Early Tasmanian season prospects
by Carl Hyland 6 Aug 2018 06:33 UTC
Sitting at my computer desk it is a pleasure to look out and see blossom on the fruit trees, sun shining and listen to the blackbirds in full song. It just makes me want to get out there and go fishing, which is what I intend to do once the writings done. Prospects are good with heavy rains still flushing most rivers and this is even before snow melt begins. Once that happens, we should see some improvement in fishing even further.
Those fortunate enough to get out have braved treacherous conditions and as I mentioned, most freshwater streams are running a bunker and bottoms are either too deep to see or are very slippery. There are options though, some have taken to fishing up in amongst trees where cockchafer beetles are everywhere, washed out of flooded pastures no doubt, what this means is that trout, bream and many other species are now gorging on this sumptuous banquet.
In some estuaries, young elvers(eels) are making their way up fish ladders on dewy or wet nights, across paddock's to try and reach sheltered waters where they can grow fat and in turn, start the life cycle all over again. Already we can see options where if you 'match the hatch', you would have luck. A big black gold t-tail soft plastic would match an elver appearance and a small fly would suffice for the cockchafers. From the I.F.S the latest news on the newly opened Tasmanian trout season: Most inland waters open this weekend. The brown trout fishing season started on Saturday 4 August and the outlook is fantastic. Winter has so far delivered good rain in the West, Northwest, North and South of the state. Today, dams in the Mersey/Forth, Pieman and the lower Derwent catchments are spilling with the upper Derwent filling quickly. Storages in the Eastern half of the state have had less rain. Favourites such as Tooms Lake and Lake Leake are filling slowly and were still low for Saturday. Anglers should expect strong flows in most rivers. More good rain is forecast for Friday and Sunday so keep watch for some exciting backwater fishing if rivers break their banks.
In the Central Highlands, Bronte Lagoon and the Bradys Chain are close to spilling and are sure to attract some attention. There is a lot of talk about Penstock Lagoon on the back of its exceptional performance last season and winter stocking program. If you want to avoid the crowd then maybe Woods Lake or Lake Crescent could be worth a try.
Other popular venues will be Four Springs Lake in the North and the lower section of the River Derwent in the South. If you want to avoid the crowds at Four Springs Lake then Huntsman Lake might be worth a try. Huntsman Lake is very full and the flooded margins are likely to bring good numbers of fish in range for shore-based anglers. Don't forget all methods are now permitted. With great flows and levels in waters across the state there are so many options, you just need to get out find them. Remember, if you do decide to go, keep safe, being careful around fast flowing waters and always wearing your life jacket in your boat. Finally, my favourite place (which I aim to visit later this week) is Trevallyn tailrace which I have mentioned many times before. Some good sea run trout have been landed here and with the eels and other fish being present, the big fish are starting to feed up. A big fillet of striped tuna should get the results I am after or perhaps that t-tail soft plastic could bring one undone?
