Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Report. 10 October 2011

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Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Report.
For 10th October 2011
By Steve Williamson. –
Lake Jindabyne Trout Fishing Adventures.
Shop -02 64561551


NEWS
Well of course the talk of the town this week is the water release down the lower Snowy River which may bring the lower Snowy up by 4 metres (vertical) lower towards the town of Dalgety.
This of course means that the level of Lake Jindabyne will also drop.
Today is the start of the ‘big’ release when the radial gates are opened and the water released is in the area of 12,000 megaliters for the next 4 days.
The question is and one that no one can really answer is will it adversely affect the fishing?
Over the last week the shore based angling has been the best it ever has been since 2003 when the lake was as high. The trout are feeding around the edges of the lake and are being caught on all methods.
When the lake level drops the question will be will the good fishing continue or will the trout go out and feed deeper which of course might be advantageous for the boat trollers.
We will have to wait and see, but the better news is that the level of the lake will continue to rise again after next week and is expected to come back up to a similar level as last year.
We will have to wait and see if this has any affect on the fishing over coming weeks.


LAKE LEVEL and TEMPERATURE
With the water release the lake has dropped about 3 vertical inches so far over the last week.
Water temperatures are now about 8 degrees Celsius. The weather has still been cold.
Best methods to catch a trout.
Best method – Bait fishing and spinning around the lakes edges.
Best lake lure – Steve Williamson black/orange Tasmanian Devil number or Y82 has been good between 2 and 5 metres deep.
Best Thredbo River Lure – Celtas in reds and glow orange Vibrax
Best lake area – East Jindabyne Islands and Hatchery Bay.
Best fly method lake – Mrs Simpson has been good last week.
Best River – The Thredbo River for late spawning rainbows.
Best River Fly – Bead head nymphs and glow bugs.
Let’s have a look at what the fishing is going to be like over the next few weeks.


Trolling.
I would expect the trolling to pick up this week as the water level rises and the fish retreat from the shallows for deeper water.
I think with the cold water we are still in winter colours so oranges and pinks are the go.
Lead core lines at two colours (20 metres) to three colours are good. (20 to 30 metres of line out will get your lure down an extra 2 to 3 metres).
There is no doubt that lead core lines were catching most of the fish in the middle of the day, over the last week with a few trout caught off the downrigger at 25 feet when it gets too bright to fish in the shallows.
The best lure over the last week has been a black and orange Tasmanian Devil like the Y82 preferably in Duel Depth (20 gram) to get a little deeper. The Y48 duel depth is also worth a try on dull days or deeper down.
New Tassies that are going well are the numbers 107 and 102.
Spotted Dog Rapalas are now all sold out! No more expected till next year.
The new Rapala colour Orange Tiger is still going well in the CD5 and 7.
East Jindabyne islands, Hayshed Bay, Lion and Cub Islands and the South arm have been fishing very well.


Lake 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 Industry and Investment NSW (NSW Fishing rules) as to which rivers in the area you can legally bait fish in. IF IN DOUBT DON’T BAIT FISH in the RIVERS!)

The best artificial baits at the moment are Rainbow Paste, Chunky Cheese, Lime twist, Sherbet and the old favorite lemon twist. Scrub worms off the bottom and a power bait dropper will be the best middle of the day for the brown trout. Bardi Grubs for big brown is also the best.
Tiger worms or scrub worms under a float have been doing very well also for rainbows and Atlantic salmon.
Best areas for bait fishing at the moment have been, Hatchery Bay area, East Jindabyne and The Claypits through to the Jindabyne Holiday Park.

 
Lake Spinning

May be best early and late in the day this week as the water level of the lake drops.
Spin close around rocky outcrops for best results later on in the day in the day.
Use smaller lures like Celtas or Gillies Spinners around the shallow bays after dark.
Check out the new glow in the dark Vibrax spinners you will be surprised how well they work in fringe light to dark when used around the edges of the rising lake in the shallows. Have a look also at the lures that are working for the boat trollers, they also should be good from the shoreline. When working the lake edges, don’t stay in one place too long and only put in a couple of casts in each area. Keep moving!


River Spinning
The new orange tiger Rapala was very good on the Thredbo last weekend. Rapalas like the rainbow trout and brown trout have been catching some good trout and any other Rapala with a touch of orange like the perch pattern Rapala is also worth trying.
Celtas are now better there is less water flow.


Fly Fishing River
On the Thredbo River, Glow Bugs and weighted nymphs have been best in the faster water.
A couple of trout on bigger flies like Wooley buggers.
The Mowambah is fishing OK lower down towards the weir. Been too cold and windy for the alpine streams.


Fly Fishing Lake
The fishing last week was just fantastic but now the water is dropping we will have to wait and see what happens. Woolley Buggers or larger flies will be best.
Craigs Night time and Williamson’s Goldfish have been two flies well worth using at dawn and dusk.
If you sight a fish in the shallows you may be better to cast a smaller fly than a larger fly, something like a green nymph.

For visitors to the Snowy’s we have a full range of fishing tackle for hire at my shop and fishing tours are now available.

For more information on the latest fishing conditions, please call into –
STEVE WILLIAMSON’S TACKLE SHOP
             Shop 1 Snowline Centre, Kosciuszko Road Jindabyne 2627
Fishing Charters – Bait  and Tackle Supplies- Marine Supplies
P.M.B. 5 Jindabyne NSW 2627             E-mail  swtrout@airlan.com.au     www.swtroutfishing.com.au
Shop – (02) 64 561551  Fax – (02) 64 572991


Images show current water level.
Monday at 10 am was the start to the 'big' water release down the lower Snowy.
This will go for 4 days before reducing the flow back again.
I am sure there will be plenty on the news this week about the release.
 
While all may be good for the lower Snowy, have some thought for that bit of the Snowy between Island Bend Dam and Lake Jindabyne where there is no flow at all only stagnent pools of water most of the year.
If the politicians were serious they would be thinking about bringing back life in the whole river.
The real release of water down the Snowy River should be what comes into Lake Jindabyne should be what goes out - that would be a "Natural Flow'.