Fishing - Trout season starting on Saturday

With the start of the 2026-27 Tasmanian Brown Trout Fishing season this Saturday at 12 am, it's time to break down the best fishing options for keen anglers looking to get out and about.

Winter weather usually dictates where the fishing focus will be, and with a lashing of rain, snow, and cold weather in the lead-up, monitor the conditions before finalising your call.

The IFS Tagged Trout Promotion, which continues until the end of the 2026-27 season, should be a focus, with waters that hold tagged trout obviously the places to target.

With twenty-seven tagged trout out there still to be caught from the previous season and updates to come at the new season's start, the waters that hold them should be fished as much as possible.

Keep an eye on the Inland Fisheries Website for details on where the fish are, will be and what they're worth, and remember the first tagged trout caught from Great Lake is worth $25.000.
I might be biased, but early season trout fishing in our rivers is some of the best any angler can experience all season/year.

All rivers, tributaries and streams are flowing fresh and higher with cold, oxygenated water, and these conditions offer some of the best feeding opportunities for trout of all sizes.

Estuary-based tidal rivers provide great resident and sea-run trout fishing early in the season and right through to as late as December.

The Derwent and Huon Rivers are two of the best all-round trout fisheries in the State and a lot of fish are caught through Spring as they hunt baitfish migrating up river.

Spinning, trolling, fly fishing and bait fishing will catch trout, but technique and success depend on the condition of the river/s.

Both the Derwent and Huon look set to offer some great fishing over the next few months if conditions stay favourable.

The Tyenna River is renowned as a trophy trout water, and this river always offers big fish when water levels are high early in a season.

Don't be fooled when this river is in flood, because some of the biggest trout are caught in these conditions, as opposed to when the river is low and clear.

Other Southern rivers like the Lune and Esperance are also well worth a visit, especially during whitebait runs from September through to November.

The mighty rivers of the West Coast also offer great resident and sea run trout fishing which also peaks during the months of Spring.

The Arthur, Pieman, Gordon, Little Henty and Henty Rivers are difficult to fish but offer some big wild trout that make any trip worthwhile.

In the North West, the Mersey and Forth Rivers are great options, as is the Tamar River and Trevallyn Tailrace in Launceston, which always offers some trophy trout early in every season.

The Leven, Rubicon, and Pipers River, South and North Esk, Macquarie and Meander Rivers are others that hold a lot of trout as well.
Pushing to our lakes and lagoons - In the East, Toom's Lake and Lake Leake fish well early in any season, with weather conditions more favourable compared to in the Central Highlands.

Fishing at Lake Sorell will be interesting this season after being relatively quiet during the last.

Lots of trout have been seen in Mountain Creek during spawning time and water levels are said to be improving.

Lake Crescent's water level suffered last season during summer, and it seems fishing from a boat will again be difficult as we push through to the warmer months.

That said, the lower water levels provide better shore-based fishing options, and no doubt some big trout will still be caught from here during the season.

In the North West, Talbots Lagoon is a standout water, but check the regulations before you intend to fish here.

South Riana Lake is also a great option, with a lot of fish available in the 1kg-2 kg weight range.

Staying north, Four Springs Lake has received close to 4500 trout, which sees this great early-season water primed to produce.

Curries River Reservoir, Camden Lake, Blackmans Lagoon and Big Waterhouse Lake are all great trout fisheries as well.

Pushing to the Central Highlands, Great Lake has been a standout for a few seasons, and that trend looks set to continue.

Wild brown trout are plentiful, and the growing population of wild rainbow trout make this water well worth a visit, and of course for the opportunity to catch that first tagged trout worth 25k.

Thousands of brown and rainbow trout have been stocked into the Brady's chain, which includes Lake Binney and Tungatinah Lagoon, and these waters will fire especially through Spring.

Bronte Lagoon is one of Tasmania's best trout fishing waters, and like Great Lake, its population of fish is growing fat.

Bronte's population of Rainbow Trout also seems to be going from strength to strength, with some fish caught and lost last season weighing up to 3 kg+.

Lake Echo is another great trout fishery that always rewards anglers, and keep in mind Laughing Jack Lagoon, which is underrated.

Penstock and Little Pine Lagoon are go-to waters for fly anglers, and Woods and Arthur's Lake are also worth the run, although fishing here during the last few seasons has been a challenge.

Pushing South, waters like Lake Pedder hold lots of trout; Lake Gordon is another, and the scenery at both is worth a visit alone.

Lower Derwent Catchments like Meadowbank Lake, Cluny Lagoon, Lake Repulse, Lake Catagunya, and Wayatinah Lagoon hold a lot of trout, and Craigbourne Dam is another that fishes well when water levels are decent.

Lake Plimsoll, Clarence Lagoon and Lake Selina offer decent fishing for bucket list Brook Trout, which are best targeted in the cold weather early in the season.

Lake Mackintosh, Rosebury, Pieman. Lake Burbury on the West Coast and Lake Barrington, Rowallan, Gairdner and Lake Cethana in the North are others worth noting.

Wherever you're heading over opening weekend, Good Luck!!
Various angling clubs are hosting their first freshwater fishing competitions of the new season this weekend, including the New Norfolk Licensed Anglers Association.

NNLAA members will fish opening weekend on the Derwent River from 12 am Saturday morning from the Lawitta Pump Station to the Tasman Bridge.

A weigh-in is set for Sunday between 3 pm and 3.30 pm at the Rotunda on the New Norfolk Esplanade.

A reminder that anglers intending to fish the event need to be NNLAA members before the competition starts at 12 am Saturday, August 1.

Tip Of The Week- Williams Outdoors in High Street, New Norfolk is hosting "Trout Night" this Thursday, July 30 from 5 pm - 7.30 pm.
Send in your fishing reports, pics and tips to valleyfishes@gmail.com
Tight Lines until next week.