Reel Life

By Kevin Tyler

Nov 3, 2022

Going under: Rochester's canoe and fishing platform, located at the riverside caravan park, was hit by the floods.

High and flooded rivers have meant that fishing in fresh water has been restricted to the point where fishing in our region has been almost a non-event.

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There have been a few brave anglers that have wet a line, and in some cases have caught fish, notably in the Waranga Basin where one angler fishing from the bank caught several good-size redfin using a lure. They also reported catching a number of smaller fish.

Reports from Eildon are slim, but redfin are still being caught in the Hume Weir, despite the flood levels in the dam.

One arm in the Hume has a bridge crossing. People in boats are being forced to duck to pass beneath it. Redfin are being caught in that arm as well.

Trolling a fender with a bait of worms or Tassie-devil style lure (clown pattern) are reported to result in anglers catching trout. Mainly in the early morning and close to the bank among the trees.

As at all expanses of water, you have to pick your day weather-wise — strong winds will make fishing dangerous.

The rivers and streams are all flowing at flood level. They are dirty and will have not only hidden snags, there will be debris floating with the current, making boating dangerous.

Fishing from the bank will also have its dangers, with slippery and muddy conditions.

There will also be trees that will have their roots undermined and will be in danger of toppling.

We know that both the Murray and the Goulburn are in flood, so too is the Broken — both the river and creek, so stay clear of them.

It’s a strange situation we find ourselves in; on one hand we need the water to fish and farm, on the other hand, we are getting too much and it is taking away our ability to lead normal lives, so with luck the river levels will continue to fall.

I ran into George this week. I had not heard from him for some time, and yes, he was shattered by the results of the football, as was I, but that is the way things go. George said he had not been doing a lot of fishing, but he planned to rectify that when the situation improved.

Likewise, I have not heard from the Yellowbelly Demon from Stanhope, but I did hear he is well and is getting ready for an onslaught on the yellowbelly when things get better.

And now for the big news. The team is back together. Yes, I mean the group that I am a part of, and we are going to go fishing later this month. The planning is under way, but at this stage, it is just three definites and three possibilities, but once we put the pressure on them I can see happy fishing days ahead.

We are going after snapper and will be heading to Queenscliff with Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters.

Yes, time to renew old acquaintances and hopefully catch fish.

Rod fishes the tides, so it will mean getting on the water before first light. So we will be faced with a three-hour drive to get to Queenscliff for the tide, or stay the night down there, which will mean an extra three hours of sleep, which I would prefer.

All of this will go into the planning for the trip. It might add a little to the cost, but in my mind it is a better idea.

My dad always said that the best snapper fishing was around the Melbourne Cup, which we have seen run and won, so now we can get on with the chore of catching fish.

All in all it should be a great trip, as Rod seldom lets us down, with good bags of fish to take home.

If you want to fish Western Port Bay, the reports from Hastings have been good. Snapper are being caught along the shipping lanes from Phillip Island to the steel mill. Once again, the best fishing is to be had on the tide change.

Whiting are starting to appear along the grassy beds in the shallows while gummy shark are being caught in the deep around Cowes and San Remo.

North of the border, John Liddell said it was still fishing well along the inshore reefs, with snapper, morwong and other reef fish, as well as flathead on the sandy bottom, while yellowfin tuna were being caught off the shelf.

Further north at Narooma, Graham Cowley said the fishing was similar to that at Eden, mainly around Montague Island, while the tuna were also off the shelf, which is a lot closer to the shore and more convenient to fish.

Graham said that when it was too rough to go off shore, the fishing in the lake was a good alternative, with flathead and bream being caught around the piers and other structures.

Be aware that we are also suffering a blackwater outbreak that is killing off river life.