Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 124 2016 October by Tasmanian Fishing

October - November 2016

TASMANIAN FISHING and BOATING NEWS — ISSUE 124

Penstock Lagoon

Georges Bay

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Girls Gone Fly Fishing

Starting Kids in Fishing

The best fishing starts now Matt Sherriff loves calamari fishing. More on page 28.

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Lengthening daylight, warming waters and increasing temperatures brings the best fishing.

No matter where or how you fish or what you target it is warming temperatures that bring anglers out and fish on the bite. Trout, calamari, King George whiting, Kingfish and a whole lot more. This is really a prime time for fishing, so don’t delay. Get in as much as you can before

Christmas and before the consistent Summer sea breezes start. Get up early and fish before work, or if you can’t do that plan your trip to fish after work. Nearly everyone in Tasmania lives within an hour of good fishing water.

Penstock Lagoon — Steve Starling

After Midnight - on the Derwent — Justin Causby

Georges Bay — Jamie Henderson

Girls Gone Fly Fishing — Diane Kalweit

Great Lake Galaxiid Feeders — Michal Rybka

Calamari Time — Matt Sherriff

Getting Kids into Fishing — Dan Pursell

Fun in the Sand — Dean Crooks

Preparing for Kingfish — Gavin Hicks

Little Pine — Joe Riley

Reviews

Marine Fisheries News

45 How fantastic this rain has been. So many lakes have been spilling and who would have ever thought that going back into last Autumn. It was normal in the past to plan on a trip to the Macquarie River in early October for the Red Spinner hatch. Not this year.

TANGO SHAD = TROUT

Around the same time the boom gate to the Western Lakes opens. This years Lake Augusta was till pouring over the spillway.

GSD

I am a lover of river fishing and whilst this has largely been non existent it does look like it will be outstanding later on in the season.

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As I write this though there has been some huge dun hatches on Four Springs - just 30 minutes from my home. This is a remarkable early season water and I had a superb short session on it one evening at the end of September. Fish were feeding hard during last light in barely enough water to cover their backs. Feeding on corixa and stick caddis I had a ball hooking six fish and landing three to four pounds in under an hour. It was as good as it gets. A couple I experimented on with a floating mudeye. They smashed it as it was dribbled slowly across the top. It was heart stopping fishing.

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Fishing News - Page 2

ABTFR is an outstanding book in every way. The contributors are broad ranging, and happily include myself. From World Fly Fishing Championship competitors to general angler the diversity and patterns are sure to intrigue. Tying recipes are included and outstanding photography by Peter Whyte give a very clear picture of how the flies look and can be tied. What fascinates me is how so many different patterns are included to catch a trout. It tells me one thing for sure, and that is one must have confidence in the fly one is using. David Scholes frequently told me to ‘fish with confidence or don’t fish at all’. And I certainly believe fishing confidently with a fly you have faith in is much better recipe for success than a highly regarded fly you don’t believe in. Bernacci Lodge has now reopened as Thousand Lakes Lodge at Lake Augusta. Congratulations to Marcus Ambrose and his team on a superb refit. I will do a report next edition. Mike Stevens. Ed.

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

I had much delight in getting an early copy of the new Australian Best Trout Flies Revisited book. Malcolm Crosse initiated this after a very successful earlier edition.

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Fishing News - Page 3

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Penstock Lagoon A mainlander’s perspective Steve Starling

Jo Starling with a gorgeous Penstock Brown.

tarlo and Jo report on how the booming fly fishery in Tasmania’s Penstock Lagoon helped salvage a visit plagued by strong winds and below par action in some of the other big name highland lakes. As a mainlander who makes regular forays across Bass Strait, it’s obvious to me that the trout fishing fortunes of Tasmania’s many natural and man-made lakes wax and wane with the vagaries of the island’s seasons. Rising or falling water levels, variations in spawning success and the inevitable boom-to-bust cycles of food abundance all impact directly on the numbers, condition and catch-ability of both wild and stocked trout. So it is that different waters have their red-letter years and also their average or below par ones. Keeping an ear to the fishing grapevine helps visiting anglers like Jo and I stay on top of these shifting patterns, reducing the time spent flogging less productive spots for mediocre results. That can be critically important when we only have a few days or a week to spend on the beautiful Apple Isle. For decades, iconic Arthurs Lake has been a “go-to” destination for tourist anglers and locals alike, attracting more trout fishing pressure than any other body of fresh water in Tasmania. However, over recent years, Arthurs has regularly disappointed many hopefuls (myself

included). Fish numbers seem to have slipped a tad, along with the average size and even the condition of the brown trout encountered. This trend will definitely reverse in time (and I hear there are promising signs of that happening already), but over the short to medium term, tougher fishing at Arthurs has forced many trout chasers to look further afield and try new waters. In some ways, that’s been a good thing.

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Fishing News - Page 5

One waterway whose trout fishing star definitely seems to be in the ascendency at present is shallow little Penstock Lagoon, on the Central Highlands not all that far from Arthurs Lake, and only 20 minutes drive from the township of Miena, on the shores of Great Lake. During a visit to Tasmania late last spring, Jo and I fished Penstock on several consecutive days, and this lake effectively saved a trip that was otherwise plagued by unrelenting gales and rather lacklustre fishing. While certainly not sheltered from the incessant west to south westerly winds that cursed our stay, Penstock offered enough willing fish to help us temporarily forget these trying conditions. We can only imagine what a total delight this little gem must be in slightly less demanding weather!

Fly Only

Penstock Lagoon was constructed way back in 1916 to supply water to the now decommissioned Waddamana power station. This shallow, man-made lake has been renowned as a first class trout fishing venue ever since it was first built, and in recent years its fortunes have been very much on the rise. No longer used for power generation, Penstock’s water levels tend to remain reasonably constant, only fluctuating slowly over time with variations in seasonal rainfall (such as the incredibly wet winter that has just passed). These relatively static levels tend to promote healthy weed growth and a rich fauna of aquatic insects and small forage fish such as galaxias. No doubt, this helps to explain why Penstock has become such a blueribbon fly fishery. With very limited opportunities on offer for resident trout to spawn successfully, Penstock requires regular restocking with both browns and rainbows by Tasmania’s proactive Inland Fisheries Service (IFS). Today, the lake is managed as a fly-only premium fishery, with a strictly-enforced daily bag limit of three trout per angler and a minimum legal length of 420 mm for those fish. The lagoon is also closed to all fishing from the end of April until the beginning of August, and fishing is not permitted in the adjoining canals upstream of a pair of white posts. (Note that these were the rules at the time of writing. Regulations do change from time to time, so check before you fish! And remember that

you’ll need a current Tasmanian fishing licence, unless you fall into one of the exempt categories.)

Range of Options

This relatively small highland waterway offers a surprising range of angling environments, from shallow, marshy and reed-lined bays (mostly along the western side) to forested, rocky shorelines that are frequently exposed to energetic wave action (primarily on the eastern edge). All of these banks lie well within reach of walking or wading anglers, and there’s public foot access right around the lake, as well as parking and

Paul Ellis into a rocket. Fishing News - Page 6

camping areas along the more easily accessible western side. However, a lot of the most consistent fly fishing actually takes place out in the middle of the lagoon, which is not more than a few metres deep and carries luxuriant weed beds that extend almost to the surface in some places. These open lake waters are best fished from a drifting boat, typically using a drogue or sea anchor (with or without an electric motor) to slow and direct the drift. A drogue is almost essential in anything other than very calm conditions, and the best style of drogue for the job is the type commonly used by keen Tasmanian lake

Shore fishing offers plenty of options.

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Where the wild ones are. In the heart of the Western Lakes region on Tasmania’s Central Plateau, Thousand Lakes Lodge is the ultimate base for your next wild trout fishing adventure. The Lodge has undergone a remarkable transformation — from former Antarctic training facility to premium alpine accommodation. Experience world-class fishing in this remote yet stunning World Heritage Area, then retreat to the warmth and comfort of the Lodge. Enjoy premium guided experiences or create your own adventure. Explore the Lakes and discover the real Tasmania. Now open.

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Fishing News - Page 7

fishers, consisting of a long, thin rectangle of shade cloth or something similar with chain strung along the bottom edge and pool noodle fixed at the top for floatation. These nifty bits of kit can be deployed on various lengths of rope and even angled to quarter across the breeze. (It just so happens that the publisher of this fine magazine makes some of the best drogues I’ve ever used!) Anglers mostly cast their offerings ahead (down wind) of the drifting vessel, picking up fly line as the boat comes down onto the fly or flies. “Loch style” fishing with a team of up to three flies, each rigged about 1.5 m apart on a long leader, is especially effective. Some days, a Type III sinking line or sink tip combined with small wet flies or nymphs is the best approach, while at other times a floating line will do the job. One of the most exciting options when casting a floating line is to rig a buoyant and fairly bushy dry pattern as your top or uppermost fly, with a weighted nymph at the point (end) of the leader and something like a stick caddis or a second, unweighted nymph in between. Small, dark flies often seem to work best on Penstock. When the mayfly duns are hatching in profusion (as they so often do from November until March, especially on overcast, breezy days), it can pay to revert to a single, imitative dry fly on a fairly long, fine tippet and cast this at individual rising fish… There are few more rewarding and exciting ways to catch trout! While most of the trout encountered in Penstock will be fairly modest specimens weighing from 400 g to 1 kg or so, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. There are also some absolute thumpers in this waterway, and if a 2.5 to 3 kg rainbow inhales your fly, you’ll have a real fight on your hands! Even at their more commonly encountered average weights, Penstock’s fish seem to be especially lively and spirited representatives of their ilk. The browns jump like rainbows and the rainbows jump like Polaris missiles! A major liberation of grown-out rainbow fry had occurred not long before our visit last spring, and these willing little silver bullets were rather too keen to smack our flies. While somewhat annoying at times (especially when they grab a fly from under the nose of a much larger fish!), it’s important to wet your hands, take your time and handle these 15 cm tiddlers with the care and respect they deserve, as they’re potentially next year’s keepers.

