Tasmania Report 12/12/2013

Tasmania’s lake fishing so far has been characterised by very high rainfall & large areas of flooded ground on some highland lakes.  While high water levels have provided lots of food for hungry trout, they have also coincided with cooler water temperatures, delaying the normal mayfly hatches. We anticipate that Penstock, Little Pine and Woods Lake are going to be excellent in coming weeks.

Duns have been active on Woods since the second week of November with some good rises along the ramp and western shores. Some big fish were caught early season on Woods with the pick being a fin-perfect 61cm brown easily going 5lb taken amongst the strap weed by a Japanese client. The biggest fish then disappeared for a few weeks. However during the past fortnight’s dun hatches, these trout are back in numbers, taking both deep nymphs and eating off the top.

Woods Lake

As usual Penstock has produced some big rainbows and browns with most clients catching fish easily in excess of the 3lb mark. The dun hatches have been late to start and have just kicked into gear this second week of December. Fish are looking up but no classic hatches have occurred yet with only the occasional rising fish staying up. Having said that, yesterday was the biggest hatch and rise so far and good weather will surely result in big rises from here on in.

The weather has been a bit fresh some days!

Arthurs is extremely high at the moment and has been fishing fantastically with fish taking pulled wets, nymphs and dries. The lake is producing better trout than last year, averaging 1-2lb and the   occasional bigger fish of 3-4lb. There are a few duns about, although so far we haven’t seen or heard of any big dun hatches.

Little Pine has also been very high so far this season which has covered the usual tailing areas with a little too much water. However the Pine has sporadically produced amazing numbers, particularly in dull conditions. The highlight for us was a monster midge hatch recently when every trout in the lake must have been up from 6pm until after we left at 9pm (the fish were still going!) A well placed dry wasn’t refused and lots of fish to over 50cm were landed. The duns have just started on the Pine.

The Nineteen Lagoons have been behaving well with the fantastic polaroiding you would expect when conditions permit and fish that are happy to rise.

Meanwhile on many rivers, the water stayed high and coloured until late November. The tailwaters have been the best options so far. The Mersey has had some great sight fishing, and the hard fighting rainbows and the large browns have made for some beautiful days and big smiles.

The Meander has improved from a slow start, with browns taking dries in the skinny water, including the occasional fish up to 2lb. Stocked rainbows have also been fun.

Overall, water conditions have been great for trout growth and good levels on river and lake should be guaranteed for the next month or two at least.