▲TopLake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Report

by Steve Williamson - JULY 21st 2007

Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Adventures
0408 024 436
Shop – (02) 6456 1551

▲TopNEWS

Over the last couple of weeks we have continued to experience some very cold weather and more snow. This season has been a little strange in that most of the changes are coming from the south which means we get more snow in Jindabyne than normal and as you are aware the cold weather has extended even as far a Queensland which today areas experienced the coldest overnight temperatures for many years and some as far as the records have been kept. Must have something to do with global warming?

All I can tell you is that only the very brave have been out in open boats fishing because it honestly has only been about 5 degrees maximum with at least a minus 10 wind chill factor. Not comfortable for extended trips! Bank based fishing has been better because at least we have been able to hide behind a hill somewhere on the lake and places like ‘Stinky Bay’ or down at ‘Curiosity Bay’ have been out of the wind and we have been at least still catching fish.

There have been quite a few brave anglers coming down over the past couple of weekends and camping overnight fishing the lake edges and most anglers have reported great fishing for their efforts but last weeks morning of minus 8 would have made it hard to wind in the line I would have thought. For me I think I will stick to fishing the middle of the day when it’s a little warmer and we can still catch trout!

Spinning lure is still working well and its worth the walk to keep a little warmer than just sitting around. Not a lot has change with the way you fish so the report has not changed a lot.

▲TopLAKE LEVEL and TEMPERATURE

With the cold conditions in the cities the generators have been turned on and so the lake level is dropping slowly and will continue to do so for a while until we get warmer weather to melt some snow or rain. The water temperature is now just about 6 degrees C, so pretty cold!

▲TopSNOW REPORT

The snow conditions have continued to improve with 1.5 metres on the ground now and more predicted. The snow is dry and the crowds are huge as would be expected for peak season.

Let’s have a look at what the fishing is going to be like over the next few weeks.

▲TopTrolling

The last couple of days have been cold with snow in the mountains but showers in Jindabyne and rather cold on the water. In fact I haven’t been so cold. It’s just plain uncomfortable when you are out for more than just a couple of hours.

The rainbow trout have been friendlier and surface trolling is going a treat using small minnow lures trolled slowly over the weed beds.

Lead core lines at two colours (20 metres) to three colours are good also. (20 to 30 metres of line out will get your lure down an extra 2 to 3 metres). There is no doubt that lead core lines were catching most of the fish in the middle of the day, over the last week.

The best lure over the last week has been number 82 yellow wing Tasmanian Devil preferably in Duel Depth (20 gram) The Y48 duel depth is worth a try on dull days.

Bigger jointed lures, like Rebels and Rapalas in 9cm and 13cm are the best if you want to target the spawning brown trout up in the Snowy Arm or Creel Bay at Waist Point.

You don’t have to fish these deep at the moment you just have to be in the right place at the right time East Jindabyne islands, Hayshed Bay, Lion and Cub Islands and the South arm have been fishing very well.

Lake Bait Fishing (Primarily most rivers and streams in the Snowy Mountains Region are fly and lure only, We recommend that you first check with the Department of Primary Industries (NSW Fishing rules) as to which rivers in the area you can legally bait fish in. IF IN DOUBT DON’T BAITFISH IN RIVERS!)

Berkleys Powerbait in lime twist or rainbow nuggets have continued to be the best baits over the last week. We do have limited supplies of Lime Twist at the moment and we do have the new ‘Gulp’ powerbait which is also looking like being another winner (Chunky Cheese is good!) and as more people use it we will see just how good the new stuff is.

Tiger worms under a float have been doing very well for rainbows and Atlantic salmon. Scrub worms off the bottom and a power bait dropper will be the best middle of the day for the brown trout. The big secret at the moment is to fish with bail arm open and make sure you grease the line to make sure you keep it out of the slime on the bottom of the lake.

Best areas for bait fishing at the moment have been, ‘The Haven’, ‘Hatchery Bay’ (deeper water because there isn’t any water in the creek any more), ‘Curiosity Rocks bay on the northern side’, The Snowy Arm and East Jindabyne pumping station. Baits suspended under a float are a more productive method early and late in the day.

▲TopLake Spinning

Some good brown trout are being caught early in the morning or late evening. Rainbow trout and brown trout Rapala’s are well worth a try and try the bigger 11 and 13 cm lures for the more aggressive brown trout. Jointed minnows are well worth throwing and working the dropoff for best results. Any trout pattern lure should be worth a try.

Spin close around rocky outcrops for best results later on in the day in the day and use smaller lures like ‘Celtas’ or ‘Gillies Spinners’ around the shallow bays after dark. Don’t stay in one place too long and only put in a couple of casts in each area.

▲TopFly Fishing Lake

No real change, the last week it has been bloody cold and windy and I haven’t see or heard of one person brave enough to fly fish the lake so the report is the same as the last two. Woolley Buggers or larger flies deep down will be best. Strip the flies slowly after letting them sink to the bottom.

Yabby patterns are also worth a try in the areas you see yabby holes. Craigs Night time and Williamson’s Goldfish have been two flies well worth using at dawn and dusk.

For visitors to the Snowy’s we have a full range of fishing tackle for hire at my shop and fishing tours are now available.

For more information on the latest fishing conditions, please call into –
STEVE WILLIAMSON’S TACKLE SHOP
Shop 1 Snowline Centre, Kosciuszko Road Jindabyne 2627
Fishing Charters – Bait and Tackle Supplies- Marine Supplies
P.M.B. 5 Jindabyne NSW 2627
E-mail swtrout@airlan.com.au
www.swtroutfishing.com.au
Shop – (02) 6456 1551
Fax – (02) 64 561342