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April 09 Fly Fishing Report

Summer has ended and we are now into much cooler weather. Some much-needed rain has fallen and hopefully this trend will continue. Around 70mm. of rain fell in most parts of the district.

There's only a month or so till the season closes on the June long weekend and the fishing has, as is usually the case this time of year, slowed down a little. There are still a few mayflies and caddis about on the warmer days and a size 12 Adams has worked well for me. The fish are a bit spooky and shell shot, due to the pressure of Easter - but a well presented fly coupled with good stalking skills will still tempt them.
Tiny black midges are also common at this time If you come across fish rising to these tiny insects you'll need the smallest fly in your box. A size 28 can be too big for these! Small nymphs and midge pupa patterns are also a good choice at the moment and can be fished on a dropper a couple of feet (2/3 of a meter) under a dry fly.

As I mentioned the fish can be easily spooked at his time in the season. Until we receive some heavy rain the streams and rivers will generally remain low and clear. The sun is now lower in the sky than a month or two ago and the softer light makes polarioding (spotting fish with polarized glasses) more difficult. The odds are now more in favor of the fish spotting us first if we're not careful. Move slowly and be sure to wear dull clothing.

The large lakes are fishing well in the cooler conditions and some very well conditioned rainbows are about. Lake Eucumbene is at around 18% and Jindabyne is at 48% of capacity. Both are still slowly dropping. Mudeye flies are still working well, as are yabby patterns. As with the streams a small midge pupa on a dropper behind the larger fly can make the difference. Some large browns are also reportedly starting to school at the mouth of the larger rivers flowing into the lakes and if we manage to get a significant rainfall event these fish will begin to run the rivers. So start to tie a few glow bugs for the coming weeks!
Night fishing at these river mouths will also become more popular and many fly fishers will begin to fish throughout the night in the hope of landing that once in a lifetime fish. Big black Woolly Buggers are often the fly of choice for these brave fishers' I gave up fishing through sub zero nights many years ago!

The forecast does tend toward more rain over the coming weeks' I hope so. I learnt along time ago to never begrudge rain. Late autumn/early winter rain has been very poor over the past decade so it would be great to se some good spawning flows throughout the region.

February/March 09 Fly Fishing Report.

A short heatwave in early February was soon followed by cooler weather. Subsequently most waters have fished well over the last month or so. Some welcome rain has fallen in the region over the last few days. This has been the first significant rain for a couple of months. The rivers and streams have maintained excellent water levels this summer - no doubt this is thanks to the heavy snowfall back in late November. Autumn is now officially with us. The cool temperatures and pleasant days should see continued excellent fly fishing.

The larger rivers - the Thredbo and Eucumbene - have fished well on the right day. Grass hopper and beetle flies have fooled plenty of fish. There have also been some good may fly hatches during the past month and these can bring out the best fish in the river. These rivers can be difficult when the fish don't want to play ball. Good fly fishing always revolves around cooperative trout and if there isn't food on offer sometimes the fish will simply hide and lie low until it's worth while exposing themselves.

Gentle flows, clear water - this definitely spells spooky trout. So long leaders and a careful approach are usually required. I'd expect grasshopper flies to still bring results until early April, although the size of these should now be a bit smaller. Beetles as always will remain a good option and as April approaches we will see a few good hatches. The small Baetis may flies always continue through until late in the season - so have some size 16/18 Blue Wing Olives on hand. Small brown Seals Fur and Pheasant tail nymphs can also be handy when it seams a bit quiet.

The large waters of Lake Eucumbene and Jindabyne have continued to fish reasonably well, especially late afternoon and on/after dark. Reports of good mudeye (dragon fly lava) hatches continue. There are plenty of good mudeye flies around and an old favourite of mine is the Craigs NightTime fly. The lake fish are in good condition, even though these lakes continue to drop. Falling water levels are the norm in autumn and usually this persists through to winter.

The small alpine lakes, such as Three Mile Dam have also been fishing well and the pleasant weather should see this continue to be the case.