Fishing News - Page 8

Rules, Regulations and Etiquette

In addition to the fly-only rules and premium fishery regulations already described for Penstock, some specific boating restrictions also apply to this lake. To begin with, there’s a blanket speed limit of five knots covering the entire lagoon. In addition, a 50 m wide designated boating corridor exists down the centre of the lake, clearly marked with buoys. It’s strongly recommended that all vessels travelling under petrol power confine themselves to this central corridor, switching to electric power, oars or paddles whenever moving outside of the corridor to fish. There’s also a marked area encompassing Beginners’ Bay, adjacent to the famous Lady’s Walk, where no form of motorised propulsion (including electric motors) may be used at any time. Boaters are also encouraged to stay well clear of any wading or walking anglers. As mentioned, this is a very shallow lake. Great care should be exercised when negotiating the channel from the concrete boat ramp in the north western canal out into the main basin to the start of the boating corridor, especially if water levels are down. We hit a rock and

damaged our prop right on the edge of the boating corridor, near its northern end, and other isolated rocks and stumps are also scattered throughout the lagoon… Be careful! Basic angling etiquette should also apply at all times. Observe the drift patterns of other vessels and don’t “drop in” ahead of them to fish water they’re obviously intending to work on that drift. Apply a bit of common sense. Although only about 2 km long and well under a kilometre wide, it’s perfectly feasible for a dozen or more small craft to work separate drift lines at any given time without adversely impacting upon each other’s sport. Always treat the other bloke as you’d have him treat you and, if in doubt, ask if what you’re doing is okay with him or her. Remember, we’re all there to have fun! On its day, Penstock Lagoon can be one of the most delightful and rewarding trout lakes in all of Tasmania’s Central Highlands, and it’s definitely one of the island state’s premier fly fishing spots right now. It’s also one I’ll be factoring into my plans for any future forays across Bass Strait. Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling

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THE FIFO OPTION

“FIFO” stands for fly-in, fly-out: a term usually related to remote mining operations. But now, with the advent of “turn-key” hire packages of vehicles and boats, the FIFO concept has direct relevance to fishing! Jo and I took advantage of just such an operation on our most recent visit to Tasmania. The creation of Ulverstone tackle shop proprietor, Clinton Howe, Tassie Boat Hire was launched in mid-2015, offering a single boat rig and 4WD vehicle, but the business has already begun expanding with the addition of several new rigs. We were picked up from Launceston airport by Clinton in his 2011 Mitsubishi Triton dual cab ute, towing a 420 Quintrex Renegade boat. Clinton drove to a nearby service centre to run us through the rig and complete the paperwork before we headed off for a week in the Central Highlands. Jo and I were impressed by Clinton’s professionalism and the excellent standard of his hire gear: from vehicle, boat and trailer to the smaller but equally important components such as safety gear, battery charger, drogue, marine radio and on-board electronics. Everything worked exactly as it was supposed to. Tassie Boat Hire’s 420 Quintrex Renegade is powered by a 40HP Evinrude 2-stroke motor, and has

a Minn Kota Terrova auto-pilot electric up front, as well as all the “bling” you could possibly need for fullblown freshwater, estuary and inshore work. All up costs for hiring the 4WD, boat and ancillary gear, plus airport transfers, come in at less than $350 per day (at the time of writing), which is excellent value, The use of this brilliant turn-key package from Tassie Boat Hire allowed especially when split Starlo and Jo to tap into some superb fly fishing on Penstock Lagoon. between two or three anglers. Discounts are also available for extended hire periods, and both the You can also get detailed prices or make a booking by vehicle and boat are available for separate hire. visiting Tassie Boat Hire’s website at www.tassieboathire. If you’d like to learn more about this unique service, com.au, going to their page on Facebook, or giving watch the short video clip that Jo and I put together Clinton a call on (0429) 475 550… Tell him Starlo sent during our stay. You’ll find it on my “Starlo Gets Reel” you! YouTube channel, or by searching “FIFO Tasmanian Trout” on the internet.

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Fishing News - Page 9

Night Fishing the Derwent

My best work is after midnight Justin Causby

Fishing News - Page 10

While I’m the first to admit I have a lot to learn when it comes to mastering the art of fishing the Derwent after the sun goes down, I’ve figured out and taken in enough to be confident of landing a trout or two on most occasions. It’s not that daunting a prospect and in fact I’d fancy my chances tenfold after dark if I HAD to catch a trout. Techniques play a reasonable part in the whole scenario but it’s largely timing more than anything. And again just like fishing the Derwent in the day time with lures the tide has a huge part to play. But this is where it differs, there are places in the river that fish well on the top of the tide and the beginning of the runout. Then through the middle of the fall and other places where the bottom part of the runout will be your best bet. Of a daytime there are a couple of areas I will fish on the full tide and on the runout there’s a relatively set pattern to follow. Of a night you can pretty much pick your spot on the river and wait for the tide to work it’s magic. I was asked recently if I move around when fishing the night sessions. I will move locations if it’s not happening but I don’t move from the spot I’m fishing. I’d have a plan based on the tide details for the evening and there’s never too much need to deviate from it. A few spots would be picked out and hit these as the tide moves through its cycle.

Night time reflections on the Derwent are a cool sight to see.

Give up on reality TV, renovations and talent shows and get the real deal. The author with a night time Derwent brownie.

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Fishing News - Page 11

Tackle:

You load up a little on your leader if using braid. And braid will give you far more feel which is largely how you fish after dark. Take away the visual and your other senses will heighten, sound and touch are the two you will require. Depending on location you can see things too and it’s surprising just how much a moon will give you. I’ve found that you will see some good feeding activity in the lower reaches on a well-lit night, while upstream the darkness is really your friend. I fish 6lb line of a night as you do tend to find some very good fish with a much better average size than you would typically encounter in the daytime. A 7 foot rod gives you a bit more leverage and will help you steer a fish in the direction you need it to go. There is absolutely no need to use bait. Yes sandies and jollytails will work very well but the myriad of soft plastics will give you everything you need. Now the choice of plastic is a personal preference, and I do have mine, you can safely choose any number of offerings that will bring reward. I almost always fish a 3” Gulp Minnow in Watermelon Pearl or Smelt. These colours off some dark for contrast and light to be visible also. I use 3” largely based on the areas I fish regularly. 4” I’ll throw in a few spots were longer searching casts are required. I know of a few people that will fish 6” with great success but this is largely in the deeper stretches around New Norfolk. Jighead size is dependent on tide flow and river depth but a 1/12th is a good size for most applications. This is

Fishing News - Page 12

Tim Lowe with a silver torpedo.

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largely person preference again and I know people the use 1/6th as it suits the location they fish to 1/20th which I use in one specific spot. The one thing I always use though is a 1/0 hook. I like to have the hook placed well down the body of the plastic. Rigging plastics straight is also important. When you’re fishing at night you can’t see the lure in the water like you do in the day. So you need to be proficient at rigging them correctly. Find a technique that works for you to locate the hook exit point precisely and ensure you don’t have the hook off centre as they will twist or arched in the back as it will kill the action of the plastic. Plastic retrieves of a night in my mind and observations are greatly different to day time fishing. I’ve found that the most rewarding for me is a constant twitch or jiggling of the rod tip with a reasonably slow but steady retrieve. Fishing from the shore which is how I approach all my night fishing I would typically cast slightly upstream, allowing the plastic to settle into a depth and slowly work back to my feet. Keep an angle in your rod to the line and if you feel any bump or strike drop the rod tip toward the touch. The lift and drop method that is probably the standard technique for fishing plastics definitely works but I tend to do better with others. If you’re new to fishing them one of the simplest and rewarding retrieves is to just hold out your index finger on the hand you’re gripping the rod with and as you turn the handle the line will flick across your finger adding an enticing little twitch to your plastic. Always fish the plastic back to your feet too. The trout in many spots will hunt the shallow edges looking for bait schooling out of the current flow on the outgoing tide. I’ve even caught trout, including one fish over 2kg that followed the plastic back to the bank in a well-lit area, where I ran out of retrieve room and just dropped in to the bottom. The fish looked down and just picked it up and swallowed it. Probably not an odd thing as the sandies and gobbies they prey upon live their lives on the bottom in the shallow to mid margins of the river bank. You’ll often find these in the stomach contents of trout you catch and are easily identified to whitebait or galaxia with their cylindrical tapered cone shaped bodies. Always check the contents of any fish you keep, remembering where you caught it, and this goes for any

time you are fishing. If you can find the shrimp beds in the Derwent you’re half way to finding a fish every time you hit the water in the daylight hours.

LOCATIONS:

They are really everywhere. Any point, small or large, will offer you a spot to fish after dark. And that isn’t an exaggeration or overly broad statement. Whilst

Fat, young and silver.

I personally fish from the Bridgewater Bridge and downstream of a night there are other spots that do produce higher up. These however offer a different style of night fishing that I have not at all come to grips with. Lower in the system the banks are somewhat shallow and rocky compared to the deeper tree lined edges higher up. Fishing points we aren’t specifically looking for back eddy’s of soft or return water, much the opposite. You want current flow, increased by the outgoing tide. Some nights spots that are solid performers the water does rip too fast, but this is an exception to the rule rather than the norm. The top of the tide first. As the tide turns and the water is high, there are two spots that fish well. Masons Point above Bridgewater and the shore immediately below the Bridgewater boat ramp. A bigger 4’ plastic is beneficial in the later spot with much deeper water. All the way to the ‘fence’ point fishes well. There is a secondary point further down and this tends to be a better option later in the tide cycle. These spots you need to be attentive. Drop your rod tip at any touch you feel, take the tension back up and if you feel weight strike. It doesn’t need to be hard, just lift your rod in to it. Most fish are hooked in the scissors of a night almost without fail. As the tide begins to move through the middle of its fall you have lots of options. Masons Point continues to fish well as water empties from the Dromedary flats.

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Fishing News - Page 13

You have three options on the Bridgewater Bridge itself. The end of the causeway on the downstream side is a great easily accessible spot as is the gutter that runs along it on the upstream side. On the northern side of the river the pylon in the water can be accessed and the far corner sits on the edge of the gutter that empties the large flat above. This is a pretty good hot spot that sees very little action from anglers. The point outside the old Risby Timber Yard at Austins Ferry is affectionately known as White Rock and has a very good gutter running along it. This is a very reliable spot of a night time. The gutter is a couple of meters deep and is again emptying water from the entire southern flats south of the Bridgewater Bridge. Further down river on the upmost extremity of Cadburys Point is Dragon Point. This spot is largely unfished these days but going back a few years was visited regularly be Cliff Smith who landed countless big Derwent River trout. Cliff fished the old Bridgewater Drag sliding rig for live bait on a fly rod, but there is absolutely no reason soft plastics won’t return the same type of fish. Store Point and The Bowen Bridge shore are both consistent areas to fish. In fact the entire shore line out to Store Point itself can be very good. The point has lost a lot of its appeal after being dramatically changed from the ferry and resulting earthworks to reinforce the

bank here. The underwater ledge is no longer working as it once did but the shore line back in to the bay is still very worthwhile. The point below the Otago shipwreck is very good but I still prefer to fish under the Bowen Bridge itself. The lights from the bridge above offer a visual aspect to the fishing. You can often see fish following a plastic here and it’s much easier to see surface swirls as the fish feed on bait or cockchafer beetles. Anytime you see, or hear, surface activity cover it quickly with a cast. We had one evening in particular that was almost like dry fly fishing at midnight. Almost every fish sighted that was covered with a cast would eat the plastic. It was a lot of fun that night. Green Point at the lower end of Bridgewater is another prime location. Runoff from rocky flats that hold plenty of baitfish make this one of the hotspots in the river. There is also a nice little reef that extends out in to the river at right angles to the shore right on the point itself. It’s the perfect spot for fish to ambush and feed on baitfish. This spot fishes very well right to the bottom of the runout tide. Much of the shore from here to the Bridgewater Bridge is very fishable and a great depth. The Old beach Jetty shore is excellent after dark but more so at the end of the run out. Immediately above

the jetty itself probably the best area along the rock edge. Upstream there are two very fishy points that also offer excellent fishing. I hope I’ve been able to share enough of my limited knowledge learned over many years of fishing the Derwent. Put in the hours and you’ll work out your own patterns and techniques. Find what works for you and hone it. Take in everything you can, file it away, and it’ll all add up. The picture at the end isn’t that hard to compose, it just takes time to piece it all together. Two things you must always do; pack a good quality headlamp. There is nothing worse than trying to tie a knot with little or poor light to assist you. There is one thing worse actually, which is the second thing. Never go without a net. There WILL be that night you regret it. Every fish of a night is always seemingly bigger than you think and they do play up when the get near the shore. Fishing in current don’t go too hard on them. Play them well and they will tire and can be safely netted, and revived to be released more often than not as they will be cleanly hooked in the scissors as mentioned. Justin Causby

