The Snowy Mountains are beautiful; with towering peaks and thick forests broken up by open tussock plains, it’s Australia’s rooftop and a land of extremes. During winter the region is covered in snow, while in the summer months the alpine meadows blossom with a mix of delicate flowers.
In the heart of the Snowy Mountains is the huge Lake Eucumbene. Built in the late 1950s, as part of the extensive hydro scheme, Eucumbene is widely regarded as one of the country’s premier trout fishing destinations. With more than 220 kilometres of shoreline it is a massive expanse of water nine times the size of Sydney Harbour.
Fed by cool, fast-flowing streams the lake is home to self maintaining populations of rainbow and brown trout, which have thrived in this alpine region for more than 100 years. Although, that said, the rainbow variety has dwindled in number recently while the quantity of the browns has increased. During late autumn and early winter the annual spawning run sees many thousands of trout entering the Eucumbene River at the top end of the lake.
Flanked by Kosciuszko National Park’s snow-capped peaks and heavily forested hills on one side and semicleared farmland opposite, a favourite spot is the aptly named Anglers Reach at the northern end of the lake. Not surprisingly, with such beautiful scenery and year round fishing, it is a popular destination that attracts anglers from all over the country.
Eucumbene is but one of many lakes and rivers that make up the Snowy Mountains Monaro District. For those keen to explore there are plenty of other waterways that all hold good populations of trout including Tantangara Dam, The Three Mile, Lake Jindabyne and Tumut Pondage as well as a number of rivers and streams. For the trout fisherman the opportunities in the Snowy Mountains are endless.
SEASONS
Eucumbene is open to fishing year round and productive throughout, although fishing tactics vary considerably with the seasons. The summer heat is good for fishermen but not for the fish. The sunlight often heats the surface layer of the lake forcing the trout to move into deeper water below the thermocline, making them harder to target. They will, however, move up into the many shallow bays to feed on the prolific insect hatches in the evening or at night.
Summer is also the best time to fish the many streams and rivers in the area. Adventurous anglers also take advantage of the better weather and hike right into remote streams to enjoy classic trout fishing in unspoiled surrounds.
As the weather begins to deteriorate in autumn the water temperature starts to drop and the fish begin to move back up into the shallower regions of the lake, making it one of the best times to fish. Bait fishing, spinning, trolling and flyfishing are all productive during this time and not surprisingly it is a very popular time to fish the lake.
With the onset of winter the fishing, and in particular the trolling, can really fire right around the lake. Winter is the start of the spawning run, which is usually triggered by rainfall and can offer some great fishing in and around the river mouth.
Spring always brings temperamental weather, but with the lake rising after the snow melt the fishing, especially the bait fishing, can be exceptional around the lake edge. Spinning and trolling are also highly productive during these months.
TROLLING TRICKS
One of the most productive – and easiest – ways to fish Lake Eucumbene is trolling. A wide variety of lures work well, like finned lures and metal wobblers, but the most popular these days are small minnows, between 3 and 7cm in length. Lures that run at a depth of 1 to 2 metres are best especially in darker colours or trout patterns.
When trolling it is best to go as slow as possible, no faster than walking pace. If your boat’s engine is still too fast you can slow it down by tying a bucket to a rope and towing it along behind. It will create more drag and slow your speed down.
A sounder can be a great asset and will help to show the thermocline as a thin fuzzy layer as well as individual fish.
Focus your efforts tight in against the trees or rocky points. Trout, particularly brown trout, like to hang in around the structure and will not stray too far from cover to feed. Unfortunately, doing this means you will end up snagging a few lures, but it’s all part of the game.
