Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 117 2015 August

August - September 2015

Tasmanian Fishing and boating news — issue 117

Avoiding Donuts

Page 5

Early Tactics for the Western Lakes

Page 11

New Weymouth Ramp

Great new Bass Strait options.

Print Post approved 100003074

Page 26

Inland Fisheries News

Stocking details and heaps more.

Page 35

Thermal Undies and Trout An outstanding image by Peter Broomhall. See his tips from page 28.

$5.95

Fact: It can snow in Tasmania’s Highland any month - and it is guaranteed in August.

With that in mind – do you pull on the thermal undies and head for the Highlands to open your trout account? Many do, out of tradition, enjoying a weekend at the shack with mates and perhaps a whisky or wine, whilst others choose a lower altitude lake or river in a little warmer climate.

Even at lower altitudes though the thermals are de rigeur, however the water temperature is a little higher and trout a tad more active.

Lakes to think about are; Crescent, Leake, Tooms, Four Springs, Pet, Guide and a few others.

Dodging the Donut — Mik Rybka

5

Western Lakes - Early Tactics — Craig Rist

11

Fly Tying – Caddis — Mick Hall

15

Fighting Fish from a Kayak — Jo Starling

16

Planning your Trout Season — Christopher Bassano

22

Weymouth – Opening up a New Fishery — Todd Lambert

26

Trout Options — Peter Broomhall

28

Winter Saltwater Break — Peter Hayes

33

Inland Fisheries News and Stocking

35

Marine Fishing News

44

Black and Gold Yep Flapper

Red Rascal pre-rigged Yep Split Tail

Two best plastics in Tas. - Will catch any fish Fish caught include: Brown trout Rainbow trout Brook trout Australian salmon Flathead Silver trevally Pike Barracouta Weed whiting

Wrasse Black bream Mullet Cod Find them at your local tackle store.

Mike Stevens talks fishing with Chris Wisbey ABC Statewide

Saturday mornings 6.40 a.m.

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

Mike Stevens – P: 0418 129 949 or E: mike@tasfish.com Stevens Publishing, ABN 79 095 217 299 All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Print Post approved; 100003074

Fishing News - Page 2

Trout season is here again. It is still very cold and there will be plenty of snow in the highlands. However, even though the saying goes ‘fortune favours the brave’ most people don’t brave the highland too much for the first month or so.

Four Springs is a lowland water that gets a lot of attention early and if you read the IFS report you will find some interesting reading about Tooms Lake - a water that is also a little lower in altitude and productive early. Although at the moment the level is still low.

Lake Crescent really fired up in September last year with some huge fish if that is your desire. Although ‘fired up’ really means you might catch one or two fish, not five or ten.

It will be worth your effort though if you want a leviathan.

In this issue it is nearly all trout fishing, and a fair portion of that is fly fishing. However, if you are not a fly fisher there are still plenty of tips for lure fishers in these stories.

Christopher Bassano has done a fabulous overview of how he sees the season going - most on his observations of seasons past. There is probably no trout fisher who spends more time on the water than Christopher. So read his tips closely, no matter what methods you use.

In the salt there is a very important review of the scalefish rules currently being undertaken.

This pretty much sets the rules for the next five years.

One of my main concerns is recreational netting in Tasmania. I think it is time it was phased out.

Everywhere this has happened the fishing has improved - without exception. For many years the Government has been scratching around the edges. Have some guts and as the Nike ads say ‘Just Do It’.

Some reasons to phase out recreational gillnetting and get more fish for Tassie!

- Things have changed over the years and we know there are less fish in the sea - bag limits are tightening, size limits are getting stricter, and we need to do our bit to make sure there are fish for our grandkids.

- Gillnets are wasting our favourite fish – Bastard Trumpeter, Blue Warehou, Banded Morwong – which are already at all-time low numbers.

- Areas that have banned netting, like Georges Bay, have seen a huge comeback in health, resulting in more fish and better fishing.

- Phasing out gillnets will help create a healthier, more abundant and productive Tasmanian coast.

- Salmon escapes don’t happen nearly as much anymore, so gillnets aren’t needed.

- Mike Stevens

For subscriptions go to www.tasfish.com, phone Mike 0418 129 949 or pay by Paypal to mike@tasfish.com - One year $36 - two years $68

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Fishing News - Page 3

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D

Dodging the Donut Strategies that work Mik Rybka

F

or those of you who love to trout fish, there will have been a time, some stage during your fishing ‘career’, where you lucked out and didn’t catch anything! Most of you will also know that in the ‘fishing world’, this is what is commonly known as a ‘donut’! It is the same shape as a zero of course. Now while the usual ‘donut’ means that no fish were caught, it doesn’t mean that there were no missed takes or bites. While this might seem bad at the time, there is something worse. That something is the ‘big fat donut’. This is where you go a whole day and don’t even get a sniff! I will be brave here and admit to having taken home many ‘donuts’ during my time as a trout angler. I have also done the same during a bream competition some time back; however, given that it is the start of a new season, our focus here will be on trout.

There are many factors that can influence the feeding behaviour of trout, with weather a significant one. While rain, or any other form of precipitation such as snow or hail, does not make for enjoyable fishing, such weather events do require the presence of clouds, and cloudy conditions generally mean good fishing conditions.

Now while precipitation may have a ‘helpful side-sick’, there can also be a downside. There are other factors that contribute to the formation of precipitation, and these factors can outweigh the benefits of the cloud cover. Rain is generally formed where masses of cold and warm air meet. Such areas are referred to as ‘fronts’, and fronts also tend to be areas where atmospheric

pressure changes, often dramatically. Generally speaking, a sudden change in atmospheric pressure will have a negative effect on trout behaviour. In contrast, a steady or gradual change in pressure will usually provide good fishing conditions. With this in mind, keeping a close eye on the weather map before venturing out on your trip may make all the difference.

Now while it might seem wise to only go fishing on days where the weather and conditions are favourable for good fishing, we don’t all have the luxury to be able to do this. Sometimes, we just want to go fishing, regardless of whether our chances of catching fish are good. So what can you do on those days when you do get out and the donut is beginning to look very likely?

Here are a few suggestions of strategies that have worked for me:

Change of lure

Ever heard the saying ‘I chucked the kitchen sink at them?’

It is (almost) exactly as it sounds. Changing a lure is probably the first thing that we all do when the action is slow. It is probably the most logical thing to try first.

The lure itself plays a considerable role in producing strikes. Sometimes all it takes is a subtle change of colour to entice takes. Try using brighter colours on brighter days and darker colours on darker or overcast days. And at night, jet-black lures produce a nice silhouette in the water and work particularly well!

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Just getting one in the boat can be tough sometimes.

Fishing News - Page 5

Lure size can also be the difference between fishing and catching. If you think that small trout will only eat small lures, think again. Don’t limit yourself to small lures. I use 80 mm and, sometimes, 100 mm lures. Soft plastic or hard body – it doesn’t matter. Why not try both? Both types have produced some excellent results for me when the fishing was tough in the past. A larger lure will also act as an attractor. A lot of hard bodies also have fish-attracting rattles; however, it is the larger size that will give off more ‘flash’ from a distance, which will create interest in your offering - that’s my theory anyway.

Retrieve speed

Sometimes it is as simple as varying your retrieve speed. I discovered this on one particular trip to Arthurs Lake, with a good friend of mine. We arrived in the morning at around 8 am and by lunch we’d had no luck – a donut was in the making! By late afternoon, the donut was imminent. Our arms were beginning to ache from the ‘desperate’ casting of lures and plastics. We even tried our luck with the fly rod; however, that also did not generate any interest from the lake inhabitants.

As the day continued, and the frustration levels neared their peak, I decided to just retrieve my lure as fast as I could. Although, on this day, I was not expecting anything to make a difference, this change (happily) resulted in me getting on to the first trout of the day!

The take was aggressive and sudden. I continued to fish this same way and caught more fish - eight as a matter of fact! My friend, who was using a hard body lure, then did the same, and presto! We had found the ‘magic’ and dodged the donut!

The retrieve is simple; cast either a hard body or t-tail soft plastic, and as soon as the lure hits the water, wind as fast as you can. If you are fishing from a boat, as we were, pause the lure a few metres before it gets back to the boat. This allows it to suspend for a second or so.

It was on this pause that we were hooking up almost every time. We even had fish following the lures right up to the boat. Utilising a fast retrieve like this is often called ‘ripping’ – in other words, just rip the lure and pause. You will find that this works with wet flies too.

Of course the other extreme can also work when the lure or fly is barely moving.

Depth

Figuring out the right depth can be tricky - and often frustrating! I think the key here is to experiment. To find fish, try fishing both deep and shallow, or even at a depth in between. Use deep diving hard bodies with long bibs to go that extra depth, or heavier weighted soft plastics.

If fishing shallow, try shallow diving hard bodies with a short bib, or lightly weighted soft plastics. When you eventually find yourself some fish, stick at that depth.

Change spots

Another no brainer – if you aren’t catching fish, then try another spot. As the sun gets higher, the fish will move to deeper water and your ‘honey hole’ is likely to run dry. Anglers with a boat can easily cruise around the lake, but anglers confined to the bank will obviously need to prospect around the shoreline. Look for deep pockets of water or structure that might provide cover for trout. A dozen casts without any hits normally sees me moving on to another area.

Add a flasher

A ‘flasher’ is essentially a fish attractor. While the lure itself will attract the attention of fish, a ‘flasher’ will work to catch the attention of fish located much further away. To a fish, the flash could represent a school of baitfish or even a fish in distress. The idea is that fish will initially be drawn to the flasher and, when closer, they will notice the lure swimming behind the ‘flasher’ and (hopefully) strike! This technique is certainly not a new one.

Many mainland anglers regularly use attractors, like ‘cowbells’, to draw the fish in to their lures.

This technique is also commonly used in places such as Canada and the USA. Although I am not sure why, it is not often seen here in Tasmania, so perhaps it is something to consider when your next donut is looming.

Fishing News - Page 6

Adding a Flasher will often work.

This is a great option for those of you who love trolling with lead line. If the action is slow, try adding a ‘flasher’ a maximum of one metre away from your Tassie Devil or Cobra. Be sure to use good quality monofilament line for your leader, as it will give a bit of stretch on any takes, and prevent fish from being lost.

Add a fly dropper

Fishing with a fly dropper is something that I have learnt from a friend who lives in New Zealand. He uses this technique in combination with a soft plastic to fish deep for monster trout. Using a fly dropper can be one of the most effective methods for catching trout. You don’t have to be a fly fisherman to do it either. Simply tie a short dropper (around 4 to 5 inches) at a distance of 30 cm to 50 cm up your leader. You might be using a hard body or soft plastic as your main lure, but, in my opinion, it really doesn’t matter.

Select a wet fly and tie it onto that dropper using a loop knot. A loop knot will give the fly the extra freedom of movement and a more natural swim action. For early season droppers, try wet fly patterns like woolly buggers, rabbit fur zonkers or yetis.

By using a dropper you provide the trout with a couple of choices. Some people even say that the dropper acts as an attractor. What I can say for sure is that the fly will have a different swimming action to that of any hard body or plastic you might be using. It might just be the thing to do to improve your results!

Remember: It is legal in Tasmania to use only one fly dropper in combination with one lure on a spinning rod.

Check the IFS hand book before you go fishing.

Try jigging for trout

In some respects, jigging for trout is a bit like fishing for flathead. The rig is similar to a standard saltwater paternoster rig. A typical jigging rig consists of a sinker and a dropper tied 50 cm or so above the sinker. The dropper can be a soft plastic or even your favourite trout-catching spoon.

Since this technique is well suited to deeper waters, you will first need to find a suitable area that has some

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decent depth to it. Then, simply lower the rig to the bottom and, at a leisurely pace, raise and lower your rod. You can also try waving it from side to side. Vary the height and the timing to give the jig a genuinely erratic movement. This helps the lure to mimic, let’s say, a wounded galaxias. As you drop the rod back to the horizontal position, reel in the slack line.

Take it nice and easy with your lifts of the rod and anticipate any takes. You can also try some very sharp lifts and jerks if nothing is happening by fishing the jig slowly. Since you will most likely be jigging from a boat, look for underwater formations, vegetation, submerged trees and other structures that might hold fish. You will be at an advantage if your boat is equipped with a sounder.

Conclusion

Fishing for trout can be tough, and donuts will happen.

In my opinion, it is the nature of any type of fishing.

However, catching a trout against all odds is always a great reward for thinking outside the square. I hope that some of the strategies that I have described here today will help you during times when the fish are not cooperating. With this in mind, I wish you all a productive and safe trout opening for the new season.

Mic Rybka - Strike Tiger Lures

VV28166

Focus your Passion FORGET THE WORLD

28166 v1F.indd 1

13/07/2015 11:28 am

Broken Promise Will Hodgman

You promised to do everything to stop (freezer factory trawlers) but have done nothing.

Fact: Tasmania’s recreational fishery is worth $93 million a year.

Fact: Tasmania Recreational boat value around $439 million.

Fact: Tasmanian participation in recreational fishery 22%.

Fact: GST to Tasmania from the rec fishery $15 million per year.

Fact: The value to Tasmania of Commonwealth caught fish in the Small Pelagic Fishery is virtually nil.

Fact: Seafish Tasmania Pelagic - Foreign ownership 100% dutch.

Fact: Seafish Tasmania - Foreign ownership 75% New Zealand and 25% NSW. Fact: There are NO access royalties for taking fish in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery - NIL. Fact: The Commonwealth fishery comes to within three miles of Tasmania’s shores - well within the recreational fishing zone.

Game and recreational fishers want the Premier to fulfill his commitment and stop these giant ships taking the food source for tuna, seals, dolphins and more.

R E Z E E R F S R P E L STO W A R T Y R O T C FA

I spoke with Will Hodgman at Agfest in early May. He asked me to make an appointment with him to work out a way to stop freezer factory trawlers. I have tried and sent several emails, but nothing has happened.

Mike Stevens.

What should we believe?

The Tasmanian Premier must call on the Federal Government to protect the marginally economic small pelagic fish resources for the benefit of the high value commercial and recreational fisheries it supports and the marine environment.

The Commonwealth Small Pelagic fishery is marginally economic at any scale that adequately protects against localized depletion, bycatch of protected species including dolphins and seals, Fishing News - Page 8

and the scientific monitoring requirements that enable confidence over the long term. Neither this operation, nor its predecessor, has shown it can operate in accordance within the high standards of the Tasmanian people.

