Snowy trout are calling by Darren Redman

What is bringing anglers back to the Snowy Mountains? It's simple: water and fish and there are plenty of both.

The Snowies feature diverse lakes, streams and pondages which arguably contain the best mainland trout fishery in Australia.

Sadly, during the Great Drought of the 2000s, the fishery suffered. However, over the past year or so drought-breaking rain, excellent snowfalls and fresh new stocks of trout have brought the fishery back to its very best.

When the Snowy Mountains Scheme was first established, the dams filled quickly and the trout grew big and fast as the waters flooded new ground and the fish feasted on the abundant food.

After dam levels were down for so many years during the drought, when they began to fill the fish began to feast again. The trout may not have achieved the same sizes that they did when the dams first filled, but they are of a good size and condition and have provided a second great season of sport for anglers.

Whether you choose lure, fly or bait or just like wandering down one of the many streams marvelling at the scenic beauty, there is a place for you to explore in the Snowy Mountains and you will enjoy so much.

THE BIG DAMS

The three big impoundments in the mountains are Eucumbene, Jindabyne and Tantangara, all of which have generous water levels over the past year. At the time of writing Eucumbene was over 50%, Jindabyne around 80% and Tantangara was 26%. For information on dam water levels go to www.snowyhydro.com.au.

Eucumbene and Jindabyne are popular boating dams, with anglers more often than not opting to troll.

A variety of lures will work, whether used on downriggers, lead-core line with or without attractors or flatlines. The deeper techniques work best over the hotter parts of the day and the season but as the water cools off, the fish come to the surface and into the shallows.

Local tackle stores and accommodation providers can often direct you to where the fish are concentrated at any part of the season.

A boat also allows anglers freedom to access areas where they may wish to fish from the shore with bait, lure or fly. However, there are plenty of public-access points for shore-based angling.

There are also plenty of maps and books available to show access points and Google Earth is a good way to zero in on the dams and streams, bearing in mind that it's not real-time imagery, so there may be more or less water than depicted.

There are several good boat ramps at both dams, plenty of accommodation as well as some camping areas.

Tantangara, the smallest of the three major dams, is nestled in the national park and camping is permitted, but there is no structured boat ramp. Choose cautiously your shore launching spot, especially in Winter; the ground can be firm and frozen in the morning and a morass when the temp rises above zero.