Michael Evans with his 5.2 kg brown trout from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: Victorian Inland Charters).
Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters had planned to head home from Lake Purrumbete on Wednesday afternoon, the temptation to have one last fish by himself was tempered by the almost gale force winds blowing across the lake under stormy skies.
But he went out anyway.
Eventually, after three hours of alternating casts along the weed banks with shallow running, and D & A bent minnows, he hooked a chinook salmon of about 60 cm that eventually spat the hook.
That was at around 3.30 pm, but, despite the adverse conditions, Michael persisted into what he called the golden hour; the last hour of daylight. And it was then – as he was about to lift the bent minnow lure from the water for another cast – that he was literally smashed!
Michael eventually won the battle with a brown trout that measured 77 cm and weighed 5.2 kg; his biggest trout taken in Australia. It’s going to be mounted, said Michael, and placed on his “wall of fame.”
Ray Millman with a sample of his salmon catch from Eastern View last week.
From the Beach
Fishing the beaches of Fairhaven and Eastern View initially proved fruitless for Ray Millman last week, but with a high tide just on dusk he persisted, and caught several Australian salmon on his 42-gram Savage Sea Missile up until nightfall.
Returning to Eastern View on the following morning’s high tide, also proved successful for Ray, who – once again – took another good catch of salmon of varying sizes.
Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula
On Friday morning, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien launched at Clifton Springs, and headed down to Curlewis after the whiting, the heavily discoloured water being less of a concern than the somewhat overcast sky threatening rain.
Fortunately, the whiting weren’t hard to find, and by the time the rain set in, each had taken their respective bag limit catches of fish to 44 cm from around 5 metres of water using pipis and strips of squid for bait.
Tullaroop Reservoir
Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that Tullaroop Reservoir is still fishing well, for redfin in particular, with he and John Gray catching any amount on bobbers in around 15 metres of water.
Both brown and rainbow trout have also been on offer, said Kevin, and John hooked one of possibly 3.5 kg – from what they saw of it – but unfortunately, it escaped after diving beneath the boat then throwing the lure at the surface.
As appealing as the redfin are, said Kevin, a number of anglers have been targeting these large trout, a preferred approach being to cruise the margins of the lake, casting lures in toward the shore.
Most of the action, said Kevin, is from the area known as Galloway’s at the southern edge of the lake, with the OSP bent minnow a stand-out lure.
Squid competition
Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club is conducting a squid fishing competition on Saturday, September 10 and Sunday 11, with valuable prizes to be won in each specified category. Entry fee is $10.00 for club members and $20.00 for non-members. Payment may be made at the Leopold Angling Club Rooms on Friday evening Sept 9, or by direct debit to the Club’s Bendigo Bank account, 161 429 220, and referenced with competitor’s name.
Weigh-ins will be held from 3.00 pm Saturday and from 1.00 pm on Sunday with valuable prizes awarded in a variety of sections including secret weights, and sizes based on hood measurements. There will also be raffles, door prizes and drinks at the bar.
Prior to the comp, a Squid fishing information night will be held at 6.30 pm the Leopold Angling and Aquatic Club on Friday, September 2, featuring squid aficionado and research participant, Paul Carter of Gan Craft. Entry to the information night will be from 4.30 pm. Admission to the night is free, with a Barbeque and drinks available at the bar.
Colin asks:
Geoff, I noticed you mentioned berley in your column of 12/07/22. I understand the method described, but don’t know the content of the berley: Can you help with the recipe?
Colin, suitable berley may be made up of minced fish scraps, crushed baitfish like pilchards, preferably with the addition of some tuna, or some other unrefined fish oil.