The Murray cod season has come and gone for another year and without doubt it has been one of the most memorable by far.

Unlike seasons past, the memories are not of good times when that first metre-long giant was a milestone that marked many to come.

My cod captures in local waters for the season officially totalled zero, as did all of those I fish with.

Gone are the fish that put expectation in every cast and hot spots now lie cold as carp become the new apex predators by sheer weight of numbers.

The only good thing about this past season is that it is over.

With that said, the warmth of spring has kick-started some excellent fishing for golden perch and redfin in numerous lakes and rivers.

With abundant water in most areas, it seems any old puddle has a supply of redfin and they have grown big and fat on a plethora of drowned edibles.

Anglers are making the most of these fast-growing fish and vibrating blades seem to be bagging big numbers in many locations.

Redfin seem quite entranced by the tight shimmy action of these lures and find them almost impossible to resist.

Over the past month we have fished several different locations, including the Kerang Lakes, and are yet to miss out on a feed.

When the redfin are switched on, and that seems to be almost always in the warming water, blade colour seems to be of little consequence as they jostle to be the first to seize the lure.

On several occasions we have had multiple hook-ups on the same lure as one fish tries to snatch the blade from the mouth of another.

Golden perch, too, are starting to bite in many locations with Fort Courage on the Murray River fishing well.

Anglers are reporting good numbers of small to legal size (30cm) fish on shrimp and worms.

Swan Hill, Robinvale and Wemen are also producing a few golden perch on bait among carp that must number in the squillions. Good fun for the kids but bloody annoying for those intent on catching a feed.

With water now running into the Kerang Lakes system, the golden perch have begun to fire. This bite should escalate as the flow increases and the water continues to warm.

Blades are very effective in these areas and the 60mmKoolabung X-Ray models are proven fish producers.

There are some quality-sized perch in these lakes, with the reported capture last season of a thumping perch over 12kg from Kangaroo Lake.

No doubt there are others of this size and as anglers become aware of this fishery, we are sure to hear of other great captures.

With that said, I look forward to some excellent spring action on the booming numbers of redfin and the ever-increasing locations to target good numbers of golden perch.