Early April action

Good weather, tough fish

Bob and Mickey from the US had a good weather, but a tough fish day. Here Bob is rewarded for his efforts with a good wild brown to hand, taken on the grasshopper.

Later, Mickey has success with another one on the dry.

This one was the perfect ambush, sunken log spotted 15-20 feet of the bank, ‘hopper’ presented over the outer side of the submerged trunk and bang! Lovely 1.5lb wild brown did the rest.

First timer gets a good result.

Louise from the Northern Territory had a great first up fly fishing day while on a short visit to Tasmania.

This excellent wild brown from was returned, but then the next one was a good sized rainbow that provided dinner back for the friends she was visiting.

Successful and productive on day one of fly fishing doesn’t get much better than that

Late April action

Good mates have a top short break

One day on the still waters of Currawong Lakes then day two on a wild brown trout river was just what Andy & John were after.

Andy’s reward after a good sighting, 30mins stalking and ‘controlled’ fish action brings this lovely rainbow to the guide’s net. As you can see, tough Autumn evenings in Tassie mid-April!

Next day John has some top action on the streams with this quality wild brown bringing a broad grin.

Trevor’s best ever!

Regular ‘Tagger’ Trevor probably still has his smile on after this magnificent rainbow taken on an unweighted brown nymph weighed in at close to 6lbs.

He triumphantly declared it was his biggest trout ever on the fly.

He’s coming back in a couple of months to look for its Mum and Dad!

Out of the West

Other returning ‘Taggers’ for some last minute wild trout stream action were Andrew & Jen who teamed up with long time local friend Vanessa.

The girls got away early on the success board with first up Vanessa getting this lively little one, above, to hand on a small copper bead-head nymph.

Next is Jen with this hook up on a #14 Humpy drifted down the run after spotting the fish.

Then Andrew gets onto this one with an emerger.

With a group tally of 10 or more to hand, 75% on the dry, not a bad finish on light gear for the end of April in Tasmania.

Varum, presenter for a UK-based TV crew in March, first time fly fishing, was to bring home lunch plus provide the camera action on the day.

Think this 5lb rainbow ticked all the boxes, sighted feeding on damsels, presented Blue Damsel to fish, hooked up, into backing twice before brought to hand.

No wonder angler is delighted and guide quietly chuffed.

December also saw a number of international visiting anglers for Red Tag, in particular from America.

From enthusiastic rivers and stream lovers to beginners all had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the fly fishing for wild brown trout that our beautiful island has to offer.

One of the river lovers was Mike. top, whose good day out, included releasing this lovely speckled wild brown.

That was soon followed by another fine example of Tasmania’s small stream wild fish. With either small fly nymphing or dry fly this is exciting and rewarding fishing.

Then followed by the beginner/novices group of, from left, Anna & Greg with Bret & Renee.

During the day both casting and catching were accomplished with a great deal of success with Anna getting a lovely wild brown to hand and then Bret soon after with a nice rainbow.

Not to be outdone, Renee nets a beauty and Greg ends the day with more tight lines.

After the waters had settled down fom the record winter and early spring levels, our first month of summer was very much like the old days.

Still, the mayfly were hatching early in the month, good but very manageable water flows and the Blue Damsels over the surface. By now the majority of the fish were being taken, on or brought up to, the dry fly.

It started off with a group of friends from Qld, Keith & Lindsay (who had a little experience with the fly) with Neil and Katrina (beginners) with their first day at Currawong.

Above: Keith with a nice rainbow on the day, while Katrina, top, also scored.

Also returning Red Tagger, Marcus, above, keen to get into the handmade cane outfits who was trying out one of Tassie’s cane rod makers’ beautifully produced rods as Peter McKean was making one for him.
Looks like they work just fine.

Mike, one of our Pro Angler new clients this year, had a few days with us mid-month and got some top wild browns in the streams, this is one puts a nice bend in the rod.

The month closed out with Sue and Guy having a top introductory workshop at Currawong Lake with this big brown giving Sue a great reward.

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.