What a difference a few weeks make.
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When I wrote my last column, in mid-September, the local fishing was luke-warm at best. But spring has definitely sprung, with the warmer weather and rising water temperatures injecting life into fresh and saltwater angling.
In the mountains, it's all about snow-melt, snakes and springtime rainbow trout.
The 2019-20 trout season opened last weekend and the signs have been positive.
A few really solid rainbows have been reported from the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers, which are both running nicely thanks to snow-melt and rain. These fish are falling for hard-bodied lures and flies. A couple of the best fish I've seen have taken a liking to the ever-reliable Rapala shallow-divers in 'Spotted Dog' colour.
A handful of big browns have also been taken. These are resident river fish that are no doubt feeding on eggs as the rainbows finish their spawning run.
Keep your wits about you if you're heading into the hills; some anglers report seeing more snakes than fish thanks to the warmer temperatures. Brown snakes, red-bellied blacks and copperheads inhabit these areas so you definitely don't want to step on one!
On the coast, dusky flathead are definitely on the move in the estuaries. The water is still quite chilly in the lower reaches of many systems, so try upstream areas, where the sun has warmed the water a little.
Take the Moruya River, for example. The stretch of water downstream from the bridge is still below 17 degrees and fishing poorly.
But upstream, there are patches of 18 and 19-degree water - and this is where the flatties are sitting. They'll take soft plastics, hard bodies and vibes. Offshore, it seems the brilliant run of kingfish at Montague Island is finally coming to an end. The kings have been biting all winter and into early spring, but they're few and far between at the moment.
The reefs around the island are yielding solid snapper and sand flathead, so it's still worth the journey.