to become apparent later in the day. By now, any thought of work was as remote as flying to the moon. We were fixed on somehow…sometime….landing this fish. Initially we could do nothing. The fish had stopped, and the rod was hard on the gunnel of the boat with a full bend. I was unable to lift and unable to wind. I was content just to sit in this holding position for maybe the first 10 minutes. Then, the fish backed off and I was able to get some line in. I guess the rest of the fight is a similar story for so many other anglers that have been in this situation so many times before us. It’s a tale of sheer grit and determination, together with patience and a genuine appreciation for the fact that this fish, as majestic and powerful it may be…could possibly end its life following the ensuing fight. I had been in this situation 2 years earlier, when we were in a tussle with what would have been a 70 – 80 kg Yellow fin and following a 1½ hour struggle and getting the fish to surface 3 times, my patience wore thin, my ego and determination took over, I tensioned up the line and thought…now I’ll just wind you in….. Alas the fish broke the line; I took a deep breath, and learnt a huge lesson that day. Nothing gets wasted in the wonderful world of fishing. Every expedition, every fish, every person’s story all gets tucked away in the memory bank for drawing on at some stage in life. So having this big fish on the end of the line now, I knew that one of maybe 10 or a dozen things could happen at any given point of time, which would end this fight. The line could bust, the hooks could straighten, the hooks could pull out of the mouth, the rod could snap, we could get
spooled, the seals could attack, we could suffer from cramp in the hands, arms and legs, it could get dark before we finish, the weather could deteriorate, the crimps on the leader may give, the knots could slip, the swivel could fail or we could lose the whole rig overboard complete with gaffs. With so much to concentrate on, we realized that if this fish was to come aboard, we would have to defy the odds. So the battle continued, and we knew that we were in for a long haul, sometimes with nothing happening, sometime with intense activity as we put the boat in gear and pursued the fish at pace as it stripped line in amazing displays of power and speed. I had the strike drag set at 8kg, and was content to leave it at that for the first hour so that if it wanted to run…it had the freedom to do so. This was certainly the pinnacle of my fishing experience in terms of remaining calm, sharing a lifetime opportunity with my son and enjoying the emotional rollercoaster that we were on. I knew I had to share the rod, I didn’t want to do it all on my own, I couldn’t let Ben just sit and watch for hours while I did all the work. Somewhat reluctantly, but also thankfully, I said to Ben… “C’mon mate, time to step up”. We shared the rod. I had the first 50 minutes then Ben had half an hour. It was during Ben’s stint at the reel that I had the opportunity to prepare the boat. One question that so many have asked following the catch was “How did you get it in the boat?” It’s a question that I had given much thought to prior to this day. We had 2 gaffs on board, both of which I had tied rope loops in the end of. I knew though, that the power and size of this fish could easily tear the gaff from our hands once the gaff was lodged, so I tied the gaffs to the boat with some ski rope…just in case. I had a large thicker rope on board that I use to lash the boat down while travelling, and prepared a slip noose in one end of it, then tied the other end to the boat. I knew that if we could somehow manage to lasso its tail, the fight would be all but over. All this time we were in contact this Chris, my eldest son, on the other boat which was in close range, and keen to offer assistance if and when required. As time went on, we still had no idea of the fish’s actual size. In my mind, I was thinking maybe 80 – 100 kg which was a 50 kg lift each for Ben and me…no doubt a struggle for two guys to get a fish that size into the boat, but quite possible. But something niggled in my mind, “What if this fish is something extra-ordinary, something special?” As I thought through the process of getting this fish on board, I realized that we were still a man short. One needed to hold the rod, one to place the initial gaff and hold the fish, one to place the tail gaff to lift the tail from the water to stop it’s power…that made 3, but we still needed a fourth person to place the rope around its tail. I cranked the lever tension up a couple of notches to 10 kg of drag to really have a go with low gear. By this time 2 hours had passed and the intensity had begun to rise. We had seen the fish a couple of times, circling about 15 metres below. We had been towed about 4 km south from where we first hooked up, but even so…the seals had followed. “Look out!!!”....Another scream from the reel, line again stripping off, the seals lining up for an easy meal, how was this fight going to end? We needed help. It was time for Chris to jump ship and come aboard our boat, for what was to be the final showdown. Thankfully, there was a supply of albacore heads caught earlier that we could offer the seals as a decoy while we tackled the tuna. Ben had the rod, Chris had one gaff, and I
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had another. The anxiety levels rose, the fish inched its way nearer as it circled beneath us…and the seals continued to chuckle and frolic just metres from our boat. So much seemed to happen in such a short space of time. The fish was getting closer, the seals were getting closer, the arms were getting tired and the line was getting stretched. We thought the fish was getting in range to gaff at any minute. The line was up to the “wind on leader” and we could see the fish quite clearly circling below. Even seeing the fish so close, I was still only expecting it to be about 100 kg, or about 1.5 metres long. The first couple of gaff attempts just “bounced” off the head, but this, understandably, rattled the fish enough to take another dive. Again the next few minutes seemed like hours, but all our planning and preparation was about to pay off. We had just run out of albacore heads to feed the seals as a decoy, so this was our last chance to land the tuna. As it circled and disappeared under the boat, the leader was chafing along the chine, then hitting the skeg of the outboard….things were tenuous…. and in the balance. I was now hauling in the leader by hand as Ben struggled to wind with the full weight of the fish now on the rod. We planned that the next pass of the fish as it came out from beneath the boat was going to be it. Here it comes….ready…..GAFF……WOW! What an explosion of water and tail thrashing from this huge monster from the deep. The first gaff landed just behind the gills, but looked fairly superficial. I went for the second gaff in the tail…. YES! …..Look out!!!….. This tuna was so much bigger than what we’d thought. The cockpit on our boat was about 5’ long, but the fish was so much longer…7 feet maybe. It was thrashing so intensely at the side of the boat, we were all getting drenched with the spray. Two gaffs in now, but it wasn’t over yet, we had to noose the tail. This fish had saved its most awesome display of power till the end. We’d run out of hands, we were still a man short. Ben had the rod, Chris had one gaff and I had the other. It was all we could do to just hold the fish with the power of it thrashing and the sheer weight of it. The gaffs were at their maximum, bending with the weight. The seals now knew that this was their moment also, so they moved in for their share. This was so intense, so much going on. Chris shut his eyes, gaff in one hand, and rope in the other, next moment…the rope was around the tail, and tight. This was another one of those “God” moments. How did that noose actually get around the tail while Chris had his eyes shut? No way was this tuna going to escape now. But if we didn’t get it aboard pretty soon, the seals were going to enjoy tuna mince for tea. We were able to haul it around to the back of what now seemed to be our tiny boat. We knew that if the three of us were on one side hauling the fish over the side, we may have sunk a gunnel and filled the boat with water, so we knew the transom was our
only hope. With all our might, and another shot of adrenalin, we managed to heave ho one more time to drag the mighty tuna over the back of the boat. As it came aboard, because we were all hauling so hard, it finally came with a huge THUD as it landed on the floor. The three of us all tumbled to the front in an exhausted heap. We looked back…we couldn’t believe it…this enormous fish now lay motionless on the floor of the boat. We were unanimously ecstatic with cheers, hurrahs and high fives everywhere. We’d done it! After 2 hours and 15 minutes, we’d landed the fish of a lifetime. This was extra ordinary. This was defying the odds. This was truly supernatural. We needed 10 minutes just to savour the moment, to take it all in, to enjoy the achievement. But we were still yet to be blown away by its weight. It was now mid afternoon and no-one else had landed a bluefin this day, but with all the radio chatter, word quickly spread that we had landed a big one and that we were heading for the weigh station at Pirates Bay. No one was confident to call its weight. Ben and Chris had seen an 88kg fish weighed in the week before, and they both knew that it was bigger than that – without a doubt - but just how much bigger? It wasn’t till some time later, after we had some photos developed and studied them that we realized that no-one had actually taken the hook out of the tuna’s mouth. What must have happened is as soon as the gaff was lodged, the lure released itself. It was just the constant pressure of the taut line that kept the hooks in place. Much speculation was made about the lure…what size, what brand, what colour? Well it was actually an “unbranded” squid type bright green lure that would have been in the $2 clearance special bin as you walk out the door of the tackle shop, nothing special. As we rounded the point at Pirates Bay and made our way into the jetty, we could see from the boat that quite a crowd had begun to gather. It was certainly a greeting that we were unaccustomed to. It was like we were royalty almost...but folks weren’t gathering to greet us, they wanted to see the fish. It was far too big to think about tossing it up onto the jetty, so we hauled the boat out and parked it adjacent the weigh centre. Stuart Nichols, one of the local and well respected charter operators was on hand to assist with the weighing. He offered his certified scales to accurately record the size…the all important weight. Just getting the fish out of the boat was nearly as much a struggle as it was to get it in the boat. We were able to recruit some onlookers and that made the job that little bit easier. As this huge fish hung lifeless on the girder, there was much talk and exclaiming as to the sheer depth and broadness of it. This was going to be the telling factor. The first attempt to lift the fish onto the scales resulted in the astonishing fact that the scales were being pushed to the limit…the reading was in fact off the scale. Stu then made the comment that this was going to go past 300 pounds. This was no ordinary 100 kg fish.
