Reel Life

By Kevin Tyler

Dec 15, 2022

Back where we belong: Action is slowly starting to hot up on rivers and streams. Photo by Megan Fisher

We are now well into the countdown to Christmas, so here are a few last-minute reminders. The big items, like a new boat, would be well and truly done, so let’s look at a few stocking fillers.

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How about a selection of lures? There are a lot to choose from, including soft plastics, hard body diving lures, surface lures, skirted lures for tuna, minnow types for trout and other freshwater fish. Yes, a selection of lures would not go astray.

Rods and reels? Upgrading your roads and reels is a smart move.

Then there is a selection of new lines — braid or mono, whichever you prefer — and finally end-of-line tackle such as hooks and sinkers, swivels and other odds and ends.

I had a browse through Trelly’s recently and he has got it all: the latest in lures, rods, reels, tackle — the lot. You should do yourself a favour and take a look.

Well, that is only a small sample of the Christmas gifts you can give. One out of left field is a fishing charter, it is one the whole family can share — while one goes off fishing, the rest can spend a day at the beach, then eat the catch later on.

Yes, as you can tell, I am an ideas man, and I love Christmas — my best time of the year.

At last river levels are going down and anglers are getting back to what they do best: fishing.

While most of the action is still confined to the dams and lakes, I am hearing of more action from the rivers and streams.

In the north-east, there are reports of trout being caught — mainly on bait such as worms, both scrub worms and the garden variety, but an occasional catch on a lure.

While fishing from the bank is okay, wading is still not possible. River flows are still too strong and the water is too dirty to see into.

Around our region the strong flows and dirty water are a problem, but it is improving, with reports of fish being caught.

One group I heard from did manage quite a few cod over a week-long camping trip on the Murray upstream from Bundalong. It was at minor flood level, but they did catch fish.

The lakes are still the best option, with redfin being caught at Waranga Basin, Eildon, Nillahcootie and Lake Hume.

At Eildon, late season trout can still be taken, as well as yellowbelly and cod.

The river arms are best, but the national park is also worth a try, as well as in the deep water in front of the wall — and don’t discount the harbour at the Eildon boat ramp.

When you are heading to Dartmouth, you might like to call in to the Hume on your way and fish for redfin. Evidently it is running hot, and the Dart is starting to slow down. Best times are on dusk and early mornings.

Then there is Lake Mulwala. Once again, being on the Murray River it has also been affected by flooding, so reports have been sketchy to say the least. But I have heard that an occasional cod has been caught.

Let’s get down to saltwater fishing. South at Queenscliff, Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters said that when he was able to go off shore the snapper fishing was good. He was bagging his limit, with an occasional horse-sized fish among the haul.

Otherwise there were salmon in the rip on the run-out tide. Trolling a small skirted lure called an occy was the best method, but when they are on the go I have seen anglers using a fly rod catching salmon.

Rod said other options had been flathead, whiting and silver trevally, as long as Sammy the seal was not around.

Rod said there were blue shark off the coast. He added that not many anglers fished for shark, but when they did it took about four hours of berleying to attract a shark.

Western Port Bay is also fishing well, with snapper being caught along the rubble beds off Hastings and along the shipping lanes. It is a must to fish the tide, either flood tide or the ebb.

Whiting are being caught among the inshore grass beds, also squid while in the deep water off Phillip Island and gummy shark using fresh fillets of fish as bait or whole squid.

North of the border at Eden, John Liddell said the inshore fishing was good, with plenty of snapper, morwong and other table fish being caught on inshore reefs between Boyd’s Lookout and Green Cape. South of the cape, there are plenty of big flathead on the sandy bottom, while big gummy shark are also to be caught.

John said marlin were off the shelf; trolling skirted lures was the way to best results.

At Narooma, further up the coast, Graham Cowley said it was a similar story around Montague Island. Graham said when it was too rough to go off shore, there was always flathead, bream and whiting around the oyster leases.

On behalf of John and Graham, as well as Rod, we wish you all a happy Christmas and good fishing. Stay COVID-safe, and good luck.