Last day for 2020/2021 season


Keith was our last angler on the wild brown trout rivers for the 20/21 season. Nice combination of native tea-tree and changing hawthorns lining the banks.


A beautiful autumn day, cool light winds meant little rising. But a couple took a ‘hopper pattern only to take Keith under the overhangs and escape.


This plump little brown took an unweighted dark brown nymph under an emerger.


On his way to rejoin his mates.


Last cast for the season – lovely light, setting sun … there is always next season!

Still flooded two days on

A couple of days later, just as the rain was clearing – John & Chris returned.


The sign’s base and where Chris is standing was dry ground two days prior


The creek was barely a trickle between small pools, but this one was sighted fossicking around.


A fat, well fed 3lbs+ wild brown for John.


Then Chris’s turn … again feeding amongst the flooded backwaters.


Nice one Chris.


A beautifully-conditioned brown trout.

More ‘Taggers return – along with the rain!

Regulars, Peter & Elizabeth from Queensland, returned for, what was hoped, a couple of lovely days at Currawong Lakes.

They had left Queensland during the massive Eastern states March downpour and dodged the rain and floods all the way to Tasmania.


On the water with some blue patches overhead and early success …


A nice conditioned brown.


Not to be outdone, Elizabeth lines up a surface feeder along the reeds.


The result was a another brown – this one on the emerger.

Then it rained for two days straight – 160mm the next day alone – a lot for Tassie in the East!

Great to welcome back a regular


Phil loves his small streams on the #2wt. This one on the dry.


Another small water result – a greedy little chap on the ‘hopper …


Both safely back home.


Next day’s best river fish yet on the #4wt and an emerger.


… a 2.5lb brownie

Then the group day … where Phil coverts his colleagues to the noble art.


Tough day, but still some success.


Phil with a very nice brown on the wet.

Great local support for workshops in tough season!

During this season, following the onset the national lockdowns and pandemic, Red Tag, Ken Orr’s Trout Expeditions and Nick May’s The Highland Fly got together and set up some fly fishing workshops.

We launched thinking maybe one or two groups would be interested in an introduction to the art of the fly!

Well – five workshops later – and around 50 attendees with a 50/50 split between males & females we were blown away by the response.


Top teaching water – safe wading – excellent open grasslands for casting instruction and wild brown trout.


Beginners groups on the grass.


Wild browns to bring a big grin to a young flyfisher’s face.


An even bigger grin and bigger brown …


One of the ladies into a big wild brown.


For those doing a repeat class, some theory on gear selection – vest set up – wets, nymphs & dries why, when & how discussions.

Having seen the above, we are now determined to put aside a number of dates for the 21/22 season. We will be advertising the dates well in advance and getting flyers out to the key fishing stores about the state.

Scratching a seven year itch


Alastair, from Queensland, was last here in 2014. This time a combination of still waters (Currawong Lakes) and small streams soon got him back into the swing.


While day 1 provided some excellent hook-ups, these strong and weighty fish proved hard to bring to hand — break-offs and dropped fish prevailed.


Whereas, first pool on day 2 and a cheeky little wild brown came to hand on the nymph.


Observation is often a key factor in success on the dry. After watching a nice brown taking insects half a body length clear of the water, Alastair changed his fly from an emerger to adult black spinner. Excellent presentation and solid hook-up.


The result — a beautiful 1.5lb wild brown to hand, the best stream fish for the day.