Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 138 2019 August

August – September 2019

TASMANIAN FISHING and BOATING NEWS — ISSUE 138

Trout Season is Here Top Lures for Opening Soft Plastic Basics World Fly Fishing Championships

Print Post approved 100003074

Land Based Salmon on Fly

$5.95 Craig Rist heads off for some early season trouting. See page 25.

Matt’s Top Five Lures — Matt Sherriff

3

World Fly Fishing Championships — What’s it all about?

11

Soft PLastic Basics — Steve Starling

14

My Flies — Mike Stevens

16

Why a Ten Foot Rod is best for me — Jon Stagg

23

Early Season Madness — Craig Rist

25

Land Based Australian Salmon — Craig Rist

30

Inland Fisheries Service report

36

Recreational Marine Fishing News

37

O THE trout TRIFECTA BULLDOG CRANK • 38mm • 10 Colours • UV Colours • Dives to 2m • Weighs 4g

COL

: PB

TANGO SHAD

• 50mm • 15 Floating colours • 15 Suspending colours • Dives to 1.6m • Weighs 4g

COL

: GS

D

LIVE FLASH MINNOW WRIGGLY

• 70mm, 90mm, 110mm, 130mm • 8 Colours • Fish deep or shallow • Rig weedless or on a jighhead

COL

: 03

For more information please visit

pening of any fishing season is exciting, and the excitement never diminishes.

However, this season is getting me very hyped up. The forecast for the week before was cold, but no rain, so I have a plan to try and cacth a trout on a dry fly on the first day. I try and catch a trout on a dry fly on the last day of the season and usually it is successful. The last days of the season were spent in New Zealand, but I still managed it.

This opening I have to work until 1pm, but by then things will have warmed a little. It will take me until 2pm to find a little creek where I can float a dry down, and I might only get an hour of fishing, so planning is paramount.

What factors are important in this quest?

Number one is finding some fish and the best chance for that will be a little headwater stream that has a gentle flow. If it rains that will be a problem.

Anything that has a large catchment probably won’t suit, so something high up near some sort of plateau is probably best.

I have quite a few thoughts or where that may be, but mess it up and I will be out of time. My opening day report will be in the next issue.

Mike Stevens talks fishing ABC Statewide Saturday mornings 6.40 a.m.

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

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

Fishing News - Page 2

The IFS has been very busy over Winter stocking waters that need replenishment.

Waters such as Brushy and Blackmans lagoons, Big Waterhouse and Curries River Dam all have good stocking and Craigbourne Lagoon also receieved a good head of fish.

Check IFS online to see which waters received fish and take your choice.

Thankfully no fish were taken from Arthurs Lake and I am looking forward to seeing an improvement in the fishing there again this year. I had reasonable fishing last season, but there was always good fishing down the road at Woods Lake. There is often a rumour that Woods receives stocked fish. Woods Lake has NEVER been stocked.

The Government funded infrastructure and toilets at a number of waters around Tasmania, and some of these will be used during the World Fly Fishing Championships later this year. It will be appreciated by all anglers.

This was one of a number of promises by the Liberal party before the last election and whilst I asked the Minister for an update on what was promised and whether they promises will be fulfilled I am yet to received an answer.

Maybe by next issue.

Mike Stevens

For subscriptions go to www.tasfish.com, phone Mike 0418 129 949 or pay by Paypal to mike@tasfish.com - Two years $60

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

MATT’S TOP FIVE LURES Matt Sherriff shares some very important lure fishing tips - and his favourite lures.

T

rout season is once again upon us and for those keen to brave the cold, the rewards can be well worth the effort.

Returning from their annual spawning run, trout will be feeding hard through the remainder of winter and spring to regain their condition. The early season angler is aware of this and will take every opportunity to get off the couch and head to their favourite water for what is in my opinion the prime time for lure fishing!

In this article, I will detail my five favourite lures, the areas they are best utilised, and the methods that I’ve found most productive when fishing them.

These methods can apply to various lures of similar design but may need subtle changes depending on action.

Lure Action Before talking about individual lures, the subject of lure action is one that is paramount to fishing success!

Whether it’s a hard-bodied lure or a soft plastic, it’s important to understand what you are trying to represent and how the lure works best through the water. Over the years, fishing with many

Sniper Killer Wasp 60S doing the job.

anglers, it’s surprising how many simply cast and retrieve their lures the same way all day. Whilst at times they may pick up a few fish, I am sure their success rate would increase dramatically by taking a little more notice of how their lure swims. For instance, there are several high-end lures ($25-$30) on the market that have very little action on a simple straight winding retrieve.

Anglers will often try these lures and dismiss them, having caught little or no fish and wondering what all the fuss is about when the only real problem is that they do not understand the way the lure is designed to be fished. Many of these lures are designed to be ripped or twitched through the water erratically and then momentarily paused to imitate an injured or dying baitfish and when this is done correctly it is an absolute deadly technique for catching trout.

The same can be said for soft plastics.

Worm imitations can be a great option on days when the fish have got their heads down feeding on the bottom, but if you’re fishing them too fast, they won’t look natural. Likewise, if you’re using a paddle tail style plastic, retrieve speed is

The ever popular Berkley T-Tail is very popular and often copied. crucial to get the tail beating properly and this can vary with the size of the tail or the tail wrist.

No matter the style, taking the time to understand the action of each individual

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

lure, what it represents to the trout, and learning how to best utilise it, will have you catching more fish than you ever have before!

Fishing News - Page 3

#1 Hawk Sniper 60S • • • • •

Length: 60mm Depth: Up to 1m Weight: 3.5g Type: Suspending Minnow Action: Tight Wobble

My favourite style of fishing for trout is to use hardbodied lures and the lure that has been responsible for most of my captures is the Hawk Sniper 60S. These lures are great for targeting fish feeding in shallows and represent a fleeing baitfish. Whilst having a great tight wobble action on a straight retrieve, the shallow Snipers will respond erratically to rips and twitches

STRAIGHT TO THE

without blowing out (rolling over) then suspend on the pause.

This allows the angler to vary the action according to what is working best at the time.

This is how I would typically work the Sniper 60S: following the cast, I will draw my rod down combining a couple of turns of the reel handle to get the lure swimming to its depth and then momentarily pause. This action alone will bring many fish undone as trout will often come to investigate the splash and find the paused lure too hard to resist. After pausing for a couple of seconds I will begin my retrieve with a slow wind imparting slow pulses by drawing my rod down towards the water then back up. The draw down will speed up the lure while the lure will slow almost to a pause while the rod is raised back up. Once or twice during the retrieve, I’ll throw in a few quick twitches and a momentary pause just to mix it up.

On days when you have fish following the lure but not hitting it, speed up your retrieve and twitch the rod a bit quicker which will often make the difference in getting the fish to hit the lure. If you feel a tap during your retrieve, stop winding and give the lure a couple of small twitches followed by a pause before continuing your retrieve. Quite often the fish will come back for a second look and this action works a treat!

The best thing I find about the Snipers is that they are such a versatile lure, regardless of skill level and are a great lure for getting your kids amongst a few Trout. They come in 14 different colours, handpicked for Tassie conditions and are affordable which makes it easier to keep a few different colours in your tackle box. All colours work well, with my favourites for clear water and brighter days being the Killer Wasp and Spotted Assassin and for darker days and cloudy water the Black Widow is hard to beat!

P

int

PRECISION - POISE - POWER

Featuring tailor made ranges for both bait and lure fishing as well as for estuary, offshore, barra and bream specialities. Arrowz is equal parts precision, poise, and power.

Designed for Australian species and anglers with the most advanced materials, including Fuji components and performance focused full-graphite blanks.

Fishing News - Page 4

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

“TEASER” WANNA SEE MORE?

2250 ULTRA CENTRECAB “A GENUINE ADVENTURE WEAPON”

VIEW THIS AWESOME BEAST AT

DEEGAN MARINE 102 Eastlands Drive, Ulverstone

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

Fishing News - Page 5

You’re an Angler, and no matter how many times you go fishing you’ll want to go again and no matter how many fish you catch (or nearly catch) it will never be enough.

There will be days when the fishing is better than one’s most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse.

Either is a gain over just staying home.

You’re hooked, along with us.

#2 Hawk Sniper Deep 69 • Length: 69mm • Depth: Up to 2m • Weight: 5.5g • Type: Suspending Minnow • Action: Tight Wobble • Internal Rattle and Traversing Ball The Deep 69 Sniper was released earlier this year and is a great choice for those looking for a minnow presentation for slightly deeper water over weed beds or along edges.

These lures are almost 10mm longer than the shallow Snipers, get down to their running depth very quickly and

WE ARE TONIC!

New! New

the “Reel” McCoy New Altitude Sovereign Reels

4000, 6000, & 8000 series : Aluminium Body : RMC Technology Rotor : Laser Engraved On Spool Lip : CNC Machine Cut Aluminium Screw‐in Power Handle : Stainless Steel Ball Bearings : Extreme Tournament Carbon Disc Drag (XTD)

A division of Sherriff Agencies Fishing News - Page 6

Hawk Sniper Minnow Lures now in Tassie owned Tackle Stores.

All ready for the new Trout Season Check out the new range of Deep 69 Snipers (dive to 2 metres)

Black Widow pictured

“HAWK” Neoprene Waders

Sizes 7 – 13 Regular Fit Knee Pads Rubber Boots 4mm Neoprene SRP $189

For directions to your nearest stockist message us on Facebook www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

suspend enticingly when paused. The traversing ball is designed to roll into the end of the lure to assist with longer casting and then roll forward when retrieved to balance the lure. This ball also creates the rattle which will attract fish, especially when visibility is low. The Deep 69 has a tight wobble but will respond to rips and twitches the same as the shallow models. Myself and the guys we had helping us test these lures, before they hit the market, had extremely good results on tTrout and we’re keen to fish these again in the early part of the season as they only became available late last season.

To get the best results out of the Sniper Deep 69’s use them in the same way as the shallow Snipers. They come in nine colours, handpicked for Tassie waters.

#3 Megabass Great Hunting GH70 Flatside • Length: 70mm • Depth: Up to 1m • Weight: 4.6g • Type: Suspending Minnow • Action: Tight Wobble • Internal Rattle Megabass have a reputation for producing brilliant lures with exceptional finishes and the GH70 is no exception. These lures are at the premium end of the

Megabass GH70 Takumi Iwana

SHIMANO 2019

NEW

CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION

PRODUCT RELEASE

THE LATEST EVOLUTION IN THE STRADIC RANGE BRINGS ANGLERS INTO THE NEXT GENERATION OF FISHING. This evolution brings with it improved casting, smoother reeling and increased durability, The Stradic outperforms all of its predecessors. For the first time in the Stradic class, the reel now features Silent Drive, Micromodule Gear II and a Long Stroke Spool for better casting distance.

Durability has been further improved with increased gear strength and X-Protect Water Resistance.

Perfect for a wide variety of fishing styles, the Stradic is built to enhance your time on the water.

