|
Trout Fishing in Australia
by Bob Ives
You would actually be hard
pressed to convince a resident of Australia who loves to fish that there
is any better trout fishing in the world than the trout fishing in
Australia. Maybe they have a point. From the NSW all the way down to
Tasmania in the south, there are plenty of great fishing holes full of
trout. However, it wasn't always this way.
Trout are not native to Australia and they were brought in from England
and the United States via New Zealand. Now there are trout farms in
Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales designed for the purpose of raising
and stocking fingerlings into the popular fishing waters in Australia.
If you're wondering how to catch trout in Australia, the short answer
would be fly fishing. There are some anglers who use lures such as
imitation grass hoppers, small minnows and bait fish, but fly fishing in
Australia for trout is the name of the game. Australia has a lot of areas
which offer fly fishermen a chance for many memorable fishing trips.
There's no reason to ever get bored with Australian fly fishing, because
there is so much variety in where and how to trout fish. They can be found
in lakes, rivers and streams and you can catch them by wade fishing, site
fishing, drifting and just walking the banks of a tributary.
One reason why trout fishing is so popular is because they are a challenge
to catch. In fact, the art of tying a fly is a big part of the hobby in
itself. But, another reason is that they are just plain good fighters. If
you want action, trout are happy to oblige and they are good jumpers. Be
sure someone with you has their camera ready.
Trout Species In Australia
Rainbow Trout
If you want a pretty fish, this is your man, er, well fish. They are
beautifully coloured and very energetic. They are regularly stocked by NSW
Fisheries and multiply on their own, so there are plenty of them. Rainbows
are the most common trout species for lake fishermen. They range from 1 to
2kg, and are sometimes caught at over 3kg. Their season is from October to
May.
Brown Trout
The Brown Trout has a fairly large mouth and head and their coloured
varies from olive green to dark brown on the back with a white belly. You
may also notice some black and red spots. They are normally caught from
500gms to 3kg, but have exceeded 6kg. Browns are distributed throughout
Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Southern Western Australia and
Tasmania. They are best fished for on light tackle and you will do well
with fly fishing, bait fishing and even lure fishing. Their season runs
from October to December and end of February to the end of April; spring
till mid-autumn.
Brook Trout
While Brook Trout aren't discussed as much in regards to Australian
fishing, they are there and there is actually some very good Brook Trout
fishing thanks to regular stockings into Lake Jindabyne. Maybe the reason
why it's not quite as popular as the other trout is because there are a
little harder to find and catch. Brook Trout go to about 2kg in Lake
Jindabyne.
Still stumped? Why not plan a trout fishing trip with one of the many
trout fishing guides in Australia? They will be more than happy to set you
up with a fishing charter, provide the trout tackle, and make sure you go
home with a stringer full of Australian trout.
by Bob Ives
www.trout-fishing.com.au
|
