Banging start to new brown trout season

A big 3kg+ 70cm Derwent River male brown trout caught and released by Adam WIlliams while on a mission with the author last week. The fish was caught using a Westin Sandy Andy soft plastic. Picture: ADAM RICE

 FORECAST snow last weekend was timely and with decent weather seemingly predicted for this week and opening weekend it looks like it's set to be a banging start to the new season.

The Inland Fisheries Service has for the most part achieved its stocking goal for the 2024-25 season and 7,500 brown trout have been put into various waters in the lead up with more from Lake King William expected to be transferred this week.

Also around 14,500 triploid rainbow trout have been put into various lakes around the state with a good number of Brook trout also recently released.

To complement this there are 100,000 brown trout and 30,000 rainbow trout eggs being incubated at the New Norfolk hatchery and the Salmon Ponds.

Once these eggs hatch and grow the trout fry will be used to stock fisheries around the State in the future.

Anglers are reminded to keep safety a priority this weekend and during the season and leave nothing to chance with general awareness and preparation in regards to travelling on our roads and in relation to weather conditions in and around the water.

For those yet to make the call on where they're heading for opening weekend here's a glimpse of some areas that should be good to catch a fish or five.

Brady's Lake and the "chain"  of Lake Binney ,Tungatinah Lagoon and not far away Bronte Lagoon will be popular choices for people with the latter, Bronte Lagoon one of the better performing trout fisheries in the state over the last few seasons.

Water levels have risen and will continue to, providing opportunity for lure anglers trolling and spinning and wet fly anglers will also do well.

Bait anglers in Brady's, Binney and Tungah will also catch fish on worms and wattle grubs.

The Lower Derwent Catchments should also fish well with water levels consistently higher over the last month after recent work finished at Lake Meadowbank.

 The Derwent and Huon Rivers will be popular with both resident and sea trout a target for anglers from now through to November.

Good numbers of sea trout have been moving through the Derwent and recent snow melt will trigger more of these powerfull fish to move through the estuary.

Tributaries and mouths of flowing into these rivers should also reward anglers with the Tyenna, Styx, Plenty and Lachlan rivers great on the Derwent and Mountain, Russell, Little Denison and Weld Rivers worth a run on the Huon.

Tasmania's West Coast trout fishing should also be mentioned with big fish waters like the Gordon River, Pieman River, Arthur River and Henty Rivers stand outs from now through to summer.

One water I'd suggest going to early next season is Lake Plimsoll which has had 365 Brook Trout weighing around 2 kg stocked into it back in early July.

Clarence Lagoon and Lake Selina also have populations of Brook Trout as does Bronte Lagoon which has water flowing into it from Clarence Lagoon but if you're chasing big bucketlist Brook Trout, Lake Plimsoll will be the place to be fishing.

Lake Sorell would be another water I'd pay particular interest in this season as well.

Late last season some really good conditioned trout were caught from here and I'd expect that trend to continue throughout this season especially as spring temperatures set in.

Lake Crescent is our premier trophy trout water which has offered anglers super sized fish during the past two seasons and I expect Crescent to fire again this season giving water levels stay supportive.

Lake Echo has fished well the last few seasons as well and although it's water level dropped significantly through to June, it's starting to rise again and will continue to through spring and should also perform well.

Toom's Lake has had over 600 brown trout stocked into it during the past fortnight and although it's been underperforming in recent seasons don't discount this water either.

Little Pine, Penstock Lagoon, Shannon Lagoon, Great Lake, Arthurs Lake and Wood' Lake in the Central Plateau hydro catchment runs are iconic areas that should also always be considered.

One water that doesn't get a lot of coverage but should be noted is Lake Gordon.

A massive body of water that is often overlooked Lake Gordon offers great trout fishing especially early in a season as water levels rise.

Brushy Lagoon, Talbots Lagoon, Four Springs Lake, Lake Leake, Curries River Reservoir are other waters that have been stocked that should perform ok and don't forget open all year waters like Meadowbank Lake which had over 5000 rainbow trout put into it this time last year and Craigbourne Dam/Lake has had a top up of trout recently as well.

THE New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association is holding their first competition of the new season on the Derwent River corresponding with "Opening Weekend".

Those intending on fishing need to be financial members of the NNLAA before the start of the new season at midnight on Friday night and NNLAA memberships are available at Williams Outdoors in New Norfolk or can be purchased online or through club committee.

Fishingstarts at 12am and the boundaries are from the Lawitta Pump Station through to the Tasman Bridge.A weigh in and barbecue will be held at the Rotunda on the New Norfolk Esplanade from 3 pm -3.30 pm.

With the Derwent fishing well it's expected anglers will be rewarded with some good troutfishing to kick off the new season.

Tight lines until next week.

Tip Of The Week- Take the Tasmanian Inland Fishing Code 2024-25-pocket guide with you this weekend and wherever you go fishing this season.It includes important information on rules,regulations,bag limits and phone numbers that all trout anglers need to be aware of.

Send in your fishing reports,pics and tips to valleyfishes@gmail.com and keep track of the Derwent Valley Gazette Fishing page on Facebook.