Damo’s just returned from his first flyfishing trip to Tasmania — and it turned into one of those trips that’ll stick with him forever.

In this episode of Behind The Counter, we unpack the Tassie mission from start to finish. From rolling into Miena country and getting pointed in the right direction by Jim Allen, to early lessons at Little Pine, time on the boat at Penstock, and a foggy morning on Great Lake where everything finally lined up and the trout started sipping midges everywhere.

We also chat about how good the Victorian trout fishing has been lately, give Mick from the Yea store a shoutout for his CFA work protecting the catchments, and run through some new gear that’s landed in-store — including new Sage reels, fresh rod releases and the latest Airflo lines.

If you’ve ever wondered what Tassie flyfishing is like for a first-timer, this episode gives you a pretty honest look.

Queensland’s sand flats are one of Australia’s great fly fishing assets — and right now, they’re under real pressure.

In this episode, Andrew is joined by Chris Burgess (FlyLife contributor and Inshore Flats Project advocate) to dig into tunnel nets: what they are, how they work, and why many anglers believe they pose a serious threat to flats fisheries from Hinchinbrook to the Whitsundays and beyond.

We get into:

• What a tunnel net actually is — and why it’s so effective
• Localised depletion: cleaning out a flat and the big question of how long until fish return
• What’s been observed during trials, including stress, crowding and mortality concerns
• The risk to iconic flats species like permit, golden trevally, GTs and queenfish
• The broader impact on guiding, tourism and why net-free flats matter
• What you can do right now to help protect these fisheries

If you love saltwater fly fishing — or you’ve ever dreamed of a Queensland permit — this one’s well worth a listen.

Get involved / learn more: Search Inshore Flats Project and follow their channels for updates and ways to support, or head to www.inshoreflatsproject.com.au

On this episode of Behind the Counter, Peter and Damien give an update on the recent fires and the lucky break that saw our key catchments spared — meaning the fishing is still firing and conditions are about as good as you could hope for. They dive into what’s fishing well right now, from Tassie to New Zealand, plus all the chatter from inside the shop. There’s plenty of new gear hitting the shelves, including the much-anticipated Atollas fly boxes, and a few surprises that have the crew buzzing. A solid listen if you want to stay across what’s happening on the water and in-store at The Flyfisher.