Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Report 18th August 2007

By Steve Williamson –

Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Adventures.

0408 024436 Shop -02 64561551

NEWS

This past week has been warmer despite weather predictions of more snow. Today Friday (as I write) it is at least 16 degrees outside in Jindabyne and it feels a lot warmer than that. It was predicted for snow showers but there are more storm clouds about that snow clouds so I am not sure where the snow is coming from?

Overall it has a real spring feel of late and last night we had storms in Jindabyne and we awoke to a really nice day with no wind making it perfect for being out on the water. It looks as if this good weather is going to stay with us for the next few days at least.

Traditionally this is the last really big weekend for snow skiers and from here on in it’s a run down to the end of the season but all skiers are still hoping for that last dump of snow and I for one would also welcome it as we still need a lot more snow to at least bring the levels of the lakes up again.

Snowy Hydro, in an article in our local paper this week didn’t sound all that hopeful for a wet spring and said that they were looking at ways of removing more water from the lakes just in case it is needed elsewhere.

Doesn’t sound all that hopeful for the coming season but we will still have plenty of water for Lake Jindabyne and the season ahead looks very good for the trout fishing in the Snowy’s.

A lot of anglers have been out and about this week with the good weather and great fishing. Winter is always interesting because you can catch fish all day when the fishing is on and this is what has been happing the last few weeks as it doesn’t matter what time you are out on the water if the fish are on you will do well and I have seen some great catches over the last few days.

Let’s have a closer look at the fishing.

LAKE LEVEL and TEMPERATURE

Snowy Hydro reports that the lake level of Jindabyne is 47.5 and rising and Lake Eucumbene is 12.5 and rising. The water temperature is now just about 7 degrees C.

SNOW REPORT

Only a few centimeters of snow since my last report with the official reading at Spensors Creek is 164.4cm the same as last week, so one could say that the damage by the rain last week has been topped up by recent falls of snow.

Predictions are that there will be snow showers for the next few days mostly above 1600 metres.

For snow skiers the snow has been a little spring like but there is still good coverage and the groomed slopes are very good especially at Perisher. Thredbo is starting to thing at the bottom where the snow has been wet by mid day.

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

Trolling

It has been a better week to be on the boat this week with some really good days with fish being caught without a lot of trouble. Surface anglers are doing well just trolling 13 gram Tasmanian Devils.

Lead core lines at two colours (20 metres) to three colours will also be best. (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 recent weeks.

The best lure over recent weeks have been number 82 yellow wing Tasmanian Devil preferably in Duel Depth (20 gram) The Y48 duel depth is worth a try on dull days or deeper down.

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 GULP Chunky Cheese Powerbait is still catching good size brown trout which the old stuff never really did, although it was dynamite on rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon. The new Gulp is in a paste form similar to the old Powerbait and Berkley report it catches 55% more fish.

Tiger worms or scrub 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’, ‘Curiosity Rocks’ (deeper water because there isn’t any water in the creek any more), ‘Waste Point’, The Snowy Arm and East Jindabyne pumping station. Baits suspended under a float are a more productive method early and late in the day.

Lake Spinning

To target rainbow trout and brown trout, floating Rapala’s are well worth a try. It’s time now to go beck to smaller sizes with 5 and 7 cm floaters being better. Jointed minnows are still well worth throwing and working the dropoff for best results again use the smaller sizes now. Any trout pattern lure should be worth a try. It is also well worth trying a few small spinners like Celtas or Gillies spinners in the shallows but make sure you keep out of sight and it is better to spot the fish and cast past it bring the lure about a metre or two in front of the fish.

Tasmanian Devils are catching fish in the deeper water by casting and waiting for the lure to sink a little before a slow retrieve. Cast as far out as you can but best results will be when the water is choppy with a little wind.

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.

Fly Fishing Lake

A much better week this week and a few anglers about as well enjoying the perfect conditions. The days are getting longer now and the evenings are warmer. I wouldn’t say that there is a lot of fish moving around the edges yet and you do have to do a bit of walking to spot anything. I would suggest that we still need the water to warm a couple of degrees before the fish really come on. Most of the brown trout are back from spawning now and reports from some NSW Fisheries (DPI) researchers stated that there has been a good run of rainbow trout into the Thredbo river with the recent rainfall.

I would suggest that the best flies to use at the moment are Woolley Buggers or larger flies deep down if just prospect casting but if you do spot a fish it might be better to try a small nymph first. 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.

If you sight a fish in the shallows you may be better to cast a smaller fly than a larger fly, something like a green nymph.

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 www.swtroutfishing.com.au (www.swtroutfishing.com.au) Shop – (02) 64 561551 Fax – (02) 64 561342