Archived Reports (click here to go back to current season reports)

 

August 2007 Fly Fishing Report.

Since last season closed back in early June fly fishers in the region have had a quiet time. This is fairly typical for early winter as all rivers are closed until the start of the new season in early October.

Weather wise some good rain and a great start to this years Ski Season should mean more water about next season - more on that next time.

Meanwhile fly fishers in the region are still able to fish the lakes. Jindabyne is the most popular during winter and polarioding for Brown trout that have returned from their spawning run in the Thredbo river are the main target. Fish can also be found in lake Eucumbene, but these are harder to see over the predominatly darker bottom. The shoreline around Eucumbene is also still muddy and difficult to walk in many areas. Eucumbene is presently at about 10% of capacity while Jindabyne is hovering around 50%.

Polaroiding in Jindabyne is a fairly hit and miss affair. Some days you can walk 5-10 kms. and see 15 fish or so (a good day!), while another day you can cover a similar amount of territory and see none.So you’ll take my meaning when I describe it as fickle. Then of course we have to tempt them!

Generally speaking flies for this fishing range from larger lure type flies such as Bushy’s Horror which no doubt is taken for a yabby, to smaller caddis nymphs and midge pupa patterns. The old standard Olive nymph in size 14 works well. Just as in finding the fish can pose problems, so can getting them to take our offering. Again some days it seems they are relatively easy and other days near on impossible.

Usually if the lake has risen a little the Browns seem a bit more active and responsive. Naturally plenty of sunshine is the go as low light will make polarioding at this time of year (with the sun lower in the sky) difficult. As in all fly fishing the angler should try not to be seen and wear suitable dull clothing.

Presenting the fly without spooking fish isn't easy on glassy calm days. A little wind ripple will as always help disguise the arrival of the fly. The best approach for cruising trout is an ambush tactic - leading the fish and trying to place the fly in its path. Just how far to lead them depends on how fast they’re moving and how spooky they seem on the day, Many fish will hang about in the same area for days or even weeks. With the increased popularity of the winter polarioding they can become educated, spooky and downright impossible. No doubt the fact that frustrated fly fishers have very few options at this time of year has a lot to do with this. Still this doesn’t mean its not good fun and a great way to keep your eye in while waiting for the start of the season proper in early October.

Some fish have already been seen and caught by those who have given it a go and things should improve over the coming weeks.

May 2007 Fly Fishing Report.

After a dryish April that provided fairly average fly fishing conditions we are again receiving some welcome rain. As I write this report it's also snowing fairly well in the mountains -winter isn't far away.

There are only a few weeks until the June long weekend and closure of all rivers and streams for fishing and the fly fishing has been typically inconsistent. Cooler condition and simply the time of year offer the trout less feeding opportunity.

Besides, with the present rainfall the Brown trout have other things on their minds. It's time for their spawning run. There have already been some fair runs of fish up both the Eucumbene River and Thredbo River. Each rainfall incident from now until the season closure will see more and more fish coming up from the lakes. Some of these can certainly be large. Every year at this time a few 10 plus pound fish are caught. This attracts fly fishers from around the country, all trying for that elusive trophy Brown.

The fishing options will be a little different this year. For starters the Eucumbene River mouth is no where near Providence Portal. It's now much further down the lake. This might make things a little tricky for the die hards who fish through out the night during the last weeks.
On the plus side, Fisheries have made some late changes regarding this river. The Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers change to spawning regulations from the 1st.of May. This means a change in size and bag limit to 1 fish over 50 cms. As Fisheries always seem to argue for a simplification or regulations I personally would like to see this enforced for the whole of the season. Imagine the improvement to these fisheries - they'd be truly word class. As for late changes, the Eucumbene River is no longer closed from the flying fox (near Providence). Now the whole river is open to fishing till the closing of the season on the June long weekend.

Depending on flows the typical way to approach these spawning Brown trout is with the glow bug/tungsten bead head and indicator rig. Just how much weight is required always depends on the volume of flow and what the fish are up to. If fish are seen in shallower waters a single lighter glow bug usually gets a response. The Brown trout tend to be far more difficult to deceive than Rainbow trout. As I mentioned earlier the river mouth areas of both the Eucumbene and Thredbo can produce large fish - especially at night time, A large dark coloured wooly bugger type fly that is easily noticed at night is usually the go.

This run of Browns is really the last hurrah for the season as most stream and lake fishing quietens down, although some nice rainbows may still show up in the lakes. You can be lucky and find a bit of dry fly fishing still, but it is naturally limited and is usually restricted to the warmest couple of hours of the day.

