Table of Contents:	[  Hide TOC  ]
Alpine Angler - Fishing Report - 12th December 2007 Headlines Flyfishing Lake Eucumbene Lake Tantangara Trolling and Spinning Eucumbene Jindabyne Talbingo Baitfishing Lake Levels

▲TopAlpine Angler - Fishing Report - 12th December 2007

▲TopHeadlines

Fishing has been great over the last week or so. We have continued to get some nice rain and the trout have been biting very well of late. All methods have been producing.

▲TopFlyfishing

Rivers:- Plenty of rain in the area has seen some good flows in the streams and plenty of fish on the chew. Hatches have been exceptional this week in many of the popular streams. The last two hours of daylight have been the most productive although you can get some nice fishing by searching during the day too.

Many anglers have been leaving the water too early and missing out on some of the best fishing that can be had on our streams. Fishing right into the dark provides many more opportunities to cast at rising fish. Being on the water at first light is another key time.

If you are struggling to catch a fish in the streams at present, you should probably seek the assistance of a guide who can help you get amongst the action.

Best flies have been Adams parachutes, Klinkhammers, Blue wing olive parachutes, Elk Hair caddis and Beetle patterns. All the streams have been producing and some good fish too.

• Tom, I fished the Eucumbene River on Saturday after all that rain. It was up and dirty but I got a handful or so of fish on my nymph. I also landed a thumper of a jack brown further up the river,

bad photo as I was in the rain, on my own and panicked about getting him back in the water after a long fight on 4lb tippet (that’s my lap underneath him). He took a lightly weighted hair and copper off the surface before it had a chance to sink. Awesome! Simon Langford

• Rob Chapman and Robin Woodroof fished the Gungarlin River and had a great session catching plenty of this rivers typically small fish. They did manage one around the 500gm mark which is quite good for this stream. Size sixteen dries were working well.

• Daryl Barwick fished the Thredbo on the weekend and really cleaned up catching twenty fish with the best being 1.5kg and 1.25 kg Browns. Well done.

• Had a quick session myself on the Eucumbene and managed to hook four but only landed two. Best fish was 51cm Brown which was rising like a sprat and hardly making a dimple. That all changed when the pin went in, as the fish went berserk. Great fun and heaps of fish rising. Picture of the better fish below.

▲TopLake Eucumbene

Fly reports from Eucumbene have not really change this week. Fish on midges and small wets have been common. The lake is looking fantastic at Buckenderra, Seven Gates, and Yens Bay with lush grassy bays and quite a few fish moving in them early and late.

A Midge pupa, Stick caddis, or small Nymph fished with a slow twitchy retrieve will produce in these areas. A beetle pattern on wind lanes during the day is another successful method at this time of year. Woolly Buggers at other times of the day and especially off deeper rocky points can turn up some nice Browns.

Fish have not been large as a rule but there certainly have been plenty to cast at of an evening.

Best areas to look are Buckenderra, Old Adaminaby, Yens Bay, Seven Gates and Braemar

====Lake Jindabyne==== There are still numbers of Midges hatching in Jindabyne. The lake is rising rapidly and flooding plenty of grassy bays. As the conditions warm there will be bigger hatches and plenty of fish rising. As in Eucumbene a Midge Pupa or Midge Ball (or both in tandem) are the go. After dark searching with a wet or streamer is a good option for a Brown or two.

Reports suggest that the fish have slowed a little on the Midge but this will change when the weather warms again. Mudeyes should also start to make a bit of an appearance over the next few weeks leading up to the full moon in particular. Best areas to look at in Jindabyne are Kalkite, Creel Bay, Curiosity Rocks, Hayshed and Hatchery Bay.

▲TopLake Tantangara

The lake has risen slightly and will be fishing well this weekend. Fish should be in numbers around the edge on the flooded ground. Well worth a look.

▲TopTrolling and Spinning

▲TopEucumbene

With the rising water launching will become progressively easier. Below are photos from Buckenderra on the weekend with a solid boat being launched easily. Plenty of trolling access from there now.

Launching access is available at Old Adaminaby, Anglers Reach, Dam Wall and Buckenderra.

Trolling has been at its best late and early in the day. Though a search with a shallow runner in a windlane will quite often produce a few fish. The other alternative is to run a downrigger or lead core line and fish the deeper sections and channels of bays or in the main basin.

Most of the reports suggest flat lining in close is the best option. Tassies, Lofty's, and Alpine Cobra's are great for this work. With Pink, Orange and Black, and the Bumble Bee Tassie Devils performing well.

The little RMG Scorpion is another great lure for trolling in close in the new colour R32.

Crickhoppers have taken a few this week also and worms a gurbs behind fenders have produced.

Best areas have been the Dam wall, Old Adaminaby, Grace Lea, and the area off Seven gates.

▲TopJindabyne

With the rising levels the weed beds are the place to troll. Being in close is the key as is an early start. If you really want to catch a fish being on the water as the light starts to improve is essential. As with Eucumbene, Tassies and shallow running minnows are the go in close. Small Rebel Crickhoppers work well here too.

Pink and Yellowing Tassies are always solid performers at this time of year too.

Best spots to troll have been Sids Bay, Creel Bay, Kangaroo Bay, the bank between Sid's and Kalkite and the islands adjacent to the township.

▲TopTalbingo

No reports

▲TopBaitfishing

Bait fishing has been very good in Eucumbene with good Browns and Rainbows coming in from the Old Adaminaby and Seven Gates area. Powerbait and Scrubworms have been the best baits. Stimulate has been an excellent addition to Scrubworms and those anglers using it have reported a jump in their catch rates.

We now have Bardi Grubs back in stock.
Mudeyes have started to work and with the warming conditions will really come on over the next few weeks.

Areas to look at in Jindabyne are Kalkite, Hatchery Bay, Creel Bay, Sids Bay, Clay Pits, Stinky Bay and Hayshed Bay.

In Eucumbene try the Seven Gates or Old Adaminaby. Best colours in Powerbait have been Lime Twist, Orange, Sherbet and Lemon Twist.

The new Gulp Trout Bait is a new 55% stronger scent . Chunky Cheese and Rainbow Candy have been the the pick of the colours.

Try the two hook rig below for best results. Powerbait Dropper Rig

To all anglers fishing anywhere in the Snowy Mountains area. Please don't leave your rubbish on the shores of the lakes, or the banks of the stream. Take it home or dump it in a rubbish bin. Serious anglers are sick of cleaning up after the thoughtless few.

▲TopLake Levels

Eucumbene 19.3%
Jindabyne 59.4%
Tantangara 8.4%

Cheers Tom