Waiting game: Lakes and dams remain the best option for local anglers.
Photo by
Daneka Hill
Yet again, Mother Nature has stepped in. Once again we have been forced to re-schedule our planned fishing trip to chase red snapper at Queenscliff — strong winds and rough seas putting paid to our plans.
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Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters said it was unfortunate we weren’t fishing at the weekend, when the weather was suitable and the fish were on the bite. I am starting to think of Mother Nature as Mother Grump — she appears to be doing all in her power to keep us on the couch and off the water.
Rod reported that when he was able to get out on the water the fishing was good, with bags of snapper being taken off Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove by anglers fishing the inshore reefs.
Inside the heads, he was bagging snapper on the marks as far north as Mornington and St Leonards.
He was also seeing hauls of squid, whiting, salmon, silver trevally and flathead; something to look forward to when we can get out on the water.
We also had the opening of the cod season last week and, as expected, results were patchy.
Speaking with Steve Threlfall, he said that while the rivers were a no-go for fishing, the lakes were a different story.
Steve said anglers fishing at Eildon were catching cod in the river arms and in the harbour at Eildon itself, as well as in front of the wall. Large deep-diving lures were getting the best results.
Steve said the Murray River was now open to fishing, and Lake Mulwala too.
Redfin were biting at Eildon, as well as at Waranga Basin and especially Lake Hume.
Steve said anglers would need a current licence if they intended to fish in Victoria, as well as a NSW licence to fish in the Murray and also Lake Mulwala, but a Victorian licence would suffice when fishing in the Hume. Steve said licences were available at Trelly’s Fishing and Hunting. According to Steve, the best freshwater fishing for at least the next week or so will be in the lakes and dams, but the rivers and streams will need that time to settle down.
Fallen trees have created new hazards, so anglers and boaters will need time to get used to the changed conditions. The Murray has reopened between the Hume and Echuca. There is a ban on water skiing and swimming, as well as a speed limit for all boats. There is a ban on boating on the Goulburn as well.
The rivers and streams in the north-east are a different story, and while they might be a little full, bait casting and lure fishing from the bank could result in a feed of fresh mountain stream run trout. You might also like to try Lake Dartmouth. It is one of the best trout fishing spots in our state.
Of course, the best method is to fish from a boat.
Try trolling a Ford Fender with bait, like worms or mudeye, as well as lures — one of the better ones is the Australian-designed Tassie Devil. One touch that I have added is to remove the treble hook and replace it with a single long shank or a circle hook. I tend to get better hook-up with the single hook.
The clown pattern Tassie Devil seems to be the best colour scheme, but always carry a selection of colours, just in case.
I did receive one report on the cod opening from Collingwood supporter and recently retired council worker George. He and fellow members of the Undera Angling Club held a successful weekend fishing at Eildon. Several cod, a few keepers among the catch, and George bragging about a 40cm redfin.
Other spots worth a try are the irrigation channels; fishing is a bit slower, but there won’t be any fallen trees. Lake Nillahcootie is also worth dropping a line in.
So for the next couple of weeks, and if the weather permits, you might consider saltwater fishing. I have already told you about Queenscliff; Western Port Bay is also worth trying.
At Western Port, it is similar to Port Phillip Bay in that the snapper fishing is along the edges of the shipping lanes. Whiting and squid are confined to the inshore grass beds. The deep-water reefs off Phillip Island and San Remo are a haven for gummy shark, especially on the run-out tide.
North of the border at Eden, John Liddell said snapper, morwong and an assortment of other table fish could be caught along the inshore reefs from Boyd’s Lookout to Green Cape on the Victorian border, and off the shelf. Yellowfin and bluefin tuna are biting on skirted lures.
Further north at Narooma, Graham Cowley said inshore it was the same story, while off the shelf from Montague Island, tuna and kingfish were being caught.
Well, this weekend, I hope Mother Nature is kinder than she has been to us. Good fishing and stay safe, both from the floods and COVID-19.
Next week, I will be looking at what is on the go for Christmas giving.
Trelly’s products
New range: Trollcraft lures. Three models, 10 colours. Ideal for redfin and yellowbelly — cod will like them too. From $12.99.
