A second new model, also now available for purchase is the Sage 99. These are nine foot, nine inch long rods, designed with a slow taper for European nymphing styles. This deadly style of short-line, heavy nymph fishing is very popular in Europe, and among global competition fishers. The technique has just received a great overview by Danny Spelic in the new Spring 2009 edition of FlyLife Magazine www.flylife.com.au .

That’s all for now, look out for our Tasmanian fly fishing newsletter and fishing report next week.

Western Lakes Tasmania, winter sunrise

• Fly Fishing Tasmania—lots of rain, and the season to come

Great news for Tasmanian fisher’s has been the big-wet of late. Just a few days ago, Mole Creek (on the Mersey River) saw 150mm’s of rain (that’s half-a-foot!) in a day, and all the rivers, including the drought ravaged Macquarie River, are in flood. And by flood I mean that they are well over their banks! The drought-depleted and algae-bloom affected Leake, Craigbourne and Tooms lakes are now full, or close too, which is awesome news—Tooms’ in particular features excellent fishing to baitfish feeders, while the Macquarie downstream offers the best small red spinner mayfly falls in Tasmania. This will be the best season in four years or more, both in terms of water flows and lake levels, and associated mayfly populations and fish sizes.

With two or so weeks to go until the new trout season opens, I’ve spent the last month tying flies for our webshop, and exploring remote waters in the Western Lakes. The trip report from our last weekend of explorations among the wilderness Western Lakes is here, but in a nutshell, early rains brought about early spawning, which will result in bigger and healthier early-season trout. As I type, Lake Augusta on the rim of the Western Lakes is overflowing, and has been for four days. 

We’ve also been concentrating on lots of behind-the-scenes activities in the last month, which have included gaining access to new guiding locations on the Meander River. This river adds to our guiding venues on the Mersey, Macquarie, Brumbys, North Esk, South Esk, St Patricks and north-eastern creeks. I’m sure that repeat clients (as well as new guests) will enjoy this season’s new venue.

• Opening day tactics

As alluded to, our trout season opens in just over two weeks on the 1^st of August. Many will be heading up to the hydro lakes for opening day (such as Arthurs Lake), but I’ll be hunting around in the flooded backwaters of our northern rivers. The author David Scholes made these flood-fishing events famous, but the recent years of drought have seen opportunities for flood fishing all but disappear. I’m not going to miss out on this winter’s offerings, so the Upper Macquarie, lower Meander, and perhaps even the South Esk or Lake River will be on my flood fishing to-do list. Patterns such as the Fur Fly, Woolly Caddis and Black and Peacock Spider will feature among the fly patterns to try.

As August moves in to September, hatches and falls of cockchafer beetles, stonefly, and by late September, mayfly will be underway and the trout will be looking for dries. By October the mayflies will become consistent (outside of any flood events) leading to some of the best close-quarter dry fly fishing of the season.

•  ‘Meet the author’s day’ at the Tasmanian Trout Expo – Greg French, Phil Weigall and Daniel Hackett

 The annual Tasmanian Trout Expo (at Cressy) is on over the weekend of the 29-30^th of August this year, where I’ll be found manning the Petrarchs Bookstore stand. The Sunday will see Greg French and Philip Weigall also at the stand, happy to talk to fellow fishers and sign books. Phil will be launching his new book ‘Fishing Season’, so it will be a great opportunity to get your copy on the day. More info on the Trout Expo here.  

•  Fly Fishing offerings from RiverFly for season 09-10  

October 2009 -May 2010 Try a Three Rivers Package and lodge accommodation with RiverFly Tasmania and Quamby Estate Homestead  

November 2009 – May 2010 Book in for a Wilderness Campout. We have a remote river venue for 1-2 night trips, and Western Lakes campouts for those wanting to experience Tasmania’s wilderness fishing mecca.  

Fly tying classes – shortcuts, improving techniques, and trouble-shooting - Keep an eye out on our Blog for the dates of our second round of fly tying classes. The first round finished successfully in early July.

• Fishing and fly tying tips

Tip1: If you get caught wading in water that is too powerful and need to turn back, try and avoid wading downstream back to shore: the water will start to ‘float’ you away as your centre of gravity is pushed downstream by the force of the current. Instead, it is safer to slowly work your way back to shore in a diagonally upstream direction, where you can keep your centre of gravity forwards, and your feet on the ground.

Tip 2: When tying parachute flies, always use a hackle that is one to two sizes larger than usual. This will give the fly a larger ‘footprint’ on the water (which will make it a better attractor), and ensure that it stays upright on each presentation.