RRP from $339.95 MODELS PP Cap.(lb/Yds)

1000 HG

2500 HG

C3000 HG

4000 XG

C5000 XG

(10/95)

(10/150)

(10/200)

(15/280)

(20/220)

Gear Ratio

5.1:1

6.0:1

6.1:1

6.2:1

6.2:1

Bearings

6+1

6+1

6+1

6+1

6+1

3

9

9

11

11

195

225

225

260

265

Drag Power Kg Weight g

TECHNOLOGIES

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT YOUR LOCAL STOCKIST.

shimanofish.com.au

Shimano.Fish

shimano.fish

ShimanoAustralia

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

Fishing News - Page 7

• Length: 2.5” • Depth: Any • Jig Head Weight: 1/16, 1/12 • Jig Head Hook Size: #1, #1/0 • Type: Soft Plastic • Action: Beating Tail Out of all the plastics I have used for catching Trout over the years the good old T-Tail (Paddle Tail) would have no doubt accounted for most of them. Plastics are extremely versatile, allowing us to target the whole water column and I find them extremely good when targeting fish over deeper weed beds that can’t be fished with bibbed minnows. As with all lures, getting your plastics to swim well is the secret to success. The above-mentioned Jig Head weights cover me for most applications Attomic with the 1/16 good for shallower PRINT.pdf 1 31/08/2017 3:03:53 PMareas, the 1/12 for deeper weed beds. Both of these weights work

really wanted this one.

My favourite T-Tails are the Strike Tiger (locally owned) and the Berkley Powerbait models. Best colours for me have been Black & Gold and Olive Pearl. When it comes to jigheads, I find the Hayabusa Beat Roller and TT Lures models to be the best. Both have great hooks, with the Beat Rollers giving added action to the plastics. Regardless of your jighead choice, make sure to thread your plastic on straight so it swims correctly!

Metalz

ysoffshore

Plazos

Y

Hardz

Expl o

MY

K

for

Seekerz

Fishing News - Page 8

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

tors:

CY

www.frogle

CM

MY

.com.au

Semi Hardz

Distribibu

M

#4 Soft Plastic T-Tail

well on this sized plastic and the speed at which they drop through the water will have the tail of the plastic beating nicely.

The two retrieves I find that work best with these lures is the slow roll and a hop and drop technique.

With the slow roll, it is just a matter of letting the lure sink to the desired depth and just retrieving the lure slowly back to the boat throwing a few subtle twitches in along the way.

With the hop and drop, let the lure sink to the bottom and give the rod two or three small sharp lifts and then wind the The fish slack as the lure returns to the bottom. Whenever you feel a tap from a fish when using a soft plastic, stop the retrieve and allow the lure to sink. Nine times out of ten the fish will return to grab your lure assuming it has been wounded. This is one of the reasons that it’s crucial to use braid when fishing plastics, as with mono you will not feel these touches due to its stretch.

sive resu lts

C

market and at just shy of $30 each. Having said this, the extra weight over the 60S can be an advantage when throwing into the wind and there are some pretty cool colours in the range too (I may just be a sucker for how awesome they look). Although these lures work well using the same techniques as the Snipers, I find they catch better when worked more erratically during the retrieve using sharper twitches with your rod. My favourite colour is Takumi Yamame followed by M Kinkuro.

LEGENDARY

RELIABILITY

Returning home safely after a day on the water is everything.

Yamaha outboards have built a legendary reputation for their reliability and starting first time, every time.

DISCOVER MORE

YAMAHA OUTBOARDS

Fishing News - Page 9

#5 Soft Plastic Worm • Length: 2.5” • Depth: Any • Jig Head Weight: 1/16, 1/12 • Jig Head Hook Size: #1, #1/0 • Type: Soft Plastic A very popular soft plastic amongst bream fisherman, the soft plastic worm is great on trout too and can sometimes turn a tough day into a productive one!

Ever had one of those days when you seem to have thrown every lure in the box to no avail? Find some deeper weed beds, rig up a soft plastic worm and send it down! I’ve had fishless mornings and all but given up and next thing you know you’ve got three or for Trout in the boat all thanks to worms!

The key to fishing soft plastic worms is “little is more”. Once your lure hits the bottom, just leave it sitting, as with the jighead resting on the bottom, the tail of the worm should just dance around on its own.

Shaking the rods tip without retrieving any line or lifting the rod can help make the worm dance a little and is usually all that is needed. If there are no inquires from fish after a substantial pause, give your rod a couple of quick jerks up and then pick up the slack line as the worm falls back to the bottom, pausing once again. This action can arouse interest from any nearby fish bringing them over for a closer look.

Standout lures for this style of fishing are Berkley Gulp Fry and Turtleback Worms with my favourite colours being Pumpkinseed, Green Fry and Camo.

The Gulp juice is an added attractant, just make sure the packets are closed properly before storing as the

plastics will dry out and the juice doesn’t exactly smell like roses!

Conclusion We all have our favourite lures for Trout. For the most part it’s due to the confidence we have from previously catching fish with them. I personally believe being able to adapt your technique to how a lure works

is the biggest key to unlocking the jaws of trout and more often than not, for those that don’t adjust their technique, the lure you have the most success with is the one that suits your style of fishing. That leaves us all with one question; do you search for the lure that suits your retrieve or can you adapt to fishing in different ways with different lures, expanding your horizons.

Matt Sherriff

Cast the incredible Douglas fly rods at Australia's finest fly shop Douglas SKY:

Douglas DXF:

“Best Overall 6-weight rod”

“Best Mid-Priced 6-weight rod”

Choose a rod and a line to suit and take it to our private casting park at the rear of the store. Some call it a council car park, but we think it is a pretty good casting arena.

Yellowstone Angler, 2016 6wt. Shootout

105 York St, Launceston, Tasmania. Ph: 03 6331 8944 www.essentialflyfisher.com.au email: mike@essentialflyfisher.com.au Fishing News - Page 10

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

39th WORLD FLY FISHING CHAMPIONSHIPS COMES TO TASMANIA The 39th FIPS Mouche World Fly Fishing Championship will be held in Tasmania, December this year.

Here are all the details on the event and how it is run.

championship and the symposium is open to the public. To find out more about FIPS Mouche visit www.fips-mouche.com.

Who is organising the Championship?

What is FIPS Mouche?

In English the full title translates to the International Sport Fly Fishing Federation. Essentially it is the world regulatory body of competitive fly fishing. It sets the rules and arranges for competitions to be held. In doing so, FIPS Mouche aims to foster friendship, understanding and participation in accordance with the Olympic ideals. It is an organisation that is committed to conservation of the environment. A conservation symposium is held in conjunction with every world

The Championship is being organised by the Australian member body of FIPS Mouche, Fly Fish Australia Inc. (“FFA”) - a not for profit incorporated association. FFA and its State committees organise State and National fly fishing competitions and selects Australian representative teams to compete in international events. FFA has established an organising committee to conduct the Championship in Australia under the auspices of FIPS Mouche. To find out more about FFA visit www.flyfishaustralia.com.au

Sage LL, DART and new X colours are here We have every Sage model and size available

Sage Dart

Sage Trout LL

Sage X - Tactical Green

Sage X - Electric Teal

#0, #1, #2, #3 and #4

#3, #4, #5 and #6

9’ - #4, #5 and #8

9’ - #5 and #6

essential

FLYFISHER 105 York St, Launceston, Tasmania. Ph: 03 6331 8944 www.essentialflyfisher.com.au www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 11

What makes competition fly fishing different?

Recreational fly fishing is enjoyable and relaxing with the number of fish caught being immaterial to the rewards. Recreational fishers enjoy participation in their Snapper seem to be spreading their range and increasing in numbers around Tasmania. This will give more local anglers a chance to target them on soft plastics, which can be highly effective at times. sport with varying skill levels and get to choose where and when they fish. There are no rules other than State laws that dictate how the recreational angler can fish. Competition fly fishing, on the other hand, involves competing against other fly fishers with the aim of catching the most fish in accordance with a set of rules. Fishing times, the weather and venues are out of the control of the competitor. The time constraints imposed by the competition mean that successful competitors are extremely efficient. A successful competitor must have high skill levels in all techniques. The rules that apply to competition fishing are extensive and detailed as are standards that apply to equipment. The aim is to enable skill to prevail. In competitions barbless hooks must be used and all fish must be quickly and carefully measured and released.

How is the Championship funded?

Hosting the Championship involves a substantial expense budget. Registration fees paid by competitors and accompanying participants goes part way to meeting those expenses. The balance is being met through the generous support (cash and in kind) of Event Partners (Events Tasmania and the Inland Fisheries Service) and Major Sponsors (Huon Tasmania, Hydro Tasmania, Goldwind, DJ Motors, FlyLife and iWader).

Where will the Championship be held?

The Championship will be held in Tasmania, based out of Launceston. The event programme is as follows: Saturday 30 November 2019: Team Registration; Opening Parade and official welcome Sunday 1 December 2019: Captains meeting and draw Monday 2 December: Competition Fishing Starts at all venues Monday 2 December 2019: Competition Session 1 Tuesday 3 December 2019: Competition Session 2 Wednesday 4 December 2019: Competition Session 3 Thursday 5 December 2019: Competition Session 4 Friday 6 December 2019: Competition Session 5 Saturday 7 December 2019: Conservation Symposium and medal presentation; Gala Dinner Sunday 8 December 2019: Farewell breakfast Fishing News - Page 12

The Championship venues comprise three lakes and two rivers. The lakes will be fished from drifting boats.

The rivers will be divided into beats and competitors will be permitted to wade. Session times on the lakes will be four hours (from noon to 4 pm). Session times on the rivers will be three hours (from 1 pm to 4 pm).

Lakes are: Little Pine Lagoon, Woods Lake Penstock Lagoon.

Rivers are: Mersey River Meander River.

Will the venues be closed prior to and during the event?

In order to support the Championship limitations on access to the venues have been made at the request of the organisers and following consultation with Anglers Alliance Tasmania and angling clubs in Tasmania.

The lake venues will be closed to recreational fishing for the duration of the Championship from midnight on Sunday 1 December to midnight on Friday 6 December inclusive. The competition sections of the river venues (see below) will be closed to recreational fishing from midnight on Sunday 24 November to midnight on Friday 6 December inclusive.

The Mersey River downstream of the Olivers Road Bridge (on C138) to Hoggs Bridge (on C153).

The Meander River downstream from the Huntsman Lake Dam to Barretts Bridge on Long Ridge Road (on C166).

The organisers would like to thank all anglers for their understanding and support of these temporary regulations.

Will the competitors be able to fish the venues before the Championship?

The competition venues will be closed to competitors and their agents (eg team captain and managers) for 60 days prior to the Championship. As a consequence, most of the competitors from overseas will be fishing the venues for their first time when they compete.

Will the venues be stocked for the Championship?

No fish will be stocked into the rivers or Little Pine Lagoon or Woods Lake. Penstock Lagoon will

receive its normal annual stocking of wild brown trout as determined by the Inland Fisheries Service.

The organisers of the Championship want competitors to experience the Tasmanian wild trout fishery in its natural state.

Is the championship open to spectators?

The Championship will begin on 30 November with an opening parade through the streets of Launceston culminating with an official welcome in Launceston City Council Outdoor reception area. Members of each team will walk behind their flag bearer with school children and local bands involved. Members of the public are welcome and are encouraged to view the parade and attend the official welcome.

Opening ceremony The opening ceremony is a formal event with the Her Excellency the Governor of Tasmania and other dignitaries in attendance. There is an official reception after the opening which is limited to the teams and officials.

