▲TopLake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Report

by Steve Williamson – 15th October 2007
Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Adventures
0408 024 436
Shop -02 64561551

▲TopNEWS

The last week has continued to be a busy time on both rivers and lake with lots of anglers coming to enjoy the fantastic fishing we have been experiencing over recent weeks.

Of course, as always, there have been good days and bad days with the weather playing havoc at times with sudden changes and YES snow down to Jindabyne last Saturday afternoon!

Crazy weather always affects the fish and the fishing, but that is only normal. This week ahead doesn’t look much different with another sudden cold change early before we experience a return to warmer weather.

You really have to dress for all conditions at this time of the season.

The Thredbo River has experienced a few small runs of late season spawning rainbow trout which have coincided with the cold fronts, rain and snow. There have also been quite a lot of anglers about so that always makes the fishing a little difficult for the inexperienced, with the fish often very spooky.

On the lake there have also been plenty of boats with a couple of club fishing competitions last weekend.

Mixed results there also by anglers with the weather making it very uncomfortable on Saturday and almost too good for fishing on Sunday.

Overall there are plenty of fish about and they are in fantastic condition.

▲TopLAKE CAM

Now you can check out what the weather over Lake Jindabyne looks like without getting out of bed.

Airlan is the Snowy Mountain regions first locally based and operated Telecommunication Carrier. Airlan specialises in providing high speed wireless broadband solutions. Services like broadband Internet access, VoIP telephony and Video on Demand in the Cooma/Monaro region. Visitors to the area can also connect using Airlan's network by purchasing prepaid access cards. If you want to see for yourself, Airlan’s first Mountain and Lake Cam of current conditions on Lake Jindabyne go to - http://airlan.com.au/cams/C1/current.jpg

You may have to hit refresh to get the latest picture. This site will get better as more cams com on line.

▲TopLAKE LEVEL and TEMPERATURE

The lake level has continued to rise over the last week and a lot quicker than the previous week. It is reported to be about 52% now. News is that the expected increase in releases of water into the Snowy River below Jindabyne is not going to happen now due to the continuing drought.

Although some releases will occur this week with the testing of the new cone vales at the dam wall.

The following was a press release from Snowy Hydro on the 11th October.

Over the 3 day period from Wednesday 17th October to Friday 19th October 2007, Snowy Hydro will be conducting operational tests of our cone valves at Jindabyne Dam.

This will involve a series of short increased water flows from the cone valves into the plunge pool. They will occur randomly and although tests may be consecutive, they will not be continuous over this period.

Local residents may notice the operation of the cone valves and some increased flows over this period. These releases for the cone valve tests will not affect the current monthly release target of water into the Snowy River.

You can get the latest update of lake water levels on the Snowy Hydro web site http://www.snowyhydro.com.au/lakeLevels.asp?pageID=47&parentID=6 The water temperature is also rising to just on 12 degrees C.

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

Trolling

The fishing has been a mixed bag as already described and at times difficult due to the winds, but there have been some great catches with last Wednesday being the ‘day of the browns’ with for some reason plenty being caught.

Surface fishing has been best very early and I have found that you do need to troll deeper later in the morning. 13 gram Tasmanian Devils early up with possibly Y36 and number Y48 being the best two colours overall. I have also had very good reports on the Holographic Tasmanian Devils over last week, with some big browns caught on this lure.

Lead core lines at two colours (20 metres) to three colours will also be best after the sun comes up has been best. (20 to 30 metres of line out will get your lure down an extra 2 to 3 metres). Even though the water temperature is still only 12 degrees the downrigging has already started and I have been picking some fish up at 30 feet deep but the fish are moving about the lake and it’s best to find them on the fish finder first. Minnow lures like the jointed Rapalas are your best option if you are trying to target bigger brown trout and you need to hit the water at first light or earlier and you need to select the shallow weedy bays and troll the minnows well back or off side planers.

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!)

Lemon, lime and orange twist are all catching fish and all flavors of the new Gulp bait are doing well.

A few anglers have been using mudeyes and they have been OK with the windy days.

Scrub worms off the bottom and a power bait dropper will be the best middle of the day for the brown trout. Definitely bardi grubs off the bottom for brown trout! Best areas for bait fishing at the moment have been those places out of the wind with ‘The Haven’, ‘Curiosity Rocks’, ‘Waste Point’, The Snowy Arm being the best areas.

▲TopLake Spinning

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. After that you are best with heavier Tasmanian Devils and fishing the deeper water.

Don’t stay in one place too long and only put in a couple of casts in each area.

▲TopRiver Spinning

Lures worked well over the last week with CD Rapalas the better choice. Drift rigging with glowbugs and nymphs well worth a try if you know this method of fishing, but the season is almost over for this method now with lures starting to catch more trout.

Stay away from other anglers for the best results.

▲TopFly Fishing Lake

Last Thursday the Bogong moths arrived in town and this had the fish rising all over the lake, but I haven’t seen too many moths left but it could happen again.

Polaroiding fish has been a little slower this last week and fishing in general was a little tougher. Some fish are still being 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.

Craigs Night time and Williamson’s Goldfish have been two flies well worth using at dawn and dusk.

▲TopFly Fishing Rivers

The Thredbo River fished well late last week with the cold change and the increase in water level bringing a few more late spawning rainbows into the river. During this period glowbugs and nymphs were still working best but on the warmer days there have been a few fish rising to dry flies. A couple of evenings were have been a few flying ants falling on the water and the fish have been excited by that. Not a lot more to report at this stage, but there have been plenty of people about so try and stay away from well fished areas.

PLEASE NOTE I still have a few spaces left for my beginners fly fishing course next weekend, the 20th and 21st October. Please check out prices and details on my web site.

Check out my web site or give my shop a call on 02 6456 1551. 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
email:- swtrout@airlan.com.au
www.swtroutfishing.com.au
Shop – (02) 64 561551
Fax – (02) 64 561342