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The northern half of Tasmania undoubtedly possesses better and more
numerous fishing waters than the south. However, excluding those of the
Central Plateau, the remainder is principally river fishing. This is of
two distinct types: the rippling, bubbling, stony-bottomed kind of
stream; and the slow, flat, deep, weed-lined river. Both are quite
different yet both can be excellent. In the former case, for instance,
provided big fish are not sought, the St Patrick's River, some 30km
north-east of Launceston, is an exceptionally beautiful little river
with a charm all of its own and has captured the hearts of many
visitors, especially dry fly enthusiasts.
On the other hand the Macquarie River, about thirty miles south-east
of Launceston, has great beauty of a different kind and sometimes, in
late October or November, provides wonderful mayfly fishing, when the
Red Spinner hatch is at its best.
Launceston is an ideal centre for this area, half an hour by car in
any, direction whatever leading to fishing of one kind or another, while
the nearer lakes of the
Central Plateau are little more than an hour's drive away. Day trips
therefore are common. Indeed it is not unusual for an angler to slip out
on a summer's evening after dinner to fish the evening rise. The North
Esk and South Esk rivers unite at Launceston to form the Tamar Estuary.
The extensive waters of these rivers and their many tributaries provide
something like 4000km of river fishing within a 60km radius of
Launceston.
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