Paul’s dad Ron, in action above, was visiting from overseas and they were looking for a multi-day tour with Paul’s wife Sue joining us for the last two days.

The first four days varied between good to great with something like 50+ fish to hand and real quality and size.

Many anglers think our Tasmanian fly fishing drops off after February. However, on the rivers and streams (where Red Tag works and weather permitting) this is far from the fact. March and even April can produce top draw fly fishing with dries to the fore.

This was certainly the case in the 2nd week of March when Paul set a new one-day ‘to hand & release’ bench mark for this season at 23 fish.

Paul bringing 1st for the day to hand on the dry — Paul is a dry fly-only fisher — and to put the fishing in perspective, he outfished all on every day except day 2 when, with a little prompting from the guide, Ron popped a small bead-head under the dry and ended up ‘top rod’ for that day.

Some more action by the party:

Ron ‘high-sticking’ a nice wild brown on the nymph on day 2.

Day 3 was clear water polaroiding and precise presentation. Paul has some real weight here on his #2wt.

Paul’s delighted with this fish, again on the #2wt — one of a number of exquisite wild browns on day 3.

Sue wasn’t to be left out after joining us to try the Currawong Lakes. This nice rainbow was taken on a Red Spinner pattern.

During his recent visit to Tasmania, Billy Connolly took a few days out to get acquainted with some of our wild brown trout.

This he did with a high degree of skill and great enthusiasm which resulted in a very successful and rewarding trip over two days at Currawong Lakes and a third day on a ‘river somewhere’. All fish were taken on the dry and the vast majority sighted feeding fish.

His double-take came on day 2 at Currawong Lakes when Billy hooked the same fish twice on the same day, but bringing it to hand the second time.

Thats Billy holding that wild brown in hand, above, and note the pink emerger in lower lip, which was the first fly actually bitten off when hooked, it still had 2cm of tippet attached.

In all our combined years of fly fishing, including those guiding, this had not happened to either of us. So another first for the records.

Meanwhile, gentle hands bring another river brown to net.

Returning angler Vincent brought Paul down to Tassie to learn the art of the fly. Day 1 sees Vincent is very pleased to get this stalked riser at Currawong Lakes under control.

Then on day 2 Paul achieves the ultimate, sighted feeding on ‘hoppers under the bank, perfect presentation of the dry imitation, timed strike and this is the result, a top quality wild brown river trout and a grin to match.

First time ‘Taggers’ Peter & Sharon enjoying the results of a joint approach — Peter hooks ‘em and Sharon nets ‘em.

On this occasion Peter was waiting (in the wings) to assist Sharon when she got her fish, however the hook-up turned out to be the biggest wild brown trout in that section of the river. It, took off downstream broke off the lot and didn’t even turn its head!

Well … there is always next time Sharon.