Catching monster southern bluefin tuna like this was a family affair and the dinner table stories will go on for years.
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After a few attempts, we managed to finally get the fish Our advice was to fillet it whilst it was still hanging from the decided that Charlie’s head would look just great hanging on clear of the ground and swinging free on the scales…then tail, so that’s what we did. Starting from the top and working the wall above all our fishing rods as a permanent reminder the counting began. The scales read 300 pounds, and we down, we quartered the fillets and with gravity working for us, of the sheer size of the fish. He would become a trophy…as calibrated the over run to be an extra 24 pounds…so that it was a clean, neat job. Once the fillets were finished with, we he was surely the fish of a life time. was the call …Stu exclaimed 324 pounds! The conversion was were curious to see what was in its stomach, which was about Some measurements for the statistically minded quickly made then the number 147.27 was cried out….WOW, the size of 2 footballs. We surgically opened the stomach and to Weight 324 pounds, 147.27 kilos 147 kg. This was certainly well up there in terms of how big our amazement, there were 3 paper nautilus shells in there with Length from nose to fork 204 cm these southern blues actually grow. With all the bluefin caught the fish (squid like) still attached. The shells were still intact and Overall nose to tail tip 220 cm and weighed in Southern Tasmanian waters over all the years would have been on Charlie’s breakfast menu that morning. Girth 165 cm of game fishing, this was to be the second heaviest ever, just It’s apparently unusual for tuna to eat paper nautilus. Tail width 62 cm falling short of the 148.6 kg tuna recorded last year in 2008. So what was going to be a quick fish out in the bay before Width across pectoral fins 100.5 cm This was truly a granddaddy of the ocean. We were ecstatic, work, ended up being a full, hard yakka workout that didn’t Body depth 64 cm thrilled, overjoyed, amazed, in disbelief, humbled, respectful finish till after 10pm that night when the last of the fillets was and proud…all at the same time, but it hadn’t really sunk in bagged, labeled, and safely stored away. Upon reflection, having the event sink in over the ensuing as to the magnitude of our achievement. I guess history will With our friends and family’s freezers full, we’ll be looking days and with all the hype now settled down a bit, I know that ascertain where this catch comes in the record books, but it’s for all the tuna variety recipes we can find. Smoked, baked, it really was an amazing set of circumstances that enabled us to reportedly the fourth heaviest Southern Bluefin Tuna caught barbequed, curried, fried, grilled, pated, mornay, quiche and boat such a wonderful fish. They were circumstances that were in the world. tuna dip were all going to have their turn. If we collect enough beyond human skill or luck. We had a divine appointment – a Cameras came from everywhere and quickly reeled off a recipes, we could have tuna dishes to see us through all winter. God ordained moment - that enabled the result to be what it few snaps. But the proud fishermen, Geoff, Ben and Chris So many people have asked the question “What did you do was. With all the things that could have gone wrong, or broken stood tallest. Even with the nose of the fish touching the with the fish”? Well, at the time of writing, we counted that along the way…nothing did. It was truly remarkable. We thank ground, its tail still hovered over our heads. there have been at least 130 people who have had some share God for the privilege of being allowed the honour of catching News travels fast these and by the time we had made our in the tasting and it’s still a long way from being finished. such a wonderful specimen of southern bluefin tuna. trip home to Lauderdale, there were congratulatory phone But what do you actually do with a fish carcass that measures Geoff Madden calls and well wishers to greet us on our arrival home. The over 2 metres long? After consultation with a taxidermist, we Mercury photographers had been called and they were keen for some pictures and the story. But first we had to get the block and tackle to haul the fish out of the boat. Because it was now home, •Strong,reliableper- •Leakproofandimpact and was going to be talked formance resistant about for quite some time, it was given the affectionate name of •Highcrankingpower •Strongcarryhandles “Charlie”. So Charlie had now • Shock endurance • Withstand deep become immortalized into the • No Vibe™ vibration dishcharge family and our memories. We delayed cleaning it till everyone resistance was just about photographed 140InvermayRoad •Highreservecapacity out, and then out came the Invermay knives….and the floodlights, as •Envelopedseparators For your nearest EXIDE stockist Launceston,7248 nightfall was now upon us.
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North East Tasmania Trouting The North East Coast of Tasmania is undoubtedly home to some of the states best saltwater fishing; world class game fishing, amazing estuary sports fishing and some of the best bream fishing in the country. When we talk about quality trout fishing our minds and hearts always wander to magical western lake—tailing trout, dun hatches on Little Pine and big sea run trout on the west coast. However for East Coast trout anglers there are a number of fresh water gems closer to home that offer quality trout fishing to those willing to do a little leg work and poking about. The region has it all to offer from magical stream fishing to trophy trout waters and all within 90 minutes drive from the East Coast town of St Helens.
Georges River
The Georges River is the first stop for most east coast trout fisherman and starts its life high in the mountains 30 minutes west of St Helens as two separate river systems, the North George River and the South George River. The upper reaches are reminiscent of an English chalk stream, crystal clear water, dense forest growth and rich in aquatic and terrestrial life, the perfect haven for small brown trout. The two rivers meet and converge to make the Georges River proper at Pyengana, a small dairy farming area, and flow through a mix of farm land, state forest and lowland plains eventually spilling into Georges Bay at St Helens. During the first month of the season temperatures in Tasmania don’t usually encourage much in the way of surface fly hatches however on the East Coast it is not unusual to have some earlier than the rest of the state and the Georges River is one of the few places in Tasmania where its possible to catch the small river trout on a dry fly on the first day of
The Ringarooma River offers some superb stretches for both fly fishing and small lures. the season. Although the fish in the head waters are only small what they lack in size they certainly make up for it in sheer numbers. However as you head toward the lower limits fish numbers reduce but the sizes increase. Close to town you can expect resident fish up to 5-6 lb and monsters up to 8 lb have been caught in some of the darker deeper reaches fishing baits at night.
Ringarooma River
The Ringarooma River begins at the foothills between Ben Nevis, which is part of the Ben Lomond ranges and Mount Maurice to the north. It flows in a north easterly direction through mostly farmland and on past the township of Ringarooma itself. The top end of this river is simply magnificent with some superb stretches of water to fish. It
has an excellent population of small to medium sized fish with the odd larger model poking about just to keep you on your toes. By the time it reaches the township of Branxholm, the catchment has grown to include drainage from the Maurice River and Legerwood Rivulet on the west and inflows from Federal Creek, the Dorset River and New River from the east. From Branxholm down it becomes difficult to access and very bouldery and deep and from Derby downstream the years of tin mining have left the river only a shadow of what it once would have been. It’s from Branxholm upstream through Ringarooma that offers anglers the best sport and is a flyfishermans dream water. Upstream spinning with small No.1 Celta (spinning blade) lures is also a popular and deadly fish catching technique in this water.
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Frome Dam
The Frome Dam sits atop Kent Hill just south east of the small hamlet of Moorina. It was constructed in 1908 as a water source for the Moorina Power station to supply power to the tin mining schemes in the area. It holds approx 2500 mega litres of water when full and offers east coast anglers a close small waterway to chase a trout. This water is dark tannin in appearance and has a bottom laden with fallen tree stumps and logs so care needs to be taken when boating. Unfortunately it offers very limited access for shore based anglers and is also surrounded by dense forest which makes wading almost impossible apart from a couple of areas where vehicles can be parked. At lower water levels more shoreline is exposed but much care needs to be taken when wading due to the sandy substrate and the possibility of sinking in the sand. A kayak or canoe is a good option. The water has a good head of small fish and with spawning facilities available has a self sufficient population. During the summer months this dam can be host to some remarkable beetle, caddis, spinner and mudeye hatches offering some fantastic fishing.
