Anglers should forget the chill, we need some Tassie Highlands snow.

WINTER temperatures have dropped but anglers enjoyed some good results from both fresh and salt water
during the week.

It’s been cold but the lack of wind has encouraged anglers to get out and about and we’re already seeing
springtime bulbs and blossom starting to show.

The Derwent and Huon Rivers are producing some decent trout although most are still slob/estuary river fish
but expect more sea-run trout to turn up soon.

As I’ve previously mentioned, we really need to see some decent rain and snow falls to get the sea runners
going.

Mullett and Australian Salmon are still working the Derwent to the boundary cut off which shows it isn’t
running as fresh as it should be for this time of the year.

I caught and released 12 trout up to 1.5kg in two missions recently although the latter mission proved tough
going.

Last Wednesday just after sunset I landed seven in a couple of hours on the Derwent using one of the Westin
Inline eels I mentioned in last week’s report.

After fishing the afternoon with not much success from Norske Skog to Bridgewater, trout came on the chew
coming off a high tide matched to the approaching full moon.

Bait anglers have had some success chasing trout fishing with worms, sandies, gudgeon and wattlegrubs on
the bottom from Bridgewater to New Norfolk.

Black Bream are still active for anglers fishing around Old Beach and Austins Ferry as well.

Anglers fishing Brady’s Lake, Lake Binney and Tungatinah Lagoon have continued to enjoy their recent
opening with Rainbow and Brown Trout caught by bait, spin and wet fly anglers.

The canals joining all waters are producing fish and although the weather has been cold the area is a good
place to take the kids.

Great Lake, Lake Burbury, Brushy Lagoon, Lake Pedder and Craigbourne Dam are the other open-all-year
waters worth fishing at the moment.

The Inland Fisheries Service continued their trout stocking program last week in preparation for the 2024-25
Brown Trout season which starts on Saturday, August 3.

Big Waterhouse Lake took 550 fish and 300 of them were brown trout and the others were 250 triploid
rainbow trout.

Second Lagoon took 30 brown trout weighing .638kg, Rocky Lagoon took 28 weighing the same and Curries
River Reservoir took another 400 brown trout weighing around .487kg.

Curries also took 500 triploid Rainbow Trout and Blackmans Lagoon also took 250 with all bows weighing
around .360kg.

Four Springs Lake took 1500 Rainbows and Brushy Lagoon 500, Lake Botsford took 100 brown trout and
Craigbourne Dam also took another 500 Rainbow Trout as well.

Craigbourne is currently sitting at -2.95m and there is now a low-level ramp that anglers can use to launch
their boats which is about 50m northeast of the main ramp.

The IFS has recently installed a new information sign at the Arthur River boat ramp which relates to the Estuary
Perch which is a protected species that’s only found in that river here in Tasmania.

Information includes that it’s an offence to fish for, take or be in possession of any Estuary Perch.
Any caught must be released immediately and big penalties apply for taking any protected fish.

Ongoing monitoring of the Estuary Perch population is currently being done and If you catch a tagged estuary
perch while fishing for other species take note of the tag number before releasing it and report it to 1300INFISH or email infish@ifs.tas.gov.au.

If you suspect or see illegal fishing activity report it using the contacts details above or by phoning 0438 338
530.

SALTWATER fishing has been productive and anglers fishing the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and around Bruny
Island have had success chasing Snapper, Squid, Whiting, Flathead, Barracouta, Australian Salmon,
Leatherjacket and Wrasse.

Adventure Bay is a hot spot and the area also offers good Gummy Shark fishing outside the shark refuge zone
of the channel.

Anglers fishing water from 30m to 50m depths have landed some good size Striped Trumpeter and Jackass
Morwong with Blue Eye Trevalla also available with Maria Island and Schouten Island popular areas.

Tip of the Week
NNLAA members are reminded the RSVP date for their annual dinner and trophy presentation night on July 5
is this Friday, June 28.

Send in your fishing reports, pics and tips to valleyfishes@gmail.com and keep track of the Derwent Valley
Gazette Fishing column at derwentvalleygazette.com