A lucky first trip to Curries River Reservoir

On an overcast and rainy morning this week, Launceston based angler Wayne Collins, and his sister-in-law Lonnie, headed out for their first visit to Curries River Reservoir. The weather looked ideal for trout fishing, so they decided to give the reservoir a try.

Trolling into luck

Out on the water in their tinny, powered by an electric motor, they began trolling a brown bomber lure. They hadn’t been fishing long when Wayne’s rod buckled over. After a solid fight, a feisty little 400 mm rainbow trout slid into the net.

A surprise hiding in plain sight

Wayne, a keen catch‑and‑release angler, didn't immediately notice the tag and only planned to keep the fish so he could give it to his daughter. It wasn’t until later that he noticed the small yellow tag.

A phone call worth $5,000

Once back home, Wayne immediately called the Inland Fisheries Service to enquire about the tag.  The result? A $5,000 prize!

When asked how he would be spending the money, Wayne didn’t hesitate...”buying more fishing gear of course!”

More prize fish still out there!

The season is far from over.

There are still 27 tagged trout swimming in waters across Tasmania….and remember, the first tagged fish caught from Yingina / Great Lake this season is worth $25,000 to whoever lands it!

All other tagged trout from Yingina / Great Lake and the other waters during the promotion are worth $5,000 each.