YOUR GUIDE

Chris is a passionate angler with many years experience fishing for trout and salmon in Australia, New Zealand (both North Island & South Island) and in the UK. Chris is eager to share his experience, knowledge and skills with his guests in Tasmania. Chris is philosophical about life and fishing and believes that it is a continuous work in progress where he never stops learning. He has extensive experience working as part of a team with “London Lakes” and “Rainbow Lodge” as with other affiliate “Trout Guides and Lodges Tasmania Inc (TGALT)” organisations.

“I have acted as a Guide for the French Fly Fishing Team when they visited Tasmania in 1988 and we gained 2nd Place in the VIIIth FIPs-ed World Fly Fishing Championships from amongst 19 competing teams. I also think that we had the most fun of any of the Teams participating in the competition!

I have worked on 37 Camps for young people with type 1 diabetes and with five or six guides we conducted a Camp for teenagers and their Families at “London Lakes”. We had terrific fun, but didn't worry the fish too much!

More recently I participated in a fantastic weekend hosted by Christopher Bassano and Martin Droz (both anglers consistently in the top 5 in the World Championships) to learn something about European nymphing. It was fantastic fun … (and I didn’t mind “slipping over on the very smooth rocks and falling-in” - twice!)

 I believe that trout and frogs and some people like to be surrounded by cool, fresh water with the knowledge that it can be stormy, turbulent and a bit rough on some days, but it can be calm, stunningly-clear, tranquil and silent the next day.  This is my meditation. 

I get a huge thrill about guiding a novice angler to help them develop their casting and their understanding of their environment. ... Casting a trout fly and managing your fly line and leader is a 'bit of an art', but it is the foundation of becoming a very good fly fisher. This recreation also includes the idea that if you practice at it - your casting will improve. Then your chances on where and how you might want to deliver a trout fly ... that might be eaten by a fish ... they all improve dramatically too.  The absolute truth is that we can sometimes present the most beautiful fly in a very tempting and subtle manner, but we can't make the trout eat it!”

- Chris Stopp (Stopper)