Autumn is a beautiful time in the mountains. Softer light and mild days can also be good for the fish and they tend to take advantage of any feeding opportunity. I'll certainly be wetting a line every chance I get!

January 09 Fly Fishing Report.

Summer is well and truly under way and the fly fishing has been very good. It's difficult to think of any water that hasn't fished well on the right day.

All the mountain rivers and streams are flowing well and the odd summer storm should see these levels hold well over the next month or so. Beetles have been on the menu on most streams. Every few years we see an exceptionally large Tea Tree Beetle hatch and this has certainly been one of those years The small (size 14 - 16) black beetles with and orange/tan wing case were everywhere in late December and there are still some about. The fish should take an imitation for a while yet. Although I do remember a few days when I think they'd had enough - a bit like a cat in a mouse plague!

There have also been a number of good Mayfly hatches and this will continue. The small (size 16) Red Spinner Mayflies have been common and there seems to be plenty of mature nymphs of this species under the rocks in most streams.

There have been plenty of small grass hoppers about and a few are starting to develop wings, so I'd suggest the hopper fishing is only a week or two away on most streams - it's already under way on the lakes and some slightly lower altitude rivers.

The big Hydro lakes - Eucumbene and Jindabyne have been rising and fished well. Eucumbene especially so. They are both levelling off now but are continuing to produce some good fish. Apart from the usual summer evening Mudeye fishing, some fly fishers have had some excellent grasshopper fishing and polarioding on the right day. The key to this fishing is finding a hopper laden grassy bank with a stiff breeze to blow the hoppers out on the water - and of course your favourite grasshopper fly.

The smaller high altitude alpine lakes have also fished well. Beetles, caddis and midges are most often encountered on these waters and warm sunny days will see the fish on the lookout for some surface food.

Summer is a great time in the mountains and when I'm not guiding or teaching I'll be out wandering a beautiful high country stream.

November/December 08 Fly Fishing Report

Rain and snow have been the news for late November. The fishing was good up to this point, but the water was definitely needed. The whole Main Range received around 50cms.of snow in one dump - the highest November falls for 20 years. Add to this 50mm.+ falls of rain a few times throughout the region and it's not hard to see why the rivers and streams have been high during the last week of November and the first week of December.

Some further, lighter falls are expected in the lead up to the New-year. This will mean the rivers will remain in top condition through out the coming months. Most waters are now dropping and clearing and should fish very well in the few weeks prior to Christmas.

Mayfly, Caddis, Stonefly and other aquatic insects will be on the menu. Early summer also sees an increase in terrestrial insect activity - so don't leave home without some trusty Red Tags # 14 and any other favourite beetle pattern flies. I've also noted plenty of nymphal grasshoppers about and I'm sure there will be a few on the wing and therefore on the trouts diet by Christmas.

As always the mountains can experience a variety of weather - some times all in one day, so be prepared to fish deep with a bead head nymph if the surface fishing is quiet.

The big lakes Eucumbene and Jindabyne have improved with rising levels due to the rain and snow. Lake Jindabyne is approx. 54% and Lake Eucumbene has risen to around 24%. Both can provide some excellent midge fishing at this time of year so carry a few Midge balls and Buzzer flies. Mudeye hatches should start to increase on the right evening as summer takes hold. Fur Mudeyes, Cordiloid and some traditional patterns such as Craig's Nightime will all work well fished slowly in the surface film.

All in all it looks like continuing to be a good season for fly fishers. The only blimp at the moment is The N.S.W. Governments decision/attempt to close Gaden Trout Hatchery. This has been seen and taken as a direct attack on the states trout fishery. Ten years ago the Snowy trout fishery was estimated to generate $70 million for the state economy and provide upwards of 700 hundred jobs. The cost of running the Gaden Hatchery is less than a 1/2 million Dollars. With economists like the State Government in control no wonder they're broke! It's pointless for me to harp on about their obvious stupidity - so if you'd like to let the N.S.W. Labor Government know how you feel about this issue - write to the Premier and the Minister for DPI. and let them know that the 100 year old trout fishery WILL still be here long after they are gone and forgotten.

