The Department of Primary Industries inland senior fisheries manager, Cameron Westaway, said trout spawning season fishing rules apply to the Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers and tributaries.

“Restrictions are in place 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 50 centimetres, a daily bag limit of one and possession limit of two trout will apply to these waters until the end of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend on 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 runs from 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 all year.

A minimum size limit of 25 centimetres, daily bag limit of two and possession limit of four, will again apply to the Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers when the season opens.

The DPI says while 150,000 rainbow trout have been stocked into Lake Eucumbene and 50,000 into Lake Jindabyne each year for years, it’s important to provide increased protection for brown and rainbow trout during spawning runs.