Lake Pedder is a vast impoundment in south-western Tasmania, about a two-hour drive from Hobart.

The lake feeds nearby Lake Gordon with water for generating hydro-electricity, via McPartlan Canal.

Lake Pedder formed in 1971 when a controversial dam was completed and the original much smaller Lake Pedder was flooded.

The Gordon hydro scheme formed Australia’s largest freshwater impoundment. Lake Pedder has a 242 square kilometre area, and Lake Gordon is 272 square kilometres.

Pedder’s water levels are relatively static, but Lake Gordon has regular large drawdowns, exposing much of the bare shoreline. Gordon also often rises quickly.

Both Pedder and Gordon have tannin-stained water that is usually clear enough for lure and fly fishing.

Lake Pedder was famous for fishing in its early years as the trout grew huge on the abundant food supply, and multiple catches of trophy fish were common.

This has since changed.

The lake is still full of trout but they now average 500g to 1kg.

Big fish may exist but they are not common.

The lake is famous for its scenery.

This huge waterbody sees relatively little fishing pressure, and provides a true wilderness experience.

Unfortunately its landbased fishing potential is fairly limited.

What little shoreline is accessible does produce fish.

Boaters must watch the weather as this is alpine country and it gets rough and very cold at short notice.

Most fishing methods work at Lake Pedder.

The lake experiences some insect hatches, unlike Lake Gordon, which fluctuates too much to sustain insect hatches.

Midge fishing and windlane fly-casting works in the daytime.

Early mornings in summer and autumn are the best time for windlane fishing.

Some windlanes can carry many feeding fish.

Fly or lure fishing the shoreline is best in the morning and late afternoon.

Lure or fly type does not seem to be critical.

Trolling over structure often works, as well as deep trolling.

Any location with an inflowing creek is worth fishing.

In the 1980s Pedder’s big trout were often caught at night using surface lures, with braver souls saying winter was the best time to use this method.

One would think that with trout being abundant throughout the lake, there would be big cannibal trout caught.

Trout in Irish and Scottish lakes are known to grow large and prey on other trout, read about the original ferox trout here.

However there does not seem to be a record of a trout bigger than 1.5kg being taken from Pedder in recent times.

Lakes Pedder and Gordon are managed as wild trout fisheries.

Brown trout are the main catch, with a few rainbows.

Angling is allowed all year.

Lake Pedder is within South West National Park.

There are campgrounds at Teds Beach, Edgar Dam and Huon Inlet.

Camping fees do not apply but National Parks Passes are required.

There is a lodge at the lake with accommodation and a heated pool.

There are boat launch sites at Serpentine Dam, Strathgordon, Teds Beach, McPartlan Pass, Edgar Dam and Scotts Peak Dam.

Lake Pedder has two threatened native fish species present, the Pedder galaxias and swamp galaxias. Both have a maximum length around 10cm.

Nearby Lake Gordon has redfin, which may become established in Lake Pedder.

In recent times Lake Gordon has been drawn down to almost empty because of low rainfall, but it rises fast during rain events.

Tasmanian fishing regulations
Tasmanian marine reserves
Tasmanian saltwater fishing seasons
Trout fishing spot access programs
Fisheries assessment reports
Buy a freshwater fishing licence
Tasmanian lake levels (hydro)
Tasmanian river flows (govt)
Tasmanian lake webcams
Tasmanian river flows
Bag and size limits
Private Tasmanian trout fisheries
Return to the Tasmanian Fishing Map

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Lake Gordon is a vast impoundment in southern Tasmania, topped up by nearby Lake Pedder to provide hydro electricity.

These two impoundments together make up Australia’s largest water storage.

Both lakes contain brown and rainbow trout, and Gordon has redfin, which will likely eventually become established in Lake Pedder.

Lake Gordon is characterised by fast-changing water levels from hydro draws, which leave much of the bare bank exposed.

Lake Pedder’s water level fluctuates far less.

