Central Tablelands Fishing Report

May/June 2010

The trout and bass closed seasons have arrived on our rivers. The last days offered some good fishing with long periods of clear weather and comfortable day time temp’s. We had a bit of rain which kept the rivers and creeks fishing reasonably well right up until the long weekend when the trout season officially closed.

Now that most streams are closed the focus turns to the lakes, where the early winter fishing has been pretty good with solid numbers of trout being taken predominantly by bait anglers. PowerBait works really well at this time of year as do worms.

The coldest days of the year are not far away with temperatures dropping below freezing most nights and day time highs of 12 deg average in some parts. Come prepared for sub zero temps and snow and always check the weather forecast before heading out.

Boating is particularly hazardous at this time of year. Most impoundments are low due to minimal inflows so take it easy if you are in a boat. You don't want to hit a hidden snag and end up in the freezing water.

If you fish from your boat with care you will reap the rewards. Trolling lures such as pink and gold/yellow wing cobra's (tassie devils) and large "spotted dog" minnows have caught a few big fish in the last week or two at Lake Lyell. 

The local trout are very active right now, many are feeding heavily. There have already been a few fish running out of the larger dams to spawn. What most people don't realise is many of the trout stocked into our lakes never make it into a river to spawn, and the truth is the majority actually end up egg bound (meaning they do not lay their eggs - the eggs build up or are reabsorbed by the fish when food is hard to find).  Egg bound fish often die if the mass of eggs within becomes too great. Many trout also avoid streams by laying their eggs in the lake where unfortunately the eggs are not viable, as the conditions do not suit survival.

So don't feel bad if you keep a trout from a lake when it is full of eggs, as chances are it's probably not going to produce off spring. Furthermore our lakes are stocked with hundreds of thousands of fish each year, and there are plenty of trout to catch as a result. While some traditionalist may not agree, taking a few fish home isn't going to destroy our fishery. Just make sure you don't exceed the bag limit for the waters you are fishing.

Fishing for native fish has been a little quiet of late but there have been some sizable stockings of fish into dams in recent times so keep an eye out for good fishing in the next few years as these fish mature.

Trout Fishing – Streams

All General Trout Streams are closed until the October Long Weekend.

Another thing traditionalist may not be happy about me mentioning is that experienced bush walkers have the opportunity to target spawning trout in some remote sections of river on the Tablelands at this time of year. 100% legally I should add! The lower reaches of some rivers are not classified as notified trout waters, but can become full of spawning trout from May until September (depending on the amount of rain) and the water level in Lake Burragorang. Check the regulations for each river and avoid the prohibited area within the exclusion zone around the lake itself. 

Be warned that going into these remote areas is dangerous, particularly if not fully prepared for the conditions or an emergency. Even experienced bushwalking club members have required rescue from the banks of local streams. You should take great care not to entre the exclusion zone around the lake as fines and even imprisonment are possible.

Most importantly do not go bush if you are not an experienced overnight bushwalker. These areas are remote. Do not go without leaving a route and emergency plan with the police or a loved one. Avoid going alone. I strongly recommend taking appropriate communications equipment such as a Sat Phone or at the very least borrow a EPIRB from the NPWS at Blackheath or Blue Mountains Police at Katoomba or Springwood. You will also need suitable warm clothing (including wool or polypropylene thermals), a first aid kit and a very warm sleeping bag.

If you do not have the experience yourself then employ a professional fishing or walking guide to take you if you really want to go. There are some private lodges close to these rivers and one local guide also offers heli fishing. Send me an email if you want to find a guide.

Trout Fishing - Lakes

Lake Lyell is very low but fishing reasonably well from the bank and trolling with Tassie Devils. If the water levels keep dropping it is possible the lake could be closed to boating, but it is open as of 25th June when this report was published. Flat line trolling has picked up in recent weeks, but downriggers are handy if you want to target big brown trout down deep or just get your lure to the rainbows at anywhere down to 20 feet. 

There will be a few big browns hanging around if you try surface trolling big rainbow or brown trout "spotted dog" pattern minnows. You can try lures up to 10cm in length if the pattern is right.

Lake Wallace has been stocked with plenty of rainbow trout along with a few browns. Most fish are being taken on PowerBait from the area near the baseball pitch, but the outlet is also a good option when Delta Electricity is filling the dam.

Thompson’s Creek Dam should fish well over the next few months. Just try to pick a day with clear weather and rising air pressure so you maximise your chances of getting a fish. I find the dam fishes very well early in the day at this time of year and if you get their early you will get first cast at the fish. Just take some gloves as your hands will freeze as the water freezes to your line. Take your polarised glasses and avoid the area when heavy wind is predicted.

Oberon Dam is very low and the fish are very close together, so it is worth a fish right now. PowerBait, worms and small yabbies are good baits. Casting lures such as Tassie Devils, minnows, blades and small soft plastics around steep drop offs is your best bet during the middle of the day.

LAKE LEVELS

Thompsons Creek Dam - 34%
Lake Wallace - 83%
Lake Lyell - 29% (Warning Blue Green Algae Risk)
Environmental flow level out of Lake Lyell into Cox's River - 5 Million Letres  per/day Burrendong Dam - 13.5% (Warning Blue Green Algae Risk)
Windamere Dam - 18% (Warning Blue Green Algae Risk)
Oberon Dam - 10%
Carcoar Dam - 5%
Wyangala Dam - 7%  (Warning Blue Green Algae Risk)
Ben Chifley Dam - 76%

 
For the latest water level updates visit www.de.com.au or www.waterinfo.nsw.gov.au

LAKES - NATIVE FISH, CARP & REDFIN PERCH

Ben Chifley Dam has been the pick of the storages due to good water levels and strong inflows. Chifley has been producing massive numbers of redfin perch on lures such as crankbaits, blades, jigs and spinnerbaits. Fishing will slow over coming months but you should still be able to get a feed of redfin here.

If you are chasing native fish in the larger storages try to get your lure and bait close to submerged timber or at the lower edge of large drop offs.

Fishing with  worms, corn and cheese works for carp and could also catch you a range of other species.

You can try catch and release fishing at Penrith Lakes each Tuesday as

RIVERS - NATIVE FISH, CARP & REDFIN PERCH

The pick of the rivers are the Cudgegong & Macquarie above Burrendong a mix on Carp, Redfin, Trout and Native Fish have been on the bite. Be aware general trout stream closures apply to sections of these two rivers.

The Nepean has plenty of carp near Norton’s Basin, Penrith and Yarramundi. Mullet have been active in the Hawkesbury/Lower Nepean and are great fun for kids to catch.

Happy fishing.

If you are going fishing on The Central Tablelands and you would like to tell me about your fishing trip please email info and photo's (if you have them) to tim_williams@aapt.net.au

I will try to include you in my next fishing report.