NSW
The wait is over! ALBURY/WODONGA
Connor Heir
Every year as 1 December approaches, cod anglers start twitching to get out on the water to chase these incredible fish that we are
something you haven’t done before I highly recommend it, especially if you are new to cod fishing. The spots you can pull fish from will blow your mind, especially when you do fish those low light periods, being the morning and late afternoons. However,
way I’ve walked). I usually give most snags about 10-15 casts before fishing the next piece of structure, but also if a snag can be fished more efficiently using a different style lure I will change and re-fish the hole with something different. For example, if there is a rock ledge or a big root bank where a floating lure like a hardbody won’t get down to depth straight away in the bite zone, I will change over to a spinnerbait or a sinking swimbait to get it right into the zone of the cod. While sometimes it’s good to move along areas quickly to cover water, if fish are playing hard this can be a really good technique and sometimes you can really key into what their behaviour is. Often on my way back I will fish the same holes I previously fished during the day with surface lures on low light. As mentioned, low light periods definitely do standout, so revisiting areas can sometimes unlock their
n Trout Hatchery e d a G
The author caught this surface-eating cod in a pool in the afternoon. Just hours before he had fished there with no bites.
full potential. During the colder months the cod fishing can be hit-andmiss, but in summer the catches are more consistent, and you should be able to pick a few up if you fish hard. Summertime usually provides fantastic numbers of smaller fish, in contrast to the cooler months when anglers
Gaden Trout Hatchery Gaden Trout Hatchery
lucky to have in our very own backyard! I’m predicting this cod season will be a very successful one, with anglers catching good numbers of healthy, fit Murray cod. The reason for this prediction is the recent flows and rainfall had during both winter and spring. It’s been a few years since there has been this much water around in our local area, and it really is something to be happy about. The good flushes throughout so many different fisheries will have really
even fishing during the heat of the day, you can pull fish from crazy spots. Last season on cod opening I remember walking across a shallow section of water and cast a hardbody into a tiny shade pocket that would have been just on knee depth, and my lure got nailed by a small cod as soon as the lure hit the water. Essentially, it was a topwater bite, so I tied on a surface lure to see what would happen. What followed was a short bite window for about half an hour where the cod
See how premier sport fish are bred and raised!
Open 10 am–4 pm daily.
Closed Anzac, Christmas, Boxing day.
Guided tours 10 am and 2 pm.
Self-guided tours on selected days. Small admission fee.
leaping fish * 4 species * aquaria, 8x3 ponds, AV show * beautifulbreeding Original picnic–BBQ area * smoked trout sale * find out about for kids fishing workshops. * A small water cod taken on a swimbait. Sometimes 12934
Rhys Wilson with a beautiful yellowbelly taken from a shade pocket during the day. This greedy fish had no problems taking on a good-sized swimbait.
a slow sinking lure can be perfect for getting under willows at just the right sink rate.
Gaden Rd (off Kosciuszko Rd) Jindabyne. 02 6451 3400 www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
dial in on bigger fish. You can definitely still target those bigger fish in summer, and they can eat at any time of day if you’re in the right place at the right time. However, for the most part, summer is a really good time to get good numbers of smaller fish. It’s
so much fun, and small water is probably one of the best ways to start. You don’t need the best gear; all you need is a confident approach and be willing to at times catch nothing. With time you will gain knowledge and catch fish more consistently.
ut Hatcher o r T n e d y Ga
Gaden Trout Hatchery Gaden Trout Hatchery Don’t be afraid to fish shallow sections. If there’s structure and enough water for them to hide, that’s often enough.
See how premier sport fish are bred and raised!
freshened up the food chain, and while it does make it hard to fish in the short term, once it settles and regular flows are more consistent, it can make for some really exciting fishing opportunities, and not just for cod. During summer, I really am sucked into fishing the small water systems chasing Murray cod. There’s something special about wet wading and walking banks of small water, and if it’s
were hammering anything. At the time, my friend was casting a spinnerbait while I had a surface lure on, and he had as much action as I did. A lot of the time while cod fishing, it can be easy to only fish the best-looking structure in the holes, but it really is worth picking holes apart. I like to start at the bottom or top of a hole and work my way downstream or upstream (depending on which
Closed Anzac, Christmas, Boxing day.
Guided tours 10 am and 2 pm.
Self-guided tours on selected days. Small admission fee.
leaping fish * 4 species * aquaria, ponds, AV show * beautifulbreeding picnic–BBQ area * smoked trout sale * find out about for kids fishing workshops. *
12934
Open 10 am–4 pm daily. A beautiful Lake Hume Golden perch caught just before cod opening. Lake Hume is still offering beautiful specimens of gold if you’re willing to put the effort in!
PLEASE CALL TO BOOK
Gaden Rd (off Kosciuszko Rd) Jindabyne. 02 6451 3400 www.dpi.nsw.gov.au DECEMBER 2021
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