AUSTRALIAN

SPEY CLAVE Hayes on Brumby•Cressy•Tasmania 29-30 Oct 2016

PRESENTERS: • Peter Hayes IFFF MCI • April Vokey IFFF CI & B.C Steelhead Guide • Brian Henderson IFFF MCI & THCI • Tony Loader IFFF MCI • Roy Wybrow IFFF MCI and • Bintoro IFFF CI & THCI

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Single Handed & Two Handed Spey Casting • From Switch Rods to Spey Rods Scandi, Skagit to Long Belly • Beginners to Advance • Best Spey weekend you’ll ever have Book now, places are limited. For further information visit www.peterhayesflyfishing.com Photo courtesy of Adrienne Comeau Fishing News - Page 14

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Georges Bay St Helens Jamie Henderson Once rare, now common. Beautiful black bream on the flats.

t’s of no surprise that these days when you mention a trip to Tasmania to a group of fisherman the first thoughts go to tailing trout in the western lakes region, pristine fresh water rivers and creeks and the world class Trout Fishing that it has become know for. But now the secret is definitely out about the quality of the estuary fishing on Tasmania’s East Coast. The epicenter of all this activity is St Helens, a small township approximately 166km or two hours drive east of the northern capital of Launceston, boasts around 5000 people that increases to well over 15,000 during the busy tourist season but still has that small, relaxed coastal town feel about it. St Helens is the largest population centre on the whole East Coast of Tasmania and nestles itself among the surrounding hills 9km’s inland from the

coastline, coupled with shelter from the coastal winds offers a microclimate that prides itself on its warmth and sunniness with average temperatures better than southern Victoria during the winter months. The region was first discovered by the European explorer Captain Tobias Furneaux who sailed up the coast in 1773 and named Georges Bay and the southernmost headland of the bay St Helens Point. It wasn’t until sixty years later, the early 1830’s, before a basic settlement was established on Georges Bay and like so many of the small towns along Tasmania’s East Coast St Helens came to early prominence as a safe haven for the whalers and sealers operating throughout the region. During this period official land grants were provided and the town grew rapidly after the discovery of tin at

An Australian salmon bust up.

nearby Blue Tier in 1874 and transformed St Helens from a sleepy back-water into a major port servicing the tin mines and the main transit point for the thousands of workers, including over 1000 Chinese immigrants, making their way to the diggings. The mines prospered up to the turn of the century and when they finally closed many of the miners resettled in St Helens. St Helens became an important commercial fishing port during the following years until present time, today the commercial fishing industry is only a shadow of its former self supporting a few Southern Rock Lobster fisherman, Striped Trumpeter and Blue Eye Trevalla scale fisherman as well as some smaller live Wrasse export and Abalone, Urchin and Clam divers, however the recreational fishing and tourism have taken over as the lifeblood of the region. One of the success stories for Tasmania as a whole and a factor that has transformed Georges Bay into the superb sports fishery that it is today was the banning of all commercial fishing and netting and all recreational netting inside the Georges Bay estuary in 2004. Previous to this the fishery was under a lot of pressure from recreational netters many of which unskilled at setting the gear causing a lot of nets to be lost and float around still catching and killing fish indiscriminately. These have long been cleaned up and now 12 years later the fishery is flourishing like some locals have never seen before. I remember clearly to this day one particular older gentleman watching over the weigh in during one of the very first ABT style Bream Tournaments that was held in St Helens, after seeing bag after bag of good quality large Southern Black Bream being brought to the scales and placed in the live display tank he looked up at the small crowd of tournament anglers standing nearby

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Fishing News - Page 15

and said “where did all those Bream come from??”, the response was a raised arm and a finger pointed across the bay, “out there buddy….” “Well…” he exclaimed “I have lived here for over 25 years and have never caught a Bream from Georges Bay.” He wandered off shaking his head but to his credit that gentleman asked a few more questions, and to learn something new….you have to love fisherman like that, souls of the earth. St Helens offers plenty for traveling anglers with budget accommodation right through to up market resorts and some catering to those towing boats with ample room for parking trailers and boat cleaning facilities. There are two main boat ramps for launching that offer shelter from all but one wind direction so you can nearly always launch a boat and find a sheltered area to anchor up. All the usual facilities are available that you would expect from a small bustling metropolis, supermarkets, service stations for fuel, restaurants, pubs, cafes, bakeries, mechanical and tire services, fishing charters and of course a well stocked tackle store. Georges Bay offers quality fishing nearly all year round and for every type of angler, experienced hard core tournament type angler right through to the absolute novice; it’s an easy place to fish. During the summer months there are a hoard of options available, this time of year will see large amounts of baitfish throughout the system and nearly every day there will be schools of Australian Salmon, Jack Mackerel and Tailor feeding on small pilchards and anchovies and smashing them up somewhere in the bay, hordes of Bream cover the expansive sand and mud flats from January through to April/May and offer great sport for lure fisherman, Silver Trevally, Snapper, Elephant Fish, King George Whiting, Yellowtail Kingfish, Southern Calamari and nearly every other species of Southern Australian estuary fish are available throughout this time of year. The only thing that spoils it at times is when the North Eastern afternoon sea breeze blows in and makes it windy and uncomfortable until early evening when it will drop back out and you can experience some fantastic sunset fishing sessions. During the Autumn and Winter periods the days run shorter but the winds back off and you can find yourself fishing on some of the most magnificent days with a bit of daytime winter sun and glassy calm conditions. The water temperatures drop quite a bit and

Fishing News - Page 16

• Training Wall

• Stockyard Flats

• Town Wharf • Beauty Bay • Kirwans Beach • Parkside most of the action will slow down but from Easter right through until September its Garfish time and St Helens offers up some of the biggest Southern Sea Gars you will probably ever see. The water clarity at this time of year has to be seen to be believed and is crystal clear easily giving the ability to see straight to the bottom in up to 5metres of water, its also a great time of year for

Leatherjacket, not that there is a bad time of year for them and they will cause the wayward soft plastic lure fisherman to pay dearly, and some of the Leatherjacket are quite large with fish of 1kg+ not uncommon. The humble old Leather Jacket are available in Georges Bay all year round and are a staple table fish of many families, they are relatively easy to catch, are widespread all over

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Fishing News - Page 17

Kirwans Beach Jetty is one of the best in the bay for fishing.

A rare catch, but like bream maybe luderick will become more common.

the bay and can be quite often found grazing on the barnacles and weed growth on the pylons which make them a great target for the kids. Springtime will see the start of the Trout Season and a small run of Sea Run Trout chasing the Whitebait and Jollytails around the margins as well as the beginning of the water temperatures warming back up slowly, expect some frosty chilly mornings and some unstable rains through this period but the fishing action increases and continues to grow right through to November and December. Georges Bay is approximately 9km’s long from the foreshore boat ramp right down to the inside of the barway and at its widest point stretches up into Moulting Bay for over 4km’s. Inside its shoreline lies an expanse set of sand and mudflats full of rich food items like crabs, prawns, shrimps, worms, oysters, clams, mussels and all

sorts of little critters to attract fish to move up onto the shallow water at high tide. One such area is about half way down the bay, it’s called “Stockyard Flats” and is adjacent to the channel that is marked by the red markers and runs out to the barway. This area is rich with food and has a good flow of water across it both on incoming and outgoing tides creating a great fishing environment. It is a prime area for flats fishing for Bream, Trevally, King George Whiting, Mullet and Flathead and often the Squid will be located in close proximity to the weed beds that surround this area as well. Quite often we will hook a Yellow Eye Mullet and half way to the boat the fight will change, once the fish is in eye shot you will see a squid rapidly retreating away and then the mullet will come aboard with a large chunk missing from the back of its head…..time to start casting a small squid jig around. Whilst mostly only accessible by boat it can be waded at mid tide and at low tide the flats can be walked out on and over to the edge of the channel where anglers can easily fish into the deeper water with lures or baits. The mudflats at low tide are also a great place to collect a few fresh baits, pumping nippers with a bait pump or collecting a few clams is not uncommon and will result in top class bait. Drifting the Stockyard Flats at high tide casting soft plastic and hard body lures will produce some of the best flats Bream fishing you could experience in the country, as the flats are rich in food and covered with

There are plenty of calamari in the bay.

There ramps around the bay.

Fishing News - Page 18

high protein shellfish the Bream are well conditioned and hard fighting. Add to that some current flow with the tide running across the top and you will have a tussle on your hands. The Bream here average around 1kg and much larger fish are common. Bait fishing the edges of the flats into the deeper channels and run offs will also yield good Bream as well as a host of other species. Here the use of freshly collected baits or frozen Prawns and Pippies are the order of the day and attention to detail when rigging will pay dividends. This method with produce some great King George Whiting, although not huge in numbers in the bay compared to mainland standards over the last few years Georges Bay has seen a rapid growth in the presence of this species. Fish of 35-40cm are average with plenty between 40-45cm; my best has been a fish of 48cm and is an indication of what this estuary can offer up. Whilst soaking a bait for the KG Whiting or Bream its no surprise to see an angler catch anywhere up to 10-12 different species of fish. As the channel flows east out to the barway it can be fished relatively easily from a boat but only offers a small part of the shoreline to cast a line from. The small beach on the southern side of the channel at Akaroa is easily fishable and anglers can cast lures for salmon and Kingfish or bait fish for Leatherjacket and Trevally right here. Boat anglers can work their way up and down the channel either trolling lures or casting plastics for the same species. As the channel flows out to the barway it follows along a rock wall that offers the land based option of spinning from the end giving access to the inside of the barway where schools of the larger Salmon and often the yellowtail Kingfish will be schooled up. The northern side of the mouth of the bay is also a popular area, called Dora Point it has a nice rocky point that anglers can stand on and either cast metal lures for Salmon or use surf rods to bait fish for the big Silver Trevally, to the seaward side of the rocks is also a small beach usually with a deep gutter running all along it and is a great spot to soak a bait with a surf outfit. Back inside the bay proper and up in the northern arm know as Moulting Bay the shoreline is not accessible for shore based angling however in the top end is a popular little camp ground known as Humbug Point campground that is sheltered and very quiet and tranquil.

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Here you will interact with the big Pelicans that wander up and down the shoreline as well as if you’re lucky watch the majestic Sea Eagles searching for prey and diving to Salmon and Mackerel on the waters surface. There are no boat launching facilities here, nor is there much in the way of fishable shore line however it has proven to be popular with Kayakers. Water access is really only available at high tide as there are expansive mudflats to contend with however in all but a southerly wind the whole bay is sheltered so paddling around the rocky points and past the Oyster Racks can be very rewarding. Good Bream are available over the flats at high tide as well as around the rocky points and in amongst the Oyster racks, Silver Trevally can be targeted in the slightly deeper water off the edge of the weed beds. Back toward the township of St Helens on the south western corner of Georges Bay there are some great facilities for shore based anglers. Along the foreshore adjacent to the township is the main boat ramp launching facility with ample car parking, weigh station for game fish, public BBQ shelter with coin operated BBQ’s, toilet and shower block, a couple of fish and chip shops as well as the Marine Rescue headquarters. This is all in amongst the wharf finger piers that have the commercial fishing fleet and game fishing vessels moored to. The ends of the piers can easily be fished from as well as some of the main wharf area where the boats unload and can yield some great catches of Mullet, Trevally, Leatherjacket and Bream and often at night under some of the lights there will be Calamari swimming around eager to take a squid jig. As you head around the water front there are a number of smaller wooden jetty’s that are easily accessible, some with good car parking as well. Kirwans Beach jetty is probably the most popular, one of the oldest in the town it had fallen into disrepair a few years ago but was avidly rebuilt and resurrected by the local community and can now be seen covered in fisherman nearly every day. A big car park adjacent to it with a nice grassy lawn area and a coin operated gas BBQ keeps this area popular with the families. The jetty has seen some great fishing action over the years and just because it’s a land based area doesn’t mean it cant produce some great catches, I have seen good sized Bream, Trevally, Mullet, Leatherjacket, KG Whiting, Snapper and Flathead all caught from this jetty using both baits and soft plastic lures. Beauty Bay also has a nice little jetty and is nestled in a quite little bay surrounded by high bank side so is sheltered from all but a hard easterly wind. St Helens is fast becoming known all over the country as a hot sports fishing destination offering a wide diversity of fish species and options for both the intrepid sports angler and the weekend dangler. With fantastic flats fishing for dedicated lure and plastic fisherman to quality “bread & butter” estuary fishing for the family man it’s all here on offer. It prides itself on being one of the few places in Australia where you have the possibility of catching 8-12 different species of estuary fish all in one day only minutes from the front door of your accommodation. The options are endless and we see more and more species showing up as each season passes, fishing improving all the time and species sizes become larger and larger. Jamie Henderson

The town ramp is one of the best in Tasmania and rarely has any weather blowing in.

