Easter is with us. So it’s time to hit the road to head to our favourite fishing spots.
But here is the rub. The COVID-19 lockdowns are creating problems, and not only with the virus, but, with restrictions on travel, more people are taking a break locally.
That means traffic on our roads will be greater and the demand for accommodation is also going through the roof. It’s a good thing for local business, but not so good if you were late in booking your spot. So phone ahead to make sure you can find a spot.
The next issue will be traffic, there is only one solution: patience. There will be hold-ups in the traffic, so the answer will be “go with the flow”.
No amount of bad road manners or speeding will fix the problem. Take plenty of rest stops and you will arrive safe and well.
The next issue will be where to go. All the touristy places will be full, so try some of the out-of-the-way spots. Lake Dartmouth is one place that comes to mind. The fishing is not red hot, but it’s good enough to keep you interested; Trolling for trout with bait or lures, even angling with a float.
You are also close to some rivers and streams if you are keen on wading or fly fishing, and Lake Hume is just a short drive if you want to chase redfin. Yes, I would give Dartmouth a lot of thought as a destination.
If you decide to stay home, both the Goulburn and the Murray rivers are settling down following last week’s rainfall.
In the Goulburn, cod and yellowbelly are being fished around the snags. Bait is the best way to go as the water is a little muddy. Try worms, shrimp, yabbies, grubs, or even cheese or chicken; they all work at various times for redfin.
Waranga Basin is fishing well: a lot of small fish. You might try Eildon or Lake Hume, but I feel both those spots will be crowded with holiday-makers. If you do try them you could be rewarded.
Some sections of the Broken River between Shepparton and Benalla are worth a try. Find a deep hole near the snags and you could be rewarded with a big cod or yellowbelly.
Lake Nagambie took a pummeling last weekend during the fishing competitions, so giving it a rest might not be a bad idea.
Saltwater fishing is still going well according to Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters at Queenscliff. He said they are catching snapper off the bluff at Barwon Heads as well as flathead and some salmon and couta.
Rod said salmon were in the heads and kingfish were patrolling below the salmon, looking for an easy feed.
Fishing around the mouth of Swan Bay was yielding whiting which were biting on squid pieces. Rod said that rooting the bait fresh was important when fishing for whiting. He said that some gummy shark were also biting around the submarine dive sites.
John Liddell at Eden said now that the water on the land had subsided, the fishing off the coast was starting to pick up.
John said that snapper, morwong, and other reed fish were biting from Boyd’s Lookout to Green Cape.
John said the boys from freedom charters were bagging plenty of good-sized snapper.
At Narooma, Graham Cowley said fishing offshore was the same as Eden, but when it was too rough to go out, bream and flathead were an alternative inside the lake.
Have a good and safe Easter and drive carefully. Remember all the COVID-19 rules and stay safe.
Don’t get hooked going fishing
Steve Threlfall is always thinking, mostly about fishing and who to have a beer with, but he’s quick to latch on to clever ideas.
Lure Wallet
From $14.99
Even experts like Trelly can get in a tangle, so these lure wallets are fantastic for keeping your rigs separated and stopping the hooks from catching in the car seats or the Labrador when you are on the road.
They are a must have, even in the boat, and come in three sizes to take a variety of tackle.
Kingfisher top water lure
$32.99 – $59.99
Trelly has a simple fishing mantra: “If you want big fish, then go big”.
The Kingfisher comes in 110 mm, 126 mm and 150 mm varieties.
All lures have a big splashing, popping action and recently they’ve been used successfully to land some big cod on the Murray and Goulburn rivers and at Lake Eildon.
Whatever the size, there are six popular colours to choose from.
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