Angler's Guide

The magnificent highland lakes (some of the finest fly fishing lakes in Tasmania are referred to as 'lagoons'), interesting and sometimes mysterious rivers, mountain streams and estuary fishing for fantastic sea-run trout.

One of the special experiences of fishing in Tasmania is the sight fishing for wild brown trout. There is something very special in fishing 'to' fish. Sight fishing means casting to a fish sipping beetles or spent spinners, trying to lead a cruiser chasing frogs or nymphs in the shallows, trying to catch the attention of a tailing fish with its nose in the weeds after grubs, or the ultimate - polaroiding for massive brown trout cruising the shallow margins in search of prey.

Rainbow trout are found in many lakes and their airborne antics are a surprise for those in search of the wily browns. A few lakes also contain brook trout and many coastal rivers are home to a good head of bream.

There is also the hatch driven fishing, whether it be the red spinners on the meadow streams, summer duns in the highlands, tiny caenids at dawn, fluttering caddis in the evening or gum beetle and jassid falls along the shores of ghost gums on hot days.

If you are new to Tasmania the best way to maximise your time and enhance your experience is to enlist the help of an accredited angling guide. Whether you would like fly fishing tuition, a day fishing the highland lakes, a lowland river float trip or a wilderness walk-in, a guide will help you to enjoy your special angling experience.

Angling Licences and Regulations

Angling licences vary from $A59 for an annual to $A18 for a 24-hour licence. Concessions are available for children and seniors. Most Tasmanian waters are open for angling but check the regulations for details and gear restrictions, as there are some fly-fishing-only and artificial-lure-fishing waters. Tackle shops are an excellent source of advice and also provide licences. For information on buying your licence on-line and for general fishing information or call the Inland Fisheries Service on 61 (0) 3 6233 4140 or email infish@ifs.tas.gov.au.

Tasmanian Angling Bibliography

• In  Season Tasmania by Daniel Hackett and Brad Harris

If you could fish anywhere in Tasmania, at any time, where would you go and what would be the highlights? These are the questions that inspired fishing guide Daniel Hackett and professional photographer Brad Harris to fish their way through Tasmania and share their experiences in this excellent publication. Choosing the best in-season fishing month by month in the peak season of September through April, they photographed their trips, experiences and catches rain, hail or shine. This is a book about ‘the vibe’ of fishing rather than a manual. Use it as a guide, inspiration for daydreaming, or a trip-planner. Flies, in-season fly-tying, locations, techniques and set-ups are covered. To order, email orders@inseasonflyfishing.com.

• The Great Trout of Lake Pedder by Ned Terry ISBN 0 646 19234 5

This book highlights the explosion in the size of trout in Lake Pedder following its flooded to form a source of water for hydro-electricity production. As a result of the flooding, 'double-figure' fish were considered the norm during the 1970s. The book follows the exploits of a group of friends who develop techniques and flies to catch these huge brown trout. Could such large fish still exist in the depths of Lake Pedder?

• Fly Fishing Fundamentals by Rob Sloane ISBN 0959202161

The former Commissioner of Tasmania's Inland Fisheries Commission, Rob Sloane, is arguably Australia's most informative freshwater fly-fishing writer. Rob now edits FlyLife, an Australian fly-fishing magazine with a well-deserved world reputation. While this book isn't written expressly about Tasmanian trout fishing, the information it provides makes it invaluable for anyone contemplating fly-fishing for trout in Tasmania. Rather than telling you where to fish, it focuses on the skills that are needed to successfully fly-fish Tasmania. This is a book with tips for even the most experienced fly-fishers.

• More Truth About Trout by Rob Sloane ISBN 0959202129 (A follow-up to the now out-of-print The Truth about Trout.)

The Truth about Trout is considered by many to be the definitive book on successful fishing techniques in Tasmania. More Truth about Trout focuses on further developing techniques like 'polaroiding' for feeding trout, the use of 'wind lanes' in lakes to find feeding fish, and the author's comparison of fishing in Tasmania with fishing in New Zealand and England. The book also touches on flies the author and his father developed to allow them to fish situations unique to our Island.

• Finding Feeding Trout by Tony Ritchie ISBN 0864176325

Tony Ritchie has many years' fishing experience and considerable local knowledge, particularly of Tasmania's northern rivers and the Central Highland lakes. His book takes a technical look at what trout feed on, where they feed and when this feeding activity occurs. Such knowledge will enable you to identify the best flies to use in a given situation and decide how best to fish them.

• Tasmanian Trout Fly Patterns by Max Stokes, reprinted 1999 by the Tasmanian Fly Fishers Club ISBN 0858530325

This little book records the patterns used by various Tasmanian fly-fishers, from the 1960s onward. Patterns described include the Miss Tasmania, Yeti, Nymbeet, Black and Peacock, and Highland Dun, all worthy additions to any plan for fishing in Tasmania. If you are a hard-core fly-tier, this is the book for you.

