"

Burrendong fills up
  |  First Published: December 2010



It’s been a busy and interesting month highlighted by moving the Stewart house and shed contents – what a job – and I did also manage two weeks of fishing the Queensland barra impoundments.

Monduran was tough, no barra boated although I managed to hook three and learnt some valuable lessons. But any time spent fishing with nephews the old man and brother in law is time well spent. I’m off to Awoonga next.

With everything that’s been going on, I have not had the opportunity to fish much locally. My phone has been busy, though, with reports coming through thick and fast.

It’s amazing what some rain and green grass does to lift the spirits of country people, you can hear it in their voices.

A chock-full Burrendong Dam should be on everyone’s visit list and December is a great time of year to fish there.

Early morning sessions should be spent chasing golden perch by casting and trolling lures.

I would look to target feeding fish in the shallows and then as the sun gets higher and the day hotter, move to the steeper banks and creek channels.

Pay particular attention to gullies and bays with driftwood timber pushed into them from the recent flooding of new ground. If the water is clear, some good golden perch will be caught here.

With the cod season now open, Burrendong also offers the opportunity to chase these iconic fish.

Surface lures of 70mm to 150mm are a great way to target cod in the late evening.

With a lot more water in Burrendong, the cod may be spread a little wider but look for the right cover, like timber or rocks – something they can get in and under during the day. As light levels fall, they will venture out a little wider and into your hands.

REDFIN FILLETS?

A good mate once said, “Never lose sight of the cleaning.” Mmm, should have thought about that one 20 fish ago.

But it’s hard to pull anchor and give them away when you have a good bite going on quality redfin. And they fight hard on light gear.

Jigging blades, ice jigs and plastics are great ways to target these fish.

A quality depth sounder can help no end: Stay over the top of the school and anchor or drift over them if the breeze permits.

I use a drift drogue to slow me down if it’s a tad windy.

The kids and anyone new to fishing absolutely love this style of fishing.

TROUT, BASS

By the time you read this, the first bass of the season will have well and truly hit a surface lure in Lake Lyell or Wallace. I won’t be at all surprised if there are quite a few bigger fish than there were last season, either.

Fly fishing for trout in the creeks and dams has rarely been better.

There have been some great insect hatches along the creeks and the trout have taken full advantage.

The mudeye hatch this year in the local dams should be a ripper.

Reads: 7641

Matched Content ... powered by Google




Latest Articles




Fishing Monthly Magazines On Instagram

Digital Editions

Read Digital Editions

Current Magazine - Editorial Content

Western Australia Fishing Monthly
Victoria Fishing Monthly
Queensland Fishing Monthly