NSW
Some December cheer LITHGOW/OBERON
Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com
Christmas for most will be a little different this year, given the COVID circumstances leading into such a day. ‘Appreciation’ is one word that possibly sums it up best, and it’s the same with our fishing. My first trip to Windamere Dam out of lockdown was a case in point.
It was raining, the wind was gusting – terrible conditions really – but I was as happy as a pig in mud! It was just so nice to be floating in a boat, fishing to my heart’s content. I even managed a couple of fish, and I held the first golden perch boat-side in the water for a little longer than I usually would to take in its amazing colours and look at the water flowing in and out of its gills, then I watched as it slowly slipped from my grasp and disappeared back
into the green abyss. Driving home, my cup was overflowing with appreciation, and I hope this feeling will linger – not just for me, but for all anglers. COD SEASON December heralds the opening of the Murray cod season for most dams and all rivers in NSW. For the last few years, opening day for me has been spent on one of our local impoundments, but this year will be different. We have planned a hike into Golden perch on fly in Windamere Dam will definitely be on the cards this December, especially early on before it gets too warm.
The passing of Peter Hanrahan back in October was very sad. Peter, or ‘Bagsy’ as he was more affectionately known, was a local angling icon. When it came to catching fish on fly consistently, no one did it better. From page 80
flourished, and fishing dry flies such as the Royal Wulff or Red Tag is accounting for many fish. Fly fishing looks hard but is not, especially when you’re fishing the small streams in the Tops. Casts are not very long, and with a little bit of practice in the backyard you will be on top of it. With so many trout about it’s a great time to learn. Both Lake Glenbawn and Lake St Clair have been fishing really well. The water temperature has risen and the bass are active. In both lakes the fish are hitting surface presentations. Most fishing of this technique is done during the night, or at dawn and dusk, but don’t be afraid to fish surface all day, particularly if the
A calm morning makes for great surface fishing.
A great fly for the Upper Hunter.
day is overcast. If the fish are feeding on surface in the shallows and are hungry, they will take surface lures at any time. Generally, these fish caught on the surface are big bass. They seem to be fooled more easily with surface lures than other presentations. There is a local saying that a bass caught on surface is worth 10 caught any other way, because it’s such a fun and exciting form of fishing. It’s what I think sets bass apart from a lot of other natives. There are two main techniques I use when surface fishing. The first is an
some back country rivers and creeks. It’s been a good two seasons of rain and runoff, so we are hoping for a fresh run of quality fish from lower downstream that have made their way up into the headwaters. Time will tell, but either way it will be fun few days of banter between mates. I might even get the fly rod out and scratch an itch that just won’t go away. Wyangala Dam near Cowra will be on everybody’s lips. It’s certainly cemented itself as one of the premier impoundment cod fisheries in the district. It will be interesting to see how the aggressive presentation. Last year with the mouse plague, this was the most productive presentation when surface fishing. I recommend using a noisy lure such as a Mudeye, Pompadour or Taylor Made – something that makes plenty of splash and noise. Cast the lure to the bank and retrieve at a steady rate. The fish hit the lure in an aggressive way, mistaking it for a small lizard or mouse, and there is no need for light line. I like to use at least 12lb leader otherwise I find myself losing fish. The other style of surface fishing is finesse. This involves using a small lure such as a Soft Shell Cicada. Cast the lure to a likely spot and let the lure sit. Wait for the ripples to go. Then shake the rod or tap the rod butt, making more ripples, and again wait for the ripples to go. Patience is the key when fishing this way. The bass like a pause, which can be anything from a few seconds to a minute. Make sure there is not a lot of slack in the line or you will miss fish due to a low hook-up rate. Next month I will focus on the deep bite using Gulps and your sounder. Remember, if you’re heading to Glenbawn or St Clair, please drop into the shop at the turnoff to Glenbawn in Aberdeen and ask about the different techniques and what they are biting on. We stock all the quality tackle that you need.
cod react to the ongoing pressure being applied to the fishery; I’m thinking there’ll be an early run of good fish followed by a lull in captures. Thinking outside the box will be paramount to anglers achieving success once the pressure has been applied. Always keep in the back of your mind, especially with current developments in technology, that the learning goes both ways! Educating cod by means of learning by association has super accelerated X10. In some instances, it won’t matter – conditions and hunger will mean the switch gets flicked and nothing will deter them from eating a lure – but these times are rare. WINDAMERE GOLD With the COVID hangover still lingering, Windamere Dam near Mudgee will still be a go-to destination for chasing
Gulps is always a standard fall back on such dams at this time of year. It’s relatively easy and such a great way to introduce kids to freshwater fishing. Keep in mind that not all trees are created equal when it comes to a perch house! Sometimes it pays to try a few different types of trees in different depths to find which ones are suiting them at the time. A quality depth sounder with side scan can cut your time searching, but it’s not totally necessary, especially if you’re on the dam for a few days. SPEND YOUR HARD EARNED If you’re anything like me, lockdowns have meant we may have saved a few extra dollars on fishing gear. Travelling anglers spend money before they leave and whilst on the road, and that’s what so many smallto medium-sized business
Keep your eyes peeled for feeding birds on the water at Windamere in December. Quite often it can be a sign that small golden perch have balled up the baitfish from below. golden perch. I might even partake in some early December trips, stocking up on a tank left empty by the dreaded ‘C’ restrictions. If early indications prove correct it could be an extravaganza on smaller fish in open waters, as the baitfish numbers have exploded. The seagulls and cormorants will set the scene. Keep your eyes peeled for such activities because the golden perch won’t be too far underneath. Grubbing trees with
need right now. So many of them have been pushed to the brink by the pandemic so let’s all dig a little deeper, fork out some hard earned and get this show back on the road. Hope to see you on the water soon. Until then, tight lines. • Please note that the above report was supplied prior to the recent rain events at Wyangala Dam. Check for local updates before heading to the area. DECEMBER 2021
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