What a perfect weekend weather-wise for the Easter break, but a real taste of winter to head home with.
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Conditions were ideal for fishing in the region and most reports were positive, with cod, yellowbelly, redfin and trout all on the bite.
Conditions in the Goulburn could not have been better, from Nagambie through to Murchison. Downstream from Shepparton, anglers reported good numbers of cod, with some keepers among the catch.
Before the rain, cod and yellowbelly were also biting in the Broken River. Best spot was around the Gowangardie Weir and also in the deeper hollows.
Although crowded, Eildon still fished well, with cod being taken on hard body lures, in front of the wall and in the river arms, in the big river, Delatite, as well as on any of the rocky shelves.
Jackall lures worked well for yellowbelly when cast towards the bank and allowed to sink as they were retrieved.
Anglers trolling fenders in the early morning before sunrise and the water-skiers caught trout — mainly browns.
The same technique worked for trout at Dartmouth, and anglers casting lures and spinners in the rivers and streams in the north-east also reported trout.
The Hume Weir is still fishing well for redfin and while they are not schooling in vast numbers, as they did a few weeks back, they are still about in good numbers, albeit a little deeper and that some work is needed to locate schools of fish.
When found, they will take bait and some lures; worms, shrimp and yabbies are the best bait while ice jigs and minnow-style lures as well as red and black Celta spinners will work well.
Redfin are also on the bite in Waranga Basin and at Eildon.
Yellowbelly are being caught in the channels; the main channel to Eppalock near Stanhope is worth trying — hard body lures and Jackalls are getting good results.
Let’s not forget the Murray River. Despite Easter holiday-makers being shoulder to shoulder along the river, there were reports of cod being caught. One place I have not mentioned for a while is the Bay of Biscay near Echuca, as well as Ulupna Island; in fact, most of the spots where you could get away from the other boaters.
Saltwater fishing was worth trying and Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters at Queenscliff said he was bagging pinky snapper, silver trevally, salmon, flathead and whiting.
Rod said all the usual markers were fishing well and when it was too rough to go outside the heads, there was still good fishing around St Leonards, and further north to the Mornington area.
Rod was also bagging whiting around the white lady marker as well as the mouth of Swan Bay.
He said calamari squid were being caught in the grass beds between Point Lonsdale jetty and the heads.
Western Port is fishing well; snapper, flathead, leather jacket, salmon and whiting are all being caught, as well as gummy shark biting in the deeper water off Cowes on Phillip Island and off San Remo.
Local anglers are fishing the grass beds in the shallows for whiting. Squid pieces are the best bait. The trick is to keep it fresh.
North of the border, John Liddell at Eden reported plenty of action along the inshore reefs as far south as Green Cape near the Victorian border.
John said morwong were biting as well as some huge flathead — some over a metre in length were being taken in the deep off the cape.
Mark from Freedom Charters said he had been catching yellowfin tuna off the shelf.
He said trolling skirted lures was getting the best results.
At Narooma, Graham Cowley said he was getting mixed reports, with schools of rat-sized kingfish being caught north of Montague Island while plenty of flathead were biting along the sandy bottom. On the reefs, snapper, morwong and assorted reef fish were providing plenty of table fish.
James Luddington at Flinders Island said his season was starting to wind up, but there were flathead and gummy shark being caught between the islands.
So much for this week, have a good week fishing and stay safe.
Time to go fishing
With the front page story on a 1.21m cod being caught in the Goulburn River near Toolamba over Easter Steve Threlfall is hitting the road and going fishing.
When Trelly is away, he always takes enough food to feed an army, or at least the whole camp if no fish are hooked.
Engel MTV 45LT $1439.99
No camping setup is complete without a decent fridge/freezer. This Engel model has a 40lt capacity — or in Trelly speak 60 x 375ml cans.
It comes with a five-year warranty backed by Engel, who have been keeping Australians camping since 1962.
The OG cod favourite $21.99
The Arashi Deep 25 is finally back in four different colours but Trelly warns there is limited stock. With big cod about, they won’t last long.
Pirate Spinner Bait Big Rig $29.99
Locally made and owned every Pirate Spinnerbait is hand poured and put together from start to finish.
And just to prove they work.