Fishing Khancoban
General fishing in Khancoban is highly productive year-round, sustained by cold mountain currents that shelter active wild trout and native sport fish. Water levels in the pondages fluctuate rapidly based on hydro power generation, creating dynamic shallow flats and flooded weed beds. The seasonal migrations of trout during early winter bring world-class spawning runs into the surrounding river systems.
Land-based anglers can find exceptional fishing along the extensive network of public reserves, riverbanks, and pondage margins. Wading the clear, fast-flowing waters of the Swampy Plain River at first light is highly successful for active brown trout. Presenting live mudeyes under bubble floats or walking the gravel bars casting lightweight minnow lures yields consistent results.
Offshore and boat fishing is popular for exploring the larger basins, deep reservoir channels, and timbered river reaches. Boaters can use the Khancoban Pondage Boat Ramp to access deep drop-offs and productive weed margins. Trolling deep-diving hardbodies or vertically jigging metal blades around submerged structures is highly effective for native cod and trout.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Swampy Plain River Banks: The banks of this fast-flowing mountain river offer world-class river-style land-based fishing. Wading upstream while casting small minnow-profile hardbodies or drifting nymphs under strike indicators yields great results. Anglers must utilize long, accurate casts to avoid casting shadows and spooking fish in the exceptionally clear water.
- Khancoban Pondage Margins: Presenting a live mudeye under a bubble float or casting small soft plastics around the extensive weed beds is exceptionally productive. Anglers can target trophy brown trout and active redfin in these clear, food-rich margins. Walking the banks silently during a late afternoon insect hatch yields consistent results.
- Tooma Reservoir Shoreline: This remote, high-altitude water is noted for holding a highly productive, wild self-sustaining population of brook and rainbow trout. The unpaved gravel surface can degrade and lose traction, presenting grounding and bogging hazards for two-wheel-drive towing vehicles. On-site amenities are basic, with car-trailer parking listed as 0-10 spaces.
- Murray River Great River Road: Walking the banks and casting spinnerbaits, hardbodies, or surface lures around the log jams is highly successful. Anglers can target active Murray cod and golden perch in the slower eddies of this famous river stretch. Heavy spin tackle is recommended to handle the powerful currents and pull active native fish away from deep structure.
- Spillway Park Shoreline: These steep shale points provide land-based anglers with immediate access to deep-water drop-offs. Casting heavy metal vibes or deep-running hardbodies on medium-heavy spinning tackle is the best approach. The best times to fish these deep banks are during late autumn when native fish actively feed.
Offshore
- Murray 2 Pondage Timber: This sheltered arm is choked with standing timber and submerged structures that provide ideal ambush points for Murray cod. Drifting quietly with an electric motor while casting heavy spinnerbaits or large soft plastics close to the timber is exceptionally deadly. The best action occurs during summer evenings when native predators hunt near the surface.
- Geehi Reservoir Cliffs: The dramatic underwater cliffs dropping away from the mountain create extreme vertical habitats. Fishing the slack water periods with heavy jigging gear allows lures to reach the target zones efficiently. Dropping metal jigs or large soft plastics down the rock faces triggers violent strikes from resident trout.
- Tooma Deep Water: This deep open water area features deep thermoclines where boaters can target suspended schools of trout and redfin. Boaters should utilize downriggers or lead lines during the hot summer months to present lures at depths of twenty to thirty meters. Slow-trolling large hardbodies or vertically jigging metal blades yields consistent results.
- Khancoban Basin Drift: The extensive sandy flats and deep drop-offs surrounding this basin are a magnet for native sport fish and trout. Drifting silently while casting minnow-profile hardbodies or slow-rolling large soft plastics is exceptionally deadly here in summer. Boaters should focus their efforts on the wind-blown sides of the basin where baitfish gather.
- Hydro Inlet Channel: Turbulent flows from the power station releases attract schools of active trout and redfin. Casting weighted metal lures or deep-running minnow profiles is highly effective. Boaters must maintain a safe distance from the inlet structure and monitor water level shifts closely.
Hot Spots
- Scammells Ridge Lookout Point: Elevated rocky point holding large brown trout in winter.
- Swampy Plain River Rapids: Fast-flowing rapids holding wild brown trout responding well to dry-fly.
- Murray River Snags: Deep river pools near the Great River Road reserve holding large cod.
- Murray 2 Spillway: Submerged concrete structures that provide exceptional ambush shelter for schooling yellowbelly.
- Geehi Creek Inflow: Cold water inflow where large trout hold during summer.
Local Bait Tips
- Earthworms: Earthworms are harvested by digging with a hand spade in damp, rich soil beneath rotting logs and leaf litter in moist riparian zones or garden beds. Hand gathering is fully legal across the state, but collection is strictly prohibited within national park boundaries without explicit authorization.
- Mudeyes: Mudeyes are collected by gently sweeping a fine-mesh hand net through shallow, submerged aquatic weed beds or by hand-turning submerged rocks along lake edges. These insects must not be gathered using prohibited commercial nets, and collectors must carry a valid New South Wales recreational fishing fee receipt.
- Bardi Grubs: Bardi grubs are collected by digging into the dry soil around the base of wattle trees along clay ridges. Collectors must use a standard hand spade and observe the strict recreational possession limit.
Boat Ramps
- Khancoban Pondage Boat Ramp:
Khancoban Pondage Boat Ramp: Located along **Spillway Road** on the outskirts of the alpine township of **Khancoban, NSW 2642**, this facility provides vessel launching into the **Khancoban Pondage**. Managed by the **Snowy Valleys Council**, the ramp is configured as a **dual-lane concrete ramp** with adjacent car-trailer parking (listed as **0–10 spaces**). There are no staging pontoons, floating walkways, or boarding jetties present at this site. Because the pondage functions as a key water-regulation reservoir for the **Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme**, waterway access is classified as **shallow at times**, introducing rapid water level changes and severe low-water grounding hazards along the silty shoreline. Basic facilities include **public toilets, lighting, fuel services, BBQ facilities, and a picnic area**, with a Good condition rating and no launch fees.
Bait and Tackle
- Pickled Parrot Providore: Shop 1, Town Centre, Mitchell Ave, Khancoban NSW 2642 | Phone: (02) 6076 9383
- Khancoban Roadhouse: 1389 Alpine Way, Khancoban NSW 2642 | Phone: (02) 6076 9400
- AG Warehouse Fuel Corryong (After-Hours): Towong Rd, Corryong VIC 3707 | Phone: (02) 6076 9355
Basecamp & Accom
- Khancoban Lakeside Caravan Park: 181 Mitchell Avenue, Khancoban NSW 2642 | Phone: (02) 6076 9488
- Geehi Flats Campground: Alpine Way, Kosciuszko National Park NSW 2642 | Phone: 1300 072 757
- Khancoban Alpine Inn: 1 Airport Road, Khancoban NSW 2642 | Phone: (02) 6076 9471
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Khancoban Police Station: 15 Mitchell Avenue, Khancoban NSW 2642 | Phone: (02) 6076 9022
