Northwest Fly Fishers Club of TasmaniaNewsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania Inc....

Northwest Fly Fishers

Club of Tasmania

June 2020 Volume 11 Number 9

Cover: Covid Creations. These small bodied structures might require physical distancing for potential host organism survival. Photo: Chris Hilton

2

Senior Vice President

Jason Smith [email protected] 0409 415 351

Junior Vice President Phil Blizzard [email protected] 0417 108 853

Secretary Librarian

Robert Fifield [email protected] 6431 4289

Treasurer Adrian Hope [email protected] 0417 136 959

Committee David Kirkham [email protected] 0487 354 527

Committee Oliver Mayer [email protected] 0408 147 023

Committee Ian Pickford [email protected] 0437 623 450

Comp Events Coordinator

David Kirkham [email protected] 0487 354 527

Shack Warden Public Officer

Jason Smith [email protected] 0409 415 351

TFFA Delegate Adrian Hope [email protected] 0417 136 959

2019/2020 Committee

- Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania Inc.

Patron: Max Wood

President: John Scatchard

Phone 0400 254 725

Email [email protected]

Life Members

Ron Henry (1982) | Hilton Charles (1982) | Ken McKercher (1985) Will Eygelshiem (1985) | Max Wood (1987) |

Harry Nicholson (1987) | David Aldridge (1987) | Frank Lawes (1988) | Maurice Dawes (1990) | Doug Stephenson (1995) | Cliff Riggs (1995) |

Neil Thorne (1997) | Brian Viney (1997) | Ian Ainslie (2001) | Keith Credland (2001) | Kerry Innes (2009) | Chris Young (2012) |

Robert French (2012) | Len Radford (2016)

Space Available: for short articles, photos, gear reviews, recipes, fly ties, trip reports, insect and other food profiles, funny yarns, member profiles, historical

Page 2 Committee: Office Bearers

Contents

Page 4 The Editors Line Brian Cameron

Page 5 The Goss

Page 6 A Note from Our Treasurer

Page 7-8 Origins of the Fur Fly Robert Fifield

Page 9-10 Restricted Wandering

Page 10 Trout Surprise Recipe the Chef They Call Sir

Page 11 Of Course I Fish Wet Len Radford

Page 12-18 On joining a new fishing club … C Hilton

WEBSITE: www.nwffc.org.au (see www.facebook.com/nwffc.org.au)

Mailing Address: PO Box 306 Burnie 7320

Our Meeting base is at 43 Mace St Burnie, mostly the second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm

Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania Inc. - Page 3

Contents


The Editor’s Line

Jassid Magazine Editor: Brian Cameron Mobile: 0459 269 512

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: The opinions or views expressed in this newsletter, are those of the respective authors, and not necessarily those of the Editor or the North West Fly Fishers Club. The Editor takes no responsibility,

but takes reasonable care to ensure for the factual content of this publication.

The change of season and a wet autumn has meant I have had to deal with a deluge! As with rain to a fisherman, the deluge of articles is most welcome to your editor. As I have gotten older (didn’t say old) I have come to appreciate David Scholes “Memory hold thy rod” concept as, just thinking about fishing, tying some flies or looking at some older photos are triggers that have helped nurture me through the lockdown. I think a few members are finding the same as writing an article gets you thinking and probably helps brain transmitters fight winter blues.

Another concept I also embrace is advice to Greg French (in his book Frog Call) given by an older man to “Fish the Autumn hard”. As well as that season it was a metaphor for life. I have witnessed Kerry Inness’s embrace of our trip to Lake Balmoral and his advice to “go places while you can”. The lock down has certainly made us appreciate those trips when we were able to get out and about to enjoy a moment with insects, leaping trout (even if we cant catch the B#*Xs!).

Sometimes it’s just fun to give up and savour another predator doing their thing with vigour. I have given up in the face of sustained visual activity chasing white bait feeders on the Pieman River one day after trying a variety of size flies, retrieves, presentation distances and so on. On another occasion at Talbots I could see a fish clearly not spooked, continuing to feed but preferring to leap after damsels and ignoring my varied offerings. More on that later.

