Great Lake

Jim Allen

One of Tasmania's premium fisheries, and in my opinion the most under utilised, is Great Lake. I have had a shack at Haddens Bay for many years and spend every summer there. So I look at the opportunities Great Lake has to offer very closely.

Targeting Lake Trout with Soft Plastics

Steve Steer
Introduction: In August 2003 I fulfilled one of my life long goals, to move from suburban Melbourne to the greener fishing pastures of Tasmania. I had been traveling to Tasmania since I was 12 years old on holidays and had spent many hours over the years chasing one of my favorite species, the wily Tasmanian trout. Having been a soft plastic lure fanatic for many years and now only living 10 minutes from some of the best trout waters in the world, has given me the incentive to refine my skills at catching this species with soft lures. What follows is a detailed description of the rigs and techniques that I have found to be extremely successful when targeting trout in Tasmanian lakes.

West of the Western Lakes

The Oxford dictionary defines the word "sublime"  as "so impressive as to inspire awe or wonder" . And if there ever was one perfect setting that fits this definition it was Lake Meston in late October.  Situated south of Lake Rowallan weather in this region can be iffy but we managed to plan our three day trip perfectly. Whilst there was substantial snow cover on the Overland Track and Walls of Jerusalem peaks, Lake Meston, nestled in-between was almost tropical! Well that might be taking things too far but it was mild, calm conditions and I reckon if there really is a Garden of Eden then this was pretty close to it!

Brushy Lagoon

Brushy Lagoon is one of a handful of waters that the public has the chance to fish for four different sought after species - Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout and brook trout. In addition there are often plague proportions of redfin perch taking bait, fly or lures intended for the trout or salmon. Late August 2004 saw excellent fishing at Brushy, with double figure trophy salmon falling to all methods, so if your after the chance of a brook trout or Atlantic salmon close to home, then head for Brushy Lagoon.

LAKE BURBURY WINDLANES


Lake Burbury is one of the many out of the way lakes which the majority of fly fisherman don't tend to visit.   Yet Lake Burbury has some highlight fishing in the form of wind lanes, the likes of which are without comparison for fish numbers just  about anywhere in Australia.   On a good morning you can find yourself fishing to literally hundreds of fish, freely rising all around you.  If you couple this with mountain scenery which on most mornings you have all to yourself, Lake Burbury becomes a very attractive proposition.

Penstock Lagoon Assessment

Penstock Lagoon is a relatively small shallow water with a surface area of 1.4 square kms and maximum depth of 1.8 metres. The lagoon has over a number of years, been subject to significant alterations in water management.

Arthurs Lake

Arthurs Lake is without the best wild brown trout lake in Australia. For that matter it would rank right up there alongside the best in the world, and plenty of international anglers would agree with me. It has a diversity of trout environments that is staggering. Weedy bays, sandy beaches, tree lined shores, rocky reefs, secluded corners and wild open stretches contain a vast amount of fishing opportunities- the majority of them basically ignored.

Little Pine Lagoon

Little Pine Lagoon situated on the Marlborough Highway between Miena and Bronte.  Declared a fly fishing only water, it is rightly regarded as one of the premier fly fishing lakes in Australia. 

Brumbys Creek in Spring

Brumbys Creek is situated approximately 40 minutes south of Launceston, just beyond the colloquially named "gateway to trout fishing', Cressy. Brumbys Creek is an extremely interesting and typically exciting water that offers all forms of fishing hatches and methods to the fly fisher. Essentially a tailrace fishery, the major features of Brumbys Creek is its three Weirs (Weirs 1,2 and 3) that were constructed to slow the flow of water derived from Poatina power station, which in turn receives its water from Great Lake on the Central Plateau.

Great Lake in Spring

Lets face it,  Great Lake at first glance is not the most inviting of waters.   Barren rocky shores and drawn down bays do little to invite the fisherman to try his hand.   But this lake offers good sport right through the season for both the boat and shore angler alike. October and November  see the onset of warmer weather as Spring pushes on.   Midge start to hatch more regularly making morning wind lanes inviting, and the gum beetles and other terrestrials around the lake begin to offer the dry fly fisherman a taste of things to come.   However around the shore there is some excellent wet fly fishing to be had, and this also boons during the late spring to early summer period.

Subcategories

Go to top
JSN Boot template designed by JoomlaShine.com