Trout restrictions this week
NSW spawning season starts May 1The NSW Department of Primary Industries has reminded fishers that the annual trout spawning season commences in the Snowy Mountains from May 1.
DPI Inland Senior Fisheries Manager, Cameron Westaway, said the annual trout spawning season fishing rules apply to the Thredbo River and its tributaries and the Eucumbene River and its tributaries (upstream of the Lake Eucumbene dam wall and including Providence Portal).
"Restrictions are in place from Thursday, May 1 to provide protection for early spawning trout while also providing fishers with the opportunity to catch a trophy sized trout," Mr Westaway said.
"The Eucumbene River in particular has provided excellent fishing for large brown trout over the past two years.
"A minimum size limit of 50cm, daily bag limit of one and possession limit of two trout will apply to these waters from the beginning of May to the end of the Queens Birthday long weekend on Monday, June 9.
"Anglers can use one attended rod and line with up to two hooks with artificial flies or lures and up to three treble hooks attached to any lure is permitted. Fishing gear rigged for bait fishing is prohibited."
The annual closure on fishing in trout streams throughout NSW will then be in place from Tuesday June 10 allowing brown and rainbow trout to breed uninterrupted until the trout fishing season re-opens on the October long weekend.
Trout dams remain open to fishing throughout the year.
"The minimum size limit of 25cm, daily bag limit of two and possession limit of four trout will again apply to the Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers when the season opens in October," Mr Westaway said.
"While 150,000 rainbow trout have been stocked into Lake Eucumbene and 50,000 rainbow trout into Lake Jindabyne each year for more than a decade, it is important to provide increased protection for brown and rainbow trout during their annual spawning runs."
Fisheries officers will be patrolling the Thredbo and Eucumbene Rivers to ensure that fishers are abiding by these rules.
Detailed information on the fishing rules can be found online or in the NSW Freshwater Fishing Guide which is available from DPI fisheries offices and most bait and tackle stores
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