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Tasmania’s big trout

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By Neil Grose | Tasmania, rightly or wrongly, has an international reputation for very large trout. Most locals, however, would recognise that big trout are very much a rarity.

By big trout, I really mean anything over 8 pounds. Big fish, of course, are relative. A 2 pounder in the St Patrick’s River is a giant, a 5 pounder in Lake Crescent is perhaps only average!

In the heydays of Lake Pedder, 10 pounds was considered well below par and Great Lake in 1870 saw plenty of double figure fish!

Much of the ‘big fish’ reputation was gained on the back of numerous new Hydro impoundments that caused an acceleration of trout growth.

Lake Pedder is the prime example of this; the artificial raising of the water level led to a massive explosion in midges, which caused a massive explosion in mudeyes and galaxia, which ultimately led to a massive increase in the average size of the trout.

It has been quite some time since a new impoundment has created the conditions for accelerated growth, (and no more are planned), so as a result in these post Hydro growth days, we will have to work a bit harder, (or get luckier) if we are to crack the big fish bonanza.

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You would be hard pushed to mention any lake in Tasmania and completely rule it out as a big fish venue. I have seen photos of 12 pound fish from Pine Tier Lagoon, 16 pounders from Arthurs Lake, 20+ pounders from the Tyenna River and quite a few 8 pound plus fish from the junction of the St Patrick’s and the North Esk River.

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Shadow & Forgotten

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.

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