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| lake jindabyne with steve williamson |
Dated: 17 March, 2008
Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Report 18th March ‘EASTER REPORT’ 2008 By Steve Williamson
Last weeks fishing in the mountains.
Just had a review of my report for the same time last year and it’s always interesting to look back from season to season. Last year the water level was a lot lower at 47% (about 52% at the moment) the temperature was about 4 degrees cooler last year and the weather was more typical Autumn with cool nights and even a dusting of snow on the peaks.
This year of course the weather has been quite different and for the last two weeks most days it has been over 30 degrees in Jindabyne and the heat looks like it will continue the next couple of days in the mid 30’s again. Some relief is promised on Thursday and Good Friday is expected to be about 21 with a few showers but warming up again by Sunday to 26 degrees and sunny, so it looks like a good Easter in the Snowy Mountains.
If the change does come through on Thursday it will mean a better fishing day on Friday.
This is always the pattern. When we get a change the fishing improves and the longer the high pressure system hangs around the harder the fishing becomes.
Well let’s hope it improves anyway because over the last week the fishing has been harder with the days so hot and to be honest becoming unbearable. I can’t ever remember having to run the air conditioner art home at this time of the year before.
The river fishing has been harder to fish this week as we haven’t had rain for ages.
I would expect with the number of angler’s in the area for Easter that the fishing may be difficult and you will need to walk further to find a spot where the fish are not already spooked.
You may be better on the lake if you want to catch a feed, and you will have to be very early in the day to get the best fishing.
Lake Level
The lake has continued to drop and the heat wave in South Australia is not helping.
Lake Water Temperature
The temperature on the surface is now 20 degrees C and may even rise again this week with the continuing heat.
Best methods to catch a trout.
Best method – Trolling using leadlines over the weed beds for bigger Brown Trout, downrigging later in the morning.
Best lake lure – Tasmanian Devil in various ‘yellow wing’ designs and jointed Rapalas.
Best lake area – The South Arm still worth a look.
Best Lake fly – Black Woolley Buggers or Goldfish Flies at Widows Creek.
Best Fly on the Thredbo River - dry fly on the river– Hopper patterns and Stimulators. A few evening fish on Parachute Adams.
Let’s now have a look in a little more detail -
Boat Trolling.
You will need to start very early if you want the best fishing this week as the heat is once again with us and the fish are heading into deeper water by 8am. Trolling surface lures over the weedbeds for some big browns but the action, if it happens will be all over at 7am. Lead lines will be a huge advantage to get to the fish.
The best fishing by mid morning is with downriggers and you will need to be between 25 and 35 feet.
It’s handy to have a good fish finder as the trout are moving about and often hard to locate the exact location.
When you do find a patch of fish the depth may vary a little and you need the lures just on top of the fish no more than a couple of metres above. The distance from the lure to the downrigger bomb may vary from day to day depending on how active the fish are feeding. Try up as close as two metres and then if no luck try 10 metres away.
Lead line trolling is still well worth a try now. Try three colours (30 metres) early and three colours with a trolling sinker or deep diving lure later in the morning.
The Tasmanian Devil number 82 or 89 have been good and Tasmanian Devil number 36 ‘Yellow wing’ has by far been the best overall lure to use on the lakes over the past month. Jointed Rapalas for the big Brown Trout.
Some of the better trolling areas will be ‘Hatchery Bay’ and ‘Hayshed Bay’. ‘Rushes Bay’ down to the South Arm is well worth the troll in the deeper water.
Lake 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.
River Spinning
On the Thredbo river the fish are spooky and it has been hard to catch a fish unless you are careful. Fish being caught on Rapalas and other minnow lures. Celtas and Gillies Spinners for the faster runs but be careful not to spook the fish with too much splashing.
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!)
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’.
Lake Fly Fishing
At the moment the lake fly fishing is best at night and up until sunrise.
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 ‘South Arm’, ‘Creel Bay’ and ‘Kangaroo Bay’ are all great.
River Fly Fishing
On the rivers as already stated we can do with more rain and the fish are very spooky so you will need long leaders and careful casts to catch fish. A spotter or a guide will help your catch rates with the conditions so tough. There are going to be plenty of anglers about over Easter so your going to have to walk that little bit further to get away from the crowds. 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.
GUIDING
If you would like some personal guiding, I will be available over the coming months for fly fishing tuition and lake trolling trips. 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.
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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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