Freshwater

Slow fishing due to the unsettled weather

TOOWOOMBA Jason Ehrlich

fishability1@bigpond.com

The unsettled weather has continued and we have now had a couple of big rain events to stir things up in South East Queensland. As I write, some weather models predict more. If these eventuate expect the fishing to be tough and slow.

The first major system was some time ago and the month long gap before the next big downpour allowed us a bit of time to gauge what we were in for as far as fishing goes on ours lakes. The action was steady but it isn’t all doom and gloom. Some dams were producing reasonable fishing and follow up rain events were nowhere near as impactful.

While I write, some dams are still overflowing and closed to recreation Cressbrook is a magic lake when it is full. The fish are spread out so be prepared to explore.

activities but based on what happened after the previous bigger flooding event they will be open for fishing through May; that is of course we aren’t flooded yet again.

Fishing options have been limited over the last couple of months and anglers are looking at locations outside their normal waterways. The floods may slow things down in the major bodies of water but it does allow fish movement. Some will head into the running waters and others will go with the flow over the dam and weir walls. This creates new opportunities and as the waters clear, the bites in such spots can be red hot. The flowing oxygenated water in these spots seem to produce way better than the still water found in the dams. Be sure to follow rules regarding access and prohibited zones around dam and weir walls. You’ll find these regulations online in Queensland Freshwater Fishing Regulations.

While the South East has had a lot of focus on it with the rain, waters in the Burnett region and further north have been less affected. Here barra and sooty grunter will still be willing to chew in their respective waterways. If you are struggling to find fish on your home turf a road trip will be worthwhile. The barra action should still be reasonable allowing the average angler a good chance of boating a few. The unsettled weather and lower air temperatures have made the barra trickier to work out this year.

If you miss this month, don’t rule out a winter fishing trip as the water temperatures will drop and strong thermoclines disappear.

This can drive the barra into particular areas and see them holding in better numbers.

To all those affected by rising waters I feel for you. I only hope that after all the stress and hardship faced you are able to get back to enjoying the simple things we all appreciate. Get out and bang a few fish or just sit back and enjoy nature while watching our calmer waters. Until next month, buckled rods from the Colonel.

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND

CRESSBROOK

CLOSEST TOWN:

CROWS NEST

Fishing has been tough but after filling this is a dam worth visiting just for its beauty. The flooded grassy banks and old weed beds have dyed back and depleted oxygen levels in these areas should improve soon. As a result, the fish just aren’t as active. The rise in level spread them out but the water cleared quickly and a thermocline developed around 3-4m deep. This is where most of the action has been taking place. With fish spread out, lure trollers have fared well. Smaller shallow divers have produced with the old school Tilsan Bass being a standout. Some of these scattered fish have been fooled when casting blades baits and spoons but they are hard to find in good enough numbers. Despite the water quality not being ideal, fish will still venture in to the shallows for short periods of time. Finding areas, which have better water quality can be the key. The short grassy flooded banks below the camp ground and picnic area, Deer Island, The Eagles Nest, steep edges and up the back of the major creeks and bays should all be prime spots to take a look. These fish are falling for suspending hard bodies, spinnerbaits and Spectre Vibration Jigs. While a lot of these fish are small, the shallower water can hold some very good quality bass to 50cm long. Bass have dominated catches but there has been an increase in the number of golden perch caught. Some of these fish are quite small and it’s a great sign for the future. If you are keeping them, check the size and bag limits. On a different note, if you are chasing a feed, the redclaw crayfish have been thick. • Fish’n’Bits in Toowoomba has all the gear and tips on how to chase the Cressy fish. They are an excellent store specialising in all freshwater lures and tackle. From May 1, shorter hours apply and the gates will be open from 7am to 6pm. SOMERSET

CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY

Somerset water is still quite dirty. Continuing rain isn’t helping with allowing it to clear up. Few reports have made their way to me but it sounds like the fishing is very tough. The dam level has dropped back to its old level prior to flooding so there wasn’t any freshly flooded country to fish. In a way, this is a good thing. Less dying grasses will keep the water quality better; it just needs to clear up. As a result, the edges of the dam don’t

Gary’s Marine Centre

3201 6232

appear to be fishing well. Schooling fish have been hard to find but I have a feeling this will change as a stronger thermocline develops. Look for schooling fish around Poly Pipe Point (northern side of Bay of Plenty), Brads Bank and Pelican Point. Hopefully they bunch up and the water starts to clear this month. I have had some awesome sessions in this lake when the water still has a bit of colour in it. Ideally, you want at least 50cm of visibility for successful luring.

If you drop in a few redclaw crayfish pots, you won’t be disappointed. Although the water level dropped back, they will still be more active than normal in the stained, nutrient rich waters. Try different depths until you work out where they are most plentiful.

The stretch of water below the dam wall will fish well. Check the SEQ Water website to ensure there are no major releases before dropping a kayak in below Somerset wall. The golden perch and bass numbers in this stretch should be excellent after the dam releases. • Somerset Fishing has their store based at the area above the day use boat ramp. The store is open over holidays and otherwise from Thursday to Sunday. Orders can also be made online via the website www. somersetfishing.com.au. They have an excellent range of gear suited to fishing for bass and golden perch.

LESLIE CLOSEST

TOWN: WARWICK

It keeps raining and spilling but the dam just seems to keep producing.

