Anglers report large numbers of brown trout are moving towards the mouths of the major spawning streams in the Snowy Mountains, preparing for their annual spawning run to the cold, highly oxygenated waters upstream. Many of the fish already have developed the distinctive rich crimson markings that denotes their readiness to breed. Some males also already are making tentative attempts at pairing up with females, vying with other males for attention from the egg-laden fish. All it needs now is rain. As soon as that happens and the rivers rise sufficiently masses of fish will move into the streams and begin their long haul upstream to suitable spawning water. When the fish find suitable patches of sand and gravel they will excavate a redd where the female will deposit the eggs for the male to fertilise.
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Because the fish in the river are so accessible and so easy to fool into taking a fly or lure the spawn or pre-spawning run attracts large numbers of anglers each year. As soon as the run starts large number of anglers will line the banks of the Thredbo, Eucumbene and other rivers, mostly using two-hook rigs comprised of an artificial egg called a Glo Bug, with a trailing nymph. At present anglers are allowed to take fish with a minimum legal length of 25cm but from May 1 until the close of the season on the June long weekend the bag limit in those rivers will be one fish per person per day and it must be a minimum of 50cm long. This is designed to ensure the fish are not unduly over-harvested when they are in such a vulnerable situation while enabling anglers to retain what could be for them a trophy fish.
As in previous years arguments will rage as to the ethics of harvesting fish that are trying to breed and in such a vulnerable physical situation. Arguments will arise too, about anglers hogging the banks of the streams by parking tents, motor vehicles or even caravans close to the water's edge and blocking access for other anglers. Rest assured NSW Fisheries and various angler organisations are trying to resolve such issues and provide a compromise between ethical angling and customer demand.
Burrinjuck popular
Burrinjuck has been heavily fished in recent weeks and continues to yield good catches of Murray cod, golden perch and redfin.
The water level has now dropped to below 35 per cent of capacity and the best fishing has been in the Main Basin and the lower reaches of the Goodradigbee and Murrumbidgee arms.
Cod have been taken mostly on spinnerbaits, large deep divers and large surface lures. Most have been taken during the day but increasing numbers are being caught at night. Many of the cod are in the 55-85cm range but at least one fish over a metre long is captured each week. Most of the fish are released to fight another day.
Some golden perch are being trolled in open water, using lures such as Jackalls, Burrinjuck Specials, Hot N Tots, Yakamito and Stumpjumper but the best fishing has been around flooded trees in the Main Basin and the lower end of the Murrumbidgee. The hot lures there are black soft plastic grubs made by Berkley and StrikePro which are jigged gently close to the base of the tree.
There are plenty of redfin showing also, especially late in the afternoon. Many are being taken on bait, usually scrub worms, but they are easy to catch also on lures such as Celta, Hogback and Blue Fox.
A round of the Australian Yellow Belly Championships will be fished at the reservoir on the Anzac long weekend and is sure to attract a big crowd of contestants.
Coast attractive
Estuary, rock and beach fishing is yielding satisfying numbers of fish, mainly salmon and tailor, bream, flathead and blackfish. Bonito and frigate mackerel are showing at some rock locations. Offshore the kingies at Montague are active and the hot marlin bite has been enhanced further by the arrival of large blue marlin moving down on the warm east Australia current.
