Geoff Wilson’s Fishing Knots And Rigs

Scott Gray with his tiger trout from Lake Purrumbete.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Catching the last of the outgoing tide off Curlewis on Wednesday morning. Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien plucked around 20 whiting from five metres of water at one of their previous hotspots before the bite petered out.

Moving to yet another previously productive spot down toward Leopold, produced only a couple of small fish, not really what they were after.

So, with the tide due to begin running in quite soon, they moved back to where they’d started, waiting patiently for the flood tide to kick in, which, as expected, triggered another good bite that had them topping off their respective bag limits of keepers from 33 to 40 cm by early afternoon.

Taking a run down to Queenscliff on Friday afternoon, Darcy Scott was on his Cottage by his Sea mark mid-way through the incoming tide at 4.30 or so, and – using squid for bait – caught seven beautiful whiting, all well over the 40 cm mark before the bite shut down before dark.

Seeking information from a confidential source to answer a reader’s question about mulloway produced no information, not on mulloway anyway.

However, I was told that estuary perch, adult fish to 45 cm, which – from my understanding would be larger than those released by the VFA in recent years – have had something of a following by local anglers of late with one of the hotspots reportedly being at the Sheepwash boat ramp, particularly at night after the solar powered light goes off.

John Gray with a brown trout he caught from Deep Creek, a water adjacent to Tullaroop Reservoir.

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that a variety of fish, including brown trout to 4.5 kg, have been taken from the lake, some on lures, others on mudeyes suspended under a float.

Warrnambool fishing identity Scott Gray was among the mix with a tiger trout of around 3 kg and a couple of chinook salmon, all taken on lures.

However, redfin have been the main catch said John with John Hewitt from Port Fairy taking them to 42 cm on scrubworms.

And, speaking of redfin, on Friday morning, Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters, and his mate Kenny Rogers, headed out onto the lake in bitterly cold but ameliorating conditions, following the storm front that went through late on Thursday night.

They too did well on the reddies, finishing up with 60 keepers to 42 cm, and that’s not including a number of small ones they returned, Michael crediting their success to the use of Dizzy Scent on their baits and lures.

A little further afield, Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that although Tullaroop Reservoir remains heavily discoloured and not a good fishing proposition, Deep Creek, which runs into that water has been producing some reasonable brown trout, Robert Baxter, and John Gray both being successful here.

Following requests from the club to VFA to stock Maryborough’s Goldfields Reservoir, it received around 350 brown trout that benefitted young anglers like Nathan Eales 4, who – while accompanied by his father –Stephen, managed to pluck a pan size specimen from here.

Abe asks:

Geoff, when do the mulloway come into the Barwon, and what’s the best way to catch one?

Abe, although I’ve had no recent reports of mulloway being caught from the Barwon, the wide variety of other fish currently on offer from here suggests there is no reason for mulloway not to be present at this time of year.

I assume you are fishing land based. That being the case you could try from the old fisherman’s wharf in front of the foreshore caravan park, just downstream from the restaurant, but it can be difficult to find a park here.

A good time to fish here would be during any evening low tide change –the last of the ebb and the start of the flood – as would be the case this coming weekend. Fresh squid is an excellent bait along with live salmon or mullet or the fillets from same.

There are also a good many options upstream that include the various structures erected within the Sheepwash, and from the bank upstream to the end of River Parade, and beyond.

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.

Matt Cooper and Rici Redditch with the pregnant gummy shark that they released offshore from Breamlea (Picture: Ian Tipping).

Offshore

Heading out off Breamlea at daybreak early last week, Rici Hedditch, Matt Cooper and their captain, Ian Tipping, first tried their luck in around 25 metres of water where they caught several slimy mackerel for bait, and using same, soon hooked a good size fish.

What they eventually subdued was a pregnant, female gummy shark of at least 30 kg that they released after taking a photo.

A second gummy shark was lost after becoming tail-wrapped in the line. Another soon followed though, along with a catch of nine snapper from 2 to 4 kg and a sevengilled shark that topped off their catch before heading back to the ramp at around 11.30.

Nathan Halliwell 10, with the 52 cm flathead he caught off Thirteenth Beach (Picture: David Halliwell).

From the beach

Fishing Thirteenth Beach early last week, David Halliwell and his ten-year-old son Nathan were hoping to catch a few salmon.

They had no luck there, but Nathan caught a 52 cm flathead on the pilchard he was using for bait: A surprise but welcome catch.

Part of Jacinta Kelly’s catch was this 48.5 cm redfin from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: John Clements).

Freshwater

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that there are chinook salmon to be caught with most around the kilogram mark. Highton angler Les Broughton had no trouble taking a bag limit catch on cut pilchards suspended above the bottom.

John also reports that redfin is still very much on offer and among those to catch them was Drysdale’s Jacinta Kelly whose biggest fish – which was caught on scrubworms – measured 48.5 cm.