On the days of competition members of the public are welcome to watch the competitors fish. At the lakes spectators will be able to watch the fishing from the shore. On the rivers there will be viewing areas established for spectators and access will be made available subject to landowner permission. Spectators are asked to stay well back from the rivers so as not to spook fish or unsettle the competitors. The championship will provide an excellent opportunity for spectators to see the skills of some of the world’s best competition fishers.

How will boat fishing on the lakes be organised?

There will be two competitors in each boat together with a volunteer controller who will drive the boat, deploy the drogue as requested and measure and record type and length of fish caught. The competitors will toss a coin to determine who chooses where the boat should drift for the first half of the four-hour session and whether or not the drogue should be deployed.

After two hours the other competitor is in charge of where the boat goes and the use of the drogue. Only one fly rod per fisher may be assembled. Spare rods must remain in a rod tube. For safety reasons competitors must fish while seated and wear a life vest at all times.

Competitors are permitted to stand to net a fish. The rules prohibit shooting head lines, articulated flies and so on - see Rules and Rule Modifications published in www.wffc2019.com.

Coulam boats similar to these have been imported for the event.

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

On Little Pine Lagoon competitors will fish from volunteered boats (made available to the organisers by members of the angling community) ranging in size from 4.25 to 4.8 metres in length. On Woods Lake competitors will fish from volunteered boats ranging in size from 4.4 to 5 metres in length. On Penstock Lagoon competitors will fish from Coulam Defender 152 boats.www.coulam.uk.co These boats are used on the major fly fishing reservoirs in England and are being imported for the event. By way of sponsorship, Coulam Boats are supplying the boats at a significantly reduced price. These boats will be offered for sale by tender. Tender details on the Fly Fish Australia web site www.flyfishaustralia.com.au

send an email to the controller coordinator with some photographs of your boat.

Volunteers/Controllers who commit to the five days of the competition will receive an event show bag containing an event shirt, a pair of chest waders and other fly fishing samples. These items have been made available by a number of sponsors. Volunteers will also be invited to attend the medal presentation and gala dinner to be held on the evening of 7 December.

Depending on ticket availability other guests may be able to be invited.

Landowners and their support!

The event could not be held without the support of landowners whose properties front the Meander and Mersey rivers. Landowners have given their permission for the event to be held on sections of the rivers which run through their properties and have been assured that their properties will be treated with care and respect.

All landowners will be invited to attend the gala dinner to be held at the conclusion of the Championship on 7 December.

Who is in the Australian team?

Former World Champion, now living in Tasmania, Martin Droz fishing the Meander River. Martin will not be a competitor.

How will the competitors fish the rivers?

Competitors will fish the rivers employing a range of techniques to match the water that is being fished: dry fly, nymph under dry, European nymphing, swinging wet flies and fishing streamers. Some competitors will carry multiple rods on their person and will change rods/techniques repeatedly. A volunteer controller will follow each competitor from the bank. The competitor will present each fish caught in their net to the controller who will measure and release the fish, recording details on the score sheet. On the Meander River beats will be approximately 200 metres long.

On the Mersey River beats will be approximately 600 metres long.

Are volunteers and volunteered boats required?

Many volunteers and volunteered boats are required for the event. Members of FFA and of a number of Tasmanian angling clubs have registered to be controllers on the river venues. A number of FFA members and Tasmanian boat owners have also volunteered their boats for the event. At this stage it would appear that there are sufficient volunteers.

However, anyone who is interested in volunteering for the event should still send an email to controller. coordinator@gmail.com as a list of reserve volunteers is being kept. In relation to boats, as team registrations do not close until 31 August it is not known how many boats will be needed and more may be required. If you have a boat between 4.25 and 5 metres in length which you believe would be suitable for competition fishing (competitors must be able to fish from seated positions, both seats at the same height from the water) please

FFA selects the team to represent Australia in world championships according to selection criteria based on competition results in State competitions and the national championships over a three year period.

The members of the Australian team for this Championship are: Christopher Bassano - Tasmania Joshua Flowers - Tasmania Jon Stagg - Tasmania Tom Jarman - Victoria Mark Bulley- NSW David Hemphill - NSW Craig Carey - Captain (Tasmania) Mischa Berndtson - Manager (NSW)

What are the benefits to Tasmania?

There will be economic benefits to Tasmania flowing to hotels, restaurants, shops, and other tourist based businesses as a consequence of the participation in the Championship of teams and their supporters (estimated to number at least a few hundred). Teams are likely to be in Tasmania practising and competing for two to three weeks. A number of team representatives (from England, New Zealand, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland and the Netherlands) have already visited Tasmania during the past six months to practise on the competition water and check out accommodation etc.

It is anticipated that in the years that follow the Championship many competitors will return on a number of occasions to visit the friends made during the Championship and to further enjoy the spectacular wild Tasmanian fishery.

Infrastructure improvements for anglers.

Several important infrastructure projects were planned and are underway which will benefit Tasmanian anglers. For example, the road into Woods Lake has been upgraded, toilet facilities are being constructed at 13 lakes and greater angler access is planned for the Meander River.

Two of the Australian team, Tom Jarman (top) and Christopher Bassano.

The Championship will also be filmed by FlyLife as part of their sponsorship. This footage will showcase the Tasmanian fishery. The Championship and the related media coverage (including social media) will significantly promote Tasmania as a tourist destination.

Benefits to volunteers and spectators.

Those who host teams or otherwise assist them during their practice fishing or who are controllers or spectators will have a great opportunity to see and learn new fly fishing skills. Competition anglers are always refining techniques and fly patterns to give them an advantage. Some of the developments that have originated from competition fishing include bead head flies, a full range of barbless hook styles, European style nymphing, the use of long lightweight rods, specialist fly line designs and new fly patterns.

The Championship will bring together approximately 250 visitors and many locals who share a passion for fly fishing. Apart from cementing friendships with each other competitors will form friendships with many Australians that will endure for years into the future. These friendships provide Australians with the opportunity to visit other countries and to be introduced to some of the best fly fishing those countries have to offer.

The Championship will showcase what competition fly fishing is all about and it is hoped that those who watch the Championship will be encouraged to participate in the sport. Not everyone gets to fish at this level but competing at State and National level or at a different international level (eg, at Commonwealth, Oceania and World Masters championships) are all opportunities to learn new skills and to form friendships with other fly fishers. The sport is welcoming and encouraging to all.

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

Fishing News - Page 13

Solid hook-ups in the dead centre of the upper jaw or the roof of the mouth are a pretty good indication that you’ve nailed the rigging process.

SOFT PLASTIC BASICS Rig ‘em right and reap the rewards. Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling explains how.

Fishing News - Page 14

W

ith our weather rapidly improving and the days noticeably lengthening, fishing options are rapidly expanding on every front. The next couple of months are a fantastic time to be alive — and to be out and about on Tasmanian waters! During this period, a lot of hopeful anglers will be trying out new things for the first time: including (for many) soft plastic lures. But whether you’re an old hand with plastics or a new chum, there’s much to be said for focusing on the absolute fundamentals.

By now we all know that soft plastics are absolutely deadly lures, capable of catching just about anything that swims in any aquatic environment: salt or fresh, deep or shallow, north or south. Yet, in my experience, lots of anglers still seem to struggle with the absolute basics of effectively rigging and using these highly

effective lures. Believe me, getting this part of the equation even 10 per cent wrong can reduce your catch rate by as much as 90 per cent! Which is where this article comes in. In it, I plan to go back to the core, underlying fundamentals of successful soft plastic fishing by focussing on what is arguably the single most important aspect of all: rigging your softies properly on a standard jig head so they swim well and hook fish.

With the exception of some pre-rigged soft plastics and those with built-in, integrated weights and hooks, these lures are mostly based around a modular system consisting of different components (the soft lures or “tails” themselves, and the jig heads, weights, hooks or other delivery vehicles required to turn them into fish-catching tools).

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

1. Always begin by measuring the chosen tail alongside the jig head, taking careful note of the position of the bend of the hook against the back of the plastic. This spot will be the exit point for the hook.

2. Push the point of the hook into the dead centre of the soft plastic’s nose and begin carefully feeding the tail onto the hook, keeping the hook in the middle of the plastic.

3. Continue feeding the plastic onto the hook and around the bend, keeping the shank of the hook as near to the middle or centre of the plastic as possible. Take your time! It may help to turn the plastic on its side.

Perfectly rigged.

4. Bring the hook point out dead centre along the plastic’s back at the precise location identified in Step 1 and give the tail a pull, a twist and a wriggle to make sure it lies dead straight.

These separate components need to be selected, matched and put together correctly for best results. Don’t be alarmed by this process. Soft plastic fishing actually has a lot in common with bait fishing, so it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that rigging softies is a bit like baiting up! When you buy a packet of prawns, whitebait, bluebait or pilchards, they don’t come with the hooks and sinkers already fitted… soft plastics are really no different.

There are literally dozens of ways that soft plastics can be rigged, but we’re going to concentrate on the method that works best on most of our fish under the vast majority of conditions: It’s a rigging strategy the Yanks call “Texposed” (a combination of the words “Texas” and “exposed”). What it means is to present a soft plastic on a lead-headed jig by pushing the hook point of that jig head into the nose of the soft plastic and feeding the rubber tail around the hook bend before bringing the point out on the mid-line of the plastic’s back. The result is the standard soft plastic set up we are most familiar with, and which is commonly seen in publications such as this one.

As simple as this rig sounds and looks, it’s critically important to get it exactly right. One of the commonest causes of poor fishing results with soft plastics is incorrectly rigged tails. Bent, twisted and off-centre plastics simply don’t swim properly. At their worst, they may spin in the water, looking completely unnatural and causing line twist.

However, even tails that are rigged only a fraction out of whack, and which lay over slightly on their sides when pulled through the water, or don’t quite wriggle right, can often put sharp-eyed species such as bream, snapper or trout off biting.

Following a couple of simple steps every single time you rig a soft plastic tail on a jig head will help to avoid these hassles, and although performing these steps properly will probably add an average of 20 or 30 seconds to the rigging of each soft plastic, that extra time pays huge dividends in terms of fish hooked and caught.

The four steps to effective rigging of a soft plastic tail on a standard jig head are shown here and described in the captions accompanying the step-by-step photos. Study those images carefully, read the captions with each one, and then go and rig up a few softies.

Regardless of the size, shape and style of the tails you rig, they should end up lying straight and true, just like the ones shown… If they do, you’re well on your way to becoming a far more successful soft plastics’ fisher!

Steve Starling

Get it right and the fish will soon let you know! This nice brownie absolutely inhaled a Squidgies Fish.

Snapper seem to be spreading their range and increasing in numbers around Tasmania. This will give more local anglers a chance to target them on soft plastics, which can be highly effective at times.

Bream can be extra wary at times and are especially sensitive to incorrectly rigged plastics.

Starlo with a lovely St Helens silver trevally taken on a properly rigged Squidgies Wriggler.

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

Fishing News - Page 15

MY FLIES The Editor, Mike Stevens figures he can whittle his flies down to a basic few. Here is his selection.

