Tasmanian Trout Trail

The Tasmanian Trout Trail is an information resource, curated by FlyLife, on select trout waters across Tasmania, providing a diverse range of fishing opportunities suited to fly fishing. The information can be used to select waters suitable to the time of year and your fishing preferences. All fisheries on the trail are suitable for novice to intermediate fly anglers and insight provided ensures an excellent chance of a successful fly fishing adventure in Tasmania.

Brown trout were first introduced to Tasmania in 1864 by English settlers as part of the ‘acclimatisation’ of Tasmania’s waterways. The genetic diversity of the strains of brown trout imported, combined with optimal water temperatures and some of the cleanest water in the world, provided the perfect environment to sustain a thriving wild brown trout population and later rainbow trout.

Tasmania holds a diverse range of fisheries and waterways for fly fishing anglers to pursue trout. The Tasmanian Trout Trail begins in the north west of Tasmania, where the Mersey and Meander Rivers flow over freestone origins on their way to Bass Strait with trout feeding on healthy populations of mayfly and caddis. In the north west, rivers including the North and South Esk flow through meadows with long glides over sand and weed bottoms, most famously producing consistent spinners falls that trout simply can’t resist. Through the Northern Midlands the Macquarie River and the unique Brumbys Creek provide exceptional opportunities to fish to rising trout with dry flies. Further east, there’s early season fishing in the lowland lakes of Leake and Tooms. The stunning lakes of the Central Highlands provide exceptional conditions to fish for healthy trout, often eager to take a dry fly from the surface. Consistent sight fishing opportunities provide an exhilarating experience in these relatively shallow lakes. In the west Lake Burbury stands out for its stunning scenery. And finally, in the South, the uniquely tannin coloured tributaries of the Derwent and Huon river systems hold healthy populations of trout.

Tasmania’s trout fisheries are typically quite shallow and trout love nothing more than to rise and feed on the surface. With an abundance of mayfly and terrestrial insects, the conditions couldn’t be more ideal for fly fishing, with surface dry fly action a regular occurrence.

The Inland Fisheries Service (IFS) in Tasmania carefully manages the populations of brown and rainbow trout, and maintains many waters as wild trout fisheries. The IFS has worked with landowners and stakeholders around Tasmania to provide access to waterways through both public and private property. These angler access points are signed with the name of the water and the local rules and regulations. Often there will be a fence on a property that requires crossing, so stiles and stepovers have been built to protect landowner’s fences and property. With this in mind, please be respectful as we are fortunate to have such co-operative fishing access.

Mersey River

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

The Mersey River is a long watercourse and technically a tail water, however, it has many tributaries running into it as is flows north draining into the Bass Strait at Devonport. It is worth noting that these tributaries also hold good numbers of trout and are well worth a look. These include Dasher River, Mole Creek and Lobster Rivulet just to name a few. The Mersey is a medium sized freestone river. Wading in the river is normally good, however late in the season and during low flows it can get a bit slippery. The river holds a really good population of wild brown and rainbow trout. It also has runs of sea trout and native Australian grayling.

This river fishes well all season long and is particularly good in the first half of the season. Early mornings on this river see amazing caenid hatches (an extremely small species of mayfly), and through the day you can expect to see both mayfly and caddis hatching. Late summer has some good grasshopper fishing, and late in the season a lot of the brown trout feed on runs of baitfish up the river. Fish eat dry flies well throughout the length of the river, however early in the season, nymphing the faster water can produce good numbers of browns and rainbows.

There is plenty of access along the Mersey from Liena, all the way down to Latrobe just above the estuary. Areas such as Merseylea, Kimberly, Weegena and Railton are all great options.

Meander River

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

One of Tasmania’s most recognised rivers, the Meander River is a beautiful tailwater that runs out of Huntsman Dam, meandering through forest and then farmland before it meets the South Esk. The river is freestone initially and slowly becomes more like a meadow stream lower down before it runs into the South Esk. Wading is challenging in the higher sections above the Meander township, as this area has fast water with sections of big boulders. Lower down where the water is flatter, the wading is far more pleasant.

