Presented from Issue 105, August 2013
We did a bit of a runaround Tasmania’s tackle stores to see what their tips for the first month or so of the tackle season were. We asked what the top three places to fish were, plus lures, flies, baits and a few other things.
Here is a rundown on their answers Whenever, and wherever you fish - anywhere, or for any fish in the world - ask the locals and especially ask at the local tackle store. They know what was caught today, yesterday and on what.
There is no doubt Tasmania hosts the best fly-fishing in Australia, our Central Highlands Lakes are world renowned. For those who live in the North of the State there is another piece of water which gives the opportunity of a trophy size brown or rainbow trout, Four Springs Lake.
Situated 16 kilometres North of Hagley via Selbourne Rd (C735), Four Springs holds both brown and rainbow trout that regularly exceed 6 pounds in weight.
The 24 m high concrete Craigbourne Dam was constructed across the Coal River in 1986 to provide irrigation water for the rural districts of Campania and Richmond. While it cannot compare to the highland lakes, it is located less than 1 hour from Hobart and has become a very popular trout fishing venue.
Although King William trout are small, many anglers find the high catch-rate to be very appealing. The lake is also one of the few trout waters open to year-round sport, though fishing in winter can hardly be recommended.
Popular Lakes and Rivers
In this second instalment of the second eleven, guide and author Neil Grose takes you to some often ignored bays on the most popular of lakes, some rivers hidden underneath the collective nose of Launceston, and a couple of lakes that deserve more patronage than they currently receive.
Tooms lake has always been a very good, if underrated, water, but over the last six or seven years it has fished extraordinarily well and visitation has increased dramatically. Greg French profiles this remarkable fishery.
One of the most challenging fly fishing situations one can find themselves in is during the developmental stages of fly fishing. Combine this with a size twenty two fly and trout almost as tricky as those tailers at Little Pine and you have yourself a certain recipe for frustration and you begin to question yourself, "what am I doing here at 4.30am?"
Summertime is dun time and there's no better place to head than Arthurs Lake. But where? My recommendation, for the shore based angler anyway, is Cowpaddock Bay. Why? Because it is relatively shallow and weedy, it is easily waded and it boasts huge hatches of mayfly duns.
For the last few years the Inland Fisheries Commission has overseen the release of Atlantic salmon into Meadowbank Lake. These fish are surplus brood stock supplied free of charge by Saltas and they typically weigh 4.5 - 8 kg when liberated.
Often I am asked where my favourite spot is. Really, it's where I happen to be on the day.
Having fished a number of places in the world I know we are so lucky in Tasmania to have fishing that is so diverse. From small mountain streams to lowland rivers, and thousands of highland lakes. The remote lakes in Tasmania, commonly known as the Western Lakes, certainly hold a place in my heart. I am not sure why, as there are certainly places more civilised and a darned sight easier to get to.
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Presented from Issue 100
Considering the world class quality of our sea trout fishery, these fish are not sought after by enough anglers. Sea runners live in the salt water and run up our estuaries and rivers from the start of August to the middle of November. At this time of the year, they are here to eat the many species of fish that are either running up the rivers to spawn or are living in and around the estuary systems. Trout, both sea run and resident (Slob Trout) feed heavily on these small fish which darken in colouration as they move further into fresh water reaches.
The majority of these predatory fish are brown trout with rainbows making up a very small percentage of the catch. They can be found all around the state but it would be fair to say that the east coast is the least prolific of all the areas. They still run up such rivers as the Georges (and many others) but their numbers along with the quality of the fishing elsewhere make it difficult to recommend the area above the larger northern, southern and western rivers.
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