G’day fishos. I know I’ve said it before and I’m happy to say it again, I don’t mind buying fishing licences when you know the money is going back into the fishery.
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All this adds up to a promising future for all of us, particularly when you add a bit of natural spawning amongst it.
- Russell Mason
In Victoria, the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport, and Resources, (also known as the department for just about everything), has just released the figures of fish released in February.
More than 780,000 fish were released into nearly 40 waterways.
The breakdown goes like this: 459,000 golden perch, 153,000 Murray cod, 100,000 silver perch, 8300 Macquarie perch, 9700 trout cod and 50,150 rainbow trout.
More cod and yellas are due for release this month and the larger releases of both brown and rainbow trout are also due as the weather cools down.
All this adds up to a promising future for all of us, particularly when you add a bit of natural spawning amongst it.
NSW Fisheries hatcheries have also been very busy over the past month or two, particularly on the native fish scene where releases have been going on all over the state.
I haven’t got the numbers, but I think everyone can see, including blind Freddy, how well the combination of releases by angling clubs and both fisheries departments has gone over the past few years.
Both NSW and Victoria fish stockings are virtually all funded by our licence money, so it’s pretty hard to argue we’re not getting value for money at the moment.
Lake Hume and Blowering are both producing plenty of reddies. Although Blowering’s fish are a bit larger on average, there’s been a few better reddies coming from the Hume in the past week or so.
There’s also been a few nice yellas and the odd cod coming from both, with one report of a 1.200 being caught at Blowering, on a 65mm Squidgee, with 10lb line and a light spin rod while chasing reddies.
Just proves if you’re out there having a go you’ve got a chance.
Dartmouth is fishing ok but Lake Binamboola, just below, is also fishing really well with some quality trout being caught by all methods.
Local Dart fisho Max Stone has caught some great fish lately, between three to four pound, so don’t forget to try the “reg dam” if you’re up that way. Baits on the bottom or under a bubble always work well there and fly fishing can be great too, particularly if you happen to strike a bit of a hatch.
Lures seem to be doing the damage at the moment though. Murray cod seem to be firing just about everywhere at the minute too.
I’ve still got a couple of spots left for a barramundi fishing trip to the Northern Territory in May, so give us a ring at the Compleat Angler if you’re interested.