Fishing in Tassie

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Fishing in Tassie

Post by Heckler303 » 01 Oct 2015, 8:41 pm

Hey all, going fishing tomorrow, hoping on bringing home some brown or rainbow trout (or blackfish if availible) so I thought I'd make a thread for people to come see tassies fishing and stuff. Pics also supplied if lucky

Results will be posted tomorrow after the trip. Even if I get bugger all, fishing here is more a time to really relax and forget about lots of stuf that happens in life, rather than actually reeling in anything (most of the times I get bogged on the bottom and lose a 6 dollar bait :lol:
Last edited by Heckler303 on 11 Oct 2015, 8:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Heckler303 » 02 Oct 2015, 5:01 pm

Well bugger, no catch today, probably because the waters I was fishing at were a bit faster than normal due to wind and stuff. When it's really calm, I'll try heading out to a dam and and leave the rod hanging there with a float, maybe try using some more 'live' lures too, some stuff that still wriggles even in calm water that wasn't also squirming around in the dirt before :D
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Gwion » 03 Oct 2015, 7:57 am

Yeah... You picked a crap day for it... Didn't want to kill your buzz so didn't mention that I wouldn't bother in that wind.

You wouldn't think wind would put a fish off but it usually accompanies a rapid drop in the barometer. Not something a trout likes much. A bit of breeze can bring on some terrestrial feeding but heavy wind is kinda pointless. Wait until after the blow and go while they're out mopping up all the food blown into the water. Not that there is much insect life to get blown just yet but it will start coming on soon.
Should get out to the estuaries with some soft plastics... Still a chance for a sea runner chasing white bait!!
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by VICHunter » 12 Oct 2015, 9:59 am

I don't know about fishing in Tassie but never had much luck here when the waters are stirred up.

Too murky to find the bait?
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Heckler303 » 12 Oct 2015, 11:10 am

VICHunter wrote:I don't know about fishing in Tassie but never had much luck here when the waters are stirred up.

Too murky to find the bait?



Yeah, a lot of mud over winter builds up, tons of rain and I keep getting caught on the bottom of the river, so you end up having to cut the line, re-thread weight and bait, try again. Dams are a LOT easier to fish from.
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by KWhorenet » 12 Oct 2015, 11:23 am

Try floating baits along the smaller streams. Used to have good results in the canals running through Bushy Park Estate, tributaries along the Sticks River and Derwent etc.

Baits like grasshoppers, crickets, worms and the old favourite Wattle Grub at night in faster flowing water. No sinkers as you want the bait to flow naturally with the current.

Same worked at Barrington and Gloucester Tops west of Newcastle NSW.

My new favourite lure is the ummm never mind ;)
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Gwion » 12 Oct 2015, 1:58 pm

Bait drifting, either under a float or free drifted, is deadly. Takes some practice to stay close to your bait, though. With the right rig, it's impressive haw far you can cast a fat worm upstream without a sinker.

When the water is stirred up, fish the edges in the backwaters and eddies out of the main flow. Early season, the fish are hungry and foraging in the influx of feed when it rains. Look for spots where the food will naturally collect and use as little weight as you can get away with. You won't get washed into snags so easily this way, either. Then again, if you're not getting snagged, you're probably not close enough to good cover. Trout like cover from current, cover from predators (snags) and a good, easy to get food supply.

When you can, fish a rising barometer. Pushing 1020 is the magic number. A crashing barometer (rapid from high to low) can also be good, as it can stir the fish up a bit but far more effective for natives which there are none worth fishing for in Tassie. What you really don't want it a steady low barometer. Like today.... low and dropping.... fish will probably be lying doggo. :thumbsdown:

Mind you, you can't catch fish if you don't go fishing! :allegedly: :violin:
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Bark » 13 Oct 2015, 1:32 pm

Gwion wrote:With the right rig, it's impressive haw far you can cast a fat worm upstream without a sinker.


Most casual fishermen's rigs are too heavy for doing this well I've noticed.
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by KWhorenet » 13 Oct 2015, 2:54 pm

As above...People often use too heavy line on too large of a rod/reel combo for such small fish.

Try a little light ~5ft rod with 4lb mono line and tiny spinning reel. Great for flicking baits or light lures with over hanging trees. Also makes a 1/2 - 2lb fish feel like a marlin :D

OK, lure tip: Rapala imitation brown trout works a treat!

This will work in Tas just the same.
I had steady flowing shallow river at Gloucester Tops. About 60cm deep, 4m wide. Just let the little floating Rapala out and it worked in the flow, no retrieve required. Just moved it up n down the stream bit by bit. If you think about how a fish predates, and how small fish move...this is quite natural. Had a guy telling me I had to cast up stream and wind it in fast to make the lure work...ummm yeah nah thanks ha-ha. Typical 20yo know it all. He'd been told this, but confused it with live baits. He was spewing when I'd landed one to his zilch. He now tells others how to fish, but my way I've heard ha-ha. Cock!
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Gwion » 13 Oct 2015, 6:56 pm

Yup... standard 2-4kg weighted rod anywhere up to 7ft (shorter for tight tangled banks), 1500-2500 sized reel with 4-6lb mono or flurocarbon (lasts longer and more abrasion resistant, berkely do a good affordable one that i use as lead for my braid). If you go the braided option, go about 10-12lb: it is a bit stiffer so less tangles and not as affected by the wind while still being finer than 4lb mono and casts a mile with bugger all weight.

