You can’t keep a good angler down

Yet it is as if he was never off the scene, as one after another fish fell to his angling prowess.

Once again he is taking pleasure in sending me images of his latest conquests — damn!

As we near the end of summer, the number of fish being caught has not diminished, and around our region the fishing continues to go gangbusters.

I note with interest the release of thousands of fingerling yellowbelly into the Goulburn River from the recently established hatchery at Arcadia, where they, along with Murray cod and silver perch, are being bred.

The releases should increase fish populations in our region.

The multi-million-dollar hatchery is a recent development in our region and when fully developed will not only increase fish numbers, but will also create employment.

Fishing is going well, as I mentioned earlier, and one of the places worth trying is Lake Eildon, where not only yellowbelly, cod and trout are being caught but redfin as well.

The hot spots are mainly the river arms, with cod taking bait such as cheese and chicken, as well as yabbies, shrimp and bardi grubs, but lures are also getting results. Try deep-diving hard-body lures, with my favourite colour lure being dark green with black spots, as well as redfin patterns.

The smaller rivers such as the Broken, and Honeysuckle Creek, have been affected by blackwater and some of this has found its way into the Goulburn, but from all reports the Goulburn is pretty clear of it at this time.

While I am not a fan of fishing competitions, last weekend a big one was held at Nagambie, with the winning fish being a cod over a metre in length.

Reports from Lake Hume continue to report good hauls of redfin, although they are patchy, and bags of 20-plus fish have been common.

At Dartmouth, trout are still being caught but mainly early in the morning; during the day they move into deeper water.

At Waranga Basin, the occasional yellowbelly is biting, mainly around the inlet channel, as well as redfin, mostly small fish, but with patience some bigger fish can be caught. Best spots are around the water pumps at Harriman’s Point, as well as the old quarry and in front of the island.

Trolling a hard-body diving lure along the bottom of the channels is also getting results, and yellowbelly are biting around Stanhope, as well as redfin in the Main Eastern Channel. Bait and lures have been working.

For salties, a trip down south to Queenscliff is resulting in good bags of whiting, salmon and flathead, as well as couta and kingfish, which have come on the bite off Point Lonsdale and also off the mouth of Barwon River.

Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters said he was also catching silver trevally and late-season pinky snapper. Rod said bluefin tuna and blue shark were being taken off the heads.

Western Port has also been fishing well, with flathead and leatherjacket. Whiting were also providing anglers with plenty of variety.

One spot I must mention is a suburb of Melbourne, Mordialloc — where I cut my teeth with my dad. Good hauls of flathead and also snapper, pike and couta have been taken there.

North of the border at Eden, John Liddell said the inshore reefs between Boyd’s Lookout and Green Cape were fishing well. Snapper, morwong and other reef fish were being caught along with kingfish.

Further north at Narooma, Graham Cowley said big flathead were being caught between Montague Island and the shore.

Down south at Flinders Island, James Luddington said he was bagging flathead and gummy shark around Lady Barron and the surrounding islands.

The weekend is predicted to be cooler, so the fishing should be better.

Have a good time, and keep safe.

Keeping cool on the water

Trelly is about as Aussie as you can get and now he’s stocking a favourite fashion item, the terry-towelling hat.

Terry-towelling hats $29.99

There’s a big range of colours, and sizes for everyone. These comfy bucket hats will keep your head cool and are handy for storing hooks, as long as you are careful.

JM Gillies Redfin Bobber $9.99

Flavour of the month for Hume Dam and Waranga Basin — and for a good fish catcher, these are as cheap as chips.