Beautiful North East rivers and some superb trout.
Cascade Dam
The Cascade Dam, originally called the Briseis Dam until the infamous flood of 1929, when it burst and killed fourteen people in Derby, sits 350 metres above sea level on the Cascade River about 4 km upstream of the Ringarooma River junction. The dam was rebuilt in 1934 to supply the Briseis Tin Mine in Derby and has a capacity of around 3600 mega litres. The Briseis Tin Mine closed during the mid-1950s and the storage was virtually unused for about 20 years. In the mid-1970’s plans to utilise this asset for agricultural irrigation emerged and this storage is now used to supply the Winnaleah Irrigation Scheme, which services 45 ir rigators. The track into the dam is certainly not for standard cars; whilst most of the time 4WD is not needed a vehicle with decent ground clearance is. During periods of high water shoreline access is almost non existent so the use of a small dinghy or kayak is a must and will certainly see a dramatic improvement in fishing ability. The water is deep, dark and very tannin stained with areas of standing dead timber, thick scrub shorelines and sunken timber everywhere so care is needed. Mixed reports come from this water however there is a good head of wild brown trout as it has a river and two creeks that constantly flow in it. Small to medium sized trout are caught throughout the season on fly, bait and spin gear and is well worth the trek.
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This is an easy water to drive to and offers quite a bit of shoreline access for anglers. There are also boat launching facilities for those wishing to boat fish however anglers need to be aware that throughout the summer months water skiers also use this water. All methods are allowed on this water, fly, bait and lure.
North East Rivers Festival
Pioneer Mine Dam
The Pioneer Mine Dam, or Pioneer Lake, is a small water just north of the township of Pioneer. It is basically the old tin mine site, which was a big hole in the ground, which was then flooded with water. Surrounded by white sandy banks it is a very clean water although dark and tannin coloured with rich aquatic life and a solid population of small galaxia fish. This water is stocked every year by the Inland Fisheries Service with brown trout fingerlings and adult rainbow trout.
During the last few years there has been a trout fishing competition held here as part of the North East Rivers festival. During the competition rainbow trout up to 8 lb have been caught and all throughout the season quality fish up to this size and larger are regularly caught. The competition will be held this year on the 17 th of October from 8 am until 4 pm and is open to adults and kids. Admission is adults $7, children (6-14) $5 and children under 6 free. Prizes include Adult heaviest fish $500 worth of fishing tackle, child 1 st prize $100 of fishing tackle and child 2 nd prize $50 of fishing tackle all courtesy of St Helens Bait & Tackle. There will be BBQ food, hot and cold drinks available and there will be porta loos onsite. No power boats will be permitted however electric motor powered vessels will be allowed. Fishing advice is offered all day courtesy of Viv Spencer from Inland Fisheries and random give away prizes regularly throughout the day.
It is an ideal family fun fishing day that can be enjoyed by all trout anglers regardless of age or sex, any queries contact Lexie on 63541013.
Big Waterhouse, Little Waterhouse Lakes and Blackmans Lagoon
All of these lakes are situated roughly 20 kms north east of Bridport along the coastline and are inside the Waterhouse Protected Area. They lay just a couple of kilometres inland from the coastline and sandy shorelines with sand dunes in the background are the only give away that you are near the ocean. All have the distinct dark tannin stained water colour endemic of coastal lagoons and rich weed growth all around the shoreline. It is this rich weed growth that promotes a massive amount of aquatic life in these lakes and in turn provides the trout with a veritable supermarket of food items to feed on. Blackmans Lagoon and Big Waterhouse Lake have some of the fastest trout growth rates in the state and are considered state-wide as Trophy Trout waters with double figure fish coming from them nearly every season. Shore access can be difficult at times of high water with the massive weed beds proving to be a hindrance, a small boat or kayak is a definite advantage here. Both lakes have prolific galaxia populations and have huge mudeye hatches during the summer months and usually well before many other lakes around the state. Little Waterhouse Lake is just a couple of kilometres north of the big lake but is much much smaller in size. This water
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can suffer badly to low water levels as the summer months loom closer but offers anglers more shore based angling than the other two lakes. All three waters are stocked every year by the Inland Fisheries Service with both brown and rainbow trout and during the last year triploids (sterile fish) have been introduced, this coupled with the high growth rate should offer anglers some fantastic fishing in the coming season. All methods can be used on these waters, bait, fly and lure however all three lakes seem to reward the bait fisherman with some of the better catches. So as you can see for east coast trout anglers there is no need to travel for hours and head to the highlands in order to grab a trout fix as some of the states best freshwater fishing is much closer than you think. It is also a great option if you are visiting and the weather is not conducive to bay or offshore fishing. St Helens Bait & Tackle is an agent for Inland Fisheries Angling licences and stock a wide range of freshwater fishing tackle and accessories to cover you for all your trout fishing options. Jamie Henderson
Pioneer Fishing Competition 17 October This an annual event which began in 2007 is part of the North East Rivers Festival which is held every year in the North East Coast. This year the Pioneer Fishing Competition is on the 17th of October. Pioneer Lake is well stocked with rainbow and brown trout. An additional 200 rainbow trout (of 2 kilogram or bigger) are released every year for the event. The lake is closed to power boats on the day of the event, but canoes, rowboats and small electric motors are allowed.
Competitors must abide by all usual fishing rules, bag limit, size etc and competition rules on the day. The event is licence free courtesy of Inland Fisheries Service so come along and introduce your family to the joys of fishing. Inland Fisheries have a representative at the event for advice and encouragement. There is B.B.Q. food, hot and cold drinks available for sale at the lake and Portaloos are provided so it really can be a family day.
There are “give aways” regularly all during the event. These are courtesy of Jamie at St. Helens Bait and Tackle. Jamie has been our major sponsor for 3 years and provides all our prizes, including the major prizes. The major prizes are • Biggest fish caught by adult $500 worth of fishing gear. • Biggest fish caught by child (under 14) $100 worth of fishing gear • Second biggest fish by a child $50 worth of fishing gear The event starts at 8 a.m. and finishes at 3.45 p.m. for a prize giving at 4 p.m. Entry forms will be available from 1st September at • St Helens Bait and Tackle • www.neriversfestival.com.au please print off the website. • Enter on the day at the registration tent at the lakeside in Pioneer. Admission: • Adult $7 • Child (6-14) $5 • Under 6 years entry is free. Further enquiries: Phone Lexie on 03 6354 1013.
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We Take Tasmania Boating Fishing News - Page 37
The fly inserts are interchangeable and the soft rubber gasket around the perimeter provides a water-tight closure ensuring the boxes float high and dry. While the shell of the box is clear for viewing the flies, the various inserts are uniquely coloured for easy identification. The retail prices of the new boxes range from $49.95 - $69.95, depending on model.
