An American-born angler has claimed a $5,000 reward after catching a prize-tagged trout at Arthurs Lake in Tasmania’s Central Highlands.
Marion ‘Rusty’ Mark became the fourth person to win in the tagged trout promotion, which offers a collective $80,000 in rewards to recreational fishers.
The winning catch came last Thursday evening at Pumphouse Bay, where Rusty spotted a clump of weed in the shallows and decided to cast his fly over.
He told the Inland Fisheries Service that the fish quickly left the cover of the weed and became hooked on his line.
The fly fisher, originally from Oregon, now lives part-time at Wilburville and has been making the most of the season.
While he hasn’t locked in plans for his winnings just yet, he said the money might go towards upgrading his pushbike or a European trip later this year.
12 prize-tagged trout remain across seven inland waterways, including Lake Mackintosh, Lake Rowallan, Huntsman Lake, yingina / Great Lake, Bradys Lake, Arthurs Lake and Lake Sorell.
Each tagged fish is worth $5,000, with anglers required to retain the tag and provide photographic evidence to the Inland Fisheries Service in order to claim their prize.
The brown trout season runs until April 27, but several lakes, including Huntsman, yingina / Great Lake and the Bradys chain, are open year-round. Lakes Mackintosh and Rowallan stay open until June 1.
The Inland Fisheries Service has confirmed the competition will return for a second year, launching with the new trout season on August 2.
