FLY FISHING MECCA

Little Pine Lagoon is probably the best known flyfishing 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 1.5kg - 2.5kg. 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.

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.

 

BE RESPONSIBLE

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. A line of buoys north east of Bertrams Island defines 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.

 

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.