I've got 4 rigs like this that i use for all manner of fishing; slightly different tapers and lengths. Caught a 74cm murray cod on a rig like this, the rod is a complex taper but still a 2-4kg. Just fight the fish from the butt, not the tip and use 'soft hands'.

KWhorenet, i like your drift and twitch approach. I'm the worlds worst lure fisherman but it sounds very effective. In coarse-fishing terms, this sounds like 'long trotting'.

If you really want to get into bait fishing for trout, look into 'coarse-fishing', it has same very effective techniques that can be applied with out the specialist gear. I've spent an hour stalking a fish on the Goulburn Rv at mid flow, trying to get a good cast to it with my fly, while watching a coarse fisher on the far bank pull in 3 fish that looked to be about 3lb or so.
Coarse fishing would be very effective in rivers like the lower Mersey and the Leven, broad water, lowland streams. Spent years bait drifting tiny mountain streams as well, before i got into fly casting. Only got into soft plastics a few years ago, to speed up the search and cover more water when exploring unfamiliar waters; search with the plastics until i find a rising or cruising trout and then rig up the fly rod, 'cause i just love watching a fish come up and suck down my fly.

Anyway, to me it's about the fishing (not the fish in the bag) and i love trying to fool a fish that i can see more than sitting and waiting for the fish to bite. :thumbsup: :drinks:

By the way... i was stuck in Launi today or i would have been out there! Bar was at 1027+, slight over cast, little wind, plenty of insects..... got home and saw a nice fish rising right near my front gate.... :violin: :violin: :violin:
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by KWhorenet » 13 Oct 2015, 7:18 pm

The last time I used my fly rod was in a tidal lake at 'Old Bar' near Forster ? NSW. Caught Bream and Flathead on wet fly imitation white bait and shrimp. Could throw a plastic on also. Would be a great tool to catch Flathead in close to the beach at night on a rising tide.

Getting my tinny registered next week. Time to hit McLaughlin's estuary. Thanks, I'm keen again.
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by heeple » 14 Oct 2015, 8:34 am

KWhorenet wrote:Try a little light ~5ft rod with 4lb mono line and tiny spinning reel.


I've been thinking about getting a new light right, what do you reckon of the small bait caster reels for this?

I like the style of real better but have only used on heavier setups, reckon this can be done or just wrong tool for the job?
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Gwion » 14 Oct 2015, 4:09 pm

All depends on how you intend to fish....

I personally find threadlines more versatile.
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Polack » 19 Oct 2015, 9:45 am

Heckler303 wrote:Well bugger, no catch today, probably because the waters I was fishing at were a bit faster than normal due to wind and stuff. When it's really calm, I'll try heading out to a dam and and leave the rod hanging there with a float, maybe try using some more 'live' lures too, some stuff that still wriggles even in calm water that wasn't also squirming around in the dirt before :D


Really calm is usually not a great proposition for trout, I have fished Tasmania for nearly fifty years the best times for the lakes are a gale from the west and use a heavy soft plastic into the waves(you might only get out half your normal distance due to the wind and have a great big loop of line behind you but you will get fish). The only time calm is good is when you are flicking grashoppers out(guaranteed fish)

At least a little ripple is needed for spinning or soft plastic and a running river is best, fish the backwaters if using bait. When you see lots of insects all other fishing other than fly is a waste of time.

A cockroach is always the best bait in a river, either put the hook through or superglue it to the shell with the tip exposed. Woodgrubs, grasshoppers etc etc are all good, if using worms use a Kahle hook and fill it up. Don't use sinkers if you can help it.

I am fishing the Forth and Mersey rivers at the moment with a soft plastic and am not failing to get at least a couple each time by fishing when the bait are NOT running(no trout is going to pass up whitebait for a suspect bit of plastic). The only exception to this is if you are prepared to live bait but it is a lot of work.

For dams with growth in them mudeyes under a float attached to greased line(so it floats too)are the go, when they are about and available.

