Set line towards local trout spot

RODS are at the ready and waders are being dusted off as Tasmanian anglers gear up for a bumper opening weekend of the trout season.

Fishers will rush to dams and lakes across the state today to lure a catch as the 2020-21 brown trout season kicks off with a lucrative incentive on offer to encourage fishing.

Five of the most popular fishing spots are sure to be Arthurs Lake, Lake Burbury, yingina/Great Lake, Lake Pedder and Lake Rowallan, which each have a $10,000 tagged trout available to be caught. The lucky angler to catch one of the five tagged fish will need to return it, tag intact, to the Inland Fisheries Service to claim the $10,000 reward.

Carl Hyland of FishTas, who has fished for trout at state lakes for the past 50 years, said this year’s trout season was shaping to be one of the best yet.

“It’s going to be an awesome season because we lost the last two months of last season due to the coronavirus shutdown so all the fish have had time to fatten-up and there will be plenty of anglers out there giving it a hammering.” Mr Hyland said his top Tasmanian lakes to land a monster trout this season were Woods Lake in the Central Highlands, Craigbourne Dam near Colebrook, Lake Leake near Campbell Town and Curries River Reservoir near Bridport.

“There has been a little bit of rain in recent weeks which has been enough to keep the lakes topped up which should make for good fishing,” he said.

“If people are bait fishing, garden worms are going to provide the best natural bait in these conditions. Fly fishers should have luck with a red and black Matuka.” Hobart trout fisherman Andrew Large said the key to landing a sizeable fish was about “keeping it simple”.

He said fishing at the shores of creek mouths should provide some luck.

“I would suggest anglers should just head out with a view of having a good day, no matter the location, and just stick to the basics,” he said.

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said nearly 10,000 wild brown trout from yingina/Great Lake had been transferred to dams and lakes around the state in the past few months.

He said restrictions on interstate travel means “Tasmanians will have the whole state and the best fishing spots to themselves”.

“Tasmania is home to some of the best trout fishing in the world and our inland fishery attracts more than 20,000 recreational anglers each year, which generates an estimated $90m for the economy,” he said. “We are also keen to see more women and children take up trout fishing and to get outdoors, explore our inland waterways, buy some lures at local stores and stay fit and healthy.”