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.
