Looking back at the fishing year that was

New Year's Eve is next and luckily we've got a day to get over the festivities - or go fishing.

It's at this time of year we look back at the year that was, and forward to what fish we might be lucky enough to hook into over the next 12 months.

On the redfin scene, I know a few fishos that did OK but you'd have to say the last 12 months was a bit of a disaster for most. Our two main redfin destinations, Hume and Blowering, were just not producing well at all.

Hume seems to be on the improve, with enough reports of reasonable bags already to give some hope for the coming months.

Blowering, on the other hand, hasn't done anything of late, so all we can do is hope on that front.

Trout have been pretty good, generally speaking.

The Snowy Lakes fished pretty well in general during the spring months. Hume produced some great fish but numbers weren't great, while Dartmouth was pretty consistent this year.

Streams were pretty good right through and continue to fish well at the minute.

The yellas were much better in Hume this year and continue to bite well in the Murray around Albury. It's just that most fishos hitting the river are using cheese or chicken, virtually eliminating their chances of catching one. Drop a yabbie or worm on a hook and your chances improve 100 per cent.

The cod scene has been pretty fantastic everywhere. All lakes, all rivers and all streams have been producing good numbers and, thankfully, that doesn't look like changing any time soon.

We have to weigh all that optimism up with the fact that it's already extremely dry everywhere.

The first to feel it will be the smaller streams, which are already at mid to late summer levels.

I honestly fear for the survival of a lot of the aquatic life in all those streams, given the fact that predictions for rain aren't great.

Trout are the most vulnerable of all the species we've mentioned. While I'm sure those fish in the big rivers and lakes might go OK, it's hard to see how fish in those smaller streams will survive this year unless we get a drop of rain or two. Here's hoping!

Dartmouth (52 per cent) - is the go-to place if you want a feed of yabbies.

There's plenty up that way at the moment, but don't forget that there is a daily bag limit of 150 whole or tailed yabbies per person at Dart. You're allowed 400 in total if you've been there for three days or more, so don't get caught overdoing it.

Trout have generally been caught deep, as you'd expect.

Mulwala - has been patchy, but Guy Webb managed a 104cm on a "Percy the Perch" early in the week, and there's been a few big ones being posted up on social media.

Blowering (40.1 per cent) - has been pretty hard work for cod lure fishos of late, but bait fishos have been going OK. Yabbies, cheese or chicken from the bank seems to be the go.

Unfortunately, we haven't heard any great reports on the reddies or yellas up that way.

The Snowy Lakes - are dropping fractionally, but there's still a few being caught on the troll or flicking spoons from the bank.

Streams are still fishing pretty well and will continue to do so while they hold reasonable water.

Most are running much lower than normal for this time of year, so let's hope we get a drop of rain.

Lake Hume (28 per cent) - has been great for some but tough for most.

There's plenty of small reddies about along with an odd yella or cod, but it's certainly not been consistent. We're getting some great stories of a dozen to 15 reddies over 300mm to over 400mm, but they're the exception rather than the rule.

Neil Wood fished the Ludlows area a week ago and only landed one redfin - but it was 53cm. I suppose if you're only going to catch one, it might as well be a monster.

The Murray - above and below Hume has been pretty consistent. There's been reports of decent cod on bait and lure from both areas, and lots of reports of good yellas around and below Albury. The yellas have been caught on lures, but yabbies or worms seem to be the best way to nail one at the minute.