The Vice News letter of Tasmanian Fly Tyers' Club Inc. Volume 8, Issue 1 Summer Edition, January 2010 President’s Report Presidents Report On behalf of the committee I’d like to wish all members and their families a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year. I like to do a little fishing before Christmas if I can Congratulations Macca and Delly our new life The smaller lakes are generally less crowded and the members hatches are coming off nice and steady at this time of year. The idea of leaving all of the consumerism Contents behind for a day is very appealing to me and I’m sure President’s Report 1 to some of you. The fish in the lakes are looking up although Arthurs Coming Events 1 Lake seems to be a bit of a puzzle after the low levels Suggest a caption Competition. 2 last year. If you can find food on the surface then the fish will be there too. It’s been good to hear that the Club Activities 3 water around the lily ponds is looking fantastic and I Member Profiles - also hear that the Cowpaddock is recovering (and fishing well) too. Tony Dell, 4 Looking forward into the new year, the February Brian McCullagh 6 meeting will be held at the Lenah Valley RSL club. 8 (details will be circulated closer to the meeting) The Delly’s Top Wet and Dry committee has been looking at alternative venues for Macca’s Top Wet and Dry 10 the general meetings and would like members’ 12 feedback at the meeting. Hopefully, the weather will Delly’s Salmon Recipe be kind and we will be able to have a casting evening The Stren Coil. – A method of improved 13 in the park opposite. take detection. …David Hemmings Don’t forget the wonderful Penstock Lagoon weekend th st in January (29 to 31 ) The Gold Bomber fly Francis Bright 14 Finally, I hope you all catch a ripper. Get stuck into em! …..Classifieds 15 David Hemmings The Vice Tasmanian Fly Tyers’ Club 1 Volume 8 No. 1 January 2010 Suggest a Caption This issue of Vice is a special one to mark Delly and Macca’s Life memberships, which have been well earned from every angle. John Spencer correctly guessed that the sleeping beauty in the last issue was John Spencer with the The new Classified section is there for your use to get caption “Bastards”. John wins the $30 voucher from what you want or to share an event with other Spot On. -well done John. members. Finally, an apology, possibly in advance about misspelling your name. I am extremely flexible in the art of spelling names and even with a list of members, try as I might I can still spell the same person’s name several ways in the same article. With a name like John Smith I might be excused. I envy the complexity of your “handle”. My middle name, Tindall, given to me by mother in case of fame and possible hyphenation, alas, has not been called on. Happy Christmas! May the fish take your fly in the new year JTS Editor Coming Events “I think I will sleep with these fine fish” The next General Meeting will be held at the Black Buffalo on Monday 18 th January starting at Suggest a caption to win a thirty dollar Voucher 8.00pm. ext Vice Published May 3rd Deadline for contributions 19 th April Contact John Smith [email protected] th st The boys at Spot On fishing tackle have kindly January 29 to 31 Penstock Weekend provided the Club with 4 vouchers to the value of $30 Organiser Mark Aspinall each for this year’s competition . I’m sure everyone will join with me in thanking the lads for this kind th st support, and continue to patronise Steve’s shop. February 19 – 21 Great Lake/Western Lakes field trip Leader Danny Rimmer March 13 th to 14 th Dee Lagoon organiser Dave Chote Editorial After pushing a year of vice out, I thought it was time to appoint myself editor. Membership omination The most interesting aspect of the club is the members George Clarke of 57 York St, Sandy Bay has been and I have enjoyed putting a few profiles together. nominated by Malcolm Crosse and seconded by David Hemmings. The Vice Tasmanian Fly Tyers’ Club 2 Volume 8 No. 1 January 2010 Club Activities Woods Lake conditioned fish sipping spent spinner floating on A hardy group turned out at the Peacock lodge for an pristine waters. enjoyable weekend organized by Brian West and Peter Trott. John Spencer told me “I out fished Westy again” (that’s twice now), a testament to Westy’s boat handling and guiding. Trotty did his “little pig