Fishing - Time for a reel good summer

After what was a fairly dismal, wet and cold spring, summer temperatures are finally starting to rise - and along with that - so are the trout.

Wind has been - and still is, an issue - and we all should understand the dangers posed by fire risks at this time of year.

With holidays fast approaching, many will be looking to spend some time away.

What better way to do that than to go trout fishing?

It's a good time to be targeting trout in the Central Highlands, with some good reports starting to come in from our lakes and lagoons.

Great Lake fished well all last season, and this season continues to offer good bags of wild brown and rainbow trout to anglers trolling and spinning lures, wet and dry fly casting, and also soaking bait.

Anglers continue to comment on the number of healthy rainbow trout available at Great Lake, which is encouraging.

The Brady's Chain and Bronte Lagoon are worthwhile options while water levels are stable, and both are also producing decent numbers of rainbow and brown trout.

Penstock Lagoon is the standout for fly anglers, and with the increase in insect activity - such as mayflies - in the warmer temperatures, this should also improve opportunities.

Out in the East, some good reports have been coming in from Toom's Lake and Lake Leake, with trout up to and over 2kg landed from both waters.

These waters usually slow down during the peak of Summer, but if temperatures stay mild, expect good fishing well into the New Year.

Lake Echo's water level is still well down compared to previous seasons.

But reports suggest some decent bags of fish are being caught, though they include many small trout.

The Dee Lagoon is offering some healthy Rainbow Trout.

Meanwhile, Lake King William and Laughing Jack Lagoon both offer good fishing, especially when water levels are high, which is the case at the moment.

Reports from Lake Sorell and Lake Crescent have been scarce.

But some suggest it's starting to pick up, whilst others mention that the fishing is tough going.

The wind has been an issue, stirring up sediment in what is already dirty and shallow water, but I expect fishing to improve over the coming weeks.

Those venturing out to the 19 Lagoons or Western Lakes, specifically Lake Augusta and Ada, have been rewarded with some good trout caught on both lures and flies.

Fly anglers have seen good fishing for frog feeders, with tailing fish as targets - in low-light conditions - and fishing should only improve through early summer.

Four Springs Lake has been fishing well and Talbot's Lagoon is again a standout fishery for both Brown and Rainbow Trout.

The same applies to Camden Dam; a kayak is very useful for targeting fish in these waters.

There are plenty of trout to be caught out at Lake Pedder, with recent reports of anglers getting their bags spinning and trolling.

Don't forget Lake Gordon and Lake St Clair.

In my opinion, these three iconic waters are underfished and need to be visited more.

River fishing is still worth a run with the Derwent and Huon Rivers in the South still offering sea run and resident trout.

But time is crucial, and rewards are limited to changes in temperature and water conditions.

Places like the Henty River and Pieman River are also worth targeting.

But anglers have again mentioned that they haven't seen much Whitebait.

Black Bream, Australian Salmon, Mullet and Tailor are starting to move through estuaries as well.

There are plenty of options for trout anglers during the holidays, and there's plenty of incentive too, with lots of $5000 tagged trout out there still to be caught.

The Inland Fisheries Service recently electro-fished Little Pine Lagoon, and the results confirm the fishery is in recovery mode, with an encouraging outlook for anglers.

Overall, brown trout numbers are still low, which is part of a natural rebuilding phase.

Most fish caught during the survey were juveniles under 220 mm and larger fish pushing to 500 mm were rare.

The good news is that the presence of all the smaller trout indicates that the older population had recently spawned and the overall condition of the trout is excellent.

Anglers are currently reporting some quality catches in the 1.0 to 1.8kg range, and catch rates are expected to improve as this season progresses and in seasons to come.

The New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association is holding their annual Christmas BBQ this Sunday at their junior pond at Bushy Park.

The day starts at 10am and finishes at around 2pm and all NNLAA members are invited. The Deloraine Anglers Club is also holding their Christmas break-up and Junior day at their club dam, which runs from 11am to 3pm.

Tip Of The Week - Rock Lobster (Crayfish) Season Opened in the East Coast Stock Rebuilding Zone (ECSRZ) last Saturday.

Cray anglers are reminded to measure, mark and report your catches.

Send in your fishing reports, pics and tips to valleyfishes@gmail.com.

Tight Lines until next week.