NSW
No better time to chase cod ALBURY/WODONGA
Connor Heir
I can’t deny that April is definitely one of my favourite months to be out chasing cod. While cod fishing at any time is special, the month of April is particularly rewarding. As the days gradually get cooler, it makes the physicality of chasing these fish just that bit easier. Additionally, the water temperatures do drop a few degrees, which can also help the fish turn on, and not only Murray cod, but other species as well. No matter what style of fishing you do when chasing cod – whether it’s walking the banks of small creeks and rivers, kayaking or boating – you can be assured that April is a fantastic time to be on the water to catch these special fish we are privileged to have in our waterways.
Over the past few months we have seen significant rainfall, as I mentioned in last month’s edition. As many rivers and creeks around the region
are on the mend from dirty water flushes, the fishing potential increases. As many cod anglers will understand, there’s nothing better than seeing
about walking the banks of small water, casting lures into the snags, waiting for that crunch from a Murray cod. As always, the harder you work for these fish
Another perfectly conditioned Murray cod. and the more dedicated you are, the more likely you are to have results. Some days you can go out and catch cricket scores of them, then some days they are so stubborn that you pretty much have to land the lure right on their head to make them eat. This leads me into something that I believe will help you catch Murray cod, especially as we are coming into the cooler months. It’s something many experienced cod anglers will agree on. The tip is to fish on structure as close as you possibly can. This may be
Catching good numbers of smaller fish carries on in April. old news to some anglers, but it truly does make a difference especially when the bites are tough. As I mentioned, sometimes you need to land the lure right on the fish’s head to make them eat. This is often referred to as a ‘territorial/aggression hit’. When cod are not active, they will often sit tight against structure such as logs, roots and rocks, so working these areas closely and effectively can be the
key to making them eat. Change up angles and lure styles to suit the style of structure you are fishing, and persist with it. That’s it for this month. It’s time to get the baitcaster out, tie on your favourite lure and hit up your local, or try somewhere new. That’s the beauty of living in this region, we are just so spoiled with choice on where to catch Murray cod. Tight lines!
Recent flushes of our waterways has created allyou-can eat platters for Murray cod. From page 76
fishing as well as you’d like. Lure and fly selection in the low flow doesn’t get much easier. If you’re casting lures all you will need is some spinners, small hardbodies and some soft plastics. If you’re fly fishing and would like to target fish with dries, you will have to fish the first hour of daylight in the morning or the last hour of light before dark for your best results. Alternatively, if you want to catch fish all day long then it is hard to beat a small bead-head nymph suspended about 1-3ft below an indicator or highly visible dry fly. The Murrumbidgee River should also be in relatively low flow this month, which will make all the canoe and kayak
enthusiasts very happy. Whilst the river is in low flow it is very hard to fish by boat as you can only fish small stretches of river, normally only a few hundred metres or so before you come across an impassable shallow rock bar or fast rapid. Whilst fishing from a canoe you can get through these rapids easily, and successfully fish long stretches of river with relative ease. Casting lures is really the only way to go for regular success during the low flows, and it’s hard to beat the good old spinnerbait due to its snagproof abilities. However, on tough days it is also worth casting Angel Gaits, shallow running hardbodies, lipless crankbaits, chatterbaits or big paddle tail soft plastics to give the fish something different to have a go at.
your favourite waterways looking promising in terms of height and water clarity. Due to these recent flushes, the condition of fish being caught have been very good. Many fish are fat, and present well in colour and shape. While it can be a bit annoying seeing dirty water and high flows so frequently, the outcome on the other side is very much worth the wait. WHAT TO EXPECT IN APRIL As it gets cooler, the potential for bigger fish does become more likely, and many cod anglers will begin to chase the bigger fish. But for April in general, I personally think it’s a great time to still be chasing numbers, especially in the small water systems. There’s something special
This high 70s cod had this carp down its gob, and still wanted to eat a 75mm Mudhoney. You can see why it’s important to carry a pair of long-nose pliers, and a set of small wire/bolt cutters. The hook was cut off near the barb on the rear treble, preventing damage to the fish’s gills before release. APRIL 2022
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