Ian was a little rusty since his last trip down so we thought Currawong Lakes would be a good starting point.

This well-conditioned wild brown trout, above, shows he had kept the basics ‘on call’ and the next four days on the streams would be just fine!

So it worked out, with some nice bits of stream action following: a good pick up under the overhang for starters, quality wild fish returned, and wonderful ways to finish the days …

Peter enjoying the streamcraft session with John looking on.

After that the weather (mainly wind) had a hand in heading up to Currawong for day two where first up John is delighted with this big nymph chasing rainbow (est 5lbs+).

Then Peter is onto a top conditioned fish, again on the unweighted brown nymph.

Gary ‘of the 2wt large wild brown fame’, had a day at Currawong (weather driven) then a second day on the Macquarie river.

Both turned out to be good fish days, if very different experiences. First up weather not so hot but the fishing was at Currawong Lakes. Gary releasing his first to hand for the day, a lovely wild brown.

Then a number of top condition rainbows among them. The conditions at Currawong were fantastic after those winter and early spring rains.

This photograph shows the edge growth and feeding grounds which have produced top mayfly nymphs and hatches.

Then on the Macquarie, top conditions for a mayfly hatch and a good fish on here.

This is it, a magnificent river wild brown … they don’t come in much better nick, or more wild, than this.

Paul, foreground, has some early success while John is working on another fish in the distance.

The action results in a nice rainbow for Paul.

John was not to be denied his moment in the sun when his first ever trout on the fly was this excellent conditioned rainbow. (IMGP1515)

To get seven mates into fly fishing and onto fish could have been a big call, however with Adam’s help at Currawong Lakes, enthusiaism plus some rapidly-gained skills helped all the boys get fish to hand with a total of 30+ to the fly and some 15 to hand.

Mind you at times some were more into it than others, then again, any vantage point may help the polaroiding!

This healthy rainbow is heading back after giving a good account of itself.

A nice bit of team work to get another rainbow to the net.

Picked up Kate and Dale from the Priory at Bothwell and headed off to Currawong for their introduction to fly fishing.

A typical spring day in Tassie, ‘if you don’t like the weather … a hang on 30 minutes and we’ll change it’ type of day which couldn’t deter or dampen spirits as you can see.

For starters, above, despite the rain, Dale has a beaming smile with due cause with this beauty to the net. His first on the fly.

Then a little later, both the day (no wind or rain) and Kate are smiling warmly with her first to hand.

This was the second nice fish to hand for his first day on the fly for Joe’s introduction to fly fishing at Currawong Lakes.

Particularly pleasing to Joe as he sighted the feeding rainbow, stalked it, presented the unweighted nymph on target, hooked and landed it. Good one Joe!

From left, Don, Bev, Shar and Irv head of to do battle with some top nick and aggressive Currawong trout.

Above: Athough only her first day on the fly, Shar was first on also with this very nice rainbow, while Irv admires it from close by.

Above: Next up, Don gets this lovely wild brown to hand.