| article: trout tales june edition 2007 by steve williamson |
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Dated: 5 June, 2007
TROUT TALES JUNE EDITION 2007
IN THIS ISSUE
*JUNE FISHING REPORT
*FLY FISHING WEEKEND
*LAKE LEVELS
*JINDABYNE NEWS
*PAMBULA NEWS
*TROLLING CLINIC and more!
Hi and welcome to the JUNE 2007 issue of Trout Tales.
June is the time when Jindabyne turns from a quite little county town into what is more like a city with about 20,000 extra residents coming into the area to work over winter. Put the snow skiers on top of that and the area is very busy.
This year again there will be a major blitz on drink driving and speeding and we have seen so many police cars driving around already you could almost cry harassment, but with so many lives lost on our roads each winter due to idiots rushing up to the snow, we have to expect a bigger police presence. Don’t even think about drink driving in the Snowy Mountains because you will be caught.
With the crowds in town we also have a small drug problem and this year once again we will see the sniffer dog squad going though the hotels and clubs.
All this sounds terrible but if you come to the mountains over the winter then you just have to expect these sorts of things.
Over the last few seasons we have, like everywhere else, also seen an increase in vandalism and this was mostly due to boredom by youngsters with nothing better to do because of the lack of snow. Hopefully this season there will be plenty of snow and they will be too tied to do anything else than sleep.
June is the month that I hate most, as far as the cold is concerned. Last year we had a mild June and it wasn’t so bad but if we want a good snow season then we need cold weather.
Because of all the bad weather in June it is the perfect month to close up business and have a holiday. My last day for tours this season will be 7th June. I will then have a holiday for a week and then back to Jindabyne to do a little cleaning and maintenance on the boat.
This year there is no Fishing and 4WD show in June so that gives me a chance to visit my family, so I might not be back to Jindabyne and available for tours until 29th June.
My shop however will be open except for four days from 12th to 16th June. Shop hours actually increase in June so as we catch the snow skiers before and after their day on the snow, so call in and say hi, if passing by.
FISHING REPORT
May was a fantastic month for fishing in the lake and I can say that on average the fishing was the best I can remember. Early May saw a lot of my trolling trips return after a couple of hours of fishing with ten trout and that is not bad. We also saw some good Brown Trout (check out what a 16lb fish looks like on my web site) and I must say the Rainbow Trout were in the best condition with small heads and big fat bodies.
May was also very mild with our first frost not occurring until the 12th and even then it was only just 0 deg C. DPI Fisheries (NSW Fisheries) Gaden Trout Hatchery have released the ex brood Atlantic Salmon and there are about 200 monsters now cruising the lake waiting for you to catch them. These Atlantics were once were held over until October before they were released, but they are now released in early June after they have been stripped of eggs.
If you want the best chance of catching one the next couple of months is the best time to try. The best way to usually catch one is trolling and they don’t really like one lure more than the other, it’s just a case of being in the right place at the right time. Some are caught on bait and that is usually something under a float and worms are as good as anything and a bit of burley thrown in every now and then also helps for hatchery bread salmon.
WATER LEVELS
Lake Jindabyne’s water level:
The water level was pretty stable again last week only dropping a little with the rain having no real effect. The water temperature is 12 degrees C. (Pambula River, on the coast, the other day was 13.5 Deg C)
We have moved the marina at Snowline Holiday Park over to beside the boat ramp, (to where the Heli Pontoon was) because Snowy Hydro are still ‘talking’ about the lake level dropping another metre. Not sure if this will happen because the lake level has been stable for the last couple of months, but we are prepared for the worse and this area beside the boat ramp is good deep water.
WHAT’S HAPPENING OVER WINTER
As stated previously I will be away for most of June but the shop will be open. Once I get my boat back into the water I will be back in full swing for July with both boat trolling trips and fly fishing trips on Lake Jindabyne available. Winter is a great time to fish and the weather can be fantastic and not cold as some people would think.
My boat has plenty of cover to keep the cold wind away and sitting in the sun can send you to sleep as you are so relaxed while trolling the lake waiting for a fish to bite. Even my bait fishing trips are quite often done in comfort off the boat, so if you are down in the mountains to see the snow, why not book some time on the lake and catch a trout for dinner.
Winter is also when I have more time to look after my regular clients, so if you have been out with me before in the last few years you are eligible to an extra hour of fishing free when you book a trolling tour. Book three hours of fishing and get one hour extra for FREE!
FISHING AND 4WD SHOW
There is NO show in Sydney this June and the show this year will be in November 9th to 11th which of course is my busy time and also the end of the Snowy Mountains Trout Festival week. Bad timing so I will not be there at the show this year.
JINDABYNE NEWS
Well as winter approaches it’s all happening in town. The big IGA has just sold to Woolworths and they take over mid June. After the snow season they will expand with the shops opposite going. Little IGA at the Old Shopping centre has also reportably been sold with expansion there also after winter. I guess this shows just how fast our town is growing at the moment.
Last month Mayor Richard Wallace told the CWA conference that Jindabyne had the largest growth of any inland area in NSW. Guthega Hotel has sold and the new owners there also want to remain open in summer so there may be some opportunities there for those that want to say close to the rivers, streams and dams in the alpine area. Funding has just been approved to seal the road between Dalgety and Ando near Bombala and that will mean an alternate route to Pambula which will shorten the drive to less than two hours.
