By BRIAN LONG
ONLY the most diehard or desperate anglers hit the waterways this week but some those who did posted exceptional results.
While captures were extremely rare there were a few who certainly had the points on the board.
The best report for the week came from local angler Glenn McCarthy and while his capture wasn’t local the sheer size of his fish made for bragging rights.
Glenn made his annual trip to the wilds of Papua New Guinea, having landed literally thousands of barramundi in his lifetime.
But the one on this trip was a true bragger – 52lbs of silver power. The amazing part was that another angler on the same trip caught an even better specimen, a massive 70lb monster.
It looks like PNG is the place to get out of this cold winter weather.
Closer to home, Lake Tooliorook once again saw some quality trout with both rainbow and browns to be had.
Trolling became difficult in the winds but those prepared to make the walk to get on the lee side returned with quality fish.
Casting lures such as Tiger Minnows and Bob ‘n’ Spoons were all that was needed, with bait anglers finding both Powerbait or mudeye best.
Deep Lake is extremely low and has now turned a worrying shade of green. Hopefully the lake receives an influx of water otherwise we will lose this waterway come summer.
Lake Fyans has also been worthwhile, chasing trout to better than 1.5kg with lure anglers finding the majority of fish. Anyone looking to baitfish is advised to use mudeye.
Why anyone fished Moorabool Reservoir this week is beyond me but one angler to brave the near zero degree weather was Damian Faithfull. Fishing the lee shore with mudeye he returned three nice brown trout all around 1.5kgs, although he did have the lake to himself.
Lake Eildon has attracted many anglers and while the fishing hasn’t been red hot, for those prepared to troll the timberline, trout to 2kgs have been taken. Tassie devils in any of the brighter colours have been a favourite of the locals of late.
Hepburn Lagoon also saw few anglers but Noel Fitzgerald put in the hours with great results. While he only averaging one fish per trip, he all have been more than 2kgs over the past month, using the metal Bend Back and Natural spoons for all his catches.
Lake Elingamite’s shallow launching area has restricted all but those with small craft from fishing this fantastic lake. Trout better than 2kgs are being caught both on mudeye and lure. Reports say that slowly worked bibbed lures cast along the weed beds will offer your best chances of landing a fish.
With the Barwon River running high and discoloured in Geelong, all Grant Malone has been catching is eels. Deciding to hit the estuary area for something different on the rising tide alas once again all he caught was eels but among them he managed to grass a beauty weighing 3.2kgs.
Many other anglers are reporting quality eel fishing from Breakwater all the way to Barwon Heads.
Captures from Corio Bay have been down as expected due to the conditions. This is not to say fish are not available – fishing soft plastics around North Shore, Paul Barnett managed a mixed bag including salmon, snapper, trevalla and flathead.
When weather has allowed, whiting are being caught between Queenscliff and St Leonards. Towards the entrance to Swan Bay has been best, with fresh squid and pippies the top baits.
Anglers in the know will be well aware that this time of the year, producing gale force winds, St Leonards pier is the place to head, known for producing great snapper fishing when the water is discoloured and rough. You just need to tough it out.
While offshore winds allow easy casting along the coast, the swells have been trying to say the least. This week the only good reports of salmon have been from those fishing the better rock platforms between Lorne and Apollo Bay. The beaches have been discoloured and just not worth fishing.
This weekend lure casting from the rocks will be worthwhile for the salmon and the afternoon high tides will see best action.
Send reports and photos to info@raylongtackle.com.au or visit Brian at Ray Long’s Fishing World, 105 Shannon Ave, Manifold Heights.
