imnotafish
20-05-08, 09:44 PM
TROUT FISHING PREDICTIONS FOR
LAKE JINDABYNE
by Steve Williamson -
Steve Williamson's Fishing Adventures
Phone SHOP - (02) 64561551
Mobile - 0408 024436
www.swtroutfishing.com.au (mhtml:{10CFCEC4-E99E-4416-9BDD-07647B2A6627}mid://00000220/!x-usc:http://www.swtroutfishing.com.au/)
18th MAY 2008
LAST WEEK
The southerly change came through yesterday and dropped a little snow on the tips of the mountains but we never really got as much as predicted and unfortunately no rain at all.
The change did get a few more fish into the Thredbo ion the spawning run and you can find fish in all the usual haunts but the river level is still low and the water very clear.
The forecast for the next week is for more fine weather and cold frosty nights.
With only a few weeks now to the end of the river fishing season, anglers are still praying for some heavy rain so as the brown trout will run the river.
While conditions are tough on the river, the better anglers are still catching some very big fish.
Largest last week was caught by ‘Mr Jindy” Dougy Ivanovic from Melbourne.
Dougy is renown for big fish and his latest 11lb brown trout caught on fly on the Thredbo river was the biggest of Dougys fish so far this trip. Dougy managed fish of 5, 6, 8 and 9lb before this 11lb monster.
Other anglers are also doing well with a variety of nymph and glow bug rigs used mainly on fly rods.
Ther river is still a little low for spin anglers using drift rig techniques however big Rapala lures are also doing well.
The trollers are catching a few fish early in the day but have had trouble getting on the water due to either days of thick fog or else strong winds experienced over the last weekend.
This week we will have frosty mornings and sunny days so a day on the lake will be enjoyable and you might even catch a few big fish.
Gaden Trout Hatchery will release up to 300 Atlantic salmon this week into Lake Jindabyne.
At least 30 of these ex brood fish are over 5kg and you had better bring your big net.
NEXT WEEK
River fishing will be OK if you target the early spawners early and stick to fishing for resident trout on both dry and wet flies during the day.
Bait fishing on the lake will be worth a go and the fishing is definitely improving.
Trolliers will have to put the time in to get results and we will continue to see some big fish caught early.
Don’t forget your thermals as the mornings will be cold.
Just a reminder that in May the Thredbo river rules change to only one fish per day per angler, and that fish must be over 50cm long. Be aware that NSW fisheries officers are out and about so make sure you have your licence on you.
Lake Levels
The levels are still dropping slowly as predicted.
The boat ramp is only just in the water but launching is still no problem.
Water Temperature
13 degrees and about steady at the moment.
REMINDER
At this time of year, these reports are only updated IF the fishing conditions change.
Let’s look at what we should expect with the fishing over the coming weeks.
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 BAIT FISH IN RIVERS!
This month is one of the best months for the bait angler fishing the edges of the lake. Big brown trout are cruising the edges looking for a feed before they head into the rivers on their spawning run. Bardi grubs or local scrub worms are the best baits to catch these big fish but it has to be a well presented bait before you can trick these very wary monsters. The natural oils in the bardi grubs will help it float off the bottom and so they need to be held down with a running sinker. Scrub worms are best fished with no weight at all, just a worm on a hook and tossed into the water preferably with the line greased to help it float off the bottom and out of the weed. If you like you can also use worms under a float over the weed beds.
Worms teamed with an artificial bait like ‘Powerbait’, and fished off the bottom, is a method that is working well at the moment on Lake Jindabyne. The new type of Gulp baits, in jars like the powerbaits, are stated to be 55% more efficient than the older formula and these are well worth a try. winter.
Best areas to try over the next couple of months will be Waste Point at Creel Bay and the Snowy Arm near the pumping station.
RIVER SPINNING
The snow has encouraged a few more early spawning browns into the Thredbo but the river is low and clear and the fish are spooky.
