By CHRIS PITMAN
WURDEE Boluc Reservoir has always been challenging but anglers who put in the time, like Michael Evans, reap the rewards.
Michael managed to bank impressive redfin to 44cm while walking the bank and casing a Daiwa spike lure over the past week. Other anglers fishing mudeyes under floats caught brown and rainbow trout to 1.5kg as rising water levels brought fish closer to the main rock wall.
Further down the western district, anglers boated impressive mixed bags of trout and bass at Lake Bullen Merri. Bank anglers got into the action with pink Powerbait on running sinker rigs, catching rainbow trout and Chinook salmon.
Anglers slowly trolling Tassie Devils and Daiwa Double Clutches boated Chinook salmon to just over 3kg and rainbows reaching 2kg. The most productive patch of water for boat anglers was the south bank area just out from the main boat ramp and angling club.
Bullen Merri bass are elusive but also some of the biggest in the country. Scott Grey trolled deep last week with minnow-style lures to boat a 42cm bass the shape of a football it was so large.
Anglers targeting these fish need to hold on because, unlike the trout and salmon, they head straight for the volcanic bottom of the lake.
The fishing was slower down the road at Lake Purrumbete where only the odd brown trout took a trolled lure at first light. A few Chinook salmon were boated but were smaller than their Bullen Merri counterparts, averaging 1kg.
Up north, Toolondo produced trophy brown trout again. Charter operator Trevor Holmes reported catches of fish averaging 2kg either trolling and casting Tassie Devils.
Trevor and some clients have been trying something different, casting surface lures such as OSP bent minnows among the timber with some surprising results.
On the saltwater front, rough weather made the going tough again.
Queenscliff Harbour held reasonable numbers of silver trevally to 40cm for anglers casting soft plastics. Squid were also taken inside the harbour but were smaller than others caught in the bight and surrounding waters.
Down the coast, Trent Schiller continued banking bream and estuary perch while fishing land-based in the Hopkins River. Z-Man grubs were effective on both species.
Next week’s forecast for improved weather promises another chance to chase bluefin tuna at Port Fairy. Small stick baits or skirted lures should do the trick in around 48m at Lady Julia Percy Island.
Closer to home, squid should be available from Queenscliff to St Leonards. Freshwater anglers should keep Lake Bullen Merri in mind for trout, salmon and bass.
