Dry fly enthusiasts Anthony and Brendan, shown casting above, ex internationals now from Queensland, had a top first up introduction to Tasmania fly fishing for wild browns with something like 30 odd fish to the fly and 15 to hand between them.

It again shows how the dry and mild autumns are extending our quality fly fishing into the last month of the season.

All fish to hand were on the dries and the majority of those on ‘hopper patterns.

Red Tag’s introductory fly fishing workshop was just what Martin had been looking for, judging by the results from his two day/two nights package with us.

After the regulation ‘on grass’ gear set up and casting session, it was onto the water at Currawong for for the first ‘still water’ intro period.

Martin soon got the ‘feel’ of both casting and trout. This was one of three good rainbows to hand and a couple more opportunities in the first water session.

He kept up the improvement and results on the next days river introduction with some five to hand from a dozen or more to the fly.

Best fish by a Red Tagger on fly (est.5+kgs) — longest tussle to hand (approx. 90mins) — biggest grin (probably still there) — over 30” or 75cms in length.

Having had a previous, quite successful, trip with me in April, Matthew and his dad Garry were so keen to go again so they bribed me out of the one-day birthday break I had planned with a rather nice red (went down very well with a roast the other night thanks guys).

Matthew had heard of the escapee salmon down south and was keen to have a go at them.

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Les from Scotland unfortunately drew the weather god’s short straw for dry fly fishing Tasmania the day after the new record.

Clear sky, 30°C+ by mid-afternoon and the hot northerlies we get with it.

No fun for us or the trout this day.

However Les still managed a lively good sized wild brown on the dry fly emerger and had other takes to brighten up an otherwise very tough day.

Hopefully he can make it back for a better day before he has to go back home.

Darby came down to Tasmania with two key goals – to get a better understanding of lake margin fishing (importance of structures, tailing fish, patrolling trout etc) fly fishing and, to tune up presentation skills on the rivers and moving waters.

I think he has got ‘onto’ the hang of things, above, quite well and soon had this good quality brown, below, shown being returned.

Then the river skills passed muster with this lively stream brownie to the net.

Early March saw Trevor, an attendee at our Geelong Pro Angler Tasmania night try his hand at our Tasmanian stream fly fishing.

I think he was pleasantly surprised, certainly got a good number of wild browns to the fly and some nice fish to hand.

He has already locked in a return trip early next season.

Last June, Red Tag Trout Tours got together with Tourism Tasmania to put on a series of ‘Fly Fishing Tasmania’ nights at Gavin’s Pro Angler outlets in Melbourne, Geelong and Sydney.

Not only were they a great night from a presenters point of view with enthusiastic audiences, excellent Tasmanian input from Frank Hussey from Tourism Tasmania and all stops out support from all the Pro Angler guys, they have provided us with an increase in business this year well beyond what we expected.

We are looking to do it again this year so watch this space for dates and details!!

Good fly fishing mates Ken & Don decided to stop off for a couple of days with Red Tag on their way through Tasmania.

Day one was a top day, but day two a more challenging one with the, by now, familiar cloudless sky and clear waters.

After seeing a very good brown leaping clear of the water chasing damsels and dragon flies, Ken exclaimed how do we get that one! ‘Put this blue damsel on and I’ll see how Don is getting on’.

Hadn’t gone twenty paces when Ken yelled ‘might need a hand here Roger’ with a very well bent #4wt and this 3+lbs wild brown on.

That fish certainly brightened Ken’s day.

Don was not forgotten by the trout either, here he is caressing a nice one in to hand the previous day.