February continued to provide both great weather and top flyfishing as David found out on a one-day introduction to the art of flyfishing workshop.

David was happy to catch and release, and as the day progressed this was one of the half dozen wild brown trout to hand, above, although it wasn’t hanging around for a ‘happy snap’.

First up, although only having a long ago brief intro, he opted for the wild fish river waters rather than the still water start, and soon he was getting a feel for the gear in tranquil surroundings, below.

Then, after some spooked fish, heavy landings, missed half chances and the usual beginner’s actions, presentation improved to the point where ‘fish on’ was the cry heard more often, below.

The Curtis Creek Manifesto is the lastest addition to our cabin library, courtesy of Marcus, and is, in my view, the perfect illustrated expression of what Red Tag’s own ‘Kocpit’ theory manual tries to convey.

The ‘Kocpit’ manual is part of our various Workshops.

• Knowledge, how to get it and put it to use,
• Observation, of the trout’s environment and feeding habits
• Concentation, on what you do,
• Presentation, how & what you cast,
• Imitation, of the trout’s food – and finally a
• Take or Trout to the fly (the strike).

Having read it cover-to-cover and appreciated the fun way in which a lot of very good information is presented, I consider it a must for your fishing library… thanks again Marcus for this excellent publication.

Ken was here a few years ago for a couple of days catching up with extended family and was determined not to miss out this time back.

Only had the one day, but as you can see he got among some nice lively Tasmanian wild brown trout.

Ken steers this one out of danger and ended up with 9 or 10 to hand for the day.

Marcus, wanted to fly fish again in Tasmania and also participate in the Wooden Boat Festival, so he came down a few days before the WBF and got into the dry fly fun with the February ‘hoppers’ about.

Day 1 with a nice touch of ‘high stick’ control on this lively stream fish, above.

Then on a longer line take with a good looking brown picked up on the dry found lurking under the strap weed.

Mike got in touch because he and son Josh want to learn to flyfish together before Josh headed off to Uni.

Thought a few day’s flyfishing tuition and the odd trout would be a good thing … and it was.

The girls went to tropical Queensland (where it rained nonstop) and the boys came down to cool Tasmania where we were hard-pressed to find any cloud cover to get into a shot!

On day 1 Mike is first up with a fish to hand, while Josh is stalking a ‘tailer’ in the background, and then Josh gets a bigger one while Mike is looking to improve on his start, above.

As the fish get bigger, so do the grins. Josh is very pleased with another, this time a good brown.

By the morning of day 3 this says it all, enjoying the day, working a small wild trout stream and sharing the moment.

Then to top it off a few minutes later Josh has sighted, stalked and got to fly a wild brown on the dry.

Ian and Rosemary were Red Tag’s 2008 ‘Tassie nights’ 3 day/two nights all-inclusive flyfishing package winners and they had a ball earlier this season.

Ian, above, kicks off a somewhat misty day one with an early hook up to a nice stream wild brown.

Then he followed up with supplying entree that evening, a very nice wild brown trout — remember the only way you can eat brown trout, wild or otherwise, in Tasmania is to catch your own.

Not to be outdone, Rosemary wanted to learn and join in the fun, and after some practice casting and presentation work it was off to Currawong Lakes to see what happens.

The damsels [blue variety for the catching of trout] were really on and soon Rosemary was into action and then releasing this beauty, below, again taken on the Blue Damsel.

A great trip with top stream and lake fish for both Ian and Rosemary.