A rainbow and a brownie
Water temperatures early in December were surprisingly still under 20 degrees Celsius and the weed hadn't really become a major problem. We headed to some clear water anyway, and Charlie hooked up with this splendid rainbow. Using the net Joel helped his dad to get the first fish on board. Shortly after lunch Joel hooked into a nice brown trout which proceeded to run through the weeds and snags, but with some perseverance Joel still managed to bring the fish to the boat and land it. Joel with his wild brown trout Charlie and Joel with [...]
Lake Leake brown trout
Numbers of young wild brown trout are coming to mayfly patterns on Lake Leake. Fairly gusty conditions, working closer into shore in the more protected areas over shallow weedy margins. Prolonged low water levels, virtually nobody on the lake, middles of the day. Image credit: Gary France
Well conditioned brown trout
This is a typically well conditioned jack brown trout, typical of the many fish over the 50cm mark. This wild brown trout is 56cm, taken on a pink lady sparse mayfly red spinner imitation. Image credits: Gary France
Trout rising over there
From October a major local focus for mayfly hatches is on rivers, for which the Macquarie River is fabled. In the right conditions there are light winds, favourable for enough spinner on the water to get the trout's interest. Here the telltale rings of a rise are evidence of one fish moving rather consistently through the reeds. An adult red spinner mayfly pattern, well presented to consistent feeders, can bring excellent results. Image Credits: Gary France
The hitch hiker spins a tale
Shown here is the Red Spinner, or the adult of the mayfly atalophlebia australis, which is one of the most prevalent mayflies to imitate for fly fishers on Tassie's rivers and lakes. We discovered this hitch hiker who made his way from the Central Highlands to the Northern Midlands in the car. He's like many we find in the boat or car moving from one location to another. Hitch hiking is a means of natural population transfer, insects will hitch rides on animals and vehicles and the wind. Another hitch hiker shown here on the esky in our boat is [...]
Trailing a mudeye
It was a tough day on the mayflies so trailing a mudeye just sub-surface behind an emerger, cast close to the moving reeds, enabled Cindy to bring this strong brown trout to the boat. Cindy and Mike came fishing in Tassie in November. Image Credit: Gary France
Jassids on the menu
When Jassids are on the menu trout will single them out amongst other food items. There seems to be a symbiotic relationship between Jassids and ants and they live in harmony. Co-existing seems advantageous to both. Perhaps they protect each other, help keep their nests clean? Secretions from the Jassids are of interest to the ants on sappy gum trees such as manor gums and others. Image credits: Gary France
Good days on a lowland lake
This year, from October on the lowland lakes the mayfly hatches are into a good consistent swing. On the right days - good cloud cover and intermittent sunny breaks changing the light levels, variable winds usually coming from the northern quarters, we drogue down the lake looking for quantities of hatching duns and fish showing to them. Image credit: Gary France, Trout Territory
Baby damselfly!
This particular lowland water, Four Springs, harbours an excellent array of fly life. Mayflies, damselflies, and dragonflies, to name but a few of the flying insects. There were numerous shucks and newly emerged damselflies on this jetty post. This damselfly has crawled from its shuck a very short time ago, its wings have dried out and its about to fly. Video credit: Fiona Dewar
Portrait of a wild brown trout
The strikingly beautiful profile of a wild brown trout. This hefty 56cm wild brown trout went almost to the backing. Fish like these are reasonably common in Four Springs Lake, and other quality Tasmanian trout waters. Photo credit: Fiona Dewar