In just a matter of 48 hrs. The Tasmanian Brown Trout Season will kick off for 2021-22 and will see thousands of freshwater enthusiasts statewide hitting our lakes, rivers and streams with hopes of bagging their first fish of the season.

Most of our popular freshwater angling locations are looking promising, with even Great Lake at Liawenee looking balmy at 7 degrees C

Standouts from last season include such waters as Bronte and Penstock Lagoons, Lakes Leake and Four Springs and of course popular rivers such as the Derwent and Huon Rivers in the south – these would be a good starting point this year as well.

Last season saw fantastic wet fly fishing across the state in such waters as Penstock, Little Pine and Lake Leake. While quality spinning and trolling was enjoyed at Four Springs, Woods and Great Lake.

Sensational white bait runs in rivers across Tasmania saw quality experiences had by anglers chasing sea run trout with the Arthur and Pieman Rivers stealing the limelight for trophy sea run and estuary trout.

With water levels high anglers should expect quality angling and healthy well-conditioned trout from word go – without doubt the start of last season was the best start for 20 years with anglers commenting on the condition of trout caught being well ahead of normal and this season should be no different with anglers praying for this season start to be even better.

Please remember to purchase your Inland Fishing license. Available at The Fishing Connection Hobart.

Tips from The Fishing Connection Staff

Stephen Bax
says the River Derwent will fish particularly well during opening weekend and always proves itself to be worth a visit for some sea trout action. It’s a great fishery close to a major CBD that produces some wonderful trout fishing during the opening few months and has already been showing good numbers of healthy fish been caught in the lead up. Inland Fisheries has also stocked 3 $2000 fish into the Derwent so keep an eye out for an “Orange Tag” in any fish you catch. If a highland experience is sought the Bronte system is well worth a look based on last year, in particular Bronte Lagoon itself and Tungatinah Lagoon. Daiwa Bait Junkie 2.5 Inch Minnows in Motor Oil for the lakes and Copper Flash if chasing sea trout.

Andrew Large
backs up with a solid tip on the Derwent and Huon estuary systems. Reports recently have seen some beautiful fish caught in the 2-2.3kg bracket. Arthurs Lake would also be worth persevering with opening weekend as well – if fly fishing a wet fly like a “Not a Bitch”, “Silver Shrek” or “Cormorant” will take fish cruising the shallows. Hawk Sniper 60mm bibbed minnows in Killer Wasp and Black and Gold would be a good choice flicked around the sticks and logs or around rocky shorelines. For sea trout he’d suggest the same lure but in Kawamutu or a Black Magic BMax bibb in Mad Minnow or Smelt.

Alex Green
says the fly is the only way to go on opening weekend with his plan being to get up into the highlands and try a few different waters. The breeze that is forecast over the weekend will only serve to stir things up a little and get trout up and feeding. Alex suggests flicking a wet fly along the edges of our many lakes or deep on the weed beds with a sinking line with the standout performer from last season being the “Yellow-head”. Arthurs Lake (cow paddock), Penstock Lagoon and maybe Little Pine will be on his hit list this opening.

If casting or trolling a lure Alex suggests Bronte Lagoon and Brady’s Lake as these fished well all last season – and a Strike pro flatz minnow 539T would be his lure of choice. An Ashley spinner “Phantom” in the 1.5-inch size cast from the shore will work as well.

Rob Miller
suggests Lake Leake and Tooms as these are lower in altitude and in the lea of the plateau being further out to the east – Leake fished really well last year with fish up to 4.1kg being landed early. Tooms is, at the moment, still spilling after rains a month back and has recovered well after being low for a few years and full of trout. Trollers and spin fishers will do well using a Wonder Wobbler Redfin or a Tillins King Cobra in Colour 103. Rob being an ex-chef says the east coast fish cook up well, make sure to ask him about his secret banana recipe.

Jack Piggot
emphasizes the use of good terminal tackle and continues his love of a good swivel across the board. “Trout are no different”, People often forget to check their line and terminal after months of storage and a weak swivel or old line is a common failure spot and will cost you good fish, good lures and can ruin your hole weekend. When I head to the lakes fishing this weekend ill be reaching for some fresh 4kg Black Magic snaps and some new Daiwa J-Thread line as reliable options. Cold hands and knots don’t always mix at the altitudes I fish so I tend to fish a slightly bigger swivel so it is easier to open and change lures frequently in the cold while trolling – this weekend he’s headed to Great Lake. Ecogear MW62F lures and Daiwa Double clutch 70s are his lures of choice.

Jonty Clues
says Craigbourne Dam is a real option for a good brown or rainbow trout that is often overlooked opening weekend – recent releases have bolstered numbers and the dam is full and just spilling. Brighter lures are his suggestion like the Tasmanian Devil 129 – Pink My Frog. Wonder Wobblers because of their erratic action will also attract the attention of trout in this water particularly while things are still a bit murky. Brown Trout 2, Red Dot Frog and Fire Tiger will be hard colours to beat.

Angus Williams
recommends Woods Lake as its close to Arthurs and Great Lake and should be a bit more sheltered in this weekend puffy westerly weather. This water always amazes him opening weekend as a fish producer. Weed is almost non existent which is great for trouble free trolling and normally good fun can be had spinning the edges. Angus’s plan is to string up the fly rod and suggests a Mrs Simpson or Risely Green Machine fished slow in the shallows or if fishing deep out wide over the weed beds and there’s not too much sunshine a Bitch with a bright orange bead should get the fishes attention, the lake is not that deep and fish are only too eager to come up off the bottom and hit a fly.