Anyway, in relation to that deluge; keep ‘em coming. As a gardener and an editor I’m very much in favour of home grown. I would really welcome some contributions from members we don’t normally hear from. Ideally I would love every member to submit one contribution each year. I really enjoyed Len Radford’s contribution last month. Any beginner fishing the wet fly would be well advised to check it out. Thanks again to all our home grown (bound?) contributors this month, including the return of our mystery chef and a variety of articles. I’ve really enjoyed reading them including the tongue in cheek named “Origins of the Furfly”.

Keep ‘em coming, Ladies and Gents. Tight lines and safe trips (now you can go). Cheers,

Brian

The Goss (stuff the editor has found out or made up)

Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania Inc. -

Our President John Scatchard has been unwell in past weeks requiring a short period of hospitalisation, hence there is no presidents report. We wish John all the best for an ongoing recovery.

John was considering the possibility of resuming meetings next month (July). I know our secretary and others are keen to get back to fly tying nights on the 4th Tuesday of each month.

All this will be conditional on the availability of our venue which our Secretary is following up.

Members will be advised by email when we re-boot meetings and activities.

Bob French is keen on the idea of a Talbots spawners viewing trip, subject to Forico approval, which at this stage has not been granted. In the event this takes place members should not attend if unwell and should not travel in cars with others outside their household if they are in an “at risk” group. We need to begin thinking of how we will safely recommence activities.

Bob has supplied the (happily) inundated Editor with the stats from last years Talbots fish caught which will be posted next newsletter. We are not doing a survey as such this winter. The IFS has also done a survey which may be included in a future newsletter.

At least three other Jassid submissions have been held over for next month.

Secretary Robert has been finding some sizable salmon at the Forth River Mouth and was over there as soon as “municipality” restrictions were lifted.

Lionel White has also been targeting salmon with a fly described by sources as a “Silver Slice”.

If you want to visit David Kirkham then you must now do so at his new address in Ulverstone. Well done David and Roz.

Please see the note from our treasurer Adrian over page.

- Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmanian Inc.

Overdue Memberships Have you forgotten to pay your membership

subs? The clubs membership goes towards shack insurances, rates and land taxes and

maintenance. We also maintain public liability insurance so that we can continue to use the

lodge at Talbots Lagoon, holding the fly fishing expo at Hiscutt Park, meeting and fly tying nights.

Other financial outlays to the club that your membership is used for is the hire of the meeting rooms, guest speaker costs and competition/club trip expenses. If we can’t make the membership subscription meet our ongoing expenses the cost of membership will have to go up and that in turn

drives members away and the club will fade. If you have overlooked your membership payment

it is well and truly overdue and your prompt payment will be appreciated.

Origins of the Fur Fly by Robert Fifield

Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmanian Inc. -

With the enforced closure of the trout season, which for me was 28th of March, I have had to stay home and not fish. Therefore apart from getting the gear out and lovingly putting it together and then having a few casts before taking it apart carefully again, I have done a little bit of reading. In the smallest room of the house, I have a Flyfisher magazine that was bought by my Dad in 1979. The April May addition in fact. I have been thinking that in life there are things that mould us and when we look back we can see how our fishing has been defined by these things. This magazine is one of those defining things in my life. The front cover is very striking with a painting of a voracious trout just moments away from engulfing a streamer fly. One can just picture in one’s mind the commotion which is about to ensue. However when I looked and saw the trail of weed hanging off the hook, I immediately thought that trout will never have taken that fly. How wrong I was in that thought. For I well remember catching a seven pound trout in a flooded gutter between Hood Lagoon and the Little Pine River one February when it had rained a lot. I was testing out a new wobbler and cast into this gutter which was 200m away from both the river and the lagoon. I cast long and into the weeds at the far end. Most annoyed with myself, I ripped it loose and wound in. I could see a trail of weed at least two foot long hanging off the hooks. “Wasted cast” I though as a trout emerged from somewhere, followed my wobbler whilst I groaned about the weed it then consumed the wobbler in complete with weed. Then my nephew caught a trout right in the middle of a weed patch because unlike me who could cast into the gaps, he cast where ever the wobbler decided to go. That is a bit like my mate Arthur who casts where ever his wobbler goes and is often misdirected by 90 degrees. Nephew catches fish and Robert gets none! I then go to another weedy lake and fish right in the pond weed, chopping the weed off with my lure. The trout loved it and I got a couple in very few casts. Perhaps it was the stop/start action where the lure was held up momentarily before breaking the weed from and then seemingly darting forward towards the next weed frond. My next thought at the time was that you do not find trout in water with trees like they are depicted. Wrong again as just so many of the Hydro lakes and for that matter rivers we fish have thick vegetation under the water and we as anglers spend considerable time trying to keep the trout from getting back to the safety of the snags. I now realize that painting illustrates our trout angling so well...and yearn to get back to Talbots again. This picture has also been an inspiration for carving trout. The movement there in the picture is what I try to capture as I carve to release the trout from where it is hidden in the wood. Regarding the content, there is not all of the magazine left. My father would cut out all this favourite articles and then put them somewhere else. Perhaps in a folder