Both lakes have tannin-stained water that is usually clear enough for lure and fly fishing.

In recent Lake Gordon has been drawn down to almost empty because of low rainfall, but it rises fast during rain events.

The lake is vast at about 272sqkm when full, and is not heavily fished, so the fish are not educated and often aggressively take lures.

However distances to the best spots by water are great, and submerged timber is a navigation hazard, especially near low water.

Lake Gordon fishes best with rising water levels, and can be a difficult location to find fish when it is falling.

After rain, try the arms of shallow bays, with fish feeding anywhere water is rising over new ground.

For boaters, the locations where streams flow in are worth a try.

A good spot is Adams Bay, which has a spectacular waterfall entering from Adams River.

The Gordon River inflow is a great area that tends to fish well regardless of the lake level, unlike other spots. Huge boulders lie on the bottom here and there are large eddies in the current.

Fish with lures where the river enters the lake, and expect some big fish.

Lake Gordon is chockers with small redfin, and large trout feed on these.

Strangely, the trout here do not seem to go mad on summer gum beetles as they do on other lakes, and mudeye and other insect hatches are rare because the water levels change so much.

Insect hatches are better on nearby Lake Pedder because of the more stable water level.

Other good fishing areas to try include:

Ragged Basin – empty at low levels but otherwise a good spot. It is popular mainly because it has a boat ramp off the Gordon River Road.

The north end of Holley Basin and Pokana Bay fish well when the level is rising.

If you launch at the power station ramp between the water intake and the dam wall then Knob Basin is good with a rising water level.

Boyes Basin is perhaps the best area of all, accessed from Clear Hill Road.

Launching here is done off the loggers road and it can be hard even with 4WD. Take a chainsaw in case trees fall over the track.

You made need to obtain a key from Forestry Tasmania – ask if the track gate will be locked.

Trolling Boyes Basin can be successful. Use deep trolling methods if the fish are hanging low.

Elsewhere, the former river bed fishes well and at low levels this can be done followed simply by going through the timber.

For many, redfin are a highlight of the lake rather than a nuisance feral fish. There are some big redfin, to 2kg+, but a lot of small ones mixed in.

Tasmanian fishing regulations
Tasmanian marine reserves
Tasmanian saltwater fishing seasons
Trout fishing spot access programs
Fisheries assessment reports
Buy a freshwater fishing licence
Tasmanian lake levels (hydro)
Tasmanian river flows (govt)
Tasmanian lake webcams
Tasmanian river flows
Bag and size limits
Private Tasmanian trout fisheries
Return to the Tasmanian Fishing Map

Email updates or corrections to [email protected]

Being a relatively cool state with areas of reasonably consistent rainfall, Victoria has some great trout fishing, but with seasonal fluctuations in fishing quality.

Successive dry years cause a decline in fishing quality, with cool, wet years creating better fishing opportunities.

Some of Victoria’s rivers and lakes support natural recruitment of trout, while others are stocked with trout and other salmonids.

The annual stocking regime includes thousands of fingerlings as well as “school holiday fish” that are big enough to be caught immediately.

See this link for the latest school holiday stocking schedule.

Trout were introduced into Victoria in the 1860s and stocking continues today. For example …

2019 Salmonid Stockings
Brown trout 412,502
Rainbow trout 536,390
Chinook salmon 50,000
Cheetah trout 2,450
Total 1,001,342

Brown trout are the main salmonid species caught, along with rainbow trout and a small resource of chinook and Atlantic salmon.

Brook trout were stocked in Lake Purrumbete in 2016 as part of a two-year trial stocking.

A hybrid between brook and rainbow trout, dubbed “cheetah trout”, were stocked in Lake Purrumbete in 2019.

Redfin and native Australian fish are caught alongside trout in most Victorian trout waters.

