By Dan Ivanof | Sitting above beautiful Lake St Clair and at the base of a natural grandstand formed by Mounts Hugel and Rufus, lays one of Tasmania’s true natural delights and possibly best kept secrets — the Shadow and Forgotten Lake system.
Consisting of only a few tiny blue dots on the map of Tasmania, Shadow and Forgotten create a place where fishing is just a darn good excuse to be there to sample the sounds, sights, colours and smell.
It’s a pre-historic place that really activates the senses, cleansing all who visit of the pressures of a modern existence.
The amazing midge hatches, incredible deep water polaroiding and teasing shallow water tails are just a bonus! The system consists of 3 very different waters, namely lakes Shadow, Forgotten and Solitude.
These pristine waters all feed the Hugel River and eventually become a major water course supplying Lake St Clair itself.
Whilst I offer a view of the system through fly fishers eyes, real opportunity exists for lure and plastic enthusiasts.
We are still in denial that our aging bodies are to blame, but we were certainly ill-prepared for the walk.
The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service rate the 13km return walk at ‘moderate’ and ‘suitable for younger children with bushwalking experience’.
Well, with a steady climb of 220m and with 20 odd kilos on the back, be prepared for a little pain.
The walk, however, is spectacular! Beginning with a leisurely stroll from Cynthia Bay at Lake St Clair to Watersmeet where the Hugel and Cuvier rivers become one.
From here, ascend with the Mount Rufus track through temperate rainforest before emerging into tall eucalypt forest.
The approach to Shadow Lake is finally signposted by a screen of native pencil pines that eventually gives way to some of the clearest water you will ever see.
Depending on your fitness level allow between 90 – 120 minutes – a little less with gravity in your favour on the return.
From Shadow, a very pleasant 10 to 15 minute stroll along raised board-walk will put you on the northern shore of Forgotten Lake.
A visit to the Shadow system would be somewhat incomplete without pitching the tent and experiencing the solitude.
The dusk and dawn midge rises in Shadow and tailing browns that haunt the creek mouths of Forgotten are likely to be missed if allowing the trek time in or out for a day trip.
A day trip is easily possible, but overnighting will really expand the experience.
Read the full story, published with permission from The Tasmanian Sportsfisher, here.
Dan Ivanof is a qualified biologist with a background in fisheries management, aquaculture research and the fishing tackle industry. He pursues all forms of fishing with borderline obsession and has a real hunger for ‘adventure angling’.
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