Tasmania offers this country's most diverse river and stream fishing. We invite you to experience these wonderful fishing opportunities with Andrew Harker, our specialist river guide.

The fish that live in these fertile lowland streams are always fat and short, a sign of abundant and high protein food. They always fight twice as well as their size dictates and for me there is always a special feeling in my heart as I watch these sensational sportfish slide through the pools and kiss mayflies from the mirror calm surface.

The trout season opens on the rivers in August. During the first two months these rivers are often running high and they frequently flood into the surrounding grazing land. The rising water is the signal for most of the trout in the river to migrate into the paddocks where they search the flooded backwaters for drowned worms and new born frogs. The trout are nearly always seen tailing in only inches of water and it is a very visual and exciting way to fish for the larger trout that at normal water levels are much more reclusive and wary.

When the conditions are suitable in October and November the mayfly fishing on these meadow streams is second to none. The larger fish, whilst always cautious, are out cruising the pools and glides in search of the famous red and black spinners. If you can get a warm, still, day on the stream with

Andrew Harker you will experience dry fly fishing that most fly fishermen can only dream about.

As summer progresses the dry fly reigns supreme. Some awesome damsel fly fishing can be had around the tussocky edges of the bigger river pools and the famous Brumbies Creek weirs. Here we use a boat to maximise the fishing oportunities. Grasshopper fishing gets into full swing and the larger fish are out in force. The quiet evenings provide exceptional caddis fly hatches. From bubbling mountain brooks that abound with seemingly hundreds of small, gayly spotted brown trout always eager to eat your dry fly, to the glides of the larger, deeper rivers, where the big trout sit quietly under the high banks waiting for their grass hopper lunch - the Northern Midlands of Tasmania has it all.

Andrew Harker has lived most of his life on the fabulous Northern Midland streams. His back yard is literally, streams like Brumbies Creek, Macquarie river, Lake river, South Esk, Break O Day and the St Pauls. Many of these are the sensational mayfly waters made famous in the writings of Scholes and Wigram. Andrew's farming interests in this local area mean that he has almost unlimited, and in some cases, exclusive access to the areas superb waters. This is vitally important when it comes to the quality of your guiding experience.

For the visiting angler it is difficult to pick the right time to fish as the timing is critical. We don't suggest you pre-plan a trip for this sort of fishing, but if you are in Tasmania during this time, by all means give us a call and we can let you know what is happening.

Choose your own accommodation in Launceston or allow us to make a few suggestions. Alternatively, let us arrange it for you at the historic Racecourse Inn, Longford. This historic, colonial accommodation dates back to the 1838. We know that your stay there will be the most hospitable and comfortable you will ever experience. The dining is also superb.