It runs cold and clear all season, even through the heat of summer, which is why it fishes so well between the dam and Deloraine through the middle and second half of the season. The time to fish the Meander is from mid-November through until the season closes. The river fishes quite slowly until the weather warms up.

The dry fly fishing from January until the end of the season is the best part of the Meander. Drifting mayfly, caddis and terrestrial patterns like beetles are a great way to fish. Fishing nymphs through the faster water also produces good numbers of brown and rainbow trout.

The Meander River has great angler access, with plenty of water between the Meander township and Deloraine via the bridges. There is also good access around the Westbury and Selbourne areas of the river.

Brumbys Creek

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

Brumbys Creek is one of Tasmania’s most unique rivers. It is like a tailwater in that it is fed from Great Lake in the Central Highlands via the Poatina Power Station, however, it flows more like a meadow stream. It flows through open farmland and is lined by some native vegetation and willows.

There are three weirs located along the river, each providing different fly fishing opportunities. The most important thing to consider when travelling to fish this river is the flows and river height. Releases from the power station can result in high water, making it almost unfishable. Hydro Tasmania’s website provides information about flow rates.

The river runs clear and features plenty of weed and insect life. You will mostly encounter brown trout, however, the occasional rainbow does turn up. There is an abundance of mayfly and caddis, as well as plenty of damsel flies. You will find the best fly fishing when there is little wind, as you will see more rising fish, and have more sight fishing opportunities.

From spring onwards there are some fantastic mayfly hatches and spinner falls on this river. Fishing dries and nymphs will catch you most of your fish, but fishing a streamer or a damsel pattern can also be successful. Leaping damsel fly feeders in the warmer months can be a frustrating but exhilarating feature of this unique water.

Small boats powered by electric motors are allowed in Weirs 1 and 3, whilst boating is prohibited in Weir 2. There is a combination of foot access and vehicular access, so read the signage along the river. Cressy Road at Lees Bridge and Fisheries Lane are the two main vehicle access points. Once at the river, travelling by foot is easiest.

St Patricks River

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

The St Patricks River, known as the St Pats, is a stunning freestone stream lined by a combination of willows and native vegetation. It is not a deep river, and the fish love sitting in shallow water, or shaded pockets behind willows or on the edges, so do not overlook any of the water in this river.

The river is fishable all season, yet early in the season, the water runs high and clear, so nymph fishing is a must. August to October the fish like sitting in slower water on the inside bends or at the back half of a run or riffle into the pools. From late October through to the season close you will find good dry fly fishing. Through summer the caddis hatches on this river are fantastic, with some of the best hatches occurring between Christmas and New Year. In late summer keep an eye out for grasshoppers on or nearby the water, then moving into autumn get ready for some great hatches of small mayfly such as blue winged olives. You will also find plenty of terrestrials around, so fishing ant patterns and beetles produce good numbers of fish through the warmer months.

Access to the river is good with many bridges and angler access points from Nunamara to Corkerys Road. There are many farms along the St Patricks River so please respect the farmers' properties by sticking to the river and using the Angler Access Points.

North Esk River

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

The North Esk is a long river system that forms in the forested valleys of the Northallerton Valley below Ben Nevis, north of Ben Lomond National Park. It winds through a combination of forest and open farm land that features quite a lot of willows along the bank, it then travels through the suburbs of Launceston on its way to form the Tamar River. The river is small, predominantly freestone, with some sandy, flatter sections lower down. It is a very easy wading river due to the bottom structure and medium paced flows.

This river has fewer fish than the neighbouring St Patricks River, but they are typically slightly bigger fish as a result. Like the St Pats, it offers good caddis fishing through summer. In late summer, the hopper fishing can be terrific and in autumn you will see some nice small mayfly.

You may also encounter the native Australian grayling as a bi-catch. If you do happen to catch one, make sure you return it to the water unharmed as they are a protected species.

