Snow on the mountains now at least will mean some water for the rivers and lakes when it melts in Spring but if the lakes are ever going to fill we could do with a lot more snow.

Although is at its lowest capacity, fortunately Lake Jindabyne is still reasonably high and there is plenty of water for the trout to swim around in.

With water levels over recent years quite steady and after last season’s warm weather, there is a lot of weed around the edges of the lake and this growth is good for lots of little creatures for the trout to feed on. Of course, good weed beds are also great for the fish to hide in.

So to find fish at the moment you are best to try around the weed beds. Think about fishing baits under floats and using lures that do not dive too deep.

We are hoping that work will start this month on the Jindabyne boat ramp extension and widening. It’s all in the hands of the Snowy River Shire Council but by next month I hope to bring all boat owners who fish Lake Jindabyne some great news.

For many years now there has been talk of a second formal concrete ramp for the lake but the sad news is that that will just not happen in the near future.

Other areas that have been talked about have been just too controversial, with residents of East Jindabyne and Kalkite objecting to every position proposed, so it will be the Snowline ramp, as it has always been referred to, that will be the focus for upgrading.

Stage 1 of the upgrade will start this month at an estimated cost of $59,000 includes survey and design, environmental assessment, construction including concrete Stage 2, estimated to cost $100,000, will feature construction of access and development of boat trailer parking area. Stage 3 will entail construction of toilet facilities and stage 4 will involve widening of the existing ramp for high water usage.

August is polaroiding month for those who brave the mountain cold. Polaroiding is the art of spotting trout with the aid of polarised sunnies which remove the surface glare from the water.

You can carefully cast flies, lures and even baits to the trout that you spot along the lake edges.

The whole idea is to first spend some time watching the fish to see what direction it is cruising and then carefully cast far enough in front of it so as not to spook it. Polaroiding is best done when you have a second person in an elevated position to help spot the fish.

Best lures for polaroiding are those that float, like floating Rapalas, but there are plenty of minnow styles that you can toss out past the fish and then slowly retrieve as the trout gets closer.

It’s very exciting watching the fish cruise around the lake and if it’s a fine day you can often catch a few big fish in one session.

Spin the weed beds with floating lures in rainbow trout and brown trout patterns. If the weather is dirty then orange or pink lures may work better – aggression colours for trout in spawning mode.

For deeper water you can use lures such as the Tasmanian Devil in colours like the pink No 55 or the brown No 48. Y48 is also well worth having in your tackle box.

Fish early and late in the day but you can still catch fish near the rocky points and deep drop-offs during the middle of the day.

Some of the better Winter areas are Hatchery Bay, the South Arm and Curiosity Point.

Green Nymphs fished near the rocky outcrops should catch a fish.

If polaroiding, fish quietly and approach the water only after trying to spot a fish. The western shoreline from Curiosity Rocks to Hatchery Bay is excellent to spot fish during August and don’t forget to keep away from ‘my’ area over at Sids Bay.

Another area for big fish is Creel Bay at Waste Point but this is in the Kosciuszko National Park and you are expected to have a pass, purchased at either Cooma or Jindabyne visitors centre.

My next Fly fishing school for beginners will be held on October 24 and 25. Cost is $380 and everything is supplied including lunches.

Trolling is our most popular fishing tour during Winter and we almost always catch a fish. Some of the big Atlantic salmon released by Gaden Trout Hatchery last June have now been caught but there are still more out there and they are a lot of fun to catch.

There is no special lure to attract the salmon; you just have to be in the right place at the right time, but they don’t mind a little bit of silver on the lure and the Tasmanian devil No 77 Autumn brown has been very good.

Other good lures to use at the moment are Tassie Devils in numbers 55 pink and 72 and 50 frog pattern or 36 yellow wings on the sunnier days.

For the bigger brown trout I like to troll larger 9cm and 11cm jointed Rapalas, with the brown trout pattern a favourite.

Lion and Cub Islands and East Jindabyne Islands are excellent trolling spots at the moment, troll close to the edges for best results.

With Winter trolling it is always important to remember that with the cold water the fish move a lot more slowly so it’s important to troll slower than in Summer. It may be that an electric motor or some sort of trolling baffle may be needed to get the boat down to about 2 knots at the most.

If you would like to learn more about how to troll, join on our trolling school on November 14 and 15. Call me for a brochure.

The brown trout are nearly all back from spawning now and are looking for something to eat. During Winter a bunch of worms fished on the bottom or suspended under a float should entice a fish.

There is no doubt that PowerBait products are catching lots of trout, especially the newer Gulp series. The best colour and flavour change from day to day so for the latest update give me a call. So far this Winter you can’t go past sherbet or orange.

Again, fish the shallow bays early and late and the rocky, deep drop-offs during the middle of the day. Call in at my shop at Discovery Holiday Park and pick up a copy of the latest fishing report. To join me on one of my charters, call 02 64561 551 or 0408 024436.

Visit www.swtroutfishing.com.au for all the latest fishing reports and find out more about our winter tours.

In Spring there is plenty of accommodation in the Snowys and the fishing is fantastic. Rob and Ellesa, new managers at Discovery Holiday Park, Jindabyne, want to offer Fishing Monthly readers some very special accommodation prices for September. You have to call them personally and let them know you are there to fish before you get the best price.