And while other species have been on offer, said John, Tiger trout from one to 2 kg have been taking mudeyes fished beneath floats by anglers seeking brown trout, which seem to become most active during the last hour of daylight.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

I have no reports from Corio Bay this week, mainly because the strong northerlies and nor-westerlies have kept most folk ashore.

Land-based anglers continue to catch snapper from the Portarlington breakwater though, and according to Jeff Richards, one of his neighbours – who is a little publicity shy – caught several fish to 5 kg here last week.

However, Simon Werner tried his luck here again on Sunday morning, and while he caught no large fish, he did catch pinkie snapper to 32 cm that were only too eager to take his baits.

A sign alerting potential ramp users that Avalon Ramp is no longer available for public use. Fair enough I suppose, but it’s right down the bottom of Avalon Beach Road where anybody, unknowingly venturing to the ramp, may find it difficult to turn around with a boat in tow.

Avalon Beach boat ramp upgrade

With strong north and nor-westerly winds, like we’ve had over the past week or so, Corio Bay anglers have historically had access to the Avalon Beach boat ramp on Corio Bay’s northern shoreline, which has always enabled the sheltered launch and retrieval of boats.

However, with major works planned for this facility, and already begun, that won’t be the case until those works have been completed by the nominated time of October: Of course, with historic delays of such works, that timeframe may be extended.

And, in addition to that – particularly with the expected increase in traffic on completion of this upgrade – once having crossed the Dandos Road intersection, the road’s pavement to Avalon Beach and the boat ramp turn-off – some 2.5 kilometres – still narrows to the point that it’s only wide enough to permit the passage of one vehicle.

So, when two vehicles towing boats, each travelling in opposite directions must pass, both must put their respective offside wheels off the road’s shoulder and into the soft roadside earth, creating a potentially unsafe situation.

Col Asks:

Geoff, how do you know at what tension to set the drag on your reel? I’ve heard it should be one third the breaking strain of your line, is that right?

Col, drag settings based on a proportion of the line’s breaking strain only apply to designated I.G.F.A. line class tackle for game fishing.

Assuming you have a spring-balance or other scales and are using a reel with a facility to pre-set the drag, you can easily ascertain your primary drag setting by first threading line through the rod’s guides and tying off the end to your scales.

Then, with your rod in a secure holder, you can increase tension on the line until the rod is loaded to the point where it becomes obvious the reel should be yielding line. At that point, a reading from the scales will indicate your primary drag setting.

Selin Rahman with her prize-winning brown trout from Dartmouth Reservoir (Picture: Paul Rahman).

Dartmouth Fishing Classic

The Dartmouth Fishing Classic, held over the weekend, attracted some 450 entries, and was won by a Geelong team consisting of Selin Rahman, Paul Rahman, Goran Rahman, Matthew Ribcak and Wally Ribcak, their best ten fish weighing 10.36 kg gilled and gutted.

They also took the biggest rainbow trout for Saturday and Sunday and the biggest brown trout, which at 2.25 kg gilled and gutted, was the biggest fish taken during the competition.

Barry Stewart with the 103 cm Murray cod that he caught from Lake Mulwala (Picture: Maryborough Angling Club).

Hopkins Bream

Fishing the Hopkins River adjacent to Warrnambool’s Deakin University from before daybreak on Sunday morning, Martinus de Lange was after bream, and – well supplied with scrubworms and prawns – fancied his chances.

Initially though, those he caught were a bit on the small side and were released. Nevertheless, he persisted, and was rewarded for doing so with a couple of keepers to 39 cm.

Martinus de Lange with a couple of nice bream from the Hopkins River at Warrnambool.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Fishing for whiting off Curlewis early last week, Andrew Johnson and wife Jenny found the going a bit hard at first catching mainly small fish that they returned before searching for greener pastures.

Eventually they found a purple patch of good size fish in around 4 metres of water, topping off their respective bag limits of fish to 39 cm.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that with good weather on Sunday, a good many boats were on the water with flathead the main catch.

Mike also mentions that there are squid to be caught between the old jetty ruins east of the boat ramp and the new jetty, with a few decent size specimens among them.

Snapper are still being caught from the Portarlington breakwater. Among those to catch them was Simon Werner who caught one of 48 cm at the weekend, while another angler fishing nearby caught two, one of 48 cm and another of 52 cm.

Picking a break in the weather on Sunday, Jason Treloar and Harley Griffiths made an early start off St Leonards after the squid, and – catching the last of the rising tide – had no trouble picking up a respectable catch of 18 on the drift.

Nick Tamburro with a nice brown trout from Lake Purrumbete.

Freshwater

Making yet another trip to Wurdiboluc Reservoir last week, Michael Evans picked up some nice redfin, the biggest measuring 47 cm, taken on his old faithful Nories Wasabi Spoon: It just goes to show that we have at least one productive freshwater venue close to Geelong.