HAYES SKYLINE – The Polaroiding Advantage
Big fish and blue skies are the dream ingredients for sight fishing. Just like the Kiwis are emphatic that an olive line must be used to blend in with the beech trees I am convinced that the skyline is THE POLAROIDING ADVANTAGE for all Australian lake fishing. Last winter I visited the USA on a working fly fishing holiday. I spent a week at the Federation of Fly Fishers Conclave in Montana and whilst there I met Bruce Richards. Apart from being a nice guy and being perhaps the greatest technical caster on the planet Bruce knows more about making fly lines than anyone else alive. When I asked Bruce what the greatest advancement in fly line technology was over the past 33 years that he has worked for Scientific Anglers he thought for a moment then said. “The manufacturing processes Peter. It is possible for us to sit here at my laptop and design a line for any fishing situation then send the data file over the internet directly to the machine in the factory where it will be made. We can go and try casting it this afternoon.” Wow! That means we can easily make a line for the lake fishing in Tasmania and Australia generally? “Of course we can” Bruce said. The Hayes Skyline was born on the picnic table that lunchtime. Modeled on a GPX taper and weighted half a size heavier the SKYLINE will load rods at the shorter polaroiding distances that so often sight fishing dictates. The line is sky blue in colour to better blend with the ambient light conditions of blue sky days and lake fishing environments. A welded loop on the leader end makes it easy to change leaders that is so often necessary for successful lake fishing. Whilst the line is designed for blue sky polaroiding on the lakes of Tasmania and the Snowy Mountains I believe it is a more appropriate colour for any lake fishing situation that as Australian fly fishermen we do so much of. The lines have the revolutionary AST coating that makes them so slippery they will shoot into the next postcode. Sure, if you are fishing in the beech forest rivers of New Zealand buy an olive line. Do yourself a favor and consider one of my HAYES SKYLINES as your next lake fishing line. Peter Hayes
Scientific Anglers Waterproof Fly Boxes
The Scientific Anglers has revamped and expanded its range of waterproof fly boxes to accommodate wider variety of fly types and sizes. Though the new boxes are the result of years of ongoing development, they still retain the key features that popularized the earlier models, such as the waterproof seal, precision slit foam, clear see-through lid, floatability and ruggedness. There are eight new boxes in the range and their model number indicates the maximum amount of flies the box will hold. The eight boxes are: • Max 752 • Classic 280 • Nymph 210 • Max 432 • Streamer/Saltwater 72 • Big Fly 116 Large Angled • Big Fly 116 Large • Compact 216 Fishing News - Page 38
Vison Koma Kassette Reel
Some anglers like a lot of reels, whilst others are more practical. Competition fly fishers, in particular, like to be able to change between different lines up to several times a day. For these top end fly fishers, to the practical angler the Koma Kassette represents great practicality and exceptional value. This is a reel that to completes the Koma range. It does not look like a cassette reel but there it is. Easy to use and a nice looking reel as well. The Koma Kassette includes three cassettes and a fabric pouch. They have extremely reliable easy spool locking and a smooth disc drag. And the whole package is compact and lightweight. Around $235
Whiting Hebert Miner Dry Fly Hackle
Signature 485SF wins ‘Modern Boating Fishing Boat of the Year’
It was revealed on Wednesday night that The Haines Group’s Signature 485SF has won the title of Modern Boating Fishing Boat of the Year 2009. In the eyes of the Haines group this new model is a winner in many ways. The 485SF is the first of its kind, the fibreglass dinghy weighs just 320kgs, can carry five passengers and can be ‘customised’ with numerous alternative configurations including casting decks, kill tanks, live bait tanks, rod locker, side console and much more. According to Greg Haines (managing director (sales and marketing)) “After two years of research and development, The Haines Group created an amazingly versatile 4.85m dinghy using our RIVALE™ technology”. RIVALE™ technology utilised the same traditional fibreglass and gel coat materials, but it is brought together through a process which made boats produced using the technology better than anything else on the market. The result of a $2M investment by the Haines Group coupled with Federal Government funding, the unique RIVALE™ closed moulding technique consists of filling a rigid, closed mould cavity by injecting a resin through several points. As for the results the 485SF has a ride which is soft, quiet and it’s an ideal fisher with a flat wash-down floor and has loads of options. There is space to move around, an ice chest, dry storage lockers and heaps of other useful places for your fishing gear. With a hull that planes with minimum effort from your outboard and an optional console set up you have got the best of all worlds in one package. The company is already on the way to producing hundreds of the 485SF each year and is increasing production in response to demand. The 485SF is the only boat manufactured by The Haines Group which is available as a Signature (485SF), Traveller (TD157) and Seafarer (Vantage). If you ask John and Greg Haines why this break from the norm? They reply “It’s because it is that good”. The critics seem to think so too. Available in all Signature (Traveller and Seafarer) dealerships Australia wide, The 485SF RIVALE™ dinghy will retail from a starting price of approximately $17,999 including boat, motor and trailer. Visit www. thehainesgroup.com for more information or to locate a dealer.
I remember when I first started tying flies. It was about 1971 and the best you could find in hackles were Indian, or hopefully you might find a friend with some nice roosters that could be utilised. Now I go into a shop with fly tying gear and it is to die for. Vast ranges of materials and the most beautiful saddles and necks you could ever hope to find. Whiting farms (whitingfarms.com) are the undisputed leaders in raising the ‘genetic’ hackle bar and their products are spectacular. Spectacular is not a word that should be used often, but there is no better description of their hackles. Ross Pullin at The Essential Fly Fisher showed me a Whiting ‘Hebert Miner’ dry fly neck recently. It was a ‘Gold’ quality neck and it is hard to believe how far the development of quality hackles has come. ‘Gold’ classification by Whiting translates, in their words to ‘Extremely high quality and high density of feathers, with particular emphasis on the hard to find tiny midge size hackle sizes in the cape’. A Gold cape will supply hackles from #10 to #24 flies and probably tie up to 1500 flies. Whiting claim the higher the quality the more flies can be tied from a cape. Tom Whiting should be given a gold medal from fly tiers for the products he produces. Check them out at quality tackle stores. I found mine at Essential Fly Fisher. Mike Stevens.
Norstream waterproof fly boxes
C&F invented the microslit foam inserts for fly boxes and I have been a great fan ever since. Like all good ideas though they get copied—and it doesn’t usually take long. So the guts of the Norstream box is the superb fly holding microslit eva foam. These boxes are double sided and I love the see through lids. Both side have individual clips that open and close very nicely. For some a waterproof box is important—others not. I like waterproof if it is not too cumbersome and these are great with a soft rubber O-ring sealing the box on both sides. Whilst there are 235 slits in the small box and 282 in the larger version I don’t reckon you can, nor want to, fit that many flies in it. Maybe small nymphs might go, but bigger flies often take a couple of slits. I love the rounded corners and these make the boxes easy to put in and get out of your vest’s pockets. Not just for flies though—they are great for storing jig heads—all in order of hook size and weight. The small box is 124 mm x 100 mm x 44 mm and the bigger box 152 mm x 100 mm x 44mm. You should find both sizes for $15 or so. Distributed by Clarkson Imports. Review by Mike Stevens.
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Once in a Blue Moon
The incredible story of a once in a lifetime event. Set amongst the spectacular scenery of southern New Zealand, a most strange and bizarre tale unfolds. The stuff of folklore, ‘Once in a Blue Moon’ unravels the mystery of an event that occurs briefly once a decade. This strange and unreal journey takes us into some of the most remote and beautiful parts of New Zealand as we follow one anglers quest to document and unravel a childhood mystery and catch the fish of a lifetime. In an unpredictable chain of events a mass flowering of the ancient New Zealand Beech forest leads to an excess of seed production. Mice and rodents take advantage of this abundance and numbers reach plague proportions. Incredible footage follows these rodents as they embark on a strange migration, attempting to swim across the expanse of New Zealand’s rivers and lakes. There they fall prey to the largest predators in the lake - monster Brown trout. Gorging themselves on swimming mice, these fish become extremely aggressive and grow to epic proportions. For a fly fishing angler, this is the stuff dreams are made of. This bizarre phenomenon has remained a mystery...until now... Shot in beautiful high definition ‘Once in a Blue Moon’ reveals this bizarre story. Stunning cinematography, never before seen underwater footage, fantastic fly fishing and amazing trout behavior will take you deep into the tale of the fabulous and the fabulous and mysterious “Mouse Year”. If you are a serious fly angler and appreciate expert casting, this film is an absolute must. Available from www.tasfish.com
Welcome to Derwent Bridge Experience the beauty of Tasmania’s highlands with a stay at Derwent Bridge Chalets and Studios, just five kilometres from Lake St Clair, at the southern end of the world-renowned Overland Track in the Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park. Derwent Bridge is about two hours and a half drivefrom Hobart, Strahan, and Launceston and about three hours from Cradle Mountain and Devonport. Enjoy a range of superb wilderness bush walks or go trout fishing. You can also take the walkers ferry on Lake St Clair to see its beauty or bring your bicycle for a ride or canoe for a paddle. Visit ‘The Wall in the Wilderness’, on the eastern edge of Derwent Bridge, to marvel at the sculptures and carvings in Huon Pine which illustrate the rich history of the highlands and its pioneering people. Each of the 3 ½ star chalets and 3 ½ star studios is fully self-contained, quiet, private and designed for your comfort and convenience. Two of the chalets have romantic spas just for couples, three chalets are suited to families or groups, and one is a charming retreat for two.
The almost new studios are perfect for one or two persons only and are great value with their facilities and comfort. All the chalets and studios have television with satellite reception, and CD players while all the chalets have full laundry facilities. The studios share a coin operated laundry. All guests are offered complimentary ground coffee for their plunger, port and chocolate mints for the evenings and a newspaper delivered to the door early each morning. A selection of fine wines and beers are available in the reception office for the convenience of guests. Guests can self-cater in their chalet or studio limited cooking facilities only), or enjoy a barbecue in the large BBQ shelter. If dining-out is your choice try the hearty meals at the Hotel just 600 m away or the café-restaurant at Lake St Clair (limited dining during winter). The nearby Hungry Wombat Café cooks great hot breakfasts and a range of takeaway food and meals during the day. Phone 03 6289 1000 www.derwent-bridge.com
RIO Cranky
The Cranky is a cute little handle that slots into the center hole of RIO’s empty fly line spools and converts them into a spooling system to store spare fly lines on. They make changing lines a cinch and are great for recycling old fly line spools. $15.