October 08 Fly Fishing Report.

The season is under way and as expected it looks like being a good one. So far the fishing has been excellent and given a little regular rainfall this should continue.

The Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers saw plenty of action during the opening weekend and the following weeks. Most fly fishers weren't disappointed, as there were plenty of nice rainbows about. The Thredbo R. in particular showed some nice fish averaging 1-2Kkg. The Eucumbene fish were smaller - as they were last season. Some of these Rainbows will hold in the river for a month or two yet. Hopefully most fishers will show some restraint and return fish to the water for their own and others future enjoyment.

Most mountain rivers and streams are still carrying plenty of water and more rain is forecast for the coming weekend. Many fish are lying deep and fly fishers will still need weighted flies to reach them. Bead head nymphs and glo bugs will still tempt some of the Rainbows.

November signals the start of some dry fly fishing, so keep an eye out for hatches and rising fish! This is my favourite time in the mountains. The brown trout will really start to show from here on in. Flies such as Royal Wulffs, Adams and elk hair caddis work well in the stronger flowing rivers, but watch out for stone flies and some smaller may flies, as fish concentrating on these may need a closer imitation. Also remember that most of these waters are running clear and even though they have good flows, you'll still need to avoid being seen - especially by any larger wily Brown trout!

The major Hydro lakes fished well and were rising for most of October. Lake Jindabyne has begun to fall and will be a tougher shore based fishery as a result. Still, persistent evening fly fishers will get some results using the usual mudeye and deep fished yabby flies. Lake Eucumbene continues to rise for now and shore based fly fishers will fare well while this situation continues. Late afternoon midge hatches will also be a possibility during November, so if you venture out to either Lake Eucumbene or Lake Jindabyne make sure to carry some buzzers and midge ball flies. Unsettled weather will also trigger some ant activity. Termites and small black or cinnamon flying ants are common during spring and early summer and should they hatch the fish will usually feed well. These may be quite small and the fish can also prove to be difficult so carry some good imitations.

While the mountains are fishing well, the Monaro district continues to be in need of good rainfall and is subsequently fishing poorly. I'd simply not recommend it this season.

Fly Fishing Season 2008/09 Outlook.

There’s a week to go till the start of another fly fishing season in the Snowy Mountains/Monaro region - At Last! There’s something special about whiling winter away in anticipation of what’s to come, but by the time it comes around were all just itching to go.

This season looks like being a good one. Autumn rains were definitely a bit wanting in the region, but after a slow start the 2008 snow season proved to be excellent. September has also seen some good rainfall and we’ve seen falls of 50-100mm or so once a week for three weeks running. As you can imagine this kind of rainfall on top of snow sees all the mountain rivers streams regularly running a banker. As I write this, the rivers are high and I’m sure we’ll see more rain before the opening on October 4th.

Just prior to the last falls - when river levels were a bit lower, I stoped for a look at the Thredbo River Bridge on the Kosciuszko Road. There were plenty of nice rainbow trout up on their spawning run and I expect they’ll still be around for at least the first month of the season. I’m also sure the story will be much the same for the Eucumbene River. Don’t forget that both these waterways are classified as Blue Ribbon and therefore have a two fish bag limit. But catch and release is a far better idea for these spawning fish - they are the future and fish at this time taste lousy anyway!

If it’s a feed your after try the big lakes -Eucumbene and Jindabyne. They’re managed for this and should fish well at the start of the season as both are rising. Lake Eucumbene is approx. 18% and Lake Jindabyne 47%. Lake Eucumbene will most likely continue to rise well for a while yet and Lake Jindabyne may drop a little - as work is planned for the dam wall area.

The Monaro district is still suffering from a lack of rain, especially last autumn and early winter. So I’d expect fish numbers to still be very, very low. Like last season the odd fish still remains and should you tangle with one, please return it to the water unharmed. When a few good seasons finally arrive in this area its important that any remaining fish have a chance to spawn - stocking alone can’t compete with the survival and tenacity of the wild fish. Also please leave these waters alone over summer. Any fish caught and released in water temps more than about 23 Deg. C will be very stressed and more than likely die - even if they do appear to swim away.