John Clements of Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that among the successful anglers on Lake Purrumbete at the weekend were Nick and Matthew Tamburro who caught a mixed bag of fish including brown and rainbow trout, chinook salmon and redfin.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that although Tullaroop and Cairn Curran Reservoirs have been quiet of late, members have done well farther afield.

Among them was Barry Stewart who caught a 103 cm Murray cod from Lake Mulwala on dusk while casting a surface-running lure in only 1.5 metres of water.

Greg Streets and Leonie Jones from Stawell fished Lake Lonsdale, picking up 21 really good size redfin on Beetlespins and soft plastics, while others made the journey to Waranga Basin at Rushworth to get amongst the redfin up there.

With school holidays at hand, venues stocked with rainbow trout include St Augustine’s water hole at Waurn Ponds, Lethbridge Lake at Lethbridge and Bannockburn Lagoon.

Oliver asks:

Geoff, I’ve heard that if you wind braid onto your reel under too much tension it can spread the spool and damage the reel. Is that true?

Oliver, the problem of which you speak becomes manifest when spooling up some reels – as distinct from highly engineered game reels – with monofilament, not braided, or fused, gelspun lines, all of which are commonly, but questionably, referred to as braid.

This is because, monofilament – after being wound onto the reel under tension – stretches, becoming slightly thinner in the process and expands once on the spool, exerting significant lateral pressure on the side plates.

On the other hand, gelspun lines maintain their diameter throughout the spooling process, and because of this, exert no lateral pressure after being wound onto the spool under elevated tension.

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, on messenger, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.

Shane Handley with the 82 cm snapper he caught and released from one of the North Shore fishing platforms (Picture: Matt Handley).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Shane Handley, a proficient angler over a wide spectrum of piscatorial pursuits, releases most of the fish he catches, but – approached by brother Matt who wanted to catch a pinkie or two for the table last week – suggested they try from the North Shore fishing platforms adjacent to Lascelles Wharf.

Shane was first cab off the rank at around 8.00 am, but it was clearly no pinkie he’d hooked, it was in fact an 82 cm snapper that Shane suggested they release, and – after Matt took a picture – did so, much to the chagrin of other anglers fishing nearby.

Their next fish was a 55 cm pinkie, which they kept, releasing another of around 30 cm. These were followed by a somewhat unusual catch of two flying gurnard or latchet; one, a beauty of 50 odd cm.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that whiting and squid remain on offer, and among those to catch them was Garry Ridgeway.

Fishing off Curlewis in 5.2 metres of water on Thursday, Garry’s catch included 12 good size whiting, all taken on squid – of which he caught another five on that outing – along with a good size flathead.

On Friday morning, Andrew Johnson and Denis O’Brien were fortunate to drop right onto a hot bite, also off Curlewis, where – in 5.5 metres of water – they had bag limit catches of whiting to 43 cm by 10.30 am.

So, with the day still young, they fished on the drift for squid, striking a motherload just offshore from the Clifton Springs ramp. However, their initial count of twenty was a little optimistic, because – once ashore – a second count revealed they’d caught only 19.

Making an early morning start to catch the first of Sunday morning’s incoming tide near Coles Beacon off the mouth of Swan Bay, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck were greeted with calm seas and drizzling rain but made a promising start on the whiting.

However, leatherjackets and yellowtail scad soon began moving in on their baits obliging them to move, more than once as it turned out, but they eventually took a bag-limit catch of whiting to 44 cm.

With the tide still coming in, they broke out the squid jigs, and fishing on the drift, eventually picked up a second bag-limit catch, and there were some really good-size specimens among those as well.

Jimmy Oldani with a sample of his catch from Lake Purrumbete (Picture: John Clements).

From the beach

Early last week, Ray Millman headed down to his usual surf fishing spot just past Eastern View, only to find the ground swell just too challenging for the relatively light tackle he was using, so he went to the Lorne Pier instead.

The westerly breeze made it ideal for trying out his new, 20-gram shore-jigging lure, which is designed to remain active when paused on the retrieve, a feature allowing it to be more effective from elevated platforms like piers.

Fishing here from around 8.30 am, he picked up a dozen salmon, including one that later weighed 2 kg, which was lifted onto the pier courtesy of a crab fisherman who provided his crab net for that purpose.

Dan Gallardo with a nice brown trout from Wurdiboluc Reservoir.

Freshwater

Wurdiboluc Reservoir has been a reliable destination for anglers seeking redfin and trout (both rainbow and brown). Among those to take advantage last week was Dan Gallardo whose catch included a brown trout of about a kilogram that took a Strike Pro Bob’n Spoon.

Mark Richards hadn’t intended to fish Wurdi, but a job assignment he had out that way was postponed, so – accustomed as he was to carry his fly rod in the van – took a short detour to the reservoir, and casting the fly, caught and released a brown trout that he estimated at close to 2 kg, along with several redfin.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that the lake is fishing well, and among the successful anglers was Newport angler Jimmy Oldani who caught several chinook salmon fishing pilchard fillets just above the bottom at some depth.