•  The Source-Tasmania DVD now available

The Source-Tasmania DVD by Gin-Clear Media is now in stock and can be ordered through our WebShop. As the feature film of last month’s international Fly Fishing Festival, The Source has already been shown to more than 2000 people, to generally great reviews. The film-fest is now headed for Europe for showings next month.

The film is beautifully shot across four locations: Sea-run trout destinations on the North-West Coast, the rainforest creeks of the Western Tiers, the mayfly waters of the Lowland rivers, as well as a longer section featuring the wilderness Western Lakes. The Source features Greg French and Daniel Hackett, as well as a cast of visiting anglers. Purchase The Source here.

That’s all for this months newsletter. Look out for the August edition which will contain a report on the opening month of fishing, with a focus on the feature-flood fishing we’re looking forward to. Have a great opening Day from the RiverFly team-Daniel, Simone and Patrick

Phil and Greg will be at the stand around 11am-2pm on the Sunday, assuming there are no delays at the airport! See you there.

Here is a new ‘go-to’ pattern for the freestone rivers of Tasmania. While I have a preference for fishing the dry-fly, this isn’t always the best approach. This is when I opt to fish a nymph in tandem with a larger, bouyant dry fly, or upstream nymph with the single fly.

A nymph that has proved deadly this season has been our Fastwater Caddis pattern. Originally tied for the fastwaters of Tasmania’s north-east (North Esk, St Patricks rivers), this fly has historically produced for me a few times, but didn’t ever rate as a must-have pattern. That was until this week.

The speedy tail-outs of fastwater slots (the fastwater run-ins at the heads of pools), and the deep bored-out channels found on the outsides of long runs had always under-produced for me on Tasmania’s Mersey River. This caddis grub pattern, fished on a long dropper, has provided the key to succeeding on these sections of water over the last two days of fishing; seven brown trout between 1 and 2lbs, and a wild 2lb rainbow have been proof of its appeal, all fish that have been captured from these previously difficult water structures.

This fly is pretty simple to tie, with the main challenge tying the olive rib body in. Translucent olive rib (medium size) makes the segmented body, secured down with black wire. A black seals fur throat is added, just behind a black tungsten bead, all tied on to a curved grub hook. 

The next time you’re on the stream, lift up a few rocks and check out the inhabitants. No doubt, there will be plenty of bright green caddis grubs crawling around.

The Fastwer Caddis can be purchased here

Those who have read my own book (In Season Tasmania) would know that Greg, apart from contributing the foreword, acted as a mentor during the writing stages of the production. His experiences with the pen (or perhaps keyboard would be more appropriate) span well over a decade, and have included a collection of Tasmanian fishing guides culminating in ‘Tasmanian Trout Waters’, of which Tasmanian anglers refer to as The Bible.

Following from these publications, Greg wrote his first collection of short stories titled ‘Frog Call’ (2005), which has since sold well in excess of 10,000 copies, attracting a readership that reached well beyond the fishing fraternity. The success of Frog Call can be attributed to two factors: Greg’s literary skills, combined with his love and prowess for storytelling. Within these stories, the Tasmanian wilderness and Greg’s own personal relationship with it, aided by a unique circle of friends, provides the fodder for many personal stories.

I’m halfway through Greg’s newly released follow-up to Frog Call, titled ‘Artificial’, which could be loosely described as similar to Frog Call in style and setting. The characters of many stories are new, and the theme is a little different, but all in all, this is another great piece of work from someone with a story to tell, and a story worthy of being told.

Below is an interview Greg and I did earlier in the week providing some insights into his new book, along with some thoughts on getting out into the wild. If you would like to meet Greg in the flesh, he is holding a number of book launches during August, including one at Petrarchs Bookshop, Brisbane Street Launceston on August 15th. Ring Petrarchs on (03) 6331 8088 if you would like to come and hear Greg talk, get some books signed, and perhaps even glean some pearls of trouty wisdom. I’ll certainly be there!

D: What is the thought behind the title?

G: The title is in part a metaphor for the way people seem to prefer manmade environments to natural ones:

Although many fly fishers devote themselves to ‘matching the hatch’—in creating ‘perfect’ imitations of the things trout eat—the truth is that large nondescript flies are usually a better bet. In this regard, trout are like people. They find glitz bigger and better than real life—they prefer artificial things to natural ones. It is self-deception, to be sure, and they don’t realise until it’s too late that there is a sting in the tail.

