Reel Life | Bush bashes or cabin comforts?

In the past, I would load a tent and sleeping bag and other bits and pieces, head out across the lake and find a flat-ish spot to set up a campsite for a couple of days.

Well before first light, the campfire would be burning, and the coffee pot would be steaming.

A couple of slices of bread toasted over the coals, then on to the seat and into the early bloom, trolling a tinnie.

That was then.

Nowadays, if I could not book one of the cabins in the caravan park, I would cancel the trip and watch the footy instead. Hence the ‘O’ word.

So what do you prefer: camping in the bush or setting up in a furnished, heated cabin like the sort you find in a caravan park?

There are pros and cons for both.

The choice is up to you.

In my early years, before the ‘mature’ years, no question I would camp out and love it.

But these days, I would choose the comforts of a cabin.

But as I said, the choice is yours, and if time is on your side, you may choose the bush.

Now let’s look at how the fish have been for the better part of the week at Dartmouth.

Once things settled down, trolling a fender was getting results.

A bunch of worms worked well for anglers.

I still love the sound of native birds first thing in the morning, but to be honest, you can still hear them through the window of a furnished, heated and comfortable cabin in a caravan park.

A comfortable night’s sleep, a warm shower and a cooked breakfast gets me off to a morning’s fishing — but just a little later.

Not a hard price to pay.

Now down to fishing.

While speaking about Dartmouth, the trout fishing is still good.

Trolling a fender is still the best way to get a feed at this time of year.

It’s mainly brown trout, with rainbow trout still in their breeding mode.

Just about anywhere is worth fishing from the boat ramp to the dam wall, then along Larsen’s Cutting, then back to the boat ramp.

I have also fished from the bank at the Dart with success, but it is a lot slower and with a great deal of time between bites.

This time of year, fishing at the Hume is good with trout, yellowbelly, redfin and cod being caught, and the same for Eildon.

Remember, bag and size limits still apply.

Then we have the lesser dams, such as Waranga Basin, Buffalo and Nillahcootie.

They produce yellowbelly, cod, redfin and trout as well.

Now we can mention the Goulburn River as well as the Broken and Murray rivers.

All have been producing yellowbelly and cod.

Fortunately, the rain has not been heavy enough to cause flooding, but has freshened them up.

The rivers are close enough to home, so camping is not an option, though there are a few spots on both the Murray and the Goulburn suitable for camping.

But as I said, they are close to home, and you can get to them easily.

Time now to take a look at saltwater fishing.

According to Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters at ‘the Heads’ in Queenscliff, while he has been affected by the rough weather and high winds, he has managed to get some time on the water.

Although the fishing has been slow, Rod said: "Some small pinky snapper have been caught on the reefs, and flathead on the sand."

"It’s just six weeks or so until the big snapper arrive in the region, and I’m expecting it to be a good season," he added.

North of the border at Eden: "Our region has been blasted by the east coast low, and even the pro boats have been affected," John Liddell said.

Graham Cowley said it was the same around Narooma, although there was still some fishing in the lake.

I’ll leave it with you and just clarify the ‘O’ word in bold.

Let me say there is no fun in getting old.

In the meantime, good fishing and stay safe.