I enjoy fishing both Lake Eildon and Dartmouth at this time of year.
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Not only because the fish are biting, but because the weather is just perfect for outdoor activities.
Sunny and clear, not too cold, and with light winds.
The fresh, cool weather brings trout to the surface at first light.
They remain at the top of the water surface until late morning, only to return mid-afternoon for feeding.
This makes for more activity for anglers to fish.
It also makes sinkers and other weight unnecessary.
There is nothing better than having a feisty trout on the end of your line without the added weight.
Trout will be in a feeding mood as they prepare for the breeding season in winter.
Mind you, the conditions are also good for you and me — not too hot, but just right.
You couldn’t ask for anything better.
These conditions are the best for trolling a trolled lure of any type, as well as a spinner.
As I have mentioned, they are best trolled at a walking pace.
These methods are best for fishing all the large dams.
I know I have said Dartmouth and Eildon, but add to those the Hume and Lake Buffalo, as well as Nillahcootie and Waranga Basin, the latter two to a lesser degree.
To fish in this manner, you will need a boat, but there is a more passive way — that is by angling a bait from the bank.
It’s a method as old as time.
Just cast a baited hook into the water and wait for the fish to take a bite.
You can add more technology to the system by adding a float to your line, but the essence remains the same — you wait until the fish comes to you.
Angling a bait can be done with the use of a sinker, usually a running sinker, or with the sinker on the bottom of the line and the hook suspended further up the line.
The bait is cast into the water, and the rod is supported in a forked stick.
When a fish bites, the tip of the rod will indicate it.
This form of fishing allows the angler to multitask — like just sitting in the sun, reading a book.
It is a most relaxing way to spend time.
I must admit that this is a way I often adapt to spend my time.
When fishing the channels, a weight is needed to hold the bait in a suitable spot.
The same goes for rivers and streams.
This is to overcome the water current, and when using a light bait, it helps with getting distance with your cast.
Just remember, you only need enough weight to hold the bottom and to reach the desired distance.
Now we come to the question: what is the best bait?
In other words, what do fish like to eat?
That is an easy one.
Fish in our inland waterways will eat most things that will fit in their mouth.
This includes worms, shrimp, yabbies, some grubs and certain insects.
It also includes smaller fish, even of the same species, and sometimes things not usually found in their environment unless an angler loses his lunch.
So, you can add cheese and raw chicken.
I have also heard of other weird things like dim sims, and some fish have even ingested golf balls.
All of these are readily found — the worms in the garden, shrimps and yabbies in waterways, cheese and chicken in the local supermarket.
Bardi grubs are found at the base of gum trees.
The rivers and streams at this time of year also fish well, as trout start their breeding season.
Both brown and rainbow trout head upstream to spawn.
Unlike American salmon, trout do not expire during this part of their life cycle.
They do, however, lose condition, and after spawning, they go into an eating cycle.
So, the fishing later in winter and spring is good.
Thus, if you can handle the cold water, you can be rewarded with plenty of action.
Time now to head south for saltwater action and to Queenscliff, where Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters is having a good time bagging whiting around the grass beds from the mouth of Swan Bay to St Leonards, as well as on the Portsea side of the heads.
Rod said the best bait was squid, but make sure it is tenderised and not rubbery.
Rod said kingfish were still on the bite, and he expected them to remain so until well into the middle of this month.
Rod also mentioned that tuna were scarce off Barwon Heads, but they were biting around Portland and that part of the coast.
Up north at Eden, John Liddell said that Mark and the crew from Freedom Charters were catching snapper, morwong and flathead from Boyd’s Lookout to Green Cape, while Graham Cowley said there was similar fishing at Narooma.
Well, stay safe and good fishing!