Yep, that’s right, three weeks to go and the first of December is on a Saturday this year –  meaning just about anyone who likes to hold a fishing rod has a decent chance to be on the water on opening day this year.

It might be worth setting up a barbecue and coffee machine at some of the major ramps, I’d reckon.

I might think about setting my boat up as a mobile tackle store and wander up and down, selling bait and lures to anyone that’s running short.

There’ll certainly be a few people about, but the way things are shaping up I’m also sure there won’t be a shortage of cod to be caught either.

Anyhow, more up to date reports as we get closer.

One event that is getting very close is the TBS Marine Dartmouth Ladies Fishing Classic.

It’s running on Friday and Saturday, November 16 and 17. And the way the fishing’s been at Dart the last month or two, it’s shaping up to be one of the most successful comps yet.

This is always a great comp, with the emphasis on having a good time as well as catching a fish or two.

There’s a big mob of prizes again and it’s as simple as jumping online to enter, so why not wander up and enjoy the atmosphere, beautiful countryside, the company and the fishing.

Dartmouth (79 per cent) – is still firing on both mudeyes and gudgeons under a bubble or on the troll.

Flatlining is still a viable option, but once this cooler spell subsides I’d reckon it’ll be time to head deep.

There’s already quite a few being caught at depths of around the 10m mark anyway, but as soon as the real warm stuff hits those sorts of depths become the norm.

Streams – might have settled a bit from the midweek rain but will probably still be a tad high. Though, the higher you go up those creeks, the better condition the stream should be in. Most are fishing pretty well using all methods.

My two young blokes Ben and Sam went up the mountains last weekend and managed about 15 on a mix of fly, drifting baits and flicking a few lures. Unfortunately, Sam’s mate Snoop didn’t catch a thing. Oh well, that’s fishing Snoop.

Hume (46 per cent) – had been going the best that it had for a long while before this cool spell. 

Everyone’s hoping that with a few warm days, it will pick up again.

Reddies weren’t around in big numbers, but there were a few nice ones being trolled along with some better numbers of yellas and the odd bycatch of cod.

The Murray – downstream of Albury is very high, but some good yellas are showing up on small to medium-sized hard bodies. 

There’s some trout being angled on the gravel bars as well.

Lake Mulwala – has been going OK up the top end for yellas on small hard bodies.

Quite a few cod are being caught as bycatch as well, so things are shaping up great for cod opening.

The Upper Murray – looks fantastic, and with predictions that it will be low for most of the summer, it should be another great year for a cod or two up there as well.

Khancoban – is pretty reasonable at the moment, by the looks of a few photos I’ve seen recently.

There were some decent fish among them, with a mix from both lake and the Swampy.

Blowering (54 per cent) – has been OK without being brilliant, with a little bit of everything coming in but not big numbers of anything.

Burrinjuck – is fishing well. Quite a few yellas are being caught on the slow-rolling black grubs technique, as well as on the troll and cast.

Again, there’s been a few cod as bycatch and, again, good signs for cod opening in three weeks’ time.

The Snowy Lakes – have all risen slightly this week and all are fishing well at the moment.

Jindabyne had been slow over the past few weeks compared to Eucumbene and Tantangara, but picked up with trolling that little deeper being very successful.

Flatline trolling, spinning the banks and bait from the banks are all working well on all lakes.