Fishing with Adam Rice
IT was a highly anticipated start to the 2023-24 Tasmanian brown trout fishing season early last Saturday morning and those that braved the elements had to work hard for their first fish of the season.
When the clock struck midnight strong, gusty winds kicked in which made any type of fishing challenging and if you were lucky enough to catch a trout you did well.
By late Saturday conditions started to settle and Sunday’s weather was a lot better allowing anglers the chance to get on the board for the new season.
Strong flow on a dropping tide coming off a full super moon made fishing the Derwent River a challenge in the upper reaches with fish not feeding a lot in the strong current.
Those fishing the lower reaches had more success fishing above Bridgewater through to the Bowen Bridge with a good mix of sea run and resident/estuary trout to, around and over 2 kg landed.
The same can be said for the Huon River with much of the same reported with many anglers finding fishing tough going but don’t lose faith because fishing will definitely improve.
One of our newest waters, Camden Dam in the north of the state saw anglers catch some good conditioned trout which is encouraging and Meadowbank Lake in the South offered good bags too after the IFS released 5347 rainbow trout weighing on average 0.525 kg into the lake last Thursday.
Four Springs Lake was another that performed well and Brady’s Lake and the “Chain” was popular as it always is and all waters in the chain gave up some good bags of rainbow and brown trout to trolling, spin and bait anglers.
Like Brady’s Lake, Bronte Lagoon’s water level rose in time for opening weekend and in turn anglers were also able to reap the rewards as well.
Keep in mind Laughing Jack Lagoon if it’s water level continues to rise after dropping to -9.5 metres late last year it’s now risen 5.5 metres since mid May.
I saw a couple of solid fish that were caught from Lake Crescent but from all accounts it was quiet which isn’t surprising after all the wind most likely churned up the already discoloured water in the lake.
This could also be the reason other shallow waters around the state were quiet with many anglers reporting not much action. Arthurs Lake, Great Lake and Lake Echo all gave up some good conditioned fish but anglers had to work for them in the weather we were dealt with.
Out west Lake Pieman, Rosebury and Mackintosh were all spilling at the time of writing this report which should fire up the fish and don’t discount Lake Burbury either which has a big population of both brown and rainbow trout and some of the best wind lane fishing in the state.
A reminder that designated rainbow trout fishing waters will open to fishing on September 30. THE New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association held its first trout fishing competition of the 2023-24 season over opening weekend on the mighty Derwent River.
Thirty trout were weighed in with a total weight of 24.568kg and a healthy average weight of 0.818 kg. For the Seniors Craig Waddington won the senior heaviest trout award catching a sensational sea runner weighing 2.604 kg cleaned that he caught trolling using a lead line and a Pro Lure ST 72 hard bodied lure.
The ripper conditioned fish has set the benchmark from the Derwent early in the new season.
For the Juniors Lucy Russell continued on her good form from last season taking out the junior heaviest trout award with a nice trout weighing 0.973 kg.
The average weight award was also won by Lucy with a fish weighing 0.860 kg.
Other notable trout weighed in came from myself with a fish weighing 1.560 kg and keep an eye on reports because there is a great story behind this catch.
James Tassell had one at 1.534 kg and 1.356 kg, Katie Russell another nice fish at 1.498 kg, Dean Mutton another at 1.276 kg, Wayne Parker one at 1.085 kg and Wayne Marshall one at .925 kg.
Anglers reported seeing a couple of seals working the river which could also explain why fishing was at times tough going.
The NNLAA’s next competition is the popular Derwent River Interclub Challenge from August 25th-27th which invites all Southern Licensed Anglers Association clubs plus Launceston Anglers club to compete for the Interclub Shield.
The event is a highlight of the season with many prizes worth thousands of dollars available for the competition and annual raffle which is always a hit.
The NNLAA would also like to thank all of it’s loyal and generous sponsors for helping with this event and all the others during each and every fishing season.
Tight lines until next week