This fishery produces a low value/high volume product that generates little return to Tasmania and regional Australia. It threatens the marine environment and vibrant and economically vital

recreational fisheries, and the wider commercial fishing industry’s reputation as a producer of high quality seafood.

For the good of all Tasmanian, please Mr Premier, call on the Federal Government to permanently ban the operation of factory freezer trawlers in the Small Pelagic Fishery.

The Super Trawler Alliance.

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WHEN WILL POLITICIANS KEEP A PROMISE? For the good of Tasmania’s recreational fishery

STOP FREEZER FACTORY TRAWLERS Tasmania’s Premier, Will Hodgman, made promises he has NOT kept, nor seems to intend to (see opposite).

Senator Colbeck first parliamentary speech, 13 March 2002, promised “... serving the people who put me here” “......I am fortunate to have lived and worked in many areas of the state—north, south, northwest and west coasts and the two magnificent Bass Strait islands—and look forward with great anticipation and pride to working with and serving the people as my time here continues. As you might imagine, I have received advice from many quarters since the declaration of the poll to confirm my election to this chamber, but none

better than that from my parents, as is usually the way with mums and dads. On the night before I was sworn in, they presented me with a memento to remind me of life on our dairy farm at Wilmot: `Never forget where you came from and never forget who put you here.’ I look forward to living up to that advice during my time here and, with great anticipation, to serving the people who put me here.”

Senator Colbeck claims he has consulted widely, but won’t participate in a public forum with Tasmanian fishers on foreign owned and operated Freezer Factory Trawlers.

Senator Colbeck is backing foreign fishers to the ultimate demise of Tasmania’s recreational fishery.

Sign the pledge at www.stopthetrawler.net

join the Australian Recreational Fishers Party www.arfparty.org

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Fishing News - Page 9

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Fishing News - Page 10

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W Western Lakes Tactics

by Craig Rist The walk can be worth it. Craig Rist.

Dry fly or wet fly

I like catching fish on a dry fly just as much as the next person and will often persist with floating flies early in the season, experimenting to try for a response, . I know that I will get refusals and catch less doing this, but for me this is not a numbers game.

Success or failure with any fly can vary from water to water in the Western Lakes, as each location can be vastly different from the next. What fish feed on can change from lake to lake or from shore to shore depending on the make up of each lake, the food within it and the effects of rising or falling water levels. The trick is to find a fly and technique that will trigger a response from them more often than not. Sometimes it comes down to finding a single fish that is willing to take a chance and open and close its mouth onto a fly that vaguely resembles a potential feed.

I sat on a bay for 15 minutes but saw nothing so I moved around to the next likely tailing shore to see a faint disturbance bulging the calm surface film, signaling the presence of a fish in the shallows. I made a cast well ahead of the disturbance and the fish responded immediately pushing up a bow wave over to my fly. I watched the fish swim up to the fly, turned away, then back for another look and then disappeared, obviously not happy with what it had seen. That wasn’t the response I was hoping for!

I changed flies (possibly prematurely) to a size 10 foam Chernobyl type fly with brown rubber legs. Mark

had caught up to me after exploring a few bays but hadn’t seen a fish. We continued along the shore looking for signs of fish. I spotted another tail and offered the cast to Mark but he wouldn’t have it and insisted I try the floater. I cast fly ahead of the fish which was now clearly visible swimming beneath the water in the late morning light. The fish swam within 20cm of the fly but didn’t identify my floating insect like fly as food and continued to swim along the shore. I picked up and dropped the fly in front of the fish again and gave it a twitch but again it swam past my fly. I urged Mark to quickly try his woolly bugger before the fish swims out into deeper water.

Early season experiment

Last season I conducted one of my early seasons floating fly verses wet fly experiments with my good friend Mark Woodhall. Mark fishes the Western Lakes exclusively all season and has done this for most of his fishing life. Like me, Mark is not a numbers man and we can have a great day in the Western Lakes exploring new lakes and trying different techniques and flies, without worrying about blowing a few fish.

Mark and I began the day’s hike with the standard 4am departure from the car park, to arrive at first light.

I started the morning with my Emerging Woolly Bugger fly which has a foam head and Hi–vis post. This fly floats with its foam head in the surface film with the rest of the fly submerged to resemble an injured or dying Galaxia.

Mark decided to use a slow sinking fly, tying on a size 8 Gibson’s black and orange Woolly Bugger to fish it inert or stripped back depending on the mood of the fish and the weather conditions of the day. We split up to fish different bays for the start of the morning to make the most of the low light in the hope of finding tailing fish.

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Fishing News - Page 11

Fishing the Western Lakes early can be challenging and any fish is a bonus.

Mark made the cast, landing his fly a metre in front of the fish and allowed the wooly bugger to slowly sink as the fish approached. The fish swam straight up to Mark’s fly and ate it without hesitation. Mark lifted his rod to set the hook and had the fish thrashing wildly under the resistance of his rod until it changed tack and headed for deeper water. Mark lowered his rod to the side and turned the fish with some steady side strain making short work of what could have been a drawn out fight. Mark soon had a beautiful golden Western Lakes Brown, dripping from his hands for a quick photo and then a release.

I continued to persisted with a floating fly for a while until I finally succumbed to tying on a wet fly in the afternoon after Mark landed another fish on the Wooly Bugger. On this day, these fish just refused to lift their head for a floater and seamed to be fixated on a large baitfish fly like the Woolly Bugger. I wanted to confirm this by resisting the urge to go straight for a large woolly bugger and tied on a Montana nymph and presented it to the very next fish, which swam up to it and refused it.

I changed flies again and the same thing happened to a small black fur fly. With less than an hour to go before we had to start walking out Mark tossed me one of his Gibson Woolly Buggers and walked ahead of me to find another fish for me to try it on. He had only walked a few metres when he yelled out, “I got another one here for you mate�.

Fishing News - Page 12

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Fishing News - Page 13

The fish was lying in between two large submerged flat rocks facing away from us in a narrow little bay that was littered with large boulders jutting out of the water.

For the fish to see my fly in the water I had to cast the fly into a gap about a metre wide between two submerged boulders that were 1½ metres beyond the fish that was still lying motionless in its rocky crevice. The Woolly Bugger hit the mark with a splat and slowly began to sink. The fish responded immediately and swam over to the fly and stopped with a flash of white from its mouth. That was all I was after and set the hook. The fish flapped around on the surface between the rocks and I held him there for as long as I could to get it to expel some energy.

This fish was carrying some weight and by the look of the width of its flanks as it was rolling at the surface it was pushing the five to six pound mark. What I thought was going to be an easy fight didn’t last long as it regained its senses and swam straight at me, then turned and swam around a large boulder that was sticking out above the water. I quickly released the drag on the reel and dropped the rod towards the fish to take the tension off the leader as it was being pulled around the boulder.

At the same time I had jumped over some low-lying scrub to reposition myself above the boulder to get the line out and pressure back onto the fish before it had a chance to find a hole in amongst the rocks to berry its head. I the 4 weight fly rod buckling under the pressure as I pulled low and hard to regain the upper hand. As soon as I had some control I quickly steered the fish out from the confines’ of the boulders into open water and then into the bank where Mark kindly scuffed the fish by the tail and held on with a grin from ear to ear.

This fish would certainly have pulled the scales down to six pounds and when it was lifted from the water it had a lovely green back with a magnificent coppery brown belly. It was a perfect example of a Western Lakes Brown and a nice way to end the experiment on a high.

Flies To Try

Fur flies and Woolly Buggers in sizes 10, 8 or even 6 are proven early season flies that are very versatile in there application. Unweighted versions are really good for that inert presentation where you wait to see the mouth open and close or see the floating leader draw away before you set the hook. These flies are also great blind searching flies to use over submerged rocks and deep drop offs where lazy browns like to rest and seize any opportunity for an easy meal. Brass or tungsten beads tied in at the head of these flies a slight jugging action and additional weight to search those deep corners of the lake.

I like to use floating flies whenever I can just to see a trout rise to my fly. Floating flies that work early in the season usually represent a bait fish, tadpole, snail or beetle that is floating in the surface film, more like an emerging nymph fly than a traditional dry fly that sits high on the water. Traditional flies and your own creations that represent the diet of trout in the beginning of the season can be turned into floating flies simple by adding the right amount of foam or other floating material when they are being tied. If you tie your own flies this can be a fun and rewarding way to change the way a traditional wet fly can be fished.

Where To Start

The Western Lakes can be an unforgiving place to fish. The fish don’t come easy at this time of the year and the weather can be calm and warm one minute and brutally cold windy and wet the next. But for those of us who love to count the spots on their back as they hug the shoreline or see that tail in the shallows. It’s worth every footstep into this unique fishery.

The great thing about this place is that it doesn’t take long to learn where fish are most likely going to be and the more time you spend back here the more you will learn and map out the fish holding structure of each lake. The numbers of fish in each lake also varies quite a lot and naturally increases or decreases your chances of finding fish.

Shallow weedy bays are an obvious choice to find tailing fish at dawn and dusk but fish will often leave these bays once the sun gets up. These fish often Fishing News - Page 14

leave these very shallow bays and edges to prowl the deeper under cut banks or rocky ledges to find food or stop and hold up in these areas that provide both cover and a good ambush point. These stationary fish will predominantly be facing into wind and waves to hold position and to take advantage of anything edible that the wind and wave action pushes towards them. Knowing this makes the shoreline with the wind blowing into it very appealing and worth having the wind in your face to fish rocky drop offs and under cut banks. Many of these fish are so close to the bank that they are often caught within a leaders length of the rod tip. Fish that are cruising these edges can appear from nowhere as they swim in and out of the under cut banks, rocks and overhanging alpine scrub. Brown trout will move very slowly along these edges so it pays to stop and look for a few minutes before moving on.

When the weather conditions rule out site fishing all together and the water is very calm I like to fish a fly that sinks very slowly and fish it with an inert presentation while standing well back from the waters edge. The fly is delivered with a straight-line cast to stay in contact with the fly as it sinks. If a fish takes the fly as it is sinking the leader will suddenly draw away, signaling the time to set the hook. If there is no signs of a fish taking the fly as it sinks to the bottom I will slowly retrieve the fly all the way back to the shore before lifting the fly out for another cast further along the bank. This is a very effective way of bring undone those big sensitive fish that are often spooked by walking too close to the edge.

Other places that are worth a cast are the areas of submerged rocks and weed beads that are well out from the shoreline. Creek mouths are also worth a few careful casts in close and it never hurts to sink a fly down beneath the branches of any low overhanging tree, alpine shrub or grasses. You just never know what might swim out and take a closer look at your fly.

Over the years I’ve had plenty of blank days back in the Western Lakes but it’s the challenge and the memories of the good days that always seem to bring me back for more.

Craig Rist

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Wigram’s version, by Mick Hall above and the JM Gillies version below, of the Stick Caddis circa 1960

Caddis Creations Mick Hall

Bruisers Lagoon in the Highlands of Tasmania; a great Stick Caddis water. I witnessed Malcolm Crosse take and release two nice Browns using his Simple Caddis. (Mick Hall) Dick Wigram wrote on stick caddis in his book, “The Uncertain Trout”, published in 1951.

His studies included an autopsy taken over the season 1945-46 and the stomach contents were recorded over an eight month period: It shows:

Free living Caddis larva (Family Hydrobiosidae)

The Peeping Stick Caddis

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addis larva are very high on trouts’ diet. They come in two forms, those that build portable homes (Stick Caddis) and free living. All caddis larva have a hardened section near and including the head, whilst the bodies are soft and range in colour from off white through to a dirty yellow and green in a variety of shades. They also have claws to cling onto the inside of their portable case.

Caddis can be found in water from fast flowing streams to marshlands and lakes. Case building caddis use leaves, sticks, reeds or spun silk as a home. These are generally found in slow moving or still waters: others use sand or very small stones and these are normally found in streams.

The importance of caddis as a food form cannot be underestimated; early research by A Dunbavin Butcher M.Sc. showed in The Freshwater Fish of Victoria and Their Food, 1950 that caddis represented around 40% for rainbow and around 30% food for brown trout. In many waters these figures would be higher for brown trout.

Stick (case) caddis range in size from around 10mm up to 20mm and have a range of preferred material that they build their cases from.

Caddis WILL be in the water you are fishing, so get down and have a look. Let the water settle in the shallows and you will see them slowly swimming around.

Check out their size and colour to determine the best size and the best colour for your artificial.

Fishing with Stick Caddis is not new. Dick Wigram led the field during his day, closely followed by J M Gillies but the pattern that stood out for better than thirty years was Wigram’s. It also created many mutations.

September: Meander River - Male 2lb., 31 caddis and two frogs October: North Esk River - Male 1 1/2 pounds, 106 caddis November: South Esk River - Female 2 1/4 pounds, 27 caddis, 1 stone fly December: Lake River - Female 2 1/4 pounds, 90 caddis, 1 dragonfly, 5 mayfly January: Meander River - Female 2 pounds, 31 caddis, 14 beetles, 2 mayfly February: Macquarie River - Female 3 pounds, 130 caddis, 1 dragonfly larva, 4 grasshoppers March: Brumbys Creek - Male 1 pound, 9 caddis, 3 mayfly, 5 beetles April: Lake River - Female 2 1/4 pounds, 37 caddis, 4 beetles, 1 shrimp

This shows the importance of the stick caddis as a major food source. It should also be noted that, apart from the Snowflake Caddis, Wigram rarely talks in depth in any of his works about adult flying Caddis.

He also details the dressing for his Stick Caddis: There are many methods by which a reasonable copy of the Caddis case or stick can be made, but I have found that the following is the most effective: Hook, No. 1 or 2 (new scale), long shank. The body is made as follows:- Fasten to the hook with black tying silk a piece of the centre quill from the thick end of a rooster’s neck feather - allowing a quarter of an inch to extend past the bend of the hook, and leaving one-eighth of an inch clear at the eye. Tie in at eye a short length of raffia dyed brownish olive green. Build up the body with this raffia, thicker at the eye end of the hook, and covering also the protruding piece of quill. Finish raffia at eye and cut off waste. Tie in one turn of a short dark brown or black hackle and form a good sized head with the black tying silk. The whole fly from eye to tail end should be just under three quarters of an inch long.

Peeping Stick Caddis as adapted by Mick Hall The best pattern I have seen was shown to me many years ago, but unfortunately his name is lost to me.

