Arthur's Lake in one mood
and another
Aurthur's Lake, Tasmania, Australia
If New Zealand rightly holds the title of the finest fly fishing for trout in rivers, then Tasmania can claim to have the best lake fishing. The central highland region of this magnificent island has a series of lakes, both natural and man made; some very large and others Lilliputian. Perhaps the best of them, for surface sport is Arthur's Lake.
The lake is shallow and full of food. There is a big mayfly hatch; that is big mayflies and in large numbers ! There are also a series of terrestrial bugs that blow onto the water, perhaps the most important of which are gum beetles.
All this food means the trout are looking up and often feeding on the surface. So dry fly fishing is not just a possibility, it is an effective way to catch big brown trout. The trout on Arthur's lake seem to feed from the top just as well in bright sunlight as they do on a dark day. They can even be caught in a flat calm. This doesn't mean the fish are overly easy, but it does mean that you can fish with real hope almost under any conditions.
Arthur's Lake in one mood
and another