Fishing - Countdown to trout time

Time is ticking with just a few weeks left before the start of the 2025-26 Tasmanian Brown Trout fishing season. Trout licences are now available, and note that a few important regulatory changes will come into effect at the start of the new season.

Brady’s Lake, Lake Binney and Tungatinah Lagoon are now officially open all-year trout fisheries. Talbots Lagoon will drop its two-fish over 500 mm length restriction limit, and Lake Crescent’s bag limit has been reduced to one fish with a minimum size of 500 mm (previously an overall two-fish bag limit). Lake Sorell’s bag limit has been reduced to five fish from 12, and only two fish can be taken over 500 mm.

Frombergs Dam has been removed as a Junior Angling Development Fishery, as it's no longer stocked with fish or available to the public. The daily bag limit for black bream caught within inland waters has been reduced from 10 to five fish.

Anglers aged between 18–21 years can again apply for a discounted licence fee. Junior anglers aged between 14 and 17 years still require a licence to fish, and although free, it must still be applied for. Junior anglers under 14 years of age don’t need a licence to fish for trout in inland waters.

Check out the 2025-26 Tasmanian Inland Fishing Code on the IFS website—when you purchase a licence, you’ll receive a copy. Read through the code and keep it on hand during the season to stay informed.

Also keep an eye out as we approach 2 August for the IFS’s tagged trout promotion, with 18 more $5000 trout set to be released into waters before the start of the season, taking the total to 30.

More than 2000 brown trout were released into Brady’s Lake, Four Springs Lake, Brushy Lagoon and Craigbourne Dam in early July as part of the IFS’s ongoing stocking program, which is expected to continue over the coming weeks.

The New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association held their annual dinner and trophy presentation for the 2024-25 season last Friday night at the New Norfolk RSL Club. Close to 70 members, families, friends and guests celebrated the past season with a hearty meal before trophies were awarded.

Distinguished guests included Lyons independent candidate Michelle Dracoulis, Liberal ministers and Lyons representatives Jane Howlett and Richard Hallett, President of the Legislative Council and Labor member for Derwent Craig Farrell and his wife Lee, and Inland Fisheries Director Ryan Wilkinson.

The NNLAA added a new perpetual trophy in honour of club stalwart Barbara Morley, who sadly passed away on opening weekend of the 2024-25 season. Barbara’s name now graces the overall heaviest rainbow trout award, presented by her son Michael Morley to Adrian Slater, who caught the winning fish at 1.276 kg.

The following awards were presented: Heaviest Brown Trout Overall and Heaviest Trout on Artificial Lure – Bert Wigston Memorial Trophy: Alan Dixon (3.390 kg); Heaviest Trout Junior 14–17 years: Lucy Russell (2.807 kg); Heaviest Trout Junior 4–13 years: Jayden Slater (2.637 kg); Encouragement Award: Mahalia Robertson.

Heaviest Trout Derwent River – Michelle Williams Memorial Trophy: Male – Adam Rice (3.010 kg), Female – Kirsty Chalmers (1.805 kg). Most Consistent Angler: Male – Adam Rice (Tooney Aitchison Perpetual Trophy), Female – Kirsty Chalmers (Des Cranfield Perpetual Trophy), Junior – Jayden Slater (Ken Morley Memorial Trophy).

Best Clubperson – Mavis and Ken Russell Award: Ray and Elaine Aitchison, who have nearly 50 years of service with the NNLAA. Life membership was awarded to Gerald Russell, with a services-to-angling certificate presented to Adam Rice.

STLAA President Paul Fulton also recently received life membership at their annual dinner in June. The NNLAA announced their 2025-26 competition roster and encourages new members to join via Facebook, Williams Outdoors in High Street New Norfolk, or through committee contacts.

The club also held its 98th AGM on Friday night and thanked sponsors for their ongoing support.

Northern mariners are advised that dredging work will continue until Tuesday, 15 July 2025, on the eastern side of the Tamar River adjacent to Kings Wharf. Dredging pipework will be marked with yellow flotation buoys and red lights. A red buoy on the western channel side marks the dredge anchor. Mariners should navigate with caution.

Tip of the Week: As part of the IFS tagged trout promotion, the first yellow-tagged trout caught in the 2025-26 season from Great Lake will earn the lucky angler a whopping $25,000.

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

Tight lines until next week.