Origins of the Fur Fly by Robert Fifield

with articles relating to similar topics and hand written notes with his thoughts. In this magazine the article on the shooting stick philosophy is gone and that is a shame. From memory the article deals with watching and waiting. The shooting stick is a walking stick where the handle opens out to form a seat. The author suggests approaching the water slowly and then sitting and waiting for something to happen. A rise may begin or a trout may cruise into the bay. A trout may just poke its nose out of the bit of cover where it is hiding. If you arrive and have a quick glance and then move on quickly you may miss the opportunity because the cruising trout is out of the bay and not in close at that moment. Take a little more time and wait for something to happen. When I first read this article I took little heed of it as my experience was of the Western Lakes which are shallow and devoid of structure for the trout to hide. There, an angler moves around as you can see for miles on a good day and if the bank is not undercut you can see everything. Different if the bank is undercut or there is deeper water just out or even if there are weed beds. Then it pays to take more time scanning the water noting the structural features and watching for anything that has changed or moved. Then cast to a likely spot as many rocks and sticks have turned out to be trout when the next step is taken and the bow wave goes out. The article advice is walk slowly, try to get a high viewing platform. Pause often to take longer looks, particularly at the extremities of your vision. That said, do not neglect the immediate vicinity as I have caught many trout right at my feet or the feet of other anglers for that matter, casting less than a rod length. I am still hopeful of finding the Shooting stick article in amongst my dad’s stuff. Then I can have a proper read. Robert the “Fur Fly”

The Restricted Wandering Penguins Return


Having been grounded for 10 weeks at our families’ home in Nunawading Victoria, The Restricted Wandering Penguins migrated back to paradise on the 30th May 2020.

It was a Spirit of Tasmania crossing with a difference compared to previous trips.

Vehicular loading was open for only ¾ hr (5pm—5:45pm) with sailing departure at 6:30pm & a total of 70 people making up the passengers list-(normally up to 600).

No eating / drinking facilities were available on board with the advice to take your own food & drink or eat prior to boarding which we chose to do.

The usual security inspection checks were made of our vehicle & camper with additional Covid 19 paper work provided to all travellers. All passengers entering Tasmania were required to fill out specific arrival information & asked to do in transit before arriving at Devonport – (this included Tasmanian residents & other essential travellers).

Driving on board was very relaxed compared to past boarding procedures we’d made with no direct supervision & pretty well parking where you like on G5 deck. Once locking our vehicle we were directed straight to our Cabin on Deck 7 where we were instructed to remain for the duration of the voyage-5:45pm Sat---6:30am Sun.

In our cabin were breakfast packs for us (cereal, milk, fruit juice, muffin, apple & cherry ripe)-this was an unexpected extra gesture which was appreciated.

The weather report was for Gale Force winds in Port Phillip Bay & so it suggested that Bass Strait could be a bit lumpy.

We both were in bed by 8:30pm reading with lights out at 9:0pm just as we passed through the heads of Port Phillip Bay & waiting for the swell that didn’t eventuate. The crossing was like a mill pond-flat as a tac. At 5:45am the dreaded wake up call reverberated throughout the cabin achieving the desired effect. At 6:30am we were required to go to G5 deck to our vehicle where we were able to disembark within 10 minutes only then to have to sit in a queue for 1¼ hrs whilst all the Covid 19 paper work was checked by Bio-security staff, some dipsticks hadn’t bothered to fill out their arrival forms hence the excessive wait!!

