Fishing - Young Caleb steals show at Gone Fishing Day

Nine-year-old Caleb Quarrell stole the show at last Sunday's Gone Fishing Day celebrations, landing a magnificent 5.4kg rainbow trout at the New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association's junior fishing day.

The 12lb fish, weighed uncleaned, was Caleb's first trout and the biggest caught at the event. It was also the only tagged fish landed on the day, earning him a special prize.

Gone Fishing Day is a national annual event encouraging people of all ages to try fishing. Across Tasmania, Anglers Alliance Tasmania, the Inland Fisheries Service, Hydro Tasmania and local angling clubs joined forces to provide free trout fishing opportunities, particularly for juniors.

Statewide Junior Angling Day events were held alongside the Tasmanian Trout Expo at Brumby's Creek, with the Dulverton Anglers Club and New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association also hosting events.

The IFS released good numbers of rainbow trout before the events, including tagged fish carrying prizes. Some of the better trout were caught in the cooler early hours, although relatively few tagged fish were landed.

At New Norfolk, Vinnie McMaster, Nate Hepburn and Mahalia Robertson also caught excellent fish. Eight-year-old Ryder Jones landed his first trout, as did his older brothers Clayton and Noah. The three had been trying for weeks without success, making their catches especially satisfying.

Full credit goes to the organisers, angling club committees, volunteers and sponsors who made the days possible.

The NNLAA will host the Southern Tasmanian Licensed Anglers Association Family Day barbecue on Sunday, November 8.

Meanwhile, the IFS has been busy stocking large triploid rainbow trout sourced from the Salmon Ponds at Plenty. Averaging about 4kg, these fish have been released into Brady's Lake, Lake Meadowbank and Craigbourne Lake, with more stocking expected. Hooking one should test any angler's tackle and skills.

The IFS has also released thousands of tiny wild brown trout, weighing about 1g each, into northern rivers. The Leven, Great Forester, Gawler, Mersey and Dasher rivers have all received fish.

The Deloraine District Anglers Club held its second competition of the season at Woods Lake last weekend. Thirty-five anglers in 16 teams landed 30 brown trout with a combined length of 10,355mm.

Lead-line trolling in deeper water near the dam wall produced the best results. One team caught 11 trout, seven more than any other team.

Ben Scott won longest total length with 2160mm, while Robbie Williams landed the biggest brown at 470mm, ahead of Shaun Bartlett's 460mm fish. Scott also took the closest-to-average prize with a 345mm trout, just 0.16mm short of the 345.16mm average.

Rex Campbell won junior longest fish with a 410mm trout, while Mack O'Keefe took the junior runner-up random draw.

Tip of the week: Fish have taste buds on the outside of their bodies, as well as on their lips and in their mouths.

Send fishing reports, pictures and tips to valleyfishes@gmail.com.

Tight lines until next week.