Wangaratta

WANGARATTA Robbie Alexander

May usually sees a pretty big shift in many things in North East Victoria. Summer birds have headed north, winter birds have arrived, we usually get our first frosts here in Wangaratta, and many of the fish have slowed right down… but not all of them! larger ones. The ‘big cod specialists’ tend to head down to the far lower reaches of the Ovens River around Bundalong, and to Lake Mulwala with very large lures. Large surface lures and swimbaits are quite popular in that scene, and so too is a large amount of patience. These specialists will fish all day and all night just waiting for that monster Murray cod to lures in May. Bright orange Super Vibrax spinners are a great start, and Strike Tiger nymph soft plastics in ‘trout roe’ or ‘orange spawn’ colour are dynamite in May as well.

Minnows can be very effective lures for trout in May, especially long, skinny minnows that may look like other trout. Don’t be scared to tie on a long 9-10cm skinny minnow as the trout can become aggressive at this

Last year the author caught a lot of freshwater blackfish in May. Although small, these little native fish are great fun to catch.

MURRAY COD

Here in Wangaratta, in the Ovens River catchment the Murray cod fishing can be quite slow in May. I have caught cod in the Ovens and King rivers during May, however I usually have to work much harder for them come out and smack their lure, and are often rewarded with a trophy fish.

I am not an expert in this type of Murray cod fishing as my level of patience would almost definitely see me fail, but for those who want to target monster Murray cod, time of year, and will hit the lure out of aggression rather than hunger. REDFIN

Last year my father and I had some amazing redfin fishing in May at Lake Buffalo. The year before that we caught nothing, and the year before

Redfin can still be caught in both Lake William Hovell and Lake Buffalo during May.

if I am using lures, and sit for much longer waiting for a bite if I am using bait.

I find that I tend to catch more trout cod during May than I do Murray cod. Trout cod are more of an upland species than Murray cod, so I suspect they have a greater tolerance to colder water. They are also a protected species and must be returned to the water unharmed.

For some people May is the best month to target Murray cod, especially the May is a great time to do so. The area around Bundalong on the lower Ovens River is a very popular area. TROUT

May can still produce some fantastic trout fishing. The water is usually icy cold by May as cold nights have usually led to some pretty heavy frosts in the mountains. The trout are usually getting ready to spawn, and many will have started towards the end of the month.

I like fluorescent coloured that was very good. That’s the nature of redfin fishing, it can be very hit and miss. Some years are better than others, and with the redfin fishing in Lake Buffalo being so good early in the autumn, it’s hard to imagine that it won’t be good in May.

Last year we found that the start of May was great, but the second half of May was very poor, so you might want to get in early.

But then again, as I said, redfin fishing can be very hit Zeppelin Allan with a Lake Buffalo redfin caught in March on a soft plastic from the bank.

and miss from year to year, and no two years are the same.

YELLOWBELLY

There’s not much to report on the yellowbelly front in May. They are usually and my favourite technique is float fishing. All you need is a cheap red and white bubble float, with a bunch of worms or a few bits of corn hanging underneath. I love during May.

If the roads are closed due to rain, or you simply just don’t know your way around, Lake Moodemere is a great option for this type

Although a pest species, European carp are good fun. They can still be quite easy to catch in May compared to some other species.

very quiet right across the board at this time of the year, however I suspect a few will turn up in the Ovens River for bait fishers during May, particularly for anglers using worms as bait. the excitement of this type of fishing and May is a great time to do it.

When you hook up the fishing is exciting, sitting in the May sun is magnificent and just observing the wild of fishing and is easily accessible.

Also, if you are happy to catch smaller fish, the native freshwater blackfish are usually still on the bite during May. These small

One of the author’s favourite things to do in the cooler months is to fish for carp at Lake Moodemere at dawn. It’s a magnificent place to view the sunrise.

OTHER SPECIES

One of the things that I really look forward to each year in May is carp fishing in the lagoons along the Ovens River. I love fishing for carp using corn or worms as bait, life while waiting for a bite is very relaxing, and good for the soul.

Don’t underestimate the benefits od carp fishing as a great way to escape and unwind, especially native fish live in many of the trout streams and will come out after sunset to feed.

Find a nice deep hole in a rocky trout stream and fish with worms at sunset and you can’t go wrong!