Penstock Lagoon is a special highland fishery that has stable water levels which allow aquatic life to flourish.
Penstock was built in 1916 as a water storage for the since closed Waddamana power station.
Today the storage is managed as a fishery.
Water levels are usually highest in spring but do not change much through the year.
Penstock has varied habitat, from marshes to rocky shorelines.
Most of the waterway is shallow, around a metre deep, with some timber and rocks.
Fishing is by fly only.
There are no reliable spawning rivers feeding the lagoon so there is little natural recruitment of trout.
This fishery relies on regular stocking, and both brown and rainbow trout are released.
There is a bag limit of two fish and the open season is usually from around August to May.
Penstock is one of the most consistent mayfly waters in the highlands.
Large hatches occur, with duns appearing from November to March. Overcast days are best, and hatches usually peak from about 11am to early afternoon.
Spinners occur at Penstock, with fish feeding on them along the edges of marsh and sometimes well into the lagoon. Calm afternoons are best for spinners.
The small caenid mayfly hatches early, from before dawn to sun-up, from about November to February.
Penstock has plenty of terrestrial insects like gum beetles and jassids that interest trout at times, usually in summer.
The western shore’s marsh sees brown trout in the shallows early, with an evening session also possible.
Springs sees fish chasing frogs in the marsh, with tadpole and nymphs bringing the fish on to December.
Blind casting the rocky shores works when trout are chasing baitfish.
Drifting the lagoon with wet flies also works, but it is the prospect of enjoying the visual styles of fishing that many Penstock anglers enjoy.
The lagoon has a healthy native fish population, with climbing galaxias, spotted galaxias, Great Lake paragalaxias and Shannon paragalaxias present.
Eels are also in the lagoon.
There are two designated camping areas and a boat ramp on the western shore. The maximum period for camping is 14 days.
As the lagoon has an average depth of only a metre a designated 50m wide corridor for petrol-powered boats has been created.
This corridor runs from boating channel at the ramp end of the lagoon to Crisps Point on the east side, down the centre of the lagoon towards Lily Pond at the southern end.
Boats traversing the lagoon must be in the corridor, which is marked by white buoys in the lagoon.
Boating outside of the corridor should be by electric outboard or rowing.
A 5 knot speed limit applies throughout.
Penstock Lagoon’s numbers 1 and 2 canals above two white posts on opposite banks of those canals are closed to fishing.
Fishing from a boat within 100m of a shore angler is prohibited unless the boat is moored.
Freezing conditions can occur quickly, carrying suitable warm weather gear is a must.
Penstock is a unique fishery that is well worth a visit if you are fly fishing tragic.
Here is a list of recommended tackle for Tasmanian waters.
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]
