Anglers are enjoying some good fishing in the mountain lakes but should take note of the impact ski traffic is having on the highway, especially on weekends. Trips that normally take about 2.5 hours to Jindabyne or Eucumbene can extend to 3.5 or four hours with the added ski traffic and extra care is needed while driving. Keep in mind that the cars in front of you and behind you might well be fellow anglers fully alert and familiar with the road, but also could be drivers who have made the long trip from Sydney and who are now tired from a weekend on the slopes and quite likely have a car full of wet, tired, hungry whingeing spouse and children to put up with. Give them a fair go and where possible schedule your fishing trips for midweek rather than weekends.
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Browns returning
Some large browns returning from spawning are showing in Jindabyne and especially Eucumbene. A 4.6-kilogram brown was the best fish in a bag caught on Tasmanian Devils near Providence in Eucumbene and further down the lake Jason Neumann landed a 52-centimetre, three-kilogram brown on a very cold day. He said at minus 8 degrees it was the coldest bank fishing trip he had ever experienced.
In Jindabyne, Barry Blight and Marty Cave had a good session with Power Bait amongst the weed beds in Hatchery Bay, landing one 38cm Atlantic salmon and four rainbows on Power Bait.
Other fish reported included a 63cm brown taken on a wood grub in Eucumbene and several nice rainbows from Jindabyne caught on wood grubs and scrub worms.
Polaroiding season
The cold clear days experienced recently herald the onset of the polaroiding season in the mountain lakes. Polaroiding is a special technique for fly fishers where the angler walks slowly along the bank with polarised glasses looking for fish in the shallows. Every shadow or dark formation is treated as a potential fish and the fly is cast just ahead of it. If it is a fish the ensuing hook up can be quite spectacular in the shallow water as the fish tries to rush to safety.
The technique can be quite productive on a good day when there is little wind and the water is calm. Using two anglers, with one higher up the bank acting as the main spotter can also be worthwhile.
Local lakes quiet
Few anglers have fished the local lakes this week but persistent anglers have shown that some of the fish are still active. A few redfin about 25cm were caught on bait and lure in Lake Ginninderra and a four-kilo golden perch was caught on a yabby in Lake Burley Griffin.
Burrinjuck still productive
Despite the cold conditions, several nice Murray cod were caught and released at Burrinjuck Reservoir. Peter Henderson landed a 91cm fish on a 144mm hard-bodied lure near Macy's Bay at 10am. Not to be outdone, his mate Trevor Hodgetts landed a 116cm thumper at 3pm on a 75mm lure amongst flooded timber near the same location. The next day they finished a very successful weekend with a couple of 63cm cod.
Incidentally, Trevor's fish was carrying a tag and he has passed on the details on the tag to NSW Fisheries.
Golden perch, redfin and even carp were reported to be quiet but for those who believe in the moon phases this week should see some good bank fishing at the reservoir.
Bluefin excitement
Bluefin up to 100kg, migrating up the south coast, are tempting game anglers to make some risky excursions a long way offshore. At last report from some pro boats there were big schools of the fish 78 nautical miles (about 124km) off Broulee. Large boats might make this trip safely but it is out of the question for some of the smaller recreational boats.
Dr Bryan Pratt is a Canberra-based ecologist.
