We have come to the end of this brown trout season. The big news lately has been the jassid-inspired fishing, with reports of this leaf hopper causing good rises in most of the popular southern highlands lakes and lagoons.

The real stand out water though, has been Lake Binney with flyfishers having some very good sessions. May could well be the best Jassid month to come. The lure anglers haven't been left out either, with some good Atlantics being caught due to a recent release of 2-3.5kg Atlantics.

The majority of waters are closed for fishing during May in the southern highlands with the only two waters still open being Dee Lagoon, which closes at the end of the month, and Lake Meadowbank which is open all year.

If we don’t get any early heavy snows, the jassids might just stick around and hopefully create some very exciting late season dry fly fishing as will the gum beetles on those beautiful sunny afternoons May.

The early birds can also expect to find some decent wind lanes with plenty of fish working them. Be ready though as these late season fish will be in prime condition and will fight like demons.

If the fish prove to be fussy, don't be scared to pull a big wet with plenty of hot orange in it past their noses; this method can be very effective especially on a dull morning and it's very exciting to see a big bow wave come up behind your fly before a good trout swallows it.

Trollers have been having some success with lead lines, so this method will be worth a run in May.

With its close proximity to New Norfolk and Hobart, Meadowbank will prove popular through the late autumn and indeed right through the winter months. Because of it’s lower elevation the weather is a lot milder and it is a great option for those anglers that just can’t stand the thought of hanging up their fishing gear.

There have been recent releases of salmon also just to add some spice to the fishing.

The flyfishing certainly won’t be as exciting as in the spring and summer months but there will be a few midging fish to target on the right morning. It’s also always worth casting a orange-bodied Mrs Simpson or a MK11 Woolly Bugger around the tussocks and reedy edges and into the deeper gutters along the shores in the northern basin.

Trollers and those spinning from the shores will have the best time with plenty of Atlantics and some very well conditioned rainbows on offer. Keep an eye on the Hydro Tasmania web site though, I have heard rumours that the lake is to be drawn well down over the late autumn/winter period due to dam maintenance.

A good mate of mine, Graham, was spinning near the Dee tunnel at Bradys recently when he noticed a bubble float floating out of reach. He noticed the float going under as if there was a fish on the other end.

Graham made a few cast towards the float eventually hooked it, came up tight and to his surprise had three very good runs from a strong fit fish, which after landing turned out to be a very well conditioned 3kg and very tasty Atlantic salmon!