When and if we get rain, minnow lures like the Rapala’s (especially the jointed ones) and the small 3 inch Stumpjumpers’ and the like will be the best choice for big fish. The jointed Rebel lures in the rainbow trout pattern are another that you should have at hand. Jointed lures have a great action and can be worked fast or slow.
Use sinking or deeper diving minnows when the river is high and stick to smaller lures when the water is low and clear. Don’t worry about the size of lures if the river is in flood because you might find that bigger is better. The Thredbo river is my river of choice from now until rivers close in June.
As stated already, there are some early spawners in the river already but they are spooky and the best fishing has been in the dark.
LAKE SPINNING
Now that the water is cooling down the lake spinning has improved. Tasmanian Devil lures in aggression colours like reds, pinks and oranges are starting to work best now. The Red nosed brown bomber has also still been good and will also catch you fish.
Try some bigger jointed Rapalas here as well and 11 and 13 cm are not too big for aggressive brown trout.
On the lake good spinning areas to try are ‘Creel Bay’, ‘Waste Point’, ‘The Snowy Arm’ and for fish still actively feeding try ‘Curiosity Rocks’, ‘Wollondibby Inlet’, ‘Hatchery Bay’ and ‘The Claypits’ area are also best.
TROLLING
Lake trolling is interesting in autumn as some days the fish will strike out of aggression and some days they will be feeding. Knowing what the weather is about to do will help.
When the snow is coming go for aggression lures.
As with spinning on the lake, big jointed lures are well worth a try for big browns.
Tasmanian Devil lures are still well worth a try and this is the time I quite often change to pink or orange coloured lures. These colours seem to work best on the aggressive spawning fish.
‘Tasmanian Devils’ in colours 55 pink or 56 orange are good lures to try for non feeding fish.
The duel depth Tasmanian Devils have been very popular with trollers due to the little extra depth and stronger action.
Even at this time of year the day will often warm up and the fish will still go deeper. ‘Lead core lines’ and ‘Downriggers’ will still be very useful over the coming months. Remember all the photos in the magazines of big fish caught off downriggers with big minnow lures trolled slowly?
‘Duel Depth’ Tasmanian devil lures rigged through the side hole to troll deeper to 4 metres will also help during he middle of the day, but make sure you don’t troll too fast when this lure is rigged in the deep dive hole.
‘East Jindabyne Islands’ and Sid’s Bay always fish well in autumn for rainbow trout and as the brown trout move to the end of the lake ready to spawn, ‘Creel Bay’ and the ‘Snowy River Arm’ are well worth trying.
FLYFISHING
The streams and rivers will still have good days even this late in the season. You will possibly still even fish that fish will still take a well presented dry fly. Last week one angler did very well using a ‘stimulator’ fly up higher on the Thredbo river.
As the rain comes and more brown trout move into the Thredbo, anglers minds will change to chase big trophy fish and fly anglers will have the best success using ‘glowbugs’ and nymphs. Black and brown nymphs in about a size 10 or 12 are good and make sure you have some weighed flies for when the river is flowing hard, as you need to get the fly down to the fish before you will catch them.
Lake Jindabyne will fish better this month. Water temperatures have a big effect on how close to shore the fish come but it’s cooler now and the fishing is much better and will continue to improve as the water cools even further.
Flies to try over the coming months will be the ‘Purple/Black Woolley Bugger’ and ‘Mrs Simpson’. Don’t forget the ‘Williamson’s Gold Fish’ around the creek inlets during the late evening.
SHOP HOURS
Shop hours will vary until the end of the snow season. If coming through, give us a call and make sure will be open.
While we are short staffed, it may be necessary to close the shop while I attend to guiding.
The shop will be closed for a week, while I take a break, after the long weekend in June.
We will close on Tuesday 10th and reopen on the 17th June.
GUIDING
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 (http://www.swtroutfishing.com.au/) and I am also starting to build my new web site www.fishingcourses.com.au (http://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.