Start fly fishing, there are only a few days each year that a fly can out fish trolling, lure or bait fishing but when it is ideal it is a very satisfying way to fish and it opens up a few more waters.
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Heckler303 » 19 Oct 2015, 4:43 pm

Polack wrote:
Heckler303 wrote:Well bugger, no catch today, probably because the waters I was fishing at were a bit faster than normal due to wind and stuff. When it's really calm, I'll try heading out to a dam and and leave the rod hanging there with a float, maybe try using some more 'live' lures too, some stuff that still wriggles even in calm water that wasn't also squirming around in the dirt before :D


Really calm is usually not a great proposition for trout, I have fished Tasmania for nearly fifty years the best times for the lakes are a gale from the west and use a heavy soft plastic into the waves(you might only get out half your normal distance due to the wind and have a great big loop of line behind you but you will get fish). The only time calm is good is when you are flicking grashoppers out(guaranteed fish)

At least a little ripple is needed for spinning or soft plastic and a running river is best, fish the backwaters if using bait. When you see lots of insects all other fishing other than fly is a waste of time.

A cockroach is always the best bait in a river, either put the hook through or superglue it to the shell with the tip exposed. Woodgrubs, grasshoppers etc etc are all good.



I'll take your advice on the cockroaches for trout. Seems like a pretty good idea to me and better than grasshoppers. I used to fish at the Mersey but the amount of snags you always get there really put me off. There is a dam outside of railton where platypuses go, and it seems like just at dusk is when they're most active. I'm gonna set out a reel with some live bait and keep a sinkers to a minimum, casting out 1/3 of the way to the centre where the reeds are.
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Rocker » 20 Oct 2015, 3:03 pm

Gwion wrote:All depends on how you intend to fish....


I'm highly skilled in the 'no bites' technique :lol:
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Gwion » 20 Oct 2015, 4:44 pm

Rocker wrote:
Gwion wrote:All depends on how you intend to fish....


I'm highly skilled in the 'no bites' technique :lol:


Helps if you bait the hook, i'm told! :clap:

If you are thinking bait fishing, i wouldn't bother with the small overheads (bait caster/plug caster). They are quite popular for fishing that takes a lot of finesse, like slow, twitchy retrieve lure casting. This also takes a decent rod, that can be had at a reasonable price, these days.

Most people will find a good quality threadline (spinning reel) more suitable to their needs and very versatile.

On the other hand, a nice little bait caster would be perfect for KW's drift & twitch technique!
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Polack » 21 Oct 2015, 10:30 am

Heckler303 wrote:
I'll take your advice on the cockroaches for trout. Seems like a pretty good idea to me and better than grasshoppers. I used to fish at the Mersey but the amount of snags you always get there really put me off. There is a dam outside of railton where platypuses go, and it seems like just at dusk is when they're most active. I'm gonna set out a reel with some live bait and keep a sinkers to a minimum, casting out 1/3 of the way to the centre where the reeds are.


I haven't used weight on the bottom for decades. When bait fishing on the bottom you need to remember that trout don't feed in the middle unless there is a weed bank etc, in rivers most of the action is at your feet. Insects and grubs drop from overhead trees, grasshoppers suicide into the water, worms bugs and beetles wash out of banks or the will be in backwashes waitingh for something to drift in from the main. A little bit of mud or dirt dropped in the water will often get things going.

Snags are part of life, a good kahle hook full of worms won't snag as badly, especially if dropped less than a meter out and with no weight on it. I pulled two small ones out of merseylea last night before dark, both on a small celta fished in front of a small fast ripple- I also lost a celta but a 3/4 kilo of trout is cheap for $3.50.

Trout don'tfeed when there is a platypus actively working(don't know why).
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Gwion » 21 Oct 2015, 11:16 am

Yeah... there's a nice little stream trout rising right now near my front gate.

Too bad i have to meet a guy about a job or i'd go flick a fly to him. Maybe later this arvo/evening. See if any of his mates or uncles and aunts are around at last light, too.

Agree with everything Polack says above, only i use different hooks and usually one worm. A good sized scrubby.
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by RoginaJack » 21 Oct 2015, 3:36 pm

Yep, just got back yesterday, Tuesday from Tassie. Did no good up around the Sisters Beach area but a few of the locals got a feed. Talking to another Local fishing for Black Backs with spinners at Davenport off the bank at the park and he got 6 - good size too.
I'm mainly chasing trout but didn't get a chance this trip - too cold and windy, I think it needs a few warm days in a row to improve things.
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Gwion » 21 Oct 2015, 7:59 pm

Watched two fish by my gate feeding heavily on midges or some other minuscule insect for about ten minutes today. Then I decided to head home and have a beer because I may have flies that small but I CBF trying to tie them on and cast them.
Fun watching the fish, though,
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Carter » 22 Oct 2015, 9:31 am

Gwion wrote:Helps if you bait the hook, i'm told! :clap:


Wait, hook? :mrgreen:
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Re: Fishing in Tassie

Post by Gwion » 29 Mar 2017, 5:56 pm

Finally caught the bigger fish near my gate that keeps feeding on tiny, near invisible insects. Was a henfish but i only got video, no photo. Caught it last Wednesday and put it back. Measured 48cm and a healthy fish in good condition.
Found a bigger one just upstream a few hundred meters but haven't managed to get near it yet. Has refused my fly about 5 times already! :problem:
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