Jan Spencer inducted into the Tasmanian Angling Hall of Fame
Anglers Alliance Tasmania Chair - Howard Jones, 2025 Angling Hall of Fame inductee- Jan Spencer, Director of Inland Fisheries- Dr Ryan Wilkinson.
Anglers Alliance Tasmania is delighted to announce Tasmanian fly fisher and fly-tyer Jan Spencer as the newest inductee into the Tasmanian Angling Hall of Fame.
Jan, the first woman to represent Australia on a national fly-fishing team, has had a long association with trout fishing in Tasmania and close affinity for the central highlands of Tasmania.
Jan was a founding member of the Van Diemen Fly Fishers Club and has been a long-time member of Fly Fish Australia (FFA), and served on the board of FFA for many years. In addition to being the first woman to represent Australia at the World Fly Fishing Championships in 1988, Jan was the team fly-tyer in 1999 when the World Fly Fishing Championship was held in Australia, making a valuable contribution to the Australian team in winning this event for the first time.
Jan has life memberships from the Northern Tasmanian Fishing Association and Longford Fishing Club and is widely recognised for her work across the State in guest speaking, demonstrating and teaching the art of fly-tying. Jan taught fly-tying at Adult Education Tasmania for many years and produced a fly-tying article for the Boating and Fishing News for around 16 years.
Anglers Alliance Tasmania Chairperson Howard Jones said: “Anglers Alliance is delighted to induct Jan Spencer into the Tasmanian Angling Hall of Fame. Jan’s pioneering role in developing our Tasmanian fly fishing and fly-tying communities, her contribution to angler education, along with her national and international successes make her a worthy recipient of this honour.”
Howard Jones, Chair of Anglers Alliance Tasmania and Dr Ryan Wilkinson, Director of the Inland Fisheries Service presented the award at the Great Lake Tie-In on Saturday 11 October 2025.
Jan becomes the 36th inductee, and only the second female inductee, to receive this prestigious honour, following the induction of prominent north-west angler Sheryl Thompson in 2023.
The Angling Hall of Fame is administered by Anglers Alliance Tasmania and recognises an individual’s contribution towards the betterment of freshwater angling in Tasmania. Membership in the Hall of Fame represents the highest level of peer recognition for this achievement. The Hall of Fame is situated within the grounds of the Salmon Ponds at Plenty.
For more information about the hall of fame click here.