Using a strand of peacock stem for the body was new and very innovative; I was truly impressed. The pattern is a follows.

Peeping Stick Caddis, as tied by Mick Hall Hook: Mustad R72. Size: 10-8 Body: Stripped peacock stem wound over dubbing any colour and finally dyed with a dark green marking pen with dark brown over Head/legs: Peacock Herl Grub: Chartreuse synthetic knitting yarn and burnt at the end to create the grub’s head.

Note: On the original as shown to me, the Peacock stem had been dyed to a similar colour as shown. It was the use of this case material that caught my attention.

The peeping head had been around for some time but I must reiterate, this was new and very creative.

Small Peeping stick caddis as designed by Mick Hall As designed by Mick Hall to imitate the small Silk-cased Caddis Hook: Mustad R72. Size: 16-14 Body: Uni-Flex White and treated with marking pens as described above Head/Legs: Peacock Herl Grub: Chartreuse synthetic yarn and treated as above.

Note: Uni-Flex is also known as Flex Floss and a heap of other names.

Mick Hall

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Fishing News - Page 15

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Fixin’ for a fight

Jo Starling shares some tips on fighting big fish from a kayak.

Jo Starling Steve Starling is relieved that all went according to plan.

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he thought of fighting giants from a kayak is enough to raise the pulse of any angler—but you should never pick such a fight without a battle plan. No matter what critters you choose to chase, Jo Starling reckons this strategy will give you a fighting chance.

Recently, Steve and I embarked on a journey across western NSW and South Australia with the sole purpose of landing a goliath Murray cod from a kayak. We run a couple of Native Watercraft models and really wanted to test the Propel® units’ reverse capabilities against a hefty structure magnet. Whilst not everyone chooses the same ‘yak, the prior planning and preparation that went into this trip is relevant to anyone hoping to mix it with worthy adversaries in structure. For the record, the Propel® unit brained it… let me tell you the story.

Having not confronted a genuinely powerful fish in tight waters from a kayak before, we knew we would be fools to take a win for granted. As the anecdote states: “Prior preparation and planning prevents poor performance”. So it was that for a month or so leading up to our departure date, our lunch time musings turned to how we might parry the instincts of a burley cod if, indeed, we managed to find one.

We believed that we had an advantage over many other ‘yakkers, given that our boats had reverse capability, but pulling backwards on a big fish isn’t always going to be the answer, and so we devised a plan of attack that took all conceivable contingencies into account.

The backwards momentum of the Native Watercraft was used to good effect in this tussle, however strategic use of your kayak position will help if your kayak doesn’t have this capability.

Here’s what we knew about the challenges we would face: A big cod, if hooked, would likely run back to its snag; it would have the power to tow our kayak; and, it would be lightning fast. Clearly, these same factors are relevant to any structure dwelling fish, whether in salt or fresh, so it stands to reason that the battle plan we developed will suit, regardless of whether you’re chasing a cod, a big barra (please consider carefully which waterways you chase barramundi on… most often, barra and crocs go hand-in-hand), a mulloway, a mangrove jack or a snapper. In fact, even big blue-nosed bream dwelling in snags or oyster leases present similar issues.

Planning for battle

The best strategy is to go into every cast ready to fight a fish. How you do this will vary slightly depending on the model of kayak you run, but there are some key points that hold true for all ‘yak battles.

Your priority should be identifying which are your best “exits”, that is, which way are you best heading once you’ve struck your fish. Think about this before you make your cast. If the fish is there and picks up your gauntlet, you may not have time to think about it afterwards.

The actual choreography of your fishy fight will come down to the style of kayak you have. Nowadays, many kayak anglers opt for pedal-propelled kayaks to keep their hands free for fishing. This has enormous benefits when you’re hooked up, as you can put powered pressure on the fish without compromising your rod work. Paddle-powered kayaks have been around a lot longer, however, and the basic battle plan to fight a fish from any ‘yak was developed long before the first pedals hit the water.

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Power of persuasion

Obviously, you can’t afford to put your rod down to pick up your paddle once you’re on a fish. If you are in a paddle-only kayak, your success if going to come down to the direction you face your kayak in relation to your rod angle and the fish. You will not have the capacity to drive away from the structure, so you will need to persuade the fish to swim away from it instead.

The first thing to realise is that even a fairly modest fish can easily tow you if your kayak is pointing towards it. For this reason, try to position your kayak perpendicular to your cast. That way, if the big fish strikes and runs, it has to drag your full hull length against the water… that’ll slow it up a bit!

Your next challenge will be to get the monster away from the structure. Remember that planned exit route?

If you firmly and smoothly pull your rod around to point in that direction, you should be able to steer the fish that way. As you pull against the fish, your kayak will inevitably start to turn back towards it. Don’t stress.

As the fish turns towards the kayak, the pressure will lessen (don’t allow slack!). The fish should instinctively head in the direction of less resistance.

If all goes well, the fish will soon be heading out and your kayak will fall in behind it, an easy tow now that your bow and rod are in line with your quarry. Once

you are happy that the fish is clear of structure, you can once again turn the bow across the fish’s path to apply pressure.

How? Simply pull the rod around to your side to change your position in relation to the fish. Once your kayak is in its “braking” position, you can fight the fish on the rod. Naturally, if the fish manages to run towards more structure, you need to steer it out again and let it run clear.

It’s not a bad idea to practice some of these manoeuvres on a snag rather than waiting to test our theories in the heat of battle.

Pedal to the metal Even though we mounted our cod attack aboard pedalled kayaks, these tactics still formed the crux of our battle plan. At every snag, we considered our best exit direction, set our rudder accordingly and then cast. Having the benefit of reverse meant that our first response would be to pedal backwards, however, those of you fishing from other pedalled craft without a reverse function will still need a forward motion action plan. Side on to the cast with a pre-set rudder is your best bet, too.

“So,” I hear you asking yourself… “Did the planning pay off ?”

I’m not going to say it was easy. Truth be known, Steve and I would have put in over a thousand casts apiece and two full days on the water without so much as a suggestion that cod lived in the Murray River. The important thing is that we stuck to our game plan.

As we hit the water on day three, our determination levels were at fever pitch and the weather forecast had changed, meaning that this was likely to be our last chance. A massive rain front had formed over the Bight and was heading our way. We’d had a major hiccough through the day that had held us off the water until 4pm. The shadows were already drawing long and the sun’s intensity was failing. Perhaps the sudden change in conditions would influence a change in fortunes as well? Fingers were crossed.

I’d really like to report that it was I who landed the leviathan… but it was not. It was Steve, third cast on the first snag of that shortened fishing session who hit paydirt. We knew immediately that it was the test we’d been hoping for. Moments after the rod jolted and sent a shock through Steve’s palms, the keg-like cod was around one submerged snag and over another one beyond that.

Being a newbie in the Native Watercraft, all our well-fashioned plans fled Steve’s mind as the adrenalin pumped through his temples and his long-forged fishing instincts took over. I recall him leaning back hard against

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Planning your best exit and positioning your kayak for battle before casting is good practice.

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his rod and commentating the whole fight… “Dammit!

It’s bricked me! It’s found the timber!” he’s calling out to me as I’m getting my spinnerbait out of the way.

What he wasn’t doing amongst all this commotion was employing his strongest weapon. “PEDAL BACKWARDS!” I ordered from the sidelines.

Sure enough, the kayak was able to pull the fish back over that deeper snag. Steve then pedalled forward, winding up slack desperately as he powered over the top of the other submerged branch to undo half of the wrap. With a fair bit of experience on his side, he was able to rescue the situation and, before long, had successfully persuaded the fish to head out into the open.

Boy oh boy! It was an exciting event to watch! The satisfaction of the plan coming together was shared by both of us and it’s certainly a fishing outing neither of us will ever forget.

The winners’ salute

Of course, hooking such a fish and manoeuvring it clear of structure is only part of the quest. At some stage, you must either win or lose any fight you engage

in. So what do you do when you’re in deep water, in a capsizeable kayak, attached to a fish that weighs nearly as much as your ‘yak?

This is another situation you need to plan for. Luckily, we had. You’ll fashion a plan depending on the species you are targeting, but for us it was about getting the fish safely back to shallows for some photos and a measure before safe release back to the timber. We knew we couldn’t hope to use our esky-live wells, so we each had strong lip grips with wrist straps purely for tethering the fish securely and swimming it beside the kayak as we pedalling back to the bank of the river.

Different objectives and circumstances will call for different solutions. The point is, you need to think about this part of your battle if you have any hope of pumping your fist in the air in a victory salute.

Incidentally, Steve’s cod measured 103cm and would’ve weighed almost 25kg—a most majestic creature and a worthy test for both the kayaks’ and our capabilities. I just wish it had have been me trembling with the adrenalin rush… Oh well, all the more reason to keep going back. Like I needed the excuse!

Photography by Jo Starling and John Haenke (Fishing Downunder)

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Fishing News - Page 20

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A joyous capture and an even more joyous release…

This immaculate Murray cod put up a monumental fight.

It shows big fish can be kayak caught in trying conditions.

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Fishing News - Page 21

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Planning your season Christopher Bassano reviews last season and gives some tips for the upcoming season.

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very season I am asked about various ‘fishing events’ or changes that occur through different months of the year. Many people are surprised to hear about the different options that we have.

You may be surprised, but some of the best fishing over the last seasons has NOT been during summer.

Last season, the early season was the best I have known and generally I find pre-Christmas is better than after.

The timing of your fishing may be determined by when you can get the time, in which case, the presence of tailing fish or sea trout or massive trout will not affect your fishing dates.

For other people, the option of doing something different, going somewhere new or trying a particular style of fishing or fish may require a change in their fishing schedule.

Here is a two year summary on how I have found the fishing in Tasmania.

August

The opening of the trout season is the first weekend in August and the highlands are cold. Hatches are nonexistent and river fish are eating nymphs. The water is cold and many fish are inactive.

There is still a chance of getting some river dry fly fishing but the weather would have to be mild; having said that, the early weeks of the season produce excellent streamer and sink line fishing. Large numbers of good Fishing News - Page 22

Early season is a time to look for monsters - think sea trout, Lake Crescent and others. fish are usually caught at this time as fish are trying to put weight back on after spawning. They are not fussy as they have received no angling pressure for months.

For those who enjoy or want to learn more about pulling wet flies, this is a good time. We have many lowland lakes that are too warm in summer months, but perfect early season.

A great time for trophy hunting

August and September are good times of year to chase the big fish - fish in excess of ten pounds. Of course, these fish are not common, but have become more so over the past seasons.

Sea trout are around at this time of year too, but they can be fickle. A very wet August does not make for good sea trout fishing but a dry end to winter and start of spring brings the best possible conditions. As this takes place around estuaries at sea level, it is the warmest fly fishing option. Sea trout only hang around for a few months at best so waiting until summer to catch these is not an option. The unpredictable nature of these fish makes them less sought after but those who have caught them know that there is no trout species that fights as hard. Large fish are also common enough, but it is always worth remembering that sea trout are the most fickle of all salmonoid species. For those of us who love them so much, this adds to their allure.

Brook trout are at their least difficult to catch at this time. They are a fish from the colds of the northern

hemisphere and therefore do not feed in warm weather conditions. Cold is essential for these fish. Although we have world record sized fish in Tasmania, they are not easy to catch. Getting hold of one however is a real possibility and a brook trout is likely to be the next fresh water world record caught in Tasmania. They are rarely seen on the surface and catching these is a matter of patience while wet fly fishing.

This month requires an angler who has good casting ability and can cast a reasonable distance to make the most of the fishing.

Tasmania, probably holds some World record sized brook trout. Early season and cold water is the time to search for them.

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Caenids are also starting to hatch in many places (some places start in September) and if you would like an enjoyably frustrating time casting to rising fish, then these tiny ephemera will do it for you. You need settled weather for this.

Brook trout are coming to a close by now as the weather is warming up. Cold snaps can prolong their activity and they are still an option but the best months for these have probably past.

The river fishing is slowly improving and if water levels are receding, fish are normally very eager. The flatter lowland rivers can be at their best at this time but even the faster waters are beginning to kick in. With the correct water levels, we start to do some float fishing down some rivers at this time.

Going between the highlands and lowlands in October is common at this time. In all but the worst conditions, the fishing is usually very good.

Tailing trout are more prevalent than in previous months and given the right water levels and weather, this and the next month are perfect.

Not a sea trout, but a welcome resident brownie, while search the estuary.

Tailing trout are around (especially early in the month) and caenids are at their thickest on many rivers in the state. Caddis hatches are now underway and the rivers are in top condition.

More anglers are now present around Tasmania as locals and interstate fishermen like good weather (sometimes over good fishing). You can expect to be sharing the lakes with other fishermen but sometimes the fishing is such that you don’t realise they are there.

Lowland still waters have now slowed and most of the best action on still waters is in the highlands.

December

Bright weather means polaroiding while overcast brings mayflies. Unless you are river fishing, the highlands is the best place to be. Although there is often a period of a few days in December where mayflies have slowed on some lakes and not yet kicked in on others, this month has traditionally been seen as the best time to fish for mayfly feeders. There are plenty of fishing options as beetles are also falling in warm weather and “shark fishing” starts in earnest.

September

Traditionally, the middle of this month has been the best sea trout time. This depends on the amount of rain and therefore the whitebait run, but this is the time we normally get the most consistent fishing for them.

Good brook trout fishing is still possible in September and we have had many fruitful trips at this time. Again, streamer fishing is best.

In the lowland lakes, mayflies can start towards the end of the month but again, fish are looking for large flies and wet fly anglers do well.

If you want trophy fish then this month is probably the best. More huge fish were caught in September than any other month last season.

Wet fly fishing options in September are numerous.

If “different” is what you are looking for, this is your month.

The highlands are still quite cool but given a settled weather pattern, good polaroiding can also be had at this time. The road into the western lakes also opens around the middle of September if there’s not been too much snow. This makes for wonderful backwater fishing and sometimes tailing fish.

For those wanting to fish from the shore, September is another good month. While bad weather means blind fishing, good weather can produce exciting fishing.

October

This has recently been the most productive of just about any month of the season. Mayflies on lowland lakes and larger rivers are common from the middle of the month onwards. Wet fly fishing is superb but it really is the mayfly that excites everyone. Fish are very hungry for these morsels and dry and nymph fishing is outstanding. This has probably been my favourite month of the past few years.

