Regulations

5 fish combined with only 2 over 500mm

Min size: 300/500 mm Bag limit: 5 Method: Fly fishing only Season: 3/8/2024 - 27/4/2025

Little Pine Lagoon Outlet Canal

Min size: 220 mm Bag limit: 5 Method: Fly fishing only Season: 3/8/2024 - 27/4/2025

Background

Little Pine Lagoon is probably the best known fly fishing water in Australia. The lagoon was created by the erection of a low profile dam across the Little Pine River to divert water down Monpeelyata Canal to Lake Echo. The lagoon is shallow and weedy and is highly productive. The brown trout population is sustained entirely by natural recruitment with most fish being 0.5 and 1.5 kg. There is much to offer anglers whether they fish from the shore or a boat. Owing to its small size and popularity, anglers are advised to respect the needs of other users.

Getting There

Little Pine Lagoon is situated approx 10Km west of Miena on the B11.

Recreational Fish Management

Little Pine Lagoon is managed as a wild trout Fishery. Little Pine Lagoon is reserved for fly-fishing only.

Angling Notes

Early in the season (September - November) when water levels are moderately high, fish can be seen busy 'tailing' within centimetres of the waters edge. Anglers should survey the shallow margins for signs of fish before wading into the lagoon, particularly at first light and late afternoon. All of the lagoon's shoreline will produce fish although the Road Shore, Untouchables Shore and Tailers Shore are the most popular areas. Various wet flies and nymph patterns fished inert are successful. During summer (December - March) prolific hatches of mayfly occur across the entire lagoon and trout rise freely to take the emerging duns. Emerger fly patterns and various dry flies account for many fish. Polaroiding these cruising fish from a boat is an effective method. All the shoreline can be easily accessed by foot and boat fishing is popular, especially with a team of wet flies, which often accounts for good bags of fish later in the season.

Protect Waters

Recreational anglers have a responsibility to look after fisheries resources for the benefit of the environment and future generations. Do not bring live or dead fish, fish products, animals or aquatic plants into Tasmania. Do not bring any used fishing gear or any other freshwater recreational equipment that may be damp, wet or contain water into Tasmania. Check, clean and dry your fishing equipment before entering Tasmania.Do not transfer any freshwater fish, frogs, tadpoles, invertebrates or plants between inland waters. Check your boat, trailer, waders and fishing gear for weed and other pests that should not be transferred before moving between waters. Do not use willow (which is a plant pest) as a rod support as it has the ability to propagate from a strike.

Native Fish Management

The climbing galaxias (Galaxias brevipinnis), the spotted galaxias (Galaxias truttaceus), and the Western paragalaxias (Paragalaxias julianus) have populations in the Little Pine River system. Whilst the galaxias species are likely to occur in low numbers in Little Pine Lagoon the paragalaxias has not been recorded here.

Pest Fish Management

Anglers can help reduce the spread of pests in Tasmanian waterways by not transferring fish between waters. Offences may incur significant penalties.

Recreational Use

Public foot access extends around the perimeter of the Lagoon. Camping is restricted to the designated area. Little Pine Lagoon Public Reserve is managed by Parks and Wildlife Service. Campers should observe the following: Campfires prohibited. Fuel stoves only.Dogs must be kept under control at all times.

Boating

There is one launching area next to Monpeelyata Canal. The area within 100 metres of the Little Pine Dam is a no boating zone.
Little Pine Lagoon is very shallow with an average depth of approximately 1 metre. White posts north and east of Bertrams Island define a voluntary no petrol motors area. It is recommended that only electric motors or manual propulsion be used north and east of this line. To avoid environmental damage to weed beds and increasing turbidity in the lagoon a five-knot speed limit applies to the whole lagoon.

Remember

Check your wash - if it's white it's all right - if it's brown slow down. Fishing from a boat within 100 metres of an angler fishing from the shore is prohibited unless the boat is securely moored. Do not park on or obstruct boat ramps.