Berkley PowerBait MF40
Hybrid lure technology The Berkley MF40, hybrid lure technology that combines the best of both worlds. The benefits of a vibe lure with the fish attracting scent of Berkley Power Bait. I magine a lure with a tight fish attracting vibrating action, weighted for excellent casting and controlled descent, oversize 3D eyes for maximum reaction, natural finishes in a wide range of colours, soft texture that mimics the feel of a live baitfish, built in PowerBait scent, so the fish hold on, plus the pliable PowerBait body enhances the tight vibrating action for a more natural presentation, finished off by supersharp Yakiba hooks. The Berkley MF40 is a revolution in lure design by Matt Fraser. Incredibly positive test results of prototypes by the Berkley Pro Team promises the MF40 is going to be a phenomenal fish taker with great results on bass, bream, school jew and trout to name a few. Available in light (5.9grams) and heavy (8.6gms) versions with 10 colours to choose from: Midnight tiger, Mango ripple, Gold Ayu, Hot blue, Sunrise, Silverback shiner, Red Dawn, Bomber moon and Oily boy. In another first, the MF40 will come with 2 lures per pack.
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Fishing News - Page 39
Now Dealers For Tasmania
Websters’ Twinfisher – The perfect fishing boat –
Webster Twinfisher 4.9
Webster Twinfisher Bassmaster
Welcome to the world of Websters Twinfisher Aluminium Catamaran Boats, a very unique style of boat that you cannot find anywhere else in Australia One boat you will find different from the pack is the Webster Twinfisher. These twin-hulled aluminium boats offer single - outboard usage, which means you only have the one motor to purchase, fuel and look after. This is where the Webster Twinfisher Series comes into the picture. Designed by Ron Webster and Manufactured by Webster’s Enterprises in Orange NSW, the Webster Twinfisher series of boats offers the buyer the complete allround package. Combining the stability and rough-water pedigree of a catamaran hull, with the economy of a single engine, making it ideal for those on a budget. In short, the Webster Twinfisher is the perfect fishing boat for Estuaries, Harbours, bigger bays and even off-shore.
Four exclusive offers from Honda Retail customers who purchase a Honda four-stroke outboard from 1 July through to 31 August 2009 will benefit from one of four exclusive Honda offers! Offer One: purchase a Honda BF40/50 and receive $400 cash back; Offer Two: purchase a Honda BF75/90/115 and receive $500 cash back; Offer Three: purchase a Honda BF135/150/175/200/225 and receive $600 cash back; Offer Four: purchase a BF2 to BF30 outboard and receive a free Honda-branded Stormy PFD valued at $150. Honda Australia Marine Manager Chris Schultz said the two-month retail campaign presented a great opportunity for boaters to upgrade to Honda’s world-leading four-stroke technology. “It’s during the cooler months when many people consider re-powering or upgrading accessories in their boats so they’ll be ready in time for the upcoming season,” Mr Schultz said. “These four exclusive Honda offers provide the opportunity for boaters to upgrade to a premium outboard engine, as well as provide the financial freedom for people to upgrade other accessories with the cash-back savings. “People will not only save on the purchase price of their Honda engine after the cash back, the incredible value they’ll gain longterm through fuel efficiency and engine reliability is unequalled.”
Available only to retail customers, Honda units purchased outside of the promotion period will not be eligible for this offer. Full terms and conditions available at Honda dealership Deegan Marine. Incorporating unique attributes such as BLAST, ECOmo and VTEC, along with a five-year warranty, Honda’s technologicallyadvanced four-stroke outboard engines run quieter, offer greater fuel economy, burn cleaner and are just plain better for the environment… at the same time delivering superior power and unmatched reliability. Honda – four-strokes of genius.
Life Jackets – Give them a birthday!
We have to wear them, so, it makes sense to look after them and ensure they are always in good order and condition. A Boating Survey conducted by MAST has indicated that in Tasmania almost 56% of those going out in boats use and wear inflatable life jackets (PFD’s), by the same token only around 20% of these people have them serviced on a regular basis. It is recommended that you give your life jacket a birthday every year, get it serviced and at the same time check all your other safety gear. Those boaters who own conventional foam life jackets should also not become complacent about their jackets. While there is no doubt that foam life jackets require less maintenance than their inflatable cousins, owners still need to be diligent by regularly checking the condition of the garments. This includes the condition of zips, buckles, stitching and the material itself. Also periodically check that the whistle (if fitted) works. Give all your jackets a good thorough soaking in warm water or wash them in accordance with the manufacturers recommendation a few times every year.
Always make sure that the Australian Standard is clearly marked. In the case of a PFD Type 1, this will be AS1512, with a PFD Type 2, AS1499 and with a PFD Type 3, AS2260. Remember, a life jacket or PFD or what ever you choose to call it is no good unless you are wearing it.
Have your say on trout 2 The Esplanade Inverloch, VIC 3996 Ph: 1300 920 104, Fax: 03 5674 1088
sales@inverlochmarine.com.au, www.inverlochmarine.com.au
Come and see us at the Melbourne Boat Show July 2 - 6 4.3M, 4.9M & 5.2M boats available in Center Console, Runabout or Tiller steer models Packages tailored to suit. Fishing News - Page 40
Tasmania’s recognised peak angling body, Anglers Alliance is seeking applications from independent anglers interested in joining the management Committee. There is one position for each of the three Ta s m a n i a n t e l e p h o n e districts. Applicants must be independent of club membership or any other representative angling body
and be prepared to attend at least 4 meetings a year, usually at Campbell Town. These positions are for a two year period and are entirely voluntary. Written applications to P.O. Box 262 Sorell 7172 by 1 September 2009. If further details are required call Richard Dax 0417 591 289.
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LOOK DEEPER INTO FOURSTROKE You’ll discover that Mercury has the widest range of FourStrokes on the market. That are quick, reliable, fuel efficient, quiet, and backed by a warranty that goes deeper than the rest.
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0-48kmh acceleration under heavy load Mercury 90hp FourStroke beat Evinrude 90hp E-Tec by 3.9 seconds and Yamaha 90hp by 1.8 seconds.
Mercury 90hp FourStroke is 65% quieter than Evinrude 90hp E-Tec & 21% quieter than the Yamaha 90hp at idle.
For more engine performance comparisons and to locate your nearest dealer visit www.mercurymarine.com.au
WARRANTY REWARD
Source: Mercury Marine Engineering Dept -December 2005. Test conducted on a 16.5’ aluminium fishing boat using a Mercury 90hp FourStroke, an Evinrude 90hp E-TEC and a Yamaha 90hp EFI Fourstroke.
Port Sorell Marine 7 Club Drive Shearwater, Port Sorell Phone: 03 6428 7124 www.tasfish.com - get the knowledge.
