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Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Report Last weeks fishing in the mountains Lake Level Lake Water Temperature Best methods to catch a trout Boat Trolling Lake Spinning River Spinning Lake Fly Fishing River Fly Fishing NEWS - Discovery Holiday Parks Family Fishing Challenge – Lemon Tree Passage Timetable CONDITIONS PRIZES GUIDING

▲TopLake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Report

7th APRIL 2008 by Steve Williamson

▲TopLast weeks fishing in the mountains

A bit of rain, a bit of snow and a few days of cold temperatures but we are still asking ‘where is Autumn’? The trees still have their leaves and it will be a couple of weeks yet before they start to drop. This morning was 7 degrees minimum and perfect for fishing the lake. We are expecting good weather with some afternoon showers for the rest of the week, so it will be great on the water.

Over the last week we have seen some weather changes that has made the fishing good and bad, but on average the fish are still there and a few getting caught. NSW school holidays start this weekend coming, so I would expect a few families about trying to catch a trout.

▲TopLake Level

The lake has continued to drop and is now about 50%. We have moved Snowline’s pontoon back to beside the boat ramp as the water level is expected to drop further over the next month.

▲TopLake Water Temperature

The temperature on the surface is now 16 degrees C and will continue to slowly drop.

▲TopBest methods to catch a trout

Best method – Trolling using leadlines and Tassie Devils or big jointed minnow lures. Best lake lure – Tasmanian Devil number Yellow wing brown bomber or Holographic. Best lake area – East Jindabyne islands or Waste Point. Best Lake fly – Black Woolley Buggers or caddis nymphs. Best Fly on the Thredbo River - dry fly on the river– Royal Humpy and caddis patterns still hoppers about. Let’s now have a look in a little more detail -

▲TopBoat Trolling

The fish have been down a little over the last week and by far lead core lines at 2 to 3 colours are catching most of the trout.

Try two colours (20 metres) early and three colours later in the morning. Try adding a minnow lure for big browns. Rapalas or other rainbow trout and brown trout minnows are best. The Tasmanian Devil number Y48 has been good and Tasmanian Devil 36 has by far been the best overall lure to use on the lakes over the past month. Holographic is also a must in the tackle box.

No area on the lake is better than the other at the moment however some of the better trolling areas will be ‘Hatchery Bay’ and ‘Creel Bay’. ‘Rushes Bay’ is a bit weedy but good early fishing and down to the South Arm is well worth the troll in the deeper water.

▲TopLake Spinning

The best spinning will be early and late in the day and fishing where there are steep drop offs with plenty of rocks will be the best areas. Bays like ‘Creel’, ‘Hatchery’ and the ‘Snowy Arm’ all fish well. The Rapalas over the weed beds early in the morning will be the best way to catch a big brown trout but after 7am you will need to change to a Tasmanian Devil and cast further out over drop offs, letting the lure sink before you retrieve with a slow wind. Best areas have been down at the South Arm or near Banjo Patterson Park.

Celtas in the shallows at first light have started to catch a few fish.

▲TopRiver Spinning

The rain and snow melt of last week has helped the fishing on the Thredbo river. Fish being caught on Rapalas and other minnow lures. Celtas and Gillies Spinners for the faster runs. The fishing should improve further as we get more rain over the next couple of days.

====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!)

Power bait is starting to catch plenty of rainbow trout again. Rainbow and some of the Gulp Bait is going great guns. Scrub worms unweighted but with greased line will be good for big brown trout. No sinker! You could also try bardi grubs, but you will need a very small running sinker and again greased line.

We have some silicon line grease available in the shop which will not damage your fishing line. Tiger worms under a float are worth a try. Local scrubbies, teamed up with power bait will help your catch rate considerably as the rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon love the artificial baits and the scrubbies are good for big browns. Best bait fishing areas are ‘Creel Bay’, ‘Hatchery Bay’ and ‘Curiosity Rocks’.

▲TopLake Fly Fishing

The early morning fly fishing has started to improve and it looks like being great over the next few weeks at least. There are plenty of small fish cruising the edges of the lake and there are some big fish chasing them. Some of the best lake fly fishing is during the coming months as the water cools and this year with so much weed around the edges of the lake we should see some big fish caught. Try any of the streamer patterns such as ‘Mrs Simpson’ and ‘Williamson’s Gold Fish’. Olive green nymphs and shrimp patterns are also worth a try. The ‘Sids Bay’, ‘Creel Bay’ and ‘Kangaroo Bay’ are all great.

▲TopRiver Fly Fishing

On the rivers will see a further improvement with more rain. We are seeing stacks of small fingerlings in the Thredbo at the moment and they are easy to catch on small dry flies. Try a Stimulator, Royal Wulff or Royal Humpy and even a caddis pattern, but anything can happen at this time of the year and the strange weather patterns are not helping with any sort of prediction.

Plenty of grass hoppers still about as well and there are many fly patterns to imitate them.

The streams have improved with the cooler water after the snow melt. Some areas in the mountains had almost 2 inches of snow but that has mostly melted now.

▲TopNEWS - Discovery Holiday Parks Family Fishing Challenge – Lemon Tree Passage

_Please note that Bestons Holiday Parks has had a name change to Discovery Holiday Parks. www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au_ I am helping with the organisation of the Koala Shores Family Fishing Challenge and would love you to join me for a weekend of fishing and fun.

The ‘The Family Fishing Challenge’ is an environmentally friendly fishing competition suitable for the whole family.

Where – Koala Shores Holiday Park, Lemon Tree Passage, NSW.
When – Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th MAY 2008
Registration and reading of the rules 7pm Friday 2nd May
Cost - $50 Adults, and $25 Children

• for Guests of Koala Shores Holiday Park.

Non Guests must be locals of Port Stephens area, where entry fee will be $60 adults and $30 Children which includes the cost of two BBQ lunches and 1 dinner.

▲TopTimetable

The Family Fishing Challenge is a fishing competition held over 2 sessions.

Friday - 7pm Registration and reading of the rules.
Saturday- Dawn to 4pm – Fishing session 1
Saturday- 4pm – Session I Weigh in and BBQ Dinner at 6pm
Sunday- Dawn to 11am – Fishing session 2
Sunday- 11am – Fishing session 2 weigh in
Sunday 12 noon – Presentation BBQ

Only the best fish species nominated for the competition, caught by each angler will be ‘weighed’ in at each session. The length of each fish caught will determine the winners of each section.

▲TopCONDITIONS

The Discovery Holiday Parks Family Fishing Challenge is a fishing competition that has been put together so that anglers of the same interests can have a fun weekend in the beautiful surrounds of Lemon Tree Passage, Port Stephens N.S.W..

▲TopPRIZES

Prizes will be awarded for - Longest fish of each chosen species. Best lady angler. Best child angler under 16. Best team entry. MAJOR PRIZES - Lucky entry prize and Secret length and many more. For bookings and competition entry – Koala Shores Holiday Park – 1800 463 209 In association with event organizer – Steve Williamson (02) 64561551 ‘Steve Williamson’s Fishing Adventures’

▲TopGUIDING

As the guiding season comes to an end it will be necessary due to staffing levels to make sure you book well ahead. Lessons can be booked from 2 hours and trolling trips from 3 hours to a full day.

If you want to know more about the latest in fishing conditions just give me a call on 02 64 561551 or check out my web site at www.swtroutfishing.com.au and I am also starting to build my new web site www.fishingcourses.com.au so have a look at it and I would be grateful for your feedback.

Until next report, hope you catch the big one.
Steve Williamson
Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Adventures.