Cycling and fishing Tasmania

by Dean Price
(Australia)

I really needed to get away and chase some trout. I did some research and now had a mind map of the destinations for my journey. I also needed a bit of fitness so I found this old guy in Launceston who hires out bicycles and camping gear. A few hours of old school stories, waiting for backpackers to be served and taking the bike for a test run, I was on my way fully fitted out with panniers, tent and small gas stove.

I rode about 20 miles out of town and the landscape changed to a place where you feel that you could be 200 miles out of the nearest town. I like to concentrate my efforts around the North East of Tasmania as there are a good selection of streams within a short driving distance and hardly any fisherman. I fished from the morning of the second day and then kept moving on from stream to stream finding mostly good fishing and a few surprises. I mostly used the TenkaraBum Suntech Traveler 44 rod and it was a great choice for this trip for the gentle rivers of Tasmania's North East.

At one stage for a couple of days I was out of range from any stores for food or supplies. I then had to eat trout for 2 days, I really didn't enjoy the killing part although food is food.

I managed to catch some very nice browns and they fought very well and caught plenty of small fish as well. All fish only took dry flies as wets and nymphs wouldn't work. I mostly sight casted to fish. Just scanning the water from roadsides, bridges and riverbanks, seeing fish and approached within casting range using as much stealth as possible often hiding behind shrubs and trees. I also waded a few times which was enjoyable and effective.

I missed a few spots as I caught up with a friend up on the coast but will head back next year to fish the waters I missed.

With only a few days to go I had to start heading back to Launceston and stopped for the night at Lilydale falls spending my second last day sight casting to small fish in tight creeks around this area.

I really didn't want to come home to be honest, just cycling around from one adventure to the next it's just heaven really.

Dean.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.