FRESHWATER Report – 02.09.2024
Spring is here, however, the weather was horrendous last week with gale-force winds and a cold winter chill. As I cautoned in last week’s report please be very careful when planning your fishing trips. Monday the 2nd of September has winds up to 100 k/ph in some regions around Melbourne and Victoria, so don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger.
Important announcements this week.
- Murray Cod season closure started this week. All details are below for you in the Murray Cod report.
- Metro Stonker Trout has started. All details are below for you in the Trout report.
All the rage this week is METRO STONKERS. With 17 family fishing friendly lakes stocked with 1000 huge rainbow trout. Read below for more details. From here we can expect better fishing and more pleasant conditions ahead. The yellowbelly are back on the bite in Rocklands Reservoir and Melton Reservoir, Big reddies in Lake Hume and Tullaroop and some huge Murray Cod were caught this past week at Lake Eildon, most caught in the dark or that magical first hour of daylight. It can be cold and challenging but the rewards are so high. This time of year is when I like to target big redfin. You won’t catch them in big volumes but it is when you catch those isolated trophy-size fish. This week I plan to visit Tolondo, Tullaroop and time permitting head up to the Grampians regions and fish Fyans, Wartook and Lonsdale. Last week I had a great session at Pykes Creek catching 5 brown trout trolling tassie devils in whites and greens, really healthy fish too.
Let’s detail much of this in our report below.
Weather Forecast Ahead
It will be another frustrating weather week ahead with very strong winds on Monday and Wednesday, from there scattered showers will settle in for the rest of the week. With heavy showers predicted on Friday and light showers over the weekend. The good news is the weekend ahead looks to have light winds and low volumes of rain. It’s been a frustrating 2-3 weeks of weather so let’s hope we get some better weather in the coming weeks. Do be careful if you plan to hit the water study met eye and always avoid going out if it’s unsafe, this week will have some days better suited to land-based fishing.
Weather conditions are always changing so study the weather forecast frequently before your fishing trip using tools like Meteye, Willys Weather & Windy ( links to these tools can be found in “helpful Links” ). Remember to check wind strength, wind direction, rain, and storm warnings. We have workshop refreshers that help you identify areas with low swell based on wind direction, so look at those if you’re unsure. Know the capability of your boat, kayak or jetski and never take unnecessary risks that might put you or your passengers in danger. Conditions on the water can change quickly so ensure you have all of the necessary safety equipment checked and ready. Remember to be sun smart during Summer as it’s easy to get sunburnt or dehydrated and to wear appropriate clothing in cold and wet conditions.
Moon Phase week ahead
The new moon is scheduled for Tuesday 3rd of September so we have good tides ahead this week. The wind will make fishing challenging this week,
TROUT REPORT
The METRO STONKERS are here !! For those who don’t know these are giant rainbow trout ( ex brood stock ) that have been put into family-friendly fishing lakes around Metro Melbourne. Here are the location details you need to know.
My favourite way of catching stonkers is fishing with lures. My go-to lures are pressed metal spoons like old wobblers, nories wasaby and Pontoon 21 paco spoon. They cast a mile and you simply do a constant slow roll. Tassie Devils also work great as do mid/shallow diving hard body lures. I have caught most in bright silver and gold colours and have caught heaps in the 75mm double clutch in gold/black. Soft plastics such as 2.5 inch paddle tails in bloodworm, chartreuse and black/gold also work great. And of course, bait fishing with powerbait, scrub worms and maggots also works fantastic. ideally from a very light running sinker rig or float. You can also throw out trout pellets in the immediate area if your bait fishing. There are several workshops on Stonkeirs, trout lures and trout baits in our workshop area if you need a refresher.
Now you need to be quick as once catches start going live on social media they get fished out pretty quickly. So get amongst it as it’s great fun.