M

ike’s trout fishing started with fly fishing. He was thirteen year old and his uncle taught him the basics of casting and fly tying. Around 1970 or 1971 Mike took a course on fly tying with Noel Jetson at Adult Education in Launceston. It was one of, if not Noel’s first, fly tying course. He had taken over the course after Dick Wigram passed away in 1970.

Behind Mike’s office desk is a small framed Red Spinner tied by Mike under Noel’s tutelage, and notes on this fly he caught his first trout on a fly at Mt Joy on the Macquarie River, 3 December 1971.

River and stream fishing is his first love and the smaller the stream the more he likes them. It is fishing to visible trout he enjoys and in a small stream often every fish can be seen before casting. If not, he says, ‘you pretty much know where a fish should be and you can prospect that spot with a fly.’

‘Small streams are often protected from wind by either the enclosed valleys or a canopy of trees. They can be fished when you will be blown off open, meandering, meadows waters. The head waters are protected from drought and clear first when there are floods.

‘Small stream fish are frequently opportunistic and snaffle anything that looks edible. But that is not to say they are always easy.’

Mike does not get particular with fly choice or specific tying, and his general theory is ‘presentation is more important than imitation.’

Fishing News - Page 16

Royal Wulff

Pheasant Tail Nymph

A grand fly developed from a Royal Coachman by Lee Wulff. It is a robust fly and a good one will catch several fish. As a small stream fly I would be happy if this was the only fly I had to use. Once, on a New Zealand trip I called into see Peter Carty at Murchison.

He had just finished tying 120 dozen Royal Wulffs for an American client. Peter tied his with genuine calf tail, of which Peter had a ready supply living in dairy country.

Split calf tail wings are my preferred choice as they seem more readily cleaned, dried and put back into action. After a fish is caught, simply give the fly a good wash, a few squishes with some amadou (if you don‘t have a patch of this get some), apply some new floatant and off you go again. By the way I always squash the barbs, but generally don’t use barbless hooks. I have enough hooks in my kit to last me and others several generations. Flies with synthetic wings are okay, but rate second in my opinion. However I am happy to use them.

A Royal Wulff can look like a beetle, ant, hopper or other buggy insects and the white wings are, to me, an important element in stream fishing. It has nothing to do with the fish, but all about seeing that beautiful little fly in the shade under bushes and then pop out in the light - as just as visible. Dark flies disappear in the shade and light flies do not have a strong profile.

The Royal Wulff is a super fly.

I am not too worried what my nymphs are made from, but pheasant tail and copper wire seem to go together like bacon and eggs. They are easy and fast to tie and small sizes are outstanding. It is not my first choice on a stream, the floating Wulff is, as above.

But should I see a little trout refuse the Wulff though I will immediately change to a nymph. No second presentation if the fish saw the first dry fly properly. I will usually be fishing to a fish I can see so I will know what it is up to.

So on goes the nymph and it may be lightly weighted or if the fish is a bit deeper I may opt for a small gold bead head. I have fished to an eight inch trout like this for half an hour. Size of fish does not matter, but fooling the fish does.

Leaders I would like to mention leaders here, as they are, to me, a seriously important part of stream fishing - as important as any other element. Long leaders on small (tiny) streams are not necessary and accuracy suffers.

Some of my favourite streams are under two metres wide and at times you are only fishing two to four metres from the rod tip - or just the leader length. So a leader of not much more than two metres will mostly do with a suitable tippet on the end. My preference is a hand tied ‘Ritz small stream’ leader and the formula is below. I use Maxima for all sections. It seems to have the right flexibility and turnover characteristics for Tasmania’s climate.

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

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

Fishing News - Page 17

Small stream Ritz leader: 6’ 7” .019 x 24”, .017 x 17”, .013 x 6”, .012 x 6”, .010 x 6” .007 (4X, 4lb Maxima) x 20”.

It turns over easily and lengthen or shorten the tippet whenever required, or if you have to cope with a tricky drag situation.

After using every tippet material available Maxima in four pound for tippet is my choice. I know all the arguments, but it suits me and is soft and has good knot strength. Lighter tippets would be better, but small stream fishing means a lot of hookups in grass, willows and sticks. If the tippet is too light, all day will be spent tying on new flies.

There are two other reasons I like short leaders on tiny streams as well. Bow and arrow casts are made easier and a short leader will often let you cast over an overhanging piece of grass - the weight of the fly line and leader then allows it to drop to the water. A longer, finer leader will just hang in the grass.

Seals Fur Red Tag I don’t claim this as my fly, but I did tie it with no knowledge of it existing before. As happens in fly tying it has almost certainly been tied commercially in a parallel world somewhere.

I did a fly tying course with Noel Jetson, the Red Tag ambassador for the world, back in 1970-71. He taught me the correct way to tie one and his biographical book,

by Glen Eggleton is, according to Rick Keam, the only place he has ever seen instructions on how to tie on a peacock herl perfectly, described in detail. Noel taught me this. Just for him I would never go fishing without a Red Tag in my box.

However beautiful Noel’s Red Tags are they don’t last more than one fish without getting slimed up.

So I replaced the herl with a magic material - good on dries and wets and ginked up floats like a cork - seals fur. I mix the seals fur with a little Hends spectra 335 dubbing and it takes on a beautiful glistening hue – perhaps similar to peacock herl. The rest of the Red Tag is tied the same way my friend Noel tied his. But there is a twist - I sometimes like to add a white post in - only so I can see it in the shadows under a stream bank or tree.

Is it still a Red Tag? I think it is, but developed to suit my fishing.

Orange or Red/Black Bibio Hopper I don’t tie these. They are too time consuming for me and I can buy perfectly good ones. There are a few reasons I like them. They float well, are leggy, have some sparkle, the red/orange seems attractive to trout and they can be modified from what they start as, to a slim nymph. They have the magic ingredients; red/ orange, CDC, seals fur and legs.

They can be used when hoppers are around on a stream, cast to beetle feeders on Great Lake or dun feeders on Little Pine Lagoon. They float low in the surface and a fish taking emergers will look at it with glee. I’d be pretty happy with this as my ‘only’ fly.

Fishing News - Page 18

The Sticky is a great fly for polaroiding when fish are on frog or stick caddis.

Hughie’s Sticky This is a simple rough tied fly that is successful and predominantly fished in lakes and larger rivers. It is a nondescript fly that maybe taken as either a stick caddis, small fish and maybe even a snail or small mudeye I first used this fly because Hugh Maltby gave me some. It was in a small western lake when fish were frogging around the edges. But cast anything that looked ‘froggy’ at them and all you would see would be the bow wave of a departing fish. The Sticky can be weighted or not. Casting the unweighted version at fish for two hours resulted in many hookups, but in tight weedy conditions only two were landed. It works on frog feeders and tailing fish rather well, but can be used as a small fleeing fish. Best of all it is simple to tie.

Klinkhammer I have a few originals by Hans van Klinken and they will never be used. Essentially a Klinkhammer is a parachute hackle fly tied on a grub/caddis hook with the curved body submerged. Hans recommends a Daiichi 1160. The parachute floats the fly the correct way up every time. The post is easy to see and colour of post can be changed to suit you - or the fish.

The body hanging under the surface appears as an emerger and thus it is a great fly in a hatch, but never discount it as a great all round fly on lakes and rivers.

The post, once again makes it visible to those with failing eyesight, and that is why I love it so much. I like mine with a brown body and white post and in sizes to suit large duns on lakes to small versions for rivers.

There is a variation available in most tackle shops called a Sharpies Thredbo Special. It is grey and has a sparkle tail. It is a terrific small stream fly and if refused I often cut the sparkle tail off.

How to tie them.....

Royal Wulff Hook: Dry Fly #10 - #16 Thread: 6/0 Black Tail: Bunch of deer hair Wing: Calf tail or white poly Abdomen: Peacock Herl Waist: Red Floss Hackle: Brown or ginger 1. Tail should be 1½ hook shanks. Tie in at hook point and set above barb.

2. Wings are half-way between the point and the eye of and wing length should be about the same as the shank. Wrap thread in front of wing and stand wing up. Then split, and figure-eight. A drop of head cement is a good idea here.

3. Return to tail and tie in peacock herl and wrap forward to opposite hook point. Tie in red floss and wrap forward over peacock. Tie off and trim floss.

4. Wrap tying thread forward to behind the base of the wings and then wrap peacock herl to just behind the base of wings and tie–off with thread. Move thread to front of the wings.

5. Tie in hackle with a couple of turns behind the wing, but most in front. I like plenty of hackle for buoyancy. Then whip finish.

Pheasant Tail Nymph Hook: Nymph #12 - #18 Thread: Fine copper wire only Tail and body: Four to six cock pheasant centre tail strands

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

STILLWATER The new SONAR Stillwater range are specifically designed for cold weather trout fishing in lake environments — just like Tasmania.

Stillwater angling presents its own unique challenges and demands. Fishing just beneath the surface film, camouflaging full sinking lines, and fishing the hang are all aspects of Stillwater fishing that we’ve addressed with our Stillwater series.

Stillwater Hover Stillwater Hover

For fishing flies just below the surface WF-4-H thru WF-8H

Stillwater Clear Camo

Camouflage Line for Sub-Surface Fishing WF-4-I thru WF-8-I

Stillwater Clear Camo Intermediate

Stillwater 5’ Emerger Clear Tip

For Fishing Flies in or near the Surface Film WF-6-F/I thru WF-8-F/I

Stillwater Seamless Density

Double Density sinking lines provides straight-line connection to fly Sink 1/ Sink 3 – WF-4-S thru WF-8-S Sink 3 / Sink 5 – WF-5-S thru WF-8-S Sink 5 / Sink 7 – WF-6-S thru WF-8-S

Stillwater Emerger Clear Tip

Stillwater Parabolic Sink

Sinks in U-Shaped Profile Sink 3 running line, Sink 5 head, Sink 3 tip section WF-5-S thru WF-8-S

Stillwater Seamless Density

Sink rate chart – IPS (inches per second) Hover – 1 IPS Intermediate – 1.25 IPS Sink 1 – 1.25 IPS Sink 3 – 3.0 IPS Sink 5 – 5.0 IPS Sink 7 – 7.0 IPS

Stillwater Parabolic Sink

FOR YOUR NEAREST STOCKIST VISIT MAYFLYTACKLE.COM.AU

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

Fishing News - Page 19

Hundreds and Hundreds of trout fishing lures to choose from

RAPALA

SOFT PLASTICS

TILLINS

Trading Hours - Monday - Friday 8am-5.30pm & Saturday Mornings 8am-12.30pm - 6-8 W Fishing News - Page 20

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

POWERBAIT

LIVE WORMS

CELTAS

TASSIE DEVILS

West Tamar Road, Launceston - tamarmarine.com.au - 1300627463 www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Fishing News - Page 21

I tie this fly using fine copper wire in a bobbin holder and no thread.

Weight can be added by wrapping the hook with extra copper wire and a thorax can be built up as well.

I tie them this way, but always have a few with a small gold bead for added flash, which I sometimes like. I try and tie this with one lot of fibres, but if you are tying a bigger fly you might need to add a second lot to finish the body or if adding wing cases.

1. Dress the entire hook shank from front to back evenly with copper wire for a base. Use more if you want extra weight or a thorax.

