About us

TROUT GUIDES AND LODGES TASMANIA

Trout Guides and Lodges Tasmania (TGALT), is an industry body formed in 1979 as the Tasmanian Professional Trout Fishing Guides Association, with the primary purpose of providing recreational trout anglers visiting Tasmania with a source of guides and accommodation that will provide them with a safe, appropriate and professional service.

Over the ensuing four decades, the Association has changed markedly expanding to include trout fishing lodges, yet our purpose has not and private fisheries.  The focus on professionalism and accreditation has grown considerably to ensure clients of TGALT members have the best opportunity to get the most out of their services.

Through the depth of experience within our Association and through our strong links to Government and to organisations closely tied to the oversight of services and infrastructure that support the Tasmanian trout fishing sector, we are an active and respected lobby group, constantly striving to contribute to the improvement of the fishery and the visitor experience.

Why use our services

The Tasmanian trout fishery is a challenging fishery.  It offers a diversity of experiences and experiences that many will remember for ever, whether that be the first trout caught, or the excitement of a fish caught during a spectacular insect hatch. 

One way to improve the likelihood of you being part of some of these experiences is by hooking up with a local.  TGALT has “locals” throughout its organisation who know the lakes, the rivers, the seasons, the insects and the fish. Whether they are guides, the hosts at our fishing lodges or our accommodation, the operators of private fisheries or retail staff in fishing tackle stores, all have the ability to help you get the most our of your fishing ambitions.

And when you hook up with our full members you can be confident that they are accredited and insured to deliver the services you are seeking and operate equipment and facilities that comply with appropriate regulations.  Sadly, these sorts of assurances are not necessarily able to be offered by others who are not members of the Association.  

MEMBERSHIP OF TGALT

TGALT has two levels of membership – “FULL MEMBERS” and “AFFILIATE MEMBERS”

FULL MEMBERS:

All of our Guiding organisations, our fishing lodges and our private fisheries are full members.  This means they all hold Tasmanian and Australian Tourism Operator accreditation, have necessary public liability insurance and, as appropriate, comply with other standards that might be necessary to allow them to undertake their business. For example, all guides hold First Aid qualifications, and those guides who operate boats use boats that have appropriate certification and are appropriately certified themselves.

This website seeks to put you in touch with any full member who you think might be able to help you fulfil your fishing plans.

AFFILIATE MEMBERS:

TGALT has long understood the value of its members networking with other partners in the fishing and tourism industries. These partners make up our Affiliate Members, and whenever possible and reasonable, we support each other.  

Our affiliate members provide many of those services that will add value to your trout fishing experience.  Some are local accommodation providers, some are fishing gear retailers, others promote the industry through merchandising, events and media. We encourage you to look at our affiliate members here and take advantage of the services they provide.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER?

If you operate a business that you believe may benefit from membership of TGALT please get in touch.

If you would like to discuss possible membership, please message either the President or the Membership Officer:

President TGALT:  president@troutguidestasmania.com.au

Membership Officer: admin@Troutguidestasmania.com.au 

If you want to understand more about membership of TGALT or if you would like to apply for membership please click below:

contact the membership officer.

TGALT’S PARTNERS IN TASMANIA’S TROUT FISHERY

In order to be as effective as possible TGALT has built strong relationships with organisations in Tasmania that are critical to the sustainability of the trout fishing sector.  We regard them as important partners with our Association and work with them to help build on your trout fishing experience.

  

LIFE MEMBERS OF TGALT

TGALT’s Life Members are recognised for their commitment and contribution to the association. We believe it is important that their extraordinary work is recognised. Here are their stories

As a lover of trout fishing and an avid enthusiast of fly fishing from a very early age, Noel Jetson was a “legend in his own life time” to the Tasmanian freshwater angling community.

His tackle shop at Cressy was the ‘must see’ stop on the way to the highlands or streams of the North for the latest in fly designs and advice. One paid for the flies but the advice (especially to the budding young fly fisher) was always freely given and warmly received.

The fly patterns developed by Noel were often simple in design, beautifully made and VERY EFFECTIVE. Many are still recognized as Jetson originals and feature prominently in new or revised fly fishing publications, e.g. The Noel Jetson ‘Black Spinner’ featured in Peter Leuver’s “Fur & Feather” (forward by the former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser) still accounts for many a wary brown on lowland or highland waters. Noel’s six best flies are listed in book by Malcolm Crosse, “Australia’s Best Trout Flies”.

Noel Jetson was the first trout guide in Australia and guided for four years in New Zealand.

In 1979 Noel Jetson, along with his young protege Ken Orr, formed the Tasmanian

Professional Trout Guides Association (now known as the Trout Guides & Lodges Tasmania Inc.) with the key aims of:

1. Providing the best levels of service to the visiting angler.

2. Developing a system of accreditation that protected the visiting angler and set the standards for guided angling in Tasmania.

This was the first accreditation system of its type in Australia, and at the time many thought he was mad to believe one could make a career out of guided angling.

