G’day fishos. There’s a couple of big decisions to be made over the next few days. What present do I get my significant other and where am I going to fish over the Chrissy break? Not necessarily written in order of importance.
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Well, I can hopefully help you with one of those questions if you keep on reading. Hold on, I can probably help with the other question too if they’re a fisho.
Anyhow, where to go?
If you’re into the trout scene the options are a little better than they have been for the past couple of years, as the streams are producing a few fish.
I think any stream you care to mention is fishing better this year. Let’s face it, they didn’t have to improve a hell of a lot and it adds hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometres of great waterways and heaps of spectacular camping areas for you to choose from.
We’ve had word the Mitta will be running high until at least the end of the first week in January. Not sure if that changes anyone’s plans but there it is.
There’s lots of hoppers getting about in most areas now and they’re always great bait and fun to catch, depending on your age.
Very hard to find a better trout bait until the black crickets kick into gear, so I believe streams could be a great option.
The trout lakes are still producing fish but it’s pretty normal at this time of year to have to get down to the fish.
You’re virtually wasting your time trolling during the day unless you have a downrigger or paravane to get those lures down.
You might pick up the odd fish really early or late but if you’re going to troll during the day you’ve really got to get down deep . Another alternative is to drop a mudeye or scrubbie down unweighted in a bit of timber. Mudeyes might need a split shot but either way just let the bait fall to the bottom, lift it 300mm or so and angle as if you were chasing reddies in Lake Hume.
Talking reddies, they continue to pick up and we’re hearing more stories all the time.
Small yabbies or worms or casting metal vibes and plastics seems to be the most successful way of picking them up, with the 10 metre mark pretty popular. A lot of fishos are either trolling or keeping an eye on the birds to locate them.
Cod fishos are spoiled for choice. It doesn’t seem to matter where you’re talking about, someone’s pulled a cod out of that area. Lake Buffalo’s a bit of a cod fishery these days too.
Talking to a couple of other Compleat Angler stores up and down the coast they all seem pretty positive about fishing prospects for everyone over Christmas. Both estuaries and fishing outside is pretty good and there’s no real reason for it to slow down.
Have a great Christmas wherever you’re heading.