Hopefully the rain and snowfalls continue and the regions trout enjoy a good spawning.

April 2007 Fly Fishing Report - Snowy/Monaro.

Summer is certainly over in the mountains and pleasant cool conditions are now the norm After more much needed rain in the region April has been much drier so far. Again I'm hoping for some good falls later during this and the coming months.

All the streams and lakes have seen a big drop in water temperatures and on the right day and in the right conditions are fishing reasonably well. Most rivers and streams are not carrying large numbers of fish at the moment, but for those flowing into the Hydro Lakes (eg. Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers) this can change at any time with rises in water levels should we receive more rain.

A few more fish seem to be in the Thredbo River at the moment, bit it is still a little low and clear and accordingly the better fish are not easy. As always under such conditions a long leader and cautious approach is required. There have been some Mayfly, Caddis and even a few Stoneflies about and more specific flies have given better results than general-purpose patterns. Smaller patterns such as a 16 or 18 Blue wing Olive can work well at the moment but the do need to be cast at a fish - as they are really to small to be used as a searching fly. If you do search the water with a larger dry then try a small nymph on a dropper. There do seem to be a lot of small fish about at the moment and if you are getting into a few of them try not to harm them during release, as these are our future. Pinching down the hook barb will certainly make for a quicker release.

A few cooler evenings and frosts have seen a sharp drop in grasshopper numbers, but a good hopper imitation and as always beetle patterns are still tempting a few nice fish - especially in lower locations.

The smaller mountain lakes are still fishing well and can provide some nice dry fly fishing while the larger hydro lakes are dropping still. Tantangara and Jindabyne lakes are providing some nice trout in the morning and evening with mudeye, yabby and some times midge patterns producing well.

I'd expect levels to continue to fall until the spring snow melt. Shore based fishing at Lake Eucumbene is fairly difficult at the moment and it's expected that this lake will soon divide into three separate lakes soon, as it is at the lowest level seen since the initial filling 40 odd years ago. Certainly worthwhile for sightseers as old properties and towns drowned then are now becoming visable.

There are plenty holidaymakers about at the moment and the mountains are certainly a great place to be during autumn, but the fishing should improve when things quieten down in a week or so.

March 2007 Fly Fishing Report

We've just had one of the wetter months the region has seen for many years. Could this finally mean the end of the drought that's plagued the Snowy Mountains and Monaro for many years? Lest hope so, but it's still early days yet. What a month February has been. Some parts of the region have received up to 200mm.of rain; with at least twice average every where. The best falls have been on the Monaro and all the streams are now flowing well. Unfortunately these waters have extremely low fish numbers but continued rainfall - as is forecast should mean good fishing in a season or two

All the mountain rivers have also benefited from the rain. Most are flowing well and have cooled down considerably due to the rain and lower overnight temperatures.

Both the Thredbo and Eucumbene are now showing some fish and hopefully more will journey up from the lakes in coming weeks. This is common at this time of year if as has happened these rivers receive rain. Terrestrial patterns are still working well with hoppers, and beetle patterns working well The old favourites such as a Nobby Hooper, Red Tag and Stimulator are a good choice and a bead head nymph on a dropper will help get results in larger deeper waters.

As mentioned the rain, which has often come in the way of thunderstorms, has also triggered some Mayfly hatches - so carry a few good imitative patterns. Some of these are quite small, with tiny blue wing olive mayfly being common. A size 18 imitation should see the undoing of any tough fish you come across feeding on them. Good powers of observation have always been important for successful fly fishers and never more so than when you find a fish that is feeding well. Take time and look closely at the water so as to identify what the trout are taking, as these times are when fish can be selective.
The smaller waters such as the Moonbah R. and Gungahlin R. have now also cooled sufficiently to show some fish - mostly in the larger lower reaches as many fish vacated the higher shallow areas during January's hot, dry conditions.

The higher smaller Snowy Scheme lakes are still fishing well and should fish even better this month.
Lake Eucumbene is still providing some fish for fly fisher with midge, mudeye and yabby fly patterns producing some fish in the evenings or at dawn, as is Lake Jindayne. Eucumbene is now at about 19% capacity and should not fall any further. Lake Jindabyne is about 48% and will probably continue to fall .as water is sent west for irrigation commitments by Snowy Hydro.

The unsettled weather is expected to continue - I hope there right! Nobody can begrudge the region rain. So if you venture up be prepared for all conditions and if thunder and lightning are present be careful with that graphite rod.