LAKE JINDABYNE
by Steve Williamson -
Steve Williamson's Fishing Adventures
Phone SHOP - (02) 64561551
Mobile - 0408 024436
www.swtroutfishing.com.au (mhtml:{10CFCEC4-E99E-4416-9BDD-07647B2A6627}mid://00000220/!x-usc:http://www.swtroutfishing.com.au/)
18th MAY 2008
LAST WEEK
The southerly change came through yesterday and dropped a little snow on the tips of the mountains but we never really got as much as predicted and unfortunately no rain at all.
The change did get a few more fish into the Thredbo ion the spawning run and you can find fish in all the usual haunts but the river level is still low and the water very clear.
The forecast for the next week is for more fine weather and cold frosty nights.
With only a few weeks now to the end of the river fishing season, anglers are still praying for some heavy rain so as the brown trout will run the river.
While conditions are tough on the river, the better anglers are still catching some very big fish.
Largest last week was caught by ‘Mr Jindy” Dougy Ivanovic from Melbourne.
Dougy is renown for big fish and his latest 11lb brown trout caught on fly on the Thredbo river was the biggest of Dougys fish so far this trip. Dougy managed fish of 5, 6, 8 and 9lb before this 11lb monster.
Other anglers are also doing well with a variety of nymph and glow bug rigs used mainly on fly rods.
Ther river is still a little low for spin anglers using drift rig techniques however big Rapala lures are also doing well.
The trollers are catching a few fish early in the day but have had trouble getting on the water due to either days of thick fog or else strong winds experienced over the last weekend.
This week we will have frosty mornings and sunny days so a day on the lake will be enjoyable and you might even catch a few big fish.
Gaden Trout Hatchery will release up to 300 Atlantic salmon this week into Lake Jindabyne.
At least 30 of these ex brood fish are over 5kg and you had better bring your big net.
NEXT WEEK
River fishing will be OK if you target the early spawners early and stick to fishing for resident trout on both dry and wet flies during the day.
Bait fishing on the lake will be worth a go and the fishing is definitely improving.
Trolliers will have to put the time in to get results and we will continue to see some big fish caught early.
Don’t forget your thermals as the mornings will be cold.
Just a reminder that in May the Thredbo river rules change to only one fish per day per angler, and that fish must be over 50cm long. Be aware that NSW fisheries officers are out and about so make sure you have your licence on you.
Lake Levels
The levels are still dropping slowly as predicted.
The boat ramp is only just in the water but launching is still no problem.
Water Temperature
13 degrees and about steady at the moment.
REMINDER
At this time of year, these reports are only updated IF the fishing conditions change.
Let’s look at what we should expect with the fishing over the coming weeks.
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 BAIT FISH IN RIVERS!
This month is one of the best months for the bait angler fishing the edges of the lake. Big brown trout are cruising the edges looking for a feed before they head into the rivers on their spawning run. Bardi grubs or local scrub worms are the best baits to catch these big fish but it has to be a well presented bait before you can trick these very wary monsters. The natural oils in the bardi grubs will help it float off the bottom and so they need to be held down with a running sinker. Scrub worms are best fished with no weight at all, just a worm on a hook and tossed into the water preferably with the line greased to help it float off the bottom and out of the weed. If you like you can also use worms under a float over the weed beds.
Worms teamed with an artificial bait like ‘Powerbait’, and fished off the bottom, is a method that is working well at the moment on Lake Jindabyne. The new type of Gulp baits, in jars like the powerbaits, are stated to be 55% more efficient than the older formula and these are well worth a try. winter.
Best areas to try over the next couple of months will be Waste Point at Creel Bay and the Snowy Arm near the pumping station.
RIVER SPINNING
The snow has encouraged a few more early spawning browns into the Thredbo but the river is low and clear and the fish are spooky.
