Yet strong flows from Great Lake via Poatina power station, meaning higher levels in Brumbys Creek, have prompted top weir brownies to examine newly-covered shallows carefully.

But with mayflies scarce and dragonflies fewer than expected, sight fishing is unproductive and anglers have turned to searching the depths.

Insects also sparse downstream along the lower Macquarie River mean moving trout are scarce there too.

Some brownies are checking the surface, however, and in several hours last Sunday three took a prospecting dun copy well.

While each was under a kilogram, all were in top nick and strong. The downside is that they were localised in the same 100-metre stretch of strong flows over bankside weed knee to waist deep.

Action on Brushy Lagoon's warm, clear water has been slow but anglers persevering with soft plastics last week were pleased to boat several hefty Atlantic salmon.

Flyfishers on water cooler up top are still finding Lake Augusta worthwhile, each netting two or three trout per visit.

Others on Arthurs Lake continue to wonder where its duns are, turning to evening caddis along sheltered edges to spark rises.

Latest stockings by Inland Fisheries included 5000 wild rainbow yearlings released into Tooms Lake and 1559 domestic Atlantic salmon into Meadowbank Lake last Thursday.

Two years old and averaging one kilogram, they should eat well.

East Coast

Warmer East Coast water has meant gamefish closer inshore, with 100 metres reported as the depth to expect albacore tuna off St Helens, where a marlin was also spotted, and off Bicheno, where a yellowfin apparently pulled free at the boat.

Tamar River

Tamar estuary seagulls have been busy over schools of cocky salmon up as far as the Batman Bridge.

With saltwater temperatures in the 20s, however, big blackback are scarce and catches of other estuary fish have dwindled.

Brighter are accounts of tasty King George whiting, being taken on bait like squid at the pilot station and particularly from shore at Five Mile Bluff, along the coast about half way between Low Head and Beechford.

One whiting landed weighed several kilograms and was nearly 60 centimetres long.