But luckily for us we live in NSW which means we are currently allowed to fish as long as we follow the strict rules that are in place.
But if you don’t need to leave home, stay home.
Leading up to the lockdown Tim Brown managed a cracking cod from the Billabong on a Kingfisher surface lure. Tim’s cod measured 92cm and is a great catch.
The Billabong is mainly suited to bait fishing due to the dirty coloured water but on the odd occasion you will get them on lures.
After seeing Tim’s success I decided to give it a go myself and surprisingly enough I managed to troll up a 50cm cod on a small Oargee lure. It always pays to try something different.
Also catching a few fish from the Billabong are the usual father and son team of Pete and Cam Wills; the pair have been catching some nice yellowbelly and cod.
Their biggest cod was 62cm and their biggest yellowbelly came in at 44cm, best bait being grubs, yabbies and shrimp.
Moving on to the Edward River where a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to bump into Tom Armstrong from LegoHead Lures.
Tom is based in Griffith and was holidaying out at the Big4 Holiday Park with his family.
LegoHead lures are highly sought after by the lure collectors and the keen fishos who love to fish with high quality Australian made lures.
Tom was lucky enough to land two quality fish coming it at 80 and 81cm, casting his 120mm lures not too far from the Big4.
Tim ‘Wiggie’ Maher put in the hard yards and was rewarded with a healthy 75cm cod casting his favourite 90mm Basko Cudgee lure, as well as another at 63cm cod.
Tim’s 63cm cod was lucky enough to be invited back home on Good Friday and was enjoyed by all; good work Wiggie.
Michael ‘Toddy’ Todd managed to fool a small cod into taking his Propduster swimbait and not to be out done by his dad, Luke Todd landed a cracking cod on the surface, fishing in the Gulpa Creek.
Luke was using a green Weedless surface frog when it was engulfed by a solid 73cm cod right at his feet. Well done Luke.
The hot spot at the moment would have to be the Yallakool Creek and the Wakool River, there have been some great reports coming from these systems.
Tim Rose has been lucky enough to land up to 13 cod over the past few weeks, with the biggest being 68cm, mostly using surface lures and hardbody lures.
The Way family have also found some cracking fish, fishing both systems.
Matt, Chloe, Harry and Tom Way have caught some great fish on surface and diving lures and Spinnerbaits.
Matt’s biggest cod was 74cm, Harry caught a solid Yellowbelly of 45cm and Chloe caught her first fish on a lure, coming in at 45cm.
Cam Wills managed a couple from the Yallakool using grubs as bait, reeling in a 64cm and a 59cm cod.
Pat Westcott and myself haven’t missed out either catching up to 12 nice cod.
Pat’s biggest came from his kayak and was 76cm. I was not far behind with a 73cm caught off the surface using my favourite Bunji Surface Lure and missing plenty of others as well.
Peter O’Toole was also lucky enough to get among the surface action landing a small cod using a Jackall Pompadour lure.
The girls have been doing well also with Bridie Howe out fishing her old man Terry with a nice 61cm cod caught near Twin Rivers and Eloise Maher catching a couple of healthy looking cod also using surface lures.
Hopefully in the not too distant future life will be back to normal and we can all enjoy our fishing, camping and socialising again. Until then, stay safe and healthy.
Remember for all your fishing tackle amd camping needs call into see Pete at Betta Camping & Outdoors or Chappy at Deni Sports Centre.
If you see or suspect illegal fishing, please call 1800 043 536. Make the call and make the difference.
8°C