Still, the mountains once again should fish very well and glo bugs and heavy nymphs will, as is usually the case, be the go for the higher water. Make sure your using enough weight to get near the bottom. Few fish will move up in the flow for flies at this time, so be prepared to loose a few flies - if your not hitting bottom every now and then your less likely to catch as many.

The lakes will still provide some polarioding opportunities on sunny days and olive nymphs, midge pupa and the odd larger fly should get results. Morning and evening fishing with various yabby, mudeye and smaller caddis nymph patterns should be productive while the lakes are on the rise.

All in all I’m expecting this season to be even better than last year as the mountains have soaked up some water for a couple of seasons now. As long as some rain keeps on coming the rivers and streams will fish well. You’ll have to ask me how things ended up next June (I’m sure you all know that forecasting is a tricky business), but I ‘d say we’re in for a good one.

 

April/May 08 Fly fishing Report.

Winter isn't far away and the Browns are starting to run the major rivers. As has been the case in the last few years - autumn rain has been a bit wanting. Still April provided some excellent fly fishing opportunities. The highlight was certainly the excellent hopper fishing which kept on going right into May. Usually the hoppers exit with a few frosts and rain. Probably the lack of good rain over the last couple of months accounted for the grasshoppers surviving so long.

Some rain and snow has been falling, but still more is needed to really get fish moving from the lakes into the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers.
Some fish have already run though and a few have been caught on glow bugs and tungsten bead head nymphs. The rig to use depends on where the fish are lying. Many fish will lay up in the deeper holes during the day only moving upstream at night or during good rain as they search for suitable spawning gravel.

Fish holding in deep water obviously need to be fished for with a fairly heavy rig. The most common set up used is a Glow bug trailing a heavy tungsten bead head nymph. At times, when you feel your still not getting deep enough, a Muppet - which is a lead dumbbell eyed Glow bug is the way to go. You need to get down to these fish - so if you're not occasionally hitting the bottom, you're probably not getting down to the trout. The trailing fly is best tied to the nymph at the bend in the hook. About 2/3rds to a metre will do. Many people use an indicator and if your trying to go deep it should be located well up the leader close to the join with the flyline.

Not all the fish will be in deep water - especially once the spawning run is well under way. Look at any gravel areas near the run out of pools or shallower gravel runs. This is where the fish will spawn. Once fish are spawning fly anglers must not wade/walk on these areas as the trouts eggs can be damaged by doing so - and it's illegal! You may be more successful using just one lighter Glow bug for these trout. A bright Glow bug can usually be seen by the fly fisher and if it disappears - Strike!

It should be remembered that both the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers are classified as Spawning Rivers from the 30th of April until the seasons close on the June long-weekend. This means they now both have a 1 fish bag limit and that fish must be over 50cm. If you enjoy fly fishing it's a better idea to leave these fish in the system - so they can spawn and guarantee fishing in the future.
In past years the section of the Eucumbene River upstream of the flying fox closed at the end of April. This caused confusion with some anglers and has resulted in Fisheries simplifying the regulations.

The whole of the Eucumbene River is now open until the end of the season.

The big Hydro lakes have been fishing reasonably well and some nice condition Rainbows have been caught - especially in Lake Eucumbene (Approx. 19%). Surface fished mudeye patterns are still working on some fish, as are deep-fished larger yabby type patterns. A gold fish pattern is also handy in Lake Jindabyne (Approx. 59%) at this time of year.

There's only 3 weeks to go in what has been a good season. With a bit of luck in the rainfall and snow department, next season will be even better.

March 08 Fly Fishing Report.

Well, last report I said it looks like summer may be over - wrong! March started out with a few dry weeks and some pretty warm temperatures. For fly fishers this meant lower water and some difficult fishing in the rivers and streams. The fish were still there but needed a careful approach and good presentation for success. Due to the summer like conditions, mayfly hatches were sporadic and most successful anglers found grasshopper and beetle patterns the most productive.