2. Tie in four to six pheasant tail fibres. I like them to protrude about half the length of the shank.

3. Now twist the pheasant tail fibres and copper wire together forming a body rope. Wind this forward until you have covered the thorax. I like to see plenty of copper wire showing.

4. Some people like to fold the fibres back over the top to form a wing case, but I don’t bother.

5. Finish with copper wire pulled tight and cut off.

Use plenty of head cement.

There you have a simple, but amazingly effective fly.

Seals Fur Red Tag Hook: Dry Fly #10 - #16 Thread: 6/0 Black Tag: Red wool Body: Blend of black seals fur and Hends Spectra 335 dubbing mixed 3:1 Hackle: Brown or ginger Post (optional): White poly or calf tail

Take the thread from eye to bend and tie in the red wool tag. On small flies you might need to split the wool yarn to get the right proportion. You can tease it out a little before you tie it in.

Blend the seals fur and Hends 335 and dub it on. I don’t use wax on the thread, but you can if you want.

Don’t dub it too tightly. Wind it forward so it is a little fatter towards the front. Tie off and then tease out the dubbing a little using a piece of velcro.

Tie in a brown or ginger hackle, leaving the thread behind it and give it plenty of turns as you want a robust high floating fly. Wind the thread through the hackle and whip finish.

If you want a white post for visibility tie it in first about one third from the eye.

Klinkhammer – by Hans van Klinken Hook: Daiichi 1160, Daiichi 1167 Klinkhåmer hooks size 8-20 Thread: Uni-thread, 8/0, grey or tan for body, Spiderweb for parachute Body: Fly Rite Poly Dubbing any colour of preference or Wapsi Super Fine waterproof dry fly dubbing for smaller patterns Wing: One to three strand of white poly-yarn depending of the size and water to fish Thorax: Three strands of peacock herl Hackle: Blue dun, dark dun, light dun, chestnut all in good combination with the body colour.

Cut off a strand of poly-yarn for wing and taper the tip with your scissors before tying in to ensure the underbody is as slim as possible. Leave it long as you will trim it later.

Secure the yarn onto the top of the hook shank with the thread. Try to make a nice slim well tapered under body. Be very critical in this stage!

The better the under body the more beautiful the completed fly. Tie in the hackle so it lies forward in the same direction as the yarn.

Form an upright wing by winding up the poly yarn and hackle. This ensures you will have no problems with wrapping the hackle later on.

Apply a small amount of dubbing to the thread.

Use enough dubbing just to cover the under body.

Dub a very slim and well tapered body, starting as close to the barb as possible. The thinner the body the more successful the pattern.

THE BREAM TRIFECTA LIVE FLASH MINNOW WRIGGLY

• 70mm, 90mm, 110mm, 130mm • 8 Colours • Fish deep or shallow • Rig weedless or on a jighhead

COL

: 08

BULLDOG CRANK • 38mm • 10 Colours • UV Colours • Dives to 2m • Weighs 4g

COL

: PR

TANGO SHAD

• 50mm • 15 Floating colours • 15 Suspending colours • Dives to 1.6m • Weighs 4g

COL

: MH

W

For more information please visit

Fishing News - Page 22

Wind it along the shank and stop just behind the wing and cut off surplus or use the last piece of dubbing as underground for the thorax. In that situation it is not really necessary to cut off surplus. I recommend trying both techniques because for some people it is much easier to produce a better-looking thorax when you have made an under body.

Tie in three peacock herl fibres. Tie the herl in by their tips. This will help to create a much nicer thorax.

I secure the strands well also behind the wing. This ensures that the thorax will not come off. Tie off the thread at the eye.

Note the hook is turned in the vice, so that the wing is now horizontal. Grasping the tuft of poly-yarn, wind several turns of Spiderweb around the base of the poly-yarn to create a rigid wing base on which to wind the hackle.

Starting at the top of your wing base wind on successive turns of hackle, taking each turn below the next and thus closer to the hook shank. Small flies will require about 5 turns of hackle and bigger flies at least 7 or 8. Remember the fly has to float mainly on the parachute. A lot of people wind their hackle working up the wing. This makes the hackle less durable and it may come off. When you work from top downwards you ensure a compact, well-compressed and durable hackle.

Pull the hackle tip in the opposite direction to the wing and secure it with a few turns of Spiderweb. Secure well around the base of the wing between the wound hackle and body.

Finish off using a whip finish tool. Trim away the waste hackle tip and any hackle fibres that are pointed down. Take your varnish applicator and apply some lacquer on the windings just under the parachute. Trim the wing as required.

Bibio Hopper Hook: Dry Fly #10 - #14 Thread: 6/0 Black Body: Any colour seals fur. Orange or red/black are good Rib: silver or holographic tinsel Wing: CDC Hackle: Black Legs: Red dyed Golden Pheasant Tippet Tail: (Optional) Red dyed Golden Pheasant Tippet

Hughie’s Sticky Hook: Kamasan B200 size 12 Dubbing: Waspi Antron Sparkle Dubbing, Chestnut (145) and Bright Yellow (018) Thread: Yellow Mix the Chestnut with a small amount of the bright yellow antron, this will give the dubbing a greenish tinge and a bit of a lift.

Dub evenly to hook bend and forward again using the space behind the eye to build a head, tie off and add a couple of drops of head cement Finally with a strip of velcro tease the dubbing along the length of the hook and draw back with thumb and fore finger to finish the fly

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

WHY I LIKE A 10’ FLY ROD Australian Fly Fishing Champion Jon Stagg offers his opinion.

W

A 10 foot rod will give you a higher back cast, which can be useful in many places.

hen it comes to fly rods it is easy to become confused with what rod is most suitable for your style of fishing. The different models, weights, lengths, styles and combinations are endless. There are rods designed to suit almost any situation you may encounter on either lake or stream.

As a competition angler I am always looking to use the best style of rod to suit the type of water and conditions I am fishing. When fishing a river, I could have up to 7 rods set up for nymph, dry fly, nymph under dry, streamer, spiders etc. I use rods from 8ft to

11ft in length and from 0 weight to 6 weights. Why?.....

Because I can……you are allowed as many rods as you like set up on a river in a competition so I take advantage of this rule. There is a whole other story in explaining why I have each rod set up, but the main reason is it is impossible to have one rod successfully meet every situation you will encounter on a stream session. Sure, you could make do with one rod and still catch a good few fish but dependant on the water your performance would dramatically decrease if restricted to one rod

A 10 foot rod is all positives and no disadvantages in a boat.

When fishing lakes from a boat it is a different story, you may only fish with one rod set up in a boat at any one time in a competition. For this reason, I use one rod of 10 feet in length in either a 6 or 7 weight. Why a 10 foot rod? Well after nearly 30 years of fly-fishing and 20 years of serious competition I have come to the realisation that a 10 foot rod is by far the most versatile, efficient and effective fly rod for boat fishing that there is. By the way if I could have 7 rods made up in the boat I would, and they would all be 10 foot!!

Let’s have a look at the positives I first began my fly fishing using an 8’6” rod then progressed to using a 9 foot rod for quite some time.

I remember receiving a 10 foot, 5 weight Thomas and Thomas rod for what I thought would be a good river rod for nymphing. This was very early days of the Czech nymph technique hitting the scene and even though this rod was ok for this style of fishing I soon came to realise how brilliant this rod was to fish with from a boat. Although it was a 5 weight it was fast action and acted more like a 6 weight, I soon found myself using this rod regularly when fishing from a boat.

I loved to fish the morning wind lanes on Dee Lagoon or Lake Leake. When chasing these rainbows, it is critical to be able to throw a long fast line well in front of the feeding fish. Then if the fish changes direction, which it often does, you need to quickly pick up the line from the water and re-present your cast. The easier and faster you can accurately present your fly the more success you will have. A 10-foot rod is so much better for this style of fishing than a 9-foot rod. You will lift a much longer line from the water due to the extra length than any 9 foot rod and then you will have added power to allow you to aerialise and re-present your cast at distance much easier. With long delicate leaders that I use for wind lane fishing I find the 10-foot rod turns them over beautifully while still being accurate.

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

Fishing News - Page 23

When fishing from a boat I rarely find myself casting a single fly unless it is to trout rising to Caenids or possibly when polaroiding. Otherwise I am fishing dries, nymphs or wet flies using at least 2 flies and usually 3 flies. This means I am fishing with quite long leaders of 16 to 20 feet with flies 5 to 6 feet apart. I am also fishing not only floating lines but a full range of sinking lines from intermediate right through to a fast sinking DI 7. The 10 foot rod will out-perform any other rod when it comes to sinking lines. The added power will allow you to cast further with less effort and minimalize your false casting which means more time with flies in the water and more fish. The ten-foot rod will throw a wider loop in your cast than a 9-foot rod which aids in turning over the long leaders and weighted flies, this will reduce tailing loops which is a common problem with people trying to cast 3 flies.

Try to widen your casting loop when casting 3 flies, especially when using a sinking line. Sure, it doesn’t look as pretty as that nice tight looped arrow cast that you see in the magazines but it will be so much more efficient as you will not be getting frustrated untangling your 3-fly cast! The 10-foot rod will do this so much better The extra length in the rod will also benefit landing your fish from a boat especially when using 3 flies 5 to 6 feet apart. If you have hooked a fish on the point there will be less likely hood of the top dropper getting stuck

in the rod ring when you go to net the fish. Believe me that extra foot makes a huge difference when you are trying to get that four pounder in the net!

Finally, when fishing sinking lines I like to have hang markers on my fly lines at 10 feet and 20 feet from the end of the fly line. With a ten-foot rod I know that when the first hang marker at 20 feet hits my hand I have 10 feet of line out the end of the rod. This is the perfect length to hang your flies and know that your top dropper will be it the right spot just below the water.

Also If using a floating line the added length will enable you to dibble your top dropper on the surface further from the boat and with greater control.

Disadvantages This may sound strange as I have just told you why the length of a 10 foot rod is an advantage. But it is also the disadvantage. I have done a bit of competition casting in the past where you try to cast your fly into a series of hoops. It is all about accuracy and this is where I believe a 9 foot rod has a slight advantage over the 10 foot. If I was still casting at hoops, I would use the 9 foot rod but I am talking about casting from a boat in a fishing situation and this is where the 10 foot rod excels.

Another may be the 10 foot rod not being long enough. I played around with 11 foot rods back in the

glory days of Arthurs lake when the top of the water loch style fishing was superb. The rods were heavy and pretty average to cast but if the fish want your flies dibbled on the surface an 11 foot or even longer rod is an advantage in being able to control your flies further from the boat and for longer periods which means you are holding your flies in the hot zone for longer.

The only other would be the weight. Yes, a 10 foot rod is heavier than a 9 foot rod but these days rods are so light it is hard to justify. You may notice your arm is a little more tired after a day’s fishing with the 10 foot rod if you are used to a 9 foot. But maybe that is from playing all the extra fish you have caught!!

I am not going to go into the brands of rod you should go out and buy as I really have no idea. I love the rods I use but some aren’t being made any more and I am not up to date with the latest and greatest. I suggest you head into your favourite tackle store and talk to the professionals; they are there to help you get what you need. Have a cast with all the different types, they may even let you take one out for a fish.

