Spring in step of Geelong anglers

A TASTE of spring weather greeted anglers’ success in salt and freshwater over the past week.
Mark Crowden made the most of a calm Saturday afternoon to chase squid off Indented Head. Using size 2.5 jigs, he boated a bag of squid before anchoring up off Portarlington where he quickly caught a 7kg gummy shark on fresh eel.
Other anglers fishing out from St Leonards caught King George whiting to 40cm as well as squid on the grass beds in 4m to 5m.
Pinkie snapper were thick on the spoil grounds between Clifton Springs and further around to Alcoa Pier. Casting three-inch Gulp minnows allowed to sink to the bottom combined with a slow retrieve produced fish to 45cm.
Corio Bay hosted many boats in search of early-season snapper over the weekend. Anglers reported finding good-sized schools of fish on sounders but had trouble enticing them to bite.
Fishing World Geelong’s Michael Moore made a before-dawn start on Sunday chasing squid and whiting off Queenscliff. After finding suitable bottom he boated whiting to 40cm at anchor then caught a bag of average-size squid on the drift.
Paul Blackborrow searched for snapper in near-perfect conditions off the Surf Coast on Saturday morning, catching a 3kg fish on one of his favourite marks.
Light north winds made the beaches ideal for spinning for Australian salmon. Anglers caught fish from Bancoora right through to Lorne on 25g lures such as Gillies baitfish.
On the freshwater front, anglers fishing an ANSA comp at Lake Eildon achieved outstanding results.
Rainbow trout to 3.213kg were taken at the Eildon pondage while casting lures such as Strike Pro Bob N Spoons. Other anglers found brown trout to 2.351kg again on the Bob N Spoon.
Competitors on the main lake caught carp to 4.8kg, golden perch to 1.85kg and redfin to 600g.
Daune Tribe paddled out in near-perfect conditions early Saturday morning at Lake Purrumbete. Fishing mudeye suspended under a float, he managed to subdue a well-conditioned brown trout of 2.3kg among the vast weed beds.
Just across the road at Lake Bullen Merri, anglers caught Chinook salmon while trolling Rapala F-9s in Spotted Dog and Rainbow Trout patterns. Keeping the lures down deep at 20m with the aid of a downrigger was essential, while thinly sliced pilchard fillet baits also worked.
Wurdee Boluc Reservoir continued producing chunky redfin to 45cm on Fish Arrow soft plastics. The odd brown trout to 2kg was also taken as well as small new-release rainbow trout.
Trout season resumes in rivers and streams this weekend, with the small streams behind Lorne and Apollo Bay worth considering. Drifting worms and casting small Rapala F-5s or spinners should tempt some feisty brown trout.
Lake Toolondo has been exceptional for trout over the past two years but had suffered a severe algal bloom, which won’t improve with water levels dropping and the weather warming.
This weekend should be good for squid at Queenscliff or in its boat harbour for silver trevally and pinkie snapper. On the freshwater front, Lakes Purrumbete and Bullen Merri should remain consistent for trout and salmon, while local streams and rivers will be an option for trout.