There’s some great fishing to be enjoyed in the alpine region this month after something of a wobbly start.

All rivers and streams are in ideal condition and producing good numbers of both brown trout and rainbow trout. Many trout being caught are in the 400-600g range this season, reflecting excellent spawning conditions in recent times.

The Bogong High Plains Road from Mt Beauty through Falls Creek to Glen Wills and Anglers Rest has been open for several weeks now, allowing easy access to three magnificent wild trout rivers in the Omeo Valley.

Both Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley reservoirs on the high plains are 100% full and fishing exceedingly well. Anglers plying the waters of Rocky Valley in small boats (10hp or less) are taking rainbow trout to 4kg using deep trolled lures with attractors attached at all times throughout the day.

Shore-based anglers are also catching their share with Tassie Devils and live bait presented under a half-filled bubble float.

Lake Guy at Bogong Village is almost empty, but the inflow streams, the east Kiewa River and Rocky Valley Creek, are fishing well.

Brown trout around 450g are being caught on small lures and lightly rigged baits and rising trout are taking size 14-16 Royal Wulff and similar dry flies.

Hydro-generators are running at odd times of late and making access to the east Kiewa River sometimes impossible, but these streams are well worth visiting when in the area.

The Ovens River at Bright is running nicely and fishing well, with mostly rainbow trout to 450g responding to all fishing methods. Many of the feeder creeks are also worth fishing, especially with flies as the trout will rise to a well presented dry fly at almost all times of the day.

Lake Catani at Mt Buffalo is 100% full and fishing fairly well, with trout averaging 500g being taken from around the shoreline on Tassie Devils and live bait presented under a bubble float.

Fish are also taking a variety of emerger pattern wet flies and Royal Wulff and similar dry flies from around mid-morning to dusk on many days. Boats are not permitted although canoes are used to good effect by anglers in summer when large trout are regularly caught.

The pondage at Mt Beauty is currently 80% full and fishing well, with rainbow trout averaging 600g being caught using all fishing methods.

This water was recently restocked with 1000 yearling rainbow trout and may receive another 2000 in the near future.

The pondage has been used as a venue for the state and national flyfishing championships and is the only water in the region that is artificially stocked; all others are naturally populated with wild-bred trout.

The Kiewa River from Mt Beauty through Tawonga to Mongans Bridge is in excellent condition.

It has been producing mostly pan-sized rainbow trout and equal numbers of browns on drifted live bait including worms, gentles and mudeyes as well as Tassie Devil lures and Rapalas in trout patterns.

Flyfishers are also catching and releasing their share during the afternoon as fish rise to mostly caddis moths towards dusk.

The lower Mitta Mitta River from Mitta Mitta to Eskdale is producing many rainbow trout to 600g on a variety of lures, mostly in the runs during the day.

The best locations are adjacent to the Mitta Mitta airstrip and the vast stretches at the end of Bowlers Lane. The many deeper pools between those two locations are ideal for bait and lure fishing towards evening when larger trout begin feeding in earnest.

Snowy Creek at Granite Flat is running well and producing rainbow trout to 450g on medium sized lures and a variety of artificial dry flies throughout the day despite few rises to naturals.

The junction with the lower Mitta Mitta River is also fishing well with mostly pan-sized fish of around 450-500g being caught by all fishing methods.

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