LAKE Eucumbene, located in the Snowy Mountains, has been a producer of quality rainbow and brown trout since the late 1960s. A recent chance to fish this lake system with a family that has been fishing there for some 30 years was an offer I couldn’t refuse, especially as the lake is some five times the size of Sydney Harbour. Finding the fish would be one of the keys to success.
With the weather at its best the boats splashed into the water at the Old Adaminaby boat ramp just on dawn. With the lake level at a very low 30%, a level that hasn’t been reached for a number of years, it is wise not to travel about prior to daylight or dusk. The protruding snags even surprised the local lads since their past trip.
The order for the day was to be slow trolling with a spot of fishing with soft baits to break the day up. With the water level dropping at a good rate over the past month, the trout had been moving about getting ready for the spawning season. The word was that the lack of rain hadn’t quite fired up the trout yet though, so fishing the usual river mouths wasn’t to be. Over the next few days the local knowledge kept the fish coming though.
It seemed the trout had taken advantage of the quickly dropping water levels. The lake’s yabby population was also on the move, with them having to find new burrows on a regular basis. The soft baits and slow trolled Tassie Devils worked a treat in the shallow water. The stomach contents on the fish kept for the table confirmed that yabbies were the main part of the trout’s diet at the moment. The dark coloured Tassies were the best producers and the yabby imitation plastics matched the hatch perfectly.
The lake system produced some great fish for us all. I had limited time on my side but will certainly be coming back to walk the rivers that flow into Eucumbene as the fly fishing from what I’m told is top class.
Accommodation
The Snowy Mountains can offer all levels and styles of accommodation. My stay was at La Renardiere, which is located at Old Adaminaby only 2 minutes from the boat ramp. This 10 bed house, which is owned by fishermen, ticks all the boxes for the travelling fisho. Plenty of trailer space and, importantly, open fires for our trip made for a very comfortable stay. One very outstanding feature was the home made hot press smoker; the meals we knocked up tasted sensational.
For more information click HERE or phone Dan Anderson on 0413897319.
