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Adventurous summer fishing
  |  First Published: February 2007



Fishing in the Victorian alpine region has been a bit of an adventure lately. The lack of rain, low stream levels and bushfires have certainly made fishing a challenge.

Luckily, the bushfires did not affect any of our local rivers, lakes or streams. The fires affected areas further west such as the King, Rose and Buckland rivers. Lake William Hovell and Lake Catani at Mt Buffalo experienced some temporary damage from ash fallout.

Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley

Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley reservoirs at Falls Creek have been paradise for boat anglers. Both are holding lots of cold water and providing excellent fishing. The best times have been from late afternoon into dusk with brown trout to 1.5kg rising for size 12-14 dry flies, including Whirling Dun, Blue Dun, Royal Wulff, Tups Indispensable and several beetle patterns. In contrast, Pretty Valley Creek is very low and not worth fishing this summer.

Lake Guy

Lake Guy at Bogong Village is almost full and fishing well during the day. Brown trout are falling for a variety of lures trolled slowly and deeply behind boats with barely running motors. The east Kiewa River is producing a few good brown trout on lures, with fish rising to dry flies in the late afternoon.

Mt Beauty

Mt Beauty Pondage has been fishing poorly around the edges but anglers with canoes or rowboats are landing rainbows to 1.75kg in the middle of the lake. The fish are holding in the cooler water, almost on the bottom, so use deep swimming lures and weighted nymphs when targeting them.

The Kiewa River from Mt Beauty to Coral Bank is fishing extremely well for trout, despite its low flow rate. Brown trout to 1.5kg are being taken during the day on lures and suspended or drifted baits, with flyfishers doing well towards dusk when the fish rise to small dry flies.

The west Kiewa River’s fishing is slow in many sections and anglers need to keep an eye out for snakes.

Ovens River

The fishing at Ovens River from Porepunkah to Germantown has been average so far this year with bait and lures the most popular methods. The upper Ovens River from Germantown to Harrietville is at a very low level and not worth fishing for the remainder of summer.

Mitta Mitta

The lower Mitta Mitta River from Mitta Mitta to Eskdale is running high and cold, with lots of good-sized brown trout falling for live baits, especially worms. Wading is impossible or unsafe due to the high volume of water flowing down.

Snowy Creek

Snowy Creek is also producing brown trout to 650g on average, with drifted baits and small bladed lures doing well. Trout are also rising to dry flies during the day, even when there are no natural flies around. The Little Snowy Creek at Eskdale is hardly flowing and should be avoided.

Dartmouth and banimboola

Lake Dartmouth has fished brilliantly this summer with many brown trout to 1.5kg being taken in open water by deep trolling methods. Good catches have also been reported from around the 8-mile arm, with others taking large redfin among the trees.

Lake Banimboola (the pondage) is at high level and producing brown and rainbow trout to 1.5kgon live drifted baits and lures during the day.

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

Reads: 1988

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