The best Victorian trout waters are Goulburn River (between Eildon and Molesworth), Rubicon River, Acheron River, Steavenson River, Tanjil River, King River, Ovens River, Kiewa River, Mitta Mitta River, Lake Catani, Lake Eildon, Lake Purrumbete, Lauriston Reservoir, Hepburn Lagoon, Newlyn Reservoir, Tullaroop Reservoir, Lake Toolondo, Lake Hume, Lake Bullen Merri, Lake Wendouree, Eildon Pondage and Lake Dartmouth.

For a full list of Victorian waters recently stocked with trout visit here.

There are also many privately stocked dams.

Trout stocks in some waters are periodically assessed by fisheries staff and report cards are released.

Wild Trout Health Report Cards

Summary of wild trout streams (2015-2018) (PDF – 502.9 KB)
Buckland River
(PDF – 1.4 MB)
Howqua River
(PDF – 1.4 MB)
Jamieson River
(PDF – 1.4 MB)
Upper Goulburn River (above Lake Eildon)
(PDF – 1.4 MB)
Traralgon Creek
(PDF – 1.4 MB)

When choosing a trout fishing location it pays to assess various destinations to determine which are fishing well.

Fishing quality varies with the vagaries of the seasons, both on the short and long term.

Localised rain events provide fish with food as water levels rise and this produces fatter, healthier fish.

Rain can discolour water in otherwise clear streams and lakes.

A general rule is to fish using lure or fly in clear water, with bait more productive in discoloured water.

Consecutive years of good rain bring on the best overall trout fishing.

Here’s a summary of Victoria’s trout fishing regions.

Victoria’s north-eastern trout rivers

The high country rivers hold naturally spawned brown and rainbow trout.

Spots to try include the upper Yarra and Goulburn River catchments, the upper Ovens and King Rivers, and the Nariel and upper Murray River catchment streams.

The Mitta Mitta River is well regarded.

Any cold clear-water creeks flowing into these systems are likely to hold fish.

Try fishing just before and after the closed seasons for best results.

Victoria’s crater lake trout fishing spots

The state has unusual volcanic crater lakes that are deep and fertile and produce big fish.

Lakes Bullen Merri and Purrumbete are famous for producing trophy brown trout, with fish to 5kg caught each year, along with rainbow trout and chinook salmon.

The trout caught in these lakes are few, probably because the big fish are cautious, but their size makes it worth the effort.

Try casting lures near the shorelines in mornings and afternoons.

Deep trolling can work well on chinooks and rainbows.

Victoria’s southern trout rivers

These coastal rivers are stocked annually.

The Hopkins, Merri and Moyne Rivers all have good fishing at times, with sea runners in late winter/spring.

Try casting lures while walking the banks when the water is dirty, or use a fly rod when the water is clear.

Other mostly smaller coastal rivers and creeks, such as the Barham (near Apollo Bay), Aire and Gellibrand also turn on good fishing and all may produce occasional sea runners.

Victoria’s highland lakes trout fishing spots

Moorabool, Wendouree, Newlyns, Hepburn, Bostock and Tullaroop impoundments are places worth fishing in the Ballarat region.

Winter fishing can be good in these locations when big trout are chasing smelt and feeding on mudeyes.

Look for deep water near flats or weedbeds and the fish won’t be far away.

Victoria’s western lakes trout fishing spots

Tooliorook, Deep Lake, Toolondo and Lake Bolac are stocked and have good trout fishing, but with season variations.

Trout fishing tips

Studies show that Victoria’s stream-dwelling trout tend to head far upstream during hot weather, possibly because there is more shade and cooler water in the upper reaches of rivers.

Use the lightest possible tackle for best results in clear water.

Tiny soft plastic lures are often successful on trout, but bigger fish will take minnow lures.

If you hike into a remote section of stream you may find better fishing.

Pay attention to the weather, and river and lake levels, and don’t expect instant results if this is your first shot at trout fishing.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for freshwater fishing, including within stocked dams.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com

Victorian trout fishing spots stocked for school holidays
Recently stocked Victorian trout fishing spots
Victorian dam levels
Melbourne dam levels
VIC fishing regulations

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.