act” by arriving at Woods Lake at day break, catching his bag, then leaving before anyone else arrived. The Phantom organizer. Those attending enjoyed good fishing. Arthurs Lake Unfortunately the water levels were disappointingly A small group of high quality attended an enjoyable low and the hum of the irrigation pumps blocked out weekend arranged by Peter Murphy. Noel Wilson was the buzz of the insects. the star of the weekend taking his bag in Woods Lake on the Friday and a few browns in Arthurs Lake on the Nevertheless, in total 11 fish were taken on the Saturday. Fishing was difficult on Arthurs with weekend. Noel showed his experience in the area with speculation that fish have not adjusted to the new several fish although he claimed it was just a fluke. water levels. He spoke of days gone by and the sight of a brown lying near the current which would float down to A highlight of the trip was the oysters prepared by our examine a well placed fly often with a take or leader Peter Murphy on Friday night. The BBQ at sometime refuse and just “float” back gently. Cubbins/Stokes shack was outstanding when the Dr Hughes turned up with his pickled duck eggs, Cape David Hemmings with Doug Miller and Danny Barren geese Sausages and real duck pies. Rimmer with James McKay went drift fishing near Cressy where fishing proved difficult On the Macquarie Trip down side Danny’s cane rod was broken and spotlights were removed from David’s car. Danny arrived late for There was a good turn out for the Macquarie trip dinner as he came back via the lake river where he organised by Craig Granquist. caught 7 nice fish. It was good to see Tony Dell who managed a fish or two, but John Spencer was unable to christen his new 3 weight Sage. Dave Chote and Craig teamed up with good results. Craig took 3 nice browns on a CDC red tag. After a fine meal Spencer demonstrated tying the CDC red Tag with guidance from Craig. Delly suggested There were high expectations of fine fishing in that possum provided a satisfactory substitute for CDC wonderful waters boosted with the recent high rainfall and is more robust and much cheaper. and even floods in the midlands. We all had visions of clouds of red spinner with large hungry well A great weekend - Thanks Craig and thanks to the midland farmers allowing fishing access. The Vice Tasmanian Fly Tyers’ Club 3 Volume 8 No. 1 January 2010 Member Profiles Tony Dell Tony Dell caught his first fish in Lake Dulverton Memorable fishing experiences? “Eleven escaped Oatlands when he was 7, a red fin, and there started a Atlantic Salmon on the fly one day at ‘Lake Dover’, notable future in the world of fly fishing and fly tying. which I love to eat”; “catching beetle feeders under the His first trout was caught at The Point of Chillon Lake trees on Arthurs Lake” and “I recall my first trip to the Sorell, and he clearly remembers walking out into the Little Pine with John Jones who warned me it was a water in his bare feet with father watching on. The fish difficult place to catch fish. It was a “rats arse day” in was taken on a “Plucky”, a bit like a floppy and Tony December, windy and cold but with a carpet of duns, still has the lure. and I managed to catch 5 on the dry which left me wondering what was so difficult—I was to learn Fortunately for trout stocks, Tony in his early years humility many times later.” and while he studied at university concentrated on sea fishing and enjoyed bream fishing. After graduation he Largest Fish? “ I recall another lousy “rats arse day” moved to Wollongong for a year, then to Sydney for while staying at Eliza’s Cottage on Macquarie at four years, before moving closer to trout waters Winton, snowy, blowy weather too bad to even think working for the people in Canberra. He tried teaching about fishing the river. So we (Macca, an American himself to fly fish with a rod he made and a line that guest, his nephew and I) tried the dam on Winton and I did not match just before moving to the National caught a 10.5 lb and an 12.5 lb rainbow the only ones capital in 1972. He joined the Canberra Casting and over 10 lb so far. Macca also caught one 11.5 lb.” Sports Fishing Club and was taught to cast and fly fish by John Turnbull, a noted author on the noble art. Fishing was mainly in the rivers and the first fish on a fly was taken in the Kydra River, east of Cooma.