Jindabyne brown. (Rod Allen pic)
The final weeks of autumn 2025 have seen unusually warm days, with very little rain. Adaminaby's Col Sinclair commented that it's the driest for over 20 years.
Lake Eucumbene is the standout lake at the moment, even though it's been dropping quickly. The retreating waterline has mobilised the yabbies, making them easy pray for both rainbows and browns. There were a few reports of late season mudeye fishing, but the good midge and caddis action of recent years now seems confirmed as having skipped a season. The most recent report of good catches was with a DI3 sinking line and a Woolly Bugger, from a boat fishing out of Buckenderra. On a perfectly calm day Rod Allen reported belly-whack leapers a long way offshore.
The high pressure systems persisting over south-east Australia mean light winds and above average temperatures. (Rod Allen pic)
Lake Jindabyne has been tough going for even the most experienced flyfishers, although bank fishing from Waste Point around to Hatchery Bay has produced some modest results. I had one report of a stick caddis and black nymph duo fished static under a small indicator accounting for several fish on the Thredbo Arm.
Tantangara Reservoir continues to be report-less with the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro scheme both limiting southern bank access, and affecting lake levels.
LAKE LEVELS
Lake Eucumbene is falling sharply at 39.8%, down from 52.8% this time last year. The trajectory is identical to last year, it’s just started from a lower baseline.
Lake Eucumbene has a large muddy edge around all the big soaks. (Steve Corrigan pic)
Lake Jindabyne is at 51.8% and has been more or less stable for around 3 months, down from 64.5% this time last year.
Tantangara Reservoir is at 11.3% and static for the last 4 months. Grass down to the water level is always a bonus at this time of year.
RIVER FISHING
For those thinking of a river day on Thredbo or Eucumbene, be aware that the brown trout run so far has been very modest. I understand that the Thredbo fish trap hasn't produced any fish yet, and likewise the Eucumbene catchment’s Swamp Creek fish counter. River flows are very low, so maybe stick to the lakes for the time being.
Water flows in both the Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers are very low. (Keith Tuckwell pic)
WINTER FISHING
Lake fishing over winter is a lot of fun and can be very productive. Fishing from the bank, try a sink tip line on a deepwater edge, with a 12 to 15 foot leader, and a big Woolly Bugger. And don’t be shy about adding an indicator!
A winter beauty from Lake Eucumbene on a Woolly Bugger - hopefully we'll see some fish like this during winter 2025.
That's my last Snowy Mountains report for a while, but keep an eye out for articles from Italy (I'm writing this from the Dolomites), and Ireland, where I hope to be in July.
