Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Adrian-Webbs-Trout-Tips » A New Season Approaches

A New Season Approaches

By Adrian (meppstas) Webb

In the lead up to a new Tasmanian trout season and Adrian's (meppstas) 20th since moving to Tasmania and 57th season chasing trout, we sent him a few questions about the off season and gearing up for a new season on the rivers and streams.

What do you do to keep busy in the off season?

What do I do in the off season... not a lot really. I do catch up on cleaning up the native garden area around the house. I also relax by going through the thousands of photos that I've taken during the previous trout season and then make up several musical slide show DVDs. I read fishing magazines, thanks to the team at Tackle Tactics who send them to me. I also write up my full season trout fishing report, which is something that I do at the end of each and every trout season.

I do go for a short walk every second day (weather permitting) as well as hopping on the exercise bike most days in the two weeks before the opening of the trout season. My biggest problem is that I suffer from chronic lower back pain and hip problems, so I tend to try and not do all that much else throughout the closed season as to get the body right for the coming trout season.

At the end of each season I clean and service the Okuma spinning reels, wipe down the Okuma Celilo Finesse ULS rods and check the eyelets and replace the Platypus Super 100 mono lines to make sure everything is ready for opening day. Servicing the reels, cleaning the rods and replacing the line on the trout rods is something that I do on a regular basis throughout the trout season as well.

I also go through my lure boxes and take out any of the well-used Mepps spinners, that I think need replacing with new ones. Though, I do tend to keep a few of my old favourite beat up spinners too. One never knows when they may have to be used again to get the bite as I've done on previous seasons.

It's also time to replace the batteries in my digital scales and check the landing net cord and stitching. My waders and wading boots are checked over, after being stored in a dry place for three months and that's about it for what I do during the closed season, apart from staying in touch with the land owners that have allowed me to access their properties to fish various rivers.

What do you keep an eye on during the lead up to the new season and what waters do you select to fish?

I'm always online looking at the river levels right through the closed season, keeping a check on the amount of water that's coming down them. Those with the hydro dams on them have a regulated flow, so they tend to fluctuate on a regular basis with rainfalls in the highlands. Rivers without regulated flow on them are a different story, like the River Leven that is usually running very high early season and isn't worth the forty five minute drive. I could walk the river banks but I prefer to be in a river chasing trout.

I will normally fish the small tannin streams/creeks early season because they're most likely to be the ones that I can hop into, wade and catch a few early season browns on the Mepps spinners. The hydro regulated rivers that I fish during the season, such as the Mersey and Meander Rivers, I'll fish only if they're at a safe wading height. If they're running high and dirty, then I may sit back on the river bank, relax and drown a worm. With August still being winter, we do have a lot of snow melt that keeps the water temps in the rivers to a very low four to six degrees, making for some tough, cold, trout fishing days. I do carry a thermometer to check the water temperature and if it's below five degrees, I know I'm in for a tough spin session.

What's some advice that you would give to someone wanting to catch their first trout?

Firstly, if you've never been trout fishing before then read up on it. Get in touch with anyone that you know who does do a reasonable amount of trout fishing and pick their brain for any info you can get. Better still, see if they'll take you fishing with them on a few trips, whether it be bait or lure fishing. Watch as many videos on trout fishing as you can and there's plenty of them on YouTube, including mine.

All you'll need to start off with is a nice lightweight Okuma Celilo Finesse 1-3kg ULS 6' rod and Okuma spinning reel, spooled with 4lb Platypus Super 100 mono line, along with a selection of Mepps Aglia and Black Fury spinners, as well as a couple of small anti-kinks. The anti-kink set up (see photo) is a must when using inline spinners with fine lines as it prevents line twist.

You can practice some casting in the backyard or a parkland by placing a few small planter pots in different distances and seeing if you can hit them with the spinner. Remember, practice makes perfect. It may be the difference between catching a fish with a perfect cast versus not catching one with a poor cast.

To me, river fishing for trout is great and just being in a river or even sitting back on a river bank bait fishing is quite relaxing. Early season bait fishing a back water or a flooded flat water area, away from the main flow, is always a good area to catch a trout.

River fishing for trout isn't the easiest way of catching trout because it does require years of fishing them to know where the trout hold out. Most regular trout fishers have heaps of knowledge and are always happy to pass on what they know to help out. I'm always happy to pass on what I know. I'll do anything (and have done) to help get someone into trout fishing rivers, as there's nothing better in my book.

There's one thing you must always remember, it's something that I always stress in my info for beginners and that is 'Safety First' when fishing any river. Never take any risks or hop into a river. No fish is worth drowning for. Always go with someone, preferably an experienced river trout fisher and you will learn a lot more about trout fishing by doing that. If you do decide to have a go on your own, then please pick a river that has wide open river banks or better still, try small stream fishing for starters.

Before you leave home tell someone where you are going to fish and take a camera with you to record your catch, along with the beautiful surrounds that you are fishing. Once the weather warms up be on the lookout for snakes as they will often be close to the water. Wear thick work pants or jeans and a good pair of walking boots. Also ensure that you check the freshwater regulations in your state. In most states a license is required and there are size and bag limits as well.

For more info that will help you to catch your first trout go to http://tackletactics.com.au/Tips-Techniques/Adrian-Webbs-Trout-Tips

Here's a look at the trout fishing equipment that I use:

Okuma Celilo Finesse Spin Rods - ULS 1-3kg trout rods
Okuma LRF Spin Rods - 1-3kg
Okuma Inspira Spin Reel - ISX-20B
Okuma Helios Spin Reel - HSX-20
Okuma Epixor XT Spin Reels - EXPT-20
Okuma Ceymar Spin Reel - C-10
Platypus Super 100 Mono Fishing Line
Platypus Pre-Test Mono Fishing Line
Platypus Stealth FC Fluorocarbon Leader
Mepps Inline Spinners
Boomerang Tool Products

Adrian (meppstas)