November is one of my favourite months, with plenty happening, especially for the fly fisher.

The lake and lagoon levels are still high after October rain and snow, with the trout tailing and foraging about with good morning and evening midge feeding close to shore and out deeper in the wind lanes and slicks. In the second half of the month my favourite caenid hatches kick into gear and the highland mayfly hatches start.

Of course there is also plenty of good fishing for the lure angler. Recently two friends of mine who are Brady’s lake shack owners had two brilliant afternoon sessions in a row at Bronte Lagoon. Fishing around the Bronte Bay/Rainbow End area they boated 30 good trout, all browns up to 1.2kg while drift spinning with the ever reliable Tassie favourite, Ashley spinners.

Early morning wind lane fishing will be a feature after a cool November night with some good rainbows and browns mopping up the soup-mix of midges, caddis and everything else that hatched during the previous afternoon and during the night. Later on in the morning after the day warms a bit and if it’s fine and sunny with no wind the orange spinners will move out of the bull rushes after hatching from the dun and the browns will zero in on them.

In the later half of the month the morning caenid hatches will begin, usually finishing by about 10.30-11am. There are exceptions though like on those rare days I haven’t got back to the boat ramp until 2 or even 3 o’clock.

It’s also worth sticking around for the evening for the caddis hatch, although this hasn’t been as consistent as in recent years. For the wind lane feeders I like a bead head green nymph, an Onion Bag or a parachute Orange Spinner for the spinner feeders.

For the fish smutting on the caenids a small Iron Blue Dun or Matcham’s Caenid will get you fish if your casting is fast and accurate

On cloudy days you are likely to find fish tailing all day long and on calm warm November evenings dozens of fish will be rising; many of them are small but plenty of others will be 500g and better, great fun.

For the tailers, most of the time all you need is a Red tag or a Zulu. If on the odd occasion the floater is ignored you are assured of a take with a small 007. For the evening risers I’ve had good success with a Messy Caddis.

All shores will produce fish for the fly fisher in November; even if the levels have receded you will still find tailers early and late on the gentle sloping shores. There will also be great fishing for chironomid feeders after a calm cool night both for shore based anglers and great opportunities for those who are boat-based.

I’ve always had great success on these fish in Bronte with a small size 14, standard Possum Emerger or a size 16 Klinkhammer. The duns will also appear in November; my favourite shores for the mayfly feeders are the shore from Rowallan Bay to the point of the Long Arm and Tailers Bay.

Consistently good spring rains have lifted Lake Echo levels, and once the water warms past 10C Echo will fire just as well as it did last season. For the fly fisher the hot spots will be Teal, Large and Broken bays and on the other side of the lake, Brocks Bay, fingers crossed

Ideal water for the fly fisher, we don’t want the levels too full here as it makes access along the shores very difficult. Usually by November it’s at a good height though. Overcast weather will be great for tailing fish and on sunny, fine days the polaroiding can be brilliant. A small green or Philbrick’s Nymph, Scud pattern as well as the ever reliable 007 will handle the tailers and the cruisers as will a Glister Tag, Zulu or Red Tag.

King William is rapidly approaching 2m below full and the scene is set to witness the best tailing action for the season. When I first fished for the King William tailers I was amazed the numbers of fish showing was mind blowing!

Any of the gentler sloping shores adjacent to a marsh will give up plenty of action and fish, many of these fish are approaching 1kg, some a bit heavier.

Lake King William will fire in November as scores of tailing fish invade the shallows.