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Fishing News - Page 19

Girls Gone Fly Fishing Diane Kalweit

The author has gone from basic saltwater to full on fly fisher with all the bells and whistles.

was trying not to break the speed limit as I drove past the township of Cressy, towards Peter Hayes’ Fly Fishing Lodge. Why was I excited? The second Girls Gone Fly Fishing weekend (GGFF), was about to begin! I had my co-pilot, Leah, in the passenger seat and we chatted about our friends and experiences from last year. We couldn’t wait to get there! Clear, blue April autumn skies beckoned, and luminous, golden poplar trees mirrored the road before we turned off to the Lodge. I’m not really sure why I washed my car before we arrived, but a bit of road dust, the view of the imposing Central Highlands and scattering sheep, all added to the anticipation for the weekend. Last year, in 2015, the GGFF Weekend came up on my facebook page. Just a random post. I was curious, keen to learn and so took a leap of faith and signed up. Girls fly fishing? I had never, even been fresh water fishing, let alone fly fishing. Wow! Wasn’t this a male domain? I was pleasantly mistaken. Here was a group of about 20 girls (with a range of ages and fly fishing experiences), from all over Australia, keen to improve their casting, establish new friendships and improve their chances of landing fish. I had never seen a fly rod, or talked to anyone about this sport and was the only one without a rod. Hmmm…turn around and drive home? I thought about it! A warm welcome, a platter of cold smoked trout, condiments and a champagne soon changed my mind. There was a gorgeous pool of water reflecting the Fishing News - Page 20

stunning sunset and darkening mountain range. The girls were introducing themselves, being friendly and topping up their glasses. I’m pretty sure I could smell some delicious chicken being roasted for tea. In my limited experience as a salt water fishing girl, any fishing is a great leveller. Prince or pauper, it doesn’t matter, and I was included in conversations about this sport called fly fishing, which all these girls had a passion for. I couldn’t wait to learn more and all thoughts of heading home disappeared. Earlier this year (year two), as Leah and I were greeted with welcoming hugs from familiar faces, both girls and guides, it felt like a homecoming. Some new faces too! Fantastic! After a delicious opening dinner that evening, cooked by the gorgeous and talented Jen, some of the girls shared their experiences and spoke about fly fishing in New Zealand recently. Referrals to good guides, river names, flies used, and stories told, all made for riveting listening and the perfect beginning to the weekend. Saturday morning held, in its misty gentle awakening; the promise of perfect casting weather. Some were up early before breakfast to walk or cast on stunning Brumbys Creek, which flanked the western side of the lodge. Water birds scattered, swans called overhead and the mist began to clear. The glowing autumn willow leaves were reflective on the water. A photographer’s paradise. Hmmm… nice people, beautiful scenery, water, birds… it’s certainly not just about the fishing. We were however, keen to start our lessons!

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Another victim to GGFF

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Fishing News - Page 21

We enjoyed the day rotating through four different fly casting routines and practice sessions, as well as a fly tying session. Small group instruction, from our very patient and knowledgeable guides, insured we didn’t reinforce any bad habits. If we did, we were encouraged to modify our techniques. Visual or kinesthetic learners, we were educated in the style which best suited us. From my perspective as a novice at this sport, here are some of the things I took note of, remembered and intend to practice. Intend! This is just a reflective piece of writing. Please don’t take this as any sort of guide. It’s how I saw it and what I learned, and what I hope to improve on. Roy expertly demonstrated the roll cast after quizzing us on why this technique was important. Again and again his line hit the casting pool straight and long and he explained the importance of the D loop, shifting momentum, and most difficult for me, the straight line path of the rod tip. Several variations of this cast were practiced, and with Roy’s infinite patience, we were vastly improved roll casters by the end of this session. Dave patiently explained the importance of the pick up and lay down cast. PULD. Pick it up, back cast and lay it down on the casting pool. Change direction, lengthen, shorten, and make a smooth delivery so the fly lands last of all on the water, with a gentle presentation. Aim for a target and land it five times. I could see this cast being essential in a fishing situation. See the fish, watch, predict its direction, and cast. Pick it up, lay it down somewhere else if it’s not taken. Another fish over there. Quickly, pick it up; lay it down.

Judith and Karen, both internationally recognised casting instructors, quizzed us on the purposes of false casting and confidently demonstrated a range of beautifully shaped loops. They corrected our techniques, encouraged, praised and had us throwing tighter and tighter parallel loops. We practiced a drill called circles, eights and straights. This was challenging but satisfying. Do it low, now in the middle, now higher. Line control. Loop control. Our confidence was building with every new workshop. Now for the double haul. I didn’t even attempt this last year. It’s a difficult feat of co-ordination. I was worried. Being a bit of a muppet when my left and right hand have to do two different things at similar times…I had my doubts if I would ever manage this technique. But Bob had a plan; and some straight rope lines and markers in front of us on the grass. He questioned us on the purpose of the double haul before patiently and expertly taking us through a four step process, using the rope as guide lines to build up to double hauling. The pantomime we were told to practice, can be done anywhere, anytime. Muscle memory and practice, practice, practice is essential. I’m sure there will be plenty of amused drivers watching us miming while waiting for the lights to turn green! Our final workshop was with Peter Hayes for fly tying. I must admit we were fascinated with the varied and colourful array of feathers and fur generously available. I’m pretty sure there are some fly tiers with some creative and elaborate fancy dress head pieces out there! The process of tying was mesmerizing, clearly and patiently

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Fishing News - Page 22

Annie Skarrat putting lessons to good use. articulated, step by step. All that “stuff ” to use and so little of it needed to make a fly! Wow! Once again, tailoring to our individual learning styles, some watched from behind and others facing. We were in awe of looking at a display frame of a range of Noel Jetson’s exquisitely tied flies. Peter discussed some memories of Noel, and in light of the recent obituary in this paper, this was a reverent moment. He tied a Red Tag, in honour of Noel, as well as telling a funny tale as an accompaniment. Following that, he tied a Tom Jones. “It’s not unusual!” some sang and a range of typically girly jokes about the man himself had some in tears of laughter. We examined the ultra violet properties of our fly boxes. Given (I think?), that fish see in ultra violet. Reds aren’t red until they glow under the UV torch! Well! Our clothing, rings, hair colour and shoes were subjected to the torch test. How excited did we get? Almost as excited as Sel, as she ‘pimped her box’ with the appropriate UV orange paint! So these were the fantastic workshops we all attended on the Saturday and revisited, on a needs basis on the Sunday. Time to tweak or extend, ask or confirm our casting issues. As we hugged and said goodbye to those leaving, with promises to return next year, we all felt a bonding and a sadness that it was ending for another year. Emails, phone numbers and fb names were quickly exchanged. Can’t wait till next year! So many thanks to the incredible organizers, Peter Hayes, Val Young and Judith Oliver, gorgeous Jen and our patient and talented guides. And the grand finale; the icing on the cake. My co pilot Leah, now has her own fly rod! Not only that; she tied her own fly (who does that the first time?) and caught six fish from the casting pool! How talented is this girl? Time to step up and not slack off over winter. Challenge accepted! There is a closed facebook group - search Girls Gone Fly-Fishing (with hyphen). Diane Kalweit

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Great Lake galaxiids Michal Rybka

Introduction

The author with a good brownie from Swan Bay.

As I write this story, I am relieved to be able to say that, due to the large amount of rainfall in recent months, there has been a positive change in the state’s water levels. With a not-so-great trout season last year, things can only get better from now. The increased water levels mean that all boat ramps in the Central Highlands Lakes are once again useable. This is especially great news if you own a boat, with many of the ramps also having undergone upgrades during the off-season. The Swan Bay ramp on the Great Lake offers boat anglers some great access to the bay, which in my opinion provides some of the best trout fishing on the lake. Swan Bay has some great weed beds that can be reached by boat. Many of you will know where these are, but if you don’t, simply head to the left once you leave the boat ramp. The area right below the Great Lake Pub towards the middle of the bay is where you will find these weed beds. They extend right through the middle of the bay and down towards Bee Hives Point. If you have a sounder fitted to your boat, you will easily find the weed beds and the trout that lurk amongst them. Using soft plastics is a great way to get down into those weeds to find fish, and setting up a drift over these weeded areas can be a very productive tactic early in the season. However there is another soft plastic tactic that I like to use at this time of the year, which generally yields even better results than drifting the weed beds. This approach involves targeting galaxias feeders hard up on the rocky shores of the lake. Fishing News - Page 24

The Great Lake galaxias

how much truth there is to that - I don’t know. But, it would seem to be the perfect excuse for using black and gold coloured plastics. Through trial and error, I have found that the shape of the lure does not have to be an exact copy of a galaxias. Any lure that resembles the colour, general shape and size of these little fish will work on trout that are in galaxias-hunting mode.

The Great Lake galaxias is a small species of native Tasmanian fish, which grows between 40 to 60 mm in length. These little fish are golden brown in colour, with irregular brown freckles dotted along the sides of their bodies. They have a blunt looking head, and their eyes are small and positioned high on their heads. Besides the Great Lake, this species can also be found in Shannon Lagoon and Penstock Lagoon. It is a well-known fact Where to find those galaxias feeders Pick a wind-blown shore on the lake that has some that the galaxias spawn in spring. They are generally good submerged rocky outcrops. The rocky shoreline found on the bottom of the lake, but at spawning time, in Swan Bay (in front of the shacks) and all the way they congregate in large numbers amongst the rocky nooks of the shorelines. This is why people, who are paying close attention to the shoreline this time of the year, will often see trout almost beaching themselves as they chase these little fish. Galaxias are an easy meal for trout and it is no secret that they absolutely love eating them! With a trout hot on their tail, these little fish can often be seen darting erratically around the shorelines to the point where large schools will even jump out of the water. A well-known fishing guide once told me that galaxias turn dark in colour when threatened. As to The stomach contents of a galaxiid feeder.