• Fur and Feather by Peter Leuver ISBN 0 86417 403 9

First released in 1991, this book details many of Australia's fly patterns and relates a short story about each one. Patterns you will find indispensable when fly-fishing in Tasmania include the Red Tag, Noel Jetson’s Black Spinner, Zulu, Mrs Simpson, Mallard and Claret, in addition to 'native' Tasmanian patterns such as the Rabbit Fur Fly and Wigram's Robin.

A similar book, but one that unfortunately is now out of print, is Australia's Best Trout Flies (ISBN 0 9587294 0 9), which explains many of the best trout flies in Tasmania. Some of Tasmania's best fishing guides and fly-tiers like Jason Garrett, Ken Orr, John Bessell, Laurie Matcham, Brian McCullagh, Ashley Artis, David O’Brien, Rob Sloane, Jan Spencer and Noel Jetson pass on many years of experience in fishing and tying flies for Tasmanian lakes and rivers.

• Tasmanian Trout Waters by Greg French

This book is packed with descriptive detail, maps and colour photos of our amazing Island and the trout fishing it has to offer. Every significant water is included, resulting in hundreds of entries. The only possible criticism any Tasmanian could make of this book is that it gives away too many of our local secrets! A must for everyone who fishes Tasmania.

• Trouting In Tasmania by GEJ Dawkins ISBN 0646383302

For an historical perspective on the art of trout fishing, this 1937 fisherman's diary introduces the techniques used and the locations fished around Tasmania in the late 1930s. After reading it, you will want to try some of the methods to see if they still work.

• Trout Fishery of Tasmanian I by Don Gilmour ISBN 0646298739

Don Gilmour has been writing about angling in Tasmania for many years. Some of his earlier books are now considered collectors' items. Don has written a trilogy of books documenting the history of trout fishing in the state from the mid-1860s, when consideration was first given to importing 'salmon', through to the politics and changes of the late 1990s. The first book covers 1865-1910, an exciting period of transportation of trout to the Antipodes, the formation of a club structure, and the appointment of 'Salmon Commissioners' to ensure the introduction of trout and salmon was successful.

• Trout Fishery of Tasmania II by Don Gilmour ISBN 0646327259

The second in the Don Gilmour trilogy covers 1910-1950, when new fisheries were developed and the reputation of the world-class fishing in Tasmania started to spread. It was during this time that the Shannon Rise occurred: anglers travelled from far and wide to fish in a small section of the Shannon River in December every year, when massive hatches of Shannon moths led to a feeding frenzy by the waiting trout.

• Trout Fishery of Tasmania III by Don Gilmour ISBN 0 9585990 0 9

The final book in the trilogy covers 1950-1999, when dams were being created to feed Tasmania's hydro-electric generators. This work resulted in the loss of some existing fisheries and put an end to the Shannon Rise, but it also created hundreds of new fisheries. The highlight of the period was the incredible growth rate of trout in the expanded Lake Pedder - for a time, fish weighing 10 pounds were considered average.

• Trout Fishing Guide to Tasmania by Don Gilmour ISBN 095859905X

Released in 1999, this book is a handy guide to the various waterways in the state. It includes advice on how to fish our trout lakes and, more importantly, maps of many areas. If you're new to Tasmanian waters, you will appeciate the photos and tying descriptions of patterns that are particularly successful here. The book also touches on methods other than fly-fishing and highlights how lures and bait can be used to catch large numbers of fish.

• The Enchanting Break O'Day by David Scholes ISBN 095855692X

Written by the doyen of trout fly-fishing writers, David Scholes, this book tells of his trips to his beloved Break O'Day River. David's previous books are long out of print and hard to find. Neverthless, titles like Fly Fisher in Tasmania, Fly Fishing Pictorial and Ripples, Runs and Rises should be considered essential reading for any angler visiting the state. The Enchanting Break O'Day relates some of the lessons he has learnt from fishing this northern river for more than 40 years. David has the wonderful ability to tell a story in a conversational tone and still include many hints to help you fish the slow-flowing rivers near Launceston.

• Essential Fly-Fishing Techniques For Australian Lakes by Neil Grose ISBN 0-9579298-0-3

This is a definitive guide to lake fishing techniques in Australia, and Tasmania in particular. Author Neil Grose is a full-time trout guide in the Central Highlands. His book covers everything from stalking trout in shallow margins, 'polaroiding' techniques and reading the wind, to methods for fishing the major hatches, and boat fishing techniques such as loch-style and windlane fishing. Essential Fly-Fishing Techniques also lists innovative dry-fly patterns and the dressings for tying them.

• An Introduction To Fly Fishing by Neil Grose ISBN 0-9579298-1-1

This informative book is aimed at beginners looking for a comprehensive yet inexpensive introduction. The second book by Tasmanian author and fly fishing guide Neil Grose, it has been written as a general 'learn to fly-fish' book and takes you step-by-step through basic casting techniques, reading streams and lakes and selecting the right fly for the right situation. It also provides troubleshooting strategies for those tough days, and explains about fly rods, fly reels, different fly lines, leaders and tippets, and the knots used to put it all together. There are also four full-colour pages of some great fly patterns for a whole range of fishing situations.