There is plenty of access along the river. Early in the season when flows are high you can find fish just above Launceston in the suburbs. Areas such as Corra Lynn, and the sections of Angler Access along Blessington Road and Camden Road are great places to start. Be sure to be respectful of local farmers’ properties and use public access points.

South Esk River

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

The South Esk is the longest and one of the most diverse rivers in Tasmania. You can find fishable water at the source, near Upper Esk, all the way to Trevallyn Dam before it flows into the Tamar River.

You can find good fly fishing in this river from the season opening to the close. It starts as a fast flowing, crystal clear freestone stream and slowly turns into wide meadow stream with a combination of rocks, gravel and beautiful weed beds. The section from Avoca to Hadspen (almost half of the river) see some of Tasmania’s best lowland mayfly hatches in September and October. The hopper fishing throughout the whole river is fantastic through late summer and early autumn.

This river also sees fantastic black and orange spinner falls on still days throughout the warmer parts of the season and has terrific sight fishing lower down on clear days.

When heading to fly fish this river, make sure you have a good selection of grey, brown and black mayfly patterns, along with some hoppers, caddis patterns and then the usual nymphs if they are not coming up to eat the dry fly.

Being such a long river, choosing where to fish might be overwhelming. Fishing adjacent to the towns of Perth, Evandale, Conara, Avoca, Fingal and Mathinna are good starting points. Be sure to be respectful of local farmers’ properties and use public access points.

Macquarie River

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

The Macquarie River is a picturesque slow flowing meadow stream with banks lined by grass and tussocks and some sections of willows. Running through the midlands of Tasmania, this river provides plenty of access to anglers.

This wild brown trout fishery is a great option from late spring, through summer. Early in the season the flows can be high and the water cloudy at times. The river is best known for its Macquarie red spinners. These adult mayflies emerge from the bushes and lay their eggs on the water in mid spring and through summer and the trout go crazy for them. The dry fly fishing when this occurs is sensational; calm conditions are the best to experience this unique event. Calm sunny weather will also provide an angler the opportunity to walk along and target good quality browns holding in the current or cruising around pools. This river also sees some good grasshopper fishing late summer when the paddocks dry off and the grasshoppers push more towards the river’s edge. Hot windy days are best when the fish lock onto the grasshoppers getting blown into the river.

The Macquarie is a long river, so access is plentiful, you can find good water low down near the town of Cressy, upstream and downstream of the Barton Road bridge near Epping Forest, and upstream of the Macquarie Road bridge near Campbell Town.

Lake Leake

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

A scenic lake nestled in the hills of the east coast, Lake Leake is surrounded by lowland forest. Due to its lack of height above sea level, it fishes well early in the season before the water warms too much. The brown trout in this lake are self-sustaining, and the rainbow trout are stocked by the Inland Fisheries Service to add to the quality of the fishery.

It is a particularly good lake for streamer and wet fly fishing in the first few months of the season. Late spring to early summer you will see mayfly hatching, and targeting mayfly feeders with dries or unweighted nymphs is the way to go.

Fishing from a drifting boat or wading the margins are both good options and give you plenty of opportunities at the quality brown trout in this waterway.

There is good access to Lake Leake via Lake Road and also Kalangadoo Road.

The Elizabeth River is also a notable option, it runs from Lake Leake through to Campbell Town and then flows into the Macquarie. It is a great spot to drift a dry fly around if you can find some rising fish or a nice bit of current.

You can get onto some nice pools on the Elizabeth River above and below Campbell Town.

Tooms Lake

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

Tooms Lake is another lowland water supply along the east coast, located south-west of the town of Ross. Bordered by forest reserve, it is a very scenic waterway to fish. The lake is shallow and has limited natural recruitment, so it receives regular stocking of brown and rainbow trout by the Inland Fisheries Service. Like Lake Leake, Tooms is at its best early in the season due to its low elevation.

The wet fly fishing from season opening until November is excellent. The lake is not overly deep, so fishing floating and intermediate sinking lines is ideal. You will see some mayfly from late spring to early summer. As the lake warms the fishing slows, however, you can still find fish and are more likely to catch them on dries and nymphs.

