The Inland Fisheries Service would like to congratulate Tasmanian fly fisher and fly-tyer Jan Spencer, the first woman to represent Australia on a national fly-fishing team, as the latest inductee to the Tasmanian Angling Hall of Fame.

Jan has had a long association with trout fishing and close affinity for the central highlands of Tasmania.

She was a founding member of the Van Diemen Fly Fishers Club and has been a member of Fly Fish Australia (FFA), having served on the board of FFA for many years. 

Jan has a long association with competition fly fishing. In addition to being the first woman to represent Australia in 1988, Jan was the team fly-tyer in 1999 when the World Fly Fishing Championship was held in Australia, making a valuable contribution to the Australian team in winning this event for the first time.

Jan has life memberships from the Northern Tasmanian Fishing Association and Longford Fishing Club and is widely recognised for her work across the State in guest speaking, demonstrating and teaching the art of fly-tying.  Jan taught fly-tying at Adult Education Tasmania for many years and produced a fly-tying article for the Boating and Fishing News for around 16 years. 

Anglers Alliance Tasmania Chairperson Howard Jones said: “Anglers Alliance is delighted to induct Jan Spencer into the Tasmanian Angling Hall of Fame. Jan’s pioneering role in developing our Tasmanian fly fishing and fly-tying communities, her contribution to angler education, along with her national and international successes make her a worthy recipient of this honour.”

Jan becomes the 36th inductee, and only the second female inductee, to receive this prestigious honour, following the induction of prominent north-west female angler Sheryl Thompson in 2023.

Howard Jones, Chair of Anglers Alliance Tasmania and Dr Ryan Wilkinson, Director of Inland Fisheries presented the award at the Great Lake Tie-In on Saturday 11 October 2025.

The Angling Hall of Fame is administered by Anglers Alliance Tasmania and recognises an individual’s contribution towards the betterment of freshwater angling in Tasmania.  Membership in the Hall of Fame represents the highest level of peer recognition for this achievement.  The Hall of Fame is situated within the grounds of the Salmon Ponds at Plenty.

For more information about the Hall of Fame visit: www.anglersalliance.org.au/