Bygone days and the wide open road

The Restricted Wandering Penguins Return


From

the

Kitchen…

of the Chef

they call “Sir”

Eventually our turn came & we were processed in 3 mins then instructed to go straight home & isolate for 14 days where regular checks would be made by security personnel. As we left the compound The Salvos greeted us with a Food Pack (courtesy of Tasmanian Govt)- loaf of fresh bread, litre of milk, 2 litre Fruit Juice and a tub of Butter—another pleasant unexpected surprise.

Straight home did we go driving into our driveway by 8:30am.

We have been overwhelmed with drop offs of fresh food & mail from close family & friends. To date 4th June there has been no security checks but that’s of no concern to the two Busy Penguins getting the house hold back into ship shape order where 14 days will pass in no time.

Great to be back in our place called Home. Hope to see you all in the not tooooo distant future.

Cheers,

Pickie.

Trout Surprise

Ingredients

125ml sour cream 50ml plain yogurt 4 Trout fillets 1 tbsp finely chopped red onions 1 tsp finely chopped fresh chives 1 tsp finely chopped fresh dill Pepper to taste Method Preheat oven to 220 degrees C In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream, yogurt, onions and herbs Arrange fillets in a lightly oiled ovenproof dish, season with pepper and cover with sour cream sauce Bake uncovered for 12 minutes. Cover with aluminium foil and bake a further 5 minutes or until fish is cooked to your liking.


Of Course I Fish Wet by Len Radford

There seems to be some sort of stigma amongst the angling fraternity that reduces the use of the wet fly to a level where, in some cases anyhow, it barely qualifies as an acceptable mode of fly-fishing. This attitude I cannot admit, and hence, rather than keep entirely to actual wet-fly technique, I will instead say a few words in praise of the sunken fly itself and give one or two instances that show clearly it’s very special merit and usefulness.

To my mind unless an angler is well versed in fishing either wet or dry, as the occasion demands, they can hardly be called fully operational and is far from conversant with the art as a whole. You can make no real evaluations and are therefore unable to form opinions of significant value. How can you when there is no sound basis for comparison?

To fish solely by either method is to deny oneself hours of enjoyment, excitement and interest. Each method is part of the whole and quite often the lessons learnt from one will prove helpful to the other. I know all about “purism” supposedly being the ultimate in fly-fishing, but unless the dry-fly purist has come from the versatile and fully fledged wet-fly-also ranks, I fail to see how one can speak with authority on any facet of fly-fishing. Even if limited to the dry fly views must be weighed rather carefully – and at times somewhat tactfully – because they are likely to be biased or half-baked.

Quoted/adapted from David Schole’s – “Trout Quest”

Len Radford

Editors Comment: Fly fishing is a pursuit where we can set a variety of challenges in a variety of situations and life settings. Some chase salt water marlin or tuna on fly, others are choosey about when they go and are content to only fish the dry fly in certain circumstances. I for one love to fish wet whitebait feeders or to catch a mudeye feeder down deep around the stumps when there is no action on top. Let’s celebrate our differences and learn from each other.

Len stalks a highland gutter


On joining a new fishing club ...C Hilton

I have never been much for volunteering ...... too busy, too tired, maybe too lazy ? However when my always helpful friend Malcolm Crosse asked me if I would like to volunteer to be a controller in the upcoming World Championships I couldn't reasonably turn him down. Ah well, it was over a year away and a lot could happen between now and then. Maybe some black swan event would come along, the world would change forever and the whole thing would be cancelled..... A bit later on came a phone call which was to alter my year, ‘Chris, someone else wants to control at Penstock so would you mind going to the Mersey?’ Well, I love the Mersey and have actually managed to occasionally catch fish there when staying at a friend's place at Mole Creek. But it still sounded a bit scary this being a controller lark. All the other controllers would be seriously good fishermen and what about the judges, let alone the fact that I'd be looking after some of the world's best fly fishermen. What would happen if I dropped the fish he or she'd just caught and how can I, (not one of the world's best fly fishermen) argue with such a competitor. Like the advert on the telly for 'Beyond Blue' all these questions were going through my head without relief. Then ... it got worse. I looked with apprehension at the video of what we had to do. Checking the expert's tackle, watching for cunningly foul-hooked fish being shaken in the net, measuring the fish in a slippery bit of guttering all whilst trying not lose my biro or drop the record sheet in the drink. Finally, with my slippery fingers passing the biro and record sheet to the competitor to be signed before he rushes off to catch yet another fish, all is done for this one .... when I, exhausted already, would fall over into the water like Mr Bean.