For stocked rainbow trout I find it’s best to catch them with small shallow diving hard-body lures like the Rapala Countdown series, ecogear mx48s, bullet lures, Daiwa Pressos, small jointed minnows, spinners or small spoons. And you certainly can’t go wrong with some powerbait balls or nuggets, live maggots and live scrub worms on a very lightly weighted running sinker rig or suspended from a float. Trout is a seasonal fish that thrives in the colder climate and were already we are seeing nice catches in areas including Pykes Creek, Moorabool Reservoir, Lake Wendouree and Wurdibuloc Reservoir. You can catch trout with baits, lures and soft plastics with standout baits being maggots, mudeye and scrub worms on a float or light running sinker rig. For lures tassie devils are always a great option so are shallow diving hard body lures like 75 and 90mm double clutches, surface lures like osp bent minnows, long casting spoons like pontoon 21 paco spoons and nories wasaby spoons and even soft plastics. I caught some great stocked trout using a Zman St grub in bloodworm colour. Im working closely with the VFA on upcoming stocking programs and seasons and I will share more information on this once things have been finalised, however, the volume of stocking is at record numbers so we will have an exciting winter ahead chasing these magnificent fish.
- Stocked lakes above for this school holidays
- Wurdibuloc Reservoir
- Goulburn River ( closed season next week )
- Lake Eildon
- Moorabool Reservoir
- Pykes Creek
- Hepburn Lagoon
- Coliban Reservoir
- Lake Fyans
- Lauriston Reservoir
- Lake Wendouree
MURRAY COD REPORT ( closed Season 1 September to 30 November )
Murray Cod closed season starts on 1 September and finishes on 30th November inclusive. Please note the closed season does not apply to Lake Eildon, Arcadia Pondage, Waters south of the Great Dividing Range, except the Yarra River, Waters of the Wimmera and Millicent basins ( except the Wimmera River ), Lake Eppalock, Cairn Curran Reservoir and Lake Nillahcootie
Amazing Murray Cod caught this past week at Lake Eildon. In Winter you won’t catch Murray Cod in massive volumes but it’s when you catch those big trophy-size ones. In the cooler climates, these big fish are very active and will often reside in very shallow waters making them very accessible and most commonly caught in the evening, last light and into the night. You can target these big elusive fish at Lake Eildon off the Goulburn River arm, Big River arm, Goughs Bay, Delatitie arm, Jerusalem creek and opposite the dam Wall. Also at Yarrawonga, Lake Eppalock, Lake Mulwala and the Murray River. You can still target the smaller models ranging from 50cm to 70cm in areas including Melton Reservoir, Cairn Curran and the lakes mentioned already.
The volume of cod lures to choose from is exceptional and it can be an expensive game. These days the variety of spinnerbaits, large soft plastics, swimbaits, vibes, chatterbaits, surface lures and so on is almost overwhelming. Making the right choice depends on the system you’re fishing, the depth of tidal flow, the structure, and the size of the cod you’re targeting. For example, if you are targeting the smaller models then smaller spinnerbaits and even the humble stump jumpers in 55mm and 70mm a simple and affordable options that work well. I spent a lot of time last week fishing in a decked-out boat fitted with a few big screens and active target 2. It was fascinating to see these big freshwater fish swimming among the snags in real-time. Then watch in real-time as you tempt them out to smash a big lure or plastic. It’s truly fascinating technology. Another very successful technique was Trolling mid-diving hard body lures or flicking plastics along the banks accounting for many fish and in good numbers.
It can also be a tricky task choosing the right rod and reel combo for Murray Cod. As mentioned before again much of this will depend on what lure you’re casting, its weight aswell as the system you’re fishing, the depth tidal flow, structure and the size of the cod you’re targeting. If I’m targeting the smaller models then you can fish with a light baitcast or even spin rod but if you’re after those big metery cod then a much heavier baitcast combo will be essential to cast those big heavy lures and to catch those massive Murray cod.
Hot spots that are fishing well include
- Lake Eildon
- Lake Eppaloc
- Cairn Curran
REDFIN REPORT
Winter is the best time of year to catch those massive trophy-size reddies. You won’t get them in big volumes like you do in the warmer months but those big isolated reddies are active. Last year in winter I managed 5 redfin between 45 and 50cm so if you’re willing to put on some hours there can be some genuine rewards. Lake Hume, Stoney Creek, Barwon River, WurdiBuloc, Lake Wendouree, and Pykes Creek have been fishing well using soft plastics.
