We are open this Friday the 25th, 9am - 7pm
Headlines: A return to some fine Autumn weather has had many anglers out on the water and some very, very good fishing. Fly fishing in the streams has been excellent. Lakes have fired using all methods and plenty of fat Rainbows and Browns showing up.
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.
Have to show you this picture of Mick Patton's South Coast river Bass. 47cm in length, caught on a dry fly on his 5wt Z-Axis Sage. What a horse!
Flyfishing
Rivers:- Some great dry fly reports over the last week with the Thredbo being the standout. The Moonbah has produced good numbers though sizes are varying depending on time of day.
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.
Nymphs will really come into their own over the next few weeks in the lower reaches of the Thredbo and Eucumbene. Pheasant tails, Hare & Copper, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, Black and Brown Nymphs are the pick of the flies. With the Spawn run not too far away any rain in these areas will see fish starting to build in the river mouth areas too.
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:- Mudeye hatches have slowed but there is still plenty of food around the edges to keep the fish in range of a fly fisher. Location is all important. Bays with lots of grass weed are ideal and rocky points adjacent to these bays being very good too. The bottom end of the lake has been excellent including Braemar, Coppermine, Collingwood, Waiunui, Buckenderra, Rushy Plains, Sevengates, Springwood, Yens and Old Adaminaby are the best options.
Look for areas with some depth as the really shallow areas seem to be holding less fish.
Caddis hatches have been huge some evenings and even though the fish don't seem to taking the adults, they have been clued in on the nymphs and a Muz Wilson Sticky Caddis is a great pattern to use in the early evenings.
*Kieran O'Shannassy sent this picture in of a fat Fuzzy Wuzzy caught Rainbow. The Eucumbene Rainbows are in top condition and full of fight.
The Rainbows have really put on some great condition over the last few weeks as have the majority of Browns.
There is a heap of food in the water at present too with Damsels Nymphs, Corixa, Mudeyes, Snails and Caddis.
Lake Jindabyne:- Reports from Jindabyne have increased with some top fishing and polaroiding. There have been some big Browns caught on wets. Several anglers have reported good fishing in late evenings and also early mornings. Polaroiding has been hit and miss with the weather but there are fish to be found when conditions allow.
*Matt Daniel with another good Brown from the lake. One of eight fish caught in an evening session.
Best areas to look at in Jindabyne are Kalkite, Creel Bay, Curiosity Rocks, Hayshed and Hatchery Bay.
Lake Tantangara :- A good number of fish cruising the edges erly and late at present so well worth a look.
Trolling and Spinning