So as time passed, and I became more and more like a character in Mel Brooks’ film 'High Anxiety', finally day one of the competition arrived. Arriving at Dynan's Bridge one could see moderate-sized marque and there were the competitors. In reality they weren't so scary, just more crazy keen fly fishermen though very well equipped with rods made by Sage, Hardy and Hanak. And inside the Photo: C Hilton



marque I was to meet the three musketeers running the whole show [at least on our slice of heaven ], Des, Kev and Deryk. Old D'Artagnan had met the masters at last. Calmly and confidently they helped me get fixed up with all I needed for the day and so started a marvellous week. English, Scottish, Polish, American and finally the Czech. All very different personalities with different approaches. Perhaps the most fun, and the person I learnt most from, was the youngest, Vojtech Ungr.

Despite the ferocious downstream wind [ though as nothing compared to the weather at Penstock, Little Pine or Woods ] he demonstrated how to catch fish with style. Concentrate, keep down [ most of the day being spent on our knees ], persist with that nymph covering every bit of water starting right at the edge, ensure impeccable line management despite the wind, cast short downstream with your rod high and then oh so slowly lower it to ensure a drag-free drift of the dry fly. Finally, have the confidence to know you can keep extracting fish after fish from the same drift - amazing !

A grey F-Fly dry and small nymph under a large CDC dry was how he got the numbers. Always polite and appreciative, even after breaking his Sage [ not me ! ]. Kev was always around, calm and able to answer any queries. Back at base Des and Deryk were dealing with unforeseen tribulations such as the school canoeing trip that turned up on day one expecting to thrash through our beats just as the competition started, or counselling competitors how to deal with a landowner who liked shooting over fishermen's heads. Not always easy to do, especially if they don't speak the lingo [ the Italian competitors, not the landowner - he was quietly and effectively spoken to by the local Bobby ]. And



at the end of every day, there was Deryk with his cheeky smile, always hoping to hear that yet again my hat had been for another swim down the Mersey.

At the dinner after the Championships, when Malcolm and Glenn received well deserved recognition for all the hard work done, I was sitting with Deryk. ' You know you really ought to join our club and come and fish at Talbots Lagoon ' he kept saying in between enquiries about the current status of my hat. ' The world's current best fly fishing spot according to Peter Hayes ' he said. ' But don't tell anyone in Hobart ' he said. Wot me, guv ?

A few weekends later found me up at the NWFFC Bronte shack to catch up with Deryk and Lionel who were up along with other keen members staying for the weekend competition. We were quickly on the water and up to the eastern side of the Woodward Canal. Kev was already there, floating nicely in his remarkable foam surrounded boat which he had described to me during the WFFC on the Mersey. Watch out Stabicraft !

I had been telling Deryk how I thought the Red Tag remained a great fly, in between hanging onto my hat as we bumped across the water [ still suspicious that he would take any opportunity to give it another soaking ]. And there was a rise hard against the bank ! Out went the fly and a decent brownie was soon at the boat. One down to the Tag. Then it went quiet for us. Eventually we got out of the boat and wandered along the bank in and out the water eventually crossing onto the island where Deryk spotted a large brownie on a regular beat. Suddenly his rod was bent and then .... nothing. The line had broken as the fish took off towards Bronte Park at high speed. Disappointment and frustration ... would be understatements. Then at the back of the island I spotted another fish rising to beetles blown off the bank and shortly the Tag was well set in its jaw. Another trout would surely be netted. But this fish was smarter than the angler and had a plan ! As the line came closer to the net there was one last push to reach the place Mr Trout knew would mean safety. The line stopped moving. I waded out as deep as I could and on reaching down felt the fly attached firmly hooked into the weed. The fish had gone. How do they do that ?



