Anglers prepared to go to extremes are the ones who enjoy success at this time of the year.
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Take those who fish the Snowy Mountains lakes, for example.
It's one of the most fruitful periods to chase trout from the shoreline, but biting winds and sub-zero temperatures keep many fishos away.
Braving the extreme elements is worth it, though. Browns and rainbows are being caught in healthy numbers from all three major impoundments - Eucumbene, Jindabyne and Tantangara.
Eucumbene has actually risen this week - up to 23 per cent - the first time capacity has increased in many months.
The shoreline is still extremely boggy, but the fish are close to the bank and can be tempted with lures and flies.
Tantangara is also looking great and fishing steadily; it's sitting at close to 30 per cent capacity - much higher than this time last year.
Anglers on the coast are also taking things to extremes.
Thirty kilometres is a long way to venture offshore in a trailer-boat, but plenty of anglers are willing to do it in July if it means crossing paths with a man-sized tuna.
Yellowfin and bluefin are being caught a long way out when conditions allow, although the best action is coming from north of Jervis Bay all the way up to Sydney.
Dropping a bait to the bottom in ultra-deep water is also producing species like blue-eye trevally and gemfish - two of the tastiest fish in the sea.
Winding your hook and sinker up from the bottom in 400 metres of water isn't most anglers' idea of fun, so electric reels are the best option for this extreme form of fishing.