Joe Riley
Since the creation of Penstock Lagoon in the early 20th Century to hold water for the Waddamana Power Scheme, Penstock has build a strong and lasting reputation as a challenging and rewarding fishery for both Brown and Rainbow trout. With a dun hatch that was regarded as one of the finest anywhere, polaroiding on bright days for large browns sipping black spinners and trout foraging the shallows for damsel fly and mudeye larvae the lagoon has always offered exciting opportunities for the persistent and observant angler to catch with quality fish.
Greg French
Early in the trout season, high-elevation waters like Great Lake, the Nineteen Lagoons and Little Pine Lagoon (all higher than 1000 metres) can be very cold and uneventful, so this is an ideal time to try fishing further west in the Bronte district.
Without doubt, the most high-profile lake in the western part of the Central Plateau is Bronte Lagoon. This is largely because of its wet-fly fishing and superb rises, both of which can be world class. However, the nearby Bradys chain of lakes offers more consistent fishing and more variety. Greg French explains how you can make the most of the venue during the opening months of the coming trout season.
Gavin Hicks
After the birth of our second child in early September last year the opportunity arose for me to have a few days in the Central Highlands pursuing my love of fly fishing. Based at the inlaws shack at Miena the opportunities are endless, the hardest decision to make being where to go. I heard the gate was open to the 19 Lagoons area and after doing some weather checks I decided to give Ada lagoon a try.
Craig Rist
Many anglers pack away their rods come the end of trout season and then start counting down the days for it to reopen again in August. If you find it hard to wait until then, as I do, there is some great shore based fishing to be had at Great Lake if you're prepared to brave the cold. Apart from Tods Corner, and Canal Bay, the remainder of Great Lake is open to trout fishing twelve months of the year.
By the time I have finished a few jobs around the house at the beginning of winter I start to think about those brown trout feeding up in the shallow bays of Great Lake after their annual spawning run. These trout are hungry and in the need for a quick protein hit. The resident paragalaxias are on the menu, as are the ever reliable stick caddis and Great Lake shrimp.
Craig Rist
The upper Mersey starts its flow from Lake Meston and continues down through Lake Youd and Junction Lake. Rainbows were first introduced into these waterways by the one and only airdrop of rainbows into Lake Meston in the 1950s. These lakes and the upper Mersey River, now have a wild population of rainbow trout. The Mersey River continues it's flow out of Junction Lake over a series of plummeting waterfalls that have prevented the migration of brown trout from Lake Rowallan.
Joe Riley
The suns first rays are pushing through the tops of the gum trees and the water has a cold platinum sheen. Ducks paddle around feeding on midge in the water surface and the odd Bennets wallaby makes it's way back to the tree line after feeding along the grassy shores over night. Twenty metres along the bank appears the tell tale sings of a fish, no trifling tail tip or slight dimple but the bulging of a big brown as he pushes through the weed to grab a damsel nymph.
Shane Flude
The Western Lakes is the term given to the huge area of lakes and tarns in the Central Highlands of Tasmania. The area is roughly bordered by Great Lake in the east, Lake Rowallan in the West and Lake Mackenzie to the north. The lakes are typically very shallow and clear on the upper plateau from the Pine Valley north. Further south and west the waters are relatively deep with well defined rocky shorelines. The western lakes are truly a world class fishery unique to Tasmania.
Craig Rist
Brushy Lagoon was built in 1987 by the Forestry Commission to store water for the purpose of fighting fires in the area. The lake is located in the northern part of Tasmania surrounded by state forest. Turn off the Frankford Road (B71) or Biralee Road (B72) from Westbury, onto Priestley Lane (C714). From here you take a gravel road to the lake. There are two boat ramps, one at the southern end at the dam wall, and the other halfway along the eastern shore.
Jamie Harris
The mysterious brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) provides extra variety for those Tassie anglers looking for that different experience. I say mysterious because there doesn't seem to be much known about the habits of these fish here in Tasmania. Only that they are challenging and they have the occasional feeding frenzy. This is definitely true but over the 18 years or so that I have been chasing them, I haven't learned a whole lot more.
Shane Flude has fished Lake Echo extensively for many years with excellent catches. Here are his tips.
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Lakes with only a few articles ...
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Mike Fry doesn’t only live on the Wild Side of Tasmania, but also goes fishing in probably the wildest boat ever to troll for trout—certainly in Tasmania.
When your mate says ‘What are you doing tomorrow, want to come up the Gordon for the night?’ it would be pretty hard to say anything else except “you bet” and start checking out your tackle box and packing your overnight bag. But if your mate was Troy Grining and he wanted to give his new 52ft, high speed cruiser a run across Macquarie Harbour, test the new onboard dory with a chance of landing a nice Gordon River Brown you would have to feel privileged. I didn’t say anything about getting on my hands and knees and kissing his feet…just having a lend of ya’ but I did feel very appreciative.