Your ultimate guide to fly fishing in Tasmania - packed with angler notes and key fishing opportunities from local Trout Tales fishing guide Matt Stone.
If you're looking for information on fly fishing in Tasmania, including the 2024/25 season, then look no further than the Trout Tales ultimate guide.
Key takeaways:
The Tasmanian trout fishing season runs from the first weekend in August until the last weekend in April.
Weather is the biggest factor that impacts fly fishing in Tasmania along with location, water type, fishing method and fly selection.
The peak of the dry fly fishing season in Tasmania is from December to February.
Trout Tales provides fishing charters Tasmania and personalised trout fishing packages.
When it comes to trout fly fishing in Tasmania, there is no question that weather is the biggest impacting factor.
The weather conditions dictate many of the aspects required for a successful fishing trip, including:
- location;
- water type;
- trout fly fishing method; and
- fly selection
Having an understanding of when different fly fishing events occur in Tasmania will give you the best possible chance of planning the trout fly fishing trip of a lifetime and experiencing some of the best fishing anywhere in the world.
At Trout Tales, we can also assist you with all aspects of planning a fly fishing trip to Tasmania including accommodation, catering, transport and itineraries.
When does the trout fishing in Tasmania season open in 2023/2024?
Tasmania's trout fishing season runs from the first weekend in August 2023 until the last weekend in April 2024.
This opening weekend of the season is always greatly anticipated by all trout fly fishing enthusiasts and as a handy guide, we have broken the year down into a few sections and outlined what you can expect to find during each of these periods...
Fly Fishing in Tasmania: August to September
Opening of the trout season and ‘early season’ months.
Weather
Cold temperatures with snow and ice common around the Highlands. Lowland temperatures are much milder and more settled.
Fishing Overview
No insect hatches are seen highland areas, making opportunities for dry fly fishing almost impossible. Lowland areas often start to see mayfly hatches late in September. Excellent numbers of fish are caught on streamer patterns and woolly buggers with sinking lines cast from a drifting boat (often referred to as loch style fishing) or shore-based casting small wet flies around flooded lake margins searching for 'tailing' trout feeding on baitfish in the shallows.
Given the common adverse weather patterns in the highlands at this time of year, trips to lowland lakes are common, and these produce some great fishing in milder temperatures. Access to private fisheries also ensures there is always somewhere to get out on the water and find some great opportunities.
Angler Notes
Anglers of all experience can have fantastic results at this time of the year, however the ability to cast a good length of line, generally casting weighted lines and flies, will assist greatly in success rates.
Recent blog: Mid-season 2024 fly fishing in Tasmania update
Fly Fishing in Tasmania: October to November
Mid-Season and the beginning of the hatches.
Weather:
Temperatures begin to increase and rain, and snow become less likely in the highlands opening up a larger range of fly fishing opportunities.
Fishing Overview:
Generally the biggest ‘fish catching’ months due to the sudden abundance of food sources for the trout. In the highlands, depending on the day, fish can be targeted with wet, dry or nymph flies. Mayfly are more prevalent giving opportunities for dry fly and nymph fishing and early season food sources are still abundant, making the wet fly fishing outstanding.
With the mayfly hatches comes sight fishing opportunities. Spotting cruising trout from the boat or wading the shallows produces some of the best action for the season.
The river fly fishing begins to improve across these months as the lowland small streams and rivers also begin to fish well with dropping river levels. A combination of dry and nymph fishing produces many successful days on the river at this stage of the season.
Angler Notes:
Most anglers will have the ability to catch a fish in these months, however casting accurately becomes more important when dry fly and nymph fishing and this will increase catch rates on most days.
Fly Fishing in Tasmania: December to February
The peak of dry fly and sight fishing on the lakes and rivers across the state.
Weather:
Generally bright and warm conditions with prolonged settled weather patterns.
Fishing Overview:
Warm weather brings sight fishing opportunities in the highlands on most days, with bright conditions ideal for polaroiding and overcast conditions producing huge mayfly hatches.
This stage of the season is all about dry fly fishing. Predominately fishing from a drifting boat or wading shallow lake margins scanning for cruising trout, generally casting to rising trout feeding on a range of hatching insects.
On the highland lakes, mayfly hatches, midge, beetles and damselflies see large numbers of trout feeding on the surface, producing exciting sight fishing on the majority of days. On the rivers, water flows are ideal and grasshoppers and other large terrestrial insects mean the trout are in search of large dry flies
Angler Notes:
Trout can become difficult to catch during this time as bright weather prevails, making accurate and subtle casting a must.
