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Footy makes way for fishing
  |  First Published: October 2012



The footy is over, the days are getting longer and that sneaky after-work fishing session is much more achievable. Welcome to October.

Things have been cranking along in the northern region over the past month, with a variety of weather conditions resulting in microclimates and their own unique little events.

Four Springs

If you haven’t managed to buy a ticket and get in line at Four Springs yet, you will be pleased to know that things should have settled down a touch by now. I can understand why it has been so busy, with lure anglers smashing fish up to 5-6lb. Even weekdays have been busy, with a good mate discovering no less than 30 cars in the car park mid-afternoon on a Tuesday.

Despite its popularity it has a bit hot and cold. Persistence helps but on the odd occasion you would swear they were on strike.

Hardbody lures in a variety of colours and running-depths have been smashing their fair share, with Daiwa Pressos, Crankas and Hawk lures popular choices. Soft plastics like Strike Tiger Curl-Tail Grubs, Yep Tassie Tackle Flappers and Berkley T-Tails are worth a run in natural colours. Rig them according to the depth you are fishing, but a 1/16oz jighead is a good start.

Trolling has been slow from all accounts, and with so many boats chugging about a lake of this size it’s no wonder. My tip to the trollers is to have a spin outfit at the ready or head to your local tackle store for advice on a suitable set-up if you don’t know where to start.

Things are generally pretty quiet in the fly department here apart from the few that are blind fishing bulky wets like Fuzzle Buggers and Dirty Harrys. They are pulling fish but the real fun should start later this month when the mayfly start to hatch. Emergers and nymphs fished below an indicator should get you started when they show up.

Brumbys Creek

This well-known fishery has been providing some wonderful specimens of late, with steady and clear flows setting the scene for more stable and consistent fishing. The weather can change quite quickly from still and blue-sky to drizzling and howling winds within minutes, so be prepared for anything, especially if you can see those fluffy white clouds loitering around the Western Tiers.

Wet flies like Woolly Buggers and nymphs like the Black and Peacock Spider fished around the weedy runnels should bring a few undone eventually. This is challenging but very rewarding water and success brings much satisfaction.

This month we can see awesome opportunities for tailing fish and mayfly, plus the odd rise to an evening caddis moth, so it’s important here to note your surroundings and absorb what is happening to influence your best chance of success.

Silver Bullets

The sea run trout are up and about at the moment and have been for a few weeks, especially in rivers like the Forth, Mersey and Leven. Fish have been caught in Launceston’s Tailrace but have mostly been in sections of the North Esk from the city to St Leonards.

The Picnic Area or Dog Run as it’s sometimes referred to is a great place to fish. Bait is pretty light on at the moment but will thicken throughout October. When they do, they tend to bottleneck at the weir. Big fish are not uncommon here as they lay in waiting for the bait to arrive before pulverising them. They can sit in the seams and also tuck right up against the rocks so give it a go one time.

There’s also quite a deal of walkable water in this region, so strap on a pack with some tucker and get busy wandering. Be sure to Polaroid the odd snag if possible; you may just find a good fish hanging there waiting for a quick meal.

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