SNOWLINE HOLIDAY PARK UPDATE
Keep your ears open for a new fishing competition at Snowline. It is in the planning and we should have all the details by next month. As reported last month the new managers are now in at Snowline and we welcome Samantha and Shawn Lawrence. Their last place of residence was Mt Isa but they have has some experience in the Victorian Alps. New assistant managers have also just arrived for winter. Rob and Serena are the new assistant managers that started a couple of weeks ago.
Bestons Park Management, owners of Snowline have also just purchased Gerroa Shores Resort so they now own seven parks in NSW. The march is on between these bigger groups and the competition between them is heating up with the NRMA joining in and also starting to purchase caravan parks as part of the expansion of their investment portfolio.
NRMA now own Merimbula Beach Holiday Park, Parklea Gardens in Sydney, Ocean Beach Holiday Park at Umina and Darlington Beach Resort on the Coffs Coast.
Prime land in prime positions that is what it is all about, but the change can be regarded as both good and bad. Comments from my customers are mixed with some saying good because the parks facilities improve, but some say bad because they often price out the young families.
PAMBULA NEWS
Once again our family fishing workshops were well supported at Holiday Hub Beach Resort at Pambula and we started for the first time the same workshops at Shadrack at Eden. Barry has been holding these workshops now for about six months and with their success we will continue to operate them, with the support of our sponsors Australian Fishing Tackle Association, Wigston Lures, SAGA Tackle, Wilsons Tackle, Alan Perry, Australian Fishing Network and of course Beston Parks.
Thanks for your support and we look forward to continuing our operation in October School Holidays. We could always do with more support so if you know of anyone that would also like to contribute with any sponsorship no matter how small they can contact me on 02 6456 1551.
ONE DAY DOWRIGGING COURSE IN JINDABYNE
The one day downrigging course was a huge success and all had a lot of fun and learnt heaps. With the popularity of this course I will hold a few more of these in spring. Let me know now if you are interested as there is a limit of only six people at each course. The course is $100 for the day.
TROLLING CLINIC
The next weekend trolling clinic will be in November and the date at this time should be 4th and 5th the start to the SM Trout Festival week.
FLY FISHING BEGINNERS COURSE
There will be an extensive Beginners Fly Fishing Course set down for late October 2007. This course will be like to ‘residential’ ones we used to do a couple of years ago. You will arrive on Friday evening for a social get together to meet every one in the group. Saturday will be a full days instruction and then after dinner on Saturday evening we will have fly fishing DVD’s on fishing the area as well as a fly tying night for you to learn the basics of whipping up a simple fly. Sunday is on the water learning to fish a river and we finish up at lunchtime to allow you to return home.
FISHING GUIDES
The Professional Fishing Guides and Instructors Association held their AGM on the 2nd June at Pambula and this year the meeting was well attended. For the first time, the PFIGA has made arrangements for the 2008 AGM to be held on the weekend of the 14th and 15th June 2008 at Holiday Hub Beach Resort at Pambula.
For the first time the weekend, which will include workshops and displays and the weekend will be open to those people that are just starting off or are looking at becoming guides. This will be a great opportunity for you to see just what the PFIGA is all about.
If interested please contact me and I will keep you in the loop as to what is happening as the event gets closer. 12 months is not that far away!
UPDATED FISHING REPORTS
You can always access the latest Jindabyne Fishing Reports from my web site at www.swtroutfishing.com.au however should you wish to have a report directly e-mailed to you as soon as they are updated you can always request to be put into my address book and have them e-mailed direct.
You will also find on my web site now fishing reports for Pambula / Merimbula and area. These saltwater reports are compiled by myself, Barry and friends down on the coast that fish the area regularly. At the moment I am tending to fish the coast a day or two a week so I have a reasonable handle on what is happening and intend to update monthly.
These reports will be a little more up to date than what you read in the magazines which are more than often written a month before they are distributed.
RAINBOW LODGE
Rainbow Lodge is now booked out for winter and will be available once again in October. Bookings please phone my shop on 02 64561551 during business hours.
A FUNNY
Three guys were fishing in a lake one day, when Jesus walked across the water and joined them in the boat. When the three astonished men had settled down enough to speak, the first guy asked humbly, "Jesus, I've suffered from back pain ever since I took shrapnel in the Vietnam War. Could you help me?"
"Of course, my son," Jesus said. And, when he touched the man's back he felt relief for the first time in years.
The second guy who wore very thick glasses and had a hard time reading and driving, asked if Jesus could do anything about his poor eyesight.
Jesus smiled, removed the man's glasses and tossed them into the lake. When they hit the water, the man's eyes cleared and he could see everything distinctly.
When Jesus turned to the third guy, the guy put his hands out defensively. "Don't touch me!" he cried. "I'm on a disability pension."
If you would like an up to date fishing report e-mailed direct to you each week, please e-mail a request to me and you will be added to my list.
Hope you enjoyed this edition of ‘Trout Tales’, the next edition should be in early JULY.
I look forward to catching up with you all soon.
Steve Williamson
TO SUBSCRIBE TO ‘TROUT TALES’ e-mail swtrout@airlan.com.au or check out my web site.
Please e-mail me if you want to unsubscribe as well.
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