And that wasn’t the only string to Jimmy’s bow for he settled in on the redfin, fishing both with scrubworms for bait, and a bladed Hester lure, his catch being almost enough to cover the cleaning table.

Adamas Fishing Charters client Alex with the snapper he caught outside Port Phillip Heads on Saturday (Picture Rodney Lawn).

Offshore

Adamas Fishing Charters’ deckhand Simon Werner, reports that on Saturday, clients finished with a great mixed bag of fish off Port Phillip Heads in around 40 metres of water.

It included snapper to at least 5 kg, snotty trevalla (warehou) to a kilogram or so, any amount of slimy mackerel, and a 1.5 metre school shark.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Picking a break in the weather last week, Carol and Gordon Williams were out off Clifton Springs after the whiting, initially with little to show for it.

However, with the flood tide predicted for early afternoon, they stuck it out and were rewarded for doing so, despite the deteriorating conditions with wind against tide.

While they finished somewhat shy of their respective bag limits, the fish they caught were of good size, with their bigger fish in the 40 cm range.

Andrew Johnson and Denis O’Brien were confronted with the same conditions early last week with the added annoyance of small whiting taking their baits, but they persisted, eventually finishing up with 13 keepers, the biggest of which measured 42 cm.

With half decent weather on Sunday, apart from intermittent showers, Jason Taylor and Harley Griffiths headed out toward Point Henry where legal-size pinkie snapper, salmon, and small but legal-size flathead – although nothing to write home about – kept them busy.

But, at around 2.30 in the afternoon, Jason hooked a much better fish which turned out to be a snapper of possibly 3 kg that look a liking to the whitebait he was using. And, although they fished on for a while after that, it remained the catch of the day.

While Jeff Richards of Indented Head had nothing to report himself, he’s let on that one of his neighbours, who prefers not to be named, has been taking snapper from the Portarlington breakwater, mostly of an evening, with some really good size fish among them.

Barwon Heads

Fishing Sunday’s incoming tide upstream from the Barwon Heads Bridge, and – using pipis and pilchard fillets for bait – Murray and Darcy Scott caught a smorgasbord of fish from salmon to silver trevally.

Admittedly some they caught were a bit on the small size and were returned. However, their biggest trevally would have been a kilogram and the salmon were up to 35 cm. And, in addition, they caught several King George whiting and a half dozen respectable mullet.

Tony Ingram reports that he and Col Simmons had planned to fish one of the local beaches over the weekend with good reports of salmon being caught of late, but a preliminary drive along the coast gave them second thoughts because of the heavy ground swell.

Instead, they fished the evening high tide from the Barwon estuary, but apart from hooking something large, probably a ray which escaped, they had to settle for an elephant fish and several small but legal-size salmon.

Three-year-old Mason Eales with a redfin from Cairn Curran Reservoir (Picture Stephen Eales).

Freshwater

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Club says he’s been out of action for a week or so with crook back. However, he mentions that club member Stephen Eales, who took his 3-year-old son Mason with him, hit a good patch of redfin at Cairn Curran Reservoir at the weekend; a good sign considering that this water has been quiet of late.

Another club member, David Fitzallen, caught a couple of 60 odd cm cod during a recent visit to the Loddon River, just out of Bridgewater, using cheese for bait.

David Maltsby (right) with a 44cm redfin from Lake Purrumbete, his dad Hughie and his old mate Gordon (left). Picture: John Clements).

Victor asks:

Geoff, I’m keen to give the winter snapper a go in Corio Bay this year. When should I begin and where should I go?

Victor, they begin turning up from now on and should be present throughout the winter. Although some have been caught during the day, most are caught at night and through the early hours of the morning.

Assuming you have a boat, then you might try – preferably with your sounder running – along the edges of the Corio Channel off North Shore.

Some years they turn up in the Grammar School Lagoon with the first three hours of the incoming tide a good time to try in 2-3 metres of water offshore from the Corio Bay Sailing Club.

Please send your reports to geoffw10@optusnet.com.au, or by phone, 03 5248 1307.

Ray Millman, with a sample of his salmon catch.

Off the Beach

After their successful outing described in last week’s report, Ray Millman and Kalon Stavris made a daybreak start along the Great Ocean Road at Spout Creek on Friday where they caught several nice salmon immediately, but shortly after sunrise the bite shut down, so they moved to the Lorne Pier.

They caught several salmon here as well, but it was far from a savage bite with fish visibly following their lures with only the occasional strike. Add to that, the intermittent rain showers, they eventually called it quits.

Michael Evans took this photo of a 44 cm redfin he caught from Wurdiboluc Reservoir.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Heading out off Curlewis after the whiting early on Thursday morning, Andrew Johnson and Denis O’Brien picked up half a dozen fish before a swarm of small leatherjackets moved in on their baits persuading them to try out a little deeper.