I generally prefer brightly coloured 3-inch curl tails rigged on a 1/8 jig head with an integrated jig spinner. You are getting the best of both worlds here, the curtail action of the soft plastic, the brightness for high vis which encourages a reaction strike, and the flash of a spinner. I fished an evening on the upper reaches of the Werribee River last week and caught 12 redfin with 3 over 40cms. My go-to plastic is the Strike Tiger 3-inch curtail in banana shock and vodka orange, however, trust me when I say that reddies are not fussy and will happily take soft plastics and lures of different colors and sizes. The old stump jumpers are another great cheap lure that works well and to my surprise this week they will happily smash a Daiwa slippery dog worked on the surface. But this time of year don’t be afraid to throw big soft plastics, spinnerbaits and chatter baits as it’s time to target the big ones. For baits, you can go past the humble scrub worm or yabbie on a running sinker rig. We did some vids on that rig this week to show you found in rigs and tips. I’ve targeting these fish ever since I was young and that’s always been my favorite bite window for them. Now the redfin are fishing well far and wide, whether you land base on a boat or kayak there are genuinely so many options. This past week I have fished Lake Fyans ( what a magical place with huge reddies), the Upper reaches of Werribee River, Stoney Creek, and Melton Res.
One area that is notorious for big redfin this time of year is around the Grampians. In particular Lake Fyans and Lake Lonsdale. I had a few fishing mates fish Lonsdale this past week and managed to land many redfin and 2 up to 50cm which is incredible. In the area, you also have very productive grounds including Lake Bellfield, Wartook Reservoir, and Moora Moora Reservoir. If you are after a trophy-size redfin then these are the locations you want to put on your to-do list. I like to start chasing redfin with big bright soft plastics rigged with a jig spinner or jig head with an integrated spinner. I think it just helps to add color, movement, and vibration that play on the predatory behaviour of these redfins. But don’t be afraid to mix things up as redfin are not fussy. I’ll likely throw 3-inch plastics in bright colours, spoons, spinners, vibes, and blades. During the colder months, I like to work plastics and lures even slower than normal. Giving the fish a chance to explore the lure and commit. You can also add some scent if things are very quiet.
Hot spots that are fishing well include
- Lake Hume
- Stoney Creek Reservoir
- Lake Fyans
- Lake Wendouree
- Lake Purrumbette
- Barwon River
- Devilbend Reservoir
- Pykes Creek
- Lake Eppalcok
- Wombat Dam
- Melton Reservoir
- WurdiBulor Reservoir
- Sugarloaf Reservoir
- Bostock Reservoir
- Lake Daylesford
- Lake Elingamite
YELLOWBELLY REPORT ( Golden Perch )
As reported above it is too cold to catch yellowbelly with any consistency right now however ts been pleasing to see a few landed in areas like Melton Reservoir and Lake Hume. Trolling shallow and mid-divers seems to be the way to go, but be prepared to put many unrewarded hours on them right now as the water temperatures are still very cold. Yellowbelly will fish really well as we get close to Spring.
Yellowbelly is best targeted in tight structures so look for submerged trees coming out of the water and in deeper water situations vertical jig soft plastics and lures right beside it. My go-to lure and plastics choices for this type of fishing are Berkley grub minnows in black, Zman minnows in black and gold, Munroe 2.75 inch paddle tail in glass monkey, spinnerbaits, Jackall TN50s, vibes, and blades. Work them slowly and as close to the structure as possible as Yellowbelly will often school up here. You can also troll the hugging structure without getting too close to it. Just going at a medium pace where you can see the bib making the rod tip constantly jiggle. My favorite options here are mid-diving hard body lures. Anything with a 50 to 775mm profile, and a diving depth of 2 – 4 meters. My favourite colours are gold, yellows, blacks, and greens. My usual go-to options include Stump Jumpers, mid-diving Jackall chubbies, and Daiwa Double Clutches 70mm. Baits on a running sinker rig or paternoster rig will also work well. Staple baits including yabbies and scrub worms will do this trick. This is a great option when fishing the banks.