When and if we get rain, minnow lures like the Rapala’s (especially the jointed ones) and the small 3 inch Stumpjumpers’ and the like will be the best choice for big fish. The jointed Rebel lures in the rainbow trout pattern are another that you should have at hand. Jointed lures have a great action and can be worked fast or slow.
Use sinking or deeper diving minnows when the river is high and stick to smaller lures when the water is low and clear. Don’t worry about the size of lures if the river is in flood because you might find that bigger is better. The Thredbo river is my river of choice from now until rivers close in June.
As stated already, there are some early spawners in the river already but they are spooky and the best fishing has been in the dark.
LAKE SPINNING
Now that the water is cooling down the lake spinning has improved. Tasmanian Devil lures in aggression colours like reds, pinks and oranges are starting to work best now. The Red nosed brown bomber has also still been good and will also catch you fish.
Try some bigger jointed Rapalas here as well and 11 and 13 cm are not too big for aggressive brown trout.
On the lake good spinning areas to try are ‘Creel Bay’, ‘Waste Point’, ‘The Snowy Arm’ and for fish still actively feeding try ‘Curiosity Rocks’, ‘Wollondibby Inlet’, ‘Hatchery Bay’ and ‘The Claypits’ area are also best.
TROLLING
Lake trolling is interesting in autumn as some days the fish will strike out of aggression and some days they will be feeding. Knowing what the weather is about to do will help.
When the snow is coming go for aggression lures.
As with spinning on the lake, big jointed lures are well worth a try for big browns.
Tasmanian Devil lures are still well worth a try and this is the time I quite often change to pink or orange coloured lures. These colours seem to work best on the aggressive spawning fish.
‘Tasmanian Devils’ in colours 55 pink or 56 orange are good lures to try for non feeding fish.
The duel depth Tasmanian Devils have been very popular with trollers due to the little extra depth and stronger action.
Even at this time of year the day will often warm up and the fish will still go deeper. ‘Lead core lines’ and ‘Downriggers’ will still be very useful over the coming months. Remember all the photos in the magazines of big fish caught off downriggers with big minnow lures trolled slowly?
‘Duel Depth’ Tasmanian devil lures rigged through the side hole to troll deeper to 4 metres will also help during he middle of the day, but make sure you don’t troll too fast when this lure is rigged in the deep dive hole.
‘East Jindabyne Islands’ and Sid’s Bay always fish well in autumn for rainbow trout and as the brown trout move to the end of the lake ready to spawn, ‘Creel Bay’ and the ‘Snowy River Arm’ are well worth trying.
FLYFISHING
The streams and rivers will still have good days even this late in the season. You will possibly still even fish that fish will still take a well presented dry fly. Last week one angler did very well using a ‘stimulator’ fly up higher on the Thredbo river.
As the rain comes and more brown trout move into the Thredbo, anglers minds will change to chase big trophy fish and fly anglers will have the best success using ‘glowbugs’ and nymphs. Black and brown nymphs in about a size 10 or 12 are good and make sure you have some weighed flies for when the river is flowing hard, as you need to get the fly down to the fish before you will catch them.
Lake Jindabyne will fish better this month. Water temperatures have a big effect on how close to shore the fish come but it’s cooler now and the fishing is much better and will continue to improve as the water cools even further.
Flies to try over the coming months will be the ‘Purple/Black Woolley Bugger’ and ‘Mrs Simpson’. Don’t forget the ‘Williamson’s Gold Fish’ around the creek inlets during the late evening.
SHOP HOURS
Shop hours will vary until the end of the snow season. If coming through, give us a call and make sure will be open.
While we are short staffed, it may be necessary to close the shop while I attend to guiding.
The shop will be closed for a week, while I take a break, after the long weekend in June.
We will close on Tuesday 10th and reopen on the 17th June.
GUIDING
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 (http://www.swtroutfishing.com.au/) and I am also starting to build my new web site www.fishingcourses.com.au (http://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.