Trout Lures - Tassie Devils, Rapala and Loftys
The lures Mick reaches for and how he fishes them.
Book a guided trip to learn lure casting and trolling hands-on.
A few proven lures beat a full tackle box
On the Snowy Mountains lakes and the Tasmanian highlands, a handful of trusted lures will cover most days. Mick keeps it simple and fishes the ones he has confidence in, changing colour and depth rather than constantly swapping to something new. The three families below do most of the work.
Tassie Devils
Tassie Devils are a wing-shaped bladed lure that has caught trout in this country for generations, and they are as effective now as ever. Their wobbling action shows up well in the open water of Lake Eucumbene and Lake Jindabyne, which makes them a first choice for trolling. Bright colours like pink, green and yellow tend to shine in coloured water or low light, while more natural browns and darker patterns can be better when the water is clear and the sun is high. They troll well behind lead core or a downrigger when fish are holding deeper, and you can also cast and slow-roll them from the bank.
Rapala hardbodies
Rapala hardbodies are minnow-style lures that imitate a small baitfish, and they are excellent for both casting and trolling. A floating or shallow-diving model works the top few metres over weed edges and along shorelines, while deeper divers get down to fish holding off drop-offs. Let the lure's built-in action do the talking with a steady retrieve, and add the odd pause or twitch to trigger a following trout. Natural baitfish and brown-trout patterns are reliable, and brighter finishes earn their place in dirty water.
Loftys
Loftys are a well-known Australian spoon and cobra-style lure, and their flash and flutter draws trout from a distance. They cast a long way for their size, which makes them handy for covering water from the bank, and they also troll cleanly at a steady speed. As with the others, let conditions guide colour: brighter metallics in low light or stained water, more subdued finishes when it is clear and bright.
Matching lure to the day
The real skill is not owning every lure but reading the day and adjusting. Depth, speed and colour are the three levers. If the fish are deep, get the lure down with weighted line or a diver and slow the boat. If they are up shallow chasing bait, work the margins with a shallow runner. Change one thing at a time and let the fish tell you what they want.
The quickest way to build that judgement is on the water with someone doing it every day. Book a guided trip and Mick will have you casting and trolling these lures the right way, reading the conditions as you go.
