Trout provide cold comfort

The icy conditions at Lake Bostock around daybreak on Saturday must have been a shock to Daniel Baker when he went fishing for the first time since moving from Queensland two years ago.
Daniel and a mate baited up with worms on a running sinker rig and cast Tassie Devils from the shoreline, landing seven rainbow trout around 800g each on the bait and three browns – two of 2kg and one of 3kg – on the lure as well as a few small redfin.
Brian Long had a midday session at Lake Hepburn, landing five brown trout from 900g to just over 2kg on a Bob ‘N’ Spoon.
Lake Purrumbete continued producing exceptional brown trout and Chinook salmon for anglers stealthily casting lures and flies from the east bank. Trolling Tassie Devils at first light also caught fish.
Next door, Lake Bullen Merri’s Chinook salmon took hard-body lures trolled deep. Steve Prior and Kenny Prior caught a chucky 1.5kg Chinook at first light on Monday using an old-faithful pink Pegron.
Anglers fishing Wurdee Boluc Reservoir caught redfin to 1.5kg on Fish Arrow soft plastics cast amongst the weed beds. Anglers who covered plenty of ground had the best results.
On the saltwater front, calm conditions were productive for squid. Clifton Springs and St Leonards produced the best fish, with depths of 3m to 4m best.
St Leonards also hosted excellent numbers of King George whiting just out from the boat ramp
Geelong’s waterfront was busy with snapper to 45cm over the weekend. Anglers casting gulp three-inch minnows in Watermelon Pearl had great success, particularly on the change of tide.
Julie Donaghy fished Limeburner’s Point boat ramp again, landing eight Australian salmon to an outstanding 2.5kg, which gave her an incredible fight.
The Barwon River estuary produced good numbers of silver trevally on pippies, while bream were caught on live Bass yabbies just up from the Sheepwash.
Anglers casting lures caught salmon from Surf Coast beaches.
Local lakes should be worth fishing for trout this weekend, while big squid are due to turn up off Queenscliff.
Send reports and photos to info@raylongtackle.com.au, visit Chris and Mick at Fishing World Geelong, 105 Shannon Ave, Geelong West, or go to its Facebook page.