Bright weather brings excellent polaroiding in the shallows and a lot of time can be spent out of the boat wading in the sunshine. This can be exciting fishing.

November

Once the Western Lakes gate opens it is ‘game on’.

This has always been a popular month and remains as such. In 2015 we have Czech superstar and multiple world fly fishing champion, Martin Droz, coming to Tasmania to run some river fly fishing seminars.

Mayflies are hatching this month in the highlands and the fish are usually very active when they are. Nymph and dry fly fishing is coming into its own and all of the usual lakes are firing. This is the best time to fish some of the highland lakes for mayfly feeders.

Beetles can be found on some lakes in bright, hot weather which means that polaroiding is also possible.

Wade polaroiding on some shores is exceptional as you cast to fish in a few inches of water.

Sea trout are still able to be caught in some parts of the state and last season, some of the best sea trout action occurred in November even although this would traditionally be too late.

Rivers are basically all good. The week between Christmas and New Year is always a brilliant period to fish the rivers but basically the entire month is good.

Sometimes we can have a few days of bad weather in December and this can adversely affect the fishing. This is a good time to fish in Tasmania and although it may not be as productive as November on the lakes, the rivers are always full of hungry fish.

January

Traditionally the best polaroiding month, January is a month in which bright and warm weather produces the best fishing. Wind lanes, polaroiding and dry fly fishing predominate. However, the fishing is rarely easy.

Good casting and a stealthy approach is still necessary.

The western lakes are fishing well and although they have received some pressure by now, this month often

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Fishing News - Page 23

has the right combination of good weather and water heights for fishing in these lakes. Overcast weather is not common in January but mayflies are still around when conditions are good.

This is the prime month for “shark fishing – especially Great Lake”.

River fishing is excellent in January. Fish are looking up and dry fly fishing doesn’t get much better than this month on the rivers. Nymphs, however still play their role but fish are usually eager to rise and good casting is rewarded. A top angler can catch a lot of fish in the rivers in January. I can’t think of one day in January when the river fishing has been bad.

The number of fish caught in January is not normally as high as October, November and even December because the weather is better and the fish are not as easily fooled by bad presentations. Lower and clearer water also contribute to this. It is a month on the lakes where quality usually over rides quantity.

February

This is the hottest of all of the summer months.

Beetles and polaroiding are what we strive for. Mayflies are still around but in diminishing numbers. Sometimes, February can start to become too warm. This was not the case last season as a cold snap reduced water temperatures, and they never did get too high for the remainder of the season. Two decades ago, this was the prime month as the beetles would fall in enormous numbers. In recent times, the beetle falls are more spread out across summer. In some lakes, February is a little too late to get good fishing but the clear and deeper

lakes fish well. Shark fishing is still going although the sun is beginning to get low in the sky late in the month.

Grasshoppers are on the menu for river trout but really, the river fishing has been good for a few months now and it continues through February. The end of this month usually signals the end of the big caddis hatches but day time fishing still relies on terrestrials and this is why it remains good. As with the lake fishing, low and clear water means that presentation is all important (it always is). Don’t expect to catch fish if your presentation is sloppy. Dries are the main food item but as always, nymphs are successful too.

March

For many years I have thought that this is the hardest month to fish the lakes. After the heat of February, March provides another warm month which can send water temperatures too high and shut some fishing down. This was not the case last season when we were blessed with excellent fishing in March due to an unusual cold snap earlier in the season.

If temperatures do not get too warm, the beetle feeders continue to impress and sometimes small mayfly can also keep trout feeding. The wade polaroiding is exceptional and probably the best of the season whether it is a warm month or not. Fish are still spooky due to the water height and clarity. Some fish start to make their way into spawning creeks at this time which means they have become quite aggressive before heading up for their annual ritual.

If bad weather does come late in the month, it is not inconceivable to get mayflies starting up again on some lakes.

On the rivers, small mayfly appear and although many rivers are low, good anglers can expect to catch plenty of fish. Grasshoppers are normally still around until the first major frost.

River fishing and lake polaroiding are the things we try and do a lot of at this time.

April

This is my favourite river month for the entire season. The days are shorter by now which is the down side but the weather is normally post card perfect and mayflies are hatching well on the rivers. It is all about the dry fly and gentleman’s hours on the water. You can expect to get plenty of shots at rising fish on the rivers under clear blue sky days although temperatures are not high.

On the most perfect days, wade polaroiding Fishing News - Page 24

is still possible in the lakes but you need to have keen eyes. Shark fishing is well and truly over but general dry fishing from a boat is very productive.

In some locations, pre spawning fish are not hard to locate and their aggressive nature means that they are receptive.

If you have missed out on the early season trophy fish hunting, April is your opportunity to get hold of them again. We had some very consistent fishing to large trout in April last season probably due to their change in behavioural patterns.

Bad weather is good for lake fishing while good weather is good for everything.

May

The fishing opportunities are limited this month but those that we have are still good. It would be hard to recommend a trip in May over one in April (I wouldn’t) but if for some reason you were to be in Tasmania, there are enough very good fly fishing options to make it well worthwhile. Wet flies are more regularly used due to the locations that remain open for the month of May, but again, this would be quite different to the fishing throughout the more popular times of the season. May has produced some extremely memorable fishing for me over the years and is under rated.

June and July

Yes, there are fishing options and sometimes they turn out to be very good but I can’t recommend anything at this time unless you are here and want to catch a fish!

Dry fly... not likely!

So there is a rundown on the best times for different types of fishing.

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Fishing News - Page 25

W Weymouth wows

A new boat ramp opens up a great bread and butter fishery

T

Todd Lambert

he editor Mike Stevens has asked me to write a short article about an underutilised fishery that we has recently become more accessible.

Opening out onto the waters of Bass Strait, the Weymouth area has long been acknowledged by those in the know (the locals) as one that produces quality recreational angling opportunities.

Up until recently and given the unpredictability of the predominate NW winds many avoided launching from here. The main obstacle was the substandard boat ramp and this troublesome facility often resulted in damage to expensive boats when launching or retrieving.

Weymouth ramp upgrade

Thanks to a recent MAST upgrade the Trevor Street launching facilities are a huge improvement. Finished in early April 2015, these issues have to a large degree been addressed and this area now offers much safer accessibility for those who wish enjoy a day with family or mates.

Fishing News - Page 26

That said, study the weather forecast before going anywhere, I own a 5.3 metre Quintex and as a rule of thumb if it’s over 10 knots I stay at home. My theory is there will be plenty of other days available to us down the track and with numerous inshore freshwater opportunities readily available should the urge to get out for a fish remain strong, what is the rush?

Also on safety, sometimes there is a quite strong tidal flow once you leave the Weymouth ramp that people in smaller craft or kayaks should be aware off.

Other species regularly targeted are gummy shark and Salmon.

Unwelcome bycatch consists of small couta, wrasse, gurnard and wobbegong shark.

We are yet to pick up any calamari but are told they are quite prevalent here at the right time of year, with that in mind a squid jig hanging over the side is always worth a try.

What can I expect to catch?

In short, once you leave the ramp you are in Bass Strait, it’s not a stocked fish pond so it is unlikely any increase in recreational fishing pressure will have negative effect on one’s ability to catch a feed of fish.

Many say that you should head out to the 40 metre mark to gain success and I agree the flathead do seem a bit bigger overall out there,that said, the 20 metre mark seems to produce more bites and the fish size is still one of quality. The area around two kilometres off Stoney Head also produces bigger fish.

Our main target is flathead, they are not as commonplace here compared with areas such as Great Oyster Bay and the fishing can be somewhat hit and miss, but the larger size more than makes up for the waiting time in-between bites.

Most common species caught are sandy and tiger flathead and size ranges around the 500mm mark are commonplace.

Where to go?

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Offshore, Ninth and Tenth islands can be accessed quite easily on a calm day.

Tenth Island holds a substantial seal colony and it is important to remember this was where a diver was taken by a Great White shark in years past, so please be careful.

So there you are, as requested a very short overview of a local and readily accessed fishery for those in the north of this great state, I hope you give it a try and like us, find success.

Tips n tricks

As the depth of water you will be fishing is quite deep you may want to consider using a bigger reel. Something in the 6-8000 size is ideal as they have the power, but importantly they retrieve a lot of line per turn. After you wind five or six fish up from 40 metres of water you will understand what I mean. Your gear need not be expensive and a quick browse in any tackle shop will see you kitted out with a reel that will suit your needs.

Match this up with a good boat rod and you’re ready to roll. Gear like this has neve been less expensive, nor the quality as good.

I prefer my reels spooled up with 80 pound braid, not because of the strength, but this heavier diameter tends to tangle less and you can feel every tap.

I love the pink Sabiki rigs shown with a small amount of squid on the hook to add some flavour.

Before: A degraded, an often dangerous ramp.

These rigs are found in all quality tackle stores and are cheap at around five dollars each. As each rig has six hooks on it a good idea is to cut it in half and use three on each rod. Five hooks are the legal maximum anyway.

Sinker weight really depends on how fast the wind is blowing as you drift along. You must ensure your line is dragging across the bottom at all times. If your not in the ocean floor you won’t catch any flathead. Flathead are ambush predators and will strike aggressively at stirred up sand and colour as it goes past. Change your sinkers as needed to ensure you are on the bottom.

Bites often come in the form of a constant light tapping on the line and you need to strike to hook them consistently.

If you miss them on the strike, immediately open your reel’s bail arm and feed the line back to the bottom.

More often than not you feel the fish come back for another go.

Todd’s rant

My favourite sabiki jig, cut down to two hooks. They will catch the occasional gummy as well.

overruled by big business and foreign companies in order to achieve profits at any cost.

I encourage each and every fisher to take an interest in these debates, and, as you feel necessary, add your voice.

Are you hearing this Senator Colbeck and Premier Hodgman? Rant over!

Todd Lambert

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

STOP THE SUPER TRAWLER JOIN THE FISHING PARTY

arfparty.org

TH

A large reel is a bonus when fishing in 40 metres.

To me it doesn’t matter really what I catch. I love all forms of fishing, whether it is stalking trout in the central highlands or deep sea fishing around the Continental shelf, I feel we are privileged to have all these options available to us right on our doorstep and we should never take our fisheries for granted or allow their exploitation.

I am also determined that that my children as part of the next generation have the same opportunity’s available for them to enjoy.

We, as every day anglers, should make our voices known when bureaucrats put this at risk. The recreational fisheries worth to this state is massive (15 million a year) and make no mistake, it is under threat on a number of fronts as we speak. Whether you wish to wade into the super trawler debate, the Liberals proposed cut in carp funding, the salmon farm debate, marine park debate. All this, along with the current scale fish review is taking place now.

In my opinion many issues are causes for concern.

I am concerned decisions are being made by politicians based on bureaucratic advice only and the social impact of these decisions are being

After: Weymouth’s new Trevor Street ramp.

This outstanding facility, improved by MAST with recreational funds is still weather and tide dependent, but launching and retrieving has been hugely improved.

E

FI

SHI

NG PA R

TY

Authorised by Kevin Harkins, PO.Box ??? Hobart.

Fishing News - Page 27

T

It’s trout time Peter Broomhall

I

t’s that time of year again! The new trout season is upon us. The dark days of winter seem just a little brighter don’t they?

When readying myself for the new trout season I like to review seasons past for some hints on what to expect for the upcoming months. Season 2014/15 was a great season personally and with the added responsibility of a first full season of working as a flyfishing guide many successful and thoroughly enjoyable days were spent on the water.

The below paragraphs are just a few insights into my early season fishing endeavours and hopefully will help some others in deciding where to concentrate their own

Fishing News - Page 28

efforts into the first few months of the upcoming trout fishing season.

Flood Water Feeders

Flooded river backwaters, usually the staple of early season fishing for me were unfortunately few and far between last season. The largest amount of tailers or worming trout that I found in the backwaters were actually a few weeks before the official opening. Some heavy rain in the mountains in mid July had resulted in swollen river levels in the lowlands and I decided to go for a drive to check the condition of a couple of favourite backwaters. As soon as i arrived at the first

location tailing and swirling trout were clearly evident.

Of course I had to content myself with capturing these guys on camera which was a fascinating challenge in itself but without the fishing rod in hand and the compulsion to cast at each fish that presented itself some interesting observations could be made. After a short time it was obvious that each of the dozen or so fat trout that were patrolling the small light bulb shaped backwater had a set beat that brought them back to the same spot time and time again, something more akin with summer willow grubbers or caenid feeders than trout feeding on worms, grubs and other food flushed out by the rising water. These trout would have reasonably easy to target with artificial flies such as woolley worms, buggers or chenille earthworms simply by setting up an “ambush” style presentation, ie sit the artificial fly in an area that the trout was returning to often. These fish were that consistent in their feeding approach that for a lengthy period you could almost set your watch to their return.

The water level rise was relatively short lived though and as soon as the water showed any sign of receding the feeding action tapered off significantly.

On another occasion early in the past season a friend and I had decided to spend the afternoon indicator nymph fishing a stream that had been particularly productive for that style of fishing up to that point.

Unfortunately some heavy rain in the few hours leading up to the fishing session had left the area virtually unfishable due to heavily discoloured water. The levels had only come up a few inches though so we had discounted any flood feeders and were standing chatting at our vehicles about to abandon plans when out of the corner of my vision I saw what I immediately thought was a dorsal fin briefly appear in the nearby shallows

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With interest suddenly piqued a more thorough examination of the water slowly creeping across the margins was carried out.

Low and behold feeding trout were in the shallows in numbers and some great sight fishing was encountered while water levels continued to rise Fur flies and fuzzle buggers presented to the feeding browns were eagerly set upon and what had looked like being a barren afternoon session turned into one to remember.

Some Key points on floodwater fishing

Take advantage of rising water levels however small and brief they may be. Trout are attuned to the rising water for similar reasons, particularly if the margins have not been inundated for a lengthy period allowing potential trout food like insects, grubs and worms to repopulate the area. The internet is a powerful tool here as most major river systems in the state will have level indicators showing water heights and trends at your fingertips. Anglers that can down tools and head to the water at a moments notice will be richly rewarded.

Be observant and expect the trout to reappear in the same spot time and time again. Once a feeding trout has been spotted only for it to disappear sitting and waiting ready to ambush it, will rarely be time wasted.

Flies left sitting inert in the locations the trout are revisiting will often be taken by the patrolling fish.

