The Tasmanian brown trout fishing season opened with a bang on Saturday, with anglers celebrating the new season by heading out to waters around the state.
Many anglers at Four Spring Lake had successful catches, reaching their bag limit of fish, including brown and rainbow trout.
According to the Inland Fisheries Service, fishers using orange colour lures and wet flies were effective.
The service said recent rainfall that led to high river flows providing exciting backwater fishing opportunities on the Mersey, Leven, St Patricks and Tyenna rivers, with anglers reporting tailing fish along the flooded river margins.
Little Pine and Penstock lagoons in the highlands were productive for anglers casting wet flies, while Bronte Lagoon was outstanding for those using lures.
Brady’s Chain of lakes and Lake Meadowbank also fished well with recently stocked rainbow trout.
In the northeast, Curries River Reservoir and Camden Lake were good fishing spots, especially for anglers using lures.
Larger than average sea runners were caught in the lower reaches of the Derwent, Forth, and Tamar estuaries.
Inland Fisheries staff, along with officers from other agencies, conducted patrols over the weekend and said many fishers were following the rules.
“A total of 683 creel interviews were undertaken. Compliance rates with fisheries and boating safety legislation was very good with only a small number of breaches detected,” the Service said.
“It is great to have the 2023-24 angling season now open, and going on the weekends fishing this season is bound to be one to remember.”
