All my rods have been cleaned, all runners have been checked for chips and nicks.
All the hooks and extra tackle have also been checked and now all is ready for the spring start to the fishing season.
Unlike George’s, my footy team is about to finish the season, so I can expect an early start to the spring.
While all the maintenance has been done, it is something that you should do on a regular basis.
There is nothing worse than to lose a good fish because of poor gear, a broken line or a badly set drag.
The best method to clean rods and reels, including line, is with a weak solution of dish-washing liquid and clean warm water.
Using a soft cloth, rinse thoroughly and rinse off with plain warm water, then allow to air dry.
Do not try to service reels unless you are experienced. Otherwise, go to an expert. To find one, just ask at your tackle shop.
The same goes for your boat and motor; a seasonal service is a must to keep them in tip-top condition.
Remember, life preservers also need to be serviced, and gas bottles will need to be checked.
You must have an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.
Also make sure your boat and fishing licences are current.
One thing I forgot to mention was make sure you pack fresh grease on the wheel bearings of your boat trailer.
Being in most cases small diameter wheels, the bearings will be working extra hard and will become hot.
When you back your trailer into the water to launch your boat, imagine the impact on the bearings that shock cooling will have on them.
It could lead to bearing failure, leaving you stranded — so keep extra grease handy.
Now that all the cleaning and maintenance is done, it’s time to put it to work, and the best place to begin is Lake Dartmouth.
This is the time of year to head for the hills to catch trout, and the ‘Dart’ is the best place to do just that.
You can troll, spin or angle for trout at Dartmouth.
The Mitta Mitta river fills one of the largest dams in Australia. Now is the best time of year to fish it.
The brown trout are over their breeding and are busy feeding up, while the the rainbow trout are just starting their breeding.
Lake Dartmouth is my all-time favourite spot to not only fish but also just to visit.
As the weather this side of the divide has been perfect for fishing in the high country, this is where I recommend you go.
Now a look at saltwater fishing.
At Queenscliff, Rod Lawn said the snapper were just starting to get on the move and while the pinky size resident fish were still biting, the larger, itinerant fish were starting to move in.
Rod said there was also flathead, squid and some salmon to give anglers a choice of species.
Rod said Western Port Bay was also giving anglers plenty of action, with good size gummy sharks around San Remo.
Rod said that while most of the action was along the inshore reefs he was enjoying success towards Mornington in Port Phillip Bay and Hastings in Western Port.
At Eden, north of the NSW border, John Liddell said the seas had abated and when the boys from Freedom Charters went out they caught snapper, morwong, flathead and a variety of other reef fish.
It was the same at Narooma, according to Graham Cowley.
That’s it for this week, so stay safe and good fishing.
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