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around to Hadden’s Bay is a good choice. Another galaxias hot spot is around the corner at the dam. However, you will generally find that you don’t have to venture too far away from the boat ramp to get onto some action. The rocks present in such places provide plenty of hiding spots for galaxias and trout. Trout will naturally hunt galaxias, but they also like to wait for any food that might drop in from the rock edges. On a windy day, the waves will bash the shoreline. The galaxias will be bashed against the rocks, resulting in them dying or being momentarily ‘stunned’ or ‘paralysed’. For the patient trout, it is then just a matter of waiting and mopping up the offerings. Once you find a shore like this, you should position your boat (or kayak) in the deeper water (five or six metres is a good starting depth) opposite such a shore. Ensure that you are within casting distance of the shore and that you are aware of any obstacles that might be in your way. There are plenty of submerged trees in areas like this, so it pays to be careful. In such conditions, you will be constantly blown into the shoreline and need to reposition, so an electric motor will prove very useful. Most modern electrics will allow you to reposition yourself with the press of a button on a remote, and this is obviously much easier than having to constantly restart your outboard. Once you have a direct line of sight between you and the bank – you are ready to start casting. For best results, you should be aiming to land your soft plastic as close to the bank as possible.

How a lure performs during casting will depend on the shape and what size jighead it is rigged on, so experimenting will be necessary to find the one that works best in the conditions present on the day. Precision casting also requires lots of practice …and lots of lost lures! Prospect the shoreline in front of you with five or six casts. Try to cover the area in a fanning pattern from left to right or vice-versa. If there is nothing happening, move your boat back well away from the bank and move down to the next area. Aim to systematically prospect the entire section of wind-blown shoreline this way. It is not just rocky outcrops that can be targeted like this. Another deadly tactic is to target hard up against dead timber that has piled up on the shore. This also provides a safe haven for galaxias and all forms of insect life. The dead trees sticking out of the water in these areas are also worth looking at. Again, a precise cast is required to get your plastic hard up against the timber. If you don’t have a boat or kayak, all is not lost. Throw on a pair of waders and walk down the shoreline until you find an area where trout might be patrolling the shore, hunting galaxias. If you are patient enough, you might even see the trout smashing through some galaxias right under your nose. Cast well ahead of them and hang on! The key here is not to hang around the same spot for too long. Have a few casts and then keep walking until you get onto some fish.

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Fishing News - Page 25

The launching facilities at Great Lake are all usable again as levels rise.

Soft plastic tips

Since galaxias are only a small species of fish, soft plastics between 2 and 3 inches in length are perfect for the job. Soft plastic minnows or ‘stick baits’ (as they are sometimes called) are popular choices because they resemble the shape of these fish. The American company Berkley probably make the best range of stick baits. There are heaps of colours available in that shape range; however, I find that darker colours tend to work well, with the ‘black n gold’ colour probably the most popular choice amongst Tasmanian anglers. Again, I am not sure if this is due to the fact that galaxias may turn dark when threatened, or if it’s just a colour that trout find really attractive. There is no doubt in my mind that the addition of ‘gold fleck’ to this colour has the ability to reflect some light that, much like a gold metal spinner or spoon, attracts their attention. Natural colour combinations more similar to the colour of the galaxias, will also work very well. Look for plastics with natural looking shades of brown or olive. Ensuring that they are blended with some gold, silver or copper coloured fleck will make them all the more attractive to a galaxias-feeding trout. The other style of soft plastic you can use in this size (2 to 3 inch) is the ‘t-tail’ or ‘paddle tail’. This style of soft plastic lure has plenty of in-built tail action and is also a good galaxias representation. Some brands have more action than others, but it is the tight vibration that is really appealing to trout. In some instances, this tail action will provoke what is known as a ‘reaction bite’. This is where a trout will simply want to attack your lure in order to protect its territory. Plastics such as the local Tasmania brand Strike Tiger 2.5” t-tail in ‘homebrew’ or the Berkley 2.5” t-tail in ‘Black and Gold’ are a couple of Fishing News - Page 26

Prospecting the weed beds in Swan Bay.

good choices. Garry Glitter Squidgees are another soft plastic lure to try. Whichever one you choose, an important consideration is to avoid those made of plastic compounds that are too stiff. This is not so important with stick baits, but it is with a t-tail. If the plastic is too stiff, the lure will generally not have very much tail action. Choose something that will work well under the slowest of retrieves and your success rate should improve.

How to rig your plastic for galaxias bashing

Since you will have the wind at your back, go with a lighter weight jighead. A 1/16 weight jighead with a hook gape sized 1/0 or 2 is perfect for the job. You will still get plenty of casting distance because of the wind pushing your plastic from behind. Using a lighter jighead will mean that it is less likely that your plastic offering will get snagged in those rocky areas that I described earlier. I use a simple loop knot to finish the leader connection to the jig head. This ensures that the lure can move freely and that its presentation is as natural as possible. When fishing like this, I run a braided main line of around 8lb breaking strain. I use at least one full rod length of 8 or even 10 lb fluorocarbon leader with my galaxias bashing setup. The reason for the heavier leader is that you get increased abrasion resistance and in turn less ‘bust-offs’ or lost fish. Casting in tight against those rocky shores can quickly take a toll on your leader. The biggest tip that I would give anyone here is to closely inspect that leader regularly. I guarantee that you will come home with more fish this way and fewer tears!

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Match these galaxiids and you will get results.

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A beautifully coloured brownie.

A couple of retrieves to remember Stick baits

This technique is especially suited to fishing with stick baits, which require user input to achieve the correct action. It mimics a fleeing galaxias, which will suddenly stop and appear lifeless. It is very easy to master, even for the soft plastic beginner. Here is what I do: Cast hard up against the shore. As soon as your stick bait hits the water, give it four or five sharp, but short, twitches. An inch or two with your rod tip is all that is required. Be sure to hold your rod-tip high as this ensures that your lure swims shallow to start with. Then (this is the important part) pause - allowing the lure to appear lifeless for a second or two. Then just repeat the twitch and pause sequence. As you continue moving the lure into deeper water, hold the rod tip lower to allow it to sink deeper. You will find that most strikes will be on the pause part of this retrieve. Remember to take up any slack in the line on the pause, but above all – anticipate that strike. Be ready!

T-tails

A ‘slow roll’ works great with any paddle-tail or t-tail, provided that the plastic itself has enough tail movement, even under the slowest of retrieves. As the name suggests, this technique requires you to slowly (and constantly) retrieve a plastic along the bottom.

Here is what I do:

Cast hard up against the shore and let your plastic sink for a second. You will know that your plastic is on the bottom by watching your line – as soon as it goes slack, you are there. This is also the time you are most likely to get snagged amongst rocks. Next, lift your rod tip slightly. It is now just a matter of winding your lure back ever so slowly. You should feel your plastic touch the bottom every now and then. Throw in a few pauses and that’s it. Simple!

Summary

Most of the Great Lake trout will have finished spawning by now and are putting on some serious condition. I can personally vouch for this because, just prior to writing this story, I had fished the area in and around Swan Bay and caught some really nice brownies, which were full of galaxias. That last trip has really inspired me to fish the Great Lake more this season. It is set to be a good one, so put your spare time to good use! Mic Rybka In case you didn’t know Galaxias are a protected species – don’t go catching them! It is illegal to use galaxias as bait – dead or alive.

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Fishing News - Page 27

Calamari Time Matt Sherriff

Richard Sherriff getting in on the act.

ell it’s that time of year again…Southern Calamari are getting busy spawning around the Tassie coastline and now is as good as time as any to get out and amongst a few of the tasty creatures. In Tasmania most of us are blessed to have relatively close access to coastal waters and whether you have a boat or not, getting out and catching yourself a feed of squid is readily achievable. Setting yourself up with an outfit to get started is pretty easy. Most 2-4 or 3-5kg combos and a handful of various colour/sized squid jigs will see you getting amongst it. Mono or braid 8-15lb will do for most applications using a simple blood or uni knot to attach your jig. Recently, I have started using an Egi clip to attach my jig to the line and I have found the small ones do not impede the action of the jig and have the benefit Fishing News - Page 28

of making jig changes quick and easy when you want to change colours or jig styles. For those who like to use the latest gear for their squid missions, some of the new Egi rods available on the market are amazing. They have a stiff tip for imparting action on the jig whilst having a slower taper and somewhat softer action throughout their curve which absorbs the squids lunges, maintaining a constant pressure on the jig without pulling the jags out of the squid. I have mine set up with a 2500 size reel, 8lb braid and run 3 metres of 15lb fluorocarbon leader. If you love squid fishing and new technology equipment check these out in stores…you won’t look back! The Crucis Egi rods we have been using will see you with change out of $200 and are well worth a look.

Once you’ve got your gear sorted, the next thing is to get out and find somewhere to hit up! If you’re land based, there are plenty of jetties and breakwalls littered around the state that are worth a look. Tackle stores are a great source of information and most of the staff will be more than happy to help you out with the local hot spots when you drop in to grab a couple of jigs (a great reason to support your local stores as they will always have more information than national chain stores). Finding a jetty with black ink stains on it is another good indication that there’s a few about. If you’re looking to head out for an evening session, look for a jetty with lights; lights will attract baitfish which in turn attract squid. Concentrate your efforts just outside the edge of the light as this is often where the squid will be in waiting.

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For those with boats, success is usually just a matter of finding some good weed beds where squid like to congregate and lay their eggs. Reefs and points are often a good place to start searching but there are also some good weed beds just off beaches. Google earth is pretty handy for getting an idea for some areas to target close to your local boat ramp. The other advantage of a boat is being able to drift over these areas covering more ground. Squid will often be thick in patches and when you find them two or three drifts over an area can see you with your bag limit! What’s the secret to catching them?? Well, number one is to make sure your jig is in close contact with the bottom. This is where the squid hang out and unless your jig is within a metre of the bottom your catch rate will reduce considerably. When you are drifting in a boat, I find it best to cast side onto the drift as your jig will sink into the zone much quicker as it comes around behind the boat. I use a 3.5 size jig for most areas and the ones I use have a sink rate of around 3.5 seconds per metre. Jig size/weight is determined on water depth, current strength and drift speed. Note: lighter jigs are a better option in most cases when shore fishing to lessen chances of snagging up when working your jig slow.

Large mesh rubber nets are perfect for squid and don’t tangle the jig. Once your jig is in the zone, I will give it two or three sharp jerks and then let it sink back down. Whilst the jig is sinking retrieve any slack line, making sure you are watching for any sudden movements which indicate a squid has grabbed your jig. Quite often squid can be tentative and grab your jig from the side; if you haven’t been concentrating on your line you will quite often miss this and the squid will let go (we have seen this first hand whilst taking underwater footage of the jigs

being grabbed). The last time we went out, I would’ve caught three squid to my father’s one and the majority of the difference was due to closely watching my line and striking at any movement. Last but not least is jig selection. The biggest thing I would recommend is to carry a good selection of colours/styles, and if fishing with friends or family, vary the jig colours between the anglers as quite often, depending on the day, one colour will be a stand

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Fishing News - Page 29

out. Once this has been worked everyone can match the colour and get in on the action! When they’re on the chew they get quite aggressive and the cheaper (sub $10) jigs will see you into the action, but when they’re being timid the expensive jigs ($15 - $25) will make the difference between having Calamari or toast with vegemite for tea every time! We have been testing out the range of hard body and cloth Hayabusa jigs recently and we have been suitably impressed when fishing High speed cleaning is very effective. them against cheaper options. I prefer a rubber net for landing the catch as I catch we remove the heads, cut around 4cm off the find it is easier to remove jigs from than a standard point of the tube and tow them behind the boat in mesh one. Another thing is a quick shake in the heavy duty scaler bags. We have found this to be the water before bringing it over the side usually gets quickest and cleanest option and the purpose built rid of any ink from the net. If you haven’t got a net squid cleaning bags from Gaff-Mann are a great you can grab them between the head and the tube option…these are certainly not the cheapest bags to land them. Holding them like this and giving on the market but after losing quite a few tubes them a firm squeeze will dispatch them quickly and in lesser bags they are now the only ones we use! stop any further mess in the boat also. To clean our Matt Sherriff

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Fishing News - Page 31

Getting kids into fishing is fun Dan Pursell

It is so much fun teaching kids to fish. Getting them to pose is cool too.

hose who know me know I have been fishing from the moment I could walk. My first word in life was ‘fish’ and there has never been a day since that moment where fishing has not featured in a day to day situation either thinking of it, doing it, or buying gear. I love fishing and I have never looked back. The person responsible is my Father Dennis Pursell. He took the time to show and teach me how to fish and we fished a lot. Growing up in Tarraleah village there was always a river or lake too look at and with dad’s patience, knowledge and support, he shaped me into the fisherman I am today. Fishing News - Page 32

Looking back at those experiences I’ve had so far I still go back too those early days spent with my Dad fishing with a small rod and a worm and I thank him for taking the time to teach me. They were great times. So nearly 30 years on I am married and I am lucky. I now have two children to teach – my daughters London and Avara. London is seven and as keen as mustard to come fishing with Dad at every opportunity she can and Avara is five and is starting to catch the fishing bug. Unlike her big sister, she doesn’t enjoy fishing as much and that is okay everyone is different.

