Expert’s top ten spots to kick off 2021 trout season

Tasmania’s brown trout season opens tomorrow and anglers from all around the state are expected to take to the great outdoors in search of their first catch of the season. EXPERT TIPS + WHERE TO SNAG A $2k TROUT >>

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Tasmania’s brown trout season opens this weekend and anglers from all around the state are expected to take to the great outdoors in search of their first catch of the season.

Keen fishers will be allowed to hit the waters from midnight Friday when the 2021-2022 trout season officially opens and with it a host of Tassie waters become legally available to fish.

Tasmanians are reminded that children under 17 do not need a fishing licence to take part in the trout season but adults who fish while supervising a minor will require one.

In preparation for the season, the Inland Fisheries Service (IFS) have transferred 18,930 wild brown trout and stocked 14,750 rainbow trout into key waters around the state

Local fishing guru Carl Hyland said he would encourage anglers to use bait to land their first catch of the season.

Fly fishing at Lake Leake Mandatory credit: Samuel Shelley.

“Bait fishing would certainly be the number one method to be using this weekend,” he said.

Mr Hyland advised anglers to ‘match the hatch’ and check the waters for what type of bugs and insects were floating about.

“The waters are going to be dirty and the rivers will be high and flooding so you need to match the hatch and look at what’s going to be washed into where you’re fishing.

“That’ll most likely be worms and beetles and other various insects and bits of pieces and so using bait that matches those will put you in good stead.”

Mr Hyland said lures and fly fishing was also a good option.

“Lures will also work but one should be using lures that will show up in dirty waters.

“Black and white lures are very effective in dirty water and my choice would be to use a coachdog pattern which is basically a white lure with black dots.”

“Fly fishing would be best in the shallow margins because fish will be up in the shallows feeding on all the bugs and critters floating around,” he said.

Brown Trout. credit: Samuel Shelley

The longtime fisherman also said an often overlooked piece of equipment was a key to a successful fishing venture.

“One single tip I could give most people is you’re going to need an effective landing net.

‘There’s nothing more frustrating than getting a fish and getting it to the shore and it swims away because you don’t have a landing net.

“They are a cheap investment well worth having.”

Mr Hyland encouraged anglers to rug up and emphasised the importance of wearing suitable clothing and footwear, especially for younger anglers.

“There’s going to be leaches and other biting bits of pieces so a good pair of gumboots is very effective and so having the kids in sneakers isn’t a good idea.”

“I’d also recommend investing in a flotation device if you’re taking kids along,” he said.

The annual stocking plan is guided by the IFS translocation policy, native fish conservation plans, performance criteria, estimated catch rate and harvest, and the presence or absence of pest fish for each stocked water.

Mr Hyland also divulged ten spots around the state that would be great for those keen to take advantage of the season opening this weekend:

South:

• Craigbourne Dam
• Lake Dulverton at Oatlands
• Tyenna River
• The Huon River

Tasmanian Trout season open day picture of fisherman at Craigbourne Dam (2016)

Central:

• Pine Tier Lagoon
• Lake Rowallan
• Lake Huntsman
• Woods Lake

Pine Tier Lagoon. Picture: Sean Dargaville

North:

• Brumbys Creek

Daniel Johnston, of Burnie, with a nice rainbow from Talbots Lagoon. (2019)

North West:

• Talbots Lagoon

Where to snag a $2000 trout

Those keen to take advantage of the season opening could also be lucky enough to land one of fifty tagged brown trout the Government released into Tasmanian waterways in July that if caught can be returned to the Inland Fisheries Service for a $2,000 reward.

The Government released the fifty tagged fish in fifteen waterways around the state to stimulate recreational trout fishing and boost tourism into regional communities.

The list of waters and the number of fish released are:

• Arthurs Lake (5)
• yingina/Great Lake (5)
• Lake Mackintosh (5)
• Lake Pedder (5)
• Lake Burbury (5)
• Lake Rosebery (5)
• River Derwent (3)
• Derby’s Briseis Mine Hole (2)
• Bronte Lagoon (2)
• Craigbourne Dam (2)
• Curries River Reservoir (2)
• Huntsman Lake (2)
• Lake Leake (3)
• Lake Parangana (2)
• Lake Rowallan (2)