Excited for season to start
WITH only hours to the start of the 2020-2021 trout season in Tasmania, many fishers are as excited as kids at Christmas time.
I know quite a few who have departed for shacks ready for the start at midnight tonight and many will be hitting the road tomorrow, no doubt anticipating catching a trout or salmon, especially a tagged trout from one of the stocked lakes.
This will be the real shot in the arm for the Tasmanian economy with thousands filling fuel tanks, purchasing food and tackle and generally spending up on an activity so many love.
I don’t know whether it’s the thrill of trying to outwit a fish, whether it’s just getting outdoors or generally mucking about with boats. Either way, it’s a great activity and many look forward to it and the anticipation of a nice fish for the table.
Weather predictions for the weekend look good, but as we all know, conditions can change at any time, so warm clothing and wet weather gear would be the order of the day.
Good spots worth a try early are some of the more secluded waters, such as Blackmans Lagoon, in the northeast, which holds some huge trout and the rainbows in there grow like footballs.
Being a sandy, shallow lake, fly fishing is excellent and also running small shallow running minnow lures can be successful.
Woods Lake would be my pick for inland waters on top, with good coloured lures such as black and gold working well, as would a green and gold combination. My choice of fly would be a black Matuka or even though early, a Muddler Minnow.
Tooms Lake will see hundreds on its shores as the annual competition and other activities will be taking place (with social distancing of course). Not the place to be if you are after some solitude.
I have been told the Camden Dam, in the North, is also worth a try as it is nearly full and, being a new fishery, one can expect some good trophy fish to be caught.
For those who wish to visit the dam, it is located 45km east of Launceston, via the A3 Tasman Highway, at C405 Camden Hill Rd and Diddleum Rd. A dedicated parking area and shore access is located on the eastern shore of Diddleum Rd.
Bait, lure and fly fishing are permitted methods here and fish to be found include both rainbow and brown trout. Fishing the flooded margins of the dam should be very productive with fish chasing worms and beetles on newly flooded areas. A worm as bait or a dark, wet fly should be productive.
Motorised boating is not permitted (there is no boat ramp) and therefore only fishing from kayaks, canoes and inflatables.
As the weather warms up, lure and dry fly fishing will no doubt become the preferred methods. I reckon you will have to kick the snakes aside in the summer.
Lake Crescent, which is ideal for trolling small floating lures (its average depth is 1.5m), could also be worth a visit.
This lake has a reputation for large, but small populations, of trophy fish.
No matter where you end up, don’t forget the jacket if boating and stay safe.
THIS WILL BE THE REAL SHOT IN THE ARM FOR THE TASMANIAN ECONOMY WITH THOUSANDS FILLING FUEL TANKS, PURCHASING FOOD AND TACKLE AND GENERALLY SPENDING UP ON AN ACTIVITY SO MANY LOVE.