The Alpine Angler

Headlines: Fishing proved difficult on the weekend with high winds, though the rain and snow that it brought will get the rivers going. A few early spawners are on the cards anytime now. Bait fishing in the lakes has been quite good as has been the flyfishing.

Anglers need to pay attention to the dropping levels of the lakes. Underwater obstacles are starting to appear in some areas and these can be dangerous if hit at high speed. If unsure of the area go slow and keep an eye out.

Rivers:- It is that time of year when the browns will start to make an apperance in the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers as they run to spawn. While it may be a little early, reports suggest that there are a few fish doing their thing already.

Glo bugs and nymphs will be the standard patterns of choice but you could also include a few woolly buggers as well.

From May 1st both theses rivers have a bag limit of one fish per angler and this fish must be 50cm or larger. Fish under 50cm must be released.

Nymphing will be the best method when conditions are cool on all the other streams in the area. If you happen to jag a day when there is a large high pressure system with a windless warmer day then, you may still find a few fish will take a dry.

Lake Eucumbene:- The lake has been a little hit and miss but there are still enough of those fat rainbows around to keep most anglers happy. A few more browns have started to show though the rainbows are out numbering them considerably. The top end around Anglers Reach appears to be producing a few more of the browns.

*A group of Anglers spent last week in the Middlingbank arm and had a great time catching in excess of 150 fish. Nearly all were released. Standard streamer patterns were the best flies. On dark and early morning were the peak times. Best rainbow was 1.76kg. Still some great fishing to be had in that area.

Seven Gates and Crowes area has been very good as has the whole Middilingbank arm.

The fish have had a mixture of snails, daphnia and mudeyes in their stomachs.

Lake Jindabyne:- Jindabyne has been great in the evenings with some very nice rainbows on dark. There have been some really good browns starting to cruise the edges and these have been suckers for a small woolly bugger. There is a heap of weed in many of the bays and though this is making fishing a little tough it is also drawing the fish in to the food that it holds.

Eucumbene:- Trolling has been good overall with many lure types producing fish. Leadcore in deeper water has been a good producer over the last two weeks. . Trout pattern minnows in Rapalas, Attacks, RMG Scorpions, Rebels, and Alex lures are great lures to try. Try some of the larger lures down deep to search out the bigger browns.

*G'day guys,

Quick report from Eucumbene over the Easter period ...

A group of us from Syd and Melb fished Eucumbene (not Jindy this time - thought we'd try the other lake in the area) over the period 9-13 Apr 09. We fished within a few km of the Old Adaminaby boat ramp and landed 40 fish from two boats; majority rainbows, that were nice and fat and full of rowe. We managed about half a doz brown; one of around 2kg and in great condition.

Easter Fri was our best day, with 17 coming in on my boat and five on Scott's boat. All other times were hard fishing, except for a one hour period of Sun night where Scott and Doo boated three and lost one in less than an hour.

Best lures were no. 55 Pink Panther, no. 46 Brown Trout, no. 148 Eucumbene Bomber, HO Holographic, no. 67 Bull Frog, no. 09 Spotted Dog and no. Y82 Canberra Killer. This trip the down rigger was quiet; most fish caught on lead line in my boat, and flat line in Scotty's.

A few new commers on this trip - Greg and Nicole, Waity (a mad POM) and Doo, then the usuals - Sara, little Lochie, Scotty and I. The new commers had a ball, even Greg who said he would never catch a fish boated three on his first trip out trolling. Doo learnt that the 'big trout' (in Adaminaby) is not actually a replica of what was caught in Lake Eucumbene ... all this time she was fishing for a 6.5m trout!!

Scotty now knows to hang onto his rod a little tighter when fighting a fish ... there's a hell of a strong trout out there who now owns his fishing rod! Scotty also owes me a case after diving in for yet another rod - you'd think he'd learn the first time ... at 8:00am, Eucumbene is bloody cold!

Tassies and Stings on lead core line have been a great method on the lake. Try pinks and yellow wingers like like # 89, 36 and S12. Dual depth versions of these colours on flat lines would be a good option also.

Best areas for trolling continue to be Cobrabald, Waiunui, Collingwood, and the main basin area.

Jindabyne:- Jindabyne trolling reports have been pretty good in the Kalkite and waste point area along with the eastern side around Sids bay.

* Peter Hatch and Tim Eldridge braved the atrocious conditions on the weekend and manged to get eleven rainbows and two browns in the Kalkite area. Early mornings before the wind really picked up was the only time that could be safely fished. Tassie devils in colours 50, 55 and Holo were the best. Most were taken on flatline though the biggest brown of 2kg was on leadcore. Peter below with the best brown of the trip.

Well as you know the weather in the mountains was a little on the dismal side on the weekend and that would be an under statement. Stayed with a mate of mine on Friday night and took his three boys to Stinky Bay for an introduction to spinning squidgeys from the bank. The bay at the moment has deep water drop offs and some excellent timber structure as well as rocky outcrops, a perfect place to introduce these kids to the art of spinning from the bank. With wind blowing over our shoulders the result was excellent for Dale who bagged his first brown trout on a lure. Me on the other hand didn't even get a cast in, suppose there is always next time. BTW this brown was caught on a 70mm Squidgey fish in silver.......The fish went 2.2kgs and was full of yabbies. Proof that when the weather is shite one must think outside the square

Mudeyes are becoming harder to get at present but are well worth using when available. Powerbait is going to come into its own over the next few weeks as the weather continues to cool. Remember to fish it on the bottom but with a light gauge short shank hook, like the Gamakatsu single egg or Daiichi 2171 in a sz 6 are perfect. Best colours have been the Chartreuse, Sherbert and Chunky Cheese nuggets working the best. Scrub worms should account for some good browns over the next few weeks.

*John and Babara Novak and Nathaniel had a good session at Buckenderra recently on Power bait. Some of their quality fish pictured below.

*Zoltan Corba landed this cracking rainbow at seven gates last week. It weighed in at 1.5kg and was taken on a yabby.

If so, email them along with pictures to info@alpineangler.com.au for inclusion in our weekly report.

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Archive Date: 05/05/2009