Fishing - Weather disrupting trout anglers

A late Winter weather front put a damper on a lot of trout fishing plans on Saturday, with conditions not ideal, to say the least.

Sunday saw conditions improve enough for anglers to get a run at it, and some landed quality fish.

Four Springs Lake has been a standout trout fishery early this season, with reports of some solid trout being landed by anglers fly fishing, spinning lures and floating baits like grubs and worms.

Toom's Lake continues to come up in conversations, with some good catches coming from anglers using similar baits, plus trolling and drift-spinning hard-bodied lures and soft plastics around structure.

The Brady's Chain, including Lake Binney and Tungatinah Lagoon, has also been giving up decent catches of rainbow and brown trout, mainly to bait anglers soaking grubs and worms in and around the connecting canals. 

Talbots Lagoon, Pet and Camden Dam, Lake Echo, Lake Leake, and even Lake Pedder have also given up fish, and keep in mind Lake Plimsoll, which is offering Brook Trout.

With Spring just around the corner, fishing should continue to improve. However, there are some concerns around water levels and water clarity at some of our most popular trout fishing waters.
The RISE Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026 and is currently touring Australia and New Zealand.
The tour is the largest fly fishing film event of its kind, showcasing the year’s newest and best fly fishing films from around the world.

This year’s movies cover salt and freshwater fishing, with live music, giveaways, local fly shop and angler support, as well as lots of like-minded anglers to talk to.

Screenings are set to be held at Hobart-Peacock Theatre on Thursday, August 27 at 7.30 pm; Launceston Du Cane Brewery and Dining Hall at 7 pm; Metro Cinema in Burnie at 7.30 pm; and Easy Tiger in St Helens on August 30 at 3 pm.

Visit flyfilmtour.com for tickets, but obviously be quick.
The New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association is hosting the popular Derwent River Interclub Challenge this weekend.

All Southern Licensed Angling Clubs have been invited to compete for the Interclub Shield along with a selection of Northern clubs, including Launceston, Deloraine, Longford and Ulverstone.

Competition fishing starts at 6 pm on Friday, finishing on Sunday with a weigh-in, BBQ and presentation at the rotunda on the New Norfolk Esplanade from 1 pm-2 pm.

Fishing boundaries are from the Lawitta Pump Station through to the Tasman Bridge, with a pre-fish ban starting at midnight on Wednesday, August 26.

All competing anglers must be financial members of a competing club and have paid entry fees before the competition starts on Friday, August 28, at 6 pm.

The club with the heaviest total weight of 5 trout will win the interclub shield, with prizes also available for the heaviest trout- Male, Female, Junior- plus average and mystery weights.

River and weather conditions should provide competitors with some rewarding fishing during the weekend, but beware of feeding seals, which have been putting fish off lately.  
Tip Of The Week- The Tasmanian Striped Trumpeter season closes from Tuesday, September 1 through to Saturday, October 31. The season's closure protects the fish and fishery during their spawning time.
Send in your fishing reports, pics and tips to valleyfishes@gmail.com
Tight Lines until next week.