Don't miss out: Summer fly fishing in Tasmania can be a busy period, with tour spaces filling up quickly. Book your tour now with Trout Tales.
Fly Fishing in Tasmania: March to April
The 'late season' months.
Weather:
Generally still warm days, with occasional cooler days starting to appear. Weather patterns can vary from year to year during this time.
Fishing Overview:
As temperatures begin to cool and mayfly hatches on the lakes slow, poloroiding for fish becomes more of a focus, allowing a more targeted approach. Still some great dry fly and sight fishing to be experienced on the right days. A combination of dry fly and nymph fishing is usually seen during this period and often fish are less selective in their feeding patterns, making fly selection less important.
If high temperatures continue during March, water temperature can become too high for the trout in the highland lakes, making river fishing more appealing on fine weather days in rivers where flows are not too low. Good numbers of fish rising to grasshoppers and smaller mayfly can be found.
All brown trout waters close at the end of April for the annual spawning ritual of the trout. As this draws closer, fish become aggressive, and their feeding patterns can be sporadic. However this behaviour can play to the anglers favour, with well-placed flies usually taken with gusto.
Angler Notes:
When fishing from a drifting boat at this time of the year, casting accuracy is not as crucial but ability to cast a good length of line will be advantageous. Good casting accuracy is important when presenting to rising trout on the small streams and rivers.
Fly Fishing in Tasmania: May to July
The ‘off season’ and trout spawning period.
Weather:
Winter kicks in over this time and temperatures in the highlands plummet with frost and snow again common. Lowland temperatures remain slightly better.
Fishing Overview:
Most waters are closed for the trout spawning season which greatly reduces fly fishing options. Access to some fantastic private fisheries gives us the opportunity to still have some fantastic days out on the water and this is great time to brush up on your casting and learn different techniques.
Generally wading and fishing wet flies to target any hungry fish searching around the weed beds, we still see some great fish caught throughout this time of the year
Angler Notes:
Ability to cast a reasonable distance will assist, however this is a good time for beginners and those looking to brush up on their technique to prepare for the new season opening in August.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fly Fishing In Tasmania:
Key dates for the 2023-24 Tasmanian trout fishing season:
5/8/2023 - Opening of most waters
30/9/2023 - Opening of designated rainbow trout waters
2/12/23 - Opening of Canal Bay, yingina / Great Lake
28/4/24 - Closure of most waters
Sunday 2/6/24 - Closure of designated rainbow trout waters, lakes Mackintosh and Rosebery and the lower section of Brumbys Creek, Tinamirakuna/Macquarie, Meander and South Esk rivers
How does fly fish licensing work in Tasmania?
An up to date inland angling licence is required when fly fishing in any inland water Tasmania with a rod, reel and line. There are also other rules and regulations which may apply, and rules may also vary from location to location.
You can apply for a license online at https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/anglers/manage.
What are the best trout fishing spots in Tasmania?
There's plenty of fantastic fly fishing spots in Tasmania depending on your skill level, the time of year or what type of fishing you're after.
Some of the best trout fishing spots include:
- Little Pine Lagoon (Central Highlands)
- Arthurs Lake (Central Highlands)
- Penstock Lagoon (Central Highlands)
- The Tyenna River (Hobart)
- Mersey River (Launceston)
You can learn more about some of the top fishing spots in our Tasmania fly fishing overview.
Can you trout fish all year round for trout in Tasmania?
While the primary trout fishing angling season runs from the first weekend in August until the last weekend in April, which you need a fishing licence for, there are some locations in Tasmania where you can now fish all year round for trout as well as without the need for a licence. At Trout Tales, we offer guided tours and access to these locations during the off-season, so feel free to get in touch if you're looking to get involved.
Looking for more information on trout fishing Tasmania?
Check out our dedicated page on Fly Fishing in Tasmania for a collection of our best fishing locations across the state - as well as more information about the fishing season and what Trout Tales has to offer. You can also visit our trout fishing blog for more updates, tips and tricks and information from local fishing guide in Tasmania, Matt Stone.
Experience the fishing action for yourself: Book A Tour
If you're itching to experience the best of fly fishing in Tasmania, Trout Tales are here to help.
We offer personalised fly fishing tours across Tasmania, including everything from transport and accommodation, to cuisine and premium fishing gear; while catering for single day trips all the way through to our epic multi-day fishing adventures.
If you want to learn more, check out our trout fishing in Tasmania packages or if you're ready to cast a line yourself, book your own fly fishing adventure in Tasmania with Trout Tales.
Hi, I'm Matt Stone - for over fifteen years I’ve developed my passion for fly fishing, wild trout and for the amazing places experienced in Tasmania along the way.
