Continuing the lead into the 2026-27 brown trout season starting this weekend, on 1 August 2026, here’s a look at some of the best options in western, eastern and southern Tasmania for your first trip of the season.
Firstly the West - featuring large lakes, rugged scenery and excellent trout populations, the region is home to some of the state's most underrated fisheries.
Lake Burbury remains one of Tasmania’s most consistent trout waters, supporting strong populations of both brown and rainbow trout. Early-season fishing is typically productive, with opportunities for anglers using a range of techniques. Excellent camping facilities are available at the formal campground on the eastern shore, which includes a boat ramp and toilet facilities. The southern end of the lake around Darwin Dam is also a popular camping destination. All methods of angling can be successful at Lake Burbury, although the lake’s size means a boat provides a significant advantage. Anglers also have the chance to land a $5,000 tagged trout as part of the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion.
Lake Mackintosh is another outstanding early-season option. Trolling is the most popular and productive method, and anglers are encouraged to cover water and move between locations if fish are not active. Fly anglers may encounter rising fish feeding on midge hatches during calm mornings, although lure fishing remains the primary attraction for most visitors. Bibbed lures and Cobra-style lures consistently produce results, with green and gold colour patterns often performing particularly well in west coast waters. Shore-based lure fishing can also be very effective. The southern end of the lake, commonly known as the Tunnel End, is one of the most productive locations, particularly when water is flowing from Lake Murchison through the Sophia Tunnel. Anglers should note that a clearly signposted exclusion zone prohibits boating in this area. The long inlets where the Vale River and Sophia River enter the lake are also worth exploring, along with the extensive stands of drowned timber found throughout the system. As water levels rise, bait fishing with worms or grubs can be highly effective. Lake Mackintosh also contains $5,000 tagged trout as part of the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion. Camping is available around the boat ramps between Tullabardine Dam and Mackintosh Dam, while comfortable accommodation can be found nearby at Tullah.
For anglers seeking a more challenging opening weekend destination, Lake Plimsoll is well worth consideration. The fishery has performed well during the early season in recent years, particularly around inflow areas where trout congregate. Fishing around these inflows is a reliable approach. Lake Plimsoll is also one of Tasmania’s better waters for targeting brook trout, a species that features on many anglers’ bucket lists. Early season generally offers the best opportunity to encounter brook trout, although they can be notoriously selective and often require persistence. For many anglers, that challenge is part of the attraction!
Eastern waters
Tooms Lake is shaping up as an excellent option for the start of the new season. Water levels are good, and the lake fished exceptionally well towards the end of last season, producing quality brown and rainbow trout. Over winter, our stocking team added 1,149 brown trout and 800 rainbow trout to help ensure the season opens with a bang. All angling methods are worth considering. Focus on casting around the drowned timber along the shorelines. Fly fishers should do well casting wet flies through the shallow margins.
With its relatively low elevation (571 m) and proximity to the east coast, Lake Leake offers milder conditions and is an ideal location to kick off the season. Don't let the current low water levels put you off - there is still plenty of scope to launch a dinghy from the main boat ramp. Brown and rainbow trout continue to thrive in the lake and finished last season in excellent condition. For fly fishers, the early season highlight will be working wet flies around weed beds and drowned timber. Over winter, we stocked 2,310 brown trout and 1,600 rainbow trout into the lake. As an added incentive, anglers fishing Lake Leake also have the chance to win $5,000 through the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion.
Often flying under the radar, another great option in the east is Rostrevor Reservoir. Open to all angling methods, this water is just over one hour from Hobart. Owing to its lower elevation, this water fires early in the season and gets quiet later in the year as the water heats up. Whilst catch rates are generally not high, the fish in this water are impressive. Reminder to anglers that it is a requirement of access to this water to contact the landowner prior to visiting using the details on the signage.
Lake Crescent is currently at a low level and anglers intending to fish from a boat should reconsider their plans – perhaps until levels rise. There is a great article on Crescent here. However, shore-based fishing remains a very worthwhile option. The lake is renowned for its trophy trout, with fish weighing well over 10 lb caught every season. Large populations of galaxias provide a key food source, making galaxia imitations among the most effective lure and fly patterns. Early-season fly anglers favour large black wet flies. Key areas to target include the marsh edges and rocky shorelines. Another productive option is fishing from the bank of the inflowing canal downstream of the C527 road below Lake Sorell. Anglers should note that the canal remains closed to fishing upstream of the C527 bridge to its junction with Lake Sorell.
Speaking of Lake Sorell, this fishery is also well worth considering on opening weekend. During the closing weekend of the 2025–26 season, anglers reported seeing large numbers of well-conditioned brown trout jumping along the Hatchery Shore. Although these fish proved difficult to catch, their presence generated plenty of excitement among those on the water. Trolling hard-bodied lures and fly fishing the marshes with wet flies are expected to be the standout techniques early in the season. To make things even more interesting, there are $5,000 tagged trout swimming in the lake as part of the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Competition.
And here are some options in the South.
Southern Tasmania offers some outstanding early-season trout fishing opportunities, and the good news is that many of the state's best fisheries are within easy reach of Hobart.
The Derwent River is one of Tasmania’s premier early-season fisheries, with reports of quality sea-run brown trout already coming from the lower reaches. Over the coming months, annual whitebait runs will attract trout into the river, creating some of the best fishing of the season. Numerous shore-based access points are available through the Anglers Access Program, while boat ramps at Bridgewater and New Norfolk provide excellent launching opportunities. Anglers should focus on slower-water holding areas adjacent to stronger currents for the best results. The Derwent also features $5,000 tagged trout as part of the Tasmanian Tagged Trout Promotion.
Further south, the Huon River will again attract strong early-season interest. Sea-run trout are regularly caught in the lower reaches from opening weekend through to Christmas. The river offers excellent access through the Anglers Access Program, along with good boat launching facilities at Huonville and downstream locations.
The Tyenna River is widely regarded as one of Tasmania’s best river trout fisheries and should fish well provided flows remain moderate. Extensive angler access is available, with some of the most productive reaches located around Westerway and Maydena.
Often overlooked, the Lower Derwent lakes provide excellent opportunities for anglers seeking quality fishing away from the crowds. Meadowbank Lake, Cluny Lagoon, Lake Repulse, Lake Catagunya and Wayatinah Lagoon can all be reached within a little over an hour’s drive of Hobart and offer excellent camping and boating facilities. These waters are generally under-fished and can provide exceptional sport during the opening months of the season. Although a boat can be advantageous, productive fishing is still available from the shore. Each year, larger trout are regularly encountered around Hydro tailrace inflows, where food and oxygen-rich water attract fish. Fly anglers should concentrate on the shallow weedy margins, with wet flies generally proving the most effective choice. Wayatinah Lagoon and Meadowbank Lake are particularly well suited to this style of fishing.
