| product review: winter fishing 'lake jindabyne' by steve williamson |
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Dated: 21 July, 2004
 | | Steve with a beautiful brown trout. |
While most people are in the Snowy Mountains during winter for snow play, there is actually some excellent trout and salmon fishing on our lake.
From the June long weekend to the October long weekend, our rivers close to all methods of fishing while the trout spawn, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any fish in the lake to catch.
Lake Jindabyne has four species of fish that you can catch, ‘Brown trout’, ‘Rainbow trout’, ‘Brook trout’ and ‘Atlantic salmon’.
The brown trout spawn in early winter. Not all fish go to the rivers at once however. About August, the rainbow trout start their journey of passion. The trout are usually mostly all back to the lake by October.
For some reason the brook trout don’t really have a spawning run and the Atlantic salmon are landlocked, usually going out to sea after their spawning run.
Both these species are stocked into our system by NSW Fisheries and stay in the lake over winter for us to catch.
All in all, there are plenty of fish in the lake to catch over winter.
You can use all angling methods to catch fish in Lake Jindabyne.
Bait fishing from the banks, lure spinning from the banks, fly fishing the edges or trolling from a boat.
All of these methods will catch a trout on a given day, it’s just some methods work better on one day than another. You just have to try and as they say “The
only way to catch a trout is to have a line in the water”.
While conditions will often change from day to day, on average the following are the best ways to go about catching a trout.
Trolling
Trolling is driving around the lake slowly with lures from the back of the boat. Boats can be hired at Snowline Caravan Park. The trick to trolling is knowing where the fish are and how deep down they are.
In winter, because of the cold water temperatures, the trout are usually close to the top.
If you stay in close to the lake’s edges, and surface troll Tasmanian Devil number 55 pink or 36 ‘yellow wings’ you should manage a trout or two. The line should be out at least 25 metres from the boat.
The brown trout seem to stay more on the bottom of the lake, so troll close in off the rocky points using 2 colour lead core line. ‘Leadcore’ is a special weighted line, designed for trolling deep.
The best areas are the ‘Hatchery Bay’, ‘Creel Bay’ and ‘East Jindabyne Islands’.
Bait Fishing
Bait fishing for trout is a little like saltwater fishing with a prawn, however trout are smart fish and they will drop the bait if they think it isn’t real, or if they feel any pressure from the line, you therefore need to fish with the reel bail arm in an open position. Worms, fished off the bottom are usually the best bait but artificial ‘Powerbait’ is also excellent, keeps for ages and doesn’t wiggle about when your trying to place it on the hook.
Areas that fish the best are ‘Creel Bay’ at Waste Point, the ‘Sailing Club, and ‘Hatchery Bay’.
Spinning
Spinning is a method that most people can easily use. You select a lure and then throw it into the water, retrieving it back slowly. The best fishing time, on the lake, is usually early and late in the day. Rocky outcrops are favourite places for trout to hang out. Check out our range of ‘Tasmanian Devil Lures’
Fly Fishing
 | | Another large brown trout caught at Lake Jindabyne |
Fly fishing in the lake in winter is for the experienced casters. If you have never done it before there is a lot to learn, especially how to cast.
If the following terms are a bit difficult to understand, then you had better call me for a lesson.
Nymphs fished with the aid of indicators over the weed beds are often very effective for the less experienced casters or if the day is very windy.
‘Polarizing’ trout moving around the edges of the lake and then casting a fly to the fish is a very skilful and rewarding way to catch a trout.
Also worth a try are flies like ‘Mrs Simpson’, ‘Black Woolley Buggers’ and my own fly developed for Jindabyne, the ‘Williamson’s Gold Fish’
The best areas to give a try are ‘Hatchery Bay’, ‘Hayshed Bay’, ‘Creel Bay’ at ‘Waste Point’ and ‘Wollondibby Inlet.
Don’t get too carried away with areas as the trout move around the lake all the time and will often change place from day to day depending on winds etc.
Some trout fishing rules
I would suggest that you get a copy of the ‘NSW Inland Fishing Rules’ and read them carefully before you go trout fishing. You don’t want to end up with a hefty fine.
Different rules apply to rivers and lakes and there are different rules for different lakes.
Briefly, if you are an adult you will need to firstly have a licence and these can be obtained from my shop from as little as for three days of fishing.
You must use a rod. No hand lines are allowed. You can use two rods per person on the lake. Hard to do unless you are bait fishing.
You must stay with your rod, no more than 10 metres away at any time.
You can keep up to 5 fish per person per day on Lake Jindabyne, but never have more than 10 fish in your possession.
Any fish kept must be over 25 cm (10 inches). If it is smaller than that, put it back even if it looks as if it will die.
What if you have never trout fished before?
 | | For all your Jindabyne fishing needs head on in to Steve Williamsons Trout Fishing shop |
That’s where I come in. It is my full time job teaching and guiding people how to catch a trout.
A two hour lesson, on any method, will put you on the right track.
I also operate trout guided trips on Lake Jindabyne and in winter you can come out on my specially designed charter boat and without any real skill, hopefully catch a trout.
As I am a licensed fishing guide, you don’t even have to have a fishing licence while you are under my instruction.
What’s our chance of catching a trout on a guided trip?
The easy answer to that question is the longer you go fishing, the more chance you will have of catching a fish. I have over 35 years experience in the Snowy Mountains and have been a full time professional guide for 14 years.
Trout feed at different times during the day and the best chance of catching a trout is to fish when they are eating. Unfortunately they are not like humans, trout only eat when the conditions suit.
On most guided fishing trips however we manage to catch at least one trout and often a lot more.
The best thing is after you have had a guided trip, you will have learnt all the best methods and the best places to catch a trout, so you can fish again later, by yourself, if you want to!
RENTING FISHING EQUIPMENT
At my shop ‘Steve Williamsons Trout Fishing’ located next to the Shell Service Station at Snowline Caravan Park, we have the largest range of HIRE fishing tackle in the Snowy Mountains area. You can hire a rod and reel from as little as for an 8 hour day.
We also have plenty of fishing tackle for sale with rod and reel combo’s for sale from as little as .
Winter is not just for snow play in the Snowy Mountains. There are lot’s of other activities to try out while you are down this way. So if you want a day off from the snow, why not give trout fishing a try, you might just catch the ‘Lake Jindabyne Monster Trout’!
Steve Williamson
‘Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Adventures’.
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