Continuing our lead in to the 2026-27 brown trout season starting on 1 August 2026, here’s a look at some of the best options in the Central Highlands.

The Central Highlands remains a favourite destination for trout season opening, particularly for anglers willing to brave the cooler weather.

Yingina/Great Lake continues to be Tasmania’s most visited fishery early in the season and is once again home to the $25,000 tagged trout in the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion. Recent rainfall has seen lake level begin to rise, creating ideal conditions for shore-based bait fishing as trout feed aggressively to regain condition after spawning. Lure casting and trolling should also be productive, with gold-coloured lures expected to perform well. As always, anglers are encouraged to experiment with lure style, colour, depth and trolling speed if fishing is slow. A slower retrieve or trolling speed can often make a significant difference in the cooler water temperatures experienced at this time of year. The lake’s productive charophyte weed beds are key fish-holding areas. Anglers can locate these on the Anglers Access brochure map. Consistently productive areas include Swan Bay, Tods Corner, Beckett’s Bay and Elizabeth Bay.

At an elevation of 651 metres, the Bradys chain generally offers milder conditions than many other Central Highlands waters early in the season. The IFS stocking program has recently released 1,600 rainbow trout and 2,070 brown trout into the system. All angling methods can be successful across the chain. There are several camping opportunities available, with toilets provided at the Bradys Lake boat ramp and Tungatinah Lagoon. Productive locations include the major inflows at the White Water and Dee Portal areas of Bradys Lake. The interconnecting canals fish well when water is flowing, while Tungatinah Lagoon is another reliable option. Fly anglers should also keep an eye on the shallow eastern shores of Lake Binney, where early-season tailing trout are often encountered. The system is also home to $5,000 tagged trout in the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Competition.

Penstock Lagoon and Little Pine Lagoon are expected to attract plenty of fly anglers on opening morning. At Penstock, anglers stripping wet flies from boats found success during last season’s opening weekend despite cold conditions. While Little Pine Lagoon proved challenging at times last season, persistent anglers were rewarded with some excellent fish. In years when water levels are favourable, the famous tailing trout fishery can produce excellent sport at first light on opening day.

Woods Lake experienced mixed fishing results last season but should not be overlooked. Water levels have improved during winter, and the blue-green algae issues that affected the fishery in previous years have not been observed for more than 12 months. Traditionally an excellent early-season water, anglers should consider trolling the main lake and fishing wet flies around the marshes. Bait fishers can also achieve good results in front of the campsites along the northern shore. A toilet at the boat ramp carpark adds to Woods Lake’s appeal as a family-friendly camping destination.

Bronte Lagoon produced outstanding fishing at times during the early part of last season, with both brown and rainbow trout in excellent condition from the opening weeks. Trolling hard-body and Cobra lures proved effective, while wet fly fishing along the shallow margins also produced results. Shore-based lure casting can be productive, particularly around the Bronte Canal mouth and the Clarence Pipeline. Camping is available along the northern shore, with toilet facilities provided at the boat ramp carpark.

To view recent fish stockings for the Central Highland region visit the IFS website or download the free Infish App.  Please check weather conditions before heading out!

Get Ready—Act Now!

Don’t miss opening day. Purchase or renew your licence today:

Visit Service Tasmania, your local tackle store, or go to the IFS website. 

Gear up, get licensed, and get fishing—we’ll see you on the water this season!