Jon Stagg

Sunline’s newest braid SIGLON PE offers incredible performance at an amazing price! Made from EX-PE fibres, SIGLON PE offers a tightly woven braid that provides superior abrasion resistance, a very thin diameter for its breaking strain and minimal stretch. It is very easy to manage with a stiff yet ultra-smooth and round profile and is available in striking colour options. Available in 8 carrier PE (PEx8) and 4 carrier PE (PEx4).

PEx8 150m: Light Green, Orange, Multi Colour PE0.3 (5lb) to PE3 (50lb) 300m: Light Green, Orange, Multi Colour PE0.6 (10lb) to PE10 (130lb)

Fishing News - Page 24

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

PEx4 150m: Light Green PE0.2 (3lb) to PE3 (50lb) 300m: Light Green PE1 (16lb) to PE3 (50lb)

EARLY SEASON MADNESS Craig Rist goes for a paddle, ride and walk to find some good fishing .....

Y

ou know what it’s like, you get a crazy adventurous idea in your head and it’s all you can think about.

Over the years I’ve had a few mountain bike trips into the Nineteen Lagoons before when the gate is closed to cars, beyond the Lake Augusta Dam. I’ve always loved the idea of being among the first few to get back into this part of the Western Lakes early in the season.

A mountain bike can really cut down on the walking time along this road, giving me a bit more time to hike out beyond these lakes and lagoons that are easily accessible by road.

On this occasion, I decided to set my sights on an early mountain bike assault into the Julian Lakes.

Planning There was no way I was going talk anyone of my fishing mates into such an ambitious plan such as this.

Even if one of them did say yes I just couldn’t do it to them. With that in mind I decided to do a solo run

first just to see if it was worthwhile. I also had serious concerns about my ‘*mart special’ mountain bike even surviving the trip.

Lake Augusta is usually flooded early in the season so to access the Julian Lakes track I would have to get my mountain bike across the lake first. I planned to paddle my kayak 2.3 km across the Lake with my bike strapped to the back of it, then ride / push my bike 9.2 km to the lower Julians Lake, camp over night and then return the next day. It sounded like an achievable plan in theory, how hard could it be?

The Doing When I arrived at Lake Augusta Dam conditions were picture perfect, it was a blue-sky day, snow covered the higher peaks in the distance and the shoreline was covered in ice. A cold southwesterly wind blew into my face as I paddled my heavily laden kayak into the waves across to the other side of the lake.

My kayak finally broke the ice where the submerged Julians track leaves the Lake. I dragged the kayak ashore and threw the pack onto my shoulders to start the second leg of this mission by bike.

The reality of the task ahead soon became painfully obvious with the large rocks on the track making it impossible to ride the whole track with the additional weight of my camping gear. I was forced to push the bike for much of the way, only getting back on to ride the downhill and flat sections of the track. I was really pushing the capabilities of my economy class mountain bike with one of the pedals finally breaking from the abuse and load I was submitting this bike to.

Through perseverance, I eventually made it to the southern end of the Julian Lakes. I quickly set up my tent and eagerly assembled my rod and reel.

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

Fishing News - Page 25

The Fishing As expected there were no other anglers this far back so early in the season, I had the whole place to myself to explore at my own pace.

By now it was mid afternoon, the ice had already melted in the shallows so I decided to fish the western shore of the lower Julian Lake in search of tailing fish in the flooded margins or for one that might be holding motionless, ready to ambush a passing Galaxia (baitfish).

Off in the distance, in a flooded backwater I could see a subtle disturbance on the water. I quickly moved closer and watched and waited for another sign to see if it was a fish or a platypus. A fin suddenly appeared and then vanished just as quick, confirming its identity.

This didn’t give me much to work with but I decided to make the cast anyway. My size 14 Red Tag landing about a metre to the left and up wind of its last know location. I watched the fly slowly float down wind and just when I thought the fish had gone, a dark snout broke the surface and ate my fly. I paused and then lifted into a lively fish of around two pounds. It thrashed around in the shallows for a while and then came in quietly, rolling on its side as I guided it into a shallow inlet to remove the fly.

I have found a small Red Tag like this often gets eaten early in the season. One possible reason for its ongoing success is trout may identify this fly as a floating snail. I have watched trout refuse streamer style flies many times when they are feeding hard on the bottom and it’s often a small Red Tag that will get a result. It doesn’t work all the time, but when it does, it’s always good to get some early season dry fly action on the board.

I continued along the western, shore spooking two fish from the shallows that were hidden by the reflection of the cloud on the water. I didn’t see any more fish until I reached the four-wheel drive track that pasted the small backwater between upper and lower Julians Lakes. From the track I could see two fish tailing in this back water, one near the track and one

Keen or mad?

Fishing News - Page 26

on the other side. I covered the first fish with the Red Tag three times but it didn’t see it or didn’t recognize it as the food it was foraging for. It was time for a different approach so I tied on a size 16 black beetle ( wet fly ) to a 20 cm length of 4 pound line and tied the other end straight to the bend of the hook on the Red Tag as a dropper. My fish was still happily tailing away in front of me so I quickly presented the fly ahead of the fish and waited. The fish stopped tailing and then showed itself again with the slightest disturbance at the surface right under the floating Red Tag. The floating fly immediately started to move as this fish had obviously found and eaten the small black beetle.

I lifted my rod and it bent over from the solid hook up. The trout reacted by making a sudden dash for freedom towards the narrow channel connecting the main Lake. I quickly lowered the rod and let the fly line slip through my fingers so this fish wouldn’t break me off. It only took a few meters of line before slowing down and it was safe to start pulling back on the rod to play the fish out. In no time at all, another typical 2-1/2 pound Julians fish was landed and released. The other fish on the other side of the backwater was long gone, so I returned back to camp before the sun disappeared below the horizon.

I woke up the next morning, to a heavy frost and the shallows were once again, covered in thick ice. I knew there wasn’t going to be many, if any fish in the shallows with that much ice, so I decided to have a quick bite to eat and use this time to hike further back to the chain of lakes above the Julian Lakes, in the hope of finding a larger fish.

Two hours later I was making my way around a lake that I had fished many times before and it had produced quite a few fish from 2 to 6 pounds. The morning had developed into another perfect blue-sky day with just a hint of high wispy white clouds off in the distance. With no cloud reflection on the water I had very good vision into the water allowing me to see a long way out into this lake.

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

w

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. Known as the land of a thousand lakes, the area has many alpine tarns formed by ancient glaciers.

The Lodge, only 1.5hrs drive from Launceston or 2hrs from Hobart, 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.

Book now at thousandlakeslodge.com.au

thousandlakeslodge.com.au facebook.com/ThousandLakesLodgeTasmania Central Plateau Tasmania, Australia

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

Fishing News - Page 27

By now I had covered a lot of water and I was very surprised of the lack of fish close to shore. I quickened my pace to cover more water in the hope to find a fish before I had to return to camp. I had become a bit complacent, spooking a good fish at my feet as I had just jumped up onto a high rock without first checking what my lying beneath it. This is always a painful lesson to relearn and was enough to slow my pace down again and search the water properly. It was now 11am and my time was quickly running out.

I didn’t really want to have to paddle my kayak back across Lake Augusta in the dark if I could avoid it. Finally I found what I was looking for, as I caught a glimpse of a big brown slowly swimming away from me hard in against the rocky shore. I took a wide path The reward for madness. ahead of this fish and found a suitable spot to intercept it with my fly. I took the size 12 black and green Wooly some line straight from the reel on a light drag. This Worm between my finger tips and pulled on the leader was a much better fish of somewhere in the 5 pound to load up the rod ready for a short bow and arrow cast. mark. It had taken half the fly line from the reel before I was safely concealed alongside a large rock when the it finally slowed and allowed me to start working it fish swum into view. I released the fly and the leader and back. Another jump and two more runs had this fish fly rolled out onto the water, landing a meter in front exhausted. I slipped the fish into my net, took a couple of the fish. The fish responded instantly and slowly of happy shots and let him swim away. made its way over to the inert sinking fly. I watched I spent the rest of the afternoon packing up camp, its mouth open and then close, without hesitation I then riding/pushing the bike back out to Lake Augusta. lifted the rod and the startled fish jumped clear of the I paddled across the lake just before dark as planned water, again I lowered the rod and let this fish have giving me plenty of time to reflect on my madness.

Conclusion Would I do it again, no way, not with a mountain bike anyway?

Was it the right decision not to take anyone else on mission such as this, absolutely, I would never have heard the end of it.

If I were to do it again I would still paddle across Lake Augusta if it was full, but next time I would simply walk with an overnight pack. A day trip in and out with no heavy pack and a much more expensive mountain bike than mine would be possible. But I think I will leave that to the other crazies out there.

Craig Rist

Frosty start to the day.

Fishing News - Page 28

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

6-8 WEST TAMAR ROAD. LAUNCESTON. TASMANIA 7250 PHONE (03) 6331 6188 FAX (03) 63342681

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

Fishing News - Page 29

Australian salmon the two handed way on the North West coast.

LAND BASED SALMON Craig Rist

A

ustralian salmon are the perfect cold-water species to target on any light tackle. In Tasmania the average fish weighs between 1 and 2 kg, with a very real chance of finding a larger fish that will give the 3 kg mark a nudge. These fish fight hard and will often use a gill-rattling jump in an attempt to throw the hook, giving us the angler, an exciting aerial display.

They can be caught using bait, soft plastic, Lures and flies which are all viable options for the shore based angler. They are available all year, with the Winter and Spring runs in particular, providing a great excuse to wet a line during this slightly slower recreational fishing period in Tasmania.

Finding Australian salmon These fish are typically schooling fish that are always on the move in search of baitfish and krill. Finding Fishing News - Page 30

Salmon feeding on Krill close to the shoreline within casting range is not that common, so it’s the often unpredictable movement of baitfish into our estuaries, rocky coastlines and along our beaches that will bring Australian salmon within casting distance of a shore based angler.

Because Australian salmon are such a sort after light tackle sports fish, social media and our local papers soon spreads the word of their captures around our State. With that said, someone has to be the first to find them and this is usually those anglers who are willing to have a few fishless trips to find them. The reward of being the first is that you will have them all to yourself for at least a few weeks, before the word spreads to us all.

Rock Platforms There are many suitable rock platforms all around Tasmania to catch Australian salmon. Here are just a few I have fished in the northern half of the State that have produced Australian salmon. There are obviously many more that are worth exploring and a quick look at Google Maps will open up all sorts of possibilities for an exploratory trip.

The rock platforms near Marrawah on the West coast always get a mention because of the larger size of the Western Australian salmon that inhabit these waters. The most famous being the rock platforms near, Sinking Rock. However not all rock in this area provide the same sort of elevation from the big swells that can roll in from the West.

Rocks that are too close to the water are usually unfishable in some swells or have too much kelp

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

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

Fishing News - Page 31

beyond the rocks to retrieve lures or flies without getting snagged. The few rock platforms that are suitable for fishing the Sinking Rock area are very sort after when Salmon are hunting baitfish along this shoreline, so it pays to make an early start to find a spot.

Alternatively the rocks straight off Periwinkle Beach Road car park are another good option if you don’t want to walk the 3.4 Km round trip to Sinking Rock.

The only limitation here is the size of the swell rolling in, which can often break over this rock.