After making a few more moves, they finished up on a good bite in 6.5 metres of water off Leopold where they topped off their respective bag limit catches of keepers to 43 cm.

John Clements sent in this photo showing the size of the tiger trout being caught from Lake Purrumbete.

Michael Evans with his 64 cm brown trout from Wurdiboluc Reservoir.

Barwon River

Fishing the incoming tide in the Barwon estuary, just downstream from the Ocean Grove boat ramp on Thursday morning, Louie Polgar was catching the usual variety of mullet, salmon, and the occasional whiting.

However, as the flow eased toward high slack water, silver trevally came on the bite. Louie managed to catch four all up, the biggest around the kilogram mark before the bite shut down in the early afternoon.

On Sunday, Murray and Darcy Scott also fished the incoming tide on the Barwon estuary for much the same result, that also included four silver trevally, three around the kilogram mark and one that would have nudged two kilograms had they bothered to weigh it.

However, the salmon and mullet were destined for bait on the bay, hopefully to tempt a snapper, but in vain as it turned out – for unlike on the Barwon – there wasn’t much doing.

Jan Logan of the Maryborough Angling Club with a 63 cm Murray cod from Lake Mulwala.

Ken Hinks with his competition winning cod from Lake Mulwala.

Freshwater

A lure-casting session with a Nories Wasabi Spoon at Wurdiboluc Reservoir proved a rewarding exercise for Michael Evans of Victorian Inland Charters last week, taking redfin to 44 cm and a brown trout that measured 64 cm.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that the club had a competition on Lake Mulwala at the weekend with 31 members in attendance.

Unfortunately, Sunday was a wipe-out with the weather, but on Saturday, quite a few fish were caught with Ken Hinks able to tell the tale of a very large Murray cod that escaped. Nevertheless, Ken still managed to win the competition with a cod of 65 cm.

Vicki Martin with a 63 cm cod from Lake Mulwala.

Don Rayner with yet another cod from Lake Mulwala.

Runners up were John Gray, Jan Logan and Vicki Martin, all with cod measuring 63 cm.

John also mentions that, according to his friend Greg Hicks, Waranga Basin at Rushworth is fishing well for redfin, and that anyone prepared to do the trip (240 km from Geelong), should do well.

Snobs Creek fish stocking coordinator Rhiannon Atkinson advises that both Lakes Purrumbete and Bullen Merri will receive the last of the tiger trout allocation for this year on Thursday, May 25; Purrumbete first at around 3.00 pm, followed by Bullen Merri at 4.00-4.30 pm.

Should you wish to attend, please contact Rhiannon on 0407 987 016 or by email on rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au to be advised of any updates.

Michael Behrens with the mulloway that he and his father Jamie caught from the Maroochy River in Queensland on Friday night.

Maroochydore

Jamie Behrens of Maroochydore in Queensland, along with his son Michael – launched on the Maroochy River on Friday evening hoping to catch a mulloway, and – with mullet jumping everywhere – their hopes were high.

As it happened, they caught two mulloway, one of 12.5 kg, the other at 16 kg. Both were caught – as you might expect – using live mullet for bait. But that was by no means the end of their mulloway fishing quest.

They went out again on Saturday evening and caught three more of approximately 10kg, 14kg and 15kg, all of which – on this occasion – were tagged and released.

Nicolai asks:

Geoff, I’ve been told that balloons must be of a certain colour and size to ensure success when live-baiting for kingfish. What is significant about the colour and size of balloons when live-baiting?

Nicolai, despite risking howls of protest from those who swear by certain colours and sizes, the sole purpose of a balloon when using either live or dead baits, is to suspend the bait from the surface, no more and no less.

Of more importance than colour or size, is that you trim the lip from the balloon, so that it doesn’t foul the loop of line onto which it is tied. Failure to do this could cost you a fish as it has others, me included.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club with one of the Murray Cod he caught and released during round 2 of the Teams Fishing Australia event held on Lake Mulwala over the weekend (Picture: Maryborough Angling Club).

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

With a break in the weather and calm seas early last week, Garry Ridgeway headed out off Clifton Springs after the whiting, and anchored up in just over 4 metres of water by 1.30 pm, just out from the long jetty ruins, found perhaps, more action than he’d bargained for.

By 4.30 pm he’d caught his bag limit of whiting, including several over 40 cm, along with five squid, one nudging 2 kg, a rewarding session certainly, but interrupted by an uninvited dinner guest; a bronze whaler of possibly 2.5 metres that had Garry hurriedly retrieving his lines and berley bag.

Considering the water temperature in the bay is only about 16.5 Celsius, I asked if he thought it might have been a colder water species. But no, he’s seen enough bronzies to know.

Fortunately, after making several passes below, beside and around his boat – but with nothing to hold its interest – it eventually moved on.

