G’day fishos. What a crap time of the year it is.
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I’ve been wracking my brain all week trying to come up with something interesting to talk to you all about, and I’m starting to think that this being a bad time of the year could be our topic.
See, you and I could argue that there’s bugger-all reddies biting in Lake Hume at the moment, and I don’t think we’d find too many opponents.
If we discussed the number of trout being caught in Hume, I reckon we’d easily agree they’re pretty ordinary.
But we’d also have to agree that some are being caught – not a lot, but just enough to keep a few fishos interested.
That’s exactly what we’ve been saying in our reports for the last month or so, but it’s Lake Hume.
And if you’ve fished out there over a decade or two, it’s common knowledge that it’s a pretty exceptional year if they get on the chew much earlier than mid-August – more likely to be September in reality.
Actually, there is some good news: Mulwala’s on the rise, and you have no trouble getting in at the yacht club at the moment.
You may even be able to get in at other ramps.
Hold on though, because Victoria’s trout opening is only six weeks away.
Cod are on the chew in quite a few of the NSW lakes including Wyangla and Blowering.
Just ask Nathan Hays and Jack Kimpton.
They caught a 99cm, a 102cm and a ripper 125cm last weekend.
Truth is, there’s always a fish biting somewhere if you’re brave enough to get out in the elements and maybe rethink your tactics a little.
At A Glance
Dartmouth – has become a bit patchy. Heard of a few caught, but also heard of a few clean sheets up there this week.
The trusty old fenders and worms worked OK for a couple of crews though.
So, it might be worth carting up there if you’re planning a trip.
Lake Hume – same old story, lots of fishos putting in the hours with only a few gaining a result.
With the amount of customers coming through the doors at Compleat Angler and other fishos we speak to, I reckon it’d be about one boat in 20 that’s landing a trout.
With those sort of numbers, you obviously can’t point the finger at one lure and say that’s the one you should be using.
On the plus side, most fish caught are of a reasonable size, with 69cm being the biggest I’ve heard of so far.
The odd reddie being caught too, but, again, very slow.
I suppose angling the odd yella off the bank up the Murray arm of the lake won’t be out of the question shortly with those slightly longer, warmer days getting closer all the time.
Lake Mulwala – is now accessible to larger boats. There was no problem getting in at the yacht club mid/late this week, and I’d say more access would be open by today.
The fishing’s been pretty good too with reasonable numbers of solid fish being caught, mainly on lures.
Trolling small to medium hard bodies is working well, with one Wodonga fisho picking up eight in a session.
Most were too small, but he landed two legals.
He said he’d spoken to another bloke who’d landed a 1.300mm monster, a couple of crews with a few and another couple of boats who were yet to catch a thing. So I suppose that just goes to show you that there’s never any guarantees.
The Murray – is up a bit, so it could be worth a crack while it lasts for both a cray and a cod.
Eucumbene and Jindabyne – are both going OK, and fishing from the bank is the best method in both we’ve heard.
Power Bait is the pick of the baits and is going well in Tantangara as well if you’re keen enough to head in there, with only the “wall” road being open.
There’s a few trout being trolled up, mostly on big minnows in the 90-130mm range early, then on Tassies and lures that travel that bit deeper during the day like Jackall Mask Vibes and Transams.
Power Bait’s the pick in most of the high country lakes, though.