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Fishing has been good and bad depending upon location and conditions.  The good reports have been very good but some anglers have done it tough.  The quality of the Lake Eucumbene Rainbows is astonishing at the moment.  This time last year they were snakey , skinny, slabs but right now they are fat little footballs that fight hard and are going great on the plate. Check out a couple of the photo's in the reports below.  Great Fish.

Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers are up a little and are holding a few spawning fish for lure and fly anglers.

It's on again this November, The 35th Yamaha and Freshwater Fishing Snowy Mountains Trout Festival.  Dates for the week long competition are Saturday the 1st of November - Friday 7th of November 2008.

Once again prizes will include a Boat, Motor and Trailer package, Category prizes for Trolling, Spinning, Fly and Bait fishing, daily secret weight cash prizes, plus an overall secret weight cash prize.  The fishing is bound to be excellent and it is a great family orientated event.  Book your holidays early and don't miss the countries premier Trout Fishing event.

*From 1st May the bag and size limit in the Eucumbene River and Thredbo River changes to 1 fish only over 50cm.  All fish under 50cm must be released and only one over 50cm may be kept.  The whole of the Eucumbene River is open to fishing.  Artificial lure and fly only in both rivers.

Flyfishing

Rivers:-    Fishing methods are very dependent on the weather at the moment.  A nice, still sunny day is ideal for searching with a dry and you may find a few fish rising if a hatch occurs.  On overcast and cold days a nymph is a better option fished under an indicator. 

There are spawing fish in the Eucumbene and Thredbo so Glo Bugs and Nymphs will start coming into their own as well.  While the run is not huge yet there a few fish to try and tempt.  Any good rain over the next few weeks will see a bigger run of fish entering these rivers so keep you eyes on the weather forecasts.

Dry fly fishing is still a possibilty during the day or evenings when a big high pressure system moves over the area and the condtions are fine and warmer.  There have been a few hatches on the warmer days so don't pack the dries away quite yet.

Pheasant tails, Hare & Copper, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, Black and Brown Nymphs are the pick of the flies with some having a beadhead an advantage if the river is up a little.

River mouth fishing is well worth a try of an evening with the onset of the spawn run.  Large streamers like a Fuzzy Wuzzy or Wooly Bugger on a slow sink or sink tip line are a great way to get amongst some big Browns.

Lake Eucumbene:-  Mudeyes are still showing up in the stomachs of some of the Rainbows so a Mudeye pattern, Craigs Nightime or a Mum's Poodle are well worth a go after dark.   During the day searching with a Wooly Bugger or a Stick Caddis pattern might find a couple of fish.  Look for areas with some depth as the really shallow areas seem to be holding less fish. 

Areas to try are Rushy Plains, Seven Gates, Collingwood Bay, Buckenderra and Yens Bay.

 Lake Jindabyne:-  Not a lot of change in reports from Jindabyne with few reports coming in.  After dark with big wets is the best option but day time polaroiding is another method worth trying.  You obviously need a bright still day for visibility and covering as much water as possible is essential.

With the new moon after dark with Lumo Flies should start to work well this week.

Best areas to look at in Jindabyne are Kalkite, Creel Bay, Waste point.

 Lake Tantangara :-  A good number of fish cruising the edges early and late at present so well worth a look.

Trolling and Spinning 

Eucumbene:-   Reports from the lake have been fantastic.    Launching access is available at Old Adaminaby, Anglers Reach, Dam Wall and Buckenderra.

Despite the cooler temps leadcore and downrigging have been working very well of late.  Flatline minnows and Tassies are still taking a few but the bigger numbers of fish have been caught deeper on the whole. 

      

    

Baitfishing :- Mudeyes are nearing the end of regular supply but will still take fish overthe nexst month if available.  As the weather continues to Powerbait and Scrubworms will take over.   Baitfishing has been a little harder this week but there were still a few nice fish caught.

Below is a great fish of 585 mm long 1.8kg cleaned caught at Lake Jindabyne on 26/4/08 just on dusk with Mudeye bought from you guys.

Paul Stanley above with his great Brown.

*Local Johnny 'Scrubworm' Pene had a good session at Seven Gates recently. He caught six good Rainbows keeping four.  Mudeyes cast out a long way were the fish takers.  Johnny always greases the main line between the float and the reel with silicone mucilin so that it floats.  This keeps the line out of the weed and grass and means the fish feels less resistance when it takes the Mudeye.  Little details like this can make a big difference to your catch rate.

Best areas in Eucumbene have been at Buckenderra, The Dam wall, Seven Gates, Yens, Old Adaminaby, Coppermine, Collingwood, Wainui, Spring wood.