Daniel Hackett is a Tasmanian fly fishing guide who has spent twenty years perfecting the art of sight-fishing for wild brown trout in the glacial lakes and tannin-stained rivers of Tasmania's Central Highlands. Born in Launceston, Daniel first encountered the Western Lakes as a teenager on a camping trip with his father, and the experience of spotting a large brown trout cruising through crystal-clear water over a pale sand bottom fundamentally altered the trajectory of his life. He abandoned his plans for university, apprenticed with a veteran guide, and has been stalking Tasmanian trout professionally ever since.
Tasmania's Western Lakes fishing is a unique discipline that demands exceptional eyesight, stealth, and casting accuracy. Daniel's approach involves driving or hiking to a series of highland lakes each day, scanning the shorelines and shallows with polarized glasses for feeding or cruising trout, then coaching his client through a single-cast opportunity that may not repeat if the fish is spooked. The challenge is immense, but the reward — landing a wild brown trout of three, four, or even five pounds in a pristine alpine setting that feels like the end of the Earth — makes every failed attempt worthwhile.
Daniel also guides on the mainland rivers of northern Tasmania for resident brown and rainbow trout, and on the highland streams during the summer months when terrestrial insects draw trout to the surface. He holds a Tasmanian inland fisheries guiding license and is active in local conservation efforts to protect the highland lake ecosystems from invasive species.
Contact Daniel Hackett — Tasmania Highland Fly Fishing directly to book your guided trip.