On Thursday, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien started well off Curlewis, catching fifteen whiting in quick succession before all went quiet. But, after a series of moves, they found another good patch in 6 metres of water off Leopold, finishing off their respective bag limits of fish to 43 cm.

And that’s normal with the excellent state of our whiting fishery, but finding one of their larger fish, at 41 cm in full roe was a surprise, given the present understanding that they customarily spawn offshore rather than inside the bay.

Heading out from Portarlington’s Fairfax Street ramp on Thursday afternoon, Simon Werner fished on the drift just off Steeles Rocks where squid were initially hard to come by, but – after putting in a three-hour session – he finished up with his bag limit of ten that included some big ones.

And indeed, Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that squid have been the main capture of late.

Off the Beach

Arriving at Jan Juc early on Thursday morning, Ray Millman rigged up with his ever-dependable 42-gram Savage Sea Missile in front of Life Saving Club building where he’d previously been successful on the salmon, and with a rising tide, he was hopeful.

Initially, there wasn’t much doing, but after several casts he captured a salmon, the first of a dozen or so as it turned out, the biggest around the kilogram mark.

A King George Whiting in full Roe, an unusual catch from Corio Bay (Picture: Andrew Johnson).

Freshwater

Over the weekend, Maryborough Angling Club Members Kevin Wild, Stephen Eales and Rob Baxter – under the “Goldfields Campers” banner – fished round 2 of the “Teams Fishing Australia” catch, photograph and release series of events, this time on Lake Mulwala.

While they caught good samples of cod and yellowbelly they weren’t in the winner’s circle, which required the highest total measurement from 5 of each of those species.

That honour went to Team 9, of Jack Hocking, Peter Howell, and Brad Murray – under the “Hogans Heroes” banner – who picked up a cheque for $10,000 for their catch that included their biggest cod at 114.5 cm and their biggest yellowbelly at 59 cm.

With redfin still on the bite at Lake Lonsdale up past Stawell, Kevin reports that Maryborough Angling Club members, including Ken Hinks, have continued to make the 100 plus kilometer journey, and continue to be rewarded with some very large redfin.

While the reddies would probably respond to a variety of presentations, trolling various lures, including Beetlespins, and jigging with soft plastics, has continued to produce redfin, some well over the 45 cm mark.

Keith asks:

Geoff, an article I read suggested the use of a running sinker for snapper: What is a running sinker?

Keith, rigging a running sinker rig is initiated by first threading your line through a small to medium sized ball sinker before tying on your hook, or alternatively, a short leader – preferably about twice the strength of your main line – with a hook at one end and a swivel or ring at the other.

This rig enables any fish picking up the bait to pull line freely through the sinker rather than dragging the sinker along behind, and maybe spooking it, as might be the case if the sinker were fixed to the line.

Andrew Phillips with a sample of his, and companion Tony’s snapper catch.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Taking a run out off Avalon on Wednesday, Andrew Phillips and Tony Greck began a pre-dawn patrol with the sounder running, eager to pick up any hint of a snapper, but without success: So, it was time to look elsewhere.

Moving toward the Wilson Spit, a promising echo in 8.5 metres of water at around 7.00 am had them at actions stations, their baits of silver whiting being immediately taken by two snapper of 6.8 and 5.5 kg.

All was quiet after that though, but a plethora of banjo sharks moving in on their baits, along with a gathering a north easterly, had them packing up to go, but not before they hooked up once more, this time to a 5 kg snapper.

Adamas client Zoe with a kingfish she caught last week (Picture: Rodney Lawn).

With good weather holding on until Wednesday, Andrew Johnson headed out to a previously productive spot off Curlewis where he caught six good-size whiting in quick succession before they went of the bite.

Moving around didn’t help much either, accounting for only four additional fish before he returned to the ramp.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat hire reports that whiting have been somewhat hit and miss lately, but they were certainly on the go on Sunday.

Among those to do well were Adam Azman and Omar Moe who picked up bag limit catches of whiting to 44 cm while fishing between the old jetty and the mussel farm.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that there was good fishing early last week with good catches of squid and whiting, but after the spell of cooler weather last week the fishing has deteriorated.

However, Simon Werner and Michael Dean tried their luck on the last of Saturday evening’s run out tide off St Leonards that yielded a catch of 22 whiting from 34 to 42 cm before the bite shut down on dark.

Amber Wild with a couple of redfin from Lake Lonsdale (Picture: Kevin Wild).

Tony Spiteri of the Altona Angling Club took this 2.4 kg brown trout while downrigging on Lake Purrumbete (Picture: John Clements).

Freshwater

Maryborough Angling Club members, Kevin and Amber Wild, and Don Rayner, headed off to Lake Lonsdale at the weekend to find recent publicity on this productive redfin water had attracted many anglers.

Still, there were still plenty of fish to go around, the trio catching any amount of redfin to 1.8 kg, all taken on lures.

