Bruny Island

Went to Bruny on the Friday night. It was blowing a gale. A quick trip to the jetty showed it to windy to fish.

The next morning it was still squally. Span off the beach with a metal pilchard for Salmon. Caught 25, plus a tern. All released unharmed. Later got two flathead on the jetty, and saw a dead octopus in the water.

Brushy Lagoon

Brushy Lagoon is a smallish impoundment to the West of Launceston. It took me 50 minutes from office to dam wall to get there -- so its not that convenient for an after work fish.

I got there at 7 pm on a gray rainy day. I rigged up a 5 weight intermediate line with a green woolly bugger and started fishing near the dam wall.

After 10 minutes I had a soft tug, and connected to a small redfin. Some people dont like redfin, but I love the action a school of redfin provide, so I was happy! But there was only one reddy -- normally you get a ton once you find a school. Another 10 minutes later I got another soft tug. I struck gently, so I wouldnt lift the fish out of the water, and someone let a grenade go off at the end of my line! I saw a brief flash of belly -- it was something in the 5lb +/- 2lb range. I suspect it was a stocked atlantic salmon.

Tried the other end of the dam wall, and started connecting regularly with redfin. By this time I had switched to a red and black woolly bugger. I cast the line out and before I could grab the line and start retrieving something big smashed the bugger and broke the line.

Eventually it got dark and the line got tangled, so I put the rod in the car and tried the spinning rod. But the spinning rod kept connecting with weed -- definitely better as a fly water.

Four Springs

Went to Four Springs after work. An interesting lake. But the wind was blowing a gale (as it does on most Tasmanian lakes), so it was virtually unfishable. Used a cobra for 10 minutes and then gave up.

Timed the trip from the office -- it was 40 minutes door to boat ramp.

North Esk

Fished about 1/2 way up at an angler access point. Got one on a nymph. Calculated the drive in was 40 minutes from Launceston, and I could have got to Brumbies in that time. The spot was very pretty, but I stupidly didnt take a picture.
Saw a black cockatoo and several wallabies, and a flock of wild ducks.

Low Head

Set the alarm for 2:30 a.m. Slow getting up, but out the door by 3.30 a.m., and got to low Head by about 4:30 a.m.

The tide was high and there was no wind. Under the light at the pilots pier there was an amazing number of fish. At first they all appeared to be toadfish. Then I spotted a large puffer fish. And then a narrow grey fish -- some sort of mullet I guess. A little later a school of small pike went by. Then I noticed a perch like fish with black and white vertical stripes -- just one small one -- feeding in the deep water. A little later a narrow eel shape went past -- a small couta (which I caught). And as the dawn broke a large parrot fish appeared.

Ater a while I went to the other end of the jetty and fished around the small beach. At a fraction past 5:00 am Got the largest salmon I have had in a long while on a paddle tail minnow soft plastic. The fish was large enough to break the line when I tried to lift it out of the water -- it was a good 2+ kilo fish. Unfortunately, salmon are normally fantastic fighters, but this one was just a weight, so I am guessing I gill hooked or otherwise damaged the fish.

As the light appeared I went to the breakwater and fished there. A cormorant in front of me got 3 or 4 minnows. But I had no luck. Left at 6:00 a.m.

Brumbies Creek

Got up at sparrow fart and checked out brumbies before heading into work. Saw a fish move behind a willow, but otherwise drew a blank.

Tyenna River

Went for a fish with Cameron. A civilised start at 9:00. The river was almost perfect -- clear, low enough to wade, and not cold. We fished the lower reaches near the saw mill. I got one smaller fish on a bead head nymph, and got another strike I missed. Cameron had no luck (an unusual result!)

Then went to the Salmon Ponds for coffee and pancakes. Home by 5. Didnt actually fish that much -- spent a lot of time just catching up.

Low Head

The fishing report in the paper recommended the pilot jetty at low head at night -- stating it was impressive to see the couta / squid under the lights. I was anxious to give it a try, so off I went after work. Got a 40cm couta at 8:00 pm, which was just about low tide. The lights came on then, and suddenly the water was full of toad fish. The wind was high, an nothing else was visible, so left at 9:00 pm. Note to self -- try again in the morning / middle of the night, when the tide is high or at 1/2 tide. Even at low tide the currents were impressive!!!! Didnt see a couta or squid under the lights -- but the number of toadfish was astounding!!!

Brumbies Creek

Went to Brumbies after work.

The water was low and minimal week growth at the sides of the banks. No fish (though may have had a touch). No pics as the camera was left in the car, and when I got back it was very dark.

Need to fix the fly line -- take off the last foot that is very tattered!

Tasmanian Ballroom Dance Competition

It was the Tasmanian Ballroom Dance Competition. And while the rest of the faimily was involved, I got a free pass!!!!! The plan was to head to Arthurs or Toombs. On the morning I discovered i was supposed to act as transport for the family. And whats more -- Alex had lost his bow tie. So I had to hang around till openning time for the shops to buy ALex a new bow tie. Once the tie was sourced and dropped off, I headed North. It took almost 2 hours to get to Arthurs, so I didnt arrive till just before noon. The weather was warm and still in Hobart. It was blowing a gale at Arthurs. And the lake was down -- the cow paddock was a shallow ditch! Despite massivce rain that had filled lakes elsewhere -- I guess this means Arthurs had been really down!!!!

No fish at the cowpaddock, and the wind was so strong it was getting dangerous. Went to Jonah Bay campground and fished there -- the bay was sheltered from the wind and was relativly calm. No luck. Gave up and went to Penstock -- again found an area sheltered by trees. No luck. The lake was flooded with water up in the trees, but no movement in the trees either.

In summary -- didnt see a fish all day or get a touch.

Openning Day

Went to the Tyenna at 7:00 am. Got there at 8:00 -- there were a good 1/2 dozen cars spread along the river. Fished below the salmon farm -- but the river was high and couldnt get the fly down deep enough. Got one bite (struck three times) on an egg sucking leech -- but the fish must have been small. Another fisherman got a great one at the same spot on a hard body lure. Tried downstream drifting a soft platic under a willow on the fly line, and hooked another small fish. But then had to go home.

Fishing with Eric

Took Elizabeth out on the boat. A beautiful sunny day.