Brown Trout
Tasmania has a reputation for exemplary brown trout fishing. Arthurs Lake is renowned for its catch rate and trout population, with wet and dry fly fishing, spinning or trolling being the most productive. A boat is an advantage however, with abundant drowned timber and weed beds close to shore, the land based fisherman can have equal success on the right day.
Famed for its shrimp, dun hatches and nymph fishing, the fly fisher should excel. Loch style is a popular method on breezy days, wet, humid weather often sparks a nymph hatch, gum beetles and jassids are a feature in the Summer months as are the famed dun hatches. With a population only second to Lake King William, the humble matuka, wooly worm or bead head, blind flogged, will eventually produce a strike. Lily ponds and submerged timber obviously hold the fish and in recent years, fish have worked hard on the shore due to higher lake levels, despite draw downs in 2016.
All of the below links will provide a wealth of information or simply Google - Arthurs Lake fishing Tasmania. A hard copy of Trout Waters of Tasmania by Greg French is very handy.
Anglers alliance - Arthurs Lake webcam
For the hardware specialist, green & gold is a popular choice; cobras, floating or sinking small rapalas, green or redfin wobblers and the classic Tillins spinner will all catch fish. For the softer of the hardware, any credible soft plastic or squidgy such as Strike Tiger or really any minnow, nymph or shad pattern in the Gulp, Berkley or Tassie range are going to get you something in the net.
If it's all too hard, wattle grubs, worms and mudeyes even powerbait all take fish, while you relax and take it all in.
Tasmania's highland lakes
While the fishing at Arthurs Lake can be productive and on some days remarkable, the availability of other water nearby is equally appealing. Woods Lake and Great Lake are within a 30 minute drive and access to the Western lakes, Little Pine Lagoon, Penstock Lagoon, Lake Echo, Lagoon of Islands and the Bronte system are only an hour or so from your base.
Your best bet? Settle in, grab a book or fishing publication, do your research and probably best of all, have a chat to Tom - he's fished Tasmania for the past well, forever, with lake, river, sea runners and back-country destinations every season. Tom is a dedicated fly fisher these days but, if you ask him nicely, he'll admit to threading a worm or heaving a Canadian Wiggler around a few waters.
7lb Brown Trout
5lb Wild Brown
Other notable features
Food and beverage
Within 30 minutes you can access the Great Lake Hotel for counter meals, bar & bottle shop, fuel, grocery lines and camping supplies. The recommendation is to stock up at Launceston, Hobart or one of the regional centres along the way - if you forget, contact Tom for supplies. Longford has a supermarket, multiple takeaway options, fuel, ATM, boating and marine supplies, bottleshop, bakery, rural supplies even clothing. Perth and Cressy offer bottleshop and limited takeaway and grocery lines, Bothwell is similar in size and services.
to and from the airport
See location, use the interweb or ask Tom for no fail directions.
other than fishing
If you're here for a getaway without the burden of dawn patrols or late evening Muddler or Mrs Simpson forays, there's a range of activities within short distance or within an hour or two.
Attractions - Probably best done as day trips -
The Wall in the Wilderness at Derwent Bridge is an astounding feat by one very creative artist,
Ratho Golf Museum, also at Bothwell is Australia's oldest golf course,
Lake St Clair National Park is simply outstanding in it's visual and natural aesthetics,
the villages of Elizabeth Town, Deloraine, Westbury and Campbell town make an interesting loop of craft, food and produce,
In a southerly direction, Bronte, Tarraleah, Ouse, Hamilton and Bothwell make an equally interesting loop in Hydro-Electric history, the best pies in the Universe at Hamilton and combine whisky and golf as above for a full day
Hiking or trekking - Best to get a copy of the Abels or 100 Walks in Tasmania; in the vicinity -
Mt Penny West, short & scrubby but the best views over Arthurs Lake, Wild Dog Tier and Rats Castle overlooking Great Lake to the West, Sandbanks Tier on the Western Tiers situated along the highway; note that these walks are rocky and involve some scrambling. Many are exposed but not overly technical. Pine Lake on the Highland Lakes Road near Great Lake is an easy flat alpine walk suitable for all abilities, and along the tiers Liffey Falls, Projection Bluff, Meander Falls, Drys and Quamby Bluff are all half to full day walks.