By Adam Van der Lugt
The rain we’ve had over the last week has opened up a number of fishing options as small streams have had a much-needed run of fresh water, triggering a good trout bite.
Sites down along the Great Ocean Road offered fish to anglers using fly and light spin gear with Cumberland, Barham and Aire rivers all producing brown trout.
Small shallow diving lures from 40-60mm and the classic celta lure are great, while fly anglers not fussed about ‘matching the hatch’ can expect results with small black bead head nymphs.
The local offshore fishing is as good as ever with snapper to 3kg and gummy shark on offer.
Using fresh bait like squid, slimy mackerel and salmon fillets in 50m of water out from Barwon Heads is a great place to start.
One angler who fished there over the last few weeks reported catching kingfish off the bottom to 70cm on three separate outings as bycatch.
Chris Pitman from Trelly’s Geelong headed out from Clifton Springs and while fishing the start of the run-in tide, managed to bag out on squid in 3.5m to 4.5m water over the weed beds.
Stand out jigs were #3 Yamashita in white and pilchard blue. Straight out from Clifton springs has also produced gummy shark to 10kg on squid.
Barrel tuna are still being caught off Portland in 50m of water behind Lawrence rock.
Trolling 7-9 inch skirted lures has proven productive on fish over 100kg while school tuna are being caught in 100m on the shelf.
Redfin are firing at Wurdibuloc reservoir with fish to 45cm being taken by anglers casting metal spoons.
Despite the current low water levels, there are good numbers of fish to be had.
From a number of reports, the best fishing is had on the windblown side of the lake wherever that may be on the day.
