Fly Fishing Adventures

Rainbow Trout in Australia and New Zealand

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Rainbow trout is a species introduced to Australia and New Zealand from North America in the late 1800’s and it is generally found in cool, fresh, well aerated, highland water. Some sea run Rainbows are found in Tasmania and New Zealand. Rainbow Trout are also found in their native Alaska, Canada and mainland USA. In Australia the Rainbow Trout inhabits cool streams and lakes in southern New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania with smaller populations in South and Western Australian. In New Zealand Rainbows can be found in rivers and more so lakes over both the North and South islands.

In its native North America the Rainbow Trout grows to 1.2 m and 18kg. In Australia it can be found up to 70 cm and 9kg but more likely to be caught under 60cm and 5kg with around 1-2kg the average. In New Zealand it has grown to 13kg in rivers and in access of 30kg in lakes. It is more normal to catch a Rainbow Trout on either island in the 1 to 3kg range. The Rainbows in New Zealand tend to be larger than those in Australia.

Fishing for Rainbow Trout is governed by breeding seasons which vary from country to country and within countries. Some waters are open all year but most close over winter subject to local breeding season variations. The variations are too numerous to list here but as a guide only...

• Tasmania (Australia): Open October to May
• NSW (Australia): Open October to June
• New Zealand: Open September to May