Reel life | Fishing is picking up across the rivers

The rest were around 30cm. They caught a number of silver perch as well as two yellowbelly but not one carp.

Not a bad day fishing in any language.

If you plan to fish the Murray River remember that it is in NSW and you will need a fishing licence from that state, but if you fish the Hume Weir, it’s considered Victorian waters.

The Goulburn River between Nagambie and Shepparton is also fishing well. Between Nagambie and Seymour is likewise fishing well with some metre-long cod being reported as being caught and released.

Remember the maximum size for cod is 75cm; any fish above that size must be released.

Not only rivers but lakes and dams are also producing some quality fish with redfin biting in Waranga Basin and also in the irrigation channels. Bait such as small yabbies, live shrimp and worms are great for angling as well as minnow-style lures, mainly red in colour, as well as Celta spinners with a tuft of red wool on the hooks.

Word has it that the most productive water for redfin is still the Hume Weir, but like all waterways and fish, where you caught fish yesterday may not be where you can catch them tomorrow; they do move around and they will also go off the bite for whatever reason.

Generally speaking the Hume has been one of the most consistent places to fish and not only for redfin. You will also catch trophy-sized trout as well as good hauls of yellowbelly and occasionally cod.

I have neglected to mention the Broken River, from Nathalia to where it joins the Murray River. It is one great spot to fish for cod and yellowbelly, with the Broken in Victoria and the Murray in NSW. I said it earlier and I will say it again: to fish the Murray you need a NSW license, not only for fishing but a boat license as well.

If you want to catch trout you can still fish Eildon, Dartmouth and the rivers and streams in the north-east; the “Dart” and Eildon are best in the early morning till about nine or 10 while wading the rivers and streams and casting to likely holes and banks is the best way to angle a feed of trout.

At this time of year casting a bait such as black crickets, grasshoppers mud-eye and worms work well.

Here is a trick to catching crickets: Lay a sheet of newspaper or a large rag on your lawn and wet it down overnight. You should find crickets underneath it in the early morning.

To stop them from eating themselves, keep them in a jar with the holes in the lid and a slice of apple for them to munch on.

You will need a small hook with a long shank to bait up a cricket; keep them looking as natural as possible.

Always wade upstream and cast ahead of you so your bait will draft back with the current.

I enjoy waiting and bait-casting but always keep an eye on the weather and don't be afraid to change your bait around and even use lures or spinners.

I personally do not fly fish but this time of year it is ideal to use this method of angling.

When it comes to fishing and eating fish I admit that I am a saltwater snob. I prefer fish caught in the sea and I have a preference for whiting, flathead tails, gummy shark snapper, tuna and any other saltwater fish.

But without doubt the first three are the best in my opinion, so to speak.

And especially when you know all three can be caught off Queenscliff and Barwon Heads and my old mate Rod Lawn who runs Adamas Fishing Charters sails from that neck of the woods and is expert at getting on to a school of said fish and others depending on the season.

Rod said that this time of year he would be catching whiting however it was a poor season and whiting were proving scarce. Flathead were plentiful. As are pinky snapper. Rod said he was catching silver trevally, Australian salmon, couta and an occasional bluefin tuna.

Further to the east is Western Port. Rod said the fishing was the same. Good-sized gummy shark are also on the bite in the deep water off Phillip Island and San Remo. Rod said fresh fillets of salmon or a small whole squid were the best bait.

North of the border at Eden, John Liddell said the boys from Freedom Charters reported that fishing in the region had been hard work due to the constant east-coast lows. It is quite slow off the shelf, game boats are staying inshore.

The inshore reefs between Boyd’s Lookout and Green Cape are also proving to be hard work but it is being rewarded with some good-sized snapper and morwong as well as other table fish.

Further north at Narooma, Graham Cowley said the east coast lows were affecting the fishing in his neck of the woods as well.

Graham said there was little action to be had off the shelf. Fishing inshore along the reef has also been hard work; flathead off the sand, and snapper and morwong off the reefs around Montague Island.

Graham said when it was too rough to go offshore, flathead and bream could be caught around the oyster leases.

Down south at Flinders Island, James Ludington said that while last week was poor due to the windy weather, he was looking forward to an improvement in conditions.

With the start of autumn hopefully it will prove to be better than summer. Stay safe and tight lines.