Trying Conditions, Rewarding Catches
The Snowy Mountains have a reputation for throwing every type of weather at once, and the Canberra Fisherman’s Club discovered that firsthand during their September outing to Kalkite. Over the weekend of the 20–21st September 2025, members endured a relentless cycle of sun, wind, rain, and repeat.
Still, for the twelve anglers who made the trip, the conditions only added to the adventure. The Highland Lodge in Kalkite Jindabyne again a welcome base for the members, where hot meals and warm cabins set the scene for stories of persistence, near misses, and hard-won catches.
Highland Lodge cabins
The Catch
Across the weekend, ten trout were officially recorded in the capture book, with a handful more quietly slipping by without entry. The final tally included seven brown trout and three rainbows, with some memorable standouts:
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Biggest Rainbow Trout – 380 mm, 0.52 kg
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Longest Brown Trout – 530 mm, 1.14 kg
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Heaviest Trout Overall – 500 mm, 1.21 kg
Steve Bailey with a nice brown Trout
Ben Lemmon 53cm Brown Trout
The fish were taken using a mix of techniques. Soft plastics, trolling, and worm baits all played their part, but it was AC Lures in various colours that really shone through in the changing light and water conditions.
Club Spirit
Despite the moody weather, spirits stayed high. On the water, persistence was the common thread among those who found success. Off the water, camaraderie carried the day, with lots of laughter, tall tales, and more than a few “the one that got away” stories around the dinner table on Saturday night.
The outing proved once again that fishing is never just about numbers caught—it’s about moments, mateship, and the joy of spending time in some of Australia’s most beautiful settings. Kalkite again delivered all of that, and more.
Kalkite Foreshore
Kalkite Boat Ramp Park
On the water shots of a misty Snowy Pipeline