The Alpine Angler

Spring has "sprung" In the Snowy Mountains - what a cracker week we've just had ! The fishing has also been great with some fantastic fish coming in over the weekend. The browns are definitely back in the lakes with some great polaroiding on Lake Jindabyne over the last few weeks.The trolling and baitfishing has also been pretty consistent ,with plenty of fish still coming in.Things should only keep improving as the weather warms and lakes rise. Remember to call in to the store for a cuppa in front of the fire on your way through or home and we'll update any further details on the day

NSW Fishing Licences:-Due to the amount of work involved with licence returns we are now ONLY offering fishing licences On-Line Via the NSW Fisheries web site with the use of CREDIT CARD PAYMENT ONLY !

Lake Eucumbene:- There are always a few fish sneaking around the Eucumbene river mouth up at Providence.Just remember you have to be out side of any visible flowing water during the closed season on the rivers. Basically so long as your well below the first set of rapids flowing above the lake you can continue to fish right through winter.The rainbows are now running, with some fish over 2kg being caught - so they're worth the effort.Intermediate lines and large streamers are the way to go - just pack the woollies.There have been some nice browns showing up down around the Buckenderra / Middling bank Frying pan area with fish to 2.5 kgs being taken.Patterns worth having in your box include Woolly buggers,Fuzzy wuzzies, Craig's night times,Tiahape ticklers and lumo baby dolls.Remember to up your tippet after dark to atleast 8lb as there's always a chance of a BIG one at this time of year.We should also see some polaroiding up around the Eucumbene cover over the next month - always an area worth a look through winter if Jindy gets blown out

Jindabyne:- The browns are definatly about now - so keep an eye on the weather map for those BIG high pressure systems and get out on the lake for a look - it's been one of the best polaroiding seasons in years

Most areas in the lake will produce fish , with a boat providing better access to the lesser fished shore lines. Best flies for polaroiding include :-woolly bugger's, and fuzzy wuzzy's, Bushy's Horror's,sand cases caddis,black and peacocks, midges etc

*Note on polaroiding tackle - We would suggest using line weights above a #4 - as fast presentations with some of the larger streamers like "Horrors" can be the difference between seeing plenty - Or catching none ( Aimed at no one in particular - Dave & Andrew

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*Danny Spelic & Chris Dawson polaroided Jindy last Thursday/Friday , seeing stax of fish and landed 7 browns and 2 rainbows to 2.5kgs.

Eucumbene:- The trolling really has been HOT on Eucumbene over the last few weeks with some thumping rainbows & Browns coming in. Both leadline and flatlines have been producing fish with the cooler surface temperatures.The best fishing has been down the bottom of the lake well away from the main river in-flows. The rainbows are in peak condition and averaging around the 1kg mark, feeding heavily on daphnia in the open water. Consistent lures include Tasmanian Devils in Cols 55, 72,S12, Y82 & Y62. Our own Alpine Cobra's in the Alpine Attractor, Black hole and Alpine Special patterns, Rebel crickhoppers and crawfish,Storm Hot N Tots , ultra deep Merlins,Stump Jumpers,RMG Scorpions & Poltergeist.This Polaroiding capers not limited to the fly anglers either - I had a go at throwing a Berkeley 2" Hawg at them on an unweighted 90 degree jig hook the other week - and got a few lovely browns to eat straight away.Just get it in front of them as quietly as possible and give it a twitch as they come onto it - great fun

Martin Gearse & Bob Cook from Canberra trolled out from Buckenderra , with flatlines,Tassies in Col 5,19,Y82 and deep divers for 10 rainbows to 1.5kgs and 3 browns including the thumper pictured above which Martin caught - and released estimated at over 10lbs

Bob Cook with another "average" brown from Eucumbene.

G'day Scotty and all.Just spent 3 days fishing in Eucumbene; Buckenderra, and thought you may want to know how we went.After perfect sunny conditions we caught 2 Browns and 6 Rainbows. All around 1kg with the Browns at 1.5kg.

Exceptionally healthy fish, however none of them had anything in their stomach. Not sure what they're eating???Just about all methods where catching them. Trolling with Tassie's, No's 36, 66 were best. Using freeline and leadline. We even got them on Scub worms!

One fellow even caught a 6lb rainbow while we were there. ( pitty it wasn't ours!!) See you again soon - Lindsay And Bree

Brenden,Pete & Adam fished out from Buckenderra trolling flatlines and our own Alpine Cobra's in the "Alpine Special" pattern for 5 good browns to 2kgs and released another 4 rainbows to around 1kg - Well Brenden & Pete did anyway, as Adam just filled the third seat in the boat

Jindabyne:- Best reports have been down around the islands in front of the main township,East Jindabyne and along the Western side of Kalkite.Both flatlines and up to 3 colours of lead line are worth running with the same lure patterns as mentioned above.Gaden trout hatchery have released a heap of ex-brood stock Atlantic Salmon last month - so we can expect to see some more BIG salmon show up over the next few months !

The baitfishing has been great this winter , with some fantastic browns starting to come in over the last few weeks. The best rig through winter is combining scrub worms with a Power bait dropper (pictured below).Power bait in orange, rainbow and lemon twist have been the main fish takers.This rig has really proven itself over the last few seasons, with both options you really have it covered.Power bait naturally floats, so the distance you make your dropper is the distance you can expect your Power bait to be above the bottom. This means that fish will find your bait a lot quicker even if you have cast into weeds. If they don't eat the Power bait they have found your main bait a lot quicker. The hook is important when fishing with Power bait and we get a special "single egg" pattern in from Gamakatsu just for the job - which has a short shank and ultra wide gape. Feel free to ask us to go over the rig next time your in if still unsure.

#Please note that we haven't been able to secure any more bardie grubs and will let you know once we can find a supplier.

Hi Scott and Tom,Just caught these last night around Frying Pan Arm. Mine caught on power bait 7-1/2lb.John's on a Wolly Bugger 4-1/2lb. Not bad for 2 hours fishing. Caught another 3 rainbows from 1-1/2lb to 2-1/4lb. Bit of info for customers - Maureen & John "Skins Alive"

*Kiwi from Canberra fished 7 gates with Sherbet Powerbait for 6 rainbows to 1.5kgs.

Powerbait Dropper Rig

Best areas on Eucumbene include: Middling bank, Frying pan, Seven Gates, Yens bay, Breamar bay ,Providence around the Eucumbene River Mouth and along the dam wall at Eucumbene Cove.

Best area's on Jindabyne include: The clay pits in front of town, Hatchery bay, Hayshed bay and Kalkite.

Jindabyne Dam Wall project Up-dates :- For detailed information regarding the work being carried out on the Lake Jindabyne Dam wall, including road delays etc go to :-

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Archive Date: 28/08/2005