January 2007 Fly Fishing Report

Well the Christmas/New Year period saw the region receive some much needed rain and snow. It actually snowed in many places on Christmas day. Lets hope there's more to come as the Bureau of Meteorology has stated that the El Nino in the Pacific appears to have ended and we should receive better falls of rain in the coming months. I hope they're right! At the moment we are having some very hot weather and as always anything can happen in the mountains.

The mountain rivers are in fair condition for this time of year with most providing worthwhile dry fly fishing, although some (eg. Gungahlin R.) are very warm and not fishing to well in the hot weather.

Summer is typically terrestrial time and grass hopper and beetle flies are the norm.
Some waters have more hoppers than I've seen for many years - this should continue for some months.
There can still be an occasional hatch or aquatic insects if conditions are right. This usually happens in humid conditions before or after some rain, so be observant as fish concentrating on spent mayflies.may refuse all but an imitative pattern.
On the positive side grasshoppers can be the undoing of some better resident fish as the some times they throw caution to the wind for the sake of a good mouthful. Still, the wise fly fisher will stay out of sight and be careful as summer stream (low water) conditions normally dictate a fine and far style of approach.

Some favourite flies for summer dry fly fishing are Redtags, Royal Wulfs, and Nobby Hoppers and the like. Asmall brown or black nymph can also be useful when fish don't respond to the dry or a bead head nymph in deeper flows. On sunny days polarioding (spotting) trout before you cast is as always a great way to fish especially on popular waters. I've always found that by seeing the quarry first I'm far more successful. Summer conditions on waters with above average fish require careful stalking as one poor cast or bad approach will see a fast departing bow wave.

The big lakes are also producing some nice fish on hoppers. They are a bit quiet in the middle of hot days though. Morning and evenings have been productive. Mudeyes hatch in the evening at this time of year and Lake Jindabyne with it's more established weed beds has seen some excellent fishing on the right night. Craigs Nightime, Fur mudeyes and Poodles are all fly patterns that are worth a try.
If nothing happens near the surface try fishing a large wet fly near the bottom for yabbie (fresh water crayfish) feeders.
Some of the smaller high country lakes such as Three Mile Dam have also produced good evening rises to beetles, caddis and midges are worth a try, as can day time polarioding on these lakes.

More storms and rain are fore cast and will help to cool things down a bit and improve the fishing.

November 2006 Fly Fishing Report

The Mountain Rainbows have finally finished their spawning, although with the current rain in the area there may still be a few on the redds.
What a great start to the season. The unusually low levels made fly fishing a little easier than usual. Apart from the mandatory tungsten bead head and Glo Bug flies a few friends and myself had a ball catching spawners on dry flies. That’s definately unusual for the Rainbows that are intent on spawning, but a lot of fun. They were obviously very aggresive.

More traditional fly-fishing is now the norm. We’ve been lucky enough to have some fair falls of rain with over 50mm. recorded in some areas and all the mountain streams and rivers are flowing nicely as I write.

The Thredbo has some colour at the moment but will clear quickly. It’s been fishing well with a dry fly and of course a weighted nymph is still working well in faster and deeper runs. The fish there are a little larger than the Eucumbene fish with many rainbows around 1kg. Those in the Eucumbene R. are mostly closer to 750grams. It’s been pleasing to see many 500gram Browns in the Eucumbene R. and this augers well for the future.
The best dry flies of late have been Royal Wullfs, Adams and various Caddis, Stonefly and emerger patterns. Some fly fishers I’ve been with over the last week have still managed a dozen or more nice fish for the day. Mayfly hatches are also starting on the right day and with some rain about termites are also a possibility.

Remember that most of the fish have seen plenty of fly fishers by now and a little care when approaching fish will pay dividends. Stay low and use any bank side cover so as not to be seen by the fish. Spotting fish first if possible is now the way to go and a slightly longer leader will also help.

Also be aware that gravel areas (redds) at the rear of pools and runs should not be walked or waded on as the eggs deposited there will be killed by trampling on them. I’ll also add that many of the mountain rivers are classified as Blue Ribbon and therefore have a 2 fish bag limit. I must admit I’m tiring of hearing of successful fishers telling me they only kept a couple as if they were doing the right thing instead of keeping the maximum legal amount they could before breaking the law.
As expected the lowland rivers have very few fish and are not worth the effort. Let’s hope the drought affecting these streams ends soon.