I would like to share a little bit of information on getting our next generation off and fishing it’s a rewarding experience and one I remember from my childhood, and one I hope my children will remember when they’re grown up and have little people of their own to teach .

Getting out there

Just getting out and going fishing is the key. My eldest daughter used to come with me and my wife Melinda in the boat and watch and help with reeling in the the fish if we got a few. Sometimes we just went for a cruise in the boat, or if shore based fishing we would find

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a nice quite pool and soak a few baits. It’s pleasant and rewarding and it’s all about learning experiences for them and introducing them too fishing and a range of conditions.

Patience

Kids being kids they can get bored easily. They might like to throw rocks or twigs in the water and pretty much don’t care if it scares the fish as long as they are having fun. The fish will be there next time. I try to make it as fun as possible. Fish for a short while if the fishing is slow or they’re getting bored. Look for something to break up the fishing day. We have found some great sights whilst

Techniques

Bait fishing is the best way to start out - this is how I learned. Finding a nice quite pool with some depth or a local dam or lake and soaking a few worms on a hook is a great way to introduce kids to fishing. Otherwise you could take them trolling or spinning in the boat or for a walk along a favorite river or lake shore spinning.

many a laugh fishing so the next time you’re thinking about something to do with your children why not take them fishing. Whether it’s for trout or flathead doesn’t matter. Just get out there and create memories with them whilst they’re young. Dan Pursell

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Mum enjoying the day as well. fishing including wedgetail eagles, bats, native animals of all sorts and then there’s bugs, butterflies or chasing grasshoppers along the river’s edge or lake. Even simply bringing along a favorite coloring book or iPad device can be useful if the little people in your life get bored and want a break. But just getting them outside is the key, and when the fish play ball that makes it exciting.

Gear

Getting children into fishing does not cost a fortune. This can come later if they enjoy it. Any small rod will be fine as long as they can lift it - lighter is better though. Junior anglers do not require a trout license to fish in Tasmanian waters, but make sure you check and comply with all regulations. Why not call into your local store, make it a novelty and buy them a nice little rod and reel along with a little tackle box of their own. This also is a great way to teach them the good habit of looking after their own gear and of course on birthdays and Christmas it offers the chance for them to expand on their gear and request lures hooks etc. Six pound line class is ideal, a few small hooks size 6 or 8 and some small sinkers and a tin of worms dug from your garden is all that’s required to get started. A good quality comfortable PFD is essential if there is boating involved.

If they enjoy fishing and start to an increased interest you can take the gear to a more advanced level. For my seven year old daughter I have just introduced her to waders this year after a few years in gumboots. I found some waders that fit her nicely, but still have plenty of room for her too grow. I like the wading belt design which does up neat and tightly which is super important when wading. I don’t allow her to wade in water any deeper than just above the knee and I am always right beside her if she needs me. We don’t wear waders in the boat. We fly fish together so rod wise I’ve fitted her up with a 9 ft. 3 weight rod and its perfect. She has caught a few fish with this setup already. Earlier she had a spinning rod equipped with 6 pound line and we used to drown a few worms in a lake or river. As the years have gone on she wants to be more like me and fly fish. She has taken to it like a duck on water.

Catch and release?

This is an option to make on your own there is nothing wrong with taking a fish for a feed. But it’s always a nice sight to see the little people in your life releasing their catch – to ensure future fun. Remember a photo can tell a great story later and create memories too last a lifetime. Every phone has a camera, so there are no excuses.

Make it fun

Proud dad and daughter.

Taking that little person in your life fishing is a rewarding experience it gets them out of the house and teaches them a great hobby. Don’t get caught up on just the fishing. Let the kids have their own time doing what they want. Light a fire; cook a BBQ lunch; buy them some binoculars so they can do some bird watching; teach them to listen for birds and frogs. There are some great Tasmanian phone apps about birds and frogs. You probably can’t fish at first light or last, but it doesn’t matter - just make the day fun and your kids will want to go with you again. I couldn’t think of a better people to take fishing than my own children. We have had some great times and shared

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Fishing News - Page 33

Joy of sand and salmon Dean Crooks A double header comes ashore.

ver since our family holidays at Scamander I have had a fascination with surf fishing and everything that comes with it. There’s something surreal about feeling the sand between your toes whilst watching your 12-foot surf rod in a piece of pvc piping wedged in the sand waiting anxiously for that rod tip to dance. Technology has come a long way since then with the introduction of graphite rods but I still get that special feeling when I look in dads shed to see 3 to 4 cane surf rods hanging in the rafters each individually made with hours of patience and true love. Memories flood back of my brothers and I loaded up with these long flexible rods, rod holders, buckets, bait and tackle boxes following Dad through the sand dunes looking for that deep hole as he called it. Last summer we took the chance to relive some of those memories when my partner and I took our kids camping at the gardens near Binalong bay. Being a fishing rep has its advantages as I have access to some pretty cool gear and I’ve been eyeing the Shimano lightweight Catana Surf rod in our warehouse for a while now. Coupled with an Alivio 10000 reel I was ready to relive my youth. Kids and enough camping gear to sink a ship we start our journey towards the sunny east coast of Tasmania. The drive is about two hours but as you know when kids are in the car it feels longer. Arriving at our destination the smell of the sea and the crashing sounds of the waves has everyone ready for our adventure. I’m extremely lucky to have a partner who loves fishing and has travelled Australia working on huge properties, so organising and setting up a campground is a breeze to her. In no time we are heading to the beach with excited kids, though I think there more interested Fishing News - Page 34

in the playing aspect whilst Sheryn and I are keen to check out where the best spots will be for our assault. Standing on the dunes as the kids tear off towards the beach we study the water looking for the prime spots. I’m looking for some dark areas indicating deep holes with white water working the edges. Australian Salmon love cruising the edges of this white water hunting in schools for any signs of baitfish and the deep gutter edges are a perfect spot for flathead to lie in waiting. We soon pick out some good areas to try so head back to camp to plan our attack. I’m going to be using the new Catana whilst I’ve got a 12’ Shimano Aqua tip rod with a Shimano Hyperloop 6000 reel for Sheryn. Both are spooled with Platypus low stretch 10kg monofilament. This line is ideal for surf fishing as it still gives you some stretch but a really good response rate when striking the fish. There are plenty of pre tied rigs on the market these days and the most common used is the paternoster rig. This consists of a barrel swivel at the top then about a metre of line to a snap swivel at the end. Coming of the main line are two arms with a smaller snap swivel attached to each. The popular set up is a beak hook of around 4/0 on the bottom clip and a surf popper on the top. These surf poppers come in a few different colours with blue or red the proven catchers. I’m not 100% certain what they are supposed to imitate but for some reason they are dynamite on salmon. I attach a pilchard to the bottom hook and wrap some bait buddy around to help secure it. Bait buddy is the surf fisherman’s friend when the pesky crabs start pinching and also helps when your casting. Nothing is more frustrating when you execute the perfect cast only to see two splashes with rig and bait going in different directions. Sinker weight can vary in shape and sizes and it helps to have a few

options in your box. I prefer a star sinker as it gives you some grip in the sand but can still move around with currents. Studying your conditions will dictate what sinker to use but if unsure your local tackle store will be more than happy to guide you. I also like to tie a small piece of fluorocarbon leader to the arms snap clip as it helps the fish from being spooked by the rig. The beauty of today’s rod technology is that you don’t need a Merv Hughes run up to launch your rig into the surf. These days you can stand in the one spot and let the rod do all the work. A good flick of the shoulders can have you right in the strike zone with minimal effort. We set up the rod holders and cast to the areas we previously studied. Two perfect casts have us right amongst the actions. Some people like to sit back in the sun enjoy a cold beverage and watch the rod from

Pretty happy about what’s for dinner.

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We managed to land a nice little feed during the session and released a few as well. The kids had a ball playing in the sand and also landed some fish themselves. That’s the beauty of beach fishing there’s something there for the whole family. Whilst filleting the fish for tea I was throwing the scraps into the water when a black shape appeared right in front of me. I yelled to the kids to come look as a very big stingray was eagerly scoffing down my offcuts. The kids loved it, Sheryn and I were very happy anglers and we all had fresh salmon for tea. All in all, a great family day.

There are plenty of beaches in Tasmania, all with great fishing. Just do your homework. Take your time, study the conditions and be ready for that strike. One of the best things to do is ask a local and please use the tackle store in the area as these guys live and breathe fishing and only too happy to talk tactics with you. They can often be the difference between fish for tea or beans on toast again.. It can be a great day for the whole family with something for everyone. Even when the fishing gets tough there’s still plenty to do together. And make sure you pack hats, water and sunscreen as nothing ruins a day more than being sunburnt at the end of it. Dean Crooks

Using the waves to help land a fish. a distance. I Have no problem with this as it’s a great way to spend the day but we prefer to stand beside the rods so as not to miss the smallest of bites. Don’t get me wrong we still enjoy a coldie as we are doing this it’s just we love being right in the thick of the action and don’t want to miss any bites. The rigs had only been in the water 10 minutes when we gets an inquiry. Lifting the rod out of the holder I take up the slack and lower the rod a little to give me room for the strike. Australian salmon can be frustrating in the bite but they will persist at a bait or lure so be patient before setting the hook. The fish hits the bait harder this time and I lift the rod to see a beautiful arc appear in it. It’s important here to use the waves as your friend as you fight the fish. As the wave breaks or rolls towards you, use this to gain line on your fish. As the wave recedes use the drag on your reel to hold it ready for the next wave. Using this motion protects the strain on the line and also your back and shoulders. In no time we see colour and a very plump salmon is on the beach. I’ve heard some don’t like the strong taste of these fish but if you dispatch it quickly and bleed them well, they are nice eating fresh. I wouldn’t recommend freezing them as fresh is definitely best here. A good way is to once dispatched dig a hole in the sand then lay the fish head first for the blood to drain out. Removing the red muscle along the lateral line will also significantly improve your catch. So one fish on the beach and spirits are high. No sooner than we land the first and the next rod starts bouncing about. I am lucky to have a partner whose as mad about fishing as I am and it makes me pretty proud to watch her in action. This time it’s giving her a bit of grief but she uses the conditions perfectly and starts winning the battle. The way the rod was behaving we thought we had a good fish on. Turns out we had two with a good salmon on the bottom hook and a yellow eyed mullet on the top.

