Lake producing healthy salmon

A MERRI ANGLER: Jenan Osmic with a Chinook salmon from Lake Bullen Merri.

Lake Bullen Merri produced healthy Chinook salmon for many anglers last weekend.
Azi, Jenan and Senad Osmic ventured to the lake for some bank-fishing, with only a short wait after baiting up. Jenan banked a respectable rainbow trout of 1.8kg, then Senad had a few runs up and down the bank before he landed another Chinook of 1.6kg.
Steve Arthy, Nick Panozzo and Steve Prior also fished Bullen Merri, catching 10 salmon. They boated all their fish while trolling deep with the aid of downriggers and Daiwa Double Clutch lures.
Shane Hutchinson and son Ryley had success trolling pink Tassie Devils at depths of 18m, catching two fish of 1.8kg and 1.5kg.
Closer to home, Wurdee Boluc Reservoir was sporadic. Michael Evans managed a nicely conditioned 56cm brown trout of 2.05kg on Pegron tiger minnow, while other anglers caught the odd redfin to 45cm on soft plastics.
Highton’s St Augustine’s Lake produced yearling trout stocked for the school holidays. Anglers using pink Powerbait or small hard-body lures such as Yo-Zuri Pins minnows had little trouble grassing a few fish.
Mcleod’s Water Hole at Drysdale was a hot spot for large carp. Angler using lightly weighted baits on long leaders caught fish averaging over 4kg.
Wild weather made saltwater angling difficult but some who braved the conditions were rewarded.
Anthony Gravener and his brother-in-law fished off Barwon Heads where they were surprised to catch a 3.5kg southern calamari.
Large numbers of Australian salmon broke the surface in a feeding frenzy off Geelong’s waterfront on Sunday morning. Anglers lucky enough to be on hand did extremely well casting soft plastics and small slugs, with the salmon averaging 1kg.
Squid were again taken from the shallow grass beds off Clifton Springs. The size was down but anglers had little trouble filling their bag limit of 10.
Jan Juc and Bancoora beaches continued fishing well for Australian salmon. Lures cast into clean, less-disturbed water caught fish.
Further down the coast, the Hopkins River fished exceptional well for bream. Anglers using vibe-style lures against the cliffs caught fish to 45cm.
Next door, the Merri River produced brown trout and large redfin to 2kg on hard-body lures.
This weekend should be worthwhile fishing at Lake Bullen Merri, either trolling Daiwa Double Clutches deep or fishing lightly weighted baits such as glassies or pilchard fillets.
Saltwater anglers could try drifting over the grass beds off Clifton Springs for squid or target pinkies and salmon along Geelong’s waterfront.

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