Statewide clubs casting for Derwent angling glory

Picture: A selection of the 10 new Tasmanian Devil lures set to be available in some tackle stores this week.

IF YOU notice an increase in boats and angler activity on the Derwent River this weekend that's because the New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association is hosting one of the biggest trout fishing competitions of the year, the Derwent River Interclub Challenge.

The popular event is a highlight on the fishing calendar with all Southern Licensed Anglers Association clubs invited to compete and this year Northern clubs Launceston, Deloraine, Longford and Ulverstone have also been invited down for a crack.

All will be fishing for the Interclub Shield which will be awarded to the club and anglers that weigh in the heaviest total weight of five trout.

Fishing starts on Friday night at 6 pm finishing with a weigh in and barbecue from 1pm -2pm on Sunday at the Rotunda on the New Norfolk Esplanade.

The fishing boundary is from the Lawitta Pump Station through to the Tasman Bridge and a prefish ban will take affect from midnight on Tuesday night the 20th.

This means no competitor intending on fishing this competition should be fishing and if they are caught they will be disqualified and so will the club they're competing with. Clubs must nominate a captain where they also must lodge their team/club entry with competitors numbers and names to NNLAA president Laurie Harrison by 6 pm Thursday the 22nd by phoning 0428 626 370.

Each club captain must also collect entry fees of all competitors whether they catch fish or not to forward onto Laurie before weighing in any fish.

Obviously competitors must be a financial member of a competing angling club before competition starting times as well.

The NNLAA will be running two raffles during the presentation with lots of prizes worth big $$$ on offer and competition prizes are also top notch with heaviest trout trophies and sashes available for male, female and junior anglers as well as winning sashes and vouchers plus more for the five winning club members and even runners up will walk away with something.

The NNLAA takes pride in running this fantastic fishing event each season and they wouldn't be able to do so without the support of it's loyal and valued sponsors and all the work the committee puts in to organise this event shouldn't go un noticed as well.

Fishing the Derwent early in a season is always worthwhile and it's expected that some great resident and sea trout should be caught even though fishing has been tough going so far this season.

Keep an eye out for the results in next weeks report and may the best club and anglers win.

THERE are eleven webcams set up on some of our best lakes and lagoons to allow the public to view these iconic areas which were put in place by the Anglers Alliance Tasmania.

If you're familiar with this you'd also know that due to rising operation costs a set fee of $10 to view them was introduced a while back as well.

In good new it's been said that these webcams which are at Great Lake, Toom's Lake,  Lake Leake, Arthurs Lake, Lake Burbury, Little Pine Lagoon,  Penstock Lagoon ,Bronte Lagoon, Lake Augusta, Four Springs Lake and Lake Mackintosh can now be viewed free of charge.

THE Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) held a tackle show from August 15 -17 on the Gold Coast which gave wholesalers and retailers the chance to connect with each other outside the day to day runnings of a shop environment.

Everything fishing was showcased with all the best brand suppliers on hand offering insight into new and old fishing gear that would get any angler frothing at the mouth and awards were given to outstanding products and those that make them.

The first two days were set aside for wholesalers,the media,brand ambassadors,exhibitors and more but on Saturday it opened up to the public allowing everyone to see,touch,and feel new products and speak directly with leading company representatives.

The team from Williams Outdoors attended the event I was told it was an unreal eye opening experience and our very own company Tasmanian Devil Lures took the opportunity to showcase 10 new 13.5 gram devil lures.

I talked to manager Justin Causby who showed me the new lures and told me one popular old favourite has gone gold winged-the Gold Bomber.

Other new additions to the Tassie Devil range are the Poison Toad, Blue Damselfly, Yellow Frog and Gold Digger.New UV colours should sell well too which are Neon Dancer, Olive Smelt, Bloodworm, Neon Toad and Olive Mudeye. Keep an eye our for these new lures in tackle stores which could be available as early as this week. Tight lines until next week.

Tip of the Week- Be aware that big fish are more at risk to stress when caught because they fight harder and for longer and therefore people tend to take longer to release them while they get that “trophy” photo.

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