If you happen to encounter successful backwater feeding conditions be sure to observe what those areas look like when the water recedes. Knowing what to look for will give the angler a great basis when scouting out potential locations for future forays.

Lightly weighted flies, such as small fuzzle buggers, rabbit fur flies and chenille earthworm patterns are my favorite patterns for flood waters. Weighted flies will tend to sink and bury into the drowned vegetation too quickly making them hard for the fish to find and also retrieve without snagging up.

Nymphing the rivers

The cold days and even colder river water of late winter was not something that I thought that equated to consistent sport fishing the runs and ripples of the northern rivers. Most river sessions were confined to either swinging large wet flies down and across or fishing rising flood water for worming trout. With the scarcity of flood water in the last season a few friends and I decided to test out whether the same methods that we generally use later in the spring could put a bend into the fly rods.

The rest is now history as we of course found eager trout throughout the ripples

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Fishing News - Page 29

by running a team of weighted nymphs either under an indicator as is my favourite method or by utilising the Czech or French nymphing tactics.

Right from the opening day of the 2014/15 trout season hatching mayfly could be found on the northern river systems. These mayfly, usually baetids consistently hatched in the shallow broken water sections of the rivers and this is where the concentrations of feeding trout could be found.

Weighted nymphs like bead headed Pheasant Tail or Hares Ear variants drifted down across the shallow water were taken often enough by the hungry brown and rainbow trout that consistent sport could be expected on each outing. Places to lookout for were knee to thigh deep water immediately below ankle deep fast broken water.

This is where the fish were often lined up waiting for the hatching mayfly nymphs to be brought down to them by the turbulent waters.

Quite a few memorable sessions were had when we had cracked the code and it also seemed like a bonus to be catching trout using this method in the depths of winter.

Use weighted nymphs, especially tungsten beaded or weighted patterns. Although the water is often shallow it is paramount that your offering is bouncing along the bottom. Early season trout seem to be less likely to move a distance to eat than at any other time of the year. It is also important here to change the length of the leader from the first fly to your indicator depending on water depth for the same reason.

Strike at the slightest deviation or stop of your indicator. Takes in the cold winter and early spring water are often extremely subtle and therefore hard to detect. Quite often it is just a rock or stick but every now and again the strike is met with lively resistance.

Whitebait feeders

Perhaps the most visually exciting fishing of the early season over the last few years has been presenting flies to trout crashing schools of whitebait running upstream on their annual spawning migration.

Season 2014/15 featured some consistent early runs of whitebait into the lower reaches of the northern river systems. Good sized sea run and resident browns could be regularly found ambushing the schools of these diminutive forage fish from the estuarine areas up several kilometres of river.

A memorable session on whitebait feeders occurred when guiding a visiting American

Some keys for nymphing the rivers in winter

Be prepared to search the water thoroughly until the concentrations of trout are located. Once you find one trout it is likely that several others will follow shortly after.

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angler on the lower reaches of the Mersey River early in the season. Feeding trout were found periodically crashing bait schools as the moved up through a series of shallow ripples. Sight fishing with streamer type flies was a method unfamiliar to RC and he found it a mesmerising challenge to target these fish. The largest of these trout presented a real problem as between feeding lunges it was holding station under a substantial log. RC presented the fly a few times with only a flicker of interest registered from the fish. Finally he lodged the fly into the log itself directly above the trout and it had to be broken off as discreetly as possible to allow another cast at the fish. With this carried successfully and a fresh fly tied on, a mini surf candy style variant (as yet unnamed, a few friends have come up with Bruisers Bait… ) RC cast again at the fish with no interest. He felt that the fish was spooked due to all the activity but I urged him to try to get the fly closer as most casts were getting the fly to come down past the trout within approximately 6 inches of its snout but I felt it needed

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Fishing News - Page 31

to be even closer. When finally the fly landed in the right area and was stripped down almost directly over its nose the sizeable brown slurped it like it was the best thing it had seen all day ! RC finished that session with 4 nice trout to the net and a few other really good chances and a beaming smile to match.

Tips for targeting Whitebait feeders

Look for areas that the whitebait schools tend to congregate. Obstructions like rocks, logs and undercuts along the bank in fast water stretches serve to concentrate the baitfish and the trout will not usually be far away either.

As with all other forms of trout fishing keen observation will pay dividends. Whitebait feeding brown

trout are masters of camouflage and when lying in wait for the bait schools to build up are dreadfully hard to spot even in shallow water runs. Take the time to watch and wait for disturbances that will give the trouts position away so that they can be targeted with well placed casts. Many a time a lack of patience has seen a large fish shoot out from under my feet and head for its hiding spot out in the deeper water followed closely by a lot of foul language !!

Keep presenting the fly to trout that have been located. If they haven’t moved off in a hurry assume that they are not spooked. Particularly in fast water is a matter of only a few centimetres difference between acceptance or refusal of your offering.

My personal favourite flies to present to whitebait feeders are the afore mentioned “Bruisers Bait” or alternatively a medium sized green or olive nymph.

These fly patterns, either stripped past or presented inert to the trout will often be accepted.

Birds, in particular Grey Cranes are a good indicator of the presence of whitebait in the rivers. These predatory birds favour the same locations as the trout to predate on the whitebait. If you find them waiting patiently along the ripples be prepared to find some trout there as well.

Hopefully the above observations help the keen early season anglers find a few trout to quickly erase the off season blues. As always in the early part of the reason rug up accordingly as the weather and water temperatures are often harsh but rest assured the trout are there waiting for you.

Peter Broomhall

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W Taking a winter break Peter Hayes

Where to go and what to do?

Just how lucky are we to live in a naturally beautiful and safe place like Tasmania?

It is school holiday time and I am lucky that I have been able to schedule a full week off my work to take the kids on an adventure somewhere. So where should we go? Just a relatively short drive in any direction can take you to some terrific places. Should we go back to Wynyard where we caught bucketfuls of magnificent squid at this time last year. But then again, maybe we should take the camper with the dingy on the roof back to Bruny Island where we had such fun catching tuck loads of Salmon the last time we were there? Then again there is always Strahan and that magnificent wild ocean beach to explore !

My daughter suggested we sneak around the east coast and maybe we could work out a win/win deal where all our needs could be met. My son is mad about fishing a nd my daughter is mad about surfing. Let’s go to St Helens I said.

Accommodation

Rather than lug loads of camping gear about ( I was thinking of the work packing and cleaning when I got back home as well as the very cold weather we were experiencing) I thought it wise to book a 2 bedroom cabin at the Hillcrest Caravan Park in St Helens. Hillcrest has a shop attached and that provided our day to day vittles. The cabin was toasty warm with two heaters and an electric blanket on the double bed that the oldest in the family was entitled to. The days were bright and clear with hardly a breath of wind. The boating and fishing was delightful in these conditions but the clear nights came with a cruel coldness and I was pleased to not be camping.

Unfortunately life in small business cannot be a total holiday very often so my life was made easier with the WiFi system I could access at Hillcrest.

The boat washing machine made sure the boat kept tidy at the end of each day.

I would not hesitate to recommend Hillcrest as a place to stay in St Helens.

Food

I’m on holidays and the sole carer of the 2 kids so it was nice to eat locally and keep me out of more work in the cabin kitchen. The kids really appreciated the break from dishes duty too!

We ate locally and the fish and chips at the Blue Shed were great. The chips were so good the local seagulls look anorexic.

Breakfasts were had at the Laundromat Café and I don’t know how they can pile you plate with such copious amounts of bacon, eggs, toast, tomatoes and mushrooms for the meagre amount of money it costs.

Local knowledge and tackle

Before we fished we dropped in to visit Jamie Henderson at his tackle store in the main street. Things are pretty quiet in the town at the moment and while that suited us just perfectly I felt that Jamie was missing the busy summer trade. I asked lots of questions about where and how we might find success with the different species in the bay and as always Jamie did not disappoint.

His local knowledge is outstanding and just a 10 minute chat while I spent some $$$$ on squid jigs, hooks, line and berley was invaluable.

I assure you that Jamie’s valuable advice in that brief time helped us catch plenty of fish when otherwise we A 15’ squid pole with no reel and just a line would have struggled. It’s a no brainer – support your attached is a very effective garfish tool. local tackle dealers. There is much more to it than saving a few cents on a packet of hooks when buying on the internet. Here’s a tip… next time you are in Force 10 Fishing Charters - Fishing fun and great results his shop ask him why the little tiny lumo sticks are Enjoy an affordable, fun-filled so deadly when fishing for fishing day. We guarantee a thoroughly good time on squid.

Great the outstanding waters of fishing The fishing the spectacular tasmanian all yea r roun I knew I was in a good coastline! d spot, and at the right time A family day, corporate of the tide, when Michael functions or mates day. We Haley, the local fishing do them all. guide (Gone Fishing Charters) and my hero, Gift vouchers make a great pulled into the bay with birthday or gift idea. his beautiful new boat and Our 34ft devil cat is fitted DEEP SEA REEF GAME FISHING a couple of clients.

All Year February – April with toilet and standard Stripey Trumpeter (Closed Yellowfin Tuna M i c h a e l s t o o d u p amenities. to fishing from 1 Sept to 31 Oct.) Albacore Tuna high on the bow with his It is in full charter survey Silver Morwong Perch Mar – June polaroids on while he Coral Perch and is safety management Bluefin Tuna electric motored quietly Deep Sea Cod Jan – March compliant and licensed to about. I was sure he was Nov – Jan Mako Sharks looking for something. carry up to 10 passengers.

Squid Perhaps expecting fish BAY FISHING of some sort to be there.

All Year Then we saw them first – A Australian Salmon huge school of beautiful Flathead big Trevally swam past our boat.

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Fishing News - Page 33

like a flash with his soft plastic rod. Try as he did they proved very difficult to catch. After a half hour of very determined effort on his part he finally managed a hook up and a sensational fight with a fish that tore the hook in the last moments before the net. Bad luck Lachie !

The poles

Later we angled for the humble Garfish. And I mean angled. We used our newly minted poles. These telescopic poles were about 15 feet long and they had a similar length orange flyline tied to the end. A simple 4 foot leader of 5lb maxima and a long shank hook completed the deadly rig.

We found out several years ago from some friendly anglers on the water that a small strip of chicken skin makes for the best bait. I remember the day I found out about the chicken skin. The boat beside us was catching maybe 6 to our 1 and I could not help but to ask. They told us about their secret bait.

When the kids and I bought the single chicken wing from the IGA the lady serving asked us if we were going Garfishing. I guess the secret is well and truly out now.

Garfish were in numbers but were very shy. The berley trail worked well and I have no doubt it was helped enormously by the use of the Berkley Stimulate we bought from Jamie Henderson. I have used it for several seasons now and I truly believe it is special.

Another advantage of this berley is that there were no fish spooking birds working our trail where there were many on other boats nearby.

We had a ball catching both Mullet and Garfish on the free drifting baits. We would only gently lift into a hook set if we could see the floating fly line draw away as the fish gently took.

It sounds cocky but I think this time we were catching 6 to 1 compared to the surrounding boats. It was a combination of berley and more importantly a better fishing technique.

Filleting garfish is easy. Scan the QR code and see how.

The poles were great fun as well as effective. And they provided a very different contrast to our normal rod and reel fishing styles. There is something really nice about the simplicity of fishing like this. It is ‘back to our roots’ fishing and that can only be good for us.

More on them in the next issue.

Filleting Garfish

You really need a fish scaling bag so the fish are scale free when you start to fillet them. Do yourself a favour and buy one of these green nylon bags if you fish in the brine.

A simple bone handled kitchen knife is by far the best filleting knife I have used for small fish. Get one and sharpen it like a razor and you will thank me for that advice one day. Check out the YOUTUBE video of how to fillet garfish.

Surfing

The beach to the south of beer barrel (I cannot remember its name) seemed to offer the best surf break at the time we were there. My daughter loved it. The big fat wetsuit kept her warm and she spent hours in the water on the new board she has designed. I watched the two kids surfing and messed about learning to drive the new camera. One of the local ‘dudes’ dropped by and did some amazing stuff on his board. He was an ex Queenslander and we talked about how lucky we are here in Tasmania to have so many places we can go and very few people to intrude on our nature based experiences.

How lucky are we.

We gorged ourselves on boneless fillets of sweet white fleshed Garfish when we got home. My kids love them coated in ‘Fog Dog’ Panko breadcrumbs mixed with a chilli, salt, pepper blend and shallow fried in a super hot wok. Try it sometime.

Peter Hayes

New management changes providing more fish for anglers F

or many years the transfer of adult brown trout from the spawning streams of the highlands, particularly Liawenee Canal at Great Lake and Hydro Creek at Arthurs Lake, has provided benefits to the IFS trout stocking program. These fish, being wild are less prone to being caught out early in the season and have the potential for growth in their new homes that often exceeds that experienced in the lake they came from.

New fish traps

Lake Crescent has plenty of very big fish available. They are not easy though.

In 2014 two new trap facilities were built at Arthurs Lake on the major spawning streams of Tumbledown Creek and Scotch Bobs Creek. These traps alone provided an extra 17,000 fish in 2014. In 2015 another new trap was operational at Sandbanks Creek, Great Lake. This trap has provided 9,075 adult brown trout so far (start of July 2015).

The added benefit of removing trout from Arthurs Lake and Great Lake has been to reduce the size of the fish population in order to improve the average size of fish, particularly at Arthurs Lake which has experienced very high recruitment of stocks during the last five years. Catch rates at Great Lake has not suffered from removing these trout from the spawning runs and has seen an improvement in fish condition. There have also been no negative effects of removal of fish from Arthurs Lake either.

So what does this mean for anglers at the start of the 2015/16 season? More fish at popular fisheries is the simple answer. The Bradys Chain of lakes in the western part of the highlands has long been a popular destination for anglers but has become increasingly

Build your own ‘Brumby’ plywood drift boat se r u o c g ldin i u b 15 t 0 a 2 t Bo s u Aug 2 2 y a d k now atur

S

Limited

The Brumby 3.5 metre drift boat.

You probably read about Mike Stevens building a drift boat in the February 2015 edition of this magazine.

The ‘Brumby’ drift boat is a thing of beauty, robust and easily transported on roof racks. It is easy to row and stable and can be finished in a variety of ways. It is not just a thing of beauty though you will be proud of, it is practical and perfect for drifting a river or pottering around on small lakes.

places

- Boo

The Brumby is light and stable.

