Trellys Fishing Report
Corio Bay
Snapper have been on the mind of most anglers again this week with reports being a bit slower this week but will have lots to do with the poor weather we have been dealt. However snapper are known to turn on the chew hard in stormy conditions so if you can brave the elements its well worth heading our for a crack
Barwon River
The Barwon River has had some fantastic carp fishing this past week with the rain we have received with anglers getting amongst the action for some hot sessions. Adam Van Der Lugt got amongst it during the week landing plenty of fish and at an impressive size too.
Goulburn River
The wait is finally over and it’s the start of another cod season and we feel the Goulburn may just be one of the regions hot spots this season. There has been a couple of early reports from those who were on the water first thing come December 1 with some legal cod caught off the top in the dark and right on day light. The Bassman Aussie Crawler was the top water lure of choice, this lure has a good presence in the water and you don’t need a super heavy rod to cast them. Lures with presence will be the key while the river is still a little dirty so throwing some bigger lures or even upgraded your spinnerbait blade size may just be the difference until the water clears up. It’s not just about cod in the Goulburn with some nice Yellowbelly fishing reported especially with the storm activity this past week. A couple of regulars reported Yellowbelly up to 45cm a being caught out towards Murchison with scrub worms being the stand out baits.Those fishing in Shepparton have been catching Yellowbelly on shrimp and bobbing small yabbies around the larger snags between the junction and the shepp boat ramp.
Broken River
The banks of the broken will be alive with keen fisho’s now we can target cod. The Broken has been such a great river to fish to water and it’s arguably the best way to target cod. Smaller top water lures such as the Jackal Pompadour’s have worked well in recent seasons with soft plastic frogs now becoming very popular as they give you the ability to skip the lures deep into cover where the cod await to ambush. Casting small Spinnerbaits and square bill divers have been great Yellowbelly lures recently but they will also double as great cod lures. Both weirs, nalinga, broken river drive and also down stream of Benalla lake will all be worth a shot this cod opening week with all above areas fishing well this spring so hopefully the cod are as active as the Yellowbelly. The best baits in the past have been Bardi Grubs chicken and cheese.
Lake Mulwala
It’s on again the Cod Classic, the annual pilgrimage that so many make in the hunt for a monster cod. We have a couple of lure and bait choices that may just help you land a cod opening weekend fish even if you're only heading to the lake for a social fish. Already we have had a couple of December 1 reports come back with some cracking fishing had especially early in the morning with one report of 8 cod caught in a 2-hour period. When it comes to top water baits, we would be throwing The Bassman Wake Walker, Balista Tremors and the trusty Pompadour. As the sun comes up you need to go a bit deeper so casting shallower diving lures or Spinnerbaits would be a great way to fish. If you’re targeting fish with live sonar, we suggest using your favourite swimbait or weedless rigged soft plastics. It’s not just lure fishing that does well in Lake Mulwala with some monster fish caught in previous seasons off the bank on bait. Large yabbies, Chicken, cheese and Bardi grubs are all great options for bait fishing with both foreshores' great options. If you’re looking to change things up and chase some Yellowbelly then target either the willow trees with smaller soft plastic or blades. Other areas that have been producing Yellowbelly have been the car bridge and Mulwala channel with Brown Dog TN60 jackals working best.
Kialla Lakes
Yes, its cod opening week but it’s prime Yellowbelly time at Kialla Lakes and the rain earlier in the week has come at the right time. The water has risen slightly after the rain which has made the Yellowbelly and Redfin very active shallow. The fish haven’t been huge but it hasn’t been uncommon to catch 3/4 fish in a hours fishing on an edge. Bent minnows have worked well in low light times when the fish are more confident to hit a sun surface lure. When the suns out small spinners and jackals have worked best. Black football jigs with a gulp trailer slowly dragged along the rocky banks has also been a great way to fish this week. There is plenty of smaller fish biting the jigs so don’t be upset if you try to set the hook and nothing sticks because when a bigger fish bites, they eat it good. If you’re new to jig fishing a great way to understand what you’re trying to do is to just cast your jig on the front lawn and slowly drag it or shake your rod to make it look like a yabby. You don’t need to move the jig very far or fast just keep connection with the bottom and always imagine it’s a yabby.