Rain challenges trout anglers at annual Interclub Challenge

Picture: The winners of the Derwent River Interclub Challenge held last weekend by the NNLAA-Launceston Anglers Club - Nigel Clark, Selwyn Edson, Duane Bird, Marty Evans and Shane LIng are presented with awards and the Interclub Shield by NNLAA president Laurie Harrison.

LAST weekend the New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association hosted the popular Derwent River Interclub Challenge trout fishing competition.

All Southern Licensed Angling Clubs were invited to compete plus clubs from the north of the state like Launceston, Deloraine, Ulverstone and Longford.

About 100 anglers took part and after what's been a drier than usual period through mid winter the heavens opened hours before competition starting time.This in turn meant a lot of rain run off entered the river and with extra water also being released from Lake Meadowbank fishing conditions were tough going.

Saying that,  the results reflected otherwise with good numbers of fish caught and some big trout landed as well.

Seventy eight trout were weighed in with a total weight of 64.637 kg and an average weight of .828 kg.The heaviest trout caught by a senior male angler went to Launceston Angling Club's Selwyn Edson who nailed a big old female sea runner that weighed 2.622 kg cleaned.

Launceston's Nigel Clark also caught a pearler and next best which weighed 2.232 kg cleaned and the NNLAA's Glen Duggan had another good fish weighing 2.012 kg and Craig Waddington was next with 1.622 kg.

The heaviest trout caught by a female angler went to the NNLAA's Lucy Russell who caught a good fish weighing 1.020 kg which interestingly had a stomach full of scallops.

The heaviest trout caught by a junior angler went to Lake Pedder Angling Clubs Kade Taylor who caught one of the competitons best fish weighing 2.012 kg cleaned which was the same weight of Glen Duggans.

The average weight winner was NNLAA junior Jayden Slater who landed a fish weighing 0.824 kg which was just shy of the average at .828 kg.The winners of the Derwent River Challenge and Interclub Shield were Launceston Angling Club with a five-fish total weight of 8.986 kg who managed to back up their win from last season with 15 members weighing in fish.

Selwyn Edson had his at 2.622 kg,Nigel Clark was next on 2.232 kg,Marty Evans with 1.518 kg,Shane Ling with 1.429 kg and Duane Bird with one at 1.185 kg.The NNLAA finished second with a total weight score of 7.810 kg with 10 members weighing in fish and Glen Duggan had the best with 2.012 kg, Craig Waddington had his at 1.622 kg and I had the next best three at 1.413 kg,1.384 kg and 1.379 kg.

Lake Pedder Angling Club finished in third position with 3.257 kg and Junior Kade Taylor had that one at 2.012 kg and Jed Langford had three at 0.595 kg, 0.377 kg and 0.273 kg.

The NNLAA ran a raffle at the presentation with many people benefiting by winning good prizes and the NNLAA would like to thank all it's generous sponsors for donating and providing prizes for this as well as for the competition itself.

Also to the NNLAA commitee who put in a lot of work to organise the event should be proud and also of their performance on the water.

The NNLAA's next competition is the STLAA interclub challenge this year held by the Huon Anglers Club on the Huon River on Sunday September 15.

AS previously mentioned rain this week will freshen up the Derwent and other rivers after what's been a relatively dry winter.

Our lakes and lagoons in the highlands will also benefit from the extra boost which usually falls in late August and early September.

Waters in the highlands have started to rise and Bronte Lagoon is one which in turn should start to fire like it did at this time last season.

Woods Lake is now back under -1 m and rain this week should see the lake continue to rise and fish better.

I saw some good fish caught from Penstock Lagoon from fly anglers recently with a mix of nymph and wet flies doing the damage on some fish up to and over 2 kg with a couple of fat rainbows in the mix as well. Lower Derwent Catchments have been a bit up and down in regards to water levels lately but overall most are offering fish especially when they're at near full capacity.

LAST week the Inland Fisheries Service started preparations for the annual rainbow trout spawning run at Liawenee which usually starts in late August.Weather forecasts for this week predict a good amount of rain which should see good conditions for rainbow trout to spawn over the next weeks.

An electrofishing survey of the spawning channels at Liawenee was done recently to collect any yearling rainbow trout still in the channels from 2023.The spawning channels provide improved habitat for natural rainbow trout recruitment into Great Lake plus provide a source of wild fry for stocking a small number of assisted fisheries.

SQUID spawning closure dates and areas have been confirmed for the next three years. 

 North coast - Stock status is depleting and All waters North of Cape Grim and Cape Naturaliste are closed from  September 1 to October 1 in 2024, 2025 and 2026. East coast zone which is an area which stock is said to be depleted and because of this the closure area now includes the South East. 

The East squid spawning closure area now extends to all waters from Lemon Rock, South to Whale Head (including Great Oyster Bay and Coles Bay). This also means the closure now includes the Tasman Peninsula, Bruny Island and D’Entrecasteaux Channel as well.

This area will be closed from 15 October to 14 November in 2024, 2025 and 2026. While an area is closed you can't take or possess squid or calamari, except for commercially purchased bait.This means recreationally caught squid or squid parts (e.g. for use as bait) taken prior to the closure, or outside the closed area may not be possessed in the closed area. You can't even possess a squid jig attached to a fishing line. Tight Lines until next week.

Tip of the Week- September is a great month to enjoy fishing and football. It's finals time in football and with fishing it's the best time to chase sea trout in Tasmanian rivers and estuaries.

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