On the way back we saw an angler standing up fast into another fish. It was my first meeting with the legend [ as he introduced himself ] known to members of NWFFC [ so Deryk said ] as 'Beak'. Back at the hut he was apparently somewhat quieter than usual. Little did I know that someone [ name beginning with " D " ] had told him that I was very religious and so would be offended by any 'colourful ' language. 'I'm a legend' he said. ' Look me up on Google '. So I did, and there it was, he is a legend ! It was the first club 'meeting' I had been to and I must say, everyone was very friendly, generously welcoming this newcomer. Lionel even gave me his last tea bag.

The next day I was able to welcome Deryk and Lionel to fish at Highland Waters before the long trip home. Deryk was immediately stuck into some fish that were rising very close to the bank but not immediately responding to his irresistible offering. He persisted and eventually caught ..... a very small Redfin

Perch. Moving on around the corner Lionel found some slightly larger fish rising under a tree. Try the Red Tag I said. Luckily he didn't and persisted with his Red Spinner. Next moment he was firmly attached to a healthy four pounder. His day was made.

My next adventure saw me on the road up to Burnie to meet up with Deryk. Reaching his place via a small diversion [ it really was the signs, Deryk, not my direction finding skills ]. After some delicious carrot cake and tea we were off to Talbot's with the canoes in tow. No time to waste, we quickly dumped our

Photo: C Hilton



stuff at the lodge then motored over to Talbots joined by Brian Butler. Deftly, Deryk unloaded the canoes onto his unique carriers and off we went. Only just getting through the barrier of large rocks, the trio trundled along to the water's edge and were soon paddling out into the lagoon. It was wonderful to be canoeing again, something I hadn't done for a few years and in such a beautiful spot. We tried a couple of likely areas without immediate success until suddenly a big fish found itself attached to Deryk's rod ... and then detached itself. After a while it was starting to get towards evening and it seemed as though we were heading back. Feeling confident in my direction finding skills I headed quickly back up the lagoon back to the launching site .... that's odd, I thought, the road isn't where it should be ... No worries, I'll just search along this shore and very

soon it will appear. The evening light began to fade and then the sun started going down. Still there was no exit... Oh xxxxxx ! Not being a worrier, as you will have learnt from the first part of this tale, I was surprised to feel my heart starting to go a bit faster. ' Bloody Deryk, where is he ? ' I thought, images of spending a whole night in a damp canoe starting to appear. Suddenly,

redemption! in the far distance I could see the steady flash of canoe paddles in the last light. Racing across the lake I eventually found Brian and asked him if he knew where the exit was. He said it was the first time he'd been here and was just going to keep going along the shore. Well, one thing I was sure about was, where ever Brian is going, that's certainly not the way out. So I set off racing back to the place where I knew it must be .... and started to get more than a little anxious. Finally, across the water, a flashing light appeared in the near Stygian gloom. Completely in the wrong place but at that stage I had nothing to lose ... ' and what have you been doing ? ' said Deryk. 'I've been watching you racing backwards and forward across the lagoon'. But he and Brian were kind and didn't call me a complete idiot. Tomorrow I would stick with the pack!

Photo: C Hilton



After a comfy night in the lodge and only a few complaints about the new snorer, we were out early again on the water. Unlike the cool wind the night before there was a glassy calm and bright sun. We set off enjoying the water slipping so easily under our canoes.