The big lakes have dropped by about 1-2 % since the season opened. Some fly fishers are still doing well and finding a few at dawn or dusk in the deeper areas of Lake Eucumbene near dead timber using nymphs and wet flies. Lake Jindabyne has generally been more stable and has some established weed beds. I’ve found a few midge hatching as well as Caddis flies. As the weather warms some beetle activity should be more apparent.

Good luck and let’s hope we continue to get some rain.

New Season Prospects for the Snowy/Monaro (October 2006)

Only a few short days to go and at last the trout fly fishing season 06/07 will open.

So what can we expect? As many people already know this winter saw some of the poorest snow falls on record for the Snowy mountains. What this will mean for the season as a whole is difficult to guess.

If the region receives average spring summer rainfall then the fishing in the mountain rivers and streams should be excellent. We’ll have to wait and see.

As the season opens the mountains larger rivers should fish well for the usual spawning run of rainbows from the big lakes. At the moment the Thredbo River has an above average flow and the Eucumbene River is a little more sedate. Both rivers are certainly lower than they have been at the start of previous seasons. For fly fishers this will make fishing a little easier as contending with high water can be difficult, but the lower levels may see the trout themselves a little spookier than usual for this time of year. The forecast for the long weekend is reasonable with no real rain expected.

The usual heavy nymph/globug rig fished with an indicator should produce good results, although it may not need to be as heavy as can sometimes be necessary. So carry a variety of weighted nymphs and make your decision at the water - remember it still pays to keep the fly near the bottom. Rainbow trout of around 1 kilogram average can be expected and these can go pretty hard, so be ready for a speedy run down stream. Also remember the Blue Ribbon streams have a 2 fish bag limit and the spawning fish can be dark and poor eating - so limit your kill.

The early onset of spring this year will also mean some good insect hatches on warm days, so be ready to switch to a dry. The large Kosciuszko mayfly can hatch in prolific numbers at this time of year in the mountains so make sure you carry some big dries. A size 10 Adams makes a fair imitation and can prove invaluable if you’re lucky enough to be on the river during a good rise to these big mayfly duns. A large Royal Wulff dry fly is also always a good bet in the faster water, as are other flies imitating Caddis flies and Stone flies.

The lowland rivers of the Monaro have received average rainfalls through winter but I’m still expecting fish numbers to be very low for at least another season or two. If you do try these streams please do the right thing and return any fish caught as mature, wild spawning fish are the surest way for these rivers to return to their former glory. Those lowland rivers unaffected by drought will also provide some dry fly activity during October if conditions are right. Some of these slower waters are also home for Red and Black spinners and some smaller mayfly species. Stone fly and Caddis patterns should also prove useful. Try polarioding.and make sure to use any available cover if you want to be successful on the gentle flows in these streams.

The big Hydro lakes should provide some excellent fly fishing. Lake Jindabyne is well over 50% full and rising whilst Lake Eucumbene is in the low 20% region. If you fish from a boat the old road at the top of Lake Eucumbene is the safest place to launch so as to avoid becoming stuck in mud. Polarioding should be good as hungry trout venture into the shallows in search of food. Anywhere one Jindabyne and the rocky shores near Seven Gates will be the go. Caddis and Midge hatches can also occur especially in humid conditions. Snowy Hydro report low inflows into these lakes but depending how you look at it most people are still expecting some excellent fishing in October at least. Hopefully hungry fish in Lake Eucumbene with a lot less water between them!

There’s always plenty of anticipation at the start of a new trout season and if we’re lucky enough to have some reasonable rainfall in the coming months and not too hot a summer the Snowys should again have some great fly fishing on offer.

Getting Ready for the Fly Fishing season (September 2006)

The N.S.W season starts in about a month - the October long weekend to be exact, so now is a good time to check all your gear and make sure everything’s in order.

Starting with the fly rod - it’s a good idea to give it a clean up with a bit of mild detergent. While your wiping it down and removing any old slime or weed etc. Caught on the guides and you can also check the reel seat to make sure its working ok and is secure. Also that the guides themselves aren’t loose or misaligned. I find giving it a clean up lets me find anything wrong before it becomes a problem. The tiptop should be free of grooves that can prematurely wear an expensive fly line and effect the rods smooth casting ability. These are usually held in place with hot melt glue and are fairly easy to replace.

Drag out your fly reel and give it a good clean as well. You should take off the spool and remove any old grease that’s probably been contaminated with dirt and other grime. I usually use a bit of methylated spirits or kerosene for this. Give the spindle a good wipe and apply some fresh reel grease and it’ll be running smooth again. If the reel has a drag system it should also be checked for smooth operation.

