▲TopLake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Report

by Steve Williamson – For Friday 7th SEPTEMBER 2007

▲TopLake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Adventures

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▲TopNEWS

This weeks report is going out early because Jindabyne is going to be very busy with Sydney siders getting out of town because of APEC. Accommodation bookings in town are extremely heavy and if coming down you have better organize a bed somewhere first.

The predicted snow never eventuated last week and although we did get a very cold southerly change that made if feel a little bit wintry, the lake remained calm with no wind and actually good fishing conditions. Another big 14lb brown trout was caught this week by Michael Augustyn from Corowa (see my report on my web site and follow link to recent fish caught for a photo). Michael was trolling at Waste Point working the weedbeds with his secret minnow style lure (we will tell you which one when you come into the shop – maybe).

This is the time of year when all of these big fish start to really feed up and you too could be lucky. The lake is rising very nicely at the moment and covering new ground. Looking around a couple of creak inlets this morning and the water was boiling with small goldfish as they try to head up the creaks to avoid detection from these big predator brown trout and Atlantic salmon. If your not using goldfish lure and of course the ‘Steve Williamson Goldfish’ fly in these spots you will not catch these monsters. Please be aware of the new NSW fishing regulations that came into force on the 3rd of September. Call in to my shop for the brochure on the changes.

▲TopSNOW REPORT

The predicted snow never made it but colder temperatures were at least good for grooming. The days are expected to warm up in the resorts by the weekend. Perisher resort still has most of it’s lifts operating. Well worth a play on the snow for the family but remember it is spring and the snow softens fast. Let’s have a closer look at the fishing.

▲TopLAKE LEVEL and TEMPERATURE

The lake level has risen quite a bit over the last week and the boat ramp now has plenty of concrete in the water to enable the launching of any boat. There was a lot of water coming down the Snowy River arm at Waste Point so I would say that Island Bend dam must have been spilling at one stage. This area may be worth a look.

▲TopSNOW REPORT

No snow since last report but everyone is hoping that we will get falls maybe in excess of 10cm early next week. The days have been very warm in the resorts but with good grooming and overnight freezes there is some good snow play for all and we must remember the Perisher resort still has 50 lifts operating. Let’s have a look at what the fishing is going to be like over the next few weeks.

▲TopTrolling

The temperatures were a lot cooler this week but the fishing improved again after the cold change and as stated earlier there were some big fish caught. Surface anglers are doing well just trolling 13 gram Tasmanian Devils early up with possibly pink 55 and number 82 being the best two colours overall. Lead core lines at two colours (20 metres) to three colours will also be best after the sun comes up. (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. Jointed Rapalas are well worth a try first up and when trolled in close to the shore and over weed beds there is a good chance of a big brown trout or Atlantic salmon.

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.

▲TopLake Spinning

To target rainbow trout and brown trout, floating Rapala’s are well worth a try. It’s time now to go back 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.

▲TopFly Fishing Lake

The cooler slightly windy weather made it a little harder to Polaroid fish this last week and fishing in general was a little tougher but that should change by the weekend. Some fish have been caught using 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 swtrout@airlan.com.au
www.swtroutfishing.com.au
Shop – (02) 64 561551
Fax – (02) 64 561342