G'day, fishos. Only nine sleeps to go until the biggest event on most freshwater fishos calendars, cod opening.
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Unfortunately, December 1 falls on a Tuesday this year, meaning a lot of working fishos will miss out on the actual opening day.
However, you'll definitely see an increase in the numbers of boats behind cars leading up to the weekend.
Just about every fisho will be wanting to hit the scoreboard on what a lot see as the most important weekend of the year.
All serious fishos see this event as more important than their partner's birthday but would never admit it, particularly, to their partner!
Things are shaping up well too, with a hell of a lot more water about this year than last in most cases.
Smaller waters such as the Kiewa, Ovens and similar size streams were low and hard to get about on last season, but it will be a "different kettle of fish" this opening (boom boom tish).
The Murray, both above and below Hume, should fish well, although anywhere from Jingellic down is still struggling after the fish kills from the bushfires and the subsequent black water event.
It is interesting to note though, there have been a few cod caught below Jingellic in the past month or three. So, we're all hoping a combination of the restocking that's been promised from both NSW and Vic fisheries, and a few cod moving up or down into that area, will help minimise the impact on that section of water a little faster than first thought.
There's still a bit of an issue with the upper Murray running a bit dirty too. Every time we get a drop of rain the river turns a real clay colour.
The fires wiped out all vegetation completely in some areas and the colour of the water seems to be from the run-off of some of the barren, exposed country still left, I suppose, and I'm not sure anyone knows how long it will take to get back to normal.
At the time of writing, there looks like there could be a little dirty weather this weekend and then pretty good for quite a while, so, hopefully, most streams and rivers will be clear as most fishos hit their favourite possies.
Lake Hume: at 78 per cent, has really started to crank up on the redfin scene, as long as you're not too fussy about size.
There are heaps of reports of reasonable numbers but being realistic, lots are fairly small.
In saying that, I've found a redfin of 200mm (8") produces a nice, tasty little fillet and there seems to be a lot of fish about in that size.
I know that's not a big fish but you've gotta get real, the bags of reddies over 300 mm we used to all catch consistently haven't been about for a long time.
Sure, you hear of the odd, good bag but consistently catching reddies of that size isn't easy these days.
If you want a feed you've just gotta do, what you've gotta do.
That's just reality.
There's quite a few on the chew now, so it's a good time to be on the water.
Bait, trolling, jagging or flicking, it doesn't seem to matter once you've found them and there's still the odd yella coming in as well, despite the lake dropping close to two per cent this week.
Dartmouth (61.14 per cent): Fished well for most again this week but getting your lures down a tad is becoming a must.
Lead line is working a treat for most fishos but there's been a fair bit of success on the old paravanes and downriggers too.
Wiggy's and other winged cobra style lures are nearly always the "go to" for most fishos and why not, they more often than not catch fish but those smaller minnows such as Rapalas, Bullets and Slim Minnows have been doing ok too.
The Murray: Below Albury should be easy for you to navigate now as it's up a tad more.
The yellas have appreciated the rise and are chewing away reasonably well and they tell me there's a few cod coming in as bycatch too. All looks good for next week.
Blowering (90.3 per cent): Has been reasonable again, with a few on the troll and a few off the bank. There's a couple of yellas and a few reddies about but nothing's setting the world on fire up there.
Streams: Have been great for most. Floating baits, spinning and fly have all been good of late.
There's been some really nice fish caught from the Mitta, with a couple around the old 7 lb mark.
Tumut River: Has fished well of late, with some really nice trout on bait, lure and fly.
The trick with the Tumut is to strike it at the right height and varying river levels can make it difficult.
Have you been out on the water?
Send your fishing pictures, with details of your catch, to 0475 953 605.