Sea-run trout fishing this year got off to a cracking start in most areas, with the majority of anglers employing nearly every trout fishing technique to secure fish in local estuaries statewide.
Even those anglers fishing the "off-season" lower down in our estuaries for sea-trout commented on the number of fish moving in early August.
Please check all relevant authorities before fishing - www.ifs.tas.gov.au and dpipwe.tas.gov.au . Don't forget issuu.com/stevenspublishing for years of back issues !
The season is shaping up to potentially be great, with rains filling lakes and flushing rivers. Most waters around the state are full or spilling. This gets us very excited in the shop. The fish will put on some great condition over the next month, and with the increasing warm weather the fish will be very active.
Lowlands Reports;
Great opening weekend weather all round the state, relative to previous years.
Overall the lakes have been the best option over rivers, which is pretty normal for this time of year. However, the lakes are fishing well. Opening weekend was marginally slow fishing, but that quickly changed. Current reports are good across the state.
Lowlands:
Large brown trout from Lake Crescent |
During early March we did a box trap survey of the trout in Lake Crescent. Lake Crescent has been a real go to fishery again this season, with trophy brown trout luring anglers.
During the survey, the catch rate was lower than expected due to the warm shallow water. A total of thirty brown trout and three rainbow were caught over two days. The biggest brown trout weighed 4 kg and the smallest 0.2 kg. A third of the brown trout weighed between 3 - 4 kg.
Interestingly, two brown trout weighed under one kilo. This shows there is natural recruitment that is either coming from Agnews Creek on the eastern side of Lake Crescent or from Lake Sorell now the carp screens have been removed.
With natural recruitment there is no need to stock these waters with trout at this point. The lakes are both healthy after several wet years. Anglers are reporting brown trout in the 1.8-2.2 kg range from Lake Sorell.
With cooler water, both lakes Crescent and Sorell will be a good Easter fishing option.
A detailed report will be out soon.
Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2024/mar/19/lake-crescent-fishery-assessment
The Lake Leake boat ramp will be closed on Thursday 25th January 2024. Sub41 Construction Management and Tas Divers Group will be loading out construction equipment using the Lake Leake boat ramp and associated car park. For safety reasons, the area will be cordoned off during this time.
The barges are being used for dam maintenance work.
The contractors apologise for any inconvenience and plan to be clear of the area as quick as possible.
Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2024/jan/22/lake-leake-boat-ramp-closure
Construction of the Huntsman Lake jetty is scheduled to begin on 7th December 2023. Work will continue periodically over summer as the lake level falls. Anglers and other ramp users can expect minor delays when launching boats however the ramp will not be closed for any significant periods during construction.
Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2023/dec/05/huntsman-lake-jetty-construction
After a three-week closure, the Corinna boat ramp on the Pieman River has reopened after the recent upgrade. The new precast concrete boat ramp is longer and deeper than the old ramp which should stop boat trailers falling off the end of the ramp when the river is low. As an extra precaution a sign has been installed on the jetty showing where the ramp ends.
MAST would like to thank IFS for assistance with funding and the Parks and Wildlife Service in arranging approvals to carry out the work.
Source: https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2023/dec/05/corinna-boat-ramp-upgrade-complete
Parking area extension Talbots Lagoon |
An extension to the parking area has been completed at Talbots Lagoon. Increasing popularity at Talbots over the past few seasons had seen the limited parking facilities become quite crowded on busy days.
In partnership with Forico, IFS engaged Civilscape Contracting to complete the car park extension. This involved removing a small amount of plantation trees, flattening the area and laying down road base gravel to finish the job.
In addition to this the Bosses Hole carpark has been re-gravelled, with the walking track to the lagoon improved including a properly gravelled kayak launching area. Drainage at both carparks has been improved and pot holes in the road around the main carparks have been fixed.
Anglers at the lagoon this week gave the improvements the thumbs up, with good quality fish being caught using all angling methods. Mayfly activity is just starting to fire up, and one angler was delighted to have caught 5 fish in an afternoon on mudeyes.
IFS would like to thank Forico for their ongoing support of Tasmanian trout anglers, and Civilscape for their thoroughly professional work.
Source : https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2023/oct/23/talbots-lagoon-access-upgrades
Fishing platform Risdon Brook Dam |
Anglers with disabilities and mobility issues often have difficulty finding fishing spots. The IFS recommends a number of locations that may be suitable depending on your specific restrictions and available assistance. There are purpose built platforms at Risdon Brook Dam that are specifically designed and reserved for anglers with a disability. Other options in the south are on the River Derwent at the New Norfolk esplanade and Windsor Corner on the Lyell Highway. In the north a platform at Four Springs Lake is a great location particularly early in the season when lake levels are high. In the north west a level path provides access to the grassy shores of South Riana Lake and good access to the waters edge is available at the north western end of the Pet Reservoir.
All of these waters have plenty of trout so get out there!
Source : https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2023/oct/18/fishing-opportunities-for-anglers-with-disabilities
New stairs and pathway |
Works have been completed at the Penstock Lagoon Day Use Area. The works consist of the construction of a 1 meter wide gravel pathway along the levee with ramp and stair access to the carparks on either side of the penstocks. The pathway extends from the Day Use Area at the spillway to the Angler Access Sign on the southern side of the icebreaker.
The Inland Fisheries Service contributed to this Hydro Tasmania initiative which has improved foot access for anglers and visitors to this popular area. The work was completed by Tasmanian company, Mtn. Trails Pty Ltd.
Siurce - https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2023/oct/06/penstock-lagoon-day-use-area-improvements
The Parks and Wildlife Service advise the boom gate on Lake Augusta Road has been re-opened for public access as of today (25 September 2023), along with the boom gate to Double Lagoon.
Vehicle access to Pillans Lake and Talinah Lagoon will remain closed with a view to reopen on 1 November 2023 (approximately) subject to road inspections determining conditions are suitable for vehicular traffic.
For any further information please contact the Great Western Tiers Field Centre on 67012104.
Source : https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/news/2023/sep/25/lake-augusta-road-and-double-lagoon-boom-gates-open
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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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