Blue Lake Lodge, Tasmania

Arthurs Lake as we now know it, was formed in 1964 when a dam was constructed to flood the Morass (a large marsh), Sand Lake, and Blue Lake. The water body immediately in front of the Lodge was the Blue Lake.

The Lodge accommodates 6 guests- 3 double guest rooms with king size singles or extra king size doubles and ensuites. Each of the ensuites have baths, which are popular with the guests after a days fishing. The Lodge and guest rooms offer modern relaxed comfort with fine Tasmanian timber furniture and polished floorboards throughout. The guest rooms and dining area all have extensive views of the lake. There is a large decked area along the front of the guest rooms and around the dining area, for relaxing and barbeques. The main lodge contains a dining area, a bar featuring Tasmanian wines, reading material and fly tying area, leather lounge seating, large open fire, and open plan kitchen.

Blue Lake Lodge guided fly fishing caters to both experienced and novice fly fishers. Fly fishing activities can be shore based and/or from specially designed sport fishing boats.

The guided fishing picnic lunch includes freshly brewed coffee with homemade cakes and biscuits for morning and afternoon tea. Sandwiches are freshly made with homemade bread, leg ham, poached trout, smoked free range chicken, tracklements from the Lodge kitchen and Tasmanian cheeses- with a refreshing Boag's Premium beer. On a few cold days it is hard to beat a hot lunch in front of the Lodge fire of trout chowder with bread rolls straight from the oven.

Arthurs Lake teems with wild brown trout mostly in the 2-4 pound weight class with the occasional bigger fish thrown in. These wild browns are tenacious fighters- our guided guests are regularly taken into the backing. The trout in Arthurs Lake rise freely when surface food is available. During the summer months we almost exclusively fish dry flies on Arthurs Lake.

The Western Lakes are a collective group of thousands of lakes, tarns, and rivers situated on the Central Plateau in the World Heritage Area. The Western Lakes is a challenging but rewarding wild brown trout fishery. Trout from 1-12 pounds can be expected, but catch rates are generally a lot lower than Arthurs Lake. 

Early in the season when water levels are rising, large trout move into the shallows to feed with their tails and backs out of the water. Fly fishing for tailing trout is very exciting and challenging.

Trophy trout to 5 kg can be targeted in the Western Lakes between September and April. Sight fishing the crystal clear water of shallow sandy flats for big trout on sunny days will provide you with unforgettable sport. There is nothing more exciting than watching a large trout rise up and slowly take your dry fly. Mayfly hatches peak in the Western Lakes between December and February. Polaroiding the flats from our boats is available in the more accessible Western Lakes as well. Other fly fishing activities in the Western Lakes mostly involve short walks, so a moderate level of fitness is required. Longer treks are available to more remote waters. 

Sea-run brown trout and estuary resident browns are great sport fish. In September and October these fish provide exciting sight casting when they smash into schools of whitebait. Large trout can be expected, and this fishery should be considered by advanced fly fishers.

This sea-trout fly fishing is unique in that it is not a spawning run, but a feeding run. Large trout will feed on whitebait right through the middle of the day. The estuaries south of Hobart provide beautiful scenery in which to fish for sea run and estuary resident brown trout from our fly fishing boats. As an added bonus Atlantic salmon to 5 kg and Australian salmon to 4 kg are often caught on fly during our guided trips to Tasmania's southern estuaries as well.

Clothing and equipment checklist -- Summer

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