Headlines: Not a lot of change in the fishing over the last week but there have been some very positive reports. Rain and cool to cold days have produced some good fishing in the dams and rivers over the last week. Lake Eucumbene is still rising and the fish are responding well to all techniques. Rivers have good head of water and are fishing well too.
Although not a locally caught fish, have a look at this amazing Rainbow from New Zealand, caught by Pam Berman from the Central Coast. The fish weighed 8kg! What a monster.
We had a good session at Brogo Dam on the weekend with eight of us travelling down from Cooma. We had a friendly Fly only competition going, with a 'Bragging rights' trophy included and between us we landed in excess of sixty Bass. Stuart won the right to brag landing twenty fish, his nearest rival was twelve behind so he did very well. I fished with Matto and we caught a few nice fish. Pics below.
Flyfishing
Rivers:- The river fishing has been great in the streams. Still good water in all the high country rivers and streams, and plenty of hungry fish. Dusk is still the peak time but there have been some good reports from those searching with a Beetle, Hopper or Stimulator.
The Thredbo has been very good as has the Eucumbene. The Moonbah has fired on occasion and there is a myriad of small streams that have and will continue to produce.
Best flies are Blue Wing Olive parachutes, Klinkhamers, Elk Hair caddis and Adams Irresistable's. Large Nymphs fished in the deeper run ins of pools have been a good option during the day time. With evenings producing good rises and plenty of sight casting to rising fish.
The hopper fishing should improve as the weather warms again.
*Tom, fished the moonbah on the morning of 6th. for about 2hrs. before the wind got to be too much. Caught 5 rainbow & 1 brown all about half a pound or a little over. Dropped a few more before I realised my hook was not very sharp.
(Tip: drag hook over fingernail before fishing Moonbah.)
There are a lot of fish around that size in the river and the water was flowing well but clean.
Regards. Alan Thomas.
Lake Eucumbene:- The lake has risen again this week and much of the Love Grass that was proving a pain has gone. The lake is looking fantastic at Buckenderra, Seven Gates, and Yens Bay with lush grassy bays. There is a heap of food in the water at present too with Damsels Nymphs, Corixa, Mudeyes, and Caddis being plentiful.
Good numbers of Rainbows are cruising in the margins early and late and have been responding well to nymphs or small wets either cast and retrieved or drifted under a dry. The quality of these fish has been very good too and it is amazing how quickly the condition on these fish has improved.
Hopper fishing is set to fire over the next few weeks. Burleying with live hoppers is a great way to get fish up on the surface on those bright, hot and sunny days. Once you get a fish up on the Hoppers you can cast an artificial one in the vicinity and the strikes are very visible and often aggressive.
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. With cooler conditions there should be a few more fish taking shallow running minnows and Tassie Devils this week. It would still be worth running a down rigger or lead core as well as surface lures to cover your options
The Love Grass problem has diminished and has made trolling alot easier.
Best lures continue to be Tassie Devils in yellow wing and Xmas tree, Merlin deep and Ultra deeps in Trout patterns and Copper Flatfish.
Had a good report from the Buckenderra area on the weekend. Trolling from a kayak produced some nice fish in the middle of the day for one angler on an old Nilsmaster Invincible who reported losing a couple and seeing quite a few fish that were rising too.
Best areas have been Old Adaminaby, Collingwoood, Coppermine and Tollbar.
Jindabyne:- As in Eucumbene fishing both surface lures and lures on lead core or a down rigger is the best bet for catching a few fish. Reports do suggest deepr rather than shallower is a little more consistent.
The quality of some of the fish has been superb with real football like condition. 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.
