The alpine region in April often provides exceptionally good fishing and this season is no different, with some of the best autumn fishing for alpine trout being reported by both local and visiting anglers alike, despite the big dry.

Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley reservoirs at Falls Creek remain at 50% and 100% of capacity respectively. Anglers have been catching brown trout to 1.5kg on dry flies and lures during the day. Plastics are also doing okay when fished on light gear around the edges of the lakes. One day recently I passed the lake at 9am when the water was a still as a millpond and saw at least 200 trout rising right across the lake. Unfortunately I couldn’t stop to take advantage of my good fortune.

Lake Guy at Bogong Village is at a low level allowing excellent access to parts of the lake that are usually impossible to reach without a boat. Lures are doing very well during the day. Flyfishers are also picking up brown trout to 400g in the feeder streams, especially around the tennis courts area. Best flies are size 12-16 Royal Wulffs, Red Tags and any Dun pattern.

Mt Beauty Pondage is about half full and fishing moderately well with some nice rainbows to 1.25kg being caught around the edge on lures during the day. There are some very good rises at dusk on some evenings at around 8pm, with canny anglers taking their fair share of trout using long leaders and small flies.

The Kiewa River from Mt Beauty to Coral Bank is in exceptionally good condition, with the arrival of a large inflow of very cold water over the proceeding weeks thanks to hydroelectric operations further upstream. This water has caused the river’s temperature to fall considerably, revitalising the trout and making them much more lively. The west Kiewa River is fishing moderately well, having been the victim of soil erosion higher up on several occasions in late February and March, which put the fish off feeding for a while.

The Ovens River from Porepunkah to Germantown is low and not many anglers have been fishing it this season. I have no new reports to add to previous ones. Likewise, the upper Ovens River at Freeburgh is very low and not worth considering for the rest of the season.

The lower Mitta Mitta River from Mitta Mitta to Eskdale continues to flow at full throttle as Lake Dartmouth is progressively emptied for irrigation purposes down the Murray River. If one can find a quiet spot or backwater along the river it will hold trout, in fact it will probably contain a good number of them and would be well worth trying. Some very large brown trout have been taken over summer from under the bank or close to the grassy verges by anglers drifting live bait.

Lake Dartmouth is falling steadily but the fishing continues to be very good, with numerous brown trout to 1.5kg recorded by anglers trolling deep lead lines attached to paravanes and cowbells. Lake Banimboola (the pondage) is full and the fishing is good, with large redfin being one of the main catches right through summer and into autumn.

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