Fortunately the weather has returned to normal and in the days following Easter most parts of the region have received a welcome inch or two of rain. That's the way it goes in the mountains - as some snowfall is also forecast!

The outlook for river and stream fly fishing over the coming weeks is good. The influx of some water and cooler temperatures should see an increase in mayfly hatches. Most common of these at this time are the large Black Spinners and smaller Blue Wing Olive mayflies. If you are really lucky you might also come across a hatch of Kosciusko mayflies - especially in rivers on the western slopes of the Snowy Mountains.
So be sure to carry some a few fly patterns to cover these hatches as trout feeding well in a hatch can ignore flies that don't in some way come close to what their feeding on.

A size 14 Black Spinner and a 12 or 14 size March Brown, Adams or Highland Dun, as well as size 16 BWO (blue winged olive) should be in the fly box. The usual fare of Royal Wullfs, Red tags and Parachute Adams will also be useful and a hopper pattern may still bring results for a week or two yet. When all's quiet on the surface fly fishers should try a nymph below an indicator or a dry fly (in shallower runs). A bead head is a good choice for faster deeper water, while lighter weight nymphs are the go for the shallow stuff - or in the case of trout that simply refuse to look up. Brown, tan or greyish (hare's ear) coloured nymphs in size 14 or smaller should do the job.

Autumn is the trout's last chance to gain some condition before the winter spawning - so fish do want to feed when the opportunity arises, but the generally clear and lower water levels - compared to spring, can still make them tricky. It's also worth noting that the sun is lower in the sky at this time and combined with "softer" light, fish will see the fisher more easily than we would like!

The lakes fished quite well over Easter and this should continue next month. Fly fishers using Mudeye patterns have done well in the late afternoon and into the evening. Lake Eucumbene (19%) has been more productive than Jindabyne (53%) and the condition and growth of the Rainbows has been good - this should also mean a generally larger average size fish in the Eucumbene River at the start of next season. The smaller lakes will also continue to provide some fishing, especially on nice days. Most of these waters always fish well with caddis and beetle type flies. All in all the following weeks should provide some good fly fishing opportunities in what to this point has been a very good season.

 

January/February 08 Fly fishing Report

Fly fishing throughout the region was generally very good in January, although the hot weather meant fairly high water temperatures in most waters at times. Many streams became too warm (temps over 20 deg.) to fish well on many afternoons. The big hydro lakes were also quite warm and shore fishing was very quiet as most fish stayed in deeper cooler water. Still there were some good times had on the right day.

Rainfall throughout January was again above average and February is also proving to be a wet one - keep it coming! The rain and some cooler conditions have seen all rivers and lakes cool down and begin to fish very well - so long as your not out in a storm of course! As you can imagine water levels are good to occasionally high in most rivers and streams. The Eucumbene and Thredbo continue to fish well although the better fish are not easy. They all received a lot of pressure as always over the Christmas /school holiday break. Long leaders and a careful approach should bring results. Both rivers are carrying a good head of 1/2 to 1 ½ lb. Browns this season and the future looks bright. Occasional larger fish are also present. Don't forget that catch and release will always ensure fishing for the future.

Terrestrial insects are still a major part of the trout's diet. Grasshoppers and beetles are common and imitations of these are working well especially on warmer days. Yellow Stimulators, redtags and the like are the flies of choice at the moment, with Caddis and Mayflys also about some afternoon and evenings. The Mayfly numbers will increase later in February and continue into March and April. There's definitely the feeling of an early autumn this season and summer appears to be almost over - but don't quote me on that!

The large lakes have cooled and are fishing much better from the shore than a few weeks ago. Both have risen a bit with the good rainfalls. Eucumbene is around 22% and Jindabyne is around 58%. Tantangara has also come up a little and is approx. 10% and fishing well, but it can fall rapidly. Mudeyes or yabby fly patterns are working and there are still some midge hatches on the right day. The rain just keeps on coming and for all intensive purposes the big dry is over and the fishery should just keep on improving over coming seasons. Who knows, even the legendary Monaro rivers will return to their former glory in a year or two?