Not much was happening on top so we scooted round the Sugar Loaf and into Wey Arm. A change of fly was needed so off went the grasshopper and on went a woolly bugger design with a barred Marabou tail that to my surprise had caught a 43 cm Redfin at Highland Waters a few weeks before. Strip, pause, strip, BANG! The first fish was on, a smallish rainbow. Now where is that net ? The great thing about fishing with an expert is that everything is thought of. I remembered Deryk's words that 'everything in the canoe is tied on'. Eventually I realised the net had fallen off the canoe and was behind me in the water. Thankfully still firmly attached to a bit of rope. Well done, Deryk. After saying

'G'day' to two other canoe anglers enjoying the beautiful morning we had a relaxed coffee and munchies on shore at the Stockyards

Then onwards through a timbered area. Maybe these logs have mudeyes on them at night ? I mused. And where there mudeyes there should be fish. A

short cast to the side of a big one and then a brief wait to let it sink, strip, strip. Bloody hell, suddenly I was attached to something rather big and angry. One, two, three leaps well out of water. A monster. You'll need to hang on ! Brian Cameron had warned me in a previous email. Luckily my 8lb fluorocarbon remained intact and after a long tussle the next problem was the net. Shoehorning the big rainbow in somehow then lifting it into the canoe without

Photo: C Hilton

capsizing, a happy angler admired the wonderful fish.

No time to stop as Deryk was already off towards Silver Plains. In a tricky corner there were a couple of fish close to the bank. In a flash Deryk was out of his canoe and onto the rocky bank. Another big Brown came to his red spinner after a tussle. A bit further on another brownie to me back on grasshopper imitation. And released trying not to let anyone who might be looking, see. A mild reprimand later ....

And so we carried on, a little bit of wind now appearing and a slight chill developing around late afternoon which seemed to stop the rises. Passing the dam wall and then up along past Boss's hole no more fish for me but wonderful views across to Cradle Mountain.

A thought struck me, ' What about dapping here? '. Having enjoyed the thrill of that in Ireland I have been surprised to not see it done here in Tasmania. On getting home I eventually found my spool of dapping floss. …...Next year?

As we unloaded our canoes back at the exit and fish were cleaned, fat birds were seen waiting atop the nearby trees. Helping get the three canoes onto Brian and Deryk's trailers was a masterclass in ingenuity. Clearly this has been done before....

Back at the lodge a warm fire was lit and we enjoyed a convivial evening cooking and enjoying with some a bit of wine, later having a wide ranging chat. Brian Cameron appeared and showed me his mudeye imitations. 'Anyone want to join me for a spot of night fishing?' Sadly the warm sleeping bag was too tempting for this fisherman.

So what a marvellous time I have enjoyed in my first season with the North West Fly Fishing Club. Thank you for your friendship and welcome. The only problem I can see is how to deal with Deryk's future plans for my hat. Then a solution came to me ...

They call me 'Two Hats' Hilton

Photos this article supplied by C Hilton



Photo: C Hilton

Newsletter of the North West Fly Fishers Club of Tasmania Inc. -

Future Happening and Club sponsor

What’s on

Lots of fly tying and casting demonstrations via YouTube and other sites.

Wild casting demonstrations are allowed (No-one will go anywhere near you)

Exercising is allowed within constraints of social distancing regulations.

A trip outside your municipality to fish

July 14 Meeting Night? (to be confirmed)

August 1 Season Opening !!!!!!!!!....?

A big thank-you to this months calendar sponsor

Don’t worry, Summer will return and the fish have had a good wet Autumn

20

Booking is by current financial members only.

Persons booking shack are to leave their contact details (a telephone number for sharing purposes).

The Shack may only be booked by a member attending the shack Advance booking for a maximum of four consecutive nights only. Members may use a second four night block when the shack is available. People sleeping in vehicles and using shack facilities pay the full rate.

Members must either pay in advance or make full payment within 7 days of vacating the shack. You must confirm your booking by telephoning Jason Smith on 0409 415 351

or email [email protected]

The booking is not confirmed until the webpage dates change colour.

The password to book can be obtained by contacting Jason (as above) and the current shack door lock combination will also be available from Jason.

Members are advised not to disclose the combination unnecessarily. Problems incurred by doing so will result in suspension of privileges.

When paying by electronic transfer put your name and ‘Shack Hire’ in space provided and send treasurer an email advising him of your payment to [email protected] The account is

BSB Number: 037 002 Account Number: 156358

Shack Hiring Charges

Member - $10.00 per night

Family - $20.00 per night

(2 adults only per “family”)

Guest of a Member $20.00 per night

(Children under 18 yrs. stay free)

Shack Booking Procedure


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