https://www.licence.nsw.gov.au/gls_eservice/renewals/Application.aspx 

Note: We do not have licences available through the store with Cash or EFT.  We can do them online with a MasterCard or Visa only. 

Flyfishing

*Remember that from the 1st of May the size and bag limit changes in the Eucumbene and Thredbo Rivers.  From May 1 you may only keep ONE fish OVER 50cms per day in these waters.  Fisheries will be very active this season in these waters so make sure you stick to these rules and have your fishing licence with you while fishing.

Rivers:- Have been sensational with both the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers flowing high and at times dirty but not enough to deter anglers who have been getting some exceptional fish.

*Phil Brumby has been in the thick of it catching ninteen fish in a session.  A staggering nine of these fish were over the old fashioned ten pound mark, with one of those weighed in the net before being released pulling the spring to fourteen and a half pounds!  The fish pictured below weighed twelve pounds.

With water levels higher this week, more weight in your flies or on your leader can be important to reach the fish on the bottom.  Beadhead nymphs seem to be better performers on browns while globugs have been the favourite pattern for the rainbows.

Early starts are a key to getting the most out of the rivers at present though on some mornings icing guides are an issue. Fishing the harder to access areas will improve your chances greatly.

Other smaller streams in the area are still well worth fishing and are ideal if you want to avoid crowds.

Lake Eucumbene:-  Fly reports have been good for those giving it ago this week.  Daytime fishing has genereally been the best with the evenings and night time fishing generally quiet.

There have been some good rainbow poking around during the day and provide plenty of fun when conditions allow.  The edges are a bit sticky but with kilo-ish fish around worth the effort.

Once again the Buckenderra arm has produced some fantastic rainbows and good numbers both off the bank and in boats. Any small wet or beadhead nymph will be eaten by the hungry rainbows that are in residence in that area.

*Mark Bulley and Danny Spelic from Canberra had a great nights fishing at Eucumbene recently. After catching around 30 rainbows and some nice browns on Wooly Buggers and Pillow Flies, nothing could prepare them for what was about to happen next. After fishing for several hours after dark, they decided to call it a night and head back to the boat ramp at around 11:30pm. As they slowly manoeuvred their way out of a shallow bay under the light of a full moon, they spotted a fish in the shallows that looked like a mini submarine holding close to the surface.  After re-positioning the boat and a quick cast, Mark managed to hook the fish on a 6 weight fly rod and black wooly bugger.

It weighed in at 4.83kg -   a touch under 11 pounds in the old scale and measured 74cm long. Not only was it Marks first ten pounder, but he also christened his new net which had a serious work-out on its maiden voyage!

The Angler's Reach and Old Adaminaby areas have been producing a few good browns and some nice rainbows if you can find them.

Best flies are wooly buggers, copper johns, taihape ticklers and fuzzy wuzzys.

Lake Jindabyne:-  Jindabyne reports have been quiet on the fly with the Thredbo river being the popular location for that area at present.

Lake Tantangara :- Reports have been quiet from the lake on the fly front. 

Trolling and Spinning 

Eucumbene:-  Eucumbene trolling reports have been better with some good fish to be had in many of the arms. 

Rapala trout patterns have been shining in the Cobrabald and Waiunui areas.  Fished flatline and in close early in the mornings has accounted for some good rainbows.  Not all have been large but enough around the 800gm to 1kg mark to keep anglers happy.

Large minnows fished deep in the Anglers reach arm have produced some better quality browns.  Though the numbers will never be great the chance of hooking a really monster of a fish is there.  Seven to thirteen centimetre sized minnows are the go here.

Best areas to try would be Collingwood,  Coppermine, Buckenderra and Angler's Reach.

Jindabyne:-  Has produced a few nice fish on the troll with pink and yellow wing Y62 and Y94 being the pick of the tassies.  Vibes in the Rayza brand have been excellent as have the strike pro vibes.  Fished on three colours of leadcore these have been very productive.

*Ivica Djuric had a nice spin session in the lake on the weekend catching this 62.5cm fish on a Mepps Aglia spinner. 

Ivica suggested that the trigger of this catch was the glare caused by the combination of sun and the gold blade of the Mepps lure. The fish hit the lure on the second cast after the sun briefly shone through the clouds. 

Other reports suggest the creel bay and waste point area is a good place to troll or spin.

Baitfishing  

Bait angler have had some good sessions again this week with Powerbait taking some good catches.  Scrubworms have been good, with grubs still producing the odd fish.

Rainbows are loving Powerbait and Scrubbies in the Buckenderra arm and also Seven Gates with many anglers catching their bags.  Lime twist and Chunky Cheese have continued to be the popular favourites this week.

Best locales to try continue to be Seven Gates, Buckenderra, Cobrabald, Wangrabelle, Homeleigh Bay and the Dam wall.

In Jindabyne reports have been scarce again.  Try areas like Rushes Bay, Hatchery Bay, The Clay pits, Curiosity rocks and Kalkite.

Lake Levels

Eucumbene   21.8%

Jindabyne      57.3%  

Tantangara      7.0%

Cheers Tom

Got any reports from the local lakes or rivers?

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