Black soft plastics are the ‘Go To’ when stalking trout on lures.
Luring Summer Trout By Nathan Huizing
W
ith the days beginning to get both longer and warmer, now is a great time to get out and start exploring the never-ending list of trout waters throughout Tasmania. The arrival of summer generally brings lower river levels, allowing anglers to access stretches of water that were potentially inaccessible in the months prior. With the temperature rise also comes a rise in insect activity and the rivers and lakes of Tasmania come alive with fish sipping the water’s surface and cruising the shallows in search of an easy feed!
Locations There a too many great trout waters too explore in Tasmania but listed below is a select few of some of my personal favourites during summer. Lake Echo - This lake can really turn it on in the warmer months. Not only does this lake support a healthy population of trout, but redfin perch also call this lake home and as the water warms up the juvenile perch become more active and move into Fishing News - Page 8
the shallows. This is when some of the larger trout in the lake are often found cruising along the driftwood littered shoreline in search of some easy protein! This lake is also known for some great gum beetle hatches and actively searching the wind lanes for feeding fish can be quite productive! Styx River - One of the several tributaries of the Derwent River, the Styx can be a highly productive system with smaller fish being plentiful and the odd bigger fish thrown in the mix. The Styx can be quite difficult to wade and because of this, it is mostly inaccessible in the cooler months when river levels tend to be higher. As the levels begin to drop coming into summer, anglers can explore this river more thoroughly and find some great fishing to be had in sections of river that haven’t seen any anglers for several months. Great Lake - One of the more popular lakes in Tasmania, Great Lake is a huge body of water and due to its size and a rather barren appearance, it can be a little daunting trying to figure out where to start
on this lake. Fortunately, the insect life that summer brings, accompanied by a bit of wind can help you locate these fish much more easily if you know what to look for. A method called ‘Sharking’ is a very popular approach on this lake and involves seeking out fish in the open water that can be found feeding along foam lines that form on the surface of the lake during these windier periods Western Lakes - The Western Lakes can be a great option over the summer period, particularly for anglers who enjoy sight fishing. Lakes Ada and Augusta are both great options for sight fishing with lures as the bottom mostly consists of sand and silt which makes it easy for spotting the shadow of a cruising trout! For those who are a little more adventurous, a little further out into the Western Lakes are the Julian Lakes. While these lakes are more known for their exceptional fly fishing opportunities, lure fishing out here can also be highly productive and the average size fish is often worthwhile!
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