Eildon

EILDON Peter Burtchell

With La Niña continuing, alongside the unusually strong ‘polar vortex’ holding on later than normal in Antarctica, we can expect to see some wet and wild conditions for most of January, if not beyond. The running rivers will provide some great fishing as yellowbelly and redfin congregate at the head waters, feeding on anything that flows downstream. In deeper parts of the rivers, Murray cod will also be very active, increasing your chances of some great catches. Murasame 722M Tournament Spin, matched with Murasame X8 PE 10lb braid and Sasame 10lb superfine fluorocarbon leader attached to an Asakura S Hornet. His dad used a Murasame Tournament Spin 702ul matched with Murasame 15lb braid and again Sasame 12lb superfine fluorocarbon.

The duo managed to find a lot of redfin schools that were flanked by smaller schools of feeding yellowbelly. Casting alongside and hopping off the rock ledges and into the flooded tree lines proved very successful, as did trolling along the banks along the Delatite Arm. As always, some nice Murray cod were also landed and released.

Lake Eildon is now Nelson with a nice spring Murray cod by-catch.

Mr Rouw with a yellowbelly caught rock hopping the rocky banks.

This year the yellowbelly and redfin runs were later than normal as the lakes water temperature remained low. As the lakes water temperature began to rise, Nelson Rouw and his father prepared well and were soon amongst the action with some great catches. Nelson armed himself with the arguably Victoria’s best big Murray cod water. It’s open year-round too; the 3-month long closed season for the species does not apply here. Trolling, bait fishing and casting are all popular and effective fishing methods, offering something for everyone 12 months of the year.

Fishing and learning about Lake Eildon can be a great experience for young people. To this end, the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Snobs Creek Hatchery, in conjunction with the Eildon Harbour, hosted 48 students from the local Eildon Primary School in late November.

This tour provided the students with an overview of the fish breeding and stocking program. I caught up with young Levi Campbell who said easiest method used by Tyson for smaller-sized trout, whilst others chased larger trophy sized trout at depth.

Until next month,

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that he was very impressed with both the tour of the hatchery and time on the water. Highlights of the tour were that he got to hold some of the juvenile fish, saw up to 80,000 fingerlings in one tank, and fed some of the larger rainbow and brown trout. During the same period, another young man, Tyson, was able to get amongst the trout as they remained very active late into spring due to the lower than normal lake temperatures. Flatlining proved to be the Tylor used a brown trout patterned Tassie Devil to entice his prey.

here’s to a happy, safe and prosperous New Year. • For more information on fishing Lake Eildon you can contact the Jerusalem Creek

Eildon Primary hit the lake to learn about the ecosystem and fish stocking program.

Marina & Holiday Park, a friendly, family-orientated annuals cabin park and Houseboat Marina, that makes the perfect home away from home. If visiting Lake Eildon you can opt to stay in one of the floating apartments (Boatels), hire a houseboat or fishing vessel, visit the Megabass Elite Pro Store, or book a Megabass Elite Pro Fishing Tour with one of the many leading Australian Fishing guides operating from Jerusalem Creek. For more information on all of the activities and attractions that Lake Eildon has to offer, visit jerusalemcreek.com. au, give them a call on (03) 5774 2585 or email info@ jerusalemcreek.com.au.