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| lake jindabyne with steve williamson |
Dated: 10 February, 2003
Well I’m fresh back from Merrimbula where I was able to clear my head of smoke and even managed to catch a few silver trevally and a couple of flatty on soft plastics. I also managed a few tailor on lure, but haven’t yet managed catch that elusive whiting on fly, although I did manage to polaroid heaps.
Well there is always next time, which mightn’t be long if business in the mountains doesn’t pick up soon.
JINDABYNE BUSH FIRE UPDATE!
 | Picture of Lake Jindabyne
'Business as usual on the lake - fishing, sailing and the odd water skier' |
On Thursday, the roads to the resorts opened to traffic again and the fire threat has almost gone for the moment due to more favorable weather conditions.
Some roads are still closed, but this is not due to the fires, more because some of the road signs have been burnt. The Alpine way should be open through from Thredbo to Khancoban by mid week, but only daylight hours due again to no roadside signs and the danger of cars running off the road.
There are also a lot of bits falling from the trees that have been burnt, so care must be taken.
While we are going OK up here in the mountains, the fires in south eastern NSW and those in north east Victoria, are still progressing towards the north east and even town like Bombala, Delegate and even up to Bega are at threat over the next few weeks if we don’t get rain soon.
There is even talk of the fires going all the way to the coast before they can be put out.
Let’s hope not because unlike the Snowy Mountains area, where we had plenty of water in our great lakes to fight the fires, the towns and farms between the current active fires and the coast have no such water, some farmers don’t have a drop to drink, let alone fight fires with!
Anyhow let’s look at the brighter side, we still have some great fishing in the mountains, so let’s see what has been happening while I have been away.
Since my return, from the coast, I have been hard at work checking out the fishing and taking photos of rivers and streams that have been fire damaged.
Those photos are posted on my web site for all to see and as I check out other areas, new photos will be added as I get around more waterways.
The worst areas that I have seen to date have been around ‘Sawpit Creek’ where the fires were very hot and there were fish killed in this very small drought effected waterway.
The Kosciuszko Mountain Retreat, the caravan park at Sawpit, is lucky to still be there, or should I say the cabins are still there but just about everything else is burnt – not a good sight!
The other bad area was that of ‘Rainbow Lake’ down ‘Diggers Creek’ to Sponar’s Chalet.
The fire has followed the valley and I would expect lots of ash to wash into this very small waterway.
Everything else up in that Perisher Valley area looks fishable.
The roads are still closed to Guthega Dam and Island Bend, I think it will be another week before we can see what is happening there.
As I drove down the mountain from checking out the streams last evening, drops of water fell from the sky. I think you call it rain?
We had enough to wet the ground from the few storms that were about and this could be the start to the recovery. With what little rain we had, it will settle the ash and start a little bit of growth, which is what we need to stop the ash washing into the waterways.
More rain and storms are predicted over the next couple of days. Let’s hope it is steady and not too heavy.
FISHING REPORT.
Lake Jindabyne at the moment is still looking good with about 56% water capacity.
The water temperature yesterday was nearly 21 degrees.
Trolling
Overall the best method has been to troll two or three colours of leadline. (10 to 12 feet deep) Tasmanian Devil number 89 ‘Rowley’s Riot’ (that’s the yellow wings with the black and red spots) and as the sun rises change to a 50 ‘Frog’ or plain 36 ‘yellow wings’ you should manage a trout or two.
Keep a number 48 ‘Brown Bomber’ handy for early mornings and the cloudy days.
Bait Fishing
‘Mudeyes’ are still the best bait.
Try ‘Rushes Bay’ when the wind is from the east, ‘Hatchery Bay’ when from the north or west and ‘The Claypits’ when the winds are from the south.
Make sure you are fishing over weed beds where the ‘mudeyes’ are hiding.
If you can’t get ‘mudeyes’ worms under a float will also work for you.
Spinning
Lake spinning only at the moment.
Number 50 ‘Frog’ pattern and number 36 ‘Tassie Devil’s are the best lures.
Spin close to the rocks and snags for the best results early and late in the day.
Fly Fishing
‘Mudeye’ patterns have been the best fly on the lake last week but there is also a few fish being caught on black ‘nymphs’ as well.
The little inlets are still producing some excellent Brown Trout on my ‘Williamson’s Gold Fish’ fly which you will find available at most tackle shops around town.
The ‘Mowambah’ is producing a few small fish about the weir.
Again you are pretty limited to fishing locations till after the fires have gone.
For bookings please phone me on my mobile – 0408 024436 between 8am and 7pm.
You can also e-mail me at - sw-trout@snowy.net.au
For latest tour prices and school and clinic information or to read my current newsletter, you had better check out my web site at-
www.fishnet.com.au/snowyfish
Hope you manage a trout or two, all the best,
Steve Williamson
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Steve Williamson
Fishnet Pro Angler
Email : swilliamson@fishnet.com.au
Report brought to you by Steve Williamson's Trout Fishing Adventures
Phone : 0408 024436 |
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