A complete redesign has taken place using more readily available materials, and computer router cutting of nearly all parts saves time and ensure better fitting joints. Only basic tools are needed, plus sandpaper and a jigsaw to custom fit a couple of parts. Any extra parts can be found easily at local hardware stores or Tasmanian Chandleries.

The ‘Stitch and Glue’ design with fibreglass reinforced edges is one of the easiest, fastest and strongest design to build small boats.

Building the Brumby is easy.

We will be running a boat building course for ‘The Brumby’ with fibreglass expert David Mercer, Manager at Penguin Composites attending to discuss and show you how easy fibreglassing is.

A boat will be completely assembled during that day.

Course cost is $150, which will be deducted from the price of a kit should you decide to buy one.

Complete precut kits with all timber parts will be around $1300.

Details: mike@tasfish.com or 0418 129949

reliant on stocking to sustain the fishery. It was clear to the IFS in 2012 that stocking with juvenile trout was not successful in achieving sustainability of the fishery. The aim of the last few years has been to transfer a minimum of 5,000 adult brown trout to the Bradys Chain. The new traps at Arthurs and Great lakes have allowed this to be achieved for both 2014 and 2015 whilst still leaving a large number available for other fisheries.

The increasingly popular fisheries at Penstock Lagoon and Four Springs Lake have created a demand for more adult transfers to these waters. Each of these fisheries has received 4,000 fish this year which will provide anglers with some great catches of well-conditioned fish. These waters have shown through IFS conducted surveys that they produce exceptional growth rates with fish transferred at 700 grams reaching 1.6 kg in 20 months and producing fish of an average weight of greater than 1.4 kg.

River Derwent spawning trout trap

Preliminary investigations have commenced into the construction of a spawning trout trap on the River Derwent upstream of Lake King William. A site visit has located a possible construction area and a more detailed survey will be undertaken in coming weeks to confirm suitability.

Lake King William is known for an abundance of wild trout and is considered to be overstocked due to the extensive spawning grounds within its catchment.

If constructed the trap will provide access to a valuable resource of trout that will be used to supplement other fisheries around the State.

Performance assessment at Tooms

A fishery performance assessment was undertaken at Tooms Lake to establish an estimate of the brown trout population size and to examine recruitment of younger fish into the fishery from previous stockings and natural recruitment. The survey was also used to obtain the range of weights and lengths for both brown trout and rainbow trout.

In total, 96 box traps were set throughout the lake over two nights. In total, 645 trout were captured. This consisted of 562 brown trout and 83 rainbow trout.

A small amount of electrofishing was also undertaken using the electrofishing boat, with 25 brown and 8 rainbow trout captured.

To allow for the brown trout population size to be estimated, 3850 brown trout collected from Great Lake during early June had their adipose fin clipped before being released into Tooms Lake. The proportion of these fin clipped fish as part of the total catch of brown trout suggests the population to be around 19,770 fish (plus or minus 3,253). Non fin clipped brown trout ranged in ranged in size from around 1 kg to 4.9 kg. A large number of brown trout were in the 1.8 – 2.5 kg range, with a reasonable number in the 3 – 3.5 kg range. Most fin clipped brown trout were around 0.7 – 1.2 kg.

There was strong evidence of failed natural recruitment over the past two years and failure of a stocking of 30,000 triploid browns during late 2013.

Rainbow trout represented around 13% of the catch, with a range of size classes present as a result of the stocking of fingerlings, yearlings and adult rainbow trout over the last three years.

It should be noted that these are preliminary results and once the data has been collated and interrogated, these figures may change slightly.

At this stage, it appears that Tooms Lake has a low population of large brown trout, together with a small number of rainbow trout, all in exceptional condition.

Fishery Bradys Lake Bruisers Lagoon Camerons Lagoon Carters Lake Craigbourne Dam Four Springs Lake Lake Botsford Lake Crescent Lake Dulverton Lake Duncan Lake Lynch Lake Paget Leven River Penstock Lagoon Pet Dam Rocky Lagoon Tooms Lake

Date Number Type Apr-15 5,400 Diploid May-15 70 Diploid May-15 70 Diploid May-15 200 Diploid May-15 2,150 Diploid May-15 4,250 Diploid Apr-15 100 Diploid May-15 1,430 Diploid Jun-15 515 Diploid May-15 70 Diploid May-15 70 Diploid May-15 50 Diploid Jul-15 400 Diploid Jun-15 4,000 Diploid Jun-15 1,000 Diploid Apr-15 100 Diploid Jun-15 3,850 Diploid

Stock Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild Wild

Adult Atlantic salmon stocking January - 14 July 2015 Fishery Brushy Lagoon Craigbourne Dam Meadowbank Lake

Date Number June-15 1,150 Feb-15 1,200 Mar-15 2,270

Type Diploid Diploid Diploid

Stock Domestic Domestic Domestic

# Date denotes last occasion stocked.

Craigbourne Dam

Craigbourne Dam is a popular fishery in the state’s south, known best for the large ex-brood stock Atlantic salmon that are stocked there. For the last two seasons numbers of adult brown trout have been stocked there over winter.

These brown trout provide good opportunities for anglers when before, during and after the feature salmon stockings.

Anglers can expect a salmon stocking before or just after opening weekend. The underpinning of brown trout stocks at Craigbourne will give provide anglers with extra rewards at this popular fishery.

Lake Dulverton

It appears that Tooms Lake has a low population of large brown trout, together with a small number of rainbow trout, all in exceptional condition.

Fishing News - Page 36

Adult brown trout stocking January - 14 July 2015

Also in the south of the state is Lake Dulverton at Oatlands. This is a productive fishery when the stocks of fish and water levels are kept high. The IFS has been stocking this with brown trout adults in the lead up to this season and is committed to keeping up the fish stocks at this fishery. An agreement reached by Southern Midlands Council and IFS to supply the lake with water as a trial for

Thousands of trout have been transferred from spawning runs. the next three seasons means this lake may prove to be a boon for anglers.

Lake Crescent monsters

Lake Crescent showed its’ former glory last season with trophy sized brown and rainbow trout caught there for those that put in the extra effort. Many anglers experienced Lake Crescent for the first time last year and whilst some left without a fish there were plenty that caught fish over the 4 kg mark and some with fish

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Angler Access

Brushy is an all year round fishery. over 6 kg. Persistence with lures and flies will bring these monster trout undone. Lake Crescent had been previously stocked with fry and fingerlings but since a large transfer of adult brown trout in the early 2000’s but this year will receive 2,000 adult brown trout. Trout grow quickly in this water and it will be good to see the expected increase in catch rate as a result of this latest stocking.

Northern fisheries

In the north of the Tasmania there are several fisheries that have benefited from adult transfer of brown trout. Pet Dam, Four Springs Lake and the River Leven have all received good numbers of these fish.

Four Springs Lake is a one of the standout trout fisheries in the state, producing well-conditioned fish and an average size of nearly 1.5 kg. This is both a popular and productive fishery where adult brown trout transferred from the spawning streams of the highlands grow well and quickly in the warmer waters if this lowland lake.

The neighbouring Brushy Lagoon is also a popular fishery and like Craigbourne Dam in the south of the state gets its’ reputation from the stocking of ex-brood large Atlantic salmon and the occasional large ex-brood rainbow trout stocking. Brushy has received two such stockings of Atlantic salmon during the winter period this year with fish over 4 kg available to anglers. Brown trout can also be found here.

Lake Kara received ex-brood Atlantic salmon in 2013 for the first time. This has reinvigorated what was a fairly benign fishery. Since then large salmon and rainbow trout have been stocked there and the water is now regulated to reflect the change in its’ status as a put and take the fishery, bag limit of five fish with no more than two over 500 mm in length. It is anticipated that the lake will receive more of these trophy sized fish early in the new season.

The River Leven is an important fishery on the northwest coast of the state. It has had significant work undertaken on providing angler access because of its’ regional significance. From the predation of cormorants in 2012 to 2013 it has suffered from loss of trout stocks.

The last three seasons has seen the IFS stock the river with adults from the highland spawning runs in order to boost opportunities for anglers to catch fish there, with 400 stocked in 2015.

The River Leven has received a boost with 400 adult brown trout from Liawenee released on the 8 July at Bannons Park. There is excellent access to all sections of the River Leven from the seaward limit in Ulverstone to Taylors Flats at Loongana; these are identified in the Anglers Access brochure. The estuary section around Lobster Creek Road is worth a look for early season searunners.

The Mersey River Anglers Access project has proved popular with the Mersey becoming the most popular river fishery in the state in 2014/15.

Anglers have reported excellent catches of both brown and rainbow trout particularly from the middle reaches from Lovetts Flats to Kellys Cage Bridge.

Pet Dam at Ridgley has had more area opened up for public foot access for anglers. It has also received 1000 adult brown trout transferred from the highland spawning runs that will give the fishery a timely boost for the opening of the season. Shore based lure and bait fishing are recommended methods in the park like surrounds of this picturesque water.

Both the Macquarie and Meander rivers have experienced excellent fishing during the 2014/15 season and this should continue into the 2015/16 season. With excellent access throughout their catchments both these rivers will be popular early in the season. Brumbys Creek usually fishes well early even if water levels are low.

The River Derwent is a renowned early season fishery for both resident browns and searunners. Anglers will benefit from the latest Anglers Access brochure that identifies over 60 access locations between Gretna and Dowsings Point. Many locations are within close proximity to Hobart’s northern suburbs and provide an ideal opportunity to have a quick flick either early or late in the day.

The Huon River is also definitely one to put on the list for early season. Good catches have been reported in the all year round section of the river downstream of Huonville over the winter months. Both shore based angling and trolling are recommended.

Talbots Lagoon access

The IFS has entered into an MOU with Forico Pty Ltd to develop an integrated approach to management of inland waters in the Forico managed estate. Subsequent to the signing of the MOU, IFS has had preliminary discussions with Forico in respect of future access to the Talbots Lagoon, near Guildford in the north-west, for angling and associated management. Historically the lagoon has only been accessible to anglers who have completed an induction program and been issued with an access permit by Forico or the former owner, Gunns.

There is a possibility that Forico may dispense with the permit system and make the Lagoon accessible to the general public under strict access conditions.

The IFS is seeking input from angling groups regarding the future management of the Talbots Lagoon fishery and how this may impact on future access arrangements. Ultimately arrangements will need to meet the requirements of Forico in respect of their forestry management and operations.

Developing a southern trout fishery

The Service has been looking for opportunities to increase angling licence sales, particularly in southern Tasmania where the take up of licences is underrepresented per capita. A number of options were presented at the June Inland Fisheries Advisory Council meeting, attended by the Deputy Premier, where it was agreed to undertake three key projects to support freshwater angling in the south.

An expansion of the recently launched River Derwent Angler Access Project, including the development of sites to allow the launching of canoes and float boats will be undertaken along with looking at opportunities to use the Derwent Valley Rail corridor between New Norfolk and Maydena to obtain better access for anglers.

In a trial the Service is looking to purchase water from the Midlands Water Scheme to supplement water being delivered to Lake Dulverton by the Southern Midlands Council. The aim is to maintain a good water level in a 51 Ha portion of the lake to sustain a trout fishery and support other recreational activities. Adult brown trout were recently transferred from the Central Highlands and stocked into this lake. Signage is currently

The Meander is an outstanding fishery with very good angler access.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 37

being developed in conjunction with the Southern Midlands Council and PWS. Further work will be undertaken to assess the suitability of constructing a dam south west of Geeveston at Esperance Plains. This site was identified through a desk top survey that was undertaken of the southern region and was seen as the site with the best potential to create a recreational freshwater fishery.

Protecting the Clarence galaxias

The threatened Clarence galaxias has a limited distribution in the area west of Bronte Park. The Service is in discussion with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy to protect the species. Surveys have been undertaken and planning has commenced to assess the feasibility of developing a trout free zone on Kenneth Creek in the Nive River catchment. The project requires the removal of any trout from the creek and Kenneth Lagoon and the placement of an in stream barrier to prevent trout from moving back up into the catchment.

It is expected that on ground work would be undertaken in autumn when water levels are generally low and the best chance of total trout removal can be achieved.

Compliance

Dion Lyell Quarrell of Wynyard was convicted in the Burnie Magistrates Court on 6/7/15 of white bait related offences and fined with a special penalty a total of $616.

Peter Thomas Odegaard of Wynyard was convicted of 11 offences also in the Burnie Magistrates Court on 6/7/15. These consisted of 4 offences against officers, 5 fisheries offences and 2 counts of breach of bail. He has been bailed until August for sentencing Two defendants appeared in the Burnie Magistrates Court on 13/7/15 for plea in relation to 43 fisheries charges including offences against officers. These charges have been listed for contest mention in August.

A further defendant is to appear on 21/7/15 also in the Burnie Magistrates court for plea on 12 whitebait related offences.

Shannon Lagoon

IFS and Hydro Tasmania are working together to improve the fishing experience at Shannon Lagoon by trying to improve the water clarity.

The lagoon provides habitat for threatened native aquatic plant and animal species, irrigation water releases for downstream use, and a recreational trout fishery. Turbidity, or lack of water clarity, has long been a concern for the angling community and because of it the lagoon is perceived as not meeting its full potential as a trout fishery.

What has been found is that it is not feasible to achieve a year round clear water fishery in Shannon Lagoon. It is however believed that better water quality can be achieved on a more regular basis particularly in late summer. The initial management target is to keep turbidity levels below 20 NTU* for 75 per cent of the time during Fishing News - Page 38

February and April and to reduce turbidity as far as possible at other times of the year. This will be done by automating the pumps at Miena Dam that transfer water back into the Great Lake, which will allow more accurate management of water levels as well as using irrigation water releases to provide lagoon flushing.

Further detail is available in the Shannon Lagoon Summary Report on Hydro Tasmania’s website at www.hydro.com.au/environment/ shannon-lagoon *NTU is the unit used to measure water turbidity. It stands for Nephelometric Turbidity Units

Recreational Boating fund

MAST contractors have completed a timber landing at Penstock Lagoon. This is the first stage of a two stage project. The second stage is for flexmat to be installed on the ramp, which is planned for November.