Channel Marine Services Lot 10 Gemalla Road, Margate Phone: 03 6267 1456
C.J. Marine Pty Ltd 8 Legana Park Drive, Legana Phone 03 63302277
Drive Automotive & Marine 22-24 Forbes Street, Devonport Phone 03 64241212 Fishing News - Page 41
Launceston’s Only Authorised Dealer and Service Centre
8 Legana Park Drive Legana Industrial Estate, Ph: 6330 2277 Email: cjmarineptyltd@bigpond.com
5 metre Quintrex Hornet 2007 model 5m Quintrex Hornet Trophy is as new with a Suzuki DF90 four stroke with 26 hrs use, red hull, side console and includes:• Hydraulic steering • Lowrance X107CDF colour sounder/fish finder, • Wireless MotorGuide 55lb electric with foot and hand held remote • Rod locker • 2 plumbed in bait/catch tanks, red hull, side console • 2 fire extinguishers • 2 rod racks, • 8lb anchor and rope • 2 paddles • Anchor light and nav. lights • Custom canopy • 2 batteries • Large sea anchor • Baitboard • Ladder • 2 full seats • 1 kidney seat • Galv. Telwater trailer • 6 sheets 1250mm x 1250mm x 100mm Microlyn (survey approved) buoyancy foam included if required. • Price $38,000 Phone Mike 03 6471 7077
Synergy 12
Thebestopenfishingkayak money can buy. •Deepseatingpositionwarmer and dryer than others •Hydrodynamic,multichinehull quickandefficienttopaddle • Superb stability - worry aboutfishing,notstaying upright •Comfyadjustableseat,footpegs andthighbracesstandard •Rodholders,meshstorage areas+waterproofhatch Length3.66m,Capacity159kg, Weight 27kg
$1490
Fishing News - Page 42
Suzuki Celebrates 100 Years of Innovation The outboard engine has come a long way with Suzuki. To celebrate 100 years of innovation Suzuki is showcasing its history and manufacturing prowess at Suzuki Plaza, a three storey heritage centre in front of its headquarters in Japan. Enthusiasts can marvel at the first Suzuki outboard engine and chart its evolution up to the present day. Motorcycles and cars also feature heavily on display and the company has even installed a modern car production line. Outboard engines have come a long way since Suzuki first entered the market with the D55 (5.5hp, 2-stroke) in 1965, applying the company’s motorised vehicle expertise to the marine sector. The early outboard models are pure 1960’s in style - bold red and white curves. Over the ensuing decades Suzuki has helped propel outboard technology forward with wide-ranging industry firsts ranging from the first stainless steel water pump housing in 1973 to the groundbreaking fuel efficiency technology unveiled in recent months. In 1980 Suzuki invented the first Oil Injection for outboards, and in 1985 first ventured into the big engine market with its V6 engines, the DT150 and DT200. Two years later the DT200 Exante won “Most Innovative Products” award from the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) for the advanced technology of its dual spark plug cylinder head, digital instrumentation and Suzuki monitoring system. In 1997 the award-winning DF60 and DF70 were launched as the first Suzuki 4-Strokes with Electronic Fuel Injection System. A year later Suzuki became the first manufacturer to win the Innovation Award from the International Marine Trades Exposition and Convention (IMTEC) two years in a row, in 1998 for the advanced technology of its Cam Drive System with Timing Chain in the DF40 and DF50. In 2003 the first Suzuki 4-stroke V6 outboards were introduced as
CJ Marine - 30 years on
CJ Marine was established by Chris Wyatt in 1979 who still operates the business from 8 Legana Park Drive in the industrial Estate at Legana. Chris started in the marine industry in 1971 after completing his apprenticeship as an electrician in Burnie. His involvement in go-karts was the enticement to move into the small engine and outboard motor field and has been involved ever since. Chris raced powerboats in the late 70’s and early 80s and is also a keen fly fisherman. CJ Marine has operated form several locations over its 30 years and has been the dealer for Suzuki, Evinrude, Honda, Mariner and Mercury outboards and several brands
the lightest 4-stroke outboard motors in their class with the largest displacement. The industry’s first 300HP 4-stroke was Suzuki’s top of the range outboard, the DF300 and winner of the IBEX 2006 Innovation Award from NMMA. This was the first outboard to utilise an electronic remote control. Its progressive technology includes Suzuki Precision Control (Electronic Throttle and Shift System) and its 4 litre V6 24-valve engine’ is the largest displacement in V6 4-stroke outboards. As fuel prices escalated last year, Suzuki responded with advanced fuel technology proven to take customers further on the same amount of fuel, setting new benchmarks for engine fuel economy in the process. This unique ‘Lean Burn Control System’ features in the new DF90/DF80/DF70 outboards launched in August 2008. Walk through Suzuki Plaza and you will travel back through ten decades of technological innovation to 1909 when Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom Works to build better, more ergonomic looms for Japan’s vast silk industry. Cars, motorcycles and then outboard engines followed. Much has changed in 100 years, but Suzuki’s focus on craftsmanship for the benefit of its customers is as evident today in its technologically advanced engines as it was in the handlooms of 100 years ago. It has never been a better time to get to grips with a new Suzuki in Australia and New Zealand with a range from DF2.5HP to DF300HP. New models such as the DF60A and DF8 & 9.9 are still breaking new ground in outboard technology development. Plus to top it all there is currently a promotional cash back offer of up to $1,495AUD ($2,077NZD) until the end of June 2009, just go to www. worldsbest4stroke.com for details. of boats. Servicing most brands of outboards is a core part of CJ Marine with Mercury and Mariner outboards being the current franchises. These two brands have 2 stroke outboards from 2.5hp to 250hp, 4 stroke motors from 2.5hp to 350hp and direct fuel injection 2 stroke motors from 75hp to 250hp. With this extensive range of over 200 models available Chris is sure to be able to use his knowledge and experience to guide his customers into the right outboard for their particular needs. Mercury and Mariner outboards carry a 3+2 year factory warrant except for commercial use which is 12 months. Used outboards are also available at CJ Marine.
Your kayak and fishing specialists Pungo 120
Theperfectcompactallrounder. Idealforriver,estuaryand lake. Ultra efficient and surprisinglyquicktopaddle. Safe and stable too. • Adjustable seat and footpegs–Forultimate comfort. •Waterproofbulkhead and stern hatch •Easilyhandledbyone person Length3.66m,Capacity 147kg, Weight 23kg 120 (12 foot) $1495 Alsoin140(14foot)for$1560
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TassieTackle know Heapsofsealedbulkheadstorageinbowandsternforovernighters. kayaks,andfishfrom Hulldesignforspeedandstabilitywithrudderfittedstandardtokeep themregularly.The youontrack.Availablein125$1,599145$2,299165$2,690 best advice on: • Boat Selection • Paddle Sizing • Boat Setup •TransportandStorage 37 Wilson St, Burnie Ph 6431 6500 • Fishing Techniques Email: tassietackle@keypoint.com.au www.tasfish.com - get the knowledge.
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Tasmanian maps for any
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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.
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY Stratos 285 Pro XL 2006 model single console Etec 150hp (Approx 20 hrs use) New stainless Raker II prop 6” Slidemaster jack plate Seastar hydraulic steering Guest dual bank 10 amp onboard charger New Carpets Front and rear lean seats Keel gaurd Flowrite livewell system Minn Kota Terrova 80LB Bow Mount 24v with foot pedal & Co Pilot wireless remote Twin 130amp Trojan deep cycle batteries Optima starting battery Twin Humminbird color sounder/GPS combo at bow and console Nav Lights Stratos factory portable ski pole (mounts into rear lean seat hole) Galvanised single axle trailer with black road armour overcoat and alloy wheels New LEDS, tires axle and brakes on trailer Custom made removable seats to increase capacity to 5 passengers Awesome rough water boat capable of 100km + $68,000 replacement cost. Bargain price $34,000. Phone Leroy on 0428 347736
Minn Kota 30lb Transom mount Endura model30lb thrust. Brand new and still in box. Comes with Amptech deep cycle battery (never used). $300 the lot Phone 0429 011213.
Quintrex 445 Hornet Hornet Trophy with Minn Kota electric and 70 HP Yamaha. $15000 Captain Marine, Launceston 6334 3118
4.05 Quintrex Trophy Explorer 25hp electric start Yamaha 2 Stroke Outboard Motor. Includes • Galvanised trailer, • Lowrance sounder, • Cedar oars and electric Minn Kota trolling motor, • Rule Bilge Pump • Full Marine Carpet, • Upholstered Seats, • Custom Made Boat and Engine Covers, • Boat and Trailer registration for 2009, • All items are in 1st class condition, $8990 Call Brian Hall 0409221673
Fly fishing gear Innovator HLS #8 9’ saltwater rod $200 Scientific Angler large arbor reel #8 $200 Lamson LP2 fly reel + spare spool and bag $250 Plus post or pickup Phone 0417 543 815
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:
www.tasmap.tas.gov.au Maps may also be purchased from Service Tasmania outlets and TASMAP agents statewide.
Depar tment of Pr imar y Industr ies and Water
Fly-fishing boat for Sale.
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.
