Anglers reported a mixed bag for the opening week of the 2015-16 trout season but the general theme was that surprisingly few fish were seen – or caught. On what was expected to be a grand weekend with fish literally jumping on flies, lures and bait the fish seemed to have switched off in most areas for reasons that are hard to understand.
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There was some success in streams east of Cooma. The waterways were in good condition: clear, with moderate flows and well-developed weed beds. Anglers homed in on fish locations they have known for many years and using tried and true techniques landed some nice browns and a few rainbows. Most of the fish were taken on fly and most were released to fight another day. Best flies included small red and black matuka, Hamill's Killer, Muddler Minnow, stick caddis and brown nymph. Lure fishers landed just an occasional fish on Celta, Imp spoon and a small Halco minnow.
Those streams proved to be the exception, however, as fish were hard to find in other areas. At Brindabella some small fish were taken early in the morning but later refused to show. It was the same at McPherson's, Vanity's, Micalong Creek and other locations near Canberra where too many anglers walking the bank put the fish down and kept them down.
Further afield a few fish came from the Moonbah and the upper reaches of the Eucumbene, Thredbo and Murrumbidgee rivers but it was a long walk between fish. Intrepid anglers who hiked deep into the Goobragandra, Tumut and Kosciuszko wilderness areas were disappointed, seeing few fish and in most cases landing none.
The reason for the lack of fish is hard to understand. The streams were mostly in good condition and there was plenty of insect life around. Conditions looked ideal but few fish were rising. The bugbear seems to have been the sudden burst of unseasonal hot weather and the intense sunlight. Fish don't like these sorts of conditions, especially early in the season and it is thought they simply retreated to the depths and stayed there, probably feeding only at night. Anglers will have to wait for the conditions to change or for the fish to get used to it and start rising and feeding properly during the day.
Lake successes
In contrast to the streams, lake fishing was excellent, with numerous reports of browns and rainbows on scrub worms, wood grubs and Power Bait, on lures and flies, in Eucumbene, Jindabyne and Tantangara. Most anglers reported one to three fish per session and many bagged out with five legal-sized fish. Best flies were Mrs Simpson, Woolly Bugger, small nymphs and Muddler Minnow.
Local lakes
Fish were well and truly on the move in Canberra's urban lakes. Anybody who wanted a redfin or a golden perch simply had to drop in a yabby, scrub worm or wood grub, in shallow or mostly deep water, and wait for a bite. Many anglers reported catching up to seven or eight fish in a day or night session and some were of large size. The best I saw weighed just on 6kg.The redfin, which are still spawning, were mostly small but an occasional specimen over 30cm was taken. Carp also are spawning and can be seen thrashing around in the shallows of all the lakes.
Plenty of goldens
Plenty of golden perch have been reported from the regional lakes Burrinjuck, Wyangala and Burrendong, mostly on scrub worms, wood grubs and yabbies. It's been good fishing but usually involves a tough fight to get through the carp populations.
Competitions under way
The annual Big Burley Bash in Burley Griffin is under way again and will continue for the next eight Thursday nights. Preparations also are under way for the Pride of the Perch competition to be held on November 29. Details from fishing@my2hooks.net.
