October is that time of year where the weather is nice enough to start venturing out and about exploring new areas for camping, family fun, and of course fishing.

From now until the heat of the summer months, I like to head up the high country lakes that are dotted all over the maps throughout northeast Victoria and southern NSW. With the snow melted, and so many lakes full, you’d be hard pressed to find a destination not worth heading to.

As the temperatures start to warm, the mayfly hatch is always a highlight of the fishing day. Any fly angler will tell you this is a sign you won’t forget, especially if you have matched the hatch to the liking of a feeding trout. It’s all a matter of getting things in place and just going on adventure.

The lake has once again been a joy for some, but a horror for others. Tried and tested techniques used a week before are leaving fishos scratching their heads as the fish no longer want what’s on offer. I have talked to people saying they are finding schools of fish and everything they throw at them doesn’t bring a bite. But on the other side of it, Wodonga fisherman Joe Bendzius recently decided not to take the boat, and to just sit on the bank for a nice quiet fish with good old garden scrub worms. Joe was smashed by a 65cm yellowbelly that tipped the scales at 4.5kg. Best of all he was only less than 200m from the Kookaburra point store.

Trolling runs around Lake Hume Resort along the line to the Pines has been a popular run recently. One catch I was told of was a 2.5kg brown trout caught on a McGrath carp pattern minnow.

With the lake it’s a matter of patience on the water trying the normally used techniques, but sometimes be willing to think outside the box. It may not work every time, but you learn something new.

The base of the wall is starting to improve in the bank fishing, with the yellowbelly, trout, and the odd Murray cod being caught on worms and yabbies. Fishos dropping the boat in on the Victorian side ramp haven’t needed to venture far before getting onto fish. Although the main catch is small redfin, persistence is bringing yellowbelly to the bite.

For those with Kayaks heading under Heywoods Bridge downstream can access some good back waters now that the river has had a good flush. Just be careful of the currents of the water, don’t travel alone, wear a life jacket, and only experienced kayakers should attempt high flow waters.

With the recent down draw of Lake Mulwala, anglers have ventured to other places as it was hard to get a decent sized boat in, but now it’s up and almost full again. Right before the start of closed season, husband and wife team Dave and Nerylee Smith headed to Mulwala to see if they could snag a monster. Trolling Oar-Gee lures in a frog pattern, Nerylee nearly had her rod ripped from her hands as a 72cm cod belted the lure, after landing the fish and a few happy snaps Nerylee was stoked with her new personal best. Well done.