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This week sees another release of Gaden Hatchery brood stock into Lake Jindabyne.  Atlantic Salmon from eighteen months to five years of age will be released.  These range in size from baby 10 inch fish to 6-7kg monsters.  Approximately 60 -70 of the Atlantics are in the 'Monster' size class.  Along with these 150 Brook Trout averaging 1kg will be released as well.  Some great potential for a trophy to be caught in the next week or so.

Fishing reports have been good despite the atrocious weather on the weekend. Wind was a problem but there wer still a few who caught fish. The quality of the Lake Eucumbene Rainbows is great and a few good ones in Jindabyne too.  Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers primed to fire with some rain and are fishing well for resident fish and a few spawners thrown in too. 

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 more spawing fish in the Eucumbene and Thredbo after the weekend's snow and minor rain falls.  Glo Bugs and Nymphs will start coming into their own as well.   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.

Best Dry flies have been Klinkhamers, Adams, Wullfs and small black spinners.

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.

The river mouth is still well worth a look after dark and there are some good Browns staging in this area before they run to spawn.  Sinking leaders and lines are the go and big size 6 and 4 Woolly Buggers, Fuzzy Wuzzys, Bushy's Horrors Craigs Nightimes etc are the best patterns to use.

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 varied some anglers continue to find good fish while others have found it hard. 

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.  Flat line minnows and Tassies are still taking a few but the bigger numbers of fish have been caught deeper on the whole.Excellent Rainbows have been caught recently with fish over the 1kg mark being landed.  With the bright conditions of late it is a must to be on the water at first light.  Fishing a little deeper during the day is important also.

Colour wise Tassies in yellow wing patterns are very good as always.  Dual Depths Tassies in pinks and yellow wings have been good.  The frog patterns #67 and #80 have turned a few fish over the last week also

The Glass Shad Raps are another great fish catcher in the Rapala range with the Glass Gold Red and Glass Perch the best colours.

RMG Scorpions have a new colour that looks great too the R31. Give it a try.

Baitfishing :- Mudeyes are nearing the end of regular supply but will still take fish over the next month if available.  As the weather continues to Powerbait and Scrubworms will take over.   Baitfishing reports have improved again.  It is important to find bays with some weed or lots of weed for best results.

*Friday and Saturday saw anglers, John Palmano, John Xureb, Dave Xureb, and John 'Scrubworm' Pene, fishing the right hand bays from Rainbow Pines with Mudeyes and only Mudeyes.  Friday night they caught twelve fish with nothing under 1kg. Biggest was a Brown of 2kg taken by John Palmano.  John Xureb lost an estimated double figure Brown at the net, with the fish diving into weed and breaking off.  No one dared speak a word to Mr Xureb after that incident.  Saturday night they fished the same location for nine fish but not of quite the same quality.  A great couple of sessions there indeed.

*Hi guys, got to Anglers Reach on Friday. After a big feed and much discussion (over a good quality port and Cuban cigars) about the next days fishing, we awoke to gale force winds and sleet. We decided on Yens Bay to get out of the high norwesters and after a few hours we trudged back to Anglers Reach fishless. It was the same for the rest of the day, morale was dropping, (the thought of the women folk back in Canberra giving us another bagging about our trout fishing skills) until Steve decided to throw a line in at Anglers. Kev and I went to gather wood for the evening. On our return, heres Steve with a smile on his face like a split water mellon and proudly displaying his first trout 40cm 1 ¾ kilo for all to see. All thanks to your advice (and scrubworms).

Thanks guys.

Cheers, Bob.

P.S Kev and I still got a bagging when we got home.  

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