Fly Fishing locations

The fisheries

Tasmania has a range of river fly fishing settings.

Large slowing moving meadow streams are the setting for raft fly fishing, mixed with larger riffle and run rivers where a mixture of rafting and wading can occur. Smaller freestone waters, and the headwaters of the larger rivers provide the settings for those choosing specifically to wade rivers.

Small stream ‘trout hunting’ venues are just that, streams small enough to jump across with typical open, undercut banks and all day sight-fishing opportunities.

Highlights of a days fishing are aimed at including a large proportion of dry fly fishing, whether it’s sight fishing to rising or tailing fish, or polaroiding fish on the brighter days.

The fish

The fish in our larger rivers used for rafting are both rainbow trout and brown trout, averaging between one to one and a half pounds, with a good mixture of two to three pounders (20+ inches) available to the persistent and skilled. There are opportunities to target occasional 4 pound plus fish for the skilled angler.

Any fish larger than two pounds in these deep weedy rivers can be a real challenge for the angler to land and a three pounder is considered a ‘trophy trout’ for these waters.

River wading venues have a similar mix of sizes, though the average size is closer to one pound, with a sprinkling of two to three pound fish. Fish are predominantly brown trout, though rainbow trout and even brook trout under special circumstances can be targeted.

Small stream stalking can provide for a large range of fish sizes to target. Most of these little gems house thousands of 8-12 inch trout and the occasional fish up to two or three pounds, however a couple of secret streams house extremely challenging trophy sized fish in gin clear water.