The Eucumbene River has its headwaters only a few kilometres from Kiandra and winds it way through the old goldfields to feed into Lake Eucumbene about 20kms downstream. The Eucumbene River was dammed in the late 1950s for the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme and now provides the main spawning beds for the trout that inhabit these waters.

The headwaters of the Murrumbidgee River are formed on Long Plain - about 20 kilometres north of Kiandra. From here it winds through tussocked high country for about 15 kilometres before flowing into Tantangara Reservoir - now noted as a wild brown trout fishery being managed by NSW Fisheries and aimed at the angler seeking greater isolation and solitude.

The Yarrangobilly River is a smaller stream crossed by the Snowy Mountains Highway about 30 kilometres north of Kiandra. It holds good numbers of mainly smallish rainbow trout. Its flow is also stopped by a dam - the Talbingo Reservoir. Three Mile Dam is only a few kilometres from Kiandra adjacent to the Mount Selwyn Ski Fields. It was built in 1882 to supply water for the New Chum Mine and covers about 200 hectares. This is an ideal location for the camping fisherman. It provides excellent fishing, particularly late evening and early morning for free rising trout which average about 1lb to 1 ½lbs with the occasional bigger fish. In its early days Three Mile Dam was reputed to be one of the best trout angling waters in New South Wales providing great fishing for good size rainbow trout. It is reported that in 1938 some brown trout were introduced and it is claimed that this has had a negative impact on the fishing. Nevertheless it is one of the most scenic and pleasing stillwater fishing locations in the Snowy Mountains providing the skilled angler with the opportunity to match wits with some very wily high country trout!

The NSW Fisheries Department has responsibility for overall management and enforcement of legislation relating to these waters. Trout are stocked from the Gaden Trout Hatchery at Jindabyne with the assistance of volunteers from the Monaro Acclimatisation Society (MAS).

The Monaro Acclimatisation Society

The Monaro District Acclimatisation Society was formed on 5 July 1937 by a group of enthusiastic trout anglers. Mr Alf Rose was the first President. Mr Jack Arthur was the first Secretary. Mr Alf Rose resigned during the first year due to ill health and the next President was Mr Jim Gaden of Woburn, Bungarby who held the position from 1938 to 1952.

During this period work was carried out to build at hatchery near Nimmitabel. The Society operated the hatchery at this site for a number of years until it was relocated to its present site on the Thredbo River near Jindabyne in 1951. At the request of the Society the NSW Government took over operations in 1959. The hatchery is still operating today providing hundreds of thousands of trout fry for the ongoing stocking of the rivers and lakes of the Snowy Mountains and Monaro regions.

The Monaro Acclimatisation Society is still operating with member clubs spread throughout southern NSW including Adaminaby and Cabramurra.