Kevin also reports that Cairn Curran Reservoir, which has been somewhat quiet of late, showed promise last week, for – when taking his dogs for a swim – Don Rayner soaked a few worms from the bank that were eagerly taken by redfin, which although small, were plentiful.

Kevin also reports that Maryborough angler Darren Watts’ three-hour trip to Steven’s Weir on the Edward River, Deniliquin, paid off with several Murray cod on lures, including two measuring 60 and 68 cm.

There’s not much from the crater lakes this week, but Mark Richards picked up three rainbow trout to 1.3 kg from Lake Purrumbete on the fly last week.

3000 odd yearling chinook salmon are scheduled for release into Lake Purrumbete over three occasions this month, the first on Thursday May 4 at 1.15, the second on Wednesday May 10, and the third on Tuesday May16.

Should you wish to attend any of these events, please contact fish stocking coordinator, Rhiannon Atkinson either by phone on 0407 987 016, or by email on rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au for any updates to that plan.

Frank asks

Geoff, have you any reports from lake Colac? I heard that it was stocked with about 15,000 rainbow trout and some yellowbelly in 2021, but I can’t find any reports. Have you any info on this water?

Frank, my information is that, although Lake Colac has been stocked with rainbow trout, you are likely to catch ten carp for every rainbow. That is reportedly the case, regardless of the approach.

The average weight of the rainbow trout taken from here lately is about 650 grams, with a few larger fish on offer, but to date, I have no verifiable reports of yellowbelly being caught from here.

On the positive side, the lake is a good deal higher than it has been in recent years and, as such, has survived the summer with good water levels. Perhaps your lure-casting expertise may work here, but then, nothing is certain in fishing

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

Taking another run to the southern end of the Wilson Spit from Clifton Springs, Chris Stamalos – whose catch we featured last week – picked up yet another snapper of 5 kg, this time just on dusk, again on a fillet from an Australian salmon he caught from the Barwon estuary.

And, after making a 5.00 am start on Sunday, Andrew Phillips, along with Mark and Tina Sesar, picked up the signal they were looking for in seven metres or water while prowling one of their usual haunts off Avalon’s Mountain View Quarries.

They were snapper alright, and by 8.00 am they’d each taken their respective bag limits of fish from 3 to 6.5 kg, releasing two others that became hooked before they could retrieve the rest of their lines.

Stuart Scott’s coral trout from Corio Bay.

Surprise capture

Launching at Avalon last week, Stuart Scott’s attention was drawn to a disturbance on the water’s surface some 200 metres out from the ramp.

Motoring over, he could see it was caused by a fish flapping at the surface, but nothing like he’d ever seen in the bay before, in fact it looked like a coral trout, a tropical species decidedly out of place in our waters.

Having subdued the fish and alerted marine research staff at VFA, the fish was indeed identified as a coral trout, an in-depth examination of same now being undertaken, purportedly at the Melbourne Museum.

On Thursday morning, Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien fished off Curlewis hopeful of a good whiting catch, but initially there wasn’t much doing.

However, once the tide began coming in, they didn’t have very long to wait before they came on the bite, and – anchored up in five metres of water – they soon took their respective bag limit catches of really good size fish.

Mike Windsor of Clifton Springs Boat Hire reports that with mild weather, the ramp has been busy with good catches of whiting and garfish being taken just offshore, and there’s squid to be caught off The Dell.

Flathead too have been a drawcard said Mike, with Brandon, Bowie Kee, and their family, taking 24 on Sunday, along with a gummy shark.

Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports that the mild weather encouraged family-based outings rather than serious fishermen.

Nevertheless, modest catches of squid and whiting were taken, and – as has been the case within Corio Bay – garfish were also a welcome presence.

Simon Werner, along with son Jayden and friend Terry Begg, fished on the drift off Indented Head, and – although the action was a little slower than they would have liked – they caught 22 squid of varying sizes.

Alex Smith with a one of the kingfish she caught from Adamas Charters (Picture: Rodney Lawn).

Archie Tyler with a kingfish that he caught from Adamas Charters (Picture: Rodney Lawn).

Offshore

On deck duties aboard Adamas Charters on Thursday, Simon Werner had a berley trail going on the drift in 40-55 metres of water off Ocean Grove that attracted a school of kingfish.

The appropriate baits and rigs were prepared for clients who caught several from 65 to 90 cm; an unexpected but welcome catch.

One of the rainbow trout Frank Benvenuto caught from Wurdiboluc Reservoir.

Amber Wild with a catfish she caught from Lake Tchum (Picture: Kevin Wild).

Freshwater

Early on Thursday morning, Frank Benvenuto made the trip to Wurdiboluc Reservoir, investing a couple of hours casting a pink, Strike-Pro Bob’n Spoon. And not in vain as it turned out, for he caught two pan-size rainbow trout.

