Anglers keep eye on prize

TREVALLYN Tailrace is the place to be fishing in the North if you are chasing big fish. This is not a new phenomenon, as big sea run trout have been caught here for years since the dam was built in 1955. The tailrace is connected to the dam by a 3.2km tunnel which in turn brings water from the dam to the power station and excess water is dumped into the Tamar River via the race.

While on the subject of the dam itself, it is a recreation area and is used for water skiing and fishing. The fishing is not so great but up around Hadspen where the Meander and South Esk rivers join, the fishing can be awesome.

In 2009, scientists discovered the freshwater jellyfish, Craspedacusta sowerbyi, in the waters of Lake Trevallyn close to Blackstone Heights. Believed to have been brought by migrating birds from China, the jellyfish were accidentally discovered during routine water testing. The jellyfish are non-venomous and translucent with average sizes around 2cm across. Though introduced, the jellyfish are believed to have a beneficial impact on the area as they consume the larvae of mosquitoes.

That aside, the fishing at Tailrace is often overlooked by anglers, yet it is the home of big trout and many other species.

Recently, the dam and Tailrace were in the news with the announcement of a new network built to help elvers migrate to and from the dam which is one of the main reasons why the big fish inhabit the tailrace.

Supposedly, small fish perish as they come through the power station and they provide a food source for fish and feeding birds where the fresh water meets the brine.

Whitebait runs are prolific here during September and October each year.

Given the amount of large fish being caught there this year, I’m surprised that there’s not more seals about and I might also add that they use the pontoon at the park as a haul out area. If a large seal makes this area his home for a few days, forget about the fishing as they don’t like sharing the pontoon, plus they usually steal any catch.

While talking to regulars who fish, I determined that baits are the best way to get among the fish and oily fish baits appear to be the best.

Mackerel, mullet and some even use bluebait, but the best bait is eel if you can get it. The fish seem to mooch around the verges of the rice grass and muddy bottom and are scavenging for morsels of food.

That’s not to say you won’t catch them on lures or soft plastics, it’s just that bait seems to be the most effective way to target the bigger fish. Whether it’s right or wrong, well I’ll leave that for you to decide, but anglers are entitled to do what they want.

Same goes for catch and release here, some of the fish are the true silvery colour and vivid red inside, some are dark and flesh white, true ‘‘slob’’ fish that live in the murky, muddy waters.

Like most tailraces around the state, it would be well worth a visit if you can get a spot!

THE FISHING IS NOT

SO GREAT AT THE TREVALLYN DAM, BUT UP AROUND HADSPEN WHERE THE MEANDER AND SOUTH ESK RIVERS JOIN, THE FISHING CAN BE AWESOME.