Species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Tier 2Eating8/10light tackleNSWVICSAWATAS
82 waypoints25–50 cm (max 100 cm) typical
Regulations
NSWbag 5VICbag 5TAS22 cm min · bag 12
| State | Size | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | — | 5 |
Closed: closed season Jun long weekend - Oct long weekend on most trout streams | ||
| VIC | — | 5 |
| TAS | 22 cm min | 12 |
Closed: closed season typically Apr/May - Aug (varies by water) | ||
Regulations change. Always verify with the relevant state fisheries authority before fishing.
Overview: about brown trout
Introduced European trout, the backbone of cool-climate stream and lake fisheries in TAS, VIC, NSW and parts of SA and WA. Targeted with flies, lures and bait in rivers and impoundments; sea-run browns also push into TAS estuaries. A freshwater licence is required in most states.
Biology: Brown Trout size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Freshwater, Impoundment, Lake, River
- Typical size
- 25–50 cm (max 100 cm)
- Weight
- 0.5–2.5 kg (max 14 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–30 m
- Diet
- insects, baitfish, mudeyes, frogs, mice
- Most active
- crepuscular
- Global range
- Native to Europe/W Asia; widely introduced in AU
How to target: Brown Trout angling strategies
Generally fished with light tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- tassie devils and small bibbed minnows trolled along impoundment edges
- mudeye under a quill float at dusk on Tas highland lakes
- polaroiding the shallows with small soft plastics on bright days
- dry flies over evening rises in tailwaters
- PowerBait on a paternoster from the bank in stocked lakes
Best season: when to catch brown trout in Australia
- NSW
- Oct-Jun (Snowy Mountains)
- VIC
- Sep-May
- TAS
- Sep-Apr (highland lakes)
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Conservation
IUCN: Least Concern
Introduced — inland fishing licence required in NSW/VIC/TAS/SA/WA.
Recent community catches: anglers who caught brown trout
No brown trout catches logged yet. Log one and you'll be recognised here.
Where to catch: brown trout fishing spots in Australia
Tasmania40
- Arthur River MouthRiver Mouth · TAS-41.05°
- Arthurs LakeLagoon · TAS-41.97°
- Bradys LakeDam · TAS-42.15°
- Bronte LagoonLagoon · TAS-42.14°
- Brumby's CreekRiver · TAS-41.75°
- Carter LakesLagoon · TAS-41.92°
- Dee LagoonDam · TAS-42.27°
- Great LakeLagoon · TAS-41.88°
- Halfmoon LakeDam · TAS-41.78°
- Inglis River at WynyardEstuary · TAS-40.99°
- Isis RiverRiver · TAS-41.76°
- Lagoon of IslandsLagoon · TAS-42.03°
- Lake AugustaDam · TAS-41.91°
- Lake BurburyDam · TAS-42.07°
- Lake CrescentDam · TAS-42.17°
- Lake EchoDam · TAS-42.19°
- Lake FentonDam · TAS-42.68°
- Lake GordonDam · TAS-42.75°
- Lake King WilliamDam · TAS-42.12°
- Lake LeakeDam · TAS-42.01°
- Lake MackenzieDam · TAS-41.65°
- Lake PedderLagoon · TAS-42.93°
- Lake RiverRiver Mouth · TAS-41.77°
- Lake SkinnerDam · TAS-42.93°
- Lake SorellDam · TAS-42.13°
- Lake St ClairDam · TAS-42.10°
- Little Pine LagoonLagoon · TAS-41.98°
- Macquarie HarbourEstuary · TAS-42.30°
- Macquarie River LowerRiver Mouth · TAS-41.73°
- Macquarie River at RossRiver · TAS-42.03°
- Meander RiverRiver · TAS-41.69°
- Mersey River DevonportRiver · TAS-41.18°
- Penstock LagoonLagoon · TAS-41.93°
- Pine Tier LagoonDam · TAS-42.12°
- Pumphouse LakeDam · TAS-42.06°
- Talbots LagoonDam · TAS-41.31°
- Tamar River - Beauty PointEstuary · TAS-41.16°
- Tooms LakeDam · TAS-42.16°
- Tungatinah LagoonDam · TAS-42.07°
- Tyenna RiverRiver · TAS-42.69°
New South Wales18
- Ben Chifley DamDam · NSW-33.55°
- Eucumbene RiverRiver · NSW-36.15°
- Geehi RiverRiver · NSW-36.32°
- Goodradigbee RiverRiver · NSW-35.35°
- Khancoban PondageDam · NSW-36.22°
- Lake EucumbeneDam · NSW-36.05°
- Lake LyellDam · NSW-33.48°
- Lake WallaceDam · NSW-33.42°
- Murrumbidgee River at TantangaraRiver · NSW-35.80°
- Oberon DamDam · NSW-33.72°
- Pejar DamDam · NSW-34.58°
- Talbingo ReservoirDam · NSW-35.65°
- Tantangara ReservoirDam · NSW-35.79°
- Thredbo RiverRiver · NSW-36.49°
- Three Mile DamDam · NSW-35.93°
- Tooma RiverRiver · NSW-36.08°
- Tumut River below BloweringRiver · NSW-35.30°
- Yarrangobilly RiverRiver · NSW-35.70°
Victoria17
- Acheron RiverRiver · VIC-37.48°
- Erskine RiverRiver Mouth · VIC-38.54°
- Goulburn Tailwater EildonRiver · VIC-37.24°
- Hepburn LagoonLagoon · VIC-37.31°
- Lake Bullen MerriDam · VIC-38.26°
- Lake DartmouthDam · VIC-36.55°
- Lake DaylesfordDam · VIC-37.35°
- Lake PurrumbeteDam · VIC-38.29°
- Lake ToolondoDam · VIC-36.97°
- Lake WartookDam · VIC-37.10°
- Lake WendoureeDam · VIC-37.55°
- Lauriston ReservoirDam · VIC-37.27°
- Mitta Mitta Below DartmouthRiver · VIC-36.70°
- Pykes Creek ReservoirDam · VIC-37.68°
- Snowy River at BuchanRiver · VIC-37.51°
- Tullaroop ReservoirDam · VIC-37.09°
- Yarra at WarrandyteRiver · VIC-37.74°
More information: brown trout references & sources
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