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10/06/2016 2:42 pm Fishing News - Page 35

Searching for Kings Gavin Hicks

o how does a trout loving fly fisherman come to be writing a story about saltwater kingfish, a fish he has never even seen in the flesh let alone had on the end of a fly rod?. By buying a new boat, that’s how. For the last 10 nearly 11 years I have fished out of a 4mtr Hornet boat, firstly with one and then with two young boys right there beside me every step of the way. Well now those same two boys are growing up way fast and our 4 metre boat was just becoming too small to fit us in comfortably. So after much discussion the decision was made to

upgrade to a bigger boat before these boys grew up and moved out, leaving me all alone with their mother(god help me!). I enlisted the help of a few mates who have a lot more boating experience than myself and finally settled on the Tabs Territory Pro side console in around the 5mtr size. Then I spent countless hours searching the various websites looking for a good second-hand option but there just wasn’t a lot available so it was off to Launceston to visit Dale Richardson at Captain Marine as they are a TABS agent for Tasmania. After a lot more

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The only improvement here would be another Sage. discussion and planning the decision was made to go with a brand new 5100 in the above mentioned TABS, powered by the awesome new Yamaha 115 four stroke (that thing is a beast!). Anyway enough of the boat talk, back to the Kingfish. During the decision making process I had a lot of conversations with Mason Paull who himself owns a 5100 TABS. He couldn’t rate the boat highly enough, and anyone who knows him would know he fishes harder than most people out there so if he rated it that was good enough for me to investigate. From trout in our highland lakes, West Coast rivers, inshore as well as serious offshore he has done it all in his boat. And that’s where the kingfish come into it. He kept telling me of all the different options that it would open up for me to be able to show the boys, but all the conversations kept circling back to those kingies!. So with that in mind I thought it best to start getting some appropriate saltwater fly gear into the arsenal.

Rods

Keeping it fairly simple as I don’t really know what will be in store for me if I do hook up to a king(except for the fact I will need to hang on) I just kept going up in order from my current stock of rods. Some people like to go in even rod numbers and some in odds. My heaviest rod weight was a Sage 9 RPLXi which should be adequate for the smaller sized fish but if I happened to encounter some of the bigger specimens that I believe can show up in the far NW from time to time they will stich me up pretty quick. So the logical step to take was to keep the system in order and add an 11wt to the collection. A leisurely drive Launceston way to visit Mike at Essential Fly fisher and discuss my needs and I was on my way with a new Sage Motive 11wt. The Motive is the budget rod in the Sage saltwater line up but will be more than fine for my requirements. And best of all is still covered by the brilliant Sage lifetime warranty (which I get the feeling could come in very handy!). So that is it for the rods for now. 9 and 11wts, both 9 feet long and four piece rods.

Reels

This is where things can quite easily start to get real expensive real quick if you allow it to. I didn’t want this to be the case as they might only end up getting used on a few trips each year and I couldn’t justify spending massive amounts to start with. After more discussions with Mike Stevens and reading some reviews from hard-

Redington’s new Behemoth reels are gaining an awesome reputation for a budget reel. core Saltwater fly guys and their captures I decided to go with the new Redington Behemoth range of fly reels. Very well priced at around the $200 mark depending on models and capable of pulling massive amounts of drag it was a no brainer for me really. So with that being said a 9/10 and an 11/12 were purchased. Mike then proceeded to load them up with around 200 metres of backing each for me, the whole time giving my two boys a lesson on backing to arbor knots etc. as he went (try getting that from an online shop). If you were to go the option of running braid backing these reels would hold a massive amount but again until I see how much use they will get I couldn’t warrant the cost to do it.

Flies

Flies of all sizes and incarnations are being built in readiness for Tasmanian kingfish.

My saltwater fly tying has been fairly limited to date, therefore I don’t have a massive range of materials to

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Fishing News - Page 37

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Fishing News - Page 38

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suit on my wall. Again I questioned do I go out and buy all this stuff or for the quantity of flies I will use do I just seek out the help of an expert. With that in mind and having dealt with him before for some bigger custom flies for Lake Crescent I once again got in touch with Chris Beech. Chris is the owner/ fly tier at Flymax and is one of the country’s leading saltwater fly tying experts. I do all my dealings with Chris through his Flymax Facebook page as it is so easy to get in touch with today’s technology. Anyway after a few messenger conversations to discuss target species and rod weights that were going to be fished etc. the order was made. As per usual it wasn’t very long and there was a couple of parcels awaiting my collection at the local post office. Delivered neatly in two different sizes of the new Innovator fly boxes was a range of flies to hopefully suit the kings. Everything from garfish to brush flies to oversize clouser minnows, surface flies and even some squid imitations Chris had once again nailed it with quality flies and A1 service. The added bonus being I know they are tied correctly, will swim as they should and will stand up to the punishment about to be delivered to them as required.

Lines etc.…

This part of the equation is still being worked on as this goes to print. But I am thinking along the lines of full intermediates to suit both rods and then something like a full blown sinker to help deal with the faster flows that these fish like to hang in hunting the bait schools. Fly line to fly will be just straight through sections of fluorocarbon at this stage to keep things simple. More than likely I will carry a range from 30 to 80 pound or something similar to help cover all different scenarios as required. I don’t want to get to technical at this stage as again I have a whole new group of knots and stuff to learn now for heavier leader preparation etc.

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Get out there

So there you have it, an overview of what I have prepared so far to hopefully be able to land a kingfish on fly somewhere around Tasmania. If anyone has any suggestions or tackle recommendations for me please feel free to share them. As I mentioned earlier this all new to me and my experience level is zero, and after all isn’t that what fly fishing is all about, getting out there and doing it and sharing the knowledge so others can enjoy this great past time as well. Lastly I would just like to thank a few people who helped me get this journey started. Dale Richardson at Captain Marine in Launceston, his knowledge of boats and set up skills are second to none. Leroy Tirant and Mason Paull, what these two blokes done know about boats and fishing isn’t worth knowing. And Mike and Jules at the Essential Fly fisher for their knowledge on the right gear for the job and being able to supply it, their friendlieness towards my two boys whenever they enter the shop and for the slices and Chai lattes ha-ha….. So why not give it a try. Step outside your comfort zone and head out to sea if you are a devoted trout angler. Target a new species you haven’t even of thought of fishing for before. Most importantly (for me anyway) enjoy the time you have with your kids because all too soon they will be grown up and gone off on their own adventures. Gavin Hicks

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Fishing News - Page 39

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Fishing News - Page 40

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Little Pine Joe Riley

Fishing the shores can be very productive during October.

he wild beauty of Tasmania is typified in the extremes of the weather it can produce. Last summer it was hard to find enough water to get the boat off the trailer, this year lakes are spilling everywhere and most of eastern Australia is in flood. After a summer of low rainfall we certainly have made up for it with a tremendously wet winter and spring. With water aplenty the lakes are again in great condition with flooded margins and the promise of good water levels for some time to come. The risk of early draw downs affecting the fishing seems remote and the quality of the fish is already high for this time of year. Little Pine Lagoon is high and clear, the weed beds are growing early due to a mild, albeit wet winter and the margins are coming to life with nymphs, scud and snail for trout to feed on. With water levels high, looking for your usual tailing fish is a bit more challenging. When the lake is spilling the established scud beds are further under water than normal. Fish donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t show as easily and may need to be found closer in seeking worms and other opportunistic food items like caterpillars and

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Fishing News - Page 41

spiders made available by the margins encroaching onto grassy banks. Normally when chasing tailers on the Pine, representative patterns are the norm, nymphs and snail patterns fished static in front of a visibly tailing fish. When the water level is high, the fur fly and dry fly around the margins are more likely to produce a fish. Not only targeting visible fish but prospecting along the shore where the wind provides a nice drift parallel to the bank. Small red tags or the irresistible pommy hopper drifted quietly and patiently along the shore regularly result in a snout going over the dry. Often the fish in these shallows aren’t tailing, rather moving around showing occasionally by bulging the water and making a wake as they move about in the calm edge water. Fishing a team of small unweighted green nymphs or spider patterns, allowing them to slowly drift along the wind with a curve in the line to keep them near the surface can be very effective. You don’t need much water for this to work. If the fish are moving about and hard to target this can be a very productive tactic. In October and November the mayfly haven’t had time to emerge, but the small stonefly begins to appear in great numbers. The nymphs are greatly active in the shallows and although trout don’t massively feed on the adults, they love feeding on the nymphs. Small #16 green or tan coloured nymphs represent the small stonefly nymph well. They can be fished across the wind or targeting a moving fish, either under a dry fly or with a greased leader to show the take. Out in the deeper water scud and snail are the main food available to the fish. Streamer fishing is still very productive, but nymphing, especially in calmer weather is also good. There’s no one-way to do anything in fly fishing.

The gut contents of a late September brown from Little Pine. Chock full of sonefly nymphs.

Two good set ups for nymphing a lake: Nymph under dry.

A single nymph or two nymphs suspended under a dry fly is a basic but very effective method for nymphing. Takes are easily registered as the dry fly is pulled under when the nymph is eaten. A tapered leader to a dry fly, which is buoyant and visible enough to be seen in the conditions you are fishing is important. Making the distance between the dry fly and the point nymph similar to the depth you are fishing is also important. If the water is of a reasonable depth a mid water nymph can also be placed on a dropper. This is a simple technique but very effective. Cast out, let the flies settle and wait for a take. If you like to add movement, you can give the nymphs and dry a twitch or draw to gain the attention of the fish. It pays to have a very buoyant dry fly for this. Egg yarn makes a brilliant post for a parachute dry fly. The dry fly can be big, and depending on the nymphs to be suspended the yarn post can also be big. Whether you buy or tie your flies, you can make them more buoyant by soaking them in liquid silicon mucilin and allowing them to dry overnight before using them. You can and should use bead head nymph patterns for your point fly if you are fishing a metre or more below the surface. A small tungsten bead will take the point fly to the target depth quickly and also ensure good contact with the indicator dry fly.

Fishing News - Page 42

Traditionally nymphing a team of nymphs.

A floating line or intermediate line with a team of nymphs was very effective last summer on Little Pine. Size #14 black and brown nymphs, unweighted and fished on a 15ft fluorocarbon leader works well. The nymphs do not need to be weighted, just fished dead slow maintaining contact rather than moving the nymphs quickly. Last outing on Little Pine I found a few fish along the road shore. One of these fish was gorged with stonefly nymphs, obviously having found them very active in the shallows. The abundance of nymphs in this fish was amazing, when cleaning the fish, the stomach was jam packed with a solid ball of food, once broken up it found to be all small stonefly nymphs. With the shallows offering this much food, Little Pine is going to fish very well around the edges as the weather settles and water recedes to a more regular depth. Having said that the food and fish are already there and already feeding. Joe Riley

A few magic nymphs and stick caddis from Little Pine resident and guide, Bill Beck’s box.

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Revolutionary battery outboards a real option.