Hot spots that are fishing well include
- Lake Eppaloc
- Rocklands Reservoir
- Lake Hume
- Melton Reservoir
- Albert Park Lake
- Goulburn River
- Lake Mulwala
- Lake Eildon
- Lake Nagambie
- Cairn Curran
- Upper Coliban River
- Waranga Basin
- Sugarloaf reservoir
- Wimmera River
Australian Bass and Estuary Perch
I consider the bass and EP fishing to be at its best during the warmest water temperature months and this is generally January through to March so we’re well and truly moving away from that period now. Soft plastics, vibes and blades worked slowly but I will solely fish with surface soon. Well once that water temp rises a tad. Pulling out some favourites like Jackall Micro Tappys, Tiemco Cicada, Storm Gomoku Popper, Shimano BT Bait Bantam, Savage Gear 3D Cicada, Jackall Micro Pompadour and OSP bent minnows and Daiwa Slippery Dogs. This form of fishing requires patience, covering ground and looking for visible snags. Remember they will be most active at sunrise and sundown when they are actively feeding on bugs on the water surface.
The bass and EP fishing will only get better and better. I’m now part of the VFA Vic Rec Fishers board and am amazed by the numbers and investment in these fish to local and remote waters. Our 2023 bass and estuary perch stocking season has finished up with 32 lakes and rivers sharing in 721,000 fingerlings to improve fishing opportunities and bolster wild populations. 5 million bass and perch have been stocked over the last decade. This year included Lake Glenmaggie (50,000) Blue Rock (52,000), Bullen Merri (10,000), Elingamite (10,000), Traralgon Creek (10,000), Mitchell (100,000), Snowy (60,000), Cann (40,000), Timbarra (20,000), Macalister (22,000), Latrobe (20,000), Avon (10,000), Tambo (10,000) and Thomson (5,000), Gippsland Lakes (98,000), Lake Tyers (10,000), Lakers Cutting (15,000), Barwon (45,000), Werribee (20,000), Bemm (10,000), Snowy (10,000), Upper Stony Creek Reservoir ( 24,000), and Devilbend Reservoir ( 9,000 ).
I’ve been getting some good fish in the quieter areas up high on the Werribee River beyond Eynesbury and will focus some time locally around Werribee. Now be careful these remote areas have plenty of snakes. So do wear boots and even gaitor protective pads on the higher reaches of your legs.
Hot spots that are fishing well include
- Patterson River for EPs near the entrance bridge pylons
- DevilBend Res in the shallow weedy edges
- Werribee River
- Blue rock dam
- Rocklands Reservoir
CARP
Carp are more active in early spring and summer but you will still catch a few brutes this time of year. Carp fishing may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this time of year it can be a lot of fun having corn, worms or bread suspended from a float, running sinker rig or paternoster rig and battling your way through several mud marlins. Remember Carp are considered a noxious pest so it is illegal to return them to any waterway, but it’s a great fun option especially if you fishing with kids.
We have caught our fair share this past few weeks fishing at the Werribee River just above the wire, Metlon Res and Albert Park Lake. catching a few as bycatch on soft plastics and lures whilst targeting estuary perch. It’s always a surprise catching them on light spin gear.
Hot spots that are fishing well include
- Lake Eppalock
- Jack Roper Reserve
- Lake Eildon
- Melton Reservoir
- Murray River
- Werribee River
- Albert Park Lake
- Rocklands Reservoir
- Pykes Creek
- Brimbank Park
- Ringwood Lake
- Dandenong Creek
- Darlingsford lake
- Diamond Creek
- Berwick lakes
- Waranga Basin
- Lake Burrumbeet
- Goulburn River
- Lake Boort
- Barwon River
Wrapping Up
I genuinely hope these detailed reports help get you onto some cracking fish. Don’t forget to follow our podcast, tutorials, catch-of-the-month competitions & giveaways. Thanks for being a treasured FishingMad Member and don’t hesitate to reach out to me at alan@fishingmad.com.au with any questions and suggestions. Take care and good fishing, everyone.
