Corio Bay
Improved weather this week has definitely motivated anglers to get back out and wet a line and with the weather forecast looking how it is we can expect to see even more reports come through. Inside the bay we have had reports of large numbers of Australian Salmon getting around snatching up anglers lures. Small minnow style plastics are the best when targeting salmon and also works on a variety of other species. Anglers fishing land based off Wangum Walk and Cunningham Pier have been getting amongst plenty of fish. In other news anglers fishing St Helens rocks have seen Shortfin Pike (AKA Snook) cruising really close to the shore line and over the weed beds. When targeting these guys your best bet is definitely soft plastics or had body lures. Hard bodies are by far more effective but be sure to run heavier leader as they have teeth and it’s not fun losing lures. Snook make for a good meal when bled, put on ice and eaten fresh or make even better snapper and gummy shark bait.
St Leonards
St Leonards has had great reports of King George whiting biting, anglers made the most of the opportunity with the weather window and raced to the whiting grounds to re stock up after a long break between sessions and its safe to say the fishing was red hot. Fishing the stronger tides fired the fishing right up with fish chewing right through the tide. Most fish were around the mid-30s with plenty getting over 40.
Offshore
Again angler seeing a break in the weather were very keen to head out the front and have a squiz around for a Bluefin. Although no official reports of fish being caught there was some half decent life around with some boats marking the odd fish here and there. Could just be a case of any day it all comes together and goes hectic. But as we all know with tuna they can make us question our theory’s so it’s just worth at the moment putting time in and not waiting so much for the reports to come in.
Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek Reservoir has been a popular location for freshwater anglers this week with the Redfin really firing up with great numbers being reported. Casting soft plastics from the rockwall has been super effective with anglers casting paddletail soft plastics finding the best success.
Goulburn River
There has been some very cold mornings this past week and this has kept the Cray catches high.
We are still getting a lot of reports from those casting below Nagambie, down towards Murchison and also in the heart of Shepparton.This season has been one of the best and either side of the river rise has seen great numbers caught.Those fishing haven’t found it tough this week with only a hand full of fish reported with carp the main species reported.
Scrub worms are working well so is chicken but most fishing with bait are finding they are catching more Crays than fish.We only have a month until cod season closes so make sure you grab a couple of bigger lures and give the Goulburn a go as the water is now starting to settle and clear up.
Shepparton Lake
Frosty mornings are perfect trout conditions and this week we have had plenty of reports.
Small soft plastics around the grass hill as well as small spinners around the boat ramps has been best for those using lures.Bait fishing with scrub worms under a float over near the art museum area with the trout hunting down the worms in the weedless pockets both shallow and deep.
Trolling Tassie devils and Tn60s in the rowing lanes has also been a great way to target both trout and Redfin this winter and we would expect this to be the case for weeks to come.
Irrigation Channels
There has been some promising reports in the channels out towards Waranga Basin with some nice sized Redfin being caught especially if you can find some flow.Small Spinnerbaits, zx40 Blades and square bills have all worked this week over towards the Basin.The channels out at Shepparton east have produced some Yellowbelly this week with black gulps working best just slow rolling back to the banks after casting towards bridge pylons.Drifting scrub worms has worked well for those bait fishing with pan sized Redfin being caught in many different locations and some finding bait a little more productive.
Craigmuir Lake Mooroopna
The little lake out Echuca Rd has produced a few Redfin this week with one regular customer reporting a hand full of fish caught on lures.Small bent minnows, weedless rigged soft plastics and also Jackal chubby’s being the lure of choice.There is plenty of weed in the lake but if you can run your lure just above it or in the weedless pockets you will be in with a shot at a hood Redfin.Bait fishing has always been a great option at Craigmuir lake with worms and yabbies the best baits when chasing both Redfin and Yellowbelly.
Lake Eppalock
The lake is still a little bit cold. Some Yellow Belly are holding the trees and the most effective way to entice the fish to bite is to use a heavy jig head around 1/4oz with a black grub. Another way is to bounce ZX40 blades.Trolling in around 20-25ft of water has been the depth that most redfin have been holding. Troll with an RMG crazy deep or an A/C invader in 70mm with a plastic teaser about 1m above the hard body and this will put you in with a good chance of finding an active feeding school. Once you’ve located the school try using ice jigs or soft plastics. From the bank yabbies around rocky ledges have also produced some good fish.
Serpentine
Serpentine weir fishing with small vibes such as your TN60s has been rewarding with some yellow belly being caught up to 50cms. The most popular colours are definitely HL Black or Peaco*ck. However bait fishing is definitely the best option at the moment, if you're able to get some fresh shrimp you’ll be in with a great chance. Another very popular option at the moment is to use scrub worms under a light sinker so it moves around the bottom.
Cairn Curren
The lake has been pretty quiet at the present time, with only a few reports coming through of some redfin being caught as well as the odd yellow belly or trout. Trout have been caught while bank fishing using powerbait. The standout powerbait is chartreuse at the moment.
Redfin have been caught flicking plastics around the grassy banks. The Yellow belly can also be targeted using TN60s in the lake HL black seems to be the colour of choice here and is also worked best along the rock walls or around the grassy banks, Redfin will also hit these small vibes. Bait fishing with scrubbies is also a great way to try to get some numbers of fish
Campaspe River
Small hard bodied lures such as your Bassman tubby native have been a great option to try to entice cod and yellas. Around Aysons reserve there have also been some good redfin being caught, a lot of small ones but there have also been some bigger ones amongst the schools. Try using small soft plastics such as your 2.5inch Daiwa Bait junkies in either grub or minnow style both work well, brighter colours have been the most popular at the present time. Also around doaks reserve there have also been a handful Yellow belly being caught on small spinnerbaits. People using bait have also done well on worms and small yabbies, corn has worked well on carp to keep the younger ones occupied also!
Bridgewater
Ok numbers of fish have been caught on both bait and lures. The pick of lures being Jackall TN60s - TN80s fishing closely to the bridge, tight to timber and weed beds. These lures can also be fished with a beetle spin for added action. Spinnerbaits have also fished well over recent weeks with single willow and rigged ⅝oz spinnerbaits from spinwright, and bassman Codman proving to be thechoice of lures. One surface cod reported this week oon a bassman wakewalker
Bendigo family lakes
Crusoe has been fishing pretty well for small, stocked rainbow trout. Small hooks with powerbait have been the standout on a running sinker rig. These fish are measuring up to 35cm and are really good fun on light gear. Small hard bodies such as your rapala 3cm countdown have also been working well on the trout as well as picking up the odd redfin also. Daiwa bait junkies have been working well on the redfin that can be found in this lake.
