TROUT seems to be the word on everyone’s lips as good catches have been reported from rivers, creeks and lakes – it seems everyone is getting amongst them.
Whilst it may be your best time to catch a trout now, it possibly is not the best time to keep a fish to eat as they begin to change colours; flanks darken up, bellies turn black, spots and slashes can turn a crimson red and the eating qualities of these fish seriously decline when these changes take place.
Another good reason to release the fish after a quick picture is that the trout’s breeding cycle in many places has begun and will reach a crescendo in the coming months.
Trout season closes at midnight on the last day of the June Long Weekend for most trout streams in NSW. There are a few streams which have no closed season as well as our lakes. Check NSW DPI to find out what closures apply where!
Some Facebook mates are posting some beautiful fish on their pages.
Face book friend and one time fishing mate Rob Paxevanos has posted some shots of a beautifully coloured up brook trout he caught at Lake Jindabyne. Interestingly, the brookie technically isn’t a trout at all; it’s really a member of the char family.
This beautifully coloured brook trout was taken by Rob Paxevanos at Lake Jindabyne.
Good mate Eddie Savkovic has had some great captures in the streams feeding into our alpine Lakes. Eddie was using his Sage 99 #4 and a double nymph rig drifted under an indicator to take a beautiful 6lb brown and another 4.5 lb. brown last weekend. (See main pic right and below)
Eddie Savkovic and a nice fly-caught brown.
Myself and long time fishing mate Peter Hanrahan fished Lake Lyell in the Central Tablelands on Sunday for five beautiful rainbow trout. Pete caught the fish of the day, a beautiful conditioned hen fish that went around 4lb. Pete and I looked for fish that have schooled up in the back end of the lake and fished deep to these fish using sinking fly lines and small marabou flies tied to imitate a gudgeon.
Lake Lyell in the NSW Central Tablelands has been prdocuing some nice rainbows of late.
Other fishing mates are having a ball either trolling the lakes or flicking lures in rapidly cooling streams.
Bait fishing in lakes should not be ignored if you are inclined that way; many fish have been falling for natural baits as well as the artificial baits.
If you’re keen to catch a trout then you only have a few days left fishing the streams before they are left to the fish to spawn the next generation. Lake fishing should continue to be good throughout the winter.
