A Julians Lakes Sojourn

Visitors are incidental in this wilderness panorama.

---

The high “High Country” is not for everybody. It is exposed to rain, sleet and snow with a comparable elevation to the top of Mt Wellington (1200 metres). It’s remote wilderness … and the only way to really enjoy it is to camp. … Tas High Country Fly Fish Tours’ Nature Based Tourism Licence requires a minimum of 2 experienced Guides to lead the trip so ideally four Guests is a good number. … You have to have robust camping equipment, several layers of good thermals (not all to be necessarily worn at once) as well the promise of good weather before you even contemplate a trip … but it can be fantastic!

Early morning “tailing” is a feature. …

Under blue-sky conditions, the polaroiding can be exceptional! The water can be so clear that you can’t determine where the water stops and the sky begins. … You can sometimes spot (pun intended) fish from 30 metres or more … but they are not easy. … you often have to stalk your trout to be able to get a cast at them … and frequently it’s your Guide, or your partner, who is calling the position of the fish from an elevated rock, who shares the most exquisite memory of seeing your fish rise to your dry fly in that most pristine environment.

"My first brown trout on a fly"

Dawn on a cobalt blue sky day

An unbelievable camp site

"My second fish on a fly"

Wade polaroiding the shallows

Sunsets on a calm evening are a time for rising fish or hunting tails in the shallows.

The high banks around the Lakes are ideal for polaroiding on a blue sky day.

The last flickers of dusk in the Julian's Lakes System are not always like this.

Reward for visual fishing (polaroiding) in gin clear water.

"Another cracker of a wild brown trout, Dad!"

"Nice fish, Dad"

The clarity of the water is unreal. The fish was spotted (pun intended) from the high bank, stalked by all anglers for 15 minutes before being caught, netted and safely released.