The avid anglers guide to Tasmania’s top fly fishing destinations.
With what can only be described as a fly fishers paradise, Tasmania’s diverse range of Shingle Rivers, crystal clear lakes and meandering meadow streams support an abundance of wild trout. Tasmania’s broad range of habitats are home to four main species from the salmonoid family: brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and the beautiful Tasmanian Atlantic salmon. The following guide is designed to help you discover some of the best trout fishing destinations in Tasmania.
Originally constructed in 1916, Penstock lagoon offers a variety of fishing habitats; from shallow weedy marshes to forested rocky shores and lily ponds, much of the lagoon is shallow with submerged timber and rocks. Whether fishing from shore or boat, Penstock lagoon will provide plenty of challenges for the avid angler on the hunt.
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Open Season: From the first Saturday in August to the Sunday nearest 30th April.
With high water levels early in the season, sight-fishing brown trout amongst the weedy margins of the western shores will provide some solid fishing. The early season trout menu includes snails, shrimp, scud, damsel fly, mud eye and dragon fly larvae.
From October onwards expect to see Mayfly hatches followed by brown dun, red spinner, mayfly nymph, gum beetles and leaf hoppers.
With an abundance of hatching insect species you can expect some excellent dry fly fishing with browns and rainbows up to and exceeding 2Kgs.
Penstock Lagoon holds an abundance of both brown and rainbow trout. Minimum fish size is capped at 420mm with a maximum combined daily bag limit of three fish.
Penstock Lagoon is designated as a Fly Fishing only waterway.
Fishing any open inland water in Tasmania requires a current inland angling licence unless you are aged 14 years or younger.
There are two designated camping areas and a single boat ramp upon the lagoons western shore. The maximum stay period for campers and caravans is 14 days.
Little Pine Lagoon
Home of the 2019 World Fly Fishing Championships, Little Pine Lagoon is probably the most famous Fly fishing water in Australia. Created to divert water down Monpeelyata Canal to lake Echo, The Lagoon is shallow, weedy and a highly productive trout fishery producing an abundance of good size fish. Whether you’re fishing from shore or boat, Little Pine Lagoon has much to offer anglers seeking to net an elusive Tasmanian brown trout.
Open Season: From the first Saturday in August to the Sunday nearest 30th April.
With water level being moderately high early in the season (September-November), fish can be spotted tailing within centimetres of the shore. Anglers should carefully survey the lagoons shallow margins for patrolling fish before wading in, particularly at first light or in the late afternoon. While all of the lagoons shorelines will produce fish, the most popular spots include road shore, untouchables shore and Tailers shore.
Wet fly and nymph patters are successful throughout the summer months (December – March), while prolific Mayfly hatches occur across the entire lagoon with trout rising spectacularly to take the emerging duns. Dry fly and emerger patterns will produce fantastic results while Polaroiding from either boat or shoreline.
Little Pine Lagoon stocks brown trout with fish regularly exceeding 1.5Kgs. Minimum fish size is capped at 220mm with a maximum daily bag limit of five fish.
Little Pine Lagoon is designated as a Fly Fishing only water.
Fishing any open inland water in Tasmania requires a current inland angling licence unless you are aged 14 years or younger.
The Little Pine Lagoon camping area is located immediately next to Little Line Lagoon beside the Marlborough Hwy (B11)
South Esk River
A renowned trout fishery, the South Esk River will provide a variety of angling opportunities along its length. From faster flowing headwaters at its upper reaches to long glides of soft flowing broad waters ideal for shore, canoe or kayak based fishing, While the river is dominated by brown trout, rainbows can also be found in its upper reaches.
Open Season: From the first Saturday in August to the Sunday nearest 30th April.
The upper Esk
The headwaters of the upper Esk is generally wadable shallow pools that flow through native forest, plantation and pastures. These conditions make the upper reaches ideal for wade fly fishing, spinning and bait fishing. As heavy rainfall can affect river flows and fishing conditions it is recommended you check before visiting your location. Expect to catch smaller hard running browns and the occasional rainbow with larger fish presenting the odd surprise.
Conara Region
The Conara region flows through open pastures with long stretches of Broadwater ideal for wading and shore fishing alike. The river slows through this section making it ideal for lure and bait fishing all year round. Mayfly hatches and grasshopper falls provide fantastic sport for the dry fly fisher casting to rising trout patrolling feeding lanes.
Hadspen Region
Early in the season productive fishing can be had using bait, wet fly and lures. As the weather warms red spinner, mayfly and Caenid hatches will bring success while grasshopper and black spinner hatches are the targets through Autumn.
The South Esk River stocks both brown and rainbow trout as well as River blackfish. Minimum fish size is capped at 220mm (trout & blackfish) with a maximum daily bag limit of five (trout), twelve (blackfish).
The South Esk river is open to Fly, bait and lure fishing.
Fishing any open inland water in Tasmania requires a current inland angling licence unless you are aged 14 years or younger.
Please visit the Inland Fisheries Service site for a full list of available camping locations.
Brumbys Creek
In the early 1960’s three weirs were built on Brumby’s creek to restrict the large flows of water released from the Poatina power station. Brumby’s creek is managed as a wild trout fishery by the Inland fisheries services in collaboration with Hydro Tasmania.
Open Season: From the first Saturday in August to the Sunday nearest 30th April.
Weir 1
Weir 1 provides the pick of the bunch for fly-fishing. With open shorelines providing access to weedy margins, anglers can spot fish fossicking about early in the season. As the weather warms expect to spot trout rising to various types of insects on the hatch. While lure fishing is also practised, this can often be challenging doe the thick weedy growth.
Weir 2
Weir 2 provides ample opportunities for both lure and fly-fishing in generally faster flowing waters. While conditions may favour casting a lure, larger brown trout will congregate to capture inflowing food such as small fish and insects.
Weir 3
The third weir is preferred by lure and bait anglers with the lower sections of the weir being more conducive to these fishing methods. The bases of the weirs are excellent places to target fish during periods of high flow turbulent water.
Brumby’s Creek stocks both brown and rainbow trout. Minimum fish size is capped at 220mm with a maximum daily bag limit of five.
Little Pine Lagoon is designated as a Fly Fishing only water.
Fishing any open inland water in Tasmania requires a current inland angling licence unless you are aged 14 years or younger.
Visit the Inland Fisheries website for more information about Tasmania’s fishing regulations, seasonal fishing dates and times.
For a complete guide to everything you need to know down load the Infish Mobile app. Your perfect companion to fishing Tasmania lakes and rivers.
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