The run of prespawning browns in the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers attracted another big crowd this week and most anglers were well rewarded.
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Fly and lure anglers reported many fish in the 3-4 kilogram range with exceptional specimens to 6kg. Most fish were taken on the Glo Bug and nymph rig or Spotted Dog Rapala minnows and the best fishing was in the early morning.
Boaters who fished the Providence portal and Providence flats areas also reported good fish, on lures and large black flies at night.
Most anglers did the right thing and released their fish after the obligatory trophy photographs but some who broke the law were nabbed by patrolling fisheries officers. Some will be prosecuted for possessing or using bait on the fly- and lure-only streams and some for possession of illegal jagging gear. One angler was found with a keeper net full of fish where only one fish per day is allowed. One boat and gear was confiscated.
Elsewhere in the lakes a few fish were taken on Power Bait, Gulp, bardi grubs and scrub worms. A couple of nice fish were caught on fly in the corner of Frying Pan inlet.
Algae outbreak
Canberra's urban lakes had been fishing well until recently when a thick, green soup of blue-green algae developed. It has affected all of the lakes but Burley Griffin is particularly bad. Just before the outbreak some nice golden perch were taken on deep divers and spinnerbaits near Aspen Island and Black Mountain Peninsula during the late afternoon. Jorge Aguilla even caught one big one on a spinnerbait at 10pm.
The algae is not the usual species but a new one, Anabaena, and is unlikely to decrease until the lakes are flushed by rain and the cold weather returns.
Hopes dashed
Mark Sawa and Nathan Walker thought they were in for a great fly fishing day at Pejar Reservoir when Nathan hooked a magnificent 60cm 2.1kg rainbow, on a Woolly Bugger, a few minutes after they arrived. Unfortunately, that was the only fish they saw for the rest of the day. The lake was like a millpond for the entire day and not a single fish was seen anywhere after the initial excitement.
Breakwater variety
One angler took advantage of the cheap, cooked Vannamei prawns available in Canberra when he fished the Clyde River breakwater in the centre of Batemans Bay. Using the prawns and some home-made bread and chicken-powder dough he landed one leatherjacket, one blackfish and four nice bream.
Offshore anglers reported large numbers of snapper on the move in the entire region between Merimbula and Ulladulla. The fish were especially active early in the morning but still could be caught later in the day on prawns, pilchards, striped tuna, soldier crabs and soft plastics. Most of the fish were in the 2-3kg range with occasional specimens to 4.5kg.
Big yellowfin
The 33rd annual Yellowfin Tournament, fished over three days at Bermagui, attracted a big crowd and was blessed with mostly fine weather. Some good fish were caught on lure and live bait with the best a 63.6kg specimen landed by young angler Justin Xerri on 15kg tackle. The fish took a large skirted lure.
The big run of bluefin tuna off Victoria's southern coast is creating interest among NSW south coast anglers as the fish are migratory and could be in our fishing zone within a few weeks. We'll track their progress and keep readers informed.
Chilly Willy lure
The My2Hooks company is expecting a big crowd for the Chilly Willy Murray cod tournament to be held at Lake Yerrabi on June 1. The contest is for lure fishers only and will run from 2pm-6.30pm with a prize-giving ceremony at the George Harcourt Inn at 7pm.
Tournament entry is $30 for adults and $20 for under 18s, with $5 from each registration going to the Capital Region Fishing Alliance for future stocking of local lakes with native fish.
Prizes include $500 cash for the winner, with fishing gear and tackle shop vouchers for the runners up. Phone 0422717077 or email fishing@my2hooks.net to register.
Public Forum
NSW Fisheries will be hosting a public forum at 6pm in the Cooma Ex-Servicemen's Club on 29 May to address concern about the lack of rainbow trout in the Snowy Lakes. Special guest will be Dr Michel Dedual, from the New Zealand Department of Conservation, who has worked on a similar situation affecting rainbows in Lake Taupo. This will be a good opportunity for anglers to voice their opinions on the problem and discuss likely solutions with fisheries managers and scientists.