The next thing kids will be looking forward to are school holidays, particularly those south of the Murray.

Why would those Victorian kids be looking forward to holidays more than NSW kids, I hear you ask?

It’s because somebody had this bloody brilliant idea a few years back – that kids should be off their computers, off their bums, getting outside sucking up some fresh air and enjoying themselves. 

That’s all good, but how do you make that happen?

Someone else came up with the even better idea to throw catchable, keepable size trout in just about every decent size puddle within town limits, or within easy reach of towns right throughout Victoria!

This has to be the best idea since the invention of beer, and a lot better than the decision to get Meatloaf to sing at the AFL grand final.

The Vic government got on board and it’s been a raging success ever since – with only one problem.

Quite a few “old kids” have been keeping their ears to the ground and ripping into those fish as soon as they’re released.

Come on, give the kids a chance to have a bit of fun.

If you see adults out there during school holidays ripping them out, please have a crack at them. 

I hate rules and regulations. 

But maybe an upper age limit of, say, 16 should be applied to those stocked waterways during school holidays.

Dartmouth (88.5 per cent) – would have been pretty tough going last weekend, you’d reckon, and lack of reports reflect that. 

Although the weather was great during the week, we still didn’t hear from anyone.

Lake Hume (41 per cent) – hasn’t really fired up yet. I’ve spoken to quite a few that have ventured out for bugger all, but you still hear of one here and there that has picked something up. 

The odds of getting a feed aren’t that great, but you’re not gonna catch one while you’re sitting in front of the telly I suppose.

Mulwala (0 per cent) – is fishing well for those that can get in. 

I had one young bloke telling me he and a mate had picked up a 103cm and three in the high 90s, along with some smaller ones, in a couple of trips down there.

So, it sounds like it could be worth the effort if you’ve got something light enough to get in.

Murray below Albury – is producing the odd trout, yella and cod. 

Rhys Wilson nailed a ripper 52cm rainbow trout in the river on a jackal Doozer while targeting yellas and cod during the week. 

I’m assuming it was in the river – Rhys isn’t giving too much away. 

A Doozer is a large bibles vibe and wouldn’t normally be used to target trout.

Obviously nobody told this monster rainbow that.  If it’s crays you’re after, though, there’s plenty about.

Khancoban – wasn’t too bad last weekend, with one crew from Melbourne picking up about 20 trout.

The majority of these were caught on mudeyes fished under a bubble, with a couple of good fish among them, so it looks like it could be worth a visit.

The Bidgee – continues to produce great cod fishing on lure and bait, as well as a few crays.

Blowering (64 per cent) – has been hard work for those keen enough to be giving it a crack.

Reports of one big bugger here and there are keeping everyone on alert.

One of our Compleat Angler reps from Sydney came down to fish Blowering on the weekend and managed two on surface lures early Sunday morning.

One went 60cm and the other a healthy 108cm.

There’s also a few nice trout being trolled in the shallows of the top end of the lake.

Murray above Lake Hume – is up and down a bit, but a few cod are showing up.

Bait fishos seem to be doing best with the water temps down a bit.