Pandemic is slowing Border anglers

With camping now banned and all grounds and caravan parks closed until further notice, we are stuck with just going out for day trips here and there.

This still allows a fair amount of water for fishos to fulfil their obsession and be satisfied. You just need to be mindful of other anglers and maintain social distance. The effect of the pandemic has certainly slowed down a lot of anglers.

Lake Hume hasn't moved out of first gear this week and is continuing to fall to new lows.

Some redfin are being taken around Ludlows or Ebden, but this is mainly due to luck, persistence and patience.

Yabbies or worms, with a small plastic yabbie above on a paternoster rig, is easily the simplest and most-effective way to get amongst them.

Tossing out a blade or small hard body should also work fairly well, as from the reports I have heard the bigger fish have been pushing the smaller fry up to the surface so they can be easily gulped down.

I mentioned some weeks ago to look for birds working the surface as this would be a fair indication of some fishy going-ons. It is still worthwhile to look for them now.

Dartmouth is probably no longer an option, unless you leave before the sparrows get up and head back home when the possums get up.

Some locals have caught the odd one or two around the 25-feet mark on Wigstons, so it may be better to check out the pondage.

All the creeks are well worth the effort, as any self-respecting trout would find it difficult to pass up a good worm or two or perhaps a grasshopper.

Speaking of hoppers, a few anglers who delve into the subtle art of feathers and fur have being doing OK on grasshopper patterns and towards dusk using small red or orange spinners.

The Mitta and Kiewa rivers are fishing OK, you just have to work through the many smaller fish that seem to be overly abundant up there at the moment.

Fly fishos are again doing OK particularly dawn and dusk, small minnow style hardbodies and Vibraxes are also getting the desired reaction at times.

The Bidgee is a bit lower and quite discoloured, making it difficult to fish with any method other than bait.

That hasn't been that good at any rate, as one group of anglers only landed about 30-odd fish over the last weekend with no keepers.

The Murray River around Albury and down to Corowa is reasonable without being too exciting.

Chickens hit and cheese are working the best on the cod, and there's been reports of the odd trout on worms as well.

Mulwala has been much the same - a few fish here and there mainly on the troll.

We are still hearing of the odd fish coming off the top, though.

Rod (Wagga Compleat Angler), Steve (Custom Crafted Lures) and Maso have been on the South Coast in search of the fishing Mecca.

From all reports, Rod and Maso have excelled at catching a wide range of quality fish including flatties, sole and bream while the intrepid luremaker has been making a name for himself catching toadies.

No doubt we will hear all about that next week.