Fly Fishing in Tasmania
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon are all introduced species arriving in Tasmania and mainland Australia in the middle 1800’s.
Brown Trout are the primary species targeted when fly fishing Tasmania. They are found in lakes, rivers and estuaries around most parts of the island down to sea level except in the southwest. Brown trout can be fished for by using bait and lures but fly-fishing is the most common and the most successful. They are generally caught in the 2-5 lb. weight class but monsters up to 10lb are landed each year. The Australian record is 29lbs caught in the Huon River in Tasmania. Spawning is generally in autumn and winter when fish migrate upstream to gravel bottomed stretches of river.
Rainbow trout are not as common as brown trout but can also be found mainly in lakes and a few rivers around Tasmania. They are often very aggressive in their attacks on flies and bait and are renowned for their fighting abilities. Mostly caught in the 2-5lb weight range the largest rainbow trout landed in Australia was in the Ouse River also in Tasmania. It weighed 17 Lb.
Brook Trout are around but are not common in Tasmania or elsewhere in Australia. The can be found in a few select lakes, mainly private waters in Tasmania.
Atlantic Salmon were the first salmonid species to be introduced in Tasmania but they have failed to establish them selves into self-sustaining populations. They are released periodically into some lakes and escapees from fish farm sea cages are found around the southern and west coasts.
Fly Fishing Adventure runs trout fishing holidays to both the lowland rivers and the highlands of Tasmania