Flatties and pike in shelter of bay

Corio Bay was a popular destination over the last week for anglers who were seeking shelter from strong winds.
Casting soft plastics around structures such as moored boats produced strong numbers of flathead to 50cm, with the odd pinkie snapper also finding its way into anglers’ bags.
The entrance to the grammar school lagoon fished well for pike, with anglers casting turtleback worm soft plastics boating fish of almost 1m.
Drifting for squid over the shallow grass beds off Clifton Springs was worthwhile, with bag-limit captures possible for anglers who put in enough time.
Whiting were also caught off Clifton Springs. The most-productive location was straight out from the Dell in 6m to 8m.
Further around to St Leonards, Sam Pitman anchored Sunday morning close to the structure known as the White Lady and set a spread of rods.
Sam missed a few decent runs but his rod soon buckled over again, this time ending with the successful boating of a 1.3m gummy shark.
Queenscliff Harbour provided anglers line-burning action on silver trevally.
The change of tide allowed anglers to cast soft plastics in the main cut without too much interference from the tide so they could reach schools of trevally holding deep.
Once the tidal flow increased, plastics worked under moored boats continued to land trevally to 40cm.
The Barwon River estuary continued giving up mulloway to 90cm for anglers who put in the effort.
Fishing into the night in the lower sections produced the larger models, with fresh squid or even pilchard getting results.
Higher up in estuary system, anglers took better numbers but the size was on average less.
Bream also began to show in the lower reaches, especially between the Sheepwash and Ocean Grove boat ramp.
Freshwater anglers possible fared better than the saltwater counterparts over the week.
Michael Evans fished the numerous lakes and water impoundments around Ballarat.
Casting Strike Pro Bob n Spoons, Michael banked a brown trout of 50cm that fought hard in shallow water.
Late afternoon produced the most fish for Michael.
John and Robyn Cranston travelled up to Lake Eucumbene where they encountered brown trout to 2.3kg over five days of fishing.
John said all the action was over by 1pm and allowing mudeyes to sink slowly under the weight of a small spilt-shot among the submerge timber was by far the best approach.
Anglers seeking to wet a line over the next week should focus on St Leonards for a variety of species including whiting, snapper, gummy shark and squid.
Freshwater anglers should be persistent with Wurdee Boluc Reservoir for beastly redfin and brown trout.