If you’re a bit lazy like me, you probably haven’t cleaned your fly line since last season - it’s hard to keep enthusiastic about maintenance at the end of a season. You should strip off the line you regularly use (40 to 70 feet approx) and give it a good clean with a quality line cleaner. This will keep it running smoothly through the guides and help it float high (floating lines) and last longer too. While doing this you can check the condition of the line. Look for signs of fine cracking in the first 15 feet or so and if it’s a weight forward line you should also check for wear at the rear of the head/start of the running line. A cracked fly line won’t cast or float well. Sadly fly lines don’t last forever and if it’s starting to show fine cracking it’s time to invest in a new one. While where at it we might as well tie on a new leader.

It’s also the time to shake the dust off your fly vest We all tend to load these up with all sorts of things so now is the time to check they’re serviceable. Check that your nippers and pin on reel are still there and working properly, your forceps are ok and the fly floatant container actually has some floatant in it - nothing’s worse than finding a good early season hatch and you can’t keep your fly floating! Vests have a lot of pockets so check them all and make sure every thing is ok. This can also be the time for a spring clean and the chance to toss out anything you think is simply dead weight. Are you carrying a few spare leaders and enough tippet material in the sizes you need? Any spools older than a season or two should be replaced as most nylons have a limited lifespan - flurocarbon is said to last a little longer. Check and top up your fly boxes and remove any used and matted flies. You can revitalise dry flies by holding them over steam with forceps for a while and wet flies and nymphs can have dried scum removed in a bit of hot water. You should also check used flies for hook sharpness. A quick touch up with a hook hone will do the trick.

Those small leaks in your waders should also be repaired before they get any worse. Simply fill them with water and mark the spot with a pen. Hang them up to dry out and apply some Aquaseal.

Now we’re ready to go and the seasons only a month away.

Polaroiding the Snowy Lakes (June 2006)

Wandering the shoreline of the major hydro lakes in the Snowy Mountains on a sunny day can be a lot of fun at various times. Late winter (August) to early summer will see trout returned from spawning and cruising the lake edges searching for food in an effort to regain condition lost during spawning. Many fly fishers tend to concentrate their efforts at Lake Jindabyne, but certainly all the lakes in the mountains can provide some sport.

The fishing varies dramatically at times, with fish being apparently suicidal one day and nearly impossible the next. This behaviour is most apparent in late winter. At this time the lakes are not usually rising and there isn’t really a lot of food about, but the fish are hungry and will take a well-presented fly. The light is softer at this time of year and there is often not much cover available. Walk slowly scanning the water well ahead to the limit of your vision - it goes without saying that good pair of polarised sunglasses is a must. When you see a fish, plan your cast and approach. Is it heading away or toward you? Do I need to sneak out wide and get ahead so as to lay an ambush? These questions and more need to be asked quickly and then the cast can be made. Some times the fish will only be available for a short time, so reacting quickly is important. Many fish will cruise an area regularly be prepared for them to show up again in anything from 30 seconds to an hour or two. This beat cruising behaviour means that many fish become quite educated to the ways of fly fishers and can at times be very testing.

Some useful flies to try are wooley worms, Bushies horrors, Mrs. Simpsons etc. in the larger patterns - these generally represent yabbies and the like. Smaller flies representing sand caddis, shrimp and midge lava also work well, especially on the tricky fish. Try olive nymphs, hares ear nymphs and small midge pupa patterns.

Generally it pays to allow time for the fly to sink to the fishes level or even have it sit on the bottom and perhaps give it a tiny twitch as the fish approaches. This can be tough, as sometimes you need to lead the fish by six metres or more to avoid spooking it. Rods and lines in 4 -6 weight floating are best depending on your casting skills, as are long fine leaders.

As things warm up (October on) and the trout season begins the rising lakes offer more varied food and insect activity. Fish will patrol fertile bays seeking drowned grubs and worms etc. Aquatic insects such as caddis and midges begin to hatch. You should now be able to catch some of the fish you see on dry flies. Beetle patterns work very well through spring and early summer, as do flies imitating specific midge, caddis, ant and mayfly hatches.

Now the sun will be higher in the sky and aid in seeing trout further off, but certainly sunscreen is now a must even if you are wearing a good hat as reflected glare will burn you badly. Depending on the year, as Christmas approaches most trout will head for deeper water during the day and polarioding will become less productive.