The Miracle Worker

Electric power for boats excites me no end. It is clean, quiet and simple. No starting, no smell and instant. Turn the switch and away you go. However battery power runs out and distance is limited to the size of the battery and efficiency of the motor and hull. You can’t just pour a few amps into the top and continue on your way. BUT, as battery effiency improves, which in this case effectively means getting smaller - or capacity increasing without a corresponding size increase, electric power for boats is ‘arriving’. Such is the case with Torqeedo. Pronounced ‘torekey-dough’, it is a name you will see more and more of. Although they have been around for more than 10 years and make a range of 25 engines from 1hp to 80hp, the German company has been seen little in Australia. German engineering has long been lauded as perhaps the best in the world and this has not been lost on the Torqeedo range - from outboards to inboards and hybrid drives. One of the most significant moves in the smaller transom motors is to incorporate the lithium battery within the head of the 1-3hp motor. Bigger motors have separate battery systems, but all are lithium. The range and capacity of Torqeedo motors can be tracked on the motor as well as on a separate phone app - giving distance, time and remaining charge. The Travel Series features the 503 and 1003 and these are serious alternatives to petrol motors. They can do everything a three horsepower motor can do, except they are quiet, pollution free and much more convenient. If you have ever had to transport an outboard inside your vehicle you will understand. The 503 and 1003 can be dismantled in a matters of seconds into three pieces for convenient storage and transport. The battery can be charged directly from 12 volts, solar or 240 volts. Lithium-based batteries are the technology of choice for electric mobility applications. They store significantly more energy than all other batteries, they maintain a high current – a major advantage for electric drive systems – they do not lose their charging capacity, they supply power reliably even in the cold and have no memory effect. They also provide many more cycles than leadbased batteries. Torqeedo has been a pioneer in the development of lithium batteries for boat applications for nine years. Since we make our batteries just a little bit better each year, we probably offer the most comprehensive and integrated protection and safety concept for lithium batteries on the market – coupled with performance and convenience.

How far can you travel with one battery charge?

Range depends on many factors such as speed and type of boat. If you travel slowly (1.5 to 2 knots) you can cover up to 20 nautical miles with the Travel 1003, or put another way, the battery charge will last over 10 hours. You can travel for up to 3 hours 20 minutes at a speed of 2.5 to 3 knots, and at full throttle the battery charge will last 35 minutes.

Range, charge and distance displayed on tiller.

The integrated on-board computer with GPS will keep you up to date via the display on the tiller at all times with information on remaining range, speed over ground, battery charge status and input power. Reducing your speed will automatically increase your range and running time exponentially.

What type of battery is used?

When it comes to battery technology, Torqeedo relies exclusively on lithium batteries. The specification of the integrated battery for the Travel 1003 battery provides a capacity of 532 Wh, which means 18 Ah at 29.6 V. The battery of the Travel 503 provides a capacity of 320 Wh, or 11 Ah at 29.6 V.

What is the life expectancy of the battery?

The life expectancy of a lithium battery does not really depend on the charging cycles. It is not subject to memory effect, either, i.e. you can fully charge it after each trip irrespective of the charge status shown in the display. I have been very impressed with these motors and have used them and been very impressed. Currently I have one on a 12’ fibreglass dinghy and it is amazing. Our good friends at Tamar Marine are agents so check them out. As an aside the distributor in Australia is Power Equipment, a company that distribute Yanmar diesel motors and has an outstanding reputation for service. They carry every part for every motor so you will have years of worry free cruising. Mike Stevens

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Fishing News - Page 43

Australia’s Best Trout Flies - Revisited

The book reveals many secrets within its text, the photography from Peter Whyte’s studio is world class and the all new pen sketches from Trevor Hawkins enhance the pages throughout. The book itself is a professionally manufactured hard backed publication again encased with an interesting dust cover. Sure in this digital age we can get all on the internet, Facebook etc. but nothing compares with a quality publication such as this on the sport we all love. This book is an entirely new manuscript and will complement the first edition for those of you who have a copy on your shelves. On that note I can thoroughly recommend Australia’s Best Trout Flies Revisited to any, and all readers who have a love of fly tying and fly fishing around the world. There is a lot to learn from within this book and many of the flies described are available commercially so don’t think it is just for fly tyers. The ‘Introduction’, to me, is almost worth the purchase price on its own. It is a fascinating and interesting in the world of fly tying and how that influences Australia’s unique fly tyers and patterns. The books are available Australia wide from good book shops, Essential Flyfisher or by direct purchasing from www.abtfrevisited.com

In 1997 Malcolm Crosse and Rob Sloane produced Australia’s Best Trout Flies and nobody thought it would be such a popular publication. Sales of the book soared into the thousands and it became a ‘must have’ book on the shelves of fly fishers and tyers around the world. The book, designed as a fly fishing-tying reference and fly recipe book, was an appealing format. Now twenty years later Malcolm has, with assistance of thirty four contributing writers, done it again. Superb photography by Peter Whyte, artwork by Trevor Hawkins and edited by Rick Keam it is a both a retrospective over the past twenty years, and contemporary look at fly fishing and tying in Australia. Many of the contributing writers come from the ranks of Australia’s competitive fly fishers and are highly regarded by their peers worldwide. From these writers you will gain an insight into the international techniques of fly fishing and a look at the latest in flies and fly tying methods from around the world - all tried and tested on Australian waters. In the first edition, little mention was made of snail and stick caddis patterns, but this time just to reassure that it is not all about modern techniques, some of the contributors have included descriptions on the above as well as old favourites.

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Fishing News - Page 44

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DPIPWE Sea Fishing Website:

All the sea fishing rules, bag and possession limits and season information are online at: www.fishing.tas.gov.au

RECREATIONAL SEA FISHERIES NEWS October/November 2016

Fish ID and Measuring Sticker Ruler:

LICENCES

Recreational Sea Fishing Licences The new fishing year begins in November. Purchase your rock lobster, abalone, net, set line or scallop licence from 17 October. You don’t need a licence for rod and line fishing in marine waters.

GET UP TO DATE FISHING INFORMATION Recreational Sea Fishing Guide The 2016-17 Recreational Sea Fishing Guide is available from Service Tasmania outlets and tackle stores from 17 October. It contains easy to understand information about fishing rules, licensing, area restrictions, species management and area restrictions.

The fish measuring sticker ruler is designed for boat fishers to stick on gunwales or seats of boats or on other fishing platforms. It’s 800mm long and includes size and catch limits accompanied by colour fish images to identify your catch.

Plastic Fish Measuring Ruler

A portable and flexible ruler designed for use by shore-based fishers which can be stowed in tackle boxes.

Flathead Ruler

A specially designed, folding flathead ruler featuring an image of an actual, legal-size flathead. The ruler can be used to measure your catch, identify which flathead species you caught and check up on flathead size and catch limits. These are available from Fishcare.

Further lobster sampling from most zones is scheduled for late October. The results from this sampling round will inform management decisions on the open/closed status of each rock lobster biotoxin zone prior to the scheduled opening of the Eastern Region in November in accordance with the Rock Lobster Biotoxin Management Plan. Are these biotoxin outbreaks likely to continue? The extensive blooms of 2012/13 and 2015 /16 which persisted off the East Coast were caused by the toxic alga Alexandrium tamarense which is relatively new to Tasmanian waters. The alga produces cysts which can lie dormant on the seabed until favourable environmental conditions return meaning that the probability of more frequent blooms is now much higher than pre 2012. Why can’t I have a licence refund if I fish in a biotoxin closure area? Licences grant access to all Tasmanian waters and biotoxin closures apply only to specific zones within those waters. Licence holders can still fish in other areas of the state outside any closed areas. How to stay informed Biotoxin Webage: www.fishing.tas.gov. au/sea-fishing-aquaculture/sustainablefisheries-management/Biotoxin-FisheryEvents Facebook: www.facebook.com/ FisheriesTasmania Email alerts: www.fishing.tas.gov.au/ emailnews Public health information on eating recreationally harvested wild shellfish: www.publichealthalerts.tas.gov.au

Reg Hope Park, East Devonport (10am – 1pm). Hosted by the Devonport City Council); St Helens Wharf (10am - 2pm). Fishcare volunteers will be running a learn to fish clinic. Register at: quenton. higgs@dpipwe.tas.gov.au; McGees Bridge, Midway Point (10am – 12pm); Tamar River Family Fun Fish (9am – 2pm), (fishing zone from the Batman Bridge to the farewell beacon at Low Head). Hosted by the Game Fishing Club of Northern Tasmania and; Get Outside with the Community Prog ram Mig rant Fishing Clinic, Inspection Head Wharf, Beauty Point (1-3pm). Hosted by the Parks and Wildlife Service. For more information contact Fishcare on (03) 6165 3039.

NATIONAL GONE FISHING DAY

Need more information?

SEASON REMINDERS

Squid season closure in upper south east coast waters re-opens on 15 October Striped trumpeter season re-opens on 1 November Scheduled season opening dates for recreational rock lobster are Saturday, 5th November for the Western Region and Saturday, 19th November for the Eastern Region.

Tas Fish Guide App

T h e Ta s Fish Guide app is an interactive version of the Recreational Sea Fishing Guide and more! It has over 135 fish images, interactive maps, seafood recipes and the ability to log and share your catch. Download it free from the Apple App or Google Play Stores.

BIOTOXIN UPDATE

What is the current situation? As of late September, a harmful algal bloom has continued to persist on the East and South East coasts from Binalong Bay (North East Tasmania) to Storm Bay (South East). Monitoring of paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) levels in wild shellfish and rock lobster has been conducted throughout the closed season.

Be part of the first ever national Gone Fishing Day on Sunday 16 October 2016! Fishcare Tasmania will be supporting Gone Fishing Day to kick off the start of the new fishing season in our state. At this stage, Fishcare volunteers will be attending events at:

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Get a copy of the Recreational Sea Fishing Guide from Service Tasmania Download the Tasmanian Sea Fishing Guide app Go to 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 Fishing News - Page 45

The Leven

The Leven slide on camper is constructed from light weight fibreglass panel and has outstanding insulation properties. The aerodynamic shape of the Leven not only looks great, but is functional saving you fuel on those long road trips. The electric powered roof gives the Leven it’s stylish exterior and the camper is able to be used even with the roof down. Security features in the Leven include the Aussie Traveller security door, and double glazed windows with triple lock down points that ensure a strong and durable seal. The quality fitted interior is designed to allow the maximum use of space. The features include a pull out table which can be stored when not needed and comfortable face to face seating in a choice of durable fashion fabrics. The sleek kitchen design features overhead storage, plenty of draws, and a choice of gas or electric hotplate. A fridge is also included in the camper so you will have everything you need including the kitchen sink.

Little Henty camper - this is a great camper for couples who want a very light weight fully insulated slide on with extensive customization options. So make it suit how you want to live while on the road. With seven models in the range and three of them set for those who travel alone we have it covered.

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Fishing News - Page 46

Launceston’s Only Authorised Dealer and Service Centre Mercury and Motorguide 8 Legana Park Drive Legana Industrial Estate, P: 6330 2277 E: chris@cjmarineandkarts.com

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.

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Fish

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

wine & whisky tasting

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

guided fishing trips

great pub

Fishing News - Page 47

Know your lifejacket

Better safety and facilities for Tasmanian boaters

Incorrectly worn or fitted lifejackets may not work effectively Make sure yours; • Fits • Is serviced regularly • You know how to use it • If it is inflatable - is it auto or manual inflate? Explain that to the crew

Scan the QR code above or go to www. mast.tas.gov.au to see MAST’s lifejacket awareness video. Incorrectly worn or fitted lifejackets may not work effectively

MAST spend $1,000,000 every year improving your recreational boating facilities around Tasmania. THE BOATWISE COULD

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

SAVE YOUR LIFE. DOWNLOAD IT NOW.