Fishing is on the up at Lake Hume

If you're reading this column, I'd suspect you're into fishing, so I hope he brought you something fishy too.

Today was predicted to be just about perfect for fishing, so let's hope you get a chance to get out - particularly since the fish are biting so well everywhere.

Let's have a look around the traps.

Dartmouth (62 per cent) - has been sensational virtually all year, and if you fish deep at this time of year there's no reason you shouldn't keep catching them.

Paravanes and downriggers are the weapons of choice for most when the weather gets warmer. They've definitely been working of late, particularly when used in conjunction with Tassies or small minnows.

The other drawcards to Dartmouth at this time of year are yabbies and Macquarie perch.

We haven't heard of many yabbies at this point in time unfortunately, and this time last year they were going gangbusters. Maybe it's the rising lake - this time last year it was low and falling.

The other drawcard likes the higher water, and the season opens for maccas at midnight Thursday.

That's right, New Year's Day is when the season opens. Not many people go to the trouble of chasing them these days, as a bag limit of one fish puts most fishos off.

But the odd diehard still makes the effort.

If you want to have a go at them while you're up there, concentrate your efforts at either end of the day. Use worms in anywhere from 2-10 metres and target rocky areas. They'll also take a lure.

Streams - have been great. The cooler weather and odd drop of rain we've been getting have also helped keep them freshened up.

That cooler weather has also slowed the hopper hatch down a bit and they're only really just starting to show up in any numbers.

Hoppers form a big part of most stream trouts' diet from here on in, so they're hard to beat as a bait.

Streams should fish really well over the Christmas/New Year period and would be well worth a visit if you get half a chance.

Blowering (88.5 per cent) - I'm happy to say, it's also improved greatly on the redfin scene.

Use the same techniques as described above and you should be on the money.

There's also a few cod showing up, so it could be well worth a visit.

Cod fishing across the board is pretty bloody good too.

The Upper Murray, Mitta, Kiewa, Ovens, Murray below Albury and Mulwala are all producing fish using all methods, so now's the time to try cod fishing if you haven't caught one yet.

Again, all methods seem to be producing fish so get out there and toss a lure about or troll it, soak a bit of "Chicken's Hit" or whatever and your in with a decent chance.

NSW Fisheries, with the help of local angling clubs, are hoping to make things even better with 10,000 cod released into different sections of water in the Upper Murray Region on Wednesday - which is great to see!

The snowy lakes are also producing a few trout and are also worth a crack.

I can't remember how long it's been since I've had such an easy report to write, the fish just seem to be going everywhere.

The level at Lake Hume (67.8 per cent) - might be dropping (another 2 per cent this week), but the reddies seem to be loving it.

The fishing keeps improving every week, it seems.

And this week, there were heaps of fishos that got onto lots of reddies.

I'm so happy to be able to say that.

All techniques seem to be working, but blades/vibes with a plastic above has definitely been a winner - whether you're off the bank or out of a boat.

If you are a land-based fisho, the prime time to spin for those reddies is in the first or last couple of hours of daylight.

You'll still pick fish up during the day, but early and late is certainly best.

There's also plenty of birds working at the moment and they're not out there for the fruit picking.

They know where the fish are, so chase those birds!

Bait around the trees or drifting is also working. It's just a matter of finding those fish.