Things are happening in the Victorian alpine region. With no rain for some time now, river levels are slowly dropping and the water is becoming warmer. Also, the Bogong High Plains Road over Falls Creek, which has long been a political hot potato, is finally getting some attention. The Federal Government recently announced $4.2 million to see the job done, bless their cotton socks! Work on the road should begin within 12 months.

Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley reservoirs at Falls Creek are both fishing well. Both lakes remain icy cold and trout, mostly browns, are rising in good numbers around the shoreline during the late afternoon into evening. Boat access is also very good with several launching/recovery sites available. These waters, along with Lake Guy and Lake Catani at Mt Buffalo will be the mainstay fishing areas as summer advances.

Pretty Valley Creek below the reservoir is low and only a few brown trout to 300g are responding to small dry flies.

Lake Guy at Bogong Village is in terrific condition and producing brown trout to 600gfor boaties trolling deep down during the day. Bait anglers are also doing well around the shoreline with live baits suspended under a bubble float.

Fly fishers are finding numbers of brown trout to 450g, some larger, in the east Kiewa River, especially along the now extended run-in to Lake Guy.

Mt Beauty Pondage is producing good-sized rainbow trout on lures and live baits presented under a bubble float. Flyfishers have been taking a few trout around dusk.

The Kiewa River from Mt Beauty to Coral Bank is beginning to warm up slightly as stream levels slowly decrease and days become warmer. The fishing remains very good, with catches of brown trout to 795g, some larger, being recorded by bait and lure anglers. The deeper runs and pools are holding all the fish, with most staying down deep during the hottest part of the day. Grasshoppers are around and flyfishers are doing very well on hopper imitations around dusk as fish begin rising. The west Kiewa River is low and producing a few brown trout on small dry flies. Many snakes have been encountered of late along the west Kiewa, so please be careful.

Lake Catani at Mt Buffalo is icy cold and fishing exceedingly well, with lots of brown trout to 750g falling for a variety of size 14-16 dry flies during the day. Best flies include Royal Wulff, Red Tag and Blue Dun. A cool breeze is often present on the lake, making it advisable to at least carry a warm top, even in summer.

The Ovens River from Porepunkah to Germantown is warming up and fishing has deteriorated slightly, but good brown trout are there for the taking. Best times for fishing are around dusk and at first light when conditions are cooler. Big browns can be seen in the tails of pools as day breaks but they seem very nervous and are easily spooked.

The upper Ovens River at Freeburgh is low and warm and fishing has become challenging as long casts with fine lines is the only way to catch the small and easily spooked browns that hide out under the banks.

The lower Mitta Mitta River from Mitta Mitta to Eskdale is a total disaster this season. 10,000 megalitres of water is released daily from Lake Dartmouth, which makes access for fishing unsafe and impossible to find. There are also more carp in the river than ever before.

The Little Snowy Creek at Eskdale is in good condition and fishing with wet flies, nymphs and live bait is very good at Mitta Mitta, around where the creek joins with the lower Mitta Mitta River. The area around Granite Flat is also fishing well with brown trout to 450gbeing taken on bait, lures and flies.

Lake Dartmouth is fishing well, according to reports, with many big brown trout falling for deep running cow bells and similar lures trolled about 40-50m offshore and in the 8-mile arm. Despite lower water levels the boat ramp remains accessible for types of all boats.

Lake Banimboola is high and producing lots of good-sized redfin and many brown trout to 750g on live bait and lures.

Alpine fishing conditions can change very quickly whatever the season, so for the latest update phone Geoff Lacey at Angling Expeditions Victoria on (03) 5754 1466 or check out website www.anglingvic.com.au