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.

Established Red Tag regular Simon looks pleased with this reward after some effort in getting the fish to the fly.

Next day on another stream, ‘I know you’re down there somewhere you have just eaten my emerger’

This is one of those annual surprises we talk about down here in our small stream fly fishing.

Roy had caught a number of top condition and excellent fighting fish before this ‘fish of the season’ for this little river came along.

Above: The hook up along and under the far bank, then things got somewhat hectic until it was brought to hand.

So Kevin, ex USA, thought it might as well be him for a while. After this ‘hard’ going it wasn’t long before the sun was on our backs and a wild brown at Kevin’s fly, below.

Then there is the old ‘brownie’ under the log trick to make this a little more difficult

Followed by ‘brownie’ over the log just to keep him on his toes.

Now both can smile with the, ‘you’re going back and I’m heading home trick’!

1- must be dry fly only: Iian starts the proceedings with this wild brown on the emerger! (IMGP1645)

2- cane rods where possible; Rebecca gets the top fish on her lightweight cane while Iain lends a hand.

3- small waters; streams and rivers only. John puts some good weight on his outfit with this nice hook-up. (IMGP 1678)

Daniel from Germany thought Tasmania would be a good place to learn to fly fish and he wasn’t far wrong.

Within an hour or so of picking up a fly rod for the first time here he is into his first trout.

Later on this quality wild brown comes to hand, taken feeding just off the reed bed.

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)

Robert and son Peter came down for a return and soon got amongst them. Peter’s patience and calm presentations were rewarded with this early morning sipper, above, taken on the emerger.

Next it is Robert’s turn to get onto a nice wild brown, again on the dry, while Peter helps out with the netting.

This was a very well deserved, and worked for, brown by Peter. Double hauling on the #4wt to get a dry almost across the broadwater, then skilfully guiding the resultant trout through the reeds. I think many a wily trout will fall to Peter’s presentations for years to come!