Anglers enjoying place in big pond

THE sport of fly fishing has been included in the Australian Masters Games for the first time this year and a small band of anglers are pulling in trout at some of the state’s lakes and rivers.

From Talbot’s Lagoon, behind Burnie, to the Mersey River and the Natone Hills, convener Adrian Hope said the fishing and the skills displayed had been amazing.

Anglers are scored on the combined length of the brown and rainbow trout they catch with their flies.

“It is a reasonably elaborate scoring system,’ Mr Hope said as fishing wound up on the Mersey River yesterday.

“It is a point scoring system and a cumulative one. No medals have been awarded yet but we get to the pointy end of the competition now.”

The Mersey was one of the worst affected waterways during last year’s devastating floods.

“It appears fish numbers are down but the water is crystal clear and looking a lot better,’ Mr Hope said of the river’s recovery.

Sixteen anglers, both male and female, are competing in the inaugural fly fishing competition.

“The women are competing right along the men and catching a lot of fish,” Mr Hope said.

Mr Hope is the president of the North-West Fly Fisher's’s Club. He hopes the sport will continue to be part of the Australian Masters Games when the next event is staged in two years’ time.

“We were approached by the organisers who were keen for something unique for this games to showcase the North-West Coast. Whether it stays part of the games will depend on the venue for the next one.

“It is great to see fly fishing recognised as a sport. it takes a lot of skills.

“The fella fishing next to me today is a retired lawyer from Sydney and his fishing is methodical and quite mesmerising to watch.”

Tasmania will host the World Fly Fishing Championships in 2019.