You can fish from a small boat on this water, or wade the edges; both can be very productive. The western shoreline provides some fishing, and south of the shacks is a good starting area. The best access is via Tooms Lake Road which will take you to the boat ramp and dam wall area.

Penstock Lagoon

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

One of the most popular waters in the highlands, Penstock Lagoon is a fly-fishing-only lake known for its mayfly fishing. The lake is shallow and weedy and contains a mix of wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. It is closely managed by the Inland Fisheries Service so it remains one of the most consistent venues in Tasmania in recent years.

The fly fishing is excellent all season long. From opening it offers good wet fly and streamer fishing all through the season. Once the fish start seeing mayfly hatch through November they quickly switch onto them and eat them all season long, bringing dry fly fishing into the equation.

Fishing damsels and woolly buggers are always good options. Dark coloured mayfly nymphs and dries will catch lots of fish through mayfly hatches and even when nothing is happening, purely because the fish are expecting to see them at some point.

This is a great venue to fish from the bank or a boat. As a land based angler, you can access the entire bank of the lake and will get the opportunity to consistently target fish along the edges. Both dam walls, Beginners Bay and Breakfast Bay are always good starting points. As the lake is very shallow, when fishing from a boat you are always covering fish and are always a chance of catching one no matter where you are in the lake. Still make sure you mix up your drifts though, as fish can still be quite patchy in this small lake.

Access to Penstock is via Waddamana Road. The boat ramp is located at the northern end by the canal and there are multiple signed parking areas along the road that will put you only a short walk away from the water.

Nineteen Lagoons

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

The Nineteen Lagoons lie within the Central Plateau Conservation Area, and are just a few of the closest, most accessible waters that make up the boundless Western Lakes fishery. A series of small to medium sized lakes and lagoons, the Nineteen Lagoons can be easily accessed via the road into the western lakes wilderness fishery and then a short walk.

The majority of the fly fishing you will experience in this area is sight fishing. The lakes are not big, they are shallow and are generally either weedy or sandy and rocky.

Early in the season, after the road has been opened, water in many of the lakes is high and covering the weedy margins. Fish love pushing into these areas and feeding in low light providing the angler with great sight fishing opportunities. If fish are not showing, searching around in these areas with a wet fly or nymph will produce fish. Lake Kay and Double Lagoon are great examples of these.

Through the middle of the season, polaroiding trout in these waters is the main attraction. Bright conditions allow the angler to spot fish cruising in the shallow water, these fish eat a dry fly and nymphs well.

Botsford, Lake Ada, Ada Lagoon, Lake Augusta and Carters Lakes are all great options, and there are more - just too many to list here. Many of these lakes also see varying mayfly hatches, so be ready to target rising fish if they start rising in front of you.

These waters are accessible via the Lake Augusta Road, and once you have gone through the gate, there are many dirt roads and signed tracks taking you to the various lakes.

Little Pine Lagoon

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

Little Pine Lagoon is one of Australia’s best-known wild brown trout fisheries and is dedicated fly-fishing-only water. It is fed from the Little Pine River and releases water down the Monpeelyata Canal to Lake Echo. The lake has a harsh beauty to it, and is lined by small shrubs, tussocks and grasses. Its water is crystal clear and features many different species of weed.

At a glance the lake looks barren and featureless, but it is actually quite interesting, with structure including a riverbed running the length of the lake, Bertrams Island, weed beds and dark silty flats.

Little Pine Lagoon is also rich in fly fishing history, and was the base of some of Tasmania’s earliest trout guides.

‘The Pine’ is fishable throughout the trout fishing season. In early season it is a good wet fly fishery from the bank or boat. Fishing streamers on floating or intermediate sinking lines will produce some lovely brown trout. Whilst the lake is high from September through to November it has some great tailing trout fishing on the gradual sloping shorelines during low light periods. From mid-December through until March you will see good mayfly hatches in overcast conditions.

Access to good water is very easy and often you can park your car right by the side of the lake. The road shore and shack shore are both great options. To fish the far shore, you are best off parking at the dam wall and walking along the track that takes you around to ‘The Untouchables.’