2007 Dec Fly fishing report

This season continues to build to be the best for many years. With less than a week until Christmas rain continues to fall on a regular basis. Great news for those fly fishers heading up to the Snowy's for the Christmas and Now-year period

All mountain rivers and streams are fishing well, although you do need to be out on the right day with all this weather about - some waters have been a little coloured a times.

Dry fly fishing has been particularly good with some excellent hatches of larger mayflies. The most useful patterns have been larger dun and emerger patterns such as Adams and March browns in sizes 12 & 16. Naturally there have also been some good afternoon spinner falls. I favor a spent spinner pattern in these instances as fish can be finicky especially in smoother water. If your only carrying standard patterns you can simply clip the hackle level underneath to get the desired low riding affect. As always with good flows in the rivers the old standby patterns such as Royal Wullf etc. continue to bring results.

When the conditions aren't right for the dry fly, it is worthwhile trying a nymph. A size 14 pheasant tail nymph or tan seals fur nymph with or without a bead head ( this will depend on how deep you wish the fly to go) will do nicely and you can fish this under a dry as an indicator. Personally I've always preferred to use just one fly and a dedicated indicator if I feel the need. Weighted nymphs especially will cause the dry to drag unless the flow is quite hard and therefore tends to defeat the purpose.
Terrestrial time is almost here and I've already noted numerous small hoppers about.

The Christmas period also signals an in crease in beetle numbers - so make sure you at least have some Redtags or Tea Tree beetles in the fly box.. With all this rain the mountains are looking magnificent as most of the trees and shrubs etc. are flowering with more vigor than I've seen for many, many years.

The mountain lakes continue to have a few midge hatches and caddis, ants and beetles are about on many evenings. The lakes are remaining reasonably stable as the rivers continue to flow well. Christmas has always been noted for some good mudeye hatches and I'd expect this season to be a good one.

Tight lines, merry Christmas and happy New-year to all.

November 07 Fly Fishing Report.

Well what a month November has been. The best rain for many, many years in late spring. Virtually all areas of the Snowy Mountains and Monaro have received at least 150 mm. - with some parts getting much more. This looks great for at least the next few months and most forecasters are predicting continued falls.

So hows the fly fishing been? Most of the mountain rivers and streams have been fluctuating between high and sometimes coloured conditions and fantastic spring levels. This means those lucky enough to be out on the right day have had some of the best fishing for some years. Just a few days ago I managed to get out on one of the larger mountain rivers and had fantastic dry fly fishing to Browns and Rainbows ranging from 1 ½ lb. to 3 ½ lb. or so - truly great fun and did they go in the heavy and well oxygenated water conditions! There were a variety of mayflys hatching and dry flies worked well.

Good patterns for these late spring conditions are - Roal Wullfs, Red tags, Elk hair Caddis and Parachute Adams/March Browns in sizes 12 &14. Nymph fishing has also been very productive. Pheasant tail and bead head nymphs are working well when fish are not showing themselves. I'm expecting virtually all mountain rivers and streams will fish well between now and well into the newyear.

The larger mountain lakes are still quietly rising. Jindabyne is at 59% capacity and Eucumbene at 19%. They are both fishing well at times with some very good midge hatches in some shallow bays in Lake Eucumbene especially. A small midge pupa pattern suspended 30cm. bellow a midge ball dry fly works well when fish can be seen bulging for the hatching midges. If the rain and storms continue they will continue to slowly rise and fish well for now.

Many of the smaller mountain impoundments are also worth a look. Island Bend and Threemile Dam have been the best of these, with polaroiding and some beetle hatches being a feature.

With rain and storms expected to continue until at least Christmas the fly fishing should be excellent over the following months.

October 07 Fly Fishing Report.