BURNETT REGION

Golden perch around legal size are very plentiful. In just a few months there has been a noticeable size increase in these fish as they feed up. Jigging small blades like the ZX40 is one of the best ways to tempt these fish and double figure tallies are quite common. This will continue to be the best approach. Trolling hard bodies will slow down as the water cools but you

BOONDOOMA

CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON,

KINGAROY

Boondooma Dam has been fishing tough but it is one of the few places that has remained open and fishable over the past couple of months. The bass and golden perch have been caught all around the dam’s main basin and both arms. They are scattered and holding in small schools in 3-5m of water but don’t seem to like biting here. Searching for nearby

CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA

CLOSEST TOWNS: BENARABY, GLADSTONE

I know it’s not spring or summer. They seems to be the months people flood to Awoonga but slowly the masses are learning barra can be caught all year round. My most memorable session on this lake was off the full moon and in May. The spread out barra from the summer months can congregate a little more. We should see fish back up in the weed beds in good numbers and another bunch holding out in the open water around the stronger thermoclines and bait congregations.

Casting soft plastics and suspending hard bodies around the weeded edges will produce the goods throughout the day and at night. Locating fish cruising the edges on the sounder can boost numbers caught especially late in the afternoon and at night when the art of keeping the lure close to the weed without fouling it up will get you more bites.

Deeper fish will be less affected by sudden temperature changes. Trolling randomly while searching and casting to good patches of fish found can work well. The open water area out in front of the dam wall and mouth of Iveragh Creek is definitely worth a look. When trolling, try 3-5m divers. Lures like 5m Scorpions, Predatek Vipers, and 3 and 5m Barra Classics will get them biting if you pull the lure through a patch of hungry fish. Casters will need to do a lot of work to locate the better shows and then tempt them with jighead rigged soft plastics or pre-rigged swimbaits. • Justin Nye from Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing runs fishing charters on the lake. He caters to the needs of the angler and can do fly or conventional tackle trips to target the lake’s barramundi. share. The Gateway lodge is on the way in to the dam after turning off at Benaraby. The accommodation is great with plenty of boat parking space right beside the comfortable air conditioned, self-contained cabins each with its own veranda. To book in a stay give Mark or Lyn a call on (07) 4975 0033. CALLIDE CLOSEST

TOWN: BILOELA

Big barra from this lake just get me drooling and wanting more. There have been plenty of 110cm plus barra caught with numbers of 120’s thrown in over the last couple of months. Don’t expect it to be easy but the rewards are great. The average fish is over 1m long and this is a great lake for boats, kayaks and even shore-based fisher.

Trolling is very effective on Callide. The barra like to spread out in the middle of the dam and trolling covers heaps of water to help improve your chances. Hardbodies, like

Barramundi are still a great option this month. If you are worried about the dirty and full lakes in the South East, head north. This one ate a Molix Shad 140 in Monduran Dam.

they seem to patrol more. During the day, put the electric down and start working banks until you get a bite or find something good enough to stop on. Plastics buzzed through the tops of weed beds or wound back from the base of them will be effective. It can take a while to learn the weed formations and is a little frustrating at times keeping your lure weed free but worth the challenge. Once mastered, He successfully guides clients onto fish right through the year and has a good understanding of fish movements. It is hard to beat time on the water and this is a great way to learn more about this lake and its fish. You can contact him on 0429 223 550 or visit the website gladstoneflyandsportfishing .com.au. • Mark from Awoonga Gateway Lodge always has a few productive secret spots to the 3m Barra Classic, work at times, especially at night. Soft plastics are reliable performers but you will need to present them at the correct depth. A big cast and 3km/h troll speed will see a Zerek 5.5” Live Mullet swimming around 6-9ft deep. The same speed with a Molix 140 will see it around 10-15ft. The Molix 180 can be sent down closer to 20ft. Between these three plastics you will have all bases covered. I have will still encounter a few if you slow troll a lipless crankbait. Working 3-5m of water will see you in the right zone.

Bait fisher can also get into the action. Live shrimp and frozen saltwater yabbies are great baits. Golden perch will dominate catches but there is a chance of cod, eel-tailed catfish and silver perch. Please watch bag and size limits while the fish are chewing. • The local blokes at Warwick Outdoor and Sport in Palmerin Street can point in you in the right direction and hook you up with the good gear and bait to catch the fish at Leslie.

fish, which break away from the school and move up in to the shallows to feed seems to get more action.

Hopping small blades down the nearby points is a great way to fool these fish. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, suspending jerkbaits and lipless cranks can all trick them as well. Things will change up a bit as the water cools but keep last month’s successful methods in mind as a starting point. Hopefully the cooler temperatures appeal to the deeper schooling fish and they start chewing better. It would be worth showing them a soft plastic or spoon.

It’s jumper time again but water core temperatures will hold their warmth for some time yet. Fishing deeper when air temperatures are cold can pay off. This Callide barra was holding 3m below the surface.

had best results on the Zerek Live Mullet when the barra are high in the water column and more willing to feed. This is often the case early in the morning as the sunrises and can continue until around 9 or 10am.

The dam wall end holds plenty of deeper, open water fish. As you venture back up to Pelican Point, you will notice submerged trees on either side of the river. These trees mark the drop off and the barra love to sit in them. A suspending hardbody, like a Jackall Squirrel, Samiki Redik or Lucky Craft Pointer will get them to chew when they are in the mood. Next trip, I am keen to sacrifice some deeper weedless rigged soft plastic presentations to see if they can get more bites when the fish refuse to rise to hard bodies. Don’t dismiss trolling and casting in the deep water around the trees. You will need to pick your spot though to avoid lure losses. • You can stay close to the dam at Lake Callide Retreat. The park has basic camping, powered sites for camping and vans and also self-contained cabins. There is a wellequipped camp kitchen and toilets and showers up in the main part of the park near the office. Make sure you bring all of your fishing tackle. The kiosk has a limited amount of fishing gear but it is well suited to the lake.

AWOONGA GATEWAY LODGE

“Right on Awoonga’s doorstep. All set up for fishos, with tranquil surroundings.“