Not only did Noel succeed at this, but by 2002 TGALT had 20 accredited full guiding operation members, plus ‘house’ guides and Affiliated members whose businesses are directly associated with trout fishing in Tasmania. A total membership of almost 30 professional businesses. The Association is recognized as the industry’s accreditation and marketing body by all areas of Government and the ideals and aims established by Noel are as relevant today as at any time since their inception.

Noel was also the first Tasmanian trout guide to promote our island’s magnificent wild trout recreational fishery in the international market. From as early as 1980/81 he was marketing our product to the US consumer.

Our Association was pleased to appoint Noel as a life member of the Trout Guides & Lodges Tasmania in 1994 on his retirement from guiding.

In 2002 Noel was inducted in the Tasmanian Angling Hall of Fame.

Noel was an active supporter of Tasmanian recreational fresh water angling, being involved in the Hobart rally to appeal against the AQIS decision to drop Australia’s quarantine standards against imported diseased salmon products. He appeared before Senate enquiry into that decision to help present Tasmania’s case to have the decision reversed.

He continued to have an active interest in the Association’s affairs, regularly attending the Association’s annual meetings, IFC activities and always on hand to give assistance and advice to people interested in recreational fresh water angling.

There is no doubt that the Tasmanian fresh water angling community is far richer for Noel Jetson’s support and life time involvement.

Noel Jetson died on 10 March 2016.

Ken continues to be the owner / operator of Ken Orr’s Tasmanian Trout Expeditions

Ken comes from a long line of dedicated fly fishers. Both his father and grandfather were well know Tasmanian fly / trout fishers, introducing him to the joys of fly fishing for trout at the age of seven.

Fishing the lakes, rivers and streams around the island has given Ken a wealth of local knowledge and made him one of the state’s most experienced trout fishers. His love of, and inventiveness in fly tying has given rise to a number of Tasmanian patterns emanating from his vice, such as the ‘007’ (Licence to Kill) nymph, the Mark II Woolley Bugger and many more.

Ken was the first professional guide to work with Jason Garret when establishing London Lakes, in its time one of the top five trout / fly fishing lodges in the world.  He has been heavily involved with the Tasmanian Angler’s Hall of Fame and the Tasmania Trout Museum on both committees at various times including Chair.

Along with the late Noel Jetson, Ken was co-founder of TGALT in 1979 as its original form – Tasmanian Professional Trout Guides Association. His roles within the association have ranged from guiding member to President and many in between. He has travelled the world promoting the island’s wild trout fishery and worked with numerous Tourism Tasmania staff and management to lift the state’s national and international profile. He has been instrumental in getting leading world renowned anglers, fishing photographers and writers to Tasmania to give our fishery worldwide media coverage.

Tasmania’s recognition as Australia’s Fly Fishing Capital for trout is largely due to his continuous promotion and support of Tasmania’s wild trout fishery. Ken has worked tirelessly to lift the standards and safety of guiding to visiting anglers to Tasmania.

Roger remains owner/operator of Red Tag Trout Tours.

Roger was born in the UK 18 April 1947, and migrated with his parents to Burnie, Tas, in late 1950. Educated at Montello Primary (Burnie), Glenorchy Primary, Hobart Tech College then Matric in Hobart.

Roger was Assistant Accountant AV Jennings – Hobart & Melbourne, and from 1968, Roger was accountant, finance director & Company Secretary at Leo Burnet Advertising (now Clemengers Tasmania), co-owner of same from 1983 till 1993 when sold to Clemengers Australia.

At age 6, Roger started fishing with his father in north west Tasmanian rivers, spinning for Australian salmon. Roger was introduced to trout fishing around age 10 and to fly fishing at age 15.

Roger loves rivers and streams, light gear fly fishing as a personal choice. Roger was a member of London Lakes Stream Development Programme in the 1990s, and an initial member of the Hobart Fly Tiers.

Roger has been a TGALT member since 1996, volunteering his time, energy and skills in a variety of roles:

• Treasurer: since 1997
• Promotions Officer: since 1998
• Public Officer: current
• Past President: 2007 – 2010

Roger has been closely involved in many TGALT-linked projects, including:

• General – Co presenter and writer: the TGALT – National Senate AQIS review on imported salmon products.
• Financial – Treasurer: initiated annual external audits of association financial affairs from 1998.
• Represented TGALT: on the AAT development and was initial Treasurer of both Marketing & Anglers Access Grants in that role.
• Marketing: Developed annual Marketing Plans with key partners Tourism Tasmania and IFS, ongoing today.
• Coordinated: targeted consumer shows both national and internationally since 1998.
• Manager and co-initiator: of the 150 years of Tasmanian Trout Anniversary marketing strategy that involved all media facets including the first 1hr show, 150th documentary on iFish national TV, Foxtel and YouTube. Total input value $40,000.
• Co-creator and producer: of the 150 years Anniversary photo competition – local, national and international coverage and entries (250+). Raised support valued at $30,000.
• Continued contributor: to VJP and other FOC promotional opportunities for Tasmanian trout fishing.

Text courtesy of Roger Butler. 2016.