The first month of the season has past and the outlook for the next couple of months at least is good Although rainfall was light in the first two weeks things picked up well towards the end of the month. I remember driving down from Thredbo in blizzard conditions which kept up to nearly Berridale. Since that time some rain and storms have boosted the waterways and as I write, the forecast for the next few days is for 50-100mm of rainfall throughout the region.

The rainbow trout spawning run saw many good fish caught. A few of these were quite large - up to 6lb. in the Thredbo river. Fish on the Eucumbene side were smaller than usual, with most averaging 1lb. or so. Both rivers carried more fish in their lower reaches. I'd expect many to move up with the recent and expected higher flows. We've had a lot of windy conditions, but if you found yourself out on the right afternoon some good dry fly fishing could be found on most waters. Still, thundery weather means termite hatches and these small insects seem to be irresistible to trout. A good imitation is sometimes needed and remember they are quite small - about #18 or#20. I use a pattern with a natural CDC feather as a wing.

The usual patterns for spring and higher water levels are working well in the rivers and streams. Royal Wullfs and other well-hackled nondescript patterns suffice. You may find fish a little fussier on less boisterous waters where trout have more time to inspect the fly. Various Mayfly, Stonefly and Caddis patterns can make a difference. Bead head nymphs that are weighted to suit the flow are always a good bet if dry fly fishing seems out of the question, but remember in the deeper heavy water you need to be close to the bottom to entice a few fish.

The big lakes - Eucumbene (18%) and Jindabyne (55%) are fishing well for shore based fly anglers. Naturally morning and evening are the best times as can be darker thundery afternoons. As the lakes continue to rise I'd expect to see fish moving into shallow water seeking drowned grubs etc. Midge patterns, Termites, Caddis and beetle patterns are working well for surface feeding fish, while the better wetfly/nymph patterns have been the usual Yabby, Mudeye, midge and Caddis patterns.

The next month should provide some excellent fly fishing for those lucky enough to be in the mountains. Late spring/early summer has always been my favourite time of season. If you manage to be on the water at the right time you can come across some excellent hatches and associated fishing. It's not always easy of course, but visible, feeding trout offer the most exciting and challenging moments in fly fishing.

September 2007 Fly Fishing Report & New Season Outlook.

Well with less than a week till the begining of the 07/08 trout season things are looking good.

I’m expecting a far better season than we had last time. Good late autumn/early winter rain followed by some great early snowfalls will mean far better water conditions this season. Most of the mountain rivers will start out at a much higher level than last season and heavier flies will be needed for the spawning run rainbows. These fish are usually the main target for early season fly fishers and should also stay in the rivers much longer than last year. Some rain is forecast a few days before the opening on Saturday September 29th.

Fortunately the Snowy Mountains and Monaro are part of the 20% of N.S.W. not drought declared and with a bit of luck will remain that way. August rain and snowfalls were not good but September weather has been closer to average. The lower lying Monaro waters will still need another season before they are seriously worth looking at - fish numbers will still be very low. A bit of pressure from fly fishers and local angling groups may be needed before N.S.W. fisheries see the light and resume stocking these legendary waters. Meanwhile if you do manage to find a fish on the Monaro please think of the future and return it to the water.

The large hydro lakes are rising but will take years to get back to pre drought (and perhaps pre cotton/rice) levels. Lets also hope all relevant Govt. bodies soon sort out the mess/fiasco of the Murray darling Basin. Sorry if I sound less than impressed, but when you live in the region and listen to the misinformed Politicians all fighting and suggesting the problem is simply one of better utilisation you can’t help but be cynical. It’s also regularly suggested that Sydney and Canberra’s water supplies can be augmented by taking more water from the snowy lakes - truly strange listening to them divide a pie that is simply not there! Anyway, back to the fishing.

As stated the mountain lakes are rising and will continue to provide some good polaroiding and shore based fly fishing till at least some time in December. Eucumbene is approx. 16%, Jindabyne 50% and most other waters are also on the rise.

As this season progresses I expect things to be quite normal - a far different scenario to last season which deteriorated badly in many ways before Christmas. What a difference some water makes.

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.