Nonetheless, I use the title in myriad ways throughout the text, and in order to understand its full meaning you’ll have to read the whole book. Things won’t become completely clear until the very last page.

D: If you inspired readers to do one thing…

G: It would be to question everything, to rage against the machine, to live every day as if it’s your last… Hmm, that’s already three things. Sorry.

D: Where is the best place for beginner bushwalkers?

G: What a question. Forget about where the walkers should start; where should I start?

The easiest and safest places are ones reached via sheltered, well-marked tracks. The Hugel Lakes near Lake St Clair are good, as are lakes Seal and Belcher in Mt Field, the Mersey River in Lees Paddocks, and Lake Esperance in the Hartz Mountains. Really, though, the best fishing is in the Western Lakes and many of the best destinations are not tracked. My recommendation is that the beginner starts off in the Nineteen Lagoons, getting a feel for the countryside around popular waters like Lake Kay, Double Lagoon and Lake Ada. After this, a walk to O’Dells Lake would be a good primer. Then you could try the main walking tracks in the Chudleigh Lakes: Higgs Track from the foot of the Western Tiers to Lake Nameless; and the old stock route from Lake Mackenzie to Blue Peaks. After this you should start to feel confident about making cross-country expeditions.

For more detailed information, you could refer to my guidebook Tasmanian Trout Waters (published by AFN in 2002). Email Daniel to organise a copy.

D: What are your three favourite pieces of equipment?

G: This is a loaded question: I’m sure Daniel wants me to mention my Sage travel rod, which has been broken so many times it now comprises four sections of four different rods. The truth is that I don’t usually have an affinity with gear, any more than I have an affinity with the sheet of paper I happen to be writing on at the moment. The one real exception is my backpack which I’ve customised to suit my peculiar habits. I also take Strokey everywhere with me when travelling overseas (see ‘Strokey’ in Artificial). And I’m quite partial to the lightweight bottles I put my whisky in.

D: Is there a place for modern technology in fly fishing and bushwalking?

G: The point I make is that gear is not the most important thing. It is more critical for your enjoyment of fishing, and more essential to success, that you concentrate on getting an affinity for trout and the natural environment. You can catch lots of trout with mediocre gear if you are out there fishing. You can’t catch any fish with top-of-the-range gear if you have to spend all your time in the office paying it off.

Also, an overreliance on gear can be a real impediment to becoming a good angler. For example, if you spend all your time staring at the screen on your GPS, you never develop a natural affinity for distance, direction and landscapes.

I am not afraid to use technology—for example, I’ve just Google-earthed the rapids on some rivers in Mongolia that I’m earmarking for future rafting adventures—but when out in the bush I travel as lightly as I can with as little gadgetry as possible.

My advice? Try not to go for real low-end fishing gear because it is likely to underperform and/or break. And for safety reasons, always make sure that your camping gear is adequate for the conditions you are likely to encounter. Apart from that, just get out there and do it.

D: What about those pictures at the back of Artificial?

G: When the pages of Artificial were formatted, we ended up with a couple of blanks at the end of the book. I decided to fill them up with small black-and-white snapshots. Each one relates to a specific story, though some could conceivably be associated with more than one story. The idea is that you try and link as many photos as you can with as many stories as you can. If you have trouble, New Holland will soon post the ‘answers’ on their website: www.newholland.com.au

D: Your favourite story?

G: Come on—they’re all good, aren’t they?

Seriously, my favourite stories, as always, are other people’s, like ‘Yamame’ and ‘Penny for your thoughts’.

I think the best writing, in a literary sense, is to be found in the chapters where I’ve discussed language: ‘Spanish inquisition’ and ‘Hootiner’.

On the other hand, the stories I most enjoyed writing were the ones that encompassed my best memories, including ‘Magic’, ‘Laughing dog’, ‘Fly skinking’, ‘Rental car’ and ‘Bear aware’.

But the real story is the overarching one, the subliminal one, that becomes clear only after you’ve read all the stories in sequence. This is the thing I’m most proud of.

D: What do you have planned for next season?

G: In mid-August I go with my family to Ireland for four weeks (grilse, sea trout, gillaroo, loch-resident brown trout) and Slovenia for one week (marble trout and grayling). Woo-hoo!

At the moment I am flat out learning the Slovene language. To je nemogoče.

Words from the man behind the book—thanks very much to Greg French. I am sure that Greg would be right behind me in saying get out there into the wild, for it is the wild things in life that are truly rare and precious. Daniel Hackett.

If you would like a copy of ‘Artificial’ and can’t make it to the book launch, email Daniel to purchase a copy.