As Murray cod season swings into gear, reports are consistently saying that the cod are on!

The traditional season opening weekend was celebrated with the usual mass influx of competitors converging on Lake Mulwala for the iconic Cod Classic fishing competition.

Surprisingly fishing was not as tough as expected with competitor numbers slightly down but fish number well up. Bait anglers faired slightly better than the lure fishers but across the board, fish were there for those that worked for them and adjusted their methods to suit the dirty water.

As conditions clear I expect capture rates to improve to the point that through March-May we see some unbelievable returns.

Downstream in the river, great numbers of yellowbelly have been on the go with the exceptionally high water levels. Bait fishing has seen the best returns but those casting Jackal’s and other smaller lures have been rewarded also.

Record rainfall, dirty water, rain, cold water, rain, rain oh! And if I forgot to mention rain, all saw the majority report very slim picking on the fishing front. The one common denominator amongst most reports was the number of quality Murray cod anglers did encountered while targeting yellowbelly.

The best of those reported measured in at a whopping 105cms, caught by a young fella from Katunga, over here for the day throwing around a small 3/8 Bassman spinnerbait (Col 9) looking for a yellowbelly!

Pam Fabris from Shepparton was another to tangle with a cod stretching her tape out to a healthy 85cms before it was released. These along with several others all taken on bait hopefully indicates that we should be in for a productive season ahead.

One thing I do encourage is that if you do come across a legal Murray cod: please consider releasing it so others can have the pleasure of catching it also. Remember, a fillet will only last for a minute; a photo will last for a lifetime.

Russell Ferguson and Daniel Hawkins celebrating their capture of a 66cm Murray cod.