Mail order: Vests
Only $40 Including postage in Tasmania Available in Medium Large or XL sizes Strong, washable polyester/cotton fabric. 2 zipped front pockets for larger fly boxes. 9 front pockets with velcro closure. 4 inside pockets on back of vest front. 3 ‘D’ rings for zingers and landing net. Zipped front. 2 Back pockets For payment details phone 03 63396158 or Email trouting@intas.net.au or find me on eBay as troutingintas... many other fishing products available
The Trout Whisperer hangs up his waders and sells his boat and all of his flyfishing gear. Boat: LOA 5m Beam 1.8m, 60hp Yamaha motor 60hrs running time, regularly serviced with brand new sealed battery. Fish finder with horizontal and vertical scanning function, e.g. forward and sidewise ‘looking’. Bow mounted Minn Kota electric motor with both foot and remote control and separate brand new sealed Battery. Full weather/travelling cover, life jackets, and many extras included. Drive-on slide-off trailer with electric breaks, All registered and in excellent condition. $29 500 ready to hook up and go fishing
Contact: Helmut Samerski on 6397 3349
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Fishing News - Page 43
Fishing and Boating Directory Advertise here for $77. Contact Quenton Higgs 0427 129949
St Helens Your every need catered for • Eight en-suite cabins • Convenience store • Hot takeaways • Groceries • Newspapers • Boat parking • Fuel • Bait and tackle • Boat and car wash
Hillcrest Tourist Park & Mini Market
The Tamar’s fishing authority For the very best advice on fishing the Tamar River and surrounding area call in and see Sarah and Damon Sherriff. For the best range of fishing tackle and watersport gear in the Tamar Valley. Open: 9 - 5.30 weekdays 9 - 1 Saturday
Tackle and Supplies
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
44 Macquarie St George Town Ph: 6382 2373
100 Chimney Heights Rd. 6376 3298
Boat building and repairs
Aluman
Engineering
Vandieman Seaman boats
Top Service – Top Price
Proplate BURNIE MARINE custom boats Services • Over 30 years experience on all types of motors • Approved Boat repairs insurance repairer to boats and motors • Propellor rebuild and refurbishing • Repairs of all types - including skegs etc. • Contact: Cyril Stevens Phone 6431 3082 Fax 6431 1255
MOONSHINE CHARTERS
36’ Steber Sportsfisher Eaglehawk Neck - Jan-April Pedra Branca - July Bookings/info - Steve Gilbert 03 6261 1558 or 0408 105 311
Propellor repairs Mark Tapsell 424 Hobart Road, L’ton Ph 6343 3341
www.moonshinecharters.com.au
Fishing and Outdoor The store with more on the West Tamar. Everything you need for fishing and outdoors.
St Helens
STORAGE SHEDS
Brand new industrial sheds at St Helens
Strata titled - $60 000 incl GST. Size: 10m x 6m x 6.5m.
Facilities include: • Security fencing • Electricsecuritygates•Electricrollerdoors• Easyaccess•Designatedwashdownfacility• Greatforboatowners,smallbusiness,general storage, Industrial use.
PhilMcMaster0418524970orBarrySproal0408561370
Fishing News - Page 44
Seven days a week and public holidays. 139 Weld Street Beaconsfield Ph 6383 1555 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
Gone Fishing Charters
• East coast estuary and bay • Bream, salmon, garfish, flathead, mullet and squid • Specialising in BIG BREAM • Soft plastics, lures, flies and bait • 5.8 metre sportfishing boat.
Gone Fishing Charters St Helens
Michael Haley 63 761 553 or 0419 353 041 mhaleycharters@bigpond.com www.breamfishing.com.au www.tasfish.com - get the knowledge.
TASMANIAN FISHING ACCOMMODATION
AAA Rating
Airlines of Tasmania Your link to Flinders Island
Explore King Island
www.kingisland.org.au 1800 645 014
2074249 dp
Flights available from Melbourne and Launceston Book online at www.airtasmania.com.au p: 1800 144 460 e: flinders@airtasmania.com.au
People search the world for a place like Flinders Island...
Stackhouse Beachfront Accommodation
Absolute beach frontage to Killiecrankie Bay. Explore endlessly the surrounds via the beach, rock-hopping or bushwalking tracks. You can practically fish from the balcony or if your casting is not so good, walk the 30 metres to the fishing rock right outside the front door.
Phone: 03 6359 6518
Lady Barron Cottage A great place to stay while you explore, discover, sightsee and fish Flinders Island Fully equipped cottage with all home comforts. Contact Shane or Dianne.
Phone 6359 3703
Get around the Island in comfort Enjoy one of the best fishing destinations in Australia Fishing holiday packages,2to5days. Continental shelf, inshore and surf cateredfor.Fromtunaandtrumpetertosnapper andkingfish-fishwithJamesLuddington03 6359 4507 www.flindersisland.com.au James Luddington Ph 03 63594 507
P & A Car Rentals •Businessorholidayrental.•MitsubishiMagna vehiclesfrom$66perdayinclGSTandinsurance. •Bookingsareessentialpriortotraveltoensure availability.•Freepickupanddropatairport. Ph:0364621603E:kimotors@bigpond.com Web: www.kingisland.org.au
Divers Paradise
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.
Flinders Island Dive - Mike Nichols (03) 6359 8429
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
Portside Links “ 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)
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.
Cnr Andrew and Harvey Sts. Strahan 7468. ph: 03 6471 7268
email: enquiries@strahanbungalows.com.au
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
www.tasfish.com - get the knowledge.
JustoneklmfromthecentreofthetownofGrassy,ontheSouthEastcoastof KingIslandwithviewsoverBassStrait,theoldGrassygolfcourseandupto the town of Grassy. Twoluxuryself-containedunits,plusaBedandBreakfastsuite,providinga quiet and relaxing atmosphere for the ideal get away. FeaturedonNine'sTV‘Postcards’andSouthernCross‘DiscoverTasmania’. 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
Fishing News - Page 45
‘Yak Fishing Kit What to stow when you go
In April-May (Issue 79) we covered what to wear on your body while on your Yak, this issue we will look at what else you may need or want out on the water with you. As previously mentioned we have very changeable and sometimes diabolical weather conditions, so what you take out with you on your yak takes some planning, consideration of your yak’s storage capacity and good common sense.
A kayak is small
Beside the obvious, your rods, you need all the tackle; the hooks, swivels, oft plastics, lures, etc, but there is also a range of other equipment you need to consider. Some of it you may never want to have to use, but it is good to know it’s there if you need it. These pieces of equipment include some, if not all, of the following: • The ‘crate’ • Fish storage • Trolley • Tackle box/bag • Leashes • Landing nets, gaffs and anchors • Rod storage and holders • Communications devices, and • Other useful safety items
form of an esky with an ice and saltwater slurry or a cooler bag with some ice blocks, either way you will want to humanely dispatch your fish prior to putting them in there. Most people will use some form of bucket in conjunction with this form of storage, that way you can catch a few fish and store them when you stop to clean them. Live wells for kayaks are just like those found in many fishing boats, only smaller. You can find either purpose built units, which can fit either onto or into the hull of your kayak, or you can make one yourself. The purpose built units come with a full water recirculation system, which will continuously replenish the water in your live well.
Live Well
In a number of recent mainland kayak fishing tournaments it has also been okay to use a large bucker as a live well so long as the water was changed at regular intervals.
The Crate
Let’s start with the most bragged about and personally customized pieces of equipment a yak fisherman can possess, “The crate”. Yak fishing crates are a bit of a personal thing and in some case not really a necessary thing. The most commonly used base for most crates is the every reliable “milk crate”, it’s the perfect size for most kayaks and you can cram a lot of gear into one. Many yak fishos will customize their crate to include extra rod or landing net holding tubes, a mounting for a knife, anchor storage, a small esky or cooler bag and of course a tackle box. Now I did say up there that they are not always necessary and this is very true if you own one of the purpose built fishing kayaks. Many fishing kayaks come kitted out with so much easy to access storage these days that the crate isn’t really a necessity anymore. When I combine the storage available in my fishing PFD and the easy to reach storage options in my Hobie Outback, I do not need a crate to store gear in. That doesn’t mean that I never use one, in fact I use one on most trips, my crate is part of my fish storage option. Other brands of kayaks have excellently laid out utility areas, both in the front and back of the cockpit. Kayaks like the Viking Profish and the Feel Free Mokken come with huge covered utility areas which can keep your gear secure. You would think these would completely do away with the need for a crate, however the people I know who own these craft still have a crate. It’s kind of a “blokie” yak accessory, everyone “needs” one.
