Bendigo

Yellas are up and about

YARRAWONGA Tony Bennett

codclassic@bigpond.com As usual, knowing where to start at this time of year is difficult, as we’re in the middle of a closed cod season and the traditional run of spring yellas are yet to fire.

In mid to late October, once a bit of warmer weather has graced us, the yellowbelly are generally up and about somewhere within the lake or further upstream around Bundalong and its backwaters. The Bundalong area has a maze of shallower backwaters, lagoons and creeks that provide some great yella fishing. It may be interesting this year as we are currently receiving excessive water flows from further upstream (Hume and Dartmouth) and this does not look like ceasing any time soon. The Bundalong area tends to flood out through the back lagoons, making the fishing a bit tougher.

This time of year also sees generous amounts of yellas schooling up in the faster running water around the mouth of both the main weir near the train bridge, and the Mulwala canal. Your best bet whilst targeting these critters are TN60 Jackalls (or similar), 50-70mm hardbodied lures, smaller profiled spinnerbaits or blades.

Fishos should be aware that Murray cod season is now closed in the lake, and targeting of these fish is prohibited. Any cod that are encountered must be released immediately.

Another important and timely reminder is that from 1 September through to 30 November inclusive, the water below the Yarrawonga weir in the Murray River, downstream through Cobram to the traffic bridge at Tocumwal, is totally closed to all forms of fishing.

Planning is in full swing for the iconic Yamaha Cod Classic – Lake Mulwala, Australia’s largest inland freshwater fishing event. It will be great to celebrate an event that has outlasted the effects of COVID and is sure to return to its former glory in time, whilst other events unfortunately fail to survive. The weekend of 3-4 December will see Lake Mulwala come alive with an expected 2000+ anglers vying for the $100K+ prizes on offer. Prizes include five Yamaha/Quintrex/ Humminbird boating packages. You would be crazy to miss what is now not just a fishing competition, but a fishing festival! For all enquiries visit www. codclassic.com.au.

If you’re visiting town, I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski, the shop with the big green cod out the front (opposite the Post Office) in Mulwala or visit us in Yarrawonga’s only tackle store located between Rivers and One Zac in the main street. We’re Yarrawonga and Mulwala’s fishing specialists and specialize in all things ‘green’! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give us a hoy on 03 5744 3133.

Wayne Douglas with a 38cm yella caught whilst out and about with a group of mates visiting Mulwala on a golf trip!

Rising water levels and associated flooding

BENDIGO Roger Miles

codhuntertours@bigpond.com

The Bendigo region has received a significant amount of rainfall over the last month. This rain has produced a very good run off into our river systems. Water levels in our local impoundments have risen drastically and we are now in the situation that all our local impoundments are reaching near capacity levels.

There has already been some minor flooding in the region. Given the current conditions there is a very good chance we may see more flooding events over the next couple of months.

LAKE EPPALOCK

The last month is a good example of how quick conditions can change. When writing this report last month, Lake Eppalock water levels were at 59% of capacity. In one month, the lake’s water levels have now risen to 98.5% of capacity. There are some very good inflows still running into the lake. There is a very good chance in the next couple of days that Lake Eppalock will reach 100% plus capacity and the spillway will start running.

With these large volumes of water running into Lake Eppalock the water clarity has deteriorated a lot. The water clarity is the poorest in the Twin River section of the lake and down the Campaspe Reach. The water clarity is also poor in the section where Mount Ida Creek runs into the lake. The area where the water

This golden perch was caught on this UV coloured lure. Lure colour selections with ultraviolet colours are good options in poor water clarity.

clarity is currently the best is the Kimbolton Pool and the lower sections of the lake. The productivity in the fishing has already started to improve.

Bait fishing around the shoreline with worms and small yabbies is now a good productive option. Anglers are landing good numbers of carp, small redfin and the occasional golden perch. The numbers of golden perch being caught by anglers bait fishing will increase over the next couple of weeks as the water warms up and more fish move into the shallower edges to feed.

For anglers chasing golden perch on lures the productivity in the fishing has been improving. With the rising water levels the best fishing has been around the edges of the lake. The shorelines with good amounts of vegetation have often been the most productive banks. As the water levels have been rising over the banks, this has provided the fish with a smorgasbord of food.

Good lure options for the golden perch have been lipless crankbaits, blades, small hardbody lures and suspending hardbody lures. While the fishing is not great yet, when the water clarity settles and water temperatures increase a bit more, get ready because the fishing is going to be extremely good.

CAMPASPE RIVER

The Campaspe River has often been running high and dirty this past month due to the amount of rainfall the region has had. The rainfall and resulting runoff has seen the water clarity reduce significantly in the Campaspe River.

With the current conditions, fishing reports from this system have been few and far between. If you are planning to fish the Campaspe River over the next couple of months always check the conditions before going. There is a high chance that the Campaspe River will experience some flooding events over the next couple of months. After these flooding events when the river settles some very good fishing will be experienced by anglers.

Bait fishing always is a good option in the dirtier water. Shrimp, worms and yabbies are good bait selections in the river. For those anglers fishing with lures, bright ultraviolet colours such as pink, orange, chartreuse and fluoro purple are great colour choices in the dirtier water.

Good areas to target over the next couple of months can be below any weirs because with the high flows down the river’s system, good numbers of fish can concentrate in these areas. CAIRN CURRAN

Water levels have also increased significantly at this location over the last month. Cairn Curran is currently at 97% of capacity. I recently had a local angler contact me to inform me that the boat ramps had been closed at this location and recreational users were unable to put a boat in. This is concerning as it seems to be a growing trend for the water authorities at the present time to restrict boat access when impoundments reach maximum water levels.

At the time of writing this report, Tullaroop reservoir and Laanecoorie Reservoir have also been closed to boating. During this period the Loddon catchments has experienced some minor flooding. I am all for safety on our waterways but I do not see the logic in closing a reservoir because it is at or near maximum capacity. An argument can be very easily made that when any impoundment or reservoir is near capacity, it is often the safest time to boat the location. These locations all have exclusion zones and marker buoys for no boat access near the dam walls. If these areas were in major flooding and large volumes of debris were on the water and significant current flows etc. I would be more understanding about the action taken. If similar action was taken by other water authorities boat users would not be able to put a boat on nearly any impoundment from Victoria to Queensland because nearly every impoundment is at high levels.

If you are being affected by a closure on your local waterway, contact your local member of parliament and see if you can get clarification on why it has been closed. It is concerning when the State Government is trying to encourage more anglers to get into fishing and issues like restricted access occurs.

I have just received some positive information that the boat ramps at Cairn Curran have just been reopened. But the closures are still current at Tullaroop and Laanecoorie reservoirs.

LODDON RIVER

The Loddon River has been running high and dirty over the last month. The Loddon River has experienced some minor flooding already. There is a very good chance we may see some more flooding events down this system over the next couple of months. Not many anglers have been fishing the Loddon River over the last month due to the current conditions.

If planning a trip to the Loddon River over the next couple of months it will pay to check the conditions before going. While the water clarity remains poor, the most productive fishing will continue to be by those anglers fishing with bait. When the current flows reduce and the river settles and water clarity starts to improve, there will be some very productive lure fishing. Unfortunately, with the current conditions this is nearly impossible to predict.

My advice is to keep an eye on the impoundments water levels and a couple of weeks after they drop and water flows reduce, then the water clarity will be starting to improve and this will be a good time to head out and start chasing some fish on your favourite lures.