Lake Jindabyne levels have been way above 2009 heights and we should have good high water levels for the new season as the snow on the mountains melts and comes down into our lakes.

With levels over the past season quite steady, there is a lot of weed around the lake edges, which is good for lots of the little creatures trout feed on. Of course, weed beds are great for the fish to hide in.

August is a polaroiding month for those who brave the mountain cold. It is the art of spotting trout with the aid of polarised sunnies – the fish are easier to spot once you remove the surface glare from the water.

Polaroiding is not just for fly casters; you can also carefully cast lures and even bait to the trout that you’ve spotted 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 the fish so as not to spook it.

Polaroiding is an art best done when you have a second person to help spot the fish because it is easy to lose sight of the fish when you move close to the waterline.

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 your quarry gets closer.

It’s very exciting watching the fish cruise around the lake and if it’s a nice day you can often catch a few big fish in one session. If you need a guide to show you how it is done, I know a good one I can put you onto.

If you’re coming to fish in August, here are my predictions.

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

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

Early and late in the day are best times but you can still catch fish near the rocky points and deep drop-offs in the middle of the day.

Some of the better winter areas are Hatchery Bay, the South Arm and you might like to try Curiosity Point.

Green nymphs fished near the rocky outcrops should catch fish. If polaroiding, move quietly and approach the water only after trying to spot a fish.

The western shore from Curiosity Rocks to Hatchery Bay is excellent to spot fish in August, as is 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, obtainable at Cooma or Jindabyne visitors’ centres.

My next fly fishing school for beginners will be held on October 16 and 17, cost is $390 including lunches.

Some of the big Atlantic salmon released by Gaden Trout Hatchery in June have 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 do not mind a little bit of silver on the lure and the Tasmanian Devil No 77 Autumn Brown has been very good.

Other good lures at the moment are Tassie Devils No 55, 72 and 50 frog pattern, with No 36 yellow wings on sunny days.

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

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

With Winter trolling it is always important to remember that in the cold water the fish move a lot slower so it is important to troll slower than in Summer. An electric motor or some sort of trolling baffle may be needed to get the boat down to about 2 knots at most. To learn more about trolling, join on our November trolling school, 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 bite.

There is no doubt that the PowerBait products are catching lots of trout with the Gulp series catching some great fish. The 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.

Fish the shallow bays early and late in the day and the rocky, deep drop-offs during the middle of the day.

Call in at my shop at Discovery Holiday Park, say hi and pick up a copy of the latest fishing report. To join me on one of my charters, call on 02 6456 1551 or 0408 024436 and visit www.swtroutfishing.com.au for the latest reports and more on our Winter tours.