South of the town of Marrawah you have the rocks at the mouth of the Arthur River. On the North Coast you have Doctors Rocks, the rock bars at the mouth of the Leven and Mersey Rivers. The rocky headland between Badgers Beach and Greens Beach, the rock wall and headland at Low Head.

On the East Coast you have Georges Bay rock wall and Humbug Point at the Bar way.

Because much of my rock fishing has been done in the northern half of the State, I will leave the southern half of the State to the locals in the area who have much more experience than I, to share a story or two with us all.

Rock Fishing Safety When rock platforms are facing the open sea, you really need to keep one eye on the approaching set of waves rolling in at all times. Even when it looks to be relatively calm, without warning a larger wave can often roll in and threaten to take you off your feet.

These waves or swells can sneak up on you, especially on an incoming tide when the rising sea level brings the same swell or wave height up much closer to your once high and dry location. Good footwear that have soles that will grip wet rocks are essential. Wading boots are perfect for this because they are purposely made for wet rocks.

No fish is worth your life so if conditions are a bit unpredictable and there is a chance I may slip off the rocks while fishing, I will wear an inflatable life jacket or simply find a safer rock platform to fish from.

Estuaries and River Mouths Estuaries are full of life providing food for many juvenile fish species to grow including small Australian salmon. They are the gateway to the rivers for the spawning run of whitebait in August and September and they also see schools of anchovies and pilchards enter these systems at times. This influx of baitfish attracts schools of Australian salmon into these estuaries and river mouths. They will come into these estuaries on an incoming tide to feed and then return to the sea on the out going tide. The exceptions to this are those large deep estuaries like Georges Bay that support a huge population of baitfish that keep schools of Salmon within the bay regardless of the movement of the tide.

Land based options vary from rock platforms as mentioned to pebbly and sandy beaches that have access to the main channel, where the schools of salmon naturally use to enter a river mouth or estuary.

Targeting a schooling fish such as Australian salmon from a land-based location can be a tough game at times because if they are not swimming past your chosen location, they are simply not their to be caught. The Fishing News - Page 32

A bit of variety and fun with fly and lure. good news is these same locations can often see by catches such as Wrasse, Couta, Pike, Taylor, Trevally and even Flathead, that can save us from having a fishless day when the Salmon are simply not there to be caught.

Lure and Soft Plastics Australian salmon often hunt in schools, so there is always competition between them to eat that single baitfish that has left the safety of the bait ball or is showing signs of weakness. Because of this, Lures, flies and soft plastics that represent a similar baitfish profile are going to get eating.

Many lures will get the job done from silver metal slices, slugs and wobblers, white-feathered jigs, and hard bodies in 2 to 4 inch in length.

Adding a smaller fly dropper 60 cm above a larger, heavier lure is always an advantage because it allows you to fish a smaller baitfish profile that may better represent that actual size of the baitfish Salmon are feeding on, without compromising the distance you can cast a lure.

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

For soft plastics you can’t go wrong with a white 3 to 4 inch soft plastics with a baitfish profile. Jig heads need to have a strong hook like the Nitro Saltwater Pro, to handle the larger Salmon. I like the 5/8 oz heads and a 4-inch plastic to get some distance and cover more water.

Rods For rock platforms, rods need to match the weight of the lure you want to fish and be strong enough to have at least some control over the fish to lead it over kelp and rocks, into a safe place to land it. A 6 to 10 kg rod in the 7 to 10 foot range would do the job nicely.

For beaches, river mouths and estuaries you can afford to go with a much lighter outfit that best suits the lure, soft plastic s or bait you want to cast. With so many rod and reel combos on the market that are suitable for this style of fishing, it really comes down to an individual’s personal preference.

For leaders, I like to use 20 pound fluorocarbon to give me that abrasive resistance against rocks, when landing fish and for those toothy critters like Pike and Couta that can often show up.

Saltwater Fly Fishing This is by far, my favorite way to catch these fish and for anyone wanting to have a go at salt-water fly fishing in

Tasmania, Australian salmon are the perfect introduction. River mouths and estuaries are a great places to get your 5 or 6wt trout outfit salty, when Australian salmon are being caught by conventional methods.

Any fly reel with a half decent drag and 70 meters of backing is going to be fine for these fish.

Fly Lines Floating lines will catch fish to start off with, but if this is something you want to do more of, you will soon be looking for cold water sinking line to cover and catch more fish. A clear intermediate line is a good start in estuaries and river mouths and will do a great job most of the time. Where as a fast sinking line will get the fly down to fish feeding or swimming deeper than 2 meters much faster, giving you more casts and retrieves to cover more fish when they are flooding past you. Which ultimately gives you more chances to catch fish.

Leaders For estuaries and river mouths a 9 foot tapered leader with a 12 to 16 pound fluorocarbon tippet is all that is needed.

For rock platforms I use the same leader but with a 20 pound fluorocarbon leader for more abrasive resistance against the rocks and to save a few flies from those fish with teeth.

A TOUGH 8 WEIGHT - READY TO FISH REDINGTON SALTWATER COMBO $420

Redington’s Path/Behemoth Fly Combo. All-water, mediumfast-action Path rod boasts premium graphite blanks for reliable performance. Rods feature full-wells handles and anodizedaluminum reel seats. Alignment dots make assembly easy. Matched with a Redington Behemoth 7/8 Reel / Backing and WF8F Fly line.

The Redington Path rod has lifetime replacement warranty, so if it gets broken for any reason you pay around $100 and Redington replace your rod with a new one.

The Redington Behemoth reel that is the serious part of this combo is amazing value for money. Check out any review and you will see. Great drag and great value. We have sold hundreds and had no warranty claims. They are tough.

Buy it online at www.essentialflyfisher.com.au Shipping is FREE.

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

Fishing News - Page 33

Single Handed Fly Rods Wet flies are usually weighted and are often 2 to 3 inches in length so because of their weight and length a single-handed rod in the 6 to 9 weight class will make multiple casts much easier. Personally I like to use an 8 or 9 weight rod that has the fly line weight and power to carry larger flies into the wind on long casts.

Double Handed Fly Rods These rods are growing in popularity in both fresh and salt water.

I really like to use these double handers for overhead casting from rock platforms and beaches, simply because they are effortless to throw a very long line with as little as one or two false

casts. These rods are longer and carry a heavier line, but because you are using two hands with a very simple casting action close to your body, they transmit tremendous power with very little effort.

When you start to talk about line weights for double handers, a line for an 8wt double hander in a Spey/Switch rod is not the same weight as a single handed 8 wt fly rod. A line for a 8wt Spey/Switch rod is much heaver and is more like an 11 weight line used on a single hander. For example, the fast sinking overhead casting line I use on my 12’8’’ Scott T3H Two Hander is the Airflo Big Game 500 grain, which would be far too heavy for an 8wt singlehanded rod but casts fine on my 11 wt single hander.

AUSSIE FLW TOUR ANGLER CARL JOCUMSEN CHOOSES TO USE MOLIX LURES.

BIG GAME SHOCK LEADER

SIGLON PE offers a tightly woven braid with a very thin diameter for its breaking strain and minimal stretch. It is very easy to manage with a stiff yet ultrasmooth and round profile. PEx4 is made from 4 EX-PE fibers and is available in bright green.

FC SNIPER INVISIBLE

Available in 150m PE0.2 (3lb) to PE3 (50lb) 300m PE1 (16lb) to PE3 (50lb)

THE CONCEPT IS ZERO PRESENCE! Minimizes pressure on line-shy fish! Designed with colors that exist in the natural environment (e.g. weeds, rocks, trees).

High straight strength with good elongation (energy) at breaking point which gives the leader more shock resistance and less breakages.

100% Fluorocarbon line with double resin processing (DRP) it has outstanding performance in both straight and knot strength.

BIG GAME SHOCK LEADER is easy to manage and knot with triple resin processing (TRP) to improve slickness and abrasion resistance.

Available in 50m spools from 40lb to 330lb

SIGLON PEx4

Available in 75m spools from 2lb to 20lb with a colour rotation every 15m of: Natural Clear, Moss Green, Gray, Green, & Brown.

For the full Molix Lures and Sunline ranges please visit www.ejtodd.com.au

Fishing News - Page 34

Using a double hander has really improved my catch rate and the enjoyment when fly-fishing from the rocks or beaches. For anyone who finds it difficult casting a single hander due to an arm or shoulder complaint. A double hander that allows an effortless casting stroke may just put you back in the game.

Fly Retrieves I usually use two types of retrieves, one is a series of fast erratic strips to represent an injured baitfish consisting of one 40cm strip followed by a half second pause then two consecutive 40 cm strips followed by a 1 second pause.

The other retrieve that really works well is the constant retrieve using two hands with the rod tucked under one arm.

When I feel a fish eat the fly using this double hand retrieve I simply speed up the retrieve keeping the rod under my arm until the fish is firmly hooked and is pulling line from my hands. Lifting the rod too soon before the fish is properly hooked is a sure way or dropping a fish using these larger salt water fly hooks.

Hook points can and do get rolled when they make contact with rocks so I always carry a hook sharpener and check my fly regularly to make sure the hook has every chance of hooking a fish. If I start to miss setting the hook or they jump or pull free, my hook point is the first thing I check.

Line management is another thing to consider, particularly when you are stripping line onto rocks that are covered with sharp barnacles or will catch your line on the next cast or worse, when a hooked fish is taking line. A stripping basket is a very useful tool to keep the line off the rocks and out of the water where the waves can tangle up loose fly line at your feet.

Both scenarios can really take the enjoyment out of fly-fishing so a stripping basket of some kind is really worth considering. Getting the odd tangled loop is all part of fly-fishing even with a stripping basket and it is something that is often hard to avoid. One big tip to avoid tangled loops is to try and cast out all of the line you have stripped off the reel so that it pulls up tight to the reel. This straightening of the fly line back to the reel will naturally untwist the line that causes unnecessary tangles.

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

Even with the handicap of fly fishing, it’s all worth the effort when you finally feel that thump on the line from a hard fighting Australian salmon and it starts to pull line from your hand.

The best ever saltwater fly - White Clouser.

Australian Salmon Flies Very simple, white with a bit of flash is the bases of any good salmon fly. Many different baitfish flies will work. I personally like to use 1# and 1/0# flies that have the hook point riding up with weighted dumbbell eyes to give them a jigging action and make them relatively snag free. A simple Clouser Minnow does this well tied with a mixture of traditional Bucktail and stronger synthetic material to make them last a little longer when they get chewed.

Happy hunting - Craig Rist

Hooked up and heading west.

Pro XS FourStroke Performance Redefined Built on the legendary Pro XS reputation for superior hole shot, top end speed and durability. Mercury’s new 115HP Pro XS FourStroke redefines outboard performance.

Visit mercurymarine.com.au to find out more.

Channel Marine Services Lot 10 Gemalla Rd, Margate Ph: 03 6267 1456 Tasmanian Marine Centre 21 Wellington Street, Longford Ph: 03 6391 1543

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

Fishing News - Page 35

RECREATIONAL FISHERIES REPORT

Opening of the brown trout season 2019-20.

John Diggle: Director of Inland Fisheries The Tasmanian brown trout season will opens Saturday 3 August and the outlook for fishing looks good.

