Marcus picked up his new Peter McKean-built cane rod and wasted no time in christening it, and this lively wild brown did just the trick.

It was followed by a number of quality small stream fish on the first day.

On Day 2 this good sized 2lb stream fish really tested the 4/5wt outfit and it passed with flying colours.

To me it is always a delight to see young anglers wanting to carry on tradition and here, returning ‘tagger’ Peter, (still on juniors fishing licence) shows of his techniques in (first off casting to) then playing wild browns on his new Taransky #3wt cane rod. His dad, Robert, watches on.

With these lightweight canes, it is best to ‘play them off the butt’ rather than ‘high sticking’ the fish and Peter did well to bring to hand, above, his best trout to date on the rod.

Robert soon has his own fish to land, albeit on the Master Plus graphite Pro Angler #4wt.

Canadian David certainly proved that when he had a day out with Red Tag mid January. As we were travelling up to the fishing location he passed on “Paul sends his best wishes”.

Racking my memory to find a countryman of his named Paul, he then proceeded to remind me of a day back in 1988 (1st World Fly Fishing Championships in the southern hemisphere) when I had the pleasure of successfully introducing Paul Marriner (long time writer for FlyLife) to the Macquarie River. It turns out they have been members of the same fly tyers club for years back home!

David also fished the Macquarie, top, and this was one of the wild brown’s to hand for the day and I have to say, from memory Paul, David has the bragging rights for the biggest to hand … just!

Simon has been visiting Tasmania regularly over the last ten years or so and always fits in a couple of days fly fishing each time.

This January was no exception and he again ‘got among them’ with the dry on our small waters with day two getting nine to hand.

Henry is a very keen river/stream dry fly fisher and had a good day early in January with six to hand and many more to the fly, all on the dry after a slow start to the day, as shown by this top conditioned wild brown.

Below, another lively one gives Henry something to think about.

Regular top rod Red Tagger Hugh brought wife Debbie and son Bradley down to learn to joys of river and stream fly fishing and all had a great time.
Debbie, above, brings her first ever (on the dry) wild rainbow to hand while Hugh and Bradley admire her success.

Here, Dad is giving Bradley the benefit of his knowledge, which obviously worked next morning as Bradley got three with this lovely stream fish, below, his first ever.

Not to be outdone, Hugh proceeded to set the new one-day fish to hand mark with 20 (all caught and released).

Brothers Greg and Chris from the USA, with their families had a wonderful couple of days, overnighting at Currawong Lakes.

Both got early rainbows ‘to order’, as these were to be part of a top dinner prepared by Fiona at Currawong for the family feast that evening.

Next day Pam caught her first ever fish and on a dry fly at that. Much to her delight.

New Red Tagger Roger had his first day with us on Currawong Lakes and what a day it turned out to be — with this ‘trophy’ sized fantastic rainbow weighing in at 8+lbs.

Taken on a #14 unweighted dark brown nymph placed just in front of it as it was ‘tailing along the shore line near the taller reeds to Roger’s right, it took off with one almighty charge out towards the middle of the lake. He did well to get it to hand on a 4x tippet.