Go Fishing - Snowies Trout Waters

Cover image of Snowy Mountains Go Fishing guideThe Snowy Mountains region is located in South- East NSW, about two hours’ south of Canberra via the Monaro Highway. The region was immortalised in Australian folklore with the poem The Man from Snowy River, written in 1890 by Andrew Barton “Banjo’”
Paterson. Today, the “high country” remains an iconic destination for anglers due to the fact that it boasts arguably the best trout fishing in mainland Australia.

The alpine climate and cool mountain waterways support ideal habitats for salmonids. Most of the waterways in the Snowies originate in and around Australia’s highest peaks, draining throughout the south-eastern facing slopes of the alpine region.

The fishery, most of which is encompassed within the Kosciuszko National Park, comprises of 16 hydro dams built between 1949 and 1974 as part of the Snowy Hydro Scheme plus an abundance of creeks, streams and rivers. Although not native to Australia, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout and Atlantic salmon have all taken to these waterways since their release in the late 1800s.

A vast array of fishing options caters for all anglers. The region’s largest lakes of Eucumbene and Jindabyne are perfectly suited to soaking a bait, land-based sight fly fishing and lure casting and trolling. Smaller reservoirs like Tantangara also provide similar offerings but are a little more “off the grid”.

A multitude of river systems can be explored by the adventurous angler. These range from small mountain creeks through to powerful freestone waterways like the Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers. These rivers have been long regarded as the region’s premier fly and lure fishing destinations, offering anglers the chance at trophy brown and rainbow trout.

A number of picturesque towns and villages including Cooma, Adaminaby, Jindabyne and Thredbo offer a range of accommodation and dining options. Anglers can also enjoy one of the many wonderful camping and accommodation alternatives within Kosciuszko National Park.

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