Pine Tier Lagoon

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

Pine Tier is a little gem of a lake situated in the hills off the back of the Central Plateau. It is an intimate lake that is long and narrow with two rivers running in; Pine River and the Nive River. These two rivers form the main arms of the lake.

The best part about this lake is that it is loaded with lots of small wild brown and rainbow trout. The lake is a great dry fly fishery, and the fish tend to rise as soon as there is the slightest hatch or fall on the water. Fishing dries and nymphs are the best way to go. There are lots of mayfly from late spring, midge all season and you will also find caddis around the grassy edges, as well as damsels and gum beetle falls in summer.

The most consistent fly fishing on this lake is in the grassy basin where the Pine River runs in. There are lots of weed beds and Pine Tier can be fished by boat or from the bank. If you are fishing the narrow steep edges around the other areas in the lake, fishing tight to the bank is important.

Access to the lake is good, with a road to the boat ramp, and from there you can fish around, or take the right-hand fork in the road immediately before the ramp and head around to the grassy basin where the Pine River enters the lake.

Bronte Lagoon

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

It is hard not to stop and look in wonder at Bronte Lagoon as you drive past it on the Lyell Highway. This beautiful medium-sized lake in the southern highlands offers a wide range of fly fishing opportunities season round.

The lake holds good numbers of wild brown and rainbow trout. It is not as high in altitude as some of the other highland lakes - this means the lake sees similar fly fishing, but slightly earlier in the season. There are great grassy shorelines around the lake that you can expect to find tailing trout along, so long as the water level is high.

Early season wet fly fishing is very good, with plenty of structure to focus on including weed beds, rocky shorelines, points and fallen timber. From October you will start to see mayfly hatching and fish eating them. The lake is not overly deep, so you can be fishing high in the water with nymphs or dries through all the main bays and still be covering fish.

Make sure you keep an eye out for spinner feeders along the calmer edges through the warmer months here as there are lots of them.

The trout in the lake can be quite patchy, so it is very important to keep moving and covering water until you find some fish. Some of the key areas to focus on are the Longshore, Hut Bay, Tailers Bay and the entire shoreline with the Lyell Hwy running along next to it. You can find angler access at the boat ramp and the shack shore via the Bronte Lagoon Road, along the Lyell Hwy and through the tracks at Woodwards Canal on the southern end.

Lake St Clair

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

Arguably the most scenic lake in Tasmania and located within the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Lake St Clair is a trekking destination as part of the Overland Track and a stunning wild brown and rainbow trout fishery. This is the start of the Derwent River system and the water in the lake is crystal clear and the trout in this lake look up and want to eat a dry fly.

The lake fishes well from late spring through autumn. Through the season this lake gets gum beetle falls, mayfly hatches and midge hatches in the mornings, making dry fly drifting a very productive fishing option. In overcast and windy conditions, you can also get some very good wet fly and streamer fishing on the lake.

If fishing from the bank, the southern shorelines are very productive, you will find rocks, timber and some sandy bays where you can find cruising fish. If you have access to a boat, the same areas are good, but definitely have a look in the Derwent Basin in the south eastern corner.

It is worth noting that the nearby St Clair Lagoon also has great fly fishing. Early in the season when the water is high you will find fish hard on the edges and over the submerged grass. Like the main lake through the season, the dry fly and wet fly fishing is very good.

Access to fish the lake is via the Lake St Clair Road, from there the rest of the access is by foot.

Lake Burbury

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

Lake Burbury is a large and beautiful waterway on the west coast. It contains a good head of rainbow and brown trout. This lake is typically considered as a venue best fished from a boat, purely because of its size. However, you are still able to work around the edges, encountering rising fish, and prospecting with wet flies whilst on the bank.

Burbury is best known as a midge fishery. On still mornings after a large hatch of midge overnight you will see fish mooching all over the lake. Slowly drawing a small wet fly across the fish’s nose, or presenting a larger dry fly, sometimes with a small nymph suspended under it, will catch these fish. Outside of midge feeders you can still drift dries blind around the lake, or if conditions are overcast and windy, the fish love eating a streamer or a wet fly fished on a floating or sinking line.