We are excited that Tasmania will be host to the World Fly Fishing Championship this year. The five Over 22,000 wild brown trout have been moved from heavily populated waters to other areas. venues that will be used from Monday 2 to Friday 6 Of course, there are plenty of other waters that are Fishing on the opening and through the season will December are Penstock and Little Pine lagoons, Woods be popular at Four Springs Lake, Craigbourne Dam and under fished and exciting to explore like lakes Pedder, Lake and the Meander and Mersey rivers. Be aware that Brushy Lagoon. We have been busy transferring wild King William and Burbury. These are reliable but be there are special closures of these waters to support adult brown trout over winter to popular waters. Check prepared for some rough weather particularly early the competition. Check your Tasmanian Inland Fishing out the IFS website (www.ifs.tas.gov.au) to see what we in the season. For a more sheltered option with good Code 2019-20 for details. Performance Assessment Fisheries numbers of fish, try Huntsman Lake. have been up too.

We are looking forward to seeing how the international For anglers chasing a trophy trout, try Lake Crescent Rivers will provide great fishing in the coming season. competitors perform and hearing their thoughts on Technical Report early in the season, it is producing some big well- Just how good they are will depend on the rainfall for the fishery. Check out the short movies about the conditioned trout. The water level is low and it will the rest of winter and spring. If the major rivers aren’t championship venues in the IFS website–video library.

Bronte Lagoon September 2018 need some rain in the catchment if it is to rise into the in flood, the sea run trout will be about in the estuaries The brown trout spawning runs have been solid. marshes. Fish it early (August/October) for the best and lower reaches from the start of August. This can The run started in Liawenee Canal in early April and chance of a big fish provide exciting fishing right through to Christmas. Visit continued well into July with fresh runs on each rain Another trophy trout chance is Blackmans Lagoon. Hobart and fish the River Derwent or Huon River. Of event. The run was late at Arthurs Lake with the first Over winter, we transferred 500 wild adult brown trout course the Lune, Pieman, Forth, Mersey, Great Forester heavy rain coming in early July. The fish pushed up in Blackmans Lagoon. These fish will grow quickly in this and Duck rivers are great places to seek out a sea runner. force on this event and as a result there should be some As of 3 July, we have relocated just over 22 000 wild water. It will fish well early in the season. good recruitment. Data from the Tumbledown Creek Talbots Lagoon fished really well last season and this adult brown trout from spawning traps in the Central fish trap (Arthurs Lake) this winter shows a solid pulse Highlands. Fisheries that have benefited include: of young healthy spawning fish that look to have come is expected to continue this year. With the improved • Blackmans Lagoon received 500. from the good recruitment year in 2016. This all goes angler’s access, everyone is talking about how good a fishery it is.

It will fish well all season but aim for well for the rebuilding of this important fishery. The • The Bradys Chain of lakes with 7 048, trap on the Derwent River at Lake King William has the October mayfly hatch and you will see something • Brushy Lagoon received almost 2 000. caught almost 10 000 brown trout as we write this in special.

• Craigbourne Dam gained 1 000. early July and they were still running in.

Angling in Tasmania is not all about trophy trout. It • Curries River Reservoir, 1 175.

The West Coast and most of the Central Highlands is about the amazing fishing experience. It is impossible • Four Springs Lake with just over 4 000. has had some good rainfall. The Nineteen Lagoons and to list all the fisheries expected to perform well going this coming season.

Beyond the well known waters • Lake Crescent received an even 1 000. greater Western Lakes have benefited from this. There should be some good fishing for those that want to like yingina/Great Lake, Woods Lake, Lake Echo, • Lake Leake with1 050. explore this area. Woods Lake, Lake Crescent, Tooms Bronte Lagoon, Little Pine Lagoon, Penstock Lagoon, • The Nineteen Lagoons received 450 Lake and Lake Leake have seen below average rainfall Four Springs Lake why not explore the Bradys Chain.

• Pet Reservoir also 1000 and the lakes are low the further east you go. Rain is It has had a large number of wild adult brown trout • Penstock Lagoon a little over 3 000 transferred into it over the last few years. This year 7000 badly needed for these eastern fisheries. fish have been transferred from the River Derwent fish • South Riana Dam with 550 The water quality at Woods Lake is still good and trap at Lake King William to the Brady’s Chain alone.

• Tooms Lake, 1 100. based on the young fish that were seen coming through Check out the King William Fish Trap video to see how last season it will fish well again right from the start of Exact numbers on the website stocking database. we do this. Some of these fish have been tagged to allow season. It may require a release of water from Arthurs If you want to buy a licence, know more or simply a Fisheries Performance Assessment to be undertaken Lake before the season is over, if the rain does not come. and we would like anglers to report the numbers and want to pass on your experience then visit the IFS We will be keeping a close eye on this and will work with locations of captures. Send information to infish@ifs. website (www.ifs.tas.gov.au), ring on 1300 INFISH or Hydro Tasmania to maintain suitable environmental email infish@ifs.tas.gov.au, we do value your feedback. tas.gov.au. conditions.

Fishing News - Page 36

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

RECREATIONAL SEA FISHERIES NEWS August 2019

Fishcare staff distribute fishing information to international students at the Hobart campus UTAS Market Day.

Fishers from other languages and cultures Tasmania is experiencing a big increase in international visitor numbers as well as growing numbers of international students and permanent migrants.

A significant percentage of these visitors are interested in fishing, some for recreation and some like foraging for shellfish to eat from our clean green waters.

This has highlighted the need to develop an understanding of the motivations and behaviours of fishers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds and tailor some of our fisheries education products to ensure they fish within the rules.

In some instances, there are differences in understanding about fishing sustainability and compliance issues. We have also noticed that some CaLD groups target fish species which traditionally are not commonly targeted by Tasmanians such as wrasse and mackerel. This may give the impression that they are not fishing sustainably, for example, taking mackerel that does not have a size limit and has a higher bag limit than some species (30).

For the same reason, Wild Fisheries is also in the process of reviewing some catch limits for intertidal shellfish species such as periwinkles, wedge shells, whelks and chitons because increasing numbers of fishers are now taking these species.

The Wild Fisheries Management Branch is keen to connect with CaLD fishers through its Fishcare Tasmania and Communication activities including using the services of a bilingual fisheries employee who is bilingual in Chinese and English one day per week.

This has helped us develop targeted CaLD products and activities that include:

Placing measuring rulers translated into Chinese at fishing hotspots around the state.

Distribute fishing information to new students at recent UTAS Market Days at all campuses through Fishcare and develop plans to run fishing clinics for university students.

Translated webpages for shellfish and abalone have been published at: www.fishing.tas.gov.au with plans for further pages to be translated.

Developing a brochure for non-English speakers in five key languages to be distributed at airports, the Spirit of Tasmania and by Fishcare about where to find fishing information.

Fishcare Coordinators to visit work sites with non-English speaking workers to provide fishing information.

Working with Marine Police to identify hotspots and fishing behaviours in need of targeting fishing education.

If you have connections to CaLD fishing communities, we encourage you to contact Fishcare who may be able to run an information session or fishing clinic tailored to that community.

Contact Fishcare on 6165 3039 or email: fishcare@ dpipwe.tas.gov.au Need more information?

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

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

Fish ruler with Chinese translation at Binalong Bay jetty.

Fishing News - Page 37

Hand built timber Drift Boat $2000 Everything pictured is included: Boat, Electric motor, battery, trailer and cover.

Boat is timber with fibreglass reinforced joints, painted with epoxy including carbon black on the bottom in the epoxy. Included is MinnCota motor (used twice) the deep cycle battery, essential safety gear, an anchor, 100 metres (unused) silver mooring rope, various fittings in stainless, oars, rowlocks and registered trailer.

Contact Martin Hutchinson for further details on 0412 132 081

LAUNCESTON’S ONLY AUTHORISED

MERCURY MARINE SERVICE CENTRE • MERCURY MARINE SALES AND SERVICING • SERVICING ALL BRANDS OF OUTBOARDS • TRAILER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS 8 LEGANA PARK DRIVE, LEGANA PH: 6330 2277 Z A N E @ C JMA R INE .C OM .A U

Tasmania n i e d a M your - to suit g spirit. n i r u t n e v ad

The Leven

The Leven

Little Henty camper - this is a great camper The Leven slide on camper is constructed from light weight for couples who want a very light weight fully slide on with extensive customization Litt fibreglass panel and hasinsulated outstanding insulation properties. options. So make it suit how you want to live while on the road. With seven models in the range for c The aerodynamic shapeand of Leven only looks great, but is threethe of them set for those whonot travel alone we have it covered. insul functional saving you fuel on those long road trips. The electric optio powered roof gives the Leven it’s stylish exterior and the camper whil able to be used evenmodels with the roof down.

Security features in interior is designed to allow the maximum TheisLeven - One of seven Aussie Traveller and double use ofsecurity space. Thedoor, features include a pull out and The the LevenLeven slide oninclude camper isthe constructed table which be stored when windows with lock down pointscanthat ensure a not needed we h fromglazed light weight fibreglass paneltriple and has andfitted comfort-able faceistodesigned face seatingtoin a strong durable seal. The quality interior outstanding properties.

Phone : 03 6437 2791 emailinsulation : and drafting@penguincomposites.com.au of durableinclude fashion fabrics.

The allow aerodynamic shape of the Leven the maximum use ofnotspace. choice The features a pullThe sleek kitchen features storage, only out lookstable great, but is functional youwhen which can besaving stored not design needed andoverhead comfortplenty of draws, and a choice of gas or fuel on those longtoroad trips.

The electric able face face seating in a choice of durable fashion fabrics. electric hotplate. A fridge is also included in powered roof gives the Leven it’s stylish The sleek kitchen design features overhead storage, of the camper so you will plenty have everything you exterior and the camper is able to be used draws, and a choice of gas or electric hotplate.

A fridge is also need including the kitchen sink. even with the roof down. Security features in the camper so you willCustomise have everything you need to suit your needs. in theincluded Leven include the Aussie Traveller including kitchen security door, andthe double glazedsink. windows 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.

with triple lock down points that ensure a strong and durable seal. The quality fitted

Phone : 03 6437 2791 email : drafting@penguincomposites.com.au Fishing News - Page 38

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

St Helens

Your every need catered for • Eight en-suite cabins • Convenience store • Hot takeaways • Groceries • Newspapers • Boat parking • Fuel • Bait and tackle • Boat and car wash

Hillcrest Tourist Park

Boat trailer wheel and tyre Dunbier and early Holden pattern

around $90ea 62 Hopkins St, Moonah 6228 0274

and Mini Market

100 Chimney Heights Rd. St Helens 6376 3298

Gone Fishing Charters

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

Gone Fishing Charters St Helens Michael Haley 0419 353 041 mhaleycharters@bigpond.com www.breamfishing.com.au

Outboard Technology Quality service and repairs to all Outboard Motors

Southern Region David Gillespie 6248 9080 or 0417 562 859 96 Clifton Beach Rd Sandford Tas 7020

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

Fishing News - Page 39

ARE ARE YOU YOU DODGY DODGY ARE YOU DODGY ARE YOU DODGY BOATWISE? BOATWISE? BOATWISE? BOATWISE? CHECK BEFORE CHECK BEFORE YOU YOU BUY. BUY. CHECK CHECK BEFORE BEFORE YOU YOU BUY. BUY.