Anglers looking for fish in the mountain lakes might like to try some of the newish Z-Man soft plastics, following on the success of one group of anglers at Jindabyne last weekend. The lake was windy and difficult to fish and after searching around they parked their boat in the relative protection of the Snowy Arm and walked the bank fishing small Z-Man soft plastic minnows. Over the next couple of hours they hooked at least a dozen fish, landing five browns and one rainbow. Ben Lemmon had the largest trout, a 2.6kg brown and Andrew McGovern landed a 4.3kg Atlantic salmon. Chris Lemmon landed the largest of the rainbows, about 50cm. Chris said the fish were all in superb condition and had a mixture of yabbies and sand caddis in their stomachs.
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Bait fishers also found some nice fish, mostly rainbows, on Power Bait and wood grubs at Hatchery Bay and Hayshed Bay. Some others did not fare as well in the lake. One fly fisher searched the shoreline for two hours without seeing a fish, but will try again on a less windy day.
In Eucumbene fly anglers failed to find fish at Buckenderra or Middlingbank but Ian McCabe and his young sons did well with Power Bait near Anglers Reach. They landed two male and two female browns with the best fish measuring about 52cm. All had empty stomachs.
Regional lakes quietening
Fishing has slowed in Burrinjuck, with just a few Murray cod taken by trollers and a scatter of golden perch caught on bait from the shore.
A few redfin have shown but the schools have been hard to find. A competition at Burrendong was won by a 6kg golden perch. A few Murray cod, golden perch and catfish also were weighed in. Most were caught on bait.
Fishing is still generally quiet in Blowering except for some stunning Murray cod being taken on soft plastics. Local anglers have done well dropping large, heavily weighted plastics into deep water and working them slowly to the surface. A variety of colours have been effective but brighter colours have been preferred.
Coast quiet
Coastal fishing has generally been quiet. Estuaries are cold and only fishing well for short periods on the first of the incoming tide. Beaches that haven't been flattened by the westerly winds are worth a try for salmon and tailor and whiting will take nippers and worms in the shallows. Offshore, small snapper dominate catches on the reefs.
Barracouta have shown at Ulladulla and elsewhere, adding to the problems caused by tackle-snipping leatherjackets and green toads.
Club outing
Canberra Anglers Association trip leader Jason is the man to see if anybody wishes to line up for the August outing to the stocked lakes of the Bondi Forest Lodge, on August 21-25 . The cost is $30.
Exciting film festival
Don't forget the Rise Fly Fishing Film Festival to be held at the Greater Union theatre at Manuka on August 27. The event will feature some of the most exciting and instructive fly fishing activity recorded throughout the year in various countries and should be of great interest to local fly fishers.