Crushed rock material has been placed at the toe of Woods Lake and Tooms Lake boat ramps to improve launching opportunities due to low lake levels. Caution is required by boat owners at both facilities. A number of inland projects were approved by MAST through the 2015 round of the RBF including a ramp and pontoon for Craigbourne Dam and a new pontoon at Lake Rosebery. Other MAST funded projects planned for the 2015/16 year are the installation of pontoons at Jonah Bay (Arthurs Lake) and Brandum Bay (Great Lake).

A navigation light will be installed at Lake Crescent prior to the commencement of the 2015/16 season. The vandalised navigation light at Wilmot (Lake Barrington) has been replaced.

IFS have worked closely with Hydro Tasmania to establish a new launching area at Lake Rowallan.

Civil works on a new gravel launching area have been completed by Hydro and monitoring of the new area will be conducted by IFS over a range of lake levels before it is formally signposted and designated as a boat ramp. Additional work may be required to complete the area. Anglers are encouraged to use the new area approx. 1km south of the Dam. Please exercise appropriate caution as the ramp and access track may not have consolidated and could be boggy in areas. Any feedback or comments can be directed to the IFS.

Pumphouse Point - Lake St Clair

IFS has been working with the operators of the new Pumphouse Point development at Lake St. Clair to ensure that anglers access to St. Clair Lagoon and Derwent Basin is maintained and clearly designated to anglers. A new carpark has been developed next to the Lodge entrance.

Public pedestrian access to the entire site with the exception of the Pumphouse itself is retained.

Anglers may walk along the access road beyond the gate or use the newly constructed access path along the lagoon. Anglers may cross the flume bridge and use the pathways beyond to the weir and basin. IFS have supplied Anglers Access signs and symbols for use on the site to assist navigation for anglers.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Quamby Annual Open Day Quamby Fly Fishers Club is holding its 7th Annual Open Day at the Meander Hall on Sunday 6th September from 10am to 3pm. A warm invitation is extended to anyone currently involved in fishing and those who would like to get involved in this wonderful pastime.

Quamby Fly Fishers Club is based at Deloraine on the Meander River in the central-north of Tasmania, a fortyminute drive west of Launceston or equal travelling distance east of Devonport.

Just 15 minutes away is Huntsman Lake and the Central Plateau is only an hour.

Within easy access is Brushy Lagoon and Four Springs Lake. The club has fishing outings regularly to offer lake and river fishing. Monthly meetings feature an informal atmosphere, with shared practical sessions and ideas from experienced members that are valuable for all.

People attending the Open Day will be able to obtain information from experienced Club members about all things fishing at any level from the rank beginner to the experienced angler.

Several members have competed in fly fishing championships at international, national and state levels, so they have a wealth of knowledge to draw on.

Demonstrations and advice will cover fly tying and entomology, casting, knots, gear selection, cleaning and filleting, where and when to fish, etc. There will also be ample time for practice of some of these activities under expert tuition.

Sunday September 6th 10am to 3pm Meander Memorial Hall Entry - gold coin donation Lunch: BBQ - gold coin donation Inq: Grant Flowers; 0407 555 291 Web: www.quambyflyfishersclub.com

Tasmanian Outdoor Boat And Caravan Show

Enquiries or exhibitors phone 0497 176 229

11 -­13 SEPT 2015 TH

The Tasmanian Outdoor Boat and Caravan Show will be held at the Launceston Silverdome on the 11th13th September 2015.

The event will show case predominantly Tasmanian owned businesses in the outdoor leisure and activities industry, with a little mainland variety. A full list of our exhibitors can be found on our webpage www.tasoutdoorshow.org. au, they range from caravans to boats, camping and fishing gear, vehicles and 4WD accessories, cycling and much more.

TH

SILVERDOME, LAUNCESTON

With extra coffee and food stalls, great deals from our exhibitors a n d g i v e a w a y s a t t h e d o o r.

Demonstrations, displays and a jumping castle for the kids.

The show commences at 9am- 5pm Friday and Saturday, 9am-4pm Sunday. Ticket sales are at the Silverdome entrance, adults $12, concession $10, children under 17 free.

Organised by the Tamar Yacht Club with all profits going to the junior sailing program, sponsored by NAB, and supported by the Examiner, Chilli/ LAFM and Southern Cross.

Press Release

International Tourist Award Derwent Briodge Chalets Central Highland’s accommodation property Derwent Bridge Chalets & Studios has received two prestigious, international awards as voted by guests who have stayed at the property.

Certificates of Excellence awards from both TripAdvisor and Booking.com have been received for the years 2014 and 2015 in recognition of the properties efforts to ensure guests receive the very best of standards and attention during their stay.

For 5 years, TripAdvisor has shared this award on behalf of travelers across the globe and in recognition of 5 years of successive awards, the chalets have been acknowledged and accepted into their 2015 Hall of Fame.

The owners, John and Louise are thrilled with the acknowledgement, as it recognizes their continuing efforts to ensure guests receive the very best they have to offer, whether they be local, interstate or overseas visitors.

Check it out at http://www.derwent-bridge.com/

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 39

Tonic Eyewear “Gen2” Tonic sets the benchmark by producing the lightest and thinnest glass polarised lens in the world!

Tonic Polarised Eyewear, the new leader in high quality fishing sunglasses, is proud to announce the release of Tonic Eyewear “Gen2”, featuring the thinnest polarised glass lens ever seen in Australia.

At only 1.3mm the new Tonic Eyewear lens is so light you won’t believe you have a pair of sunglasses on. The clarity and performance of the lens is better than anything Tonic Eyewear (already the market leader) has offered before.

Specially developed by Tonic founder Doug Phillips, “Gen2” represents a remarkable leap forward in polarised optics. “I have pushed our optics further than ever with our new range of lenses.

Anglers will not believe how good they really are” says Doug.

Coming to stockists in Spring 2015, Tonics new 1.3mm “Gen2” lens will be available in Photochromic Copper, new Photochromic Grey, Neon and three new Mirrors.

Tonic is releasing four new frames too in its biggest expansion of styles since the brand began.

All Tonic models incorporate the latest Japanese optical technology, including unique de-centred lenses for distortionfree viewing at any angle.

Tonic’s scratch resistant glass lenses are just 1.3 mm thick; making them 50% lighter than regular glass and feature Tonics own polarising filter systems and anti-reflective coatings.

Tonic Polarised Eyewear comes in twelve wraparound styles and a variety of lens types to suit different situations.

Available at over 250 locations around Australia and New Zealand, see the full range and find your nearest Tonic retailer at www.toniceyewear.com.au.

More information: Doug Phillips doug@toniceyewear.com.au 0466 112 681 Pic: Shimmer, Matt Black, Photochromic Grey

Move your boat or van around the yard easily

Boat & Caravan Moving Trolley

Manoeuvre boats or caravans on slopes and difficult spaces easily. Never strain your back again. Remote control - rechargeable. Up to 2500kg capacity. Two models. Demos available. www.campertrolley.com.au

Pocket size Mini Jump Starter

Fits in your pocket. Jump start 6 cylinder car up to 20 times on one charge. 1400 MAH. Also charge your phone, computer etc $135 $120 enquiries@sherriffagencies.com or phone Sherriff Agencies Richard Sherriff: 0418 561 370

Tie better flies — Be a better caster Guaranteed results - or your money back ‘Hayes on Brumbys’ Lodge will host the Cressy Muz Wilson Memorial Tie In. This is a ‘live in’ fly tying weekend on 12/13 September 2015.

This weekend will honour the very wonderful Muz Wilson. The world is a much lesser place without the Great Muz Wilson in it. His innovative fly designs, his superb fishing ability, easy going, helpful and generous spirit will be dearly missed.

This weekend will provide an opportunity for all keen and budding fly tyers to get together and share the many wonderful things this great sport has to offer. Not the least of which is fly tying.

This is a start of the season fly tying party where you will not only have a wonderful and entertaining time you will also learn much from some of the best.

Bill Beck Bill is based at Little Pine over the trout season and has spent many years guiding in Tasmania. In the off season he ties flies. His Cat Fly is, like him, - legendary. It is not his only creation though and he has a lot more to share.

Bill Is one of the anglers that I have the greatest respect for and I’ve talked Bill into being the dinner speaker on the Saturday night and that is something you do not want to miss.

Fishing News - Page 40

Ray Brown Professional tyer of 30 years, Ray will also be with us on the weekend to demonstrate many ‘tricks of the trade’.

Peter Hayes will be swanning around contributing, for what it is worth, from his experience at two world fishing championships and 21 years as a guide on Tasmanian rivers and lakes.

Cost: Total cost for the weekend is just $270. A 1/3 deposit must be paid online to book your place and the balance is payable at the event.

Twin share accommodation, all meals, tying tuition and fishing on site is included.

Spaces are limited so don’t mess around - book your place immediately so you don’t miss out.

Casting Tune Up and dinner - Fri 11 Sept.

An additional afternoon will be added to the Live In Tying Weekend (Friday 11th Sept - 12 noon to 5 pm) for those keen live in weekend tying guests that are able to, and wish to, come early and join in a ‘Tune Up’ fly casting course program.

Fly tying & C asting Sept 11, 12, 13 Better casters catch more fish.

We will tidy up your basic casting stroke making you a more efficient and effective caster. Learn techniques like double hauling that will add many meters to your cast. A little formal casting tuition can go a long way to helping you catch more fish next season.

Cost: For the afternoon casting tuition, Friday night dinner, twin share accommodation and breakfast is $165/person and must be booked and paid in full, online to secure your place. www.peterhayesflyfishing.com

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

NEW

SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS – Sharkwave saltwater Titan and Siege lines The SharkWave series of fly lines are the culmination of Scientific Anglers development of the latest technology available which include Line ID, advanced chemicals for shootability and floatability and the world’s first triple textured fly line utilising their micro-replication texturing technology to provide the angler the most technically advanced family of fly lines on the market.

In essence SharkWave lines feature a triple-textured surface structure in which Sharkskin texturing is used on the tip portion of the line while belly and running line are embossed with a textured divot pattern.

The benefits of texturing are numerous: the increased surface area allows the line to sit higher in the water, offering less drag, easier mending, easier pick-ups with less water spray; the micro-texturing traps air and increases both shootability and floatation, all while decreasing friction; and the micro-replicated pattern increases durability and thus extends the life of the line.

The texturing is interrupted by a short, smooth portion of the line where the head meets the running line which SA calls a Tactile Reference Point (TRP). Its purpose is to allow the angler to feel – and hear – this transition point as an aid to casting. Additionally, a visual aid is provided by the lines triple-colouring which delineates the tip, belly/head and running line sections. If you miss feeling the TRP, then the colour transition provides the visual cue for when to shooting the line.

The SharkWave Saltwater Titan is a quick-loading taper designed for casting big flies to distant targets. An extra-strength core utilising Tropi-Core technology makes it ideal for chasing large tropical species. Additionally, lines in 10 to 12-weights feature a super-strong core with a 65lb (+29kg) test rating to tackle big-game species.

The SharkWave Siege is a quick-loading taper designed for throwing big flies with minimal back casts. Built for temperate climates, the short powerful head makes it ideal for tossing streamers for trout and native species such as Murray cod and yellowbelly.

Every SharkWave fly line features the very best of every technology available which includes: Scientific Anglers Line Identification Advanced Shooting Technology Improved Dry Tip Welded Loops front & back Mastery Texture Tactile Reference Point Sharkskin Technology To view the range of SharkWave fly lines and retail outlets visit www.mayflytackle.com.au and click on the Scientific Anglers logo.

Try them for FREE at Scientific Angler day 1 August on the South Esk at Clarendon.

See details opposite.

World Leading Fly Line designers coming to Tasmania

AUGUST 1st at Clarendon

Scientific Anglers designed the first modern plasticcoated fly line way back in 1952.

SA’s international sales manager Jeff Pierce, along with their chief research and development engineer, Andrew Bosway are visiting Tasmania 01 August.

Jeff and Andrew travel the World seeking to understand the needs of anglers everywhere.

SA understands the importance of the Australian market and its long term support of Scientific Anglers.

‘We want to meet the Australian people who have made Scientific Anglers the world leaders they are today and educate them on the current technologies that our products offer.

‘We cannot wait to visit and may have a few surprises in new lines in development for people to actually cast on their own rods.’

Scientific Anglers will be holding a FREE open day for the public on 01 August at the Australian Fly Fishing Museum.

Smith Creek – Rig Keeper The Smith Creek R i g Ke e p e r i s a simple but cleverly designed rig system that allows anglers to carry a number of pre-rigged leader set-ups such as Czech nymph, lochstyle, dry fly, indicator-nymph and droppered wets, which can be quickly changed during the course of a day’s fishing.

The Rig Keeper body is comprised of a piece of 5mm thick, dense foam measuring about 110mm x 50mm which has 8 ‘V’ notches indented along its two narrow edges, into and around which the leader rig is wound.

Both foam faces of the body are perforated with 40 small holes linked by micro-slits, with the holes acting as location points for the slits into which the hook point and barb can be safely embedded. Three exposed plastic ribs, two at either end of the foam and one in the centre are there to keep the pre-rigged foam body from rubbing against clothing or material which could loosen or snag flies. While the Rig Keeper has a wire loop for external attachment, the ribbing feature allows it to be stowed safely inside a pocket.

All components are made from UV resistant materials.

Fully ‘loaded’, the Rig Keeper can holds 8 pre-rigged leaders and several

When: Saturday, August 01 Where: Clarendon Estate, Nile Time 10am - 2pm Sausage sizzle and cold drinks avail.

Rods avail., but BYO and try the SA lines on yours.

flies which, on its own, would be enough for a days’ worth fishing for most fly fishers. That it weighs a mere 25-grams ‘empty’, is evidence of its clever design.

The Rig Keeper is not just another superfluous gadget to dangle from you fly vest; it’s a well-made piece of kit that will find favour with many anglers looking for an efficient system of managing their pre-rigged leader set-ups.

For more details about the Smith Creek range visit www.mayflytackle.com.au and click on the Smith Creek logo. Trade enquiries call Mayfly Tackle on (03) 9899 0034

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 41

Tech Specs Operates up to a 30° angle Set temperature range -22°c to 10°c Volume adjustable 35L, 42L, 45L, 52L Average 0.67 Ah [16 Ah over 24 hours] with fridge set at -4°c in 24°c ambient World leading danfoss compressor German designed Secop Danfoss compressor BD35 Whisper quiet operation, Draws 2.4 A at 12.5 V Voltage range 12 V - 24 V DC 12 V battery protection cut out set at 10.4 V 3 Year fridge warranty 5 Years on compressor Australia wide Dimensions LOW LID – 35 Litre Height 380 mm Length (Ex handles) 690 mm Width 385 mm Weight 22.5 kg

‘The best fridge freezer by far - leaves the rest for dead’

Awesome

4.6 m fibreglass boat

Custom built by Penguin Composite.

