Pom’s first go at fly fishing and day 1 brings success. Lively little rainbow on the Blue Damsel dry — sighted, stalked and to hand no less.

Meanwhile husband Ross (experienced hand at this) is just having fun showing how it is done!

Trent (left) and Lachlan get a great start to fly fishing

Lachlan into his first fish while still working the nymph

Trent returning his first on the fly – a good rainbow fell to the Blue Damsel

Then its Lachlan’s first on the dry (Blue Damsel again)

Finally, Trent gets the biggest for the day (on the Red Tag of course)

Best thing was, all the fish on the dry were polaroided, stalked and presented to as ’sighted fish’. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Paul picked up this plump rainbow on the dry during the still water teaching session.

He then got this wild brown on the emerger during his first wild fish session.

Graeme, father on the right, and sons, from left, Nick, Chris and James had a great two day introductory fly fishing adventure.

Unbeknown to Graeme the boys had put together a combined fathers day/birthday gift for him — he had no idea what was in store ’till he met the guide at the Hobart airport arrivals.

Although it is unusual for Red Tag to take a group of four, as a family this turned out to be a most enjoyable experience for not only the clients but also for myself.

All were beginners and each sighted fish to cast to, had fish on and both Nick and James got fish to hand.

James got more than a taste of success on day one. This top conditioned wild brown was a delicious entree for dinner that night.

His first ever trout, taken on the darchutek brown para emerger, sighted, stalked and caught in an afternoon mayfly hatch. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Next morning, at Currawong Lakes, Nick was into this fish — a 3lb+ rainbow, took him darn near to the backing three times and gave him the top fish for the trip.

Phil & Jennifer getting started on the grass.

Togged up for the wild trout session.

Local couple Jennifer & Phil enjoyed a top day going through the introductory fly fishing workshop.

Keen as they were and try as they might unfortunately the trout had the last laugh this time … but watch out fish … they will be back!

If looking for just a day or an extended introductory fly fishing workshop in Tasmania, then Red Tag Trout Tours has it covered.

Starting with the plentiful and protected lawns for casting practice, and then on to our own rainbow fishery, below.

The action then moves on to success with the wild trout on the rivers.

Red Tag’s fly fishing workshops has it all.

All is included, and if you would like to expand your introductory fly fishing experiences, the we have a range of accommodation at the same location.

The heritage cottages are ideal for a couple or single. We also have available two bedroom cottages consisting of a double bedroom and 2 x singles in the other bedroom – ideal for a family or small group. These are part of the Somercotes Estate, family owned and operated since 1823. It is a magnificent jewel of Tasmanian colonial heritage and rural development.

Our packages are all-inclusive – all gear with waders, all meals with 3 course dinners, all refreshments with dinner, beer or wines, fishing licences, transport or transfers plus a copy of our complimentary KOCPIT theory workshop manual.

Leanne and Brad, both from Queensland, had a very enjoyable and rewarding day learning to fly fish on their first ever Tasmanian trip.

After the obligatory start on the grass it was onto our still water and Brad, above, had a plump little rainbow to hand in very short time.

By afternoon, confidence in casting and knowing that those big nasty crocs from up the north island aren’t around, it was into the river and on with the learning in earnest, as Leanne shows in the fast flowing stream above..

Although still a little timid on the feed, Brad dropped a nice wild brown on this section and the instructor got a good conditioned wild brown to hand, both on the bead-head nymph, so the wild trout are starting look for and take the mayfly nymphs.

With the range of Red Tag’s extended tours and introductory fly fishing workshops based out of Somercotes you get it all.

Delightful two-bedroom cottages on the estate built with handmade bricks, open fires, beautifully appointed and originally built for the indentured estate workers (circa 1840s).

The Ticket of Leave building where up to 11 ‘halfway’ convicts lived and worked in the 1830s & 1840s. It is one of the oldest buildings on the estate (circa 1820s)

This 1920 John Deere steel-wheeled tractor is part of a wide ranging static display of farming machinery dating back into the 1800s.

Somercotes was settled in 1823 by Samuel Horton and it is one of the select number of Australian properties that has remained in continual family ownership.

It borders the Macquarie river, one of Tasmania’s best lowland fly fishing rivers for wild brown trout for well over 100 years. Set in lovely grounds of ‘old world’ flowers, shrubs and trees it adds a peaceful, charming and interesting heritage aspect to our tours.

We now have both a private stocked fly fishing teaching water and the wild trout river to maximise the trout fishing options.

Somercotes, being situated in the centre of the Macquarie river system and in close proximity to other wild trout waters, both flowing and still, provides Red Tag Trout Tours with a wealth of fly fishing options and fishing techniques in the extended tour packages.

A couple of first day learners, having both got their first ever trout on the fly on the teaching water, start working the first gentle section of the wild trout river. Both had success on the dry fly.

Nearby is the historic Village of Ross, centre of the Tasmanian wool industry and, in my view, the best heritage town in Tasmania.

Well worth a visit, Ross also boasts one of the oldest and most beautiful stone bridges in Australia.

Much of the early pioneering land settlement and development in Tasmania took place around Ross and along the Macquarie River valley.

A female convict factory, Wool Centre (arts and crafts) and an original woodfired bakery feed both the imagination and the body.