First a word of warning. Banks are wet and slippery and already the number of drownings in our state is unacceptably high, so two things: take extreme care around water and where possible stay out of flood water — muddy water covering fresh ground hides a lot of snags and other hidden traps. These can bring about the downfall of the unwary.
All that aside, the big game is on this weekend and to be truthful, I don’t have any preference as to who wins. However, I do feel a little sorry for George, the council worker. His team were one point short. Oh gee!
So if you are among those that are prepared to tackle the weather, Eildon is still the pick of the fishing spots, with the exception of Victoria Park Lake in the heart of Shepparton. It is still giving up nice trout and an occasional redfin to anglers who are willing to try.
At Eildon you can still catch and keep cod, as they are not considered breeding stock.
The high inflows at Eildon mean that fishing close to the bank where fresh ground is being covered should be the best spot, as both trout and yellowbelly will be hunting for their dinner in those areas. To get yellowbelly, cast a Jackall-style lure to the bank and allow it to settle to the bottom before retrieving; for trout, a bladed lure should do the trick or a hard body minnow fishing a bait, mainly scrub worms, among the trees could land you a nice redfin; and troll a ford fender for trout.
In the river arms, fish for cod; I hear on the grapevine of a group of locals who plan to camp at Eildon, and they plan to hunt for cod — big baits, big lures is their plan. I wish them luck.
Reports from Dartmouth are good, with trout still being caught. Trolling a fender is getting the best results — from first light until mid-morning is still the best time, then coming on dusk.
Best spots are the main bay around the boat ramp and into Larson’s Cutting; mind you, just about anywhere is good for trout at Dartmouth. If you have the time, you might like to spend some time on Lake Hume, it is still providing anglers with plenty of redfin, yellowbelly and late-season trout.
In our region, the irrigation channels are also worth trying, the main eastern as well as the Waranga Basin outlet all the way to Stanhope. You might also try the basin and the lake at Nagambie. For bait, mainly scrub or garden worms are worth a try.
Other waters worth trying apart from rivers and streams are Nillahcootie, Waranga Basin and Mulwala; but remember, cod season is closed at Lake Buffalo and the lake in Mooroopna.
Salt water is a little more consistent at this time of year, and down south at Queenscliff Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters said snapper season was fast approaching.
Rod said he would expect the season to really get under way in three or four weeks when the larger fish would begin to appear in numbers.
Rod said he had been catching silver trevally, squid and snotty nosed trevally, an uncommon fish in his region but a great table fish around Tasmania and New Zealand.
Rod said that on the wrong side of the ledger were the number of seals around the heads; he said “Sammy” and his mates were only to keen to steal an easy feed from anglers when they got a hook-up.
Rod said Western Port Bay was patchy. Small flathead, leatherjacket and some salmon were being caught around Hastings while gummy shark were biting off Phillip Island and San Remo in the deeper water.
Off Eden in NSW, John Liddell said it was quiet off the shelf, but the inshore reefs were active for snapper, morwong and flathead.
Further north at Narooma it was a similar story, with schools of kingfish off the northern end of Montague Island.
There were no signs of yellowfin tuna off the shelf; Graham Cowley said water temperatures were still too cold.
Well, good luck to your footy team this weekend. If you go fishing, stay safe and good luck.
