The cooler weather is certainly starting to settle in, making us all appreciate the warmth of a fire and a hot cuppa. This change has brought on the trout fishing in the Bonnie Doon area of Lake Eildon with good numbers of rainbow and brown trout keen to feed up before they head to do their spawning thing.

Good numbers of trout have been caught around the river mouths in the lake using hardbody lures and soft plastics. Rapala CD5 and CD3 lures in RT and BT are always popular.

Steve from the Snowy Mountain Outdoor Centre said that people have had great success using Rapala Rippin-Raps in red or natural colours as well.

For the trollers, flat line trolling Tassie Devils in pinks and whites have been working a treat. Jeff Baade from Lake Eildon Cruises said this technique has been deadly in the area from the bridge to Fords Inlet, and should continue through out June.

Fishing for natives has slowed a little, but with a bit of persistence, there are still some nice golden perch to be found on yabbies or soft plastic baits. Redfin fishing has slowed, with mainly small fish being caught. Soft plastics have been your best bet or paternoster rigged yabbies or scrub worms.

Looking at the fishing in June, there is plenty of expectation. The water levels in the lake will settle or even increase, covering fresh shoreline and providing plenty of new feeding opportunities for the fish in the lake. Please keep in mind the rivers will close mid June for the trout closed season, but don’t be afraid to cast a lure, plastic or bait in the surrounding area, as you are more than likely to pick up a great feed. Stay warm and come and visit Lake Eildon at Bonnie Doon.

• Thank you to Steve Simpkin and Jeff Baade for their help in putting this report together. If you are chasing fresh bait, the latest in fishing tackle or find out where their biting, see Steve at the Snowy Mountain Outdoor Centre (03) 5775 1105. If you want to hire a boat to explore everything that Lake Eildon has to offer at Bonnie Doon contact Jeff at Lake Eildon Cruises 0422 166 986.