Inland Fisheries Service News

A Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion

Continues this year – the difference being instead of 10 tagged trout at $10000 each like last year – this year there will be fifty tagged trout worth $2000 released into various waters including such places as the River Derwent, Lake Leake, Lake Burbury, Great Lake and many more. These tags are orange and have unique identifying details. Be mindful of a blue tag – this is a 2020/21 tagged fish and does not count for this year.

For more information, please see the link below and for helpful tips and hints on what works best in the various lakes and streams of release please drop into The Fishing Connection Hobart and see the guys

https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/about/tasmanian-tagged-trout-promotion

No Fee for Junior Angling License’s

The Tasmanian Government is making Junior Angling License’s free for the next 4 years. Junior Anglers from 14 up to and including 17years of age can fish Tasmania’s inland lakes and waterways with a free angling license.

This commitment runs until the end of 2024 - 25 season.

Junior Anglers under 14 years of age do not require a license.

New Product

New season product has already started to hit our shelves and will continue for some months.

Lures

Can you believe one customer bought 30 Rapala F7 Spotted Dogs!

In recent weeks we have seen Hawk Sniper lures in both the shallow and deep versions, Jazz MinoFish 55 and 75s topped up and ready to go, Ecogear, Lucky Craft, Tillins, Tasmanian Devil, Sting, Rapala, RMG, Duo, Presso and many more filling our prongs and extras in our cupboards.

Of note fresh stocks of Rapala Spotted Dogs arrived a few weeks back. For the moment we have healthy stocks of F5, F7, F11 and CD5 and CD7 …. These aren’t available all the time and will only be available while stocks last.

Berkley have released a new range of hard body minnows; we have had these in stock for a few months now and have been selling well - these lures have been designed with the trout fisher in mind with 5 different styles available. Interestingly a “bent minnow” style is available and has proven very effective fishing the shallows for trout.

Flies

We are now proudly supporting 3 great local fly tyers that have been tying the majority of our flies this year. From our experience local flies have proven to be of a much higher standard utilizing better hooks, better materials (like locally sourced possum) and are tied specifically for our waters. Our fly cabinet is fully stocked with over 1000 different patterns to choose from.

Braids and Line

Fresh sock of the Australian Monofil Company’s Classic Brown is now back in stock. Many options are available too in J Braid/Kariki 8 and 4 offering anglers a great choice in quality braids from Daiwa and Shimano.

Rods and Reels

New season stock continues to arrive why not consider taking a virtual tackle tour on the following supplier websites:

Daiwa – https://daiwafishing.com.au/pages/2021-product-showcase#animate-showcase-banner

Shimano - https://www.shimanofish.com.au/content/fish/oceania/au/en/homepage/product-news.html

Berkley, Penn, Abu Garcia - https://www.purefishing.com.au/

What are my prospects like by water?

Ok so whether you shore fish, boat troll or spin or flyfish here is a run down of our most popular waters.

Huon and Derwent estuaries
are in great shape with trout already being caught in recent weeks. Both waters should fish well with the lack of flood water so far. Concentrating on the mid reaches of the Derwent say from the Bowen Bridge to Bridgewater will produce fish for many as will the stretch from Franklin to Mountain River in the Huon. Small whitebait patterned flies and silvery colour schemed lures will imitate baitfish living in these estuaries. Berkley 2.5 Inch T Tails and a 1/8 oz Sz1 Jig head in Pearl Olive is always a favorite lure choice for many.

Arthurs Lake
was patchy for some last year and but fished well for others. Fly fishing around its edges in Cow paddock Bay will be popular this opening as will drift spinning the sticks. Bait fishers will enjoy soaking a worm as well. Fish will range in size with IFS telling us recently that 3 size classes of trout were noticed in the spawning creeks this year – some up to 4kg. A Rapala Spotted Dog in F7 is a wise choice.

Great Lake
although open presently is always a reliable destination, the fish here having returned from spawning some time ago will be like last year and have fed up over the off season. Both browns and rainbows will be in top condition.

Bait fishing at night will produce fish – Scrub worms are always reliable.

Lure fishers will do well drift spinning in Swan and Beckets Bays as will the fly angler. Whether using lure or fly try brighter patterns as the lake has been filling and the water slightly murky for this time of the year.

Tasmanian Devil in BR – Bloody Ripper always a favorite to many or S12 – Sunburst another go to.

Bronte Lagoon
is a little lower in altitiude and well worth a look. This was a standout water last year producing fish to 2.3kg. Fly fishing its edges is well worthwhile – again Woolley Buggers and Shreks seem to be the go to patterns. King Cobra Nos 103, 104 and SD proving themselves last season. Strike Pro Flatz Minnows in colour >>>>>>>>> working well for Andrew last year through the whole chain of lakes.

Tooms Lake
is a water to watch this season – its full and spilling – the first time in a few years and trout should be in great condition after a dry spell of 5 years or so. Tasmanian Devil 94 - Sunburst Frog and Rapala F7 SD – Spotted Dogs always killers here.

Lake Leake
will be a diamond again this year – especially during the opening months. Fish to 4kg – both browns and rainbows were taken last season with the average size nearing 2kg. EcoGear MW62Fs in Col 313 and Daiwa Presso 6F in colours being Black and Gold and Rainbow Trout standouts and tipped to work again this season.

Finally

Good Luck to everyone this weekend and over the next few weeks – rug up, stay warm, stay safe and tight lines!