Lake Jindabyne

The Snowy River enters the lake and continues below the dam wall.

The Eucumbene River enters the lake after running down from Eucumbene Dam. Treat it as a separate river trip. Its rules and fishing change as you leave the lake.

The Kalkite side and the Wollondibby and Curiosity inlets break the main basin into long inlets, points and sheltered bays. They give you somewhere to move when open water is rough. Snowy Scheme operations can shift the shoreline, so check the current level before choosing a ramp or planning a long bank walk.

The stocking record lists rainbow trout, brook trout, Atlantic salmon and a small brown trout entry. The chart shows releases rather than the current population. It cannot tell you survival, abundance or the species mix on the day you fish.

For a first plan, watch mudeyes and midges. Fish the shallows around first and last light during the warm months.

On a calm evening, follow rises along a wind lane. Rocky points, weed edges and drop-offs give you structure when nothing is showing.

The lake remains open to trout fishing all year, but the best first plan still changes with the season. In spring and summer, prioritise evening rises, mudeyes around first and last light, and wind lanes in the final hours of the day.

Autumn brings attention to the inflows and the Eucumbene River. Check that river’s separate rules before moving upstream. In winter, the lake is a good bet if nearby streams are closed; check the current closure notice for any river trip.

A six weight with a floating line is a practical first bank outfit. Carry an intermediate line for windier water or when the fish are holding below the surface.

Cast a Woolly Bugger across the wind, let it sink beside the drop-off, then retrieve with slow pulls and long pauses. Keep a parachute Adams ready for fish showing on top.

In summer, work a mudeye pattern slowly through the shallows around first and last light. In colder weather, try loch-style wet flies from a drifting boat or wind-blown shore. If two retrieves at one depth produce no touch, let the next cast sink longer.

Move to the next point or sheltered arm before changing the pattern.

In our experience the township side and Kalkite side are practical first areas. Choose a DPIRD-listed site that matches your vehicle and mobility needs. There are also formal Maritime NSW ramps around the lake.

A mapped or listed site does not guarantee current permission or road access. Check the land manager and ramp status for the place you choose before setting out.

If the current lake level puts that ramp or bank beyond a practical approach, choose another listed site rather than forcing the original plan.

As on any big lake, wind can build while you are out and make a long return difficult. Watch conditions while you fish and leave the water before the safe return becomes uncertain.

Check current NSW restrictions and closures on inland waterways before launching. Check the current lake level as well, then read the shore and ramp in front of you rather than relying on an earlier visit.

If you release a trout, wet your hands and keep the fish in the water while removing the hook. Let it recover before it swims away.

NSW DPIRD classifies Lake Jindabyne as a general trout dam open to fishing all year. That rule is for the lake. The rivers and streams feeding it have their own classifications and seasons.

The general trout dam listing does not state the lake’s bag and size limits, so check the current limits before fishing.

Check the current NSW freshwater bag and size limits and freshwater closure notices before you fish, and carry your NSW recreational fishing licence receipt.