Western Lakes Day walk with Jayden Donohue
G
enerally, a 2:30 am alarm is something most people cringe at but when I know I’m having a day in the western lakes I don’t seem to mind at all. It takes an hour and a half walk into the first lake so setting off early is essential. I always like to think I’m going hiking not fishing because the fish part is not always guaranteed.
The Plan Once I have decided to go on a day trip into the Western lakes, I always try to put a plan together as to where I will fish and how I might spend the day. Many hours can be lost fishing every lake or tarn you come across so I only fish the ones I have chosen for the day, otherwise, I would never get to my final destination in one day.
Midge Hatches Walking onto a midge hatch that’s in full swing can be very tricky with trout randomly rising all over the lake, making it very hard to cover fish. When the Fishing News - Page 30
fishing is tough, I sometimes get lucky blind searching submerged boulders with a tiny midge fly early in the morning, it’s always a surprise when a trout eats the tiny fly I have presented and my rod loads up under its weight. I often find fish amongst submerged boulders so they are always worth a few blind casts if you have the time to do so. If you’re lucky enough, one might come up and sip down your tiny fly, making your day before it has really got started.
Decisions When I have reached my chosen destination, I will try to make the correct decision as to which way I might fish around the lake and what areas would be worth looking at. Wind direction and speed, water levels and the position of the sun are all taken into consideration. If there is low light, I will walk along the shoreline of the shallow margins of a lake in hope of finding fish feeding in close to the bank, or even tailing trout waving their golden dorsal and caudal fins in full view, out of the water.
www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.
Early starts to ensure the most opportunities for the days hike.
