Almost seven weeks in, the brown trout season is now in full swing! The last week or so has brought some welcome rain and although the unsettled weather has presented some challenges for anglers, September and October are traditionally some of the best months for trout fishing in Tasmania. Water temperatures are rising and fish activity and appetite will increase along with it. Events that take place in the aquatic environment through Spring provide unique trout fishing opportunities over the next few months. The following is a snippet of what to look forward to!

Whitebait runs have commenced around the state, bringing quality sea run browns in with them. The lower reaches of rivers and estuaries are the hotspots. As a general rule, if you can find the whitebait you will find the fish! Sea runner fishing also comes with the added bonus of the potential to catch a monster. Already this season there have been trophy fish taken from the Derwent, Huon and Tamar Rivers. 

Flooded river margins after heavy rain are another highlight of springtime trout fishing. As rivers break their banks the trout will venture out of the main river channels onto freshly inundated ground in search of food. Bait fishing in these conditions can be extremely productive. Look for pockets of still water off to the side of the main river flow. Points where smaller creeks or farm drains enter the main river are also hotspots. 

Rising waters in lakes and dams also bring the fish into the shallows in search of food. During low light conditions (dawn and dusk) trout can be found 'tailing' in very shallow water with their fins sticking out of the water. These trout are particularly challenging to catch as they are easily spooked. This only adds to the fun!

Frog spawning time is upon us in the lowlands, and normally happens around the end of the September in the highlands. During this time the trout can be seen sitting dead still close to the bank (often within 1 m), waiting to ambush any unsuspecting frog. A well landed frog imitation fly will normally incite an aggressive reaction from these fish. The best spots to try are always around the marshy margins of lakes.

The first dun hatches of the new season also typically appear towards the end of September at Four Springs Lake. Fishing a dun hatch is one of the most popular characteristics of the fishery amongst fly anglers. Duns will normally appear at Talbots Lagoon in mid-October each year and then at Penstock Lagoon around the start of November.

So there you have it! There is plenty of great fishing to be had over the next few months. If you haven’t done so already, renew your licence and take advantage of what is one of the best times of the year for trout fishing!