For the last few seasons I’ve worked hard to improve all I can about my fishing skills. From taking expert tuition, fishing new places, to using both old and new gear just to work things out for myself – but it takes commitment. At the very start of this journey I sat down in the depths of winter and listed all that I wanted to improve and all that I felt I could achieve then began arranging the finer details of how I can do all this and still be a mum, a wife and friend to those who love me. For me, fishing isn’t just a social trip for sheer pleasure and delight. They are also about my development; it’s training for my job – my business. I need to know more to teach more, I need to be educated enough to help others. I need to know what I’m doing anywhere and anytime because its expected of me. It’s what I expect of myself.

Living with a fishing guide has its ups - agreed. I have a personal coach at my fingertips. But do I really want only one person’s view? I enjoy the shared time on the water, his invaluable knowledge the experience that takes a lifetime to build – but rarely does anyone learn by being taught. We also need our own experience on the water. Observation is critical, time is essential, and confidence is powerful.

If there is anything I want to share with you, it’s to self-assess your ability now. Don’t just rip into the season without a plan. List all your bugbears and then how you can fix them. Seek lessons from experts in the field. Use a range of gear, swap rods with your friends at the beginning of the day. Fish with lots of people, different ages and watch them. Ask questions but be prepared for a different persons view when they answer. Read more – but don’t tackle the hard stuff first. Often a short story can provide you with one sentence that changes everything you think. The only way to improve your ability is to put the effort in. Observe everything, seek guidance, read in abundance, share more, commit time and plan for a rewarding season. I look forward to sharing my season with you all.

Simone Hackett.

1. Casting Tip: keep your rod-tip low (on the water) at the start of each cast. This is a standout tip from my latest article in the current edition of FlyLife Magazine (#77), and is a real ripper for improving your casting. Essentially your casting arc and trajectory will improve, in turn improving the accuracy and loop size of your front cast. Not sure what all these terms mean? Book a place in one of our Saturday casting classes, held monthly at Josef Chromy Wines http://riverfly.com.au/casting-lessons/

2. Gear tip: always wax your rod ferrules. Broken ferrules are fairly common, and mainly occur when the joint works loose during casting. A bit of ferrule wax prevents the joints from coming loose, and will also stop any sections becoming jammed. A container of Orvis ferrule wax only costs $3.95, and will last a lifetime.

3. Fly tying tip: use a white profile plate to provide contrast when fly tying. You’ll see the fly easier, and end up tying quicker and neater, and with less eye strain. Not sure what a profile plate is? Check it out here http://flyshop1864.com.au/shop/fly-tying-tools-and-accessories/peak-accessory-shaft-tool-caddy-and-profile-plate/

If you are looking for more complimentary tips, fishing reports and regular updates, then follow our Facebook page www.facebook.com/flyshop1864

August was brilliant on the rivers and lakes, with a mild winter leading to excellent early fishing. A drier than normal September led to harder conditions during early spring, but big rains last week now sees the back lakes over flowing, and the rivers running at great levels. Lake Leake and Bronte Lagoon have been standout lakes so far, Four Springs has mayflies out, and Crescent is offering up more than two-dozen 10-15lb trout over the past fortnight!

Whitebait runs and sea-runners on the rivers have been the best for years. You only have to follow Simone’s fly fishing exploits on our blog and Facebook to see the fun that these trout can offer - some homegrown Surf Candy variants have been proving deadly! Black spinner mayfly are starting slowly on the meadow streams, and we’ve been catching baetid mayfly feeders on dry flies for about a month now. Stay tuned to our Facebook page and blogs for regular hatch charts.

We’ve got Sage! We are stoked to be an official Sage dealer, which complements our Orvis dealership really well. If you are keen on trying the latest and greatest from Sage and Orvis, then come and try them all on Saturday November 1. We’ll have a heap of rods available, and a bunch of the new no-stretch Rio In-Touch lines (Gold’s and Perception’s).

Book in a free of charge place at the day by Emailing us, or dropping us a line.

Demo rods available: (Sage) One 490-4, One 691-4, Method 590-4, Circa 589-4, ESN 3100-4, Grace 589-4 and (Orvis) Helios 2 865-4 mid-flex, Helios 2 905-4 tip-flex, along with a Redington Butterstick 370. Flylines: Orvis Hydros 3D, Rio Perception, Rio In-Touch Gold, Rio In-Touch Selective Trout.

Saltwater-safe Patagonia Stormfront Sling Packs, roll-top boat bags and roll top backpacks are new for 2014, and in stock now. These are super tough, submersible packs, which you can rely on to protect your gear in salt or freshwater. The sling pack is bloody awesome – a rubberised drysuit zip keeps the water out, while the design allows you to access your gear whilst waist deep on the flat. The roll-top bags come in at an excellent price by substituting the dry-suit zip with easy to use roll top closures, and are perfect for long days away from basecamp. We’ve been using the stormfront packs in the Western Lakes for three seasons, and all are still in as-new condition; these a very tough, high quality pieces of gear.

Tacky fly boxes are another very well thought out piece of gear. A slim fly box capable of holding 168 flies (from #12 dries to #22), these at first appear similar to Orvis super slim boxes. But there are some major differences, aimed at functionality: the insert itself is made from silicon rubber, which won’t buckle in the heat, or wear with use. Each row of slots are offset so that you can hold more flies, and get them in and out easily. Finished with a shatter-resistant polycarbonate, these are extremely high quality boxes available for $34.95.

We are proud to have the same team of guides for 2014/2015, some of whom are now in their fifth season of guiding with us. Working as a team of guides has huge advantages for our customers; we all have greater opportunities to learn new waters, techniques and flies from each-other, and have our finger on the pulse every day. It ensures that you have the best chance of hitting the best hatch, on the best water, with the best fly, each day.

Single angler dates, Wilderness Huts trips – we’ve got a number of huts trips departing during this season, with enough room for single anglers. If you are keen to experience our wilderness lakes and sight-fishing, then send us an email with any questions. We’ve discovered a new mayfly water, and look forward to showing lucky anglers this season.

River fishing – Interested in hitting a morning caenid mayfly hatch? We give our customer the option of a 6.00am start (when fishing conditions suit, in order to hit the early morning mayfly hatch. Morning sippers are brilliant fun, and the sheer volume of mayfly is un-matched at any other time of the day. Fish through the morning, and into the daytime hatch, and finish the fay with a siesta time beer at St John’s micro-brewery bar in Launceston around 2-3pm. It’s a ripper way to spend a day.

See RiverFly for more, or send us an Email