The western lakes are the jewel in the crown of Tasmanian still water sight fishing. These small and shallow lakes offer outstanding but challenging sight fishing throughout the fishing season. There are two components to the western lakes: the Nineteen Lagoons which can be accessed by vehicle; and the back lakes, which are a walk in and camp option.

The Nineteen Lagoons:
The Nineteen Lagoons are so called due to the fact that there are 19 lagoons that can be easily reached in a day trip from Great Lake. These lakes offer excellent sight fishing when conditions are right, with terrific early season tailing fishing and wonderful polaroiding on sunny days during spring, summer and autumn. Lakes such as Ada, Ada Lagoon, Howes Lagoon Bay, Lake Augusta, Botsford, Kay and Double Lagoon all offer consistent fishing throughout the season for good sized wild brown trout from a couple of pounds up to double figure fish in some cases. Most fish however range between 2 and 5 pounds.

The 19 lagoons main forte is the sight fishing. On cloudy and calm mornings the fish move into the extreme shallows to feed on small shrimp, scud, snails and stick caddis. This is very visual fishing, as these fish often show their whole back while wriggling in the shallow water. More often they will simply show as a swirl or dimple. This is real hands and knees fishing, as they are very spooky. However they can be approached at quite close quarters and fish under the rod tip are quite common. They can be hard though!

On sunny days the trout will often cruise across sandy flats and weed beds. By using the sun and wind to your advantage they can be spotted (sometimes easily) and a cast made in front of them. This can be the most spectacular of all sight fishing, as you see the fish react to the fly, swim over to it and ultimately eat it – that’s the plan, anyway! Polaroiding, as we call this, is possible on any sunny day (ideal conditions are a sunny day and a warm north easterly to westerly wind with no cloud at all), however it is best between October and April. Most of these cruising fish will take a dry with relish, although some days a nymph or stick caddis dropper is necessary.

The back lakes:
The remote lakes are accessed by foot and usually mean a three day trip to get the best from the experience. For quite fit anglers however day trips are possible. Many of these lakes have no names and are small tarns or tiny creeks between larger water courses. We have an intimate knowledge of these waters and often find fish in areas that many simply walk past. These fish can reach double figures, and if a ten pounder is the target, then it is out here that you stand the best chance of catching one.

This is very much a sight fishing experience, with all fish that are caught usually spotted beforehand. As this can be a wild place when the weather turns, we recommend heading out here in summer and autumn – Late December, January, February and March. For those anglers who have experienced flats fishing for bonefish – this is very similar – large fish cruising shallow sandy alpine lakes that require quick and accurate casting with smaller flies and light tippets. It can be extremely tough out here, some days close presentations are not close enough and the wind can be strong – this area is 1300 metres above sea level in the path of the roaring forties trade winds.

However, when the sun is bright and the sky cobalt blue the fishing can be amazing, simply amazing.

Tackle requirements:
The Nineteen Lagoons and the back lakes need good quality 5, 6 and 7 weight rods. 5 weights are ideal for normal conditions; however a 7 weight can be handy if it does start to blow. Rod lengths between 8’ and 9’ are ideal. Floating lines are all that is needed and dry flies with nymph droppers are normal rigs. Early season tailers are often targeted with wet flies such as small woolly buggers and fur flies, especially for the frog feeders or aggressive last light tailers.

Accommodation for fishing the western lakes is based at Rainbow Lodge or Rainbow Cabin. Camp out trips for extended adventures can also be arranged – we have a wide range of equipment including tents, however we recommend that clients have an excellent sleeping back and rucksack or their own for this trip. A good level of fitness is also required, as many kilometres can be covered in a days fishing.