Yarrawonga

YARRAWONGA Tony Bennett

codclassic@bigpond.com

COVID lockdowns, the spring racing carnival and anything else you’ve had to endure over the past few months pales into insignificance as the dedicated die-hard cod fishos prepare their assault on another new cod season come December 1. There should only be one question on your mind, not “where should I fish?” but “where in Lake Mulwala should I fish?”. When it comes to cod fishing, nothing beats the excitement of being at the home of the Murray cod – Lake Mulwala – come opening weekend.

For those fishing the lake early in the season, seeking out slightly quieter waters that don’t get excessive, noisy doofdoof boat traffic may be most productive. A major problem you’ll find is that much of the shallower margins of the lake is starting to choke up with weed. Fishing the edges of the weed beds is a good option.

When it comes to lure choice, if you have confidence in something that has worked before, stick to it. All things ‘surface’ and ‘sub-surface’ have been the rage over the past few years, and I’m sure these trends will continue. Don’t discount any of your traditional methods of casting or trolling hardbodied lures or spinnerbaits, as these will be as productive as ever.

Once again, the iconic Cod Classic (3-5 December) will help anglers celebrate the opening of a new season, albeit under a slightly changed format thanks to COVID regulations. The traditional the question. The undoubted crowd of 3000+ competitors lure of choice has been the is not expected, but for those Jackall TN 60s. who participate, you can A total of 34 lucky guarantee you will have a great competitors were able to time, get value for money and make it to Bundalong for have the chance of sharing in the Golden Dollar$ in late some of the great prizes on October. The water around offer. Three Yamaha-Quintrex- Bundalong was fairly dirty Humminbird boating packages and running pretty hard, are up for grabs, along with making fishing conditions other prizes totalling well in tough. Unbelievably, only Mark and Abby Delahey with their prize catch in the recent Golden Dollars. excess of $60K. For more information check out www. codclassic.com.au.

Looking back, the yellas have turned up in their usual haunts. It’s been practically standing room only at the train bridge and the back of the old police station. It’s great to see some younger kids getting down there and having fun away from being stuck in front of a screen. Hopefully they don’t get influenced by the ‘kill and grill’ brigade who cut the throat of anything they catch. Those who have been ‘scoping’ (different from fishing and less rewarding in my opinion) in front of the train bridge have been getting large numbers of yellas, with catches of 20+ in a session certainly not out of

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ROCKLEA BRISBANE BOATING & LEISURE 1713 Ipswich Road Rocklea P: (07) 3875 1600 E: sales@kareemarine.com.au W: www.kareemarine.com.au two yellas were returned for NORTHERN GOLD COAST measuring for the day. They ONSHORE MARINE both fell victim to father/ Horizon Shores Marina Woongoolba daughter team ‘Small Punts’ P: (07) 5546 2480 - Mark and Abby Delahey. A great effort saw them return E: onshoremarine@ozemail.com.au 51.5cm and 55.8cm models W: www.onshoremarine.com.au for measuring. Both healthy yellas were caught on Bogan EVERTON HILLS Bait Spinnerbaits. HOLT MARINE Until next edition, 25 Queens Road Everton Hills happy fishing. • For more information on P: (07) 3353 1928 anything fishing in and around E: info@holtmarine.com.au Lake Mulwala, call in and see W: www.holtmarine.com.au us at Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski, the official Cod Classic CAPALABA shop (opposite the Post Office) MIKES MARINE in Mulwala or find us at our Yarrawonga store located 9 Smith Street Capalaba between Rivers and One Zach. P: (07) 3390 3418 For up-to-date fishing reports E: sales@mikesmarine.com.au or for further information call W: www.mikesmarine.com.au 03 5744 1667.

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schooling at depths below 10m as well as darting out from the shallows to take a trout lure. Some days are hot and others, well, you have to work at it for a feed. That’s exactly what good mate Shane Stevens from Ballarat did so with his son Maxi recently. After a solid day on the lake, the boys

From page 106SLACKS CREEK were rewarded with several Chinook salmon around 55cm AUSTRALIAN MARINE CENTRE all taken on lures. Young Maxi 3491 Pacific Highway Slacks Creek was the standout angler on P: (07) 3808 7333 the day, with dad landing E: sales@amcboats.com.au only one fish. W: www.amcboats.com.au IPSWICH IPSWICH MARINE 45 Huxham Street Raceview P: 07 3294 3944 E: enquiries@ipswichmarine.com.au W: www.ipswichmarine.com.au

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