Fortunately, the areas where Red Tag Trout Tours operates have been unaffected by the recent wild fires.

In fact one of the best ways people can help Tasmania get through the recent tragic events is to continue to come over and enjoy what this beautiful State has to offer.

Hong Kong visitors Ivan and Angie saw an article in a Hong Kong travel book about fly fishing in Tasmania’ at Currawong Lakes and wanted to try it out.

Red Tag was happy to do the teaching and both enjoyed a very new experience.

Both got right into the action on a lovely spring day.

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.

Good flow in the river, but not in flood levels would indicate that we will have an early mayfly hatch this year.

Excellent wading conditions for such an early period in the season.

Both these river shots were taken in mid-September (early spring), which would indicate an early hatch this season and early October to mid December could be one of our best dry fly periods for some seasons.

That is saying something since last year was such a consistent and quality fish one.

Already many nymphs are in the waters and with a few days of upper teens (16-19°C) afternoon temperatures between now and the end of September, look out.

Two other positive signs are early and active swallows over the water and the ‘old-timers’ down here say early wattle blossom means warm spring and dry summer — made for early mayfly hatches.

At this stage, some top October and November slots are still open on our books — check out the calendar and don’t miss out.

The introduction of Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) at Moorilla, has stimulated Tasmania’s creative juices for locals and visitors alike.

Like a number of our clients over the last season or so either, visiting or returning to Tasmania to see MONA, you too could have a day or an extended fly fishing tour or workshop and value add your creative experience.

Cast your eye & cast a fly … what a creative combination.

Take in the visual stimulation of MONA and then learn the art of fly fishing with Red Tag.

As Isaac Walton said, “Fly fishing is an art and an art well worth the learning”.

Being based out of Hobart, Red Tag Trout Tours is ideally situated to value add your creative break.

If a beginner or even experienced fly fisher, you don’t need to bring any gear with you, we can look after the lot from ‘foot to fly’. We can provide the whole fly fishing, gear, food, wine, transport and accommodation package.

So if you are thinking of heading to MONA, why not experience another art form while you are here.

If you are in the Brisbane area and can get to Fishheads at Redlands on Victoria Point, Red Tag Trout Tours will be there on August 22 from 6.30pm for a Tasmania night presentation.

From August 23-26 we will be at the Brisbane Boat Show Tasmania stand at the Exhibition & Convention Centre.

At the show, along with the trout fishery info, we will have a stand and information on the next Tasmanian Wooden Boat festival in Feb 2013.

Tasmania’s wild brown trout season will open on the 4th August 2012 and run through till the 28th April 2013. These waters, including the rivers and streams form the bulk of our trout fishing with the rainbow waters opening on the 29th Sept 2012 and closing 2nd June 2013.

We had good early winter rains that should have given the spawning fish excellent conditions and currently expecting a decent highland snow fall over this weekend to maintain water levels well into the start of the season. Very little reports of flooding, but good flows should persist well into the first half of the season.

If the milder weather predictions hold up for the early spring we can look forward to some great dry fly / mayfly hatches by early Oct and could even have the odd risers by late Sept.

Good news for those of you around Brisbane and SE Qqueensland. Our association, Trout Guides & Lodges Tasmania, (TGALT) and Tourism Tasmania have joined forces to have a Tasmania stand at this year’s Brisbane Boat show from Thursday 23th Sunday 26th inclusive at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank.

Red Tag Trout Tours will be there as one of the stand operators and I look forward to meeting as many of you as can make it there. We will also have a section on the Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart Tasmania next February to add to the variety of Tasmanian activities on show.