General information on perhaps Australia's premier trout fishery: General Information The Snowy Mountains region is Australia's premier mainland trout fishery, if you also would like to try it out. A wealth of streams, rivers and man made impoundments in the Snowy Mountains region, which is called Australia's premier mainland trout fishery, offer the fly fisher almost every conceivable challenge associated with their sport. From tumbling "high country" brooks laden with tiny speckled jewels that slash at any passing surface offering, to the cruising submarines that patrol the crystal pools of the basalt Monaro plains, or to the frantic evening rises on mirror calm lakes. There is something for everyone. Situated just 600 kilometers south of Sydney, the Snowy Mountains provide a playground for the outdoor enthusiast. Renowned for snow skiing and fishing, the mountains also offer a variety of other activities including bush walking, kayaking, rafting, horse riding, sailing and mountain biking. Jindabyne a Center for the Fly Fishing: Host town for the XIX World Fly Fishing Championships and in the heart of the Snowy Mountains was Jindabyne, a small tourist town with a variety of shops, restaurants and services. The towns multicultural character and activity based lifestyle compliments the stunning scenery surrounding Jindabyne. On Jindabyne's doorstep lies Kosciuszko National Park, the largest in the state of New South Wales. Adjacent to Kosciuszko is the Monaro, an area with a wealth of slower running streams rich in aquatic life that sustains a wild population of brown and rainbow trout. Sapphire Coast Game Fishing Across the Monaro, down the densely forested coastal escarpment, lies the Sapphire Coast with some of the best big game fishing in the world. Here the Continental Shelf come within 25 kilometers of the mainland, putting recreational anglers in touch with tuna, marlin, shark and a variety of pelagic sport fish that follow the seasonal warm currents. Trout Fishing Paradise The Snowy Mountains are truly a sports fisher's paradise, they offer the very best in fishing within an easily accessible area and were a worthy host to the 1999 XIXth World Fly Fishing Championships. Competitors staying at the Station Resort in Jindabyne found themselves well looked after and situated to take full advantage of this exceptional fishing location. Yes I would not mind going back again, soon! The Competition Venues! Competition Waters Lake Jindabyne and Lake Eucumbene are quite similar waters, although Lake Eucumbene has a greater array of shallow fertile bays that produce memorable midge hatches from November to January. Lake Eucumbene has both brown and rainbow trout with the average browns around 2 pound and the rainbows around 1.5 pounds, browns in the 4-6 pound bracket are not uncommon. Whilst Lake Jindabyne has some shallow bays it is also noted for its rocky shorelines and points that are inhabited by numerous hefty browns and fit steel flanked rainbows. Brook trout and Atlantic salmon are are also stocked in Lake Jindabyne. The River Murrumbidgee is set in a picturesque valley this is a fertile slow flowing river characterized by riffly runs and long pools. With a stone and silt bottom the river provides a mixture of weedy quiet areas and faster pebbly broken water supporting both brown and rainbows. In November and December all through the pools fish are up and feeding well on a variety of insect life. Killer Flys in the rivers: Best flies include: Royal Wulff, Coachman, Red Tad, Black and Red Spinners, Elk Hair Caddis, March Brown, small Highland Dun and various nymphs. Killer Flys in the lakes: Best flies for both lakes include: Hamills Killer, Mrs Simpson, Woolly Worms, Stick Caddis, Green Nymphs and numerous midge and yabby (freshwater cray) patterns. Suggested Tackle: Recommended Fly Tackle Lakes: 9-10 foot rod, 6/7 weight line, floating, intermediate, slow sink - rapid sink lines. Murrumbidgee River: 8.5-9 foot rod, 4/5 weight, floating, intermediate lines. Fly Sizes for River Fishing: Dry fly should generally be kept between size 12 - 18. Nymph sizes should be between 12 and 18. Fly Sizes for Lake Fishing: Yabby patterns are recommended in sizes 6 - 10. Nymphs in sizes 10 - 18 and midge in sizes 12 - 20. Beetle patterns are recommended in sizes 14 - 18, caddis in 14 - 18 and duns in 10 - 166. A small hint: Trying to master the jabby-technique you need a crayfish imitation tied to your leader which is allowed to sink to the bottom. There you then just twitch it ever so slowly, with long pauses to imitate a small crayfish. Now, ideally the trout will grab it from the bottom. You do not have to strike!. The fish will do all the job himself - all too well! Eventually only your fantasy is needed to figure out the size of the fish. -Because all too often it will rip your leader in two. OK.... if you want back to the fishing report check here hope it gave you something to think about. See ya by the waters! Harry   Back to previous page