Kevin Wild of the Maryborough Angling Club reports that on the club’s outing to Lake Tchum, some two hours north on the Birchip Wycheproof Road, the main species caught was catfish, the biggest measuring 54 cm. Two other species on offer, in modest sizes, were rainbow trout and redfin.

However, club members Darren Watts and Greg Street, on separate trips, fished Lake Lonsdale just up past Stawell, renowned of late for its catches of large redfin. And it didn’t disappoint, producing a number of fish over the 40 cm mark.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that redfin remain on offer in 10 to12 metres of water with scrubworms a preferred bait. Some though, have taken good size trout and chinook salmon.

These have included Coby Lesko with a 3 kg tiger trout, Kurt Klimkait with a chinook salmon of similar size, while Tony Spiteri of the Altona Angling Club took a 2.4 kg brown trout at some depth using a downrigger.

Chris Stamalos with the gummy shark and snapper he caught after launching at Clifton Springs last week.

Corio Bay/Bellarine Peninsula

With the whiff of snapper in the air, Chris Stamalos was well prepared, and with undying faith in the use of fresh bait, he first launched on the Barwon estuary where small, but legal-size salmon came on offer with the flood tide.

Then, after launching at Clifton Springs on dusk, he headed off to the old “chair” mark off Curlewis, where – with the sounder ticking over at 7.7 metres – he put the anchor down and waited.

For only a few minutes as it turned out before the growl of his reel heralded his capture of a 6 kg snapper.

With scarcely time to admire his catch, he was on again, this time to what turned out to be a gummy shark of about 4 kg.

Cruising off Avalon in calm conditions in a light easterly on Friday afternoon, and paying close attention to the sounder, Andrew Phillips and Mark Sesar found the unmistakable snapper signature they were looking for.

Out went the anchor, followed by lines baited with squid they’d caught a day or two previously while fishing for whiting, and – as luck would have it – by 6.00 pm they’d caught five snapper to 5.5 kg.

But that was before being blown off the water by the strengthening easterly, making for a rough ride back to the ramp.

Kevin Wild and Don Rayner with a sample of the redfin of offer from Lake Lonsdale.

Their trip on the whiting earlier in the week resulted in a bag limit catch of fish to 44 cm; the bigger fish coming just on as night fell, while fishing in 6.8 metres of water off Point Richards.

The squid they caught consisted not only of southern calamari, but also a couple of large aero squid, which were caught during a lull in the whiting bite, for which the presence of the squid was probably responsible.

Heading out on Thursday morning, also after the whiting, were Andrew Johnson and Dennis O’Brien who initially found slim pickings off one of their usually productive marks off Curlewis.

They moved a couple of times for the same result but decided to stick it out until the early afternoon tide change, whereupon they moved back to their original mark, where – to their delight – the bite was now on!

They ended up with their legal bags of fish and there were some beauties in the 40 to 44 cm range among them: all being taken in five metres of water off Curlewis on squid strips and mussels.

One of the bass Frank Benvenuto caught from the Werribee River last week.

Freshwater

Frank Benvenuto reports that even with the onset of cooler weather, there are still bass to be caught from the Werribee River, both above and below the weir, and on recent trips he’s caught and released several to 40 cm.

On one occasion, he’d also cast out a floating cicada imitation, put the rod in a rod holder at the water’s edge, then resumed spinning from the upper bank.

The mighty splash as a bass smashed the floating cicada lure had Frank scrambling the metre or so down to that outfit, but by that time, the fish had spat the lure out and escaped.

Gary McKay with a 3.6 kg brown trout taken from Lake Purrumbete on the fly (Picture: John Clements).

Shane Stevens with one of several tiger trout he caught from Lake Purrumbete using Bent Minnow lures (Picture: John Clements).

Fishing Wurdiboluc reservoir las week was Simon Werner who caught four nice redfin from the rock wall using small yabbies for bait.

John Clements of the Lake Purrumbete Holiday Park reports that redfin are still on the go, and that he and Steve Cooper cleaned up on scrubworms.

John reports that Shane Stevens from Ballarat caught a number of good size tiger trout on Bent Minnow lures, while Gary McKay caught a 3.6 kg brown trout on the fly.

With the prolific run of redfin at Lake Lonsdale, just past Stawell, Maryborough Angling Club members Kevin Wild and Don Rayner, along with other club members who fished separately, caught 50 odd redfin, the biggest of which measured 50 cm, with a good many over the 40 cm mark.

The most successful lures on this occasion were Beetlespin/soft plastic combinations and “Profishent” rubber vibes.

Fish Stocking Coordinator, Rhiannon Atkinson, advises that some 4000-tiger trout averaging 100 grams, are scheduled for release into Lake Purrumbete at 3.00 pm on Thursday.

Please contact Rhiannon to be advised of any updates should you wish to attend, either on 0407 987 016 or rhiannon.atkinson@vfa.vic.gov.au