A good month for local anglers

WEST/SOUTH GIPPSLAND

Billy Auldist

Local weather has provided limited opportunities for fishos in our local region over the last few months, and on top of that, the fishing has been somewhat difficult. Heading out of summer traditionally offers some of the best fishing we can experience locally, and local anglers should be keen heading into March. When the weather offers a break in extremes, fishers should be making the most of their chance to get out on the water.

Noojee’s main three rivers – the LaTrobe, Loch, and Toorongo – have all fished well once the water level dropped and water cleared. As per usual, the fishing in these rivers mainly relies on finding unpressured water. You want to find those trout that have seen fewer anglers this season.

Once you have found yourself in a suitable stretch, any of the basic lures such as spinners, spoons, hardbodies and soft plastics will catch fish. And of course, drifting a bait with always prevail.

The Bunyip and Tarago rivers have gone under the radar over the last few months, not receiving much attention from local fishos. This lack of fishing pressure has rewarded those anglers who have been making the effort to get up there. The water levels are steady and the clarity is prime, which leaves both these rivers in optimal condition for anyone who takes to their banks. The most success has been found on soft plastics or drifting a bait, as both of these rivers are generally full of timber, making longer cast for other lures like spinners hard to come by.

It’s no secret that both of these rivers hold the best quality fish in our area, and anglers who wet a line there have been reaping rewards. Blackfish have also been a common bycatch whilst drifting baits, and have even been hitting lures in some extraordinary cases.

As reported every month, the bass fishing towards the top end of Blue Rock Reservoir has been worthwhile for anyone who can get up there. Most anglers fish from a boat or kayak, however the keen angler would know of some land-based spots right up towards the river.

Any regular lures have been taking bass. Soft plastics, hardbodies and various jigs have been doing the most damage. If you can find a humid evening, any smaller surface lure will still get the job done too. Reddies have been a common bycatch and I expect that soon, when heading into the cooler months, the trout will start to show up in bigger numbers too.

Some of the local estate dams have been turning up redfin in big numbers, so it will pay to fish a few and find a dam that’s firing. On their day the reddies will take just about anything you throw at them, the so lure choice doesn’t matter too much. However, when chasing a bigger model I would personally throw a lure with a bigger profile, such as a swimbait or spinnerbait. Creeks and rivers like Hazel and the Little Moe are providing locals with plenty of action too, with good catches of carp and reddies on worms fished in any hole of significant size.

So, despite the odd weather patterns, anglers should be looking forward to the coming months and the fishing it may provide.

Truly Revolutionary