Fish Storage
If you are going out for a feed or competing in a fishing tournament you need to safely and humanely store your fish. So you have a couple of options, either a form of cool storage for your eating fish or a live well. Cool storage can take the Fishing News - Page 46
Well sorted and ready for anything. Most kayaks will have storage hatches on them and there are a number of options for tackle to go into these hatches. The trouble with storing things inside is that without taking the proper precautions things will move around. My tip is to go to some where like Chickenfeed and grab a roll of non-slip matting for a couple of dollars. Use some double sided tape to hold it down and place your small tackle boxes indie the hull sitting on the matting. (You can also go the option of an 8” hatch tackle box, they come segmented and with a lid, they also sit in the lip of your 8” hatch. They are small, light weight and carry a fair bit of tackle. ) If you are going to go the option of a larger tackle box, you will most likely be storing it in your crate or behind your seat. If you do use a larger tackle box, please take these two pieces of advice: 1. Secure it to you kayak with some sort of leash, and 2. Try to use a waterproof tackle box, which you will find are reasonably priced, readily available and come in a number of sizes. Because one day you will roll or tip your kayak and watching of a couple of hundred dollars worth of lures and tackle going down into the murky depths is heart breaking.
Trolleys
There is a number of options for kayak trolleys, again either prefabricated or D.I.Y. Some kayak manufacturers have created trolleys specifically for their kayaks, such as Hobie who have created three different model trolleys for their range of kayaks. Where as, third party trolleys such as the C-Tug will suit all makes and models of kayaks. Most of these also have the added convenience of being able to be broken down for storage inside the hull of most yaks. One of the most commonly used trolleys is the D.I.Y. versions, usually made with a small hand trolley with pneumatic tyres (cheaply picked up from many auto parts retailers). Which after a cut or two with an angle grinder, a couple of pieces of pool noodle and a few cable ties makes a very sturdy and stable yak trolley for around about $40.
Tackle box/bag
How much tackle you take out on a yak with you is a question that dogs every yak fisho, and there is no straight answer for the question. I take what I think I need, then throw in a little more to be sure, you are only really limited by available space and weight capacity. On my first few trips I took everything I could lay my hands on, I have learnt over time what I do and don’t use out on the water. My recommendation is to go light.
Everything that doesn’t float is either leashed or strapped in to the kayak.
Leashes
Everything should be secured into or onto your yak, this includes the crate, rods, landing nets, paddles, tackle boxes, your trolley (if you take it with you), communications devices, camera and anything else that doesn’t float and might fall over the side. A leash can be as simple as a piece of good quality nylon cord with decent knots tied, or you can go all out and buy full on pre-made stretchy cord leashes. Pre-made leashes can cost from $10 to $30, making your own can be as cheap as a few cents. No matter which you decide to use, just use some form of leash it will save a lot of heart ache and a lot of cash one day.
www.tasfish.com - get the knowledge.
Landing nets, lip grippers, gaffs and anchors
These are optional, however if I am trying to land a decent size fish I will always have my net at the ready, I lose more fish at the side of the yak when I don’t use a net. The size and type of the net is entirely up to you, I use an Enviro-net purely for the sake of handling the fish as little as possible. Also when I leash my net I use a minimum of a 2 metre length of cord, so that I can have enough play to use the net all around the yak. Lip grippers are also a great alternative and these days there are a number of floating ones available for yak fishermen. Gaffs are an option in a kayak in saltwater, they are however illegal to use in freshwater. The thing about a gaff is that they create a bleed point in your fish, which puts blood in the water, which in turn has the potential to attract toothy ocean going critters. If you are going to use a gaff, wrap and store you catch so that bleeding into the water is kept to a minimum. Anchors and drogues are very useful pieces of kit. I only started using my anchor about 6 months ago when I got sick of drifting off of a good spot. A kayak drifts rather quickly in either a current or a wind so some form of anchoring device is desirable. Drogues are also handy in these situations, the one thing with a drogue; they can slow down your paddling speed if you forget you have it out there.
Rod storage and holders
Just like on a boat you need two types of rod storage, one for extra rods and the other for when you are trolling or drifting. Most fishing kayaks will come with in built rod holders; usually a moulded tube holder that goes into the hull and sits the rod at about a 60 degree angle, these are usually sufficient for most conditions. However if you are out on salt water and there is a bit of chop or wind about, your rods are only a couple of inches off of the waterline and they are going to take a lot of salt spray or a wave or two. The higher up your reel is off of the water line the better, again you can go down the pre-made track or you can D.I.Y. your rod holders. D.I.Y. is a good option for holders to store rods; the simplest of these goes straight onto your crate, usually a couple of pieces of 32 or 40 mm PVC tube cable tied to your crate. Or you can create what is commonly referred to as a “rocket launcher”, these are the apex of yak fishing D.I.Y. and are a site to behold sitting on the back of a yak. A very good pre-made option is a product that is produced by a number of manufacturers, which extends the holding height of the inbuilt rod holders. These too can be made by some creative use of PVC tubing and a heat gun. Just remember to keep your rods leashed when they are in any rod holder. If you fly-fish from a yak then a specialised fly rod holder is thoroughly recommended for these pieces of specialised and usually expensive items, a standard tube style rod holder will not do the job. For trolling you can us the in-built holders or you may prefer to use a rod holder that will keep your rod as level as possible to the waterline, but still elevated above it. Most rod holder manufacturers make extenders for their set ups and these are commonly sort after accessories by yak fishos, however in Australia they are hard to come by and most of the yak fishing community source them from the USA. That is slowly changing as more fishing outlets take yak fishing more seriously.
Communications devices
Like diving, kayak fishing is something best done with a companion or two (or ten), not only for the safety reasons but also so you can have a witness to your capture of that elusive big fish and the sleigh ride it might have taken you on. Or in some cases someone to help you land that big fish. A handheld two way radio makes staying in touch with your fishing companions easier on the throat than yelling at each other across 100 metres or so of water; plus it has the added benefit of being able to calling for emergency help if needed. These days there is a large range of relatively small and cheap hand held radios available; going out on the water with one is now cheaper and easier than ever. Everyone has a mobile phone these days, as they saying goes “they are as common as ear holes, everyone has at least one” (well okay, I cleaned it up a bit). That aside mobiles should be treated as a secondary or back up device, restricted by your phone provider’s coverage.
www.tasfish.com - get the knowledge.
There is one benefit to mobiles in an emergency, no matter what network you are connected to, so long as your phone can see the other provider’s base stations (has some coverage) you can make an emergency call. You need to remember however to dial ‘112’ which is the International Standard Emergency Services number from a mobile phone, the equivalent of 000 from a landline phone. The problem with 000 is that not all mobile phones recognize it as a number. With any standard two-way radio or mobile phone, you will need some form of waterproof satchel for it; otherwise it may be useless if it gets wet. There are also a number of waterproof two ways available.
Other useful safety items
First Aid Kit – even the most basic and simple first aid kit is better than nothing. You can go out an buy a small marine first aid kit for around $35 or you could create small on of your own for about the same price. Either way one of the most useful pieces of first aid equipment you can have with you is the old Triangular Bandage, every first aid kit should have at least one. If you can do a basic first aid course, it’s handy to have those skills at work on the water and more importantly at home. A waterproof portable first aid kit can save you a lot of grief.
Emergency Items
These include flares, waterproof matches (and other survival items), emergency lighting and even EPIRBs. Some of these things may seem excessive, however they only seem excessive right up until the point you desperately need them. Personally I don’t carry an EPIRB and my justification for that is that I don’t head out onto the open waters off of the coast, or into remote lakes on the highlands. Once I start doing those things, then I will be investing in one. All the other items are commonsense basic emergency gear that every watercraft should carry. In these two articles I have spent a lot of time talking about safety equipment and for a very good reason; I want everyone involved in the sport to enjoy it and be as safe as possible whilst doing so. A lot of people look at kayak fishermen and think we are either soft for not owning a motored boat or just plain mad. In truth we aren’t the previous most yak fisho’s either used to or still do own a boat, but we probably are a little bit of the latter. If you are new to kayak fishing or never tried it before you might think it looks relatively easy and so long as you know your own limitations it is. But the second you move out of your limitations it can be more than challenging, if you take all the right precautions including fishing with mates, you will remove a lot of the risk. For those of us with kids we know we have a responsibility to get home safely, for that matter even if you don’t have kids there is someone waiting for you at the end of your fishing trip, make sure you get home to them safely. John Pollard
Having all you gear secure and at hand can make your day on the water just that little bit more enjoyable
21 Morrison St Hobart Ph: 6234 5422
Fishing News - Page 47
YA023MF 276x206 FPC 1
19/05/09 1:50 PM
Issue 81 August - September 2009
Trout season opening Early prospects — Greg French Four Springs Lake Jigging for trout Lake Barrington North east trout Monster bluefin Great Lake ‘Yak fishing
Greg French details the best early season options - page 13.
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