The west coast of Tasmania is the mountainous and forest-
clad side, its southern portion to a large extent still to be opened up.
What manner of trout fishing may one day be found there is
problematical, but there are trout there and some very large ones in the
estuaries. Tomorrow's anglers will no doubt enjoy this area.
But the north-western coast has many streams along its entire length,
varying in size from respectable rivers to mere creeks. All of them hold
trout. There are many small fish here—but also a few good ones. The
Inglis and the Flowerdale, near Wynyard, are typical of this kind of
stream, flowing through beautiful flat country in their lower lengths
after plunging down from the rugged foothills of the Western Tiers,
where some of them hold small rainbows in their headwaters. When the
whitebait enter the estuaries of various of these rivers in the spring,
some exceptional sea-run brown trout are taken - up to 5kg and over.
The Mersey-Forth hydro-electric power scheme, not yet completed, will
provide the north-west coast area with a number of sizable artificial
lakes and waterways where excellent fishing is sure to be found. Lake
McKenzie and Lake Rowallan, for example, which already provide good
fishing, should become the haunts of many more anglers in the future.
This area is only some 60-80kms south of Devonport, set in
some of the most rugged and spectacular country on the island.
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