On a Mackay trailer with boat buckles.

Full custom storage cover.

F70 4 stroke Yamaha. Less than 50 hours.

Minnkota 55lb I-Pilot with foot and hand controls.

Dual battery setup with dual Ctek chargers.

Awesome Lowrance HDS 10 with structure scan and sonar imaging with sonic hub and navionics Gold Maps.

Live well, rod holders, rod lockers and heaps of storage. Two pedestal casting seats.

Nothing to spend on this boat with all the best components and fit-out available. Would cost more than $35k to build. Buy today for $22.5k.

Phone David Mercer on 0419 873 886 to inspect and test drive.

Fishing News - Page 42

5 out of 5, reviewed on May 26, 2015 I have had a Bushman for about 8 years. It takes a pounding on a regular 24/7 basis as I run tag along tours to some of Australia’s most remote desert regions and other remote places, even for extended distances where there are no tracks at all. When not doing tag along’s I run 4wd driver training courses in the bush and often on rough tracks.

This Bushman fridge/freezer keeps my frozen supplie s frozen and my dairy products cold, giving me the best combination I could possibly hope for. I have watched plenty of other brands of fridges on trips that thaw out in hot desert conditions and not being able to keep up to the heat, or just pack up altogether, some will only work as a fridge or a freezer but not both at the same time, not so with my Bushman, it is a very capable all rounder.

I have had a couple of minor issues over the years, not that it has ever completely let me down, and [Name removed] and his team in Melbourne seem to have an attitude of what can we do to get it sorted as quickly as possible, even long after it was out of warranty, seemingly a very rare, and very pleasant, attitude to find these days.

It is a Bushman for me any day and every day and to wherever I choose to go, well done to [Name removed] and his team.

John Cantrell Australian 4x4 Driver Training, Glenbrook, Sydney http://www.australian-4x4.com.au http://www.productreview.com.au

COLLAR & LOW LID – 45 Litre Height 465 mm Weight 23.5 kg COLLAR & HIGH LID – 52 Litre Height 545 mm Weight 24.5 kg FEATURES • Rugged steel cabinet with thicker insulation 35mm Walls and 45mm Bottom.

• Rubber mounted compressor.

• With the refrigerator set @ -4˚C with an ambient temperature of +24˚C the BUSHMAN uses a mere 16amp hours per day.

• Thermostat constantly displays the inside temperature. Monitor without opening.

• Digital thermostat. Set the fridge in a range of + 10˚C to - 22˚C by 1˚C increments. A differential of around 2˚C either side of the set temperature eliminates compressor hunting. This allows for far more efficient management power consumption.

• Large 120mm fan for efficient cooling of both the condenser and compressor.

• The GD30FDC compressor is designed to operate silently, efficiently and reliably even with an incline of 30 degrees, and works with the environmentally friendly refrigerant R134a.

• Protections - Battery, Fan over current, Starting failure, Compressor overload, Electronic overheat.

• Extremely silent, smooth and efficient operation with the ability to continue operating even when out of level.

Available from Tamar Marine, Launceston

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Introducing the most outstanding electric motors ever The NEW Xi5 with Pinpoint GPS

Local servicing, repairs and warranty

Durable and Reliable • Premium composite shaft has a lifetime warranty against breaking • Electronics are encapsulated and impervious to water and dust • Mount uses anodized aluminium.

Hardware components and linkages are stainless steel Precise Steering and Control • Wireless “pro style” foot pedal for outstanding control. Saltwater Xi5 model comes with hand-held remote • Digital variable speed control for exceptional low-speed and smooth power delivery Quiet on the Water • Steering transmission is highlyprecise and has 50% faster rotation than the competition • Precision steering transmission

gears and low-friction bearings.

• Extra rigid shaft support and low vibration steering motor reduce noise, vibration and harshness Easy to Use • Mechanism aligns and guides the motor into the stowed position and secures it in place • LED lights in the dashboard show battery level and status of key operating modes • 55, 80 and 105lb thrust models.

• Foot remote also available • Check it out on Youtube at: http://bit. ly/1ov2TWT or scan the QR code to go straight there

Many models in stock — from 30lb thrust transom mount upwards.

Local sales, servicing, repairs, warranty – and parts in stock.

C.J. Marine and Karts

8 Legana Park Drv, Legana Ph: 03 6330 2277

UNthiNk everything UNthiNk everything you know about FourStroke. you know about FourStroke.

Unbridled power, unexpectedly compact, uncompromising reliability, unbelievably fuel efficient.

Mercury’s all new 75-115hp FourStroke range.

Unbridled power, unexpectedly compact, uncompromising reliability, unbelievably fuel efficient.

Unlike any other Mid-Range FourStroke the world has ever known.

Mercury’s all new 75-115hp FourStroke range.

Unlike any other Mid-Range FourStroke the world has ever known.

Channel Marine Services Lot 10 Gemalla Rd, Margate Ph: 03 6267 1456

C.J. Marine and Karts 8 Legana Park Drv, Legana Ph: 03 6330 2277

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 43

Prohibit recreational set line use at night display the restrictions. Fishing restrictions may apply and reduce the number of hooks from 30 for species or gear in areas such as estuaries and rivers, reserves and research areas, sensitive habitats and marine to 15.

RECREATIONAL SEA FISHERIES NEWS August/September 2015

Copies of the background paper outlining all the changes are available at www.fishing.tas.gov.au/scalefishreview.

To have your say on the changes: Complete the online form at www.fishing.tas.gov.au/ scalefish-review by 21 August Email: scalefishreview@dpipwe.tas.gov.au Phone: 1300 135 513 Post to: Scalefish Review, DPIPWE, GPO Box 44, Hobart 7001

farm lease areas.

Tip: Use the search box to find particular coastal features around Tasmania.

Fish Facts

Fish Facts for around 35 commonly caught recreational species are also on the DPIPWE website. They cover biology basics such as identifying features, habitat, the size and weight that each species grows to as well as fishing advice and cooking information. You can view them at: www.fishing.tas.gov.au/sea-fishingaquaculture/community-resources/fishfacts If you are a smartphone user, Fish Facts for another 80-90 species are available on the Tas Fish Guide app, known to Tassie fishers as the ‘fish bible’. Invertebrates such as lobsters, crabs and scallops are all featured in a fully searchable guide with colour images. The app can be downloaded free from the Apple or Google Stores.

More information at: www.fishing.tas.gov. au/phoneapp

Proposed Scalefish changes: Consultation closes soon

Consultation on proposed changes to the Scalefish management plan closes on 21 August.

The main changes include:

Introduce recreational daily bag limits for all key species; Increase the minimum size limit of sand flathead from 30cm to 32cm and striped trumpeter from 50cm to 55cm; New gillnet free areas around key penguin colonies; Further restrict the use of recreational gillnets at night; Additional restrictions on night netting in Macquarie Harbour to reduce bycatch and impacts on the maugean skate; and

Fishing News - Page 44

Season dates Interactive Maps and Fish Facts now on the web

Interactive Fishing Maps

Maps of fishing area restrictions are now available in an interactive format on the DPIPWE sea fishing website. The maps operate in a similar way to the maps in the Tas Fish Guide app which is available for iPhone and Android phones. Fishers who have Windows phones may find this webpage useful so they can access interactive fishing maps using their mobile internet browser.

The maps page is powered by the highly detailed Tasmanian LIST maps which show coastal features such as islands, rivers, beaches and sometimes even your shack!

They can be found at: www.fishing.tas.gov.au/ sea-fishing-aquaculture/ recreational-fishing/arearestrictions/interactivemap-of-recreational-fishingzones Just zoom into the area where you fish, then click to

Striped Trumpeter

A reminder that the striped trumpeter season is closed from 1 September to 31 October each year to protect fish during spawning.

Rock Lobster

The 2015/16 recreational rock lobster season opens on 7 November in the Western Region and 21 November in the Eastern Region. More details at: www.fishing.tas.gov.au/rec/seasons Need more information?

Get a copy of the Recreational Sea Fishing Guide from Service Tasmania; Download the Tasmanian Sea Fishing Guide app for iPhone or Android; visit www.fishing.tas.gov.au; or www.facebook.com/ FisheriesTasmania Phone: 1300 720 647 or 03 6165 3233 Email: fishing.enquiries@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Penguin Composites specialises in taking your old fibreglass boat and building it into a modern, practical fishing platform.

Outback 2.3m There are many excellent boats around that just need a revamp Floor length 2.3m and a side door, the Outback 2.3 slide on caravan to bring is designed to fit extra or freestyle cab size flat tray vehicles.

Manythem up to date. Yours

Islander Campers from Penguin Composites

could be one of them.

That could mean a pod on the back or a total make over from a cuddy cab or runabout to a terrific little bay, estuary, lake, bream or trout boat.

options, but typically includes: Sandwich panel construction; Fibreglass cupboards; Fully insulated panels; Electric camperjacks; Security door; Electronic battery management system; 90 litre fridge; 95 litre stainless steel water tank; 6’2’’ x 4’ or 5’ bed; 2 burner stove and grill; Easy lift mechanism Fromforthis pop top roof lifting; Aluminium full pop top section with vinyl sleeve; Approximately 610Kg.

To this

Cambridge Offroader is a modern two berth caravan Innovan campers are a ground breaking and top-selling new camper with designed for two people. Its fibreglass construction a solid fibreglass shell that can ‘hinge open’ to provide more space. Their ensures the strength and flexibility for Australia To this revolutionary patented design allows the Innovan camper toFrom expand from this conditions without weight.

1.5 metres above the floor to an enclosed living space with solid walls and The body of the caravan is one-piece fibreglass So if you have an old clunker do with fibreglass and other a ceiling close to 3 metres high in seconds. Amenities and storage space component without joints and dust ingress is not a that you think has the makings composites. are cleverly fitted on the interior and exterior of the unit, allowing the problem. Construction is on a steel chassis and with of a modern sporty, practical Call our manager - mad Innovan to stay light, mobile and affordable. rubber torsional suspension and electric brakes. boat give us a call. fisherman and ‘The Man of Innovan campers come in both a slide-on and a Roof hatch adds 300mm of headroom. Forward of the We also do simple or complex Glass’, David Mercer and have caravan model. axle, two bunks (or one double bed) are fitted with a repairs to hulls, floors, replace a chat.

All walls are thick insulated fibreglass, and the interior sliding table mounted between them. Plenty of storage transoms and love anything to is comfortable and spacious. lockers and plenty of options are available.

www.islandercampers.com

Ph: 03 6437 2791 808 South Road Penguin, Tas

Ph: 03 6437 2791 808 South Road, Penguin, Tasmania 7316

FRANKLIN MARINE Open 7 Day s

Your ad can work if it’s here.

Launceston’s Only Authorised Dealer and Service Centre Mercury and Motorguide

Phone Mike Stevens 0418 129949

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.

8 Legana Park Drive Legana Industrial Estate, P: 6330 2277 E: chris@cjmarineandkarts.com

Full fishing and cray store + gear and bait and all boating gear Drive in parking with boat Ph: 6266 3768

Goes up in 30 seconds RV4 shown

Scott, 53 King St. Scottsdale.Ph. 6352 2357 Julie-Anne, 41 Quail St. St Helens. Ph. 6376 1390

Top Service – Top Price

Watch the demo. Scan the QR code.

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 45

Boat trailer wheel and tyre

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

Dunbier and early Holden pattern

around $90ea 62 Hopkins St, Moonah 6228 0274

Hillcrest Tourist Park and Mini Market

100 Chimney Heights Rd. St Helens 6376 3298

Outboard Technology

Gone Fishing Charters

• East coast estuary and bay • Whiting, Bream, Salmon, Garfish, Flathead, Squid and more • Soft plastics, lures, fly and bait • 5.8 metre sportfishing boat.

Quality service and repairs to all Outboard Motors

Southern Region

Gone Fishing Charters St Helens

David Gillespie 6248 9080 or 0417 562 859

Michael Haley 0419 353 041 mhaleycharters@bigpond.com www.breamfishing.com.au

96 Clifton Beach Rd Sandford Tas 7020

Fis

World class fishing in the heart of the central highlands

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

(03) 6289 0111 info @tarraleah.com www.tarraleah.com

cosy wood fires

Fishing News - Page 46

wine & whisky tasting

www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

guided fishing trips

great pub

Australian Made for Australian Conditions

Life’s too short to take chances Way back in 1898, George Ross McPherson bought five pounds worth of Irish Linen and made the very first Platypus fishing line. The rest, as they say is history.

From those small beginnings in a galvanised iron shed with a dirt floor, four generations of McPhersons have continued to create fishing line in our Brisbane factory.

Our factories have changed and our techniques have been refined, one thing has remained unchanged, our commitment to bring you the best possible lines available. Platypus Platinum is a high knot strength thin diameter nylon copolymer monofilament that is

highly abrasion resistant. That’s just the ticket for everything from Whiting to Tuna. Platinum's neutral grey colour is the perfect camouflage in any colour water. Available in 300 or 500 metre spools in sizes from 4 lb to 50 lb, it is ideally suited to all Australian fishing situations. Once you try Platypus, you’re hooked for life. We’re passionate about fishing, because we know you are too.

For more information about our Australian made products

www.fishplatypus.com.au www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 47

Better safety and facilities for Tasmanian boaters Pens t

ock

Lago

on -

Scan to see the lifejacket awareness video.

Incorrectly worn or fitted lifejackets may not work effectively.

Don’t risk your life. Make sure you know how your inflatable lifejacket works.

Incorrectly worn of fitted jackets may not work effectively.

Scan the QR code above or go to www.mast.tas.gov.au to see MAST’s lifejacket awareness video.

Is your inflatable auto or manual inflate? If you don’t know - don’t go. open

Wey m ed J

outh

uly 2

015

- op

ened

July

2015

Two new facilities near completion for recreational boaters at Penstock Lagoon and Weymouth.

Each year MAST spends over $1 million dollars of registration and licence money improving boating facilities around Tasmania.

Would you like better facilities where you go boating?

Apply any time for better facilities. Go to www.mast.tas.gov.au

The Boatwise could save your life.

Download it now.