Headlines: Fishing has been a mixed bag over the long weekend. Fly anglers are doing well overall, the trolling had been good in Jindabyne and Eucumbene, which is still rising and the baitis
Flyfishing
Rivers:- The river fishing to continues to be very good. Late in the evening is the best time. Fishing a Beetle, Hopper or other smal dry is a good option.
Evening rises have been the best time to get connected to fish on the dry.
Best flies have been Blue Wing Olive parachutes, Klinkhamers, Elk Hair caddis, Geehi Beetles, Red Tags, Ti Tree Beetles, Daves Hoppers, Glen Innes Hoppers, Snowy Hoppers are the best patterns in the streams at the moment.
Lake Eucumbene:- The lake has been rising for the last week or so and the lake is looking fantastic at Buckenderra, Seven Gates, and Yens Bay with lush grassy bays.
Hopper fishing can be good during the day especially when burleying with live hoppers. This is a great way to find where the fish are so you can then fool them with an artificial.
A sinking line fished off the bank or boat with a Woolly Bugger or other streamer pattern is another option during the day.
*Mick, Kieran and myself had a quick session last week near Frying Pan in a reasonable electrical storm, and the fishing was not easy. We only managed two Rainbows around the 35 cm mark between us.
*Mick returned on Sunday morning with very early 4am start, and reported that fish were moving everywhere. He hooked eight landing only two which is a piss poor effort . A nymph under a Humpy hooked the fish.
Lake Jindabyne:- Reports from Jindabyne have been scarce but evening and early morning should be a good time to find a few patrolling the edges. Stick Caddis, Olive Nymphs, Black Nymphs, Craigs Nightimes, Muddler Minnows, Scotch Poacher, Fuzzy Wuzzy's and Matukas are the patterns of choice at the moment.
A Mudeye pattern after dark should turn up a few good fish.
Best areas to look at in Jindabyne are Kalkite, Creel Bay, Curiosity Rocks, Hayshed and Hatchery Bay.
Lake Tantangara :- No reports
Trolling and Spinning
Eucumbene:- With the rising water launching will become progressively easier. Plenty of trolling access from there now.
Launching access is available at Old Adaminaby, Anglers Reach, Dam Wall and Buckenderra.
Trolling has been best down deep with leadcore or a Downrigger. There are good numbers of fish being caught trolling around the edges of grassy bays, in the deeper water around the Western shoreline and also the river mouth area.
There has been some problems with grass being blown into the water that is floating and causing problems for trollers as it catches on lines and lures. Searching for bays devoid of this debris will avoid frustration.
Tassies that have been working are numbers 55, 89, S12, Y94, 50, and Y82
Rapala GSR 5 Shad Raps have worked well fished off the rod tip.
Best areas have been the Dam wall, Old Adaminaby, Grace Lea, and the area off Seven gates.
Jindabyne:- If you really want to catch a fish being on the water as the light starts to improve is essential. Fishing deep is still the best option as it is in Eucumbene, Tassies and shallow running minnows are the go in close. Small Rebel Crickhoppers and CD1's have been very good too.
Leadcore has been better over the deeper water and a minnow like a Rapala, Scorpion, Attack or Strike Pro will catch you a fish or two.
Tassies in orange pink and yellows have been great.
The quality of some of the fish has been superb with real football like condition. Keep an eye on how hard you set the drag on your reel, as the first hit and run from some of the better Rainbows have been absolute howlers.
Best spots to troll have been Sids Bay, Creel Bay, Kangaroo Bay, the bank between Sid's and Kalkite and the islands adjacent to the township.