The southwestern shores are accessible along the Mount Jukes Rd and Crotty Dam Rd. There is also a boat ramp located at the southern end of the lake just north of the dam wall along the Mount Jukes Rd. The Lake Burbury Camping Ground located along the eastern shore of the lake also has a boat ramp and is a great spot to fish from the bank.

Tyenna River

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

A beautiful medium-sized river running through Maydena, Tyenna and other quaint country towns, the Tyenna River provides good fly fishing from late spring through to the close of the season. The river is predominantly freestone with some sections of bedrock, and occasional timber scattered through areas. Wading is comfortable except for the sections containing large boulders, such as the section above Westerway through the gorge.

Early in the season, or any time after rain, when the river is coloured, nymph fishing is important to make the most of your day. From November through to the end of the season you can expect the fish to come up and eat dry flies. You will likely see trickles of mayfly throughout the day, and caddis hatching on still days and in the evenings. Through the heat of summer, grasshoppers will be around and they will be falling on the water so be prepared to fish some bigger dries or hopper patterns.

There is abundant angler access all along the river. Areas such as Mt Field National Park or above or below the town of Westerway are great starting places.

Weld River South

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

A rugged, wild medium-sized, tannin-stained river, the Weld River runs through forest until it meets the Huon River. The wading is challenging with plenty of boulders and timber, however, there is some fantastic fly fishing to be had. Be sure to check recent rainfall as the height of the river can rise rapidly and become coloured and unfishable.

The best fly fishing can be had from late December through to the end of the season. It contains lots of medium-sized brown and rainbow trout that eat a fly enthusiastically.

Nymph fishing is important early in the season and through the deeper runs and pockets. When dry fly fishing, drifting small dark mayfly, and natural coloured caddis patterns through most water will produce fish. Late in the season, you can also find some good hopper fishing, but make sure you keep your grasshopper patterns on the smaller side.

Angler access can be quite challenging, so ensure you check the Inland Fisheries Service Angler Access Map for the Huon area.

Huon River

Fly Fishing the Tasmanian Trout Trail

The Huon is a big river, being the fifth longest in the state. The river flows through rugged terrain before emptying into the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Lower down it becomes more accessible as it moves through farmland and towns before meeting the sea. The river is tannin stained, contains boulders of all sizes and has some sections of bedrock fishing well all season.

What makes this river special is it contains sea trout (sea run brown trout), as well as wild rainbow and brown trout. Through spring you may have the opportunity to target sea trout lower in the system whilst they are feeding on baitfish that run from the sea to the freshwater.

The river is large enough to swing streamers through the deeper holes, which tends to produce some of the biggest fish. Flies such as woolly buggers and rabbit fur zonkers often do well. Make sure you have nymphs ready to fish in your favourite method. The river is big, and nymphing, like streamer fishing, allows you to cover large amounts of water to find the fish. Dry fly fishing is productive in the warmer months, and the usual patterns such as parachute mayfly and deer hair or CDC caddis patterns will catch fish. Grasshoppers will be present when the paddocks dry off and they push to the river’s edge in search of greener vegetation. When they get blown into the river, the fish eat them with gusto.

Angler access is plentiful and well signed. There is good water all the way from above Judbury to downstream of Huonville.

Contributors

Tom Jarman
Australian Fly Fishing team member & fly fishing guide

Leighton Adem
FlyLife Magazine

Trout Guides & Lodges Tasmania

Brad Harris
Photographer

Samuel Shelley
Photographer

Peter Broomhall
Photographer & fly fishing guide

Stu Gibson
Photographer
Map background - Pumphouse Point - Lake St Clair

Rob Sloane
Tooms Lake photograph

Veronica Youd
Photographer

Tahune Adventures Tasmania
Huon River Photograph

Useful Links:

discovertasmania.com.au

ifs.tas.gov.au/anglers-access-program

troutguidestasmania.com.au

anglersalliance.org.au