Unusually warm weather patterns and a lack of rain continued throughout Autumn drying out the ACT & NSW regions of Australia, raising doubt when this year’s annual brown trout spawning run would commence.
Early April, people could see masses of trout holding at the Thredbo and Snowy river mouths of Lake Jindabyne, ready to run.
Finally, after a weekends rain drenched the high country the brown trout charged up river much to the delight of enthused anglers waiting eagerly for this yearly phenomenon to begin.
As obsessed fishermen and fisherwoman gravitated to the Snowy Mountains for their chance at catching Eucumbene Gold, a trophy brown trout for their lounge wall perhaps, Mother Nature dug her heels in again providing more fine weather.
Not surprisingly, the river fished tough early on, the spawners indeed moving up into the river system, but naturally bunkered down awaiting heavy rain or snow.
As the temperatures plummeted into the negatives in May, I made the trip up to the mountains choosing to hike into the Flying Fox Pool, by taking the Alpine Sawmill trail.
My Traper Silence 10 foot 4 weight rod was getting its first run at the crimson beauties, proving effective for reaching across currents and seams to high stick my flys down, Euro style!
There were some huge schools of resident browns in pre-spawning mode, fish up to approximately 6 pounds. These chocolate coloured fish with scattered black spots, weren’t interested in the standard Glo Bug and dark nymph combinations I enticed them with, which so often produces results this time of year.
However, spin fishermen were getting amongst the action when luring the resident fish to a shiny lure.
The weather began playing a game of cat and mouse into June, with a teasing shower or two before producing more fine weather, to the annoyance of everyone immersed in the run.
Getting away for another trip up to the mountains with my wife and kids this time, anglers were already lining the riverbank now holding the iconic pools of the Eucumbene river territorially.
The boys were excited riding their bikes on the trails, before witnessing buttery browns flooding the riverbed, before them.
These were the spawners, showing off their crimson coats while demonstrating characteristic spawning behaviour. It was a welcome sight for all!
Fishermen showed us pictures of double figure fish, who’d had success plugging away concentrating on the one holding pool. Many anglers were seen bringing home their daily catch back to Denison campground that afternoon.
Myself and mate James timed our final trip up to the Eucumbene river until the very end, closing day!
Packing up my OPST waterproof backpack to the brink, we couldn’t believe how much gear we could fit into it for a day on the river. It’s been a life saver when fishing the run, robust in nature while proving completely waterproof after being submerged numerous times.
While James began picking off fish while focusing on the pocket water and runs, he admitted to hooking them on a two foot dropper. Brown trout coming up in the water column to take an egg pattern. Hardly the ‘norm,’ of dredging the river bottom with weighted flys and split shots, as I was! Time to change up!
The spawners were everywhere! We had to be so stealthy to avoid spooking them at our feet, while we carefully navigated their spawning redds, (shallow shingle beds of gravel and sand where the trout lay their eggs).
Given the larger pools lacked flow, we skipped them eager to spot and cast to fish in the broken water. It was enthralling fishing catching beautiful spawning run browns in the Kosciuszko bush.
We fell in the river a number of times, excited to get to the next piece of water, my Aquaz Pro Zip waders doing the trick of keeping me warm and dry on those several occasions.
The 2024 Eucumbene Spawning run was unlike any run I’ve experienced to date. The warm weather patterns that plagued the high country welcomed a new challenge. A low, clear river with temperamental spawning brown trout, that weren’t active until the closing two weeks.
It was frustrating to say the least, hair pulling at times, however those that did get out and